2023 · CanyonNeuron 5

Canyon hits the nail on the head with this true all-rounder that will tackle a wide variety of trails and give you a wonderful time doing so

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The new 2023 Canyon Neuron trail bike gets every update you could wish for in a modernized mountain bike - lighter, stiffer & more capable than ever

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The affordably-priced Canyon Neuron is a versatile, back-to-basics mountain bike, designed to be as adept as clocking up the miles as delivering the smiles on fun singletrack. So does it deliver against those promises? Best mountain bikes: XC, hardtail, trail and enduro for all budgets Best budget full-suspension bikes Need to know Entry-level trail bike with 130mm travel 11 bike range, offering both carbon and alloy-framed options starts at £1,849 Small frame sizes come with 27.5in wheels, larger sizes get 29in wheels Updates include more progressive geometry, integrated protection and a focus on low maintenance  The Canyon Neuron was only launched in 2017, but its roots can be traced right back to the brand’s very inception. It was the replacement for the full-suspension Nerve; a bike that was born all the way back in 2002. And it happened to be the first Canyon model we ever tested here at MBR. That bike was the 2011 Nerve XC 5.0, and it featured an alloy frame with 120mm of travel and 26in wheels. It also weighed 12.9kg and cost £1,188 excluding the box and shipping.  This new Canyon Neuron might have radically different geometry to its forebear, wheels that are 3in bigger in diameter, and a price and weight that have succumbed a little to middle-aged spread, but it’s still intended to be an affordable, versatile, friendly trail bike that is as approachable for beginners as it is thrilling to experienced riders. Unfortunately the first generation Neuron (at least in my opinion) fell wide of its intended mark.  Canyon chose to take a very cautious approach at a time when geometry and sizing was settling down after a period of rapid evolution. Which meant that the head angle was too steep, the seat angle was too slack, the wheelbase was dinky, and the seat tube too long. As a result, the bike was twitchy and unstable on descents, and the steering too light when climbing. Ultimately, the 2017 Canyon Neuron was out of date from the moment it hit the market. Which was a huge shame, because the suspension was excellent, with a smooth, supple response to small bumps while never being overwhelmed by rougher terrain.  Canyon Neuron frame So does this updated version correct the mistakes of its predecessor? It’s obvious that the latest bike is an entirely different proposition just by comparing the old and new side-profiles. The seat angle is visibly steeper, the head angle obviously slacker and the reach appreciably longer. To put numbers on these changes, the seat angle is 1.5º steeper, the head angle a similar amount slacker, the seat tubes are around 20mm lower, and the reach has grown by between 10mm and 40mm depending on the frame size. And TLDR; these changes to the geometry transform the Neuron for the better.  But before I get to the ride, let’s run through the basics of the range. Available in either carbon or alloy, the Neuron frame delivers 130mm of travel matched with a 140mm travel …Continue reading »

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