With a 62.9 degree head angle, the head tube of the Canyon Strive CFR TLD is almost one degree slacker than the Yeti and Specialised. The difference to the Pivot is even 1.7 degrees. The wheelbase is also 23 millimetres longer on average than that of the competition - in frame size M, mind you. In combination with the low bottom bracket, this results in a mixture that embeds the rider very low behind the high front end. As soon as gravity pulls the bike towards the valley, this gives the Canyon the highest degree of confidence in high-speed sections, steep sections and open corners.
However, the trails in Canazei, some of which are very winding and difficult to see, quickly reveal the downside of the extreme geometry. Once the Enduro bike has picked up speed, it bumps unwaveringly through the terrain, but it only implements intuitive manoeuvres with great force. In tight bends, the Canyon with its long wheelbase also feels bulkier and less manoeuvrable than the competition. If necessary, the use of the so-called "Shapeshifter" makes handling easier. However, since the suspension travel also shrinks in steep mode and the rear suspension is tightened, the feature is only suitable for tame descents.
Jesse Melamed's race bike is the only bike with a steel spring damper. Fortunately. The Canyon Strive absorbs even the smallest bumps and generates traction en masse. The ZEB Ultimate suspension fork received harsh criticism. Despite air pressures far below the Rockshox recommendation, our testers only managed to max out the suspension travel to 155 millimetres. The response behaviour cannot keep up with that of the Fox forks either. This places rigorous demands on the arm muscles on long descents. Thanks to its steep seat angle, drive-neutral rear end and Shapeshifter technology, the Strive is one of the most propulsive candidates on pedalling sections. Also good: the reach of the Strive can be shortened or lengthened by five millimetres using special headset shells.
Conclusion from Peter Nilges, BIKE test manager
The Canyon Strive CFR TLD is a force to be reckoned with on fast downhill trails or in the bike park. Hardly any other enduro bike conveys so much riding confidence. For use on natural and sometimes unpredictable enduro trails, however, the extreme geometry is too much of a good thing and makes control difficult.
Technical data and notes on the Canyon Strive CFR TLD
Manufacturer information
- Price¹: 6499 Euro
- available by mail order
- Frame material: Carbon
- Frame size: S,M, L, XL(tested in size M, 42 cm)
Measured values
- Weight without pedals: 15.77 kg
- Frame weight without shock: 3129 g
- Weight of wheels: 5434 g
- Acceleration wheels: 4507 kg x cm²
- Handlebar width: 780 mm
- Frame rigidity (absolute): 35 N/mm
Equipment
- Wheels: DT-Swiss EX 511 / DT 240 hub
- Tyres: Assegai / Minion DHR II MaxxGrip / MaxxTerra; Exo+ Protection TR 29 x 2.50 / 2.40
- Fork: Rockshox ZEB Ultimate RC2 Charger
- Shock: Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate Coil
- Front/rear suspension travel: 169/148 mm
- Brakes: Sram Code RSC / 200/200 mm
- Gear system: Sram XX1 Eagle AXS 1 x 12
- Gear ratio / bandwidth:: 32; 10-52 / 520 %
- Telescopic post / stroke: Canyon G5 / 170 mm
Valuation
- Driving behaviour uphill: 19 from 20
- Chassis efficiency: 17 out of 20
- Rolling resistance: 6.5 out of 10
- Weight. 1.5 from 15
- Inertia impellers: 3 out of 10
- Bottle cage: 3.5 out of 5
- Driving behaviour downhill: 38 from 40
- Front suspension: 21.25 of 25
- Rear suspension: 23.75 out of 25
- Saddle retractability: 10 out of 10
- Brakes: 12.75 out of 15
- Tyre grip: 12 out of 15
- Driving stability: 2 out of 10
TOTAL UPHILL: 50.5 OUT OF 80
TOTAL DOWNHILL: 119.8 OUT OF 140
- Other: 27.75 out of 30
- Ease of maintenance: medium
BIKE test rating²: very good - 198 out of 250 points
¹Price may be subject to additional costs for packaging, dispatch and coordination.
²The BIKE judgement reflects the laboratory measurements and the subjective impression of the test riders. The BIKE judgement is independent of price. BIKE judgements: super (250-205 P.), very good (204.75-180 P.), good (179.75-155 P.), satisfactory (154.75-130 P.), with weaknesses (129.75-105 P.), unsatisfactory (104.75-0 P.). The weighting of the points in the individual assessment criteria varies depending on the bike category.
Max Fuchs
Editor
