Thinking of getting a bike here in the UK as I want to keep my Evil Sovereign in Greece for when I visit. Will also be a welcome change to go on an FS for the first time.

https://www.canyon.com/en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=3558

Anyone have anything against Canyon or this specific model to mention? Do you believe it’s good value for money? It’s a good chunk of money but I believe it’s a bike that you get and you don’t need to change anything (well unless you want to!)

Nice. Polished or ‘red’? It’ll be interesting to hear your experiences if you do get one.

I’m tempted by the Spectral AL 7 .0 EX. Fewer branded parts, but a more appealing price. At the price there’s not much that competes with 650b wheels*.

The On-One Codeine would be on my list but that’s a 29er.

I’ve been looking for comments, opinions, and reviews. There are a few Canyon-related threads on STW. And a handful of reviews on the web (MBR Spectral AL 6). PinkBike seems to have a couple of Canyon threads.

I get the impression that they’re OK. I’m expecting that if I get one it’ll feel different from (& better than) my 2003 Sub 5.

*But I’d like to hear suggestions.

I’ve got one, looks lovely when it arrives but the paint scuffs up really quickly. Seat tube seems excessively long for the rest of the frame so on a large I barely have the reverb extended beyond the collar.

Ride is good in a downhill focused all day ride kind of way. It’s not as quick as my codeine that it replaced, it feels like it always needs pedalling to make progress.

It’s a head not a heart purchase, there are other bikes I’d rather have had but not at that price (I bought mine as an insurance replacement.

I have one too – I’m really happy with it, but then it’s a way better bike than I am rider. I’ve changed the grips but mostly because I had some ODI rogues hanging about that are really comfy. Canyon bike fit thing recommended a small, but I ignored and went for a medium which was the right decision. The bar is bit wide for me though – but easily cut down.

It climbs pretty well (would climb even better if I lost a few kg) and just floats down the descents at Swinley. I reckon the 7.0 EX is better value though. I ordered that originally but the wait time was too long so I paid a but more for the model they had in stock.

Nice. Polished or ‘red’?

Red looked really nice on Canyons site but a little bit of googling with a friend of mine revealed that its extremely glossy, which I did not really like. I suppose the polished isn’t so bad and I believe scratches wouldn’t show as much as it’s aluminium colour?

I reckon the 7.0 EX is better value though

You might be right but I’m really keen on having an RCT3 Pike instead of an RC. I have a 2012 RCT3 Rev on my Sovereign and I love it. I can only imagine the pike would be way better.
Also, my friend has the Cane Creek DBair on his Nukeproof Mega and he swears by it. He said the DBinline would probably be just as good if not better (on the spectral).
That’s the main reason why I am not really looking into the 7 model.

I have an 8EX, Its far from standard now but even fresh out the box it was a quicker bike than my Commencal Meta SX on pretty much everything bar full on DH trails, now after a few carefully chosen mods it really is a great bike to ride.
One bad thing about the bike is the paintwork, it’s very soft and scratches very easily.

Do you mind stating what mods you did to it? Do you have the 2015 with the pike or the 2014 with the revs?

All I’ve done is swap to carbon fatbars. I was considering fitting xt 11sp shifters, mech & brakes on but the SRAM stuff is OK, it’ll last until I break it and swap it then.

I’d have preferred a 32t chainring as well tbh.

Are the guide brakes not as good as XTs? I have XTs on my evil, which I loved after having nightmares with previous elixirs… However reviewers say that the Guide brakes are much better now and on par with XT.

I now have a silver 8 ex. Great bike, you can see it on the invisiframe site. I swapped the brakes for my old xt. I really liked the guide rs though, but not with the standard pads, had uber when I sold them. After a bleed they were like xt crossed with my old dual pot saints.the cane creek is great, but in fairness so are the new RS shocks.

It’s a 2015 I have, I’ve changed the bars to carbon fat bars, chainring to a 32, grips to a set of Raceface Strafes, modded the pike so it’s now 160 instead of 150 and I’ve fitted an offset bush to slacken the head angle that bit more, people say why didn’t I buy a Strive, I was meant to be getting a Strive CF Race but cancelled due to the delays and I don’t regret it, I’ve heard a few people having issues with the shapeshifter

Forgot, I’ve also changed the front tyre to a Maxxis shorty as it better suites the trails in the tweed valley

My opinion on the Guides is that they are more powerful than XT’s and give way better modulation, however, they go through pads at a much faster rate, I’ve had no bleeding issues with them not even after shortening the hose, they are still as powerful as the day I first got them.

Oh great to know there’s invisiframe for it!

How’s the silver polished against scratches then? You mentioned the paint being not so great, did you refer to the black parts?

As for the Guides, please tell me they don’t make those god awful noises elixirs used to make

Just bought the Spectral Al 7.0EX.

@prettygreenparrot nice! Felt like being spontaneous or have you been looking into it?

Another thing I forgot to ask the 8.0 ex owners: What do you think of the SRAM Roam 50 wheels? I have a set of Flows on Hope Pro Evo 2 hubs 26″ on the Evil and I love them to bits. Should I expect something similar, better or worse from these?

Red looked really nice on Canyons site but a little bit of googling with a friend of mine revealed that its extremely glossy, which I did not really like. I suppose the polished isn’t so bad and I believe scratches wouldn’t show as much as it’s aluminium colour?

The red is surprisingly dull in real-life too, glad I opted for the raw for mine (Torque that is, not Spectral)

Been considering it since last year. Seriously considering it since getting an idea in January of what bonus I should expect. My rough arithmetic was pleasantly conservative so it was this week or next to buy. Wanted to want a new orange 5 but a test ride made me not want it. Santa Cruz similarly. Loved the specialised camber and carbon evo but just too expensive. And realised that whilst 29″ makes sense it takes some of the throw about nature away. Thus I was left with ‘what FS with a dropper post, 650b, and 1×11’ for <£3000 and preferably <£2500.

7ex in black here. Had it about a month now. The anodised finish is pretty tough, but the downside is it’s difficult to tape up as it won’t stick very well. Ignored the sizing guide and went for a large, and it’s spot on for me. Long legs, short torso

Radon bikes? Just as an extra option

http://www.radon-bikes.de/en/bikes/mountainbike/all-mountain/

The only things holding me back at the moment are that I need to move to a new flat in August, which I haven’t yet found and I’m not sure if I’ll have space to store it and wash it…

Other than that the bike and a few parts and accessories (pedals, shoes, helmet gloves, some stans) would cost me about 3-3.1k.

I think at 186 cm height its a clear choice for a Large, correct?

I guess I still have time as the website says its going to be available last week of May.

P.S.: Not thrilled with RADON

Anyone got a Spectral 2015 that the missus could kindly try out for size in the North West (Manchester)? She’s looking at a small/medium.

I have the cf 9.0 ex and can’t say enough about it. Totally awesome bike and it’s really opened my eyes up to what a lightweight shorter travel bike can do. Roll on EWS.

If the Al version is half has good as this then just get it.

I’m sorely tempted to buy the 7.0EX but it’s not available till week 31 and I’d like it now! Im either going to have to order one and wait or buy a whyte g150s and get it now

I think they are cracking bikes

Oops that’s not a good advert for canyon! Think I might be safer with a Whyte!

Radon Slide…. that is all…..

What campfreddie said … and then some.

The Radon slide is nice but the top tubes seen quite short compared to other makes.

Spectral 7.0EX arrived Monday. Just had enough time to put it together after work to set up the shocks and convert the front tyre to tubeless before breaking my track pump and needing to prepare for a flight to the USA the next morning. Maybe I’ll get to ride it this weekend after I fly back to the UK and do all the DIY that needs to be finished this weekend. Or maybe it’ll be a mid week first ride. It looks stealthy. And feels plush. Might be about the same weight, or a little lighter, than my ancient Orange Sub 5. Swapped the 780mm Al bars for a pair of 747 C bars form my Orange already. And switched the hoses for the brakes to suit my ‘right for rear’ leanings.