2023 Canyon

Spectral 29 CF 9

With the latest Spectral platform, Canyon has adjusted its suspension kinematic, geometry and introduced a redesigned rear triangle. The bike ushers in new technology and all of the mod-cons you'd expect of a modern trail bike, too. The result is a bike that performs well. Its incredibly competitive price is another reason why this iteration of the Canyon Spectral is one of the best mountain bikes currently on the market.

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This entry level model of Canyon’s evolved all-rounder is a brilliant value, full feature trail MTB with pop and play for days. Guy Kesteven has been testing the Spectral CF 7 and is several weeks deep into a love affair with it, so what makes this bike so good?

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Canyon clearly isn’t afraid to innovate. Because after just one year and a trial on just one model, it is back with a brand new range of Spectral CFs, all sporting KIS, its Keep It Stable steering technology. Not to be confused with a steering damper, KIS has springs that attach to a cam on the fork steerer that help recenter the front wheel after a deflection. And based on rider feedback the latest version has been tweaked to feel less intrusive. Best of all, there’s no longer an additional upcharge associated with the cutting edge tech. Packed with mod-cons, Canyon is plainly serious about building one of the best full-suspension trail bikes on the market. Canyon Spectral CF 9 need to know Updated Spectral CF is an out-and-out trail bike Rear travel is capped at 140mm Five sizes, reach on M is now 475mm, L grows to 500mm Geometry designed around a 150mm fork Internal frame storage first seen on the Grail gravel bike Wheel size flip-chip on the chainstays Chainstay length shortens from 437mm to 429mm in 27.5in setting New frame is only 20g heavier than the old one. Geometry flip-chip in shock eyelet gives high/low settings Detuned KIS steering stabiliser comes standard Four models, all with the same frame and all with KIS Prices start at £3,299 for the Spectral CF 7 – to find out more about the new Canyon Spectral range, read our news story and range overview One look and the new Spectral CF chassis and it’s clear that Canyon also isn’t afraid to imitate. Specialized pioneered internal frame storage with SWAT and given that we predicted that the new Spectral would have the same internal storage as the recently launched Canyon Grail gravel bike, its addition should come as no surprise. But that’s not the only technology the Canyon has borrowed from Specialized when reimagining the latest Spectral CF range. Take a closer look at the carbon rear dropouts on the new Spectral CF and you’ll notice the asymmetric Horst link pivots first used on the Gen 2 Specialized Levo SL to accommodate 27.5in or 29in rear wheels without messing up the geometry. Canyon is even referring to them as wheel size flip-chips, and just like on the Specialized Levo SL they keep the geometry identical, bar the 8mm shorter chainstay length when swapping from a 29in rear wheel to 27.5in. It’s a great feature and having measured the geometry of the Canyon in both settings, with both wheel sizes, both shod with same tyre treads and widths, it does exactly as claimed.  You simply choose your preferred wheel size at checkout and the bike ships in the corresponding geometry setting.  What’s interesting is that Canyon has claimed that the new frame with KIS and internal storage is only 20g heavier than the old one and retains its Category 4 rating. And I don’t doubt that for a second, but when I looked up my notes on the 2021 Spectral 29 CF 8 …Continue reading »

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