Does Canyon’s dedicated enduro race bike perform outside the tapes?

This competition is now closed

Until recently, Canyon had to use its Strive enduro machine to please the long-travel 29in wheel crowd, even for those more interested in trail riding than racing.

Now, Canyon has its new Spectral and Torque range, the German brand has managed to go back to the Strive’s pedigree and produced an unapologetic race bike designed to stand on the top step of any enduro podium.

The new frame’s travel is increased to 160mm. While the visual aesthetics are very similar to the old frame, it has received an extensive overhaul. Canyon has increased stiffness by 25 per cent by changing the tubing profiles, carbon lay-up and pivot locations.

Being an uncompromising race bike, the frame is available only in Canyon’s higher-spec CFR carbon fibre to help reach its stiffness-to-weight goals.

One thing that stays the same is the 29in wheels, which Canyon claims are the fastest options for the varying trails found in enduro racing.

The new bike still uses Canyon’s Shapeshifter technology, which enables you to change its geometry and suspension kinematics while riding. It has two modes, ‘pedal’ and ‘shred’.

For this model, Canyon has introduced changeable headset cups that give you 10mm of reach and front-centre adjustment.

There are boss mounts for on-frame tool storage, and medium-size and bigger frames will fit a large 750ml water bottle. There’s plenty of chainstay protection and a down-tube guard. There’s also rear tyre clearance for 29×2.5in tyres, Boost hub spacing and a threaded bottom bracket.

I tested the size-medium frame. This has a reach of 480mm, which can be shortened or lengthened to 475mm or 485mm with the changeable headset cups.

There’s a slack 63-degree head tube angle in the Strive’s ‘shred’ mode and a low 36mm bottom bracket drop. Canyon has made this bike long, low and slack. It has kept the rear stays short, though, at 435mm for every size.

In the ‘pedal’ mode, the effective seat tube angle is a steep 78 degrees and the bottom bracket is lifted by 15mm to help you pedal in technical terrain. The head tube angle steepens by 1.5 degrees.

Standover heights and seat tube lengths have been lowered. The medium frame has a 420mm seat tube.

The kit on the top-spec Strive CFR is a very high spec, as you’d expect. It comes with Fox 38 Factory GRIP2 forks and Fox Float X2 Factory shock. Shimano’s top-level XTR range takes care of the gear shifting and brakes, and the cranks are RaceFace’s carbon Next Rs.

DT Swiss EX511s are dependable rims built onto DT Swiss 350 hubs. A Maxxis Assegai front tyre and Minion DHR II rear tyre are a favourite combination in their 3C EXO+ form.

The rest of the bike is from Canyon’s in-house brand G5, including the cockpit and dropper post. The complete bike comes in at a claimed 15.84kg.

I had a day and a half riding the new Strive around the famous trails of Finale Ligure. There was a mix of fast, flowing trails with more technical rocky tracks and a few EWS stages thrown in for good measure.

I set the bike up with the recommended 30 per cent sag on the rear. I turned all the compression damping to open on the shock and ran the rebound at my preferred speed.

I tested the size-medium bike and started with the cups in the middle reach position (480mm), but changed to the shorter 475mm setting.

The Strive really does feel like two bikes in one, and there’s no reason that, with a flick of your thumb, you wouldn’t switch to the ‘pedal’ mode. It turns the Strive into a 140mm-travel machine, reduces the sag and steepens the effective seat tube angle to 78 degrees.

All these adjustments make the Strive a good climber. The steep seat tube angle put me in a good position over the bottom bracket for comfortable pedalling. I never felt there wasn’t enough traction on the rear tyre for steeper climbs.

The suspension changes enable you to put down the power without a significant loss of forward momentum. It doesn’t bob heavily or sink into the travel when you’re seated, and there’s still some movement to help the rear tyre remain in contact with the ground over technical sections.

This is still an enduro bike, with its weight and chunky tyres, but it’s a proficient climber and feels more like a trail bike in this mode.

Flicking the Shapeshifter to switch the Strive into ‘shred’ mode, the bike is ready to be ridden hard, and feels very taught.

The frame stiffness and shock tune aren’t for gentle meandering rides, however. It’s like being in a high-performance car with low-profile tyres and stiff suspension. I spent the first few runs winding off the shock’s compression damping and speeding up the rebound to breathe some life into the bike, and when I got a good setting, it really shifted.

It handled slow technical sections well, but you can sense an eagerness to press the throttle and once you get the bike up to speed it comes alive.

It performed admirably with plenty of grip in slick sections of trail. With its initial suppleness, the suspension also helps with traction. If we are being picky, it could be even more sensitive at the start of its travel.

The rear suspension performs better when it needs to work hard, and it soaks up the fast middle and big hits well, especially at high speed.

The bottom bracket is very low, which I really like, but you must be careful where you place the bike. The bash guard on the chain guide was very welcome when picking my way through some of Finale’s famous awkward rocks.

This low centre of gravity helps make it easy to lean from side to side, which is useful in successive turns and quick changes in direction.

The slack head tube angle and 29in front wheel never left me feeling that I would be pitched over the front on short, steep rocky drops and rolls.

Throwing the bike down some high-speed, rocky trails, it’s stable and direct. It will hold a line and doesn’t easily get bounced around.  No matter how hard I pushed the Strive, it always felt as if it wanted more.

The short chainstays and hunkered-down bottom bracket make direction changes easy through the turns. Still, you need to commit to the front wheel for the most accurate handling. Get your weight balance right, and the levels of grip at speed are impressive.

I preferred the shorter 475mm reach on the medium bike I tested because I felt I could be more accurate with my front wheel.

Not all trails are full-on downhill descents though, and having the ‘pedal’ mode at the flick of a switch is excellent for undulating trails where you don’t need such an aggressive bike. I was a fan of the Shapeshifter on the old Strive, and now Canyon has improved the geometry it’s more useful out on the trail.

Announced in the same week, these are two of the biggest enduro-bike releases of 2022.

Canyon has been more streamlined in the quest for a race bike, and it shows on the trail. Long, low and direct, the Strive needs to be pushed hard to get the best from it, and it has tons to give, too, with a very high ceiling for top speed.

The 2022 Santa Cruz Megatower CC X01 AXS RSV is more playful and forgiving, but its slack head tube angle and low bottom bracket mean business when you open the throttle.

As an all-round bike, the Megatower is easier to live with in terms of frame stiffness and comfort. However, it doesn’t have the versatility of the Strive and Shapeshifter for maximising performance on undulating trails.

Both bikes rail corners and provide plenty of traction. The rear suspension on the Santa Cruz is plusher, but that doesn’t always mean faster.

Canyon clearly means business with the Strive CFR. If you’re after a bike that you want to ride at maximum speed every time, it’s a good choice.

It’s capable, versatile and tons of fun, but it needs to be let off the leash to get the best from it. More sedate riders will find it too stiff and uncomfortable.

Canyon aimed for a race bike with the Strive CFR, and it got one.

Luke Marshall is a technical writer for BikeRadar and MBUK magazine. He's been working for both titles since 2018 and has over 20 years of mountain biking experience. Luke is a gravity-focused rider with a history of racing downhill, previously competing in the UCI Downhill World Cup. Educated to a degree level in engineering and with a penchant for full-throttle speed, Luke is more than qualified to put every bike and product through its paces to bring you informative and independent reviews. You'll most likely find him on a trail, enduro or downhill bike riding the off-piste tracks around south Wales and the south west of England. He often makes an appearance on BikeRadar's podcast and YouTube channel.

Sign up to receive our newsletter!

Thanks! You've been subscribed to our newsletter.

Already have an account with us? Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences

By entering your details, you are agreeing to BikeRadar terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Get a pair of Madison Flux Shorts when you subscribe to Mountain Biking UK today!

Special Spring Savings | Get 6 issues for just £9.99, saving 67%