2023 Canyon

Stoic 3

If you’ve been following our Hardtail of the Year test, you’re probably wondering why the Canyon Stoic 2 wasn’t in the mix. And the answer is simple. It didn’t arrive on time to make the cut. Now that it’s here though, and with the Hardtail of the Year test still front of mind, I wanted to see how the Canyon would have stacked up in the sub £1k category of that test. Frame At first glance, the alloy frame on this 29er hardtail has a more modern profile than either the Voodoo Bizango Pro or the Vitus Sentier 29. Digging into the numbers confirms that; the low slung top tube combined with a slack 64.1º head angle and generous 475mm reach on the size L make the Stoic longer, slacker and lower than both of those bikes.  Best hardtail mountain bikes: reviewed and rated by experts Best of all, the Stoic comes in six unique frame sizes to guarantee a perfect fit. Canyon even mixes wheel sizes across the size range: XXS, XS and S get 27.5in wheels, M, L and XL roll on full 29in. I feel that Canyon has missed a trick by not offering a MX option though. Still, with all of the standover clearance it’s really easy to up size if you want a longer, more stable bike. Not that you’ll need to do so, because the Stoic is roughly one full size longer in the cockpit than the Voodoo, Vitus and On-One, so if anything, you’re more likely to go the other way.   On the scale the Stoic 2 is comparable in weight with the Calibre Line T3-27 and the On-One Scandal SX. But it’s worth noting that both of those bike sport dropper posts. It has a similar tyre spec to the Vitus, which does not have a dropper post, and weighed in at 13.9kg, so the Stoic 2 is marginally heavier at 14.68kg.  Suspension Some of that additional weight is in the steel upper tubes of the 140mm travel Suntour XCR 34 29 Air fork. The suspension fork has a smooth composed action, and feels less erratic than some of the entry-level RockShox forks we’ve tested. Which means you can ride harder and with more confidence as it helps limit the bigger swings in dynamic geometry you get on most hardtails with longer travel forks.  How long the fork will stay that way is anyone’s guess and getting it serviced, or sourcing spare parts, isn’t going to be as straightforward as with a RockShox unit, as most shops won’t be interested in cracking it open just in case they open up a can of worms. Especially when the bike was bought directly from Canyon.  Drivetrain In terms of drivetrain, Canyon has gone with the light action Shimano Deore 10 speed, with a recent switch to the new 10-speed Shimano Cues U600 on the latest model. It’s been smart with the gearing too. The smaller 30t chainring ensures that you can still keep the …Continue reading »

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A can't-go-wrong hardtail for both experienced and new MTB riders

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"The Stoic is built with geometry meant for aggressive riding, spec’d to take a beating, go back to do it all again tomorrow..."

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