With the New launch of the Spectral in early 2021 Canyon has fundamentally reorganised the former all-mountain. More travel, a modern - i.e. smoother - geometry and 29-inch wheels have positioned the Spectral even more clearly towards downhill riding and have already raised doubts as to which bike is actually the better enduro bike in the Koblenz-based mail-order company's portfolio: the Strive, which is already several years old, or the new Spectral?
But with models exclusively in 29 inches and with a full carbon frame, it was clear that there was more to come. And now the time has come. With the new Spectral models Canyon is now supplementing the carbon 29er with 27.5-inch models, bikes with aluminium frames, an extra-light top model with a CFR frame and a mullet model with a large 29-inch front wheel and a smaller 27.5-inch rear wheel.
We have already had the opportunity to put the new top-of-the-range Canyon Spectral CFR through its paces. You can read all the results and our riding impressions in BIKE 12/2021 - available from 2 November at newsagents, in the app and in the online shop.
Canyon Spectral 2022: Now also in aluminium and 27.5 inches
This means that aluminium lovers and fans of small wheels will also benefit from the innovations that were previously reserved for the 29-inch Spectral. A steep seat angle in favour of a good riding position uphill, an extended reach and a slacker head angle for more safety downhill. In addition, all models now feature the revised kinematics for the 29-inch bike. The use of 160 mm forks in all models emphasises the downhill credentials of the new Spectrals.
Canyon Spectral: Three frames, three wheel sizes, eight models
There will be a total of eight models of the new Spectral. Starting with the Spectral Young Hero kids' bike, through two further aluminium models and four carbon bikes to the new top model, the Spectral CFR, which not only has the best equipment, but also a particularly light frame that saves almost 300 grams compared to the 'normal' carbon frame (CF), as our laboratory measurement showed.
The top model Spectral CFR is only available in 29 inch, the Spectral CF8 CLLCTV only as a mullet build. For the other models, you can choose between 29 and 27.5 inches. The frame weights of the bikes are as follows Canyon at 2300 and 2600 grams for the carbon bikes and 3000 grams for the aluminium version. In the BIKE measurement, the weight differed only slightly (2316 grams for the CFR frame). Complete bikes are between 15.7 kilograms for the cheapest aluminium model and 13.3 kilograms for the Spectral CFR (factory specification). The cheaper aluminium model (Spectral AL 5) costs 2499 euros, the Spectral 6 costs 2999 euros.
Adrian Kaether
Editor
