Canyon may be the biggest mountain bike brand American riders have never heard of. Across the pond in Europe, however, Canyon is one of the most, if not the most, popular brands—and for good reason. The company has a different way of doing things. Rather than delivering its bikes through local bike shops, mail-order companies or any other retailers, Canyon uses a consumer-direct model to dramatically cut the cost of delivering their bikes. Canyon then uses the cost savings to deliver killer frame designs and impressive parts packages that other traditional bike brands are forced to compete with. While Canyon bikes are not yet available in the United States, we have some insider intel that they probably will be soon. Canyon coming to the States may be terrible news for the other brands that dominate the American mountain bike landscape, but it’s great news for riders who will have another solid option for an awesome bike that delivers impressive value.
WHO IS IT MADE FOR?
The Strive CF is Canyon’s enduro race machine, built with much input from Canyon’s race-winning enduro team, including star athlete and former downhill world champion Fabien Barel. The bike is built to handle the long climbs and transfer stages of the Enduro World Series, or any all-mountain trail for that matter, and then morph into a different machine at the top to shred down the extremely technical and steep descents. The bike features Canyon’s exclusive Shapeshifter technology, which is designed to make the Strive function as two bikes in one. It’s the ideal choice for a rider who values the efficient geometry of a short-travel trail-bike but still wants the aggressive feel of a true enduro machine.
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Shapeshifter shred: We’ve been duped by “adjustable geometry” marketing speak with many bikes in the past. With the Strive, though, it truly feels like you have two different bikes to choose from on the trail. Shapeshifter technology might have a bit of a learning curve, but once mastered it delivers a bike that shreds the trail both up and down.
Shapeshifter shred: We’ve been duped by “adjustable geometry” marketing speak with many bikes in the past. With the Strive, though, it truly feels like you have two different bikes to choose from on the trail. Shapeshifter technology might have a bit of a learning curve, but once mastered it delivers a bike that shreds the trail both up and down.HEART OF THE BIKE: SHAPESHIFTER TECHNOLOGY
Canyon’s Shapeshifter technology uses a lever-actuated air spring tucked under the rocker to change the bike’s geometry between two modes: DH and XC. The system consists of a gas spring embedded in the Strive’s upper linkage connected to a handlebar-mounted remote. When the rider hits the lever, the gas spring extends or compresses, and, in the process, changes the entire suspension dynamic. As a result, the rider gets two very different geometries, suspension rates and travel settings to choose from—all without the need for a specially designed rear shock. To activate the system, the rider pushes the remote and shifts his or her weight forward or rearward to activate the gas spring. If the rider shifts his or her weight rear- ward to compress the gas spring, this lowers the bottom bracket, slacks out the head and seat angles, and makes the bike more stable and confidence-inspiring for descending. If the rider shifts his or her weight forward, the gas spring moves the center of gravity higher, creating a steeper seat angle and improved weight distribution for efficient pedaling and control on steep ascents. The system requires a bit of a learning curve but makes a very noticeable difference in handling and overall feel. The difference between the two modes is 1.5 degrees in both head and seat angles and nearly an inch (19 millimeters) of bottom bracket height.
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Heart of the beast: The gas spring is neatly tucked under the rocker and is the reason Shapeshifter technology works. The miniature spring is charged with air and controlled via a handle-bar-mounted remote. In XC mode, the spring extends to move rider weight forward and up for a more climbing friendly position. In the DH mode, the rider weight, bottom bracket height, and geometry adjust to shred the descents.
Heart of the beast: The gas spring is neatly tucked under the rocker and is the reason Shapeshifter technology works. The miniature spring is charged with air and controlled via a handle-bar-mounted remote. In XC mode, the spring extends to move rider weight forward and up for a more climbing friendly position. In the DH mode, the rider weight, bottom bracket height, and geometry adjust to shred the descents.WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?
The Strive CF is carbon through and through and features 160 millimeters of travel to lay waste to rocks and roots on the trail, regardless of which mode the Shapeshifter system is set to.
HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
The build: Canyon ships its bikes directly to the consumer rather than a bike shop. The upside is huge savings and an impressive component mix, but that doesn’t mean anything if the bike is set up poorly. The final assembly of the bike is 100 percent the responsibility of the rider, so if working on your own equipment is not your forte, Canyon bikes may not be for you. Fortunately, though, Canyon does most of the work. You won’t find yourself lacing wheels or routing hydraulic brake hoses. In fact, Canyon makes the process much easier than we expected. Rather than a box full of parts and an IKEA-style instruction book, the bike comes 95 percent built. It really only needs the wheels and handlebar installed, the suspension set up and the tires inflated. Still, though, if working on your own equipment is a scary proposition, consider looking elsewhere for your new ride.
Setting sag: The Shapeshifter concept may seem complex but actually doesn’t affect setup much. We put the bike into the DH mode and used the single air valve on the fork and shock to set a matched 35-percent sag front and rear. With the advantage of the XC mode coupled with the easy-to-reach pedaling platform on the shock, the Strive seemed to prefer a softer suspension setting.
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Simple elegance: Canyon delivers a ton of value to the rider, but they don’t skimp on the quality to do it. The Strive features a full carbon frame with an FSR-style suspension design held together with a proprietary aluminum rocker.
Simple elegance: Canyon delivers a ton of value to the rider, but they don’t skimp on the quality to do it. The Strive features a full carbon frame with an FSR-style suspension design held together with a proprietary aluminum rocker.The final step is to tune the Shapeshifter gas-spring pressure. The gas-spring pressure can be set high to make shifting to the XC mode easier, or low to make it easier to shift to the DH mode. We found that a higher pressure suited our riding style better, but this will be different for every rider. When in doubt, simply set the pressure in the middle of the range and adjust accordingly.
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Gearing of champions: A single-ring drivetrain is the choice of most enduro racers, and that’s what the Strive comes equipped with. The X0 setup not only delivered plenty of gear range, but also shifted like a machine gun during our test.
Gearing of champions: A single-ring drivetrain is the choice of most enduro racers, and that’s what the Strive comes equipped with. The X0 setup not only delivered plenty of gear range, but also shifted like a machine gun during our test.Climbing: When set to XC mode, the Strive puts the rider in a tall and efficient position that makes the bike feel like it has much less travel and is designed for cross-country efficiency. The higher bottom bracket also makes the bike float up technical climbs without the worry of snagging rocks with errant pedal strokes. The weight is reasonably light, which keeps the bike feeling snappy enough for short and punchy climbs, but also not afraid to tackle the long climbs found on the transfer stages in most enduro races. While there are certainly places where weight could be trimmed, for the amount of travel and the price, this bike climbs exceptionally well.
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Transition stage: Enduro racers are timed on the descents, but still have to pay their dues on the transfer stages to make it to the top of the hills. Throw the Strive in the XC mode and you’ll be rewarded with a more efficient machine to make it to the top of the hill.
Transition stage: Enduro racers are timed on the descents, but still have to pay their dues on the transfer stages to make it to the top of the hills. Throw the Strive in the XC mode and you’ll be rewarded with a more efficient machine to make it to the top of the hill.Cornering: The two different Shapeshifter settings have two noticeably different cornering manners. The XC mode is relatively nimble and has no problem picking its way up technical switch- backs. The DH mode is much more stable in the corners and delivers much more confidence when cornering at higher speeds.
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Mr. Big Adjustment: Canyon claims the two different modes have a much different center of gravity and nearly an inch of bottom bracket adjustment. Our tape measure said otherwise; however, that didn’t change the fact that the two different modes have two very different personalities.
Mr. Big Adjustment: Canyon claims the two different modes have a much different center of gravity and nearly an inch of bottom bracket adjustment. Our tape measure said otherwise; however, that didn’t change the fact that the two different modes have two very different personalities.Descending: There’s only one reason to descend in the XC mode, and that’s if you happen to get caught there and can’t hit the lever and make the necessary weight shift to put the bike in the proper DH mode; however, in XC mode, the Strive still sports the full 6-inches of rear-wheel travel, which will make up for many mistakes.
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Plenty of power: There was a time when any test bike equipped with SRAM or Avid brakes would get knocked for either a lack of consistency or horrible noise. The new Guide RSC brakes solve this issue and deliver exactly what a brake should—plenty of power and consistency, all without squealing like a stuck pig.
Plenty of power: There was a time when any test bike equipped with SRAM or Avid brakes would get knocked for either a lack of consistency or horrible noise. The new Guide RSC brakes solve this issue and deliver exactly what a brake should—plenty of power and consistency, all without squealing like a stuck pig.With the bike set to the DH mode, the Strive comes alive on the descents. This bike has a very balanced feel that’s confident on steep trails without feeling like a freight train that refuses to change direction. In fact, even on the steepest lines, our riders noted that the bike still felt nimble and flickable, a trait that can only be chalked up to a rock-solid geometry and a relatively short wheelbase and chainstays, short stem, wide bars, and dialed suspension that’s ready for action. There’s little this bike won’t handle when pointed downhill. It’s designed to tackle the roughest enduro courses the Enduro World Series has to offer, and those trails would strike fear in the hearts of even the most skilled gravity riders in the States.
TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?
The Strive comes stock with SRAM’s Roam 50 wheelset and Maxxis tubeless-ready tires. Unfortunately, Canyon doesn’t send the bike with tubeless valves, but we still recommend replacing the stock tubes with a splash of sealant and valves to convert to tubeless. This little upgrade shaved .4 pounds and improved the ride quality of the bike.
The Shapeshifter system requires a learning curve. We found ourselves using the adjustment only a few times per ride. When you think about it, though, that’s really what the bike is built for. It’s made to climb the long transfer stages and then shred the descents. Don’t think of it as a quick on-the-fly suspension tuning feature. It really feels closer to packing two bikes for a single ride.
BUYING ADVICE
The Strive strikes an impressive balance between excellent performance, value, aesthetics and suspension technology, and it’s lightweight thanks to the impressive parts package. The geometry is dialed with two modes for two very specific purposes. Both modes impressed our testers on a variety of trails. It’s only a matter of time before Canyon makes the jump to delivering its bikes in the U.S. For now, American riders can bide their time waiting for this awesome machine that will lay waste to technical descents and still easily float up the climbs to earn them.
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