The "Torque" from Canyon looks like a freerider, but "only" wants to be an enduro bike.
Canyon describes the look of Lutz Scheffer's new baby "Torque" as "downhill orientated". That's an understatement - the "Torque" looks like a true freerider. Behind the wild exterior, however, lies a comparatively tame enduro creature.
The riding position is compact - the top tube measures just 574 millimetres. This puts the rider in a central position, ideal for playful manoeuvres. The front wheel is easy to bunny hop or wheelie. Even drops don't embarrass the "Torque". However, you have to fiddle around for a while to find the right shock setup. If you set the sag as usual (one third of the stroke), the "DHX" shock will bottom out on small edges. This is due to the rear suspension kinematics. Designer Scheffer set the four decisive joints so that the rear triangle compensates for the air characteristics (progressive towards the end of the travel) of the Fox shock. This results in a steel spring-like but flat characteristic curve. To avoid bottoming out, the shock needs a lot of pressure. The negative suspension travel is then only 15 to 20 per cent instead of the usual 30 per cent.
This has two effects. One positive effect is that you don't get bogged down in the shock on climbs. This means that the "Torque" is also suitable for many metres of climbing, especially as it is not overweight at just over 14 kilos. Downhill, however, you have to make compromises. The rear wheel doesn't stick to the ground as well as you would expect from bikes with this much suspension travel.
As is typical for Canyon, the equipment is sophisticated and well thought out. The Fox "36" at the front is outstanding. It has so many reserves that you still get that freeride feeling. Another highlight are the "X.O" triggers from SRAM. The crisp gear changes simply feel good. The Syntace parts combine low weight with durability. The Avid "Juicy" with large discs (200 millimetres at the front/185 millimetres at the rear) also fit the bill.
CONCLUSIONS: The Canyon "Torque" offers first-class enduro performance at an affordable price. However, despite its fierce looks, it is not a freerider.
