Spectral 125 CF 8
A 29″ carbon frame full suspension trail bike with high-end components.
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Manufacturer Price
$5,199Weight | 30.4 lbs |
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Frame | Carbon |
Suspension | Full, 125 / 140mm |
Fork | Fox Performance Elite Float 36 |
Shock | Fox Float X Performance |
Wheels | 29″ Aluminum |
Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
Groupset | XT |
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 125 model range
View Comparison< 5'10"
5'7" – 6'1"
5'10" – 6'5"
6'2" +
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Jan 2023 · Leon Poultney
With shorter travel and a lighter frame, the Canyon Spectral 125 CF 9 is designed to rip on a multitude of terrains.
Great handling
Plenty of adjustment
Sweet components
Not much weight saving over 150mm version
Carbon frame prone to chipping
Fair amount of initial set up
Jul 2022 · Simon Kohler
The Canyon Spectral 125 CF 9 combines little travel and a progressive geometry. How did it fare in our 2022 trail bike group test?
Feels as if it had more travel and thus inspires confidence
Direct handling and firm suspension
Pedal-neutral rear suspension uphill
Tires don’t do justice to the potential of the bike
Requires an experienced rider
Jul 2022 · Guy Kesteven
Canyon’s shorter travel Spectral is a sawn-off shotgun blast bike, but does a trail bike need heavyweight enduro spec?
Slack, long, stiff and confident
Top non shop value
Impressive short travel control
Enduro strength spec
Enduro spec adds weight
Suspension hard to balance
Not mullet or coil compatible
Unreinforced rear tire
Jun 2022 · Nic Hall
In our Canyon Spectral 125 CF8 review, we found its confidence inspiring and can ride terrain we usually don’t think about taking a 125mm bike in. Learn more!
Poppy, playful geometry
Progressive leverage curve
Just a fun all around bike
Quality, headache free components
Unsettled in big terrain at speed, which it will lure you into!
Jun 2022 · Tom Marvin
The Spectral 125 is a hooligan of a bike that encourages you to try things you might otherwise not dare
Aggressive shape
Super-fun personality
Frame easy to live with
Sluggish at low speed on mellow terrain
Not a sofa-like ride
Thin tyres
Jun 2022 · Alan Muldoon
Take a cursory glance at the new Spectral 125 and you could easily mistake it for the full-blown 150mm Spectral. Make no mistake though, the Spectral 125 is a unique bike in its own right. And not just unique; the performance is impressive to count it among some of the best mountain bikes we’ve tested this year. Need to know: A 125mm travel 29er designed to tackle big terrain CF models use a full carbon frame with tube-in-tube internal cable routing All models use 140mm travel forks with a 64º head angle in slack/low setting G5 dropper post can be adjusted internally in 5mm increments, with a 25mm adjustment range Alloy Spectral 125 bikes available from £2,449 Canyon Spectral 125 frame and geometry The most telling difference is that the head tube is 15mm taller on the 125, it also has a 20mm shorter seat tube and the seat stay assembly is longer too. Other than that, the geometry is nigh on identical. In fact, the 125 CF carbon frame is only 100g lighter and meets the exact same safety standards, so you know it is designed for hard charging. Canyon offers three carbon versions, where the Spectral 125 CF 9 tested here is the top-end bike. There are also two alloy bikes, the entry-level AL 5 costing £2,399. The carbon bike gets a hi/low flip-chip that adjusts the BB by 8mm and the head angle by 0.5º. The alloy version forgoes the geometry adjustment and combines the slacker head angle with the steeper seat angle for a best of both worlds approach. Other neat features on the CF 9 include tube-in-tube cable routing and extra seals on the pivot bearings to ensure that the bike spends the minimum amount of time in the workstand. It also has mounts under the top tube for attaching tools or Canyon’s Load frame bag. Canyon has missed a trick with its chainstay protector though, because chips in the carbon swingarm right beside the chain ring indicate that the rubber protection falls just short. Canyon Spectral 125 suspension With 125mm of rear travel but geometry fitting of a 150mm bike, it makes sense that the shorter travel Spectral has more progressive suspension than its big brother. It also has more anti-squat, which combined with the reduced travel makes the bike feel tighter and more reactive when you get on the gas. Yes, the rear suspension can feel a little too progressive at times, so we found that running the bike in the high geometry setting, with a lower spring pressure gave us the best response. Another option would be to remove the biggest of the two volume spacers from the Fox Float X shock and keep it in the low setting. To balance vertical wheel travel front and rear, Canyon fits a 140mm Fox 36 Factory fork. The Grip 2 damper provides plenty of support, and riding the Spectral 125 back-to-back with the longer travel version really highlighted just how stable the geometry is …Continue reading »
Tight responsive handling that rewards riders who want to engage with the terrain. Top quality build kit. Low-slung frame design looks killer. Niche never looked so mainstream
Needs an EXO+ casing rear tyre. Not much lighter than a 150mm bike
Jun 2022
I had a blast riding the Spectral 125. With its familiar geometry I felt comfortable on it right away but it took a good few rides to recalibrate myself to the shorter travel and sharpen up my riding. Once I figured out how to ride it, the small Canyon returned the favour by giving me a feeling of being more in tune with the trails I rode and being more rewarded for the effort I put in.
May 2022
As its name suggests, the Canyon Spectral 125 is the shorter travel counterpart to the much loved Spectral. Although its meager travel figures suggest otherwise, the Spectral 125 is every bit as aggressive as its longer travel sibling but it benefits from a much more supportive rear end and a dynamic ride that’ll unleash the inner hooligan of anyone who swings a leg over.
Frame | Spectral CF 125 BB Standard: BSA, 73mm, Threaded Hanger Standard: UDH Color: Rollercoaster |
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Fork | FOX 36 Performance Elite Travel: 140mm Spring Type: Air |
Shock | FOX Float X Performance Travel: 125mm Spring Type: Air |
Bottom Bracket | Shimano MT800, Threaded |
Stem | Canyon G5 Stem |
Handlebar | Canyon G5 Riser Bar |
Saddle | Ergon SM10 Enduro Comp |
Seatpost | G5 Adjustable Dropper Post Type: Dropper |
Pedals | None included |
Grips | Ergon GE1 Evo |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore XT M8100 12speed, Precise 1x12 drivetrain. |
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Crank | Shimano XT M8120 32T |
Shifters | Shimano Deore XT, 12-speed, Rear derailleur shifter, 12-speed, Textured rubber lever pad, Multi-Release, 2-way release, I-Spec EV clamp allows 14mm lateral adjustment and 20-degrees rotation adjustment, 130 g |
Cassette | Shimano XT, 12-speed (10-51), Cassette size: 10-51T, Gear range: 510% |
Chain | Shimano M7100 12-speed |
Brakes | Shimano Deore XT M8120 | Shimano Deore XT M8120, High-power 4-piston brake, reach adjust, quick pad retraction, banjo-type connection, ICE TECH brake pads, 410 g Type: Hydraulic Disc |
Rims | DT Swiss XM 1700 | DT Swiss XM 1700 S12 |
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Tires | Maxxis Dissector 2.4", The Dissector tire offers outstanding traction and control. | Maxxis Minion DHRII 3C MaxxTerra EXO 2,4x29“ |
Disc Rotors | Shimano XT brake rotor, 203mm, ICE TECH FREEZA design reduces heat build-up and brake fade, center lock mounting for quick installation/removal | Shimano RT-MT800, 180mm |
Last updated January 29
Not listed for 461 days