Canyon Lux for XC and fun?

I’m thinking of changing my Specialised Epic for a Canyon Lux and just wondering what any owners’ thoughts are. I like the Epic because of the rear brain but don’t like the shock service cost and service waiting times so want a bike with more ‘normal’ suspension. The Lux comes with rear and front lockouts so is good for road, track, firewood link sections. Plus I like its looks and race heritage.
I ride mostly longish distance, XC style and marathon sportives and like cycling to the hills as well as going uphill as quick as I can, so the epic has been good. Recent times has seen less events and more fun riding which has included trying to follow my mate on his enduro bike down hill with no sense of control or ability to keep up. The ability is partly me, clipped in with a high seat, but the bike feels incredibly nervy on steep, loose, rutted stuff, and too many bailouts over the front often sees me walking. So, I’m wondering should I get a bike more akin to this new play riding and be able to enjoy the jumps and drops more and is the Canyon Lux going to be just the same as the Epic and perhaps I should look at a different model? Will a different style of bike really make much difference or do I just have to man up and get used to sketchy?

I had a 2015 Lux. Used it for everything. Natural MTB trails, trail centres, West Highland Way over two days,  Keilder 100/cross border loop and with the lockout I used it for the Fred Whitton. Really no complaints about it at all. Only moved it on as I wanted a new toy and would definitely consider a newer model. I found it really comfortable over distance. I’m conservative in my riding style, could I keep up with a mate on an Enduro sled?probably not, but the bike probably could. It would cope but perhaps not the best tool for the job, but if the majority of the riding is like you say then it would be a fantastic choice, out with your mates it’ll cope.

Scott Spark would also fall into that category

What about just switching to the Epic Evo?
Seems like there are a lot of XC bikes that have been tweaked towards fun recently so may be quite a few that fit the bill better than the lux?
Also a dropper post might transform confidence on your current bike, getting one made a world of difference to my confidence

Shock service is at most a once a year event, seems a bit odd to change a bike just because of this.

For the riding with mates, add a dropper (and put on flats for these rides) then get yourself some skills with a training day(s).

Maybe also look at bar height/width.

I have a 2020 Lux got it during last lockdown, its a pure XC race bike and it’s very very fast. In respect to ‘fun’ if going at supersonic speed with a 70deg head angle is your definition of fun then yeah it’s the bike for you – the other bikes especially the Epic were just too slack for me. There’s two really good clips of earlier models (same geometry) on YouTube by Dave Arthur & Guy Kestervan that put it through its paces – Dave Arthur takes it round a DH run somewhere in the U.K.
The Lux comes with a dropper though TBH I’ve barely used it here in the Chilterns & raced it at Gorrick over 4 & 8 hours. I also needed two bottle cages which the Lux has with its in line shock. Pink bike did a whole test of XC bikes recently (didn’t involve the Spark) which is also on YT.
I think The Spark is the only comparable bike as its head angle is 69deg but I went for the Lux for the bottle cages & the wheels – Reynolds XC Black Label with Industry Nine Hyrda hubs & AXS plus before brexit it was cheaper than the comparable Spark.

As mentioned above, XC/DC field tests;
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pinkbike+xc+field+test

And maybe these, YT Izzo;

The Izzo is nice but probably a bit overkill for the OP. That Pinkbike field test was really good, though they did not rate the Lux too highly in descending terms. Spark RC is a great shout, just add a dropper post and away you go. 2021 models now get the new 35mm Sid or Fox 34SC too with 110mm travel for a bit of extra capability going down. I’d also look for a Kona Hei Hei, though not sure what availability is like.

I’ve got a Transition Spur and with a swap of tyres reckon it would be a weapon on an XC course. It handles amazingly, corners like its on rails and is hella light, mine is 12kg with XT trail pedals and the stock 2.4 Maxxis tyres, go some lighter pedals and racey rubber and you’ll be 11.5kg easily. Not cheap, but so worth it.

yeah the Lux certainly isn’t going to get you out of trouble on descents – it goes where you point it and if thats wrong the rest is up to you – I like this but at 54 I’m still foolishly convincing myself I’m a contender 😉 but it might not be for everyone.

The Neuron is a little slacker than the Lux (67.5 head angle) with more travel front and rear (130mm) if you wanted something a little more capable without straying too far away from XC.

Just don’t mention the rear pivot bolts that are made of cheese and rare as rocking horse poo when trying to replace them.

I’m planning to buy a Pivot Mach4 for similar use – but with Live Valve for extra “why the hell not”-ness. Rides amazingly well!

Thanks for the feedback.
That pink bike xc/dc review is useful and the term ‘downcountry’ seems to have some bikes that fit my outlook.
I hadn’t really appreciated what the epic evo was – it looks good for me and points that the canyon lux isn’t really for me anymore, which is a shame because I like the look and some of the design features. Maybe their next generation will be slacker.
Just got to find a bike now for the right price and availability.
Cheers

Yeah sounds like something a bit more ‘down-country’ might be a good option:

Transition Spur
YT Izzo

Slightly more cross country but not all out twitchy is the Trek Top Fuel. A mate rides his for everything he used to ride his Remedy for – although he has his eye on a Spur later this year.

Not sure if a Santa Cruz Tallboy is too ‘trail’ but they look pretty good.

Wouldn’t bother with the Tallboy personally if you want a fast bike, it is hefty! Great going down, but very active climbing and the weight is obvious over something like a Spur or even an Ibis Ripley. Definitely a downhillers short travel trail bike, rather than a jumped up XC/downcountry bike. Same for the Norco Optic. Basically I think for anything to be classed as truly “downcountry” (I know, I hate myself for saying it too), it needs a 34SC or a 35mm Sid and under 27/28lb, stick a pike or full fat 34 (or even a 36 in the case of the Optic) on a bike and it’s more of a trail bike

Why not a Trek Top Fuel?

Can be built up whichever way you want – I rode it initially as XC racer, but as I realised how capable the bike is, I literally stopped riding my Remedy and went ‘downcountry’ with the Top Fuel.

As it stands now, its 28lbs ish including enduro spec tyres, inserts, pump & bag etc. Has dual lockout which I use a lot.

Generally available in stock

Had a go on a Trek Top Fuel and boy it feels weird with the front wheel that far out front! It didn’t feel comfortable for powering up hill, too cramped and wandery front wheel. Only a flat grass ride but so different to my Epic. Now wondering if 66.5 head angle is too slack – partly based on someone else^^ saying the new Epic was too slack for them. Need to try some different bikes to work out this head angle thing, as maybe only 1 or 2 degree change is going to have big implications.

I just picked up an Intense Sniper T for exactly this type of riding. Trail geo, marathon bike light.

26.5 lbs, tubeless, including pedals and dropper – Size large. I got the Elite model

I think you can add 1lbs for the alloy wheeled version.

Sniper looks good, and I see even the XC version is 67,5 and decent reach. And no seatstay bridge for good mud clearance.

Trek supercaliber if the top fuel is too slack

If you want a new bike then crack on

But a dropper will make a HUGE difference and is worth a try

I think The Spark is the only comparable bike as its head angle is 69deg

There are two models of the Spark; the current RC is a 110mm bike with a 68 degree HA, the non RC is 120/130 with a 67 degree HA.

The non RC would be ideal for what you describe, with the twinloc likely to be used for your race events which will alter the suspension to 100mm and firm up the compression, and steepen the HA. This’d give you trail and race respectively.

The Neuron is a little slacker than the Lux (67.5 head angle) with more travel front and rear (130mm) if you wanted something a little more capable without straying too far away from XC.

Now I think about it maybe the new Neuron or longer travel

My other option was the Scott Spark.

The YT Izzo is more of a fast trail bike that also does XC well. I think an Epic Evo or Spark would be more suitable for the OP’s usage. The Spark comes in 100mm travel or 120mm travel versions so you can pick based on intended usage.

If you like your epic, how about ditching the brain, fitting a bikeyoke with a regular shock and changing airspring to get the fork to 120mm?