What about HR2, – another obvious candidate? or HD?

Capra has Avid/SRAM brakes btw.
Rumour has it that Capra is not shipped with SRAM Guides as Avid are basically being discontinued.

Availability on Capras seems to be much better now. Some sizes in stock and a few weeks wait on most of the others.

The two are not mutually exclusive. You can check Ts & Cs and also ask for peoples’ experiences. FWIW I did go ahead and order, and I did check the Ts & Cs. Ts and Cs say that you can return even after delivery as long as the bike shows no signs of having been used outside. It is useful however to get a feel for “real world” policy. eg. Some companies are difficult re. returns, others have are very straight forward as a matter of reputation. If I heard numerous stories of protracted delays in issuing refunds I would have reasonable cause to be weary.

The law in the EU is actually very clear as to an almost absolute right of revocation and return for Online purchases. This is due to the fact that you do not get to see and feel the goods as you would on the high street. With most companies pursuing your rights is quite straightforward, but unfortunately with others it can sometimes turn into a battle of attrition.

“What a strange idea, I thought people just ranted on the Internet about this stuff… I bet the have a crafty tick box to say you read them too”

Spirit of the law and letter of the law are two very different things. It’s good to get real world feedback on real customer service experience.

You must have a lot of time on your hands if you peruse over the legalese blurb on every T&C check-box that you tick.

Was it the k-tec bushings you had a problem with?
– Thats where I got mine too!
Tool seems to work ok for me (a bit of a pain the get the tool out after fitting the new bushing, but fine otherwise).

AFAIK Canyon used to change prices on a daily basis based on the prevailing exchange rate.
This actually caused a lot of complaints and complications, so apparently they changed to fixing prices based on a certain rate. It is possible that they fix based on a rate that allows for adverse rate movements.

It is of course equally possible that they simply feed they can charge a but more for “certain” territories based on what the relevent market can bear.

http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/shop/mountain/mountain-drivetrain/mountain-pedals/

Very well priced and very light

EX a more aggressive build, – it is basically Canyon’s EVO build, – so its like comparing a Specialized Stumpy non-EVO versus an EVO version.

SL version is Superlight
EX is Extreme (I think?)

I would definitely go for the the EX

Currently on a Transition Bandit (and a Mega, now just sold), but shorter stem would be for a Canyon Spectral CF which is on order. Spectral is a bit longer n the top tube than I am used to, -comes with 50mm Renthal stem. Thinking a 35mm short stem might be the ticket

Renthal, 760 or 780

Top tube should be plenty long in my case.
How was steering, did it feel sketchy, or to quick at all?

“creative line choices”
LOL

Cost is 3999 euro for the EX version, – EX is basically an EVO build in the Canyon line. There is nothing compromised on this build that I can make out, – everything is high end. Medium and Large for the EX is available on the week of the 16th February – if there are no delays of course! You don’t pay anything until they are ready to ship btw.

https://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=3667

To add to the above, – I’m thinking of raising the Pikes to 160 up front, but I’ll wait and see how I get on with the 150 for a while.
The 140 travel on the back is actually a big plus for me, – I’ve had a few 160 travel bikes and they can really suck the life out of your pedal strokes when you are pushing it, – unless the suspension is very good.

I’ve pulled the trigger on a Spectral CF 9.0 EX. It is available in February in most sizes.

I’m struggling to find any faults with this bike. I reckon this bike will be plenty, plenty stiff, – Carbon frames tend to be stiff anyway, and its built up spot on, – Pikes up front, CCDB Inline and the Mavic Crossmax XL, wide Renthal DH carbon bars – it could be a dark horse as a bit of a weapon. This is a very aggressive trail bike, – basically a lighter, slightly smaller travel enduro bike. For “most” enduro tracks, I’m betting it has plenty travel and will be a well fast bike. Most tracks only have a few steep sections, – an aggressive trail bike can have lots of advantages.

Also wondering about the spectral sizing, – online calculator has me on a Small at 171cm height and 78cm inseam.
I currently ride a Medium Transition Bandit (known for being short), which is on the short side of top tube that I would go for. I’ve looked at a Capra sizing also, and managed to sit on one, YT sizing were recommending a Small which would have been way too small for sure.
I’m wondering if Canyon have a similar penchant for recommending small sizes?

“You could buy a bike today and lose your job next week.
If you intend to buy a new bike just buy it.
If you are unsure due financial inscurity, don’t buy it. “

I’m not particularly concerned about losing my job really, I’m just curious overall as to what the situation is.

Canyon Spectral (EX versions, with Pikes up front) would also be similar.

Loads and loads of top class biking all around Wicklow, – a lot of stuff built by riders though (the best kind of trails IMO), so could be tricky to find – Ticknock just next to Dublin city is a warren of Trails, – some official marked stuff which is pretty decent, and heaps of Enduro runs if you keep your eyes open. Chances are you will bump into a local there who can point you in the right direction.

+1 on getting in touch with biking.ie if you want to make the most of your time, – these are the guys who are behind the EWS round next year and they know what they are at.

Ballyhouras trail centre has some great new “tech” sections opened this summer, -which are more enduro than xc.

“Tf said No.”
— As in can’t be done?

Plenty of travel on the Codeine for an enduro 29er. You can be assured with this bike, that it wouldn’t be the bike holding you back.
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/on-one-codeine-video-2014.html

Excellent.

Thinking of doing a Joe Barnes on one of those Spectrals and turning the fork (Pike 150 comes with it) into a 160 for an enduro weapon.

(not that I ride anything like JB!)

Sounds good, so stanchions etc are all the same?

Anyone here have 150mm pikes? Do they have 2 sets of sag measurements? ie. the measurements for 150 and also 160?

Solid Bikes also worth a look

Also very interested in this bike, – so eager to hear any feedback.

Thinking about the new carbon one due out, – with 150 pike and CCDB-Inline,- thinking this could be a ripper of a bike for enduro with the new geometry.

you contact canyon, they will send you out a new unit, once you receive it you then send your unit back to canyon

OK, thats great to know, – if thats the process, it makes a huge difference. Do you know if there is a charge for this? – Any link to info? – I can’t find much info on servicing etc…

so it should require significantly less servicing than a Reverb or similar

How to service is the big question? is it something anyone could do? or would it need to be sent back to Canyon?

I guess if it stops working, then Canyon can fix it.

..which means the bike may need to be sent back, or you’re without a bike for a while

Im actually really liking the look of the new Canyon Spectral CF a lot more than the Strive.

140 CCDB Inline on the back and 150 pike on the front, with long top tube also.

I’m thinking it could be very nice as an enduro race bike, – there are pros and cons with the smaller travel, but 140/150 should be enough forn most terrain. HA is 67 degrees though, – but I guess the upside of that is snappier cornering.
Looks good as well:

Any thoughts on this bike? – for general use and a bit of enduro racing…

Just looking at the numbers on the wheelbase, and it does look very weird. I’m wondering if there is a mistake too. Last year’s WB was 1137,8, this year its down to 1114, even though the reach/top tube is longer and chainstay is the same.

It doesn’t add up to me.

“The canyon spectral has a really short wheelbase which I’m not sure about. “
This years Canyon Spectral is a different beast, Top tube is 17mm longer than last year, making for a nice long, low stable, fast bike.

There is a carbon Spectral coming out soon, that looks like a serious weapon. I’m giving a lot of thought to as an enduro race bike, 150mm pike with 140mm rear CCDB inline, coming at 27 pounds with an aggressive build (wide bars, short stem, 1×11).

Wha area of Spain is it, out of curiosity?

Thanks for all the info, Ill follow up on some of those, should be enough to tide me over with a fix or two of biking at least. I’ve been out around there a few years before and muddled my way around the campo a bit. I’ll ask around the bike shops etc. And see if there is anyone English speaking that knows their way around.

Yeah definitely an early start there at that time of year, heat starts to get punishing after 11 in morning, still time for 3 or 4 hours on the bike though, – getting lost in the campo without water is definitely something worth avoiding!

Sorry, just caught up with this thread now.

The foam will just protect from scrapes etc, – which is probably good enough for the chest. The back is the main thing IMO.

I don’t think any body armour will protect either your ribs or collar bone from a blow.

Bluegrass Grizzly all the way.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.aspx?Search=bluegrass+grizzly

Anything else I had never came close, – too much like american footballer attire. With this one, it’s good and tight too (light and stretchy), so people nearly wouldn’t notice you’re wearing armour.

Has d30 back and shoulders and lightweight foam on the chest. You’d nearly forget you’re wearing it sometimes. Throw on some elbow pads if/when you feel you need them.

The problem with a lot of the other ones is that they’ve bugger all protection for your back. Most other injuries will heal up ok, – but if you mangle your back you’re F-ed.

http://www.bike-components.de/products/info/p32548_Lyrik-RC2-DH-Solo-Air-Federgabel-Modell-2013-.html?xtcr=5&xtmcl=

AFAIK – the cheapest these ones can be gotten new.

Liking the look of the Bluegrass Grizzy, – has d30 back protector, – though not sure how good it would be as compared to a hard one

Also very interested in these. A sweet looking fork, well priced and the little info i could find has all been positive. Yeah, info seems to be scant on the ground to say the least.
All I could find was this user info from NZ and a few other little tidbits
http://www.vorb.org.nz/2013-marzocchi-t123588.html

Undecided whether to go with these or the 55 ti evo, … I think these look a bit nicer, better priced and that little bit lighter.

keep heaeing great things about the 55 evo but that article has been discredited quite a few times, ie comparing low end open bath fox to high end marzocchi and questionable marzocchi bias of testers.

Hard to find any disappointed owners of the marz 55 evo though,…

german websites are the cheapest afaik.
google h & s discount (239 euro) which are a big german online site (in english also) with very quick and cheap delivery.

Mid march is the word