Spectral:ON CFR
A 29″ / 27.5″ carbon frame full suspension enduro e-bike with high-end components.
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Manufacturer Price
$6,599Weight | 49.8 lbs |
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Frame | Carbon |
Suspension | Full, 155 / 160mm |
Fork | Fox Factory Float 36 |
Shock | Fox Float X Factory |
Wheels | 29″ / 27.5″ Carbon |
Drivetrain | 1 × 12 Electronic |
Groupset | XT Di2, Ultegra Di2 |
Motor | Shimano mid-drive |
Battery | 900Wh |
Brakes | Hydraulic Disc |
Seatpost | Dropper |
For This Bike
Based on build material and quality level of the frame, fork, wheelset, groupset, suspension system, and more.
Compare the full Spectral:ON model range
View Comparison< 5'10"
5'8" – 6'1"
5'11" – 6'4"
6'3" +
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Jan 2024 · Paul Burwell
What attracted you to the Canyon Spectral:ON CFR? Given that the Spectral:ON CF 9 was mbr’s e-bike of the Year in 2023, I figured the CFR would be the perfect vehicle on which to test Shimano’s new EP801 motor with automatic shifting. But there was a snag. When I received the bike for long-term test I couldn’t get the Auto Shift to work. After much head scratching, I double checked the Canyon website and that claim had suddenly disappeared. So even though the Spectral:ON CFR had the new Shimano EP801 motor, which is Auto Shift ready, it wasn’t enabled. Need to Know Full-power e-bike with Fox Factory suspension Travel is 160mm front, 155mm rear New Shimano EP801 motor with Free Shift technology Lightweight CFR composite frame keeps the weight under 24kg even with a 900Wh battery Mullet design with 29in front wheel/2.5in tyre with a 27.5in rear wheel/2.6in tyre Lightweight one-piece Canyon carbon bar and stem and Reynolds E carbon wheelset Full Shimano Di2 12-speed drivetrain with integrated chain device GPS enabled with built-in tracker Was the bike easy to set up? Yes. And the problem with the Auto Shift was simply one of miscommunication. Auto Shift was not activated on this bike because you have to use a Shimano 11-speed drivetrain and Linkglide cassette to work with the technology. Check the specification below you’ll see the Spectral:ON CFR has a 12-speed Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain. According to Shimano, 12-speed XT isn’t robust enough for use with Auto Shift and this was something Shimano stressed at the launch of the product. It seems Canyon’s communication department didn’t get that memo, even if the product manager clearly did. To be fair to Canyon it is an easy mistake to make because YT did the exact same thing when it launched the updated Decoy range a month or so ago. In short then, we still haven’t had a bike on a long-term test with Shimano’s Auto Shift. And it’s probably because bike manufacturers are concerned that riders will perceive an 11-speed drivetrain, especially on a flagship bike like the CFR, as a backwards step. We have however spent a ton of time on SRAM’s Powertrain which also has its own version of Auto Shift. >> Watch mbr’s in depth video on SRAM Powertrain and Auto Shift Who is this bike for? In terms of intent, the Spectral:ON CFR is very similar to the Spectral:ON CF 9. Both are full power e-bikes designed for to tackle everything. There are a couple of key differences to the CF 9 though. The CFR gets a higher-quality carbon frame where the R designation refers to the different carbon layup, which Canyon claims is stronger and stiffer. This allows the company to reduce frame weight while retaining similar strength and stiffness to the CF 9. At 23.75kg (52.36lbs) the CFR is almost half a kilogram heavier than its cheaper sibling, but that’s because I upgraded the battery from the stock 720Wh to the 900Wh option, which adds …Continue reading »
• No-holds-barred handling
• Bigger 900Wh battery equals less time between charges/more time on the trail
• Shimano’s Free Shift function lets you change gears without pedalling
• Straightforward battery removal for remote charging
• Lacks the full Auto Shift functionality
• Carbon components save weight but introduce some harshness
• Financially challenging but competitively priced
• Plastic oval headset spacers are easily damaged and don’t integrate with regular stem shapes
May 2023 · Blake Nielsen
Its not often we get to compare the latest release from a bike company with their previous model, especially when it comes to eBikes. Canyons Spectral:On CF8 has been [R] test rider Blake's daily shredder when he rolls on battery power, a testament to the design and ability of the German manufacturer's bike. So, it was only right to get Blake on the new model to really see whats changed over the last few years of MTB design... Reviewer // [...]
May 2023 · Knut Nes
Canyon just can't stop. Three new bikes last week weren’t enough, now they release another one. But is it really new? Look closer. Even closer... No? The new Spectral:ON has a longer fork! That's not much of an update. And I find it a bit...
Apr 2023
The 2022 Canyon Spectral:ON CFR is a well-mannered trail-oriented eMTB that rewards a patient riding style with good, consistent traction
Apr 2023
Thanks to a huge geometry overhaul in 2022, Canyon's Spectral:ON CF8 naturally excels when the terrain gets steep and technical. It’s one of the lighter e-MTBs around and this has resulted in it being a lively yet well-mannered bike and a genuine segment contender among the best e-MTBs. However, it is lacking in one area: its uphill behaviour.
Mar 2023
Testing Canyon's most exclusive eMTB, featuring SRAM AXS, RockShox Flight Attendant, and a high-end set of DT Swiss carbon wheels.
Sep 2022 · Alex Evans
Great for tamer trails, but its potential is limited by conservative geometry and a raw-feeling ride
Impressive battery range
Light weight
Supportive suspension
Drool-worthy spec for the most part
Raw ride feel
Conservative geometry with a lack of adjustment
Tyre choice
Aug 2022
The new Canyon Spectral:ON boasts more range and capability, but has it lost the magic that made the old model such a fun e-MTB?
Superbly balanced suspension is both poppy and plush
Updated geometry has improved high-speed stability
Excellent weight distribution
Terrifically fun & agile for a full-powered e-MTB
Battery options offer enormous range potential
Grippy, versatile tyre spec
Not the quietest bike
Charge port door could be more robust
Would prefer a longer dropper
Headset cable routing complicates maintenance
Frame | Canyon Spectral:ON CFR, A progressive, playful, lightweight trail e-MTB engineered to eat up more trail in less time., Axle dimension: 12x148 mm, Material: Carbon (CFR) BB Standard: STEPS, Press Fit Hanger Standard: UDH Color: Cfr Green |
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Fork | FOX 36 Factory, Axle dimension: 15x110 mm, Stanchion Diameter: 36 mm, Travel: 160 mm, Fork steer tube diameter: 1 1/8" - 1,5", Offset: 44 mm, Weight: 4.40 lbs Travel: 160mm Spring Type: Air |
Shock | FOX Float X Factory EVOL Travel: 155mm Spring Type: Air |
Bottom Bracket | STEPS, press-fit |
Saddle | Fizik Terra Aidon X5, Gender: Unisex, Weight: 0.58 lbs |
Seatpost | Fox Transfer Factory, Clamp diameter: 30,9 mm, Material: Aluminium (AL) Type: Dropper |
Grips | Canyon Lock-On |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT Di2, 12-speed, Weight: 0.58 lbs |
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Crank | Shimano STEPS HOLLOWTECH e-MTB crank arms |
Shifters | Shimano SW-M8150-R Shift Lever |
Cassette | Shimano XTR CS-M9101 12s 10-51, Number of sprockets: 12 |
Chain | Shimano CN-M9100 12s |
Chain Guide | Canyon Chainguide M091/M129 |
Brakes | Shimano XTR 4-piston front brake | Shimano XTR 4-piston rear brake Type: Hydraulic Disc |
Rims | DT Swiss HXC 1501 Spline One, Rotor mount: Center Lock |
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Tires | Maxxis Assegai, Width: 2.5", Weight: 2.25 lbs | Maxxis Minion DHR II 27,5" x 2.60 WT, Width: 2.6", Weight: 1.98 lbs |
Disc Rotors | Shimano XTR front rotor, 203mm, Size: 203 mm, Weight: 0.38 lbs | Shimano XTR STEPS rear rotor, 203mm, Size: 203 mm, Weight: 0.38 lbs |
Motor | Shimano EP801 |
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Battery | Canyon BT0004-01 900Wh, Standard battery for Sizes M-XL., 900Wh only compatible with frame sizes M-XL. |
Last updated May 1