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Hankering after a new bike and eyeing up the new Canyon Spectral. In the previous models the 150mm would've been perfect but now they've gone and confused things with what they're billing as a trail vs enduro bike with the same travel:
CANYON.COM Any thoughts? I'm thinking the Spectral but the Strive seems like a better buy with the whole shapeshifter thing but I'm not sold on the 29er (I have an XC carbon 29er for touring duties which is grand but unsure of a 29er as a my daily driver)
FWIW my riding is usually technical singletrack, the occasional bike park day/shuttles but I don't mind (read quite enjoy) the climbs.
Spectral would be my choice if you don't want a 29er.
Looking at the spec you selected they are almost identical so it comes down to the 'frame for the terrain!'
I guess it depends if you need an Enduro bike with all the suspension travel or a fast trail bike.
Shapeshifter's just a heavy bodge around meh geometry now isnt it?
Thé Strive is quite heavy, not that the Spectral is particularly light and weight is probably not that important but the Spectral sounds like a better bike for your needs.
Shapeshifter’s just a heavy bodge around meh geometry now isnt it?
Guess: yes! Not a fan of this toy.
Spectral sounds like a better bike for your needs.
Possible.
I really like 27.5 with fat rubber.
But there is an trend right now into the the direction of 29er. Have a 29er XC bike and this bike is fast. For me: 27.5 is more fun.
Strive maybe more a racing machine? Spectral more fun?
Probably. Nothing wrong with 29 but having fitted a 2.8 front on my 27.5 I kind of get a bit of 29ness without the downsides and a slightly slacker ha and slightly raised BB height.
I really like the two geometries shapeshifter gives me on my 2015 Strive. I have never found a (fixed geo) long slack bike that rides uphill well, but the XC mode on the Strive makes it so much more comfortable. It's just a shame, then, that it doesn't work.
The new version is different so maybe they've refined the design. I have heard murmurings that the geometry is not that progressive though. As a concept though I think the Shapeshifter is great.
My Foxy rides really well uphill.
Having spent extensive time on both bikes, the question you really need to ask yourself is what style of rider you are. Both bikes are equally capable, the spectral suits someone who likes to pop and play on a trial and the strive is more suited to all out speed and tracks amazingly! That being said the new suspension platform has made the bike a more playful than the previous mode
I have never found a (fixed geo) long slack bike that rides uphill well
That's a shame, I've ridden a fair few. Seattube Angle over 75 degrees seems to be the sweet spot for me.
The Shapeshifter idea would almost make sense if in XC mode it was XC angles and DH mode it was DH angles. Shame that it's 2012 angles all round!
Having spent extensive time on both bikes, the question you really need to ask yourself is what style of rider you are.
Thanks odugg, think you've nailed it there. I ride with folk with far more "pop" than me - boosting off the smallest of trail features etc.. and I know they'd love the Spectral. I like my technical/steeps riding but the enduro race weapon badge of the Strive is putting me off - I just want a good all round trail bike that I can razz around on singletrack but not feel out of my depth when I take it on the gondy/shuttle bus which is relatively often (once a month say).
I think I'm sold on the Spectre. FWIW I currently ride a 26" Transition Covert and the wife's Bronson v2 when I get the opportunity.
Why does it have to be a Canyon? Better bikes around IMO.
Why does it have to be a Canyon? Better bikes around IMO.
They seem like good value for money, both models get rave reviews and I love my Canyon CX bike.
Got any good alternative? I'm not keen on a YT. Did a couple of laps on a Mondraker Foxy the other night which was nice, not sure I could get used to the "forward geometry" long and low feel tho.
Why does it have to be a Canyon? Better bikes around IMO.
There are always "better" bikes around.
Bang for the buck: hard to beat Canyon.
Issue so: they grow maybe too fast and maybe difficult to keep quality under control.
above discussion / other bike brands:
maybe Commencal and Orbea?
Commencal is direct sales as well. And what I like: only aluminium...
Orbea Occam AM: think up to last year 27.5 and 150 mm travel
Now also 29? Less travel?
Have a similar quandary myself...2019 Spectral or 2019 YT Jeffsy 27.5 are my forerunners.
Anyone got either yet and can share their thoughts?
Which model spectral/Jeffsy are you looking at?
My next bike is between 3 bikes:
Cube Stereo 140 HPC TM
Canyon Spectral CFR 9.0SL
YT Jeffsy pro Race 27.5
Up until the new Jeffsy was launched the Stereo was miles ahead - the Canyon and Cube have very similar geometry, but the price difference couldn't be ignored. I rode both last years models, both are very confidence inspiring, playful and are awesome bikes.
The new Jeffsy has really got me wanting one though - I'll get a demo of one this year, if they've been able to keep the playful nature of the Jeffsy with the added length then it'll be a perfect bike.
Around the £3k mark for me, so probably the Spectral CF 7.0 or the Jeffsy CF Comp...
Booked on the Canyon demo day at Cannock in April, but getting itchy to order before then!
The original strive was a great idea - take full enduro race geometry (of the era) and add a lever to make it work better uphill.
Unfortunately they seemed to move to 29" wheels but keep the "enduro race" geometry from the same era as the original strive. A 66 degree head angle in "slack" mode is not slack enough and a 65 degree seat angle in the "steep" mode is not steep enough. Basically is shifts from one middle of the road geometry to another, slightly different, middle of the road geometry.
Why does it have to be a Canyon? Better bikes around IMO.
What would be your suggestion ?
Must admit I love the Fox/Full XT spec of the Spec CF8.0.
Funny how XT 11 is making a come back with the OE on 19 bikes. They probably realised that putting all their eggs 9n the same SRAM basket was a bit naive or they for a bit annoyed with early Eagle rear mechs or Shimano is giving it away prior to XT12 or perhaps a combination of all 3
Well I went with the Spectral in the end. Spent the week refreshing the UPS page watching the bike make it's way slowly around the world and came home to it on Friday evening.
Took it for a cheeky 30k spin today and I love it. Shock needs a bit of tweaking but otherwise it's a little ripper:
ENDURO-MTB.COM