To answer the OP, no you can’t get round it. Had mine delivered to Germany from where a work colleague bought it over on one of his regular flights with Lufthansa as hold luggage. It was his only hold luggage so it was free (well, part of his ticket price that he doesn’t usually use, as nothing is free).

He checked with Lufthansa first. Had this not been an option the back up was a courier which was quoted at £94 with Insurance.

Either way, minimal hassle to save 15%. Only a £320 saving on my Dude, obviously bigger £££ savings to be had on more expensive bikes.

My Canyon Dude was delayed slightly but got delivered to my mate in Germany last month, he in turn bought it over as hold luggage with Lufthansa for free so total cost to me was £1887 instead of £2199. A bit of faffing about but well worth it in my opinion.

I had one. Great bit of kit, bike carrier, changing room, campervan etc etc.

However, in addition to the cost of interior conversion, the maintenance and repairs bills £4800 in 49 months of ownership meant that moving it on was the best financial decision I ever made!

pimpmyride –
Thats crap Stu gutted for you pal!
Iv’e just got back from Wales and the bike was truly amazing!

Trek farley?

Sorry Pimp, only just seen this. Yeah was a bummer and really missing fat, especially as 5 riding buddies now have them!

On the plus side, when the Fatty went back I ordered a Canyon Dude which should be with me in 4 weeks :-)

Not so successful here. Did a couple of rides trying to run my Floaters at 10-15 psi and ripped a valve out of a tube on both, after the tyre rotated on the rim. Loads of faffing, doing my own investigation but mostly riding at 20 psi to be sure of getting back as beads always unseated at 16 psi while riding. 14 phone calls plus emails to On-One, tyres sent back for investigation for 2 weeks, wheels and tyres sent back for 4 weeks, still not resolved after 3 months and patience ran out in the end. Complete bike rejected under Sale of Goods Act for a full refund. Loved the bike but too much messing about and fobbing off going on.

Sorry my mistake, didn’t notice you’d quoted Germany. Though it’s not exactly the same, even if Spesh have there own distributor and dealers, they still have all the same infrastructure and overheads as an independant dealer network. Canyon have one showroom.

Either way, the maths doesn’t seem to add up.

MSP – Think canyon is bad, spesh enduro 29 frame in Germany is 3300euros, and 3300gbp in the UK, at current exchange rates that’s equivalent to about 4.5k euros.

Point is, no matter where you live, you are buying your Canyon from Koblenz so it should be the same price across all markets. The regional offices are simply sales and tech support staff speaking in the local tongue, if they didn’t have those, they’d just have more staff back at base. Regional offices don’t carry stock, spares or deal with warranty.

You buy your Spesh (or Trek, SC, etc etc) off a dealer, who in turn buys off a distributor. Everybody is having their cut and in return has to have support infrastructure in place. Also, bikes coming from outside the EU will have import duty and most likely a higher rate of VAT.

Find someone in Europe to take delivery. Change your country option on the website to the country of delivery, leave the language on English and order. Simples. Ordered my Canyon for delivery to a mate in Germany. Won”t know the outcome until June!

What’s with all this concern for Canyons margin and comparison to conventional distribution? Come on STWers, I thought you were intelligent!

Anyway,

Jamz –
Thanks very much for your post Mr McGroo – very helpful!

I’m just wondering, can you still pay via a UK bank account if its being delivered abroad

Yes you can, the order system didn’t want to know my credit cards, tried two but it was asking me to change my payment method. Switched to pre pay (bank transfer) and all went through OK. Being delivered to a mate in Zwiebrucken, who will bring it over to the UK.

Good point Jamz, didn’t think about that one, I’ll let you know when I try to place my order.

Another point the guy made which answers one of the questions raised here is that apparently Canyon have exceeded the legal sales threshold for dealing in non-local currency hence delivery to the UK requires GBP. Don’t know what this law is, just repeating what I was told.

Overall though I think Canyon are being pretty inflexible. Obviously they want to protect themselves against currency fluctuation but even when the prices were set last August they were steeped in favour of the Euro. I did make the point in an earlier email to Canyon that any moderately educated person buying from a direct-sell manufacturer would expect currency fluctuations and pay whatever was required at the time of purchase. I don’t make a habit of checking prices but last week Rose were selling bikes at very realistic and up-to-date UK prices equivalent to €1.30/£ which would suggest that they track currency fluctuations. Seems the proper way to do it to me.

I spoke at length with Canyon’s UK Sales Manager today in an attempt to get some movement on the GBP price of a bike I want to order. Absolutely nothing doing. Despite his admission that the conversation is getting more commonplace, he is powerless to act, cannot discount the GBP price (even though in reality I wasn’t asking for discount, I was simply asking not to be penilised) and can only relay messages from disgruntled UK based customers back to HQ.

I’d already dropped out that I have friends in several mainland European countries and his suggestion was that I had my bike shipped to them and forwarded to me at a cost of £30 or so. His other suggestion was to order for pick-up in Koblenz, fly to Frankfurt or Cologne, get the Train and spend the day at the Canyon Centre, testing riding, being measured up etc.

To be fair to him, his bosses are asking him to sell bikes in the UK for 13-15% more than his colleagues in the other 13 Support Centres across Europe and he is having to advise UK based customers to go to his internal competitors, I’m no salesman but that must be rather annoying.

He did stress that the bikes still represent exceptional value against their competitors to which I hole heartily agreed but by having your second largest market uncompetitive against your own brand in a neighbouring country is a bit of an own goal by Canyon HQ.

Anyway, I’m getting mine delivered on the mainland.

Put a quarter of a litre less water in your Camelbak and save £180 :wink:

They started squealing on me last year, (went through elimination process – long story short) switched to genuine Shimano, problem solved and last longer.

Everyday bike? Why not? My theory is that MTB tyres topped out at 2.4 inches because that was all you could fit in the frames, not because that’s where optimum grip is. Why not go to 4″ or indeed, why stop there?

Also, how many replies are based on perception rather than actual use, proper use, not grabbing 300 metres on someone else’s bike that hasn’t got the seat or controls set correctly for you?

I’ve been riding a Fatty for 2 months now and love it. It climbs better than my Trance 29 and tackles my regular, currently very sloppy rides better overall. I’ve heard it said (by another regular fat bike rider) that you have to take on a different, more laid-back mindset when riding them but I disagree, if anything, with the extra grip confidence, I throw a bit more caution to the wind.

On away days to Deggy, Coedy and FoD I switched back to the Trance, partly due to the perceived jumpy nature of trail centres and partly due to ongoing On-One tyre/rim issues. With hindsight the Fatty would have been fine at Coedy and FoD, though probably still take FS to Deggy but not essential as I’ve ridden there with plenty of guys on rigids and hardtails.

If you’re limited to one bike, it’s no more restrictive than any other regular set-up, in fact, in wetter conditions (33% of year?) it’s probably better.

Good on yer billyboy, I haven’t bothered reading all 4 pages as it seemed from the off that you were clearly wrong to have an opinion and express it too. Still they have a point, why wouldn’t you expect your overpriced, hand crafted in Britain from the highest quality plasticine, components to pack up within months, so that you can carry a full spares package and exact your own field repairs. Keep up the good work and don’t give in to the pressure no matter how unbearable it becomes :wink:

8 weeks is too early to remove a dog from it’s mother/litter.

Socialise it with as many people/other dogs as possible, especially at a young age.

But avoid negative situations, again, especially at a young age.

Get a puppy cage, it’s not cruel, the dog will feel secure and naturally retreat to it.

Never hit your dog.

Don’t bother with insurance. If insurance companies can make a profit then so can you.

If it’s a dog, don’t have it castrated without serious thought and reason.

Don’t use an extending lead.

Always clean up after your dog.

Fit a dog flap.

Find a vet you would trust with your own life (or even bike!).

A dog is for life.

I wouldn’t get tied up with bike weight.

Bike fit, geometry for the terrain and body weight are far more important imo, only when those are in order do you need to be concerned with bike weight.

I’ve got a 38lb Fatty that is far more comfortable than my 31lb Trance and which I find climbs far easier. And you wouldn’t take a DH bike on a cross country ride, no matter how light it was.

As for Fatty issues, my tyres keep popping off the bead when I deflate then to 15 psi. They’re not loose because they need over pressurising to get them to seat in the first place. Currently waiting for feedback from OO.

Yes mine had pink tyres but it wasn’t seen in public until they’d been changed for black. If you’re used to riding sub 25lb bikes then the weight penalty may put you off at 37+ lbs. For me it’s only 6 lbs over my Trance and until recently I was carrying 16 stone of my own around so less noticeable. My mate rides a 23 lb Niner and really notices the extra 10 lbs on his Fat Bike. Like I say, I tried it and have a blast but it won’t be for everyone.

My Trance 29 was out of service for a couple of weeks recently and not really being in love with my Scalp DH bike at the moment I decided a back-up trail bike was required. I wanted something simple that I’d also ride by choice rather than just necessity but nothing was lighting my fire.

Had a brief flirt with Surly Krampus and then, don’t laugh, got curious about fat bikes. The interest grew and with On-One doing there Limited Edition Fatty for £800 it was worth a punt, thinking that if I didn’t like it I could get out without losing too much. However, I love it and the last three Sundays I’ve jumped out of bed like a kid at Christmas.

On paper it’s heavy but judging by my position in the pack, if anything, I’m faster both up and down hill. I ride 2 or 3 times a week off-piste at Cannock and it’s just as good as my Trance, better in current conditions. For away days to trail centres I’ll almost certainly leave it at home but natural rides, Lakes, Peaks, Long Mynd, I’ll happily take the Fatty.

Back in the day I twice had day trips to Chamonix. Early flight from Luton to Geneva, Easycar, arrive Chamonix 1000, 5-6 hours snowboarding, slap up meal in town, back to airport for late departure. You’re on the go for 24 hours but it was better than the Snowdome.

Long story short, hired both a carbon Nomad and (begrudgingly) a Five from Alpine Bikes at Inners in September. Next year I will be getting a Five.

Impulse buy a couple of weeks ago, two muddy Chase rides down and lovin’ it.

Cheers tom, got some “X0 discreet clamps” from CRC, wasn’t sure if they were the right ones as there was no image but they are and we’re all sorted now. :-)

They ride uphill perfectly well but if someone’s offering a lift it’d be rude not to! :lol:

I’ve had two, a 2010 and a 2012, can’t say I could feel any difference.

My only comparison was with a Giant Anthem 29er which I found far to head down and lively and was glad I went with the RIP but it is very much personal preference and I like riding down more than up.

For the last two years it’s been my only bike, I did have others but every time I went to the garage I came out with the Niner so I got shot of the them.

You feel like you’re part of a family, especially when Chris Sugai (Niner boss) comments on your bike on facebook and Steve Domahidy (the other boss and CVA suspension designer, now left unfortunately) personally answers your technical queries by email. Customer service is legendary and it’s deserved.

Thanks guys, good to get some real world feedback rather than media bs.

Whilst some seem very reliable, what’s with all this replacing parts and spending money? Running a T5 Transporter at the moment and it snapped a drive shaft at 70,000 miles which I thought was bang out of order. Previous 4×4 was a Mitsubishi, 115,000 miles and 5 years on nothing but tyres and pads (ok and servicing).

Again, thanks very much but I’m putting this idea to bed. :wink:

davidtaylforth – Try here blah bah blah

Thanks for your constructive input davidtaylforth but if everything we did had to have a point we probably wouldn’t do much at all.

dashed – not put off by the general running costs, more concerned with reliablity. It wouldn’t be getting a hammering off road, probably a kerb, speed hump and the odd verge, that sort of thing.

Seriously though, how reliable in everyday road use?

New series? Thought I was watching Dave for a minute there!

sharkattack – still no option to pay them…. So what do you think? Will I actually receive a bike

Unlikely if you haven’t paid!

I used to have one, fast but tediously dull!

EVOC ordered :D

FuzzyWuzzy –
I think if I ever get a 29er that I want to travel with I’ll have problems but from what I understand the newer EVOC version has bigger wheel pockets anyway.

Yeah their website says that 29ers fit, according to reviews most other bags seem to have trouble. Did a search after I posted and it seems the EVOC bag is well thought of.

Thanks for all the replies, I shall bare all the advice in mind and share it with my travelling mates.

Out of interest, anyone using a EVOC bike travel bag?

The Vega Brothers

I’m interested. Wish list is quality of results and price. Wouldn’t want the originals back, I’d just make sure I sent them securely.

EDIT: Of course there’d be none of me so I couldn’t be bribed on, say, an internet forum!! 8O

Cheers guys, good advice there, glad to see there are no real horror stories.

Cheers wideboy, will be using a bag, a mate says pack it so that you’d be happy to throw it down the stairs!

Flying is not certain yet, just weighing up, might do another road trip!

XT’s. Got mine from Rose Bikes, bargaintastic.

100mphplus – … and before someone starts the tired old wifes tales about cracked frames, I was told by the Commencal Marketing Manager that Nth America and UK have not had one single cracked frame warranty since launch.

£3600+ and they still only offer a 6 month warranty, so anything over that wouldn’t come under a warranty claim, which means your guy was probably telling the truth!!

Canyon FRX start at £1659 with 6 year warranty. Or what about a World Cup winning Devinci Wilson Carbon with lifetime warranty for £3250?

I’m looking for a downhill bike next year and won’t touch any manufacturers who show no faith in their own products!

Just my opinion :wink:

faz083 – ^which can’t be used by medical personnel for legal reasons until verified…. but hey ho

Clearly you haven’t got a clue what you’re commenting on… but hey ho :wink: