Sign up as a Singletrack Member and you can leave comments on stories, use the classified ads, and post in our forums, do quizzes and more. All bikes get the same EXO casing, MaxxTerra compound, 2.4in-wide Maxxis Minion DHRII and Dissector tyres front and rear respectively, as well as DH-spec Canyon G5 componentry. Thanks! For context, Canyons Sender downhill race bike has 29-percent progression. The CF 8s build is good overall, but I collected a list of annoyances. But after so many years of testing, my ass is pretty well calibrated and its telling me that my Spectral 125 is too firm and too progressive, even considering that its designed for aggressive riding. The Shimano EP8 is now on board all our new E-MTBs and with it a whole host of benefits. For marketing purposes, we share some of this data with third parties such as Google, Facebook, and Instagram. With a good dose of aggressive parts, 27.5in wheels, 150mm of travel and some models running a 160mm fork its a bike built for a good trail thrashing. Its another $1k for the strive with similar component level and while the suspension setup looks sweet Im thinking Spectral is more my thing. Id build my dream bikean Evil Followingthe same way. And if you havent already, make sure you subscribe to ourYouTubechannel, and sign up to ourFacebookpage andInstagramfeed so you can keep up to date with all things Flow! With its head angle a touch more than 64 degrees (in low mode), 437mm chainstays, generously long reach, top tube, and wheelbase dimensions, and plenty of BB drop (35mm) the Spectral 125s geometry looks a lot like that of a longer travel bike. You asked, we listened! Keeping in theme all come with 30mm internal width rims and 2.4 Maxxis tyres, now for 2021 will be the new Ergon SM10 saddle. The Spectral:ON is the lightest in our range of E-MTBs but only by a mere 1.5kg and this is largely due to its carbon frame. The Takeaway: A big bike with shorter travel, the Spectral 125 is for riders who prefer a crisper bike that lets them feel the trails texture. Canyons new 125mm Spectral 125 looks a lot like the 150mm Spectral launched in December of 2020. 27.5", 29er or mullet bike setup? I cant decide whether to go for the longer travel Spectral or the more climbing oriented Neuron. Current bike: 2016 Giant Talon 2 (XL) 27.5". Let us know in the comments below. Canyon Copyright 2022 Canyon Bicycles. Both the Neuron:ON and the Spectral:ON utilise powerful motors, long-lasting batteries and modern geometries that will please beginner and expert e-mountain bikers alike, but which one is right for you? With the Neuron:ON we focussed on finding the optimal wheel size for riders of different heights. Canyon has, however, avoided the new Spectral ramping up. Even so, Canyon says the Spectral 125 is optimized for an air shock and a coilover is not recommended. This bike has amazing pedaling performance, the handling and ride feel are spot on, but the rear end is so firm and progressive I often felt like I was on a British-style enduro hardtail. Press J to jump to the feed. Much like the frame, the Spectral 125s suspension details are influenced by the 150mm Spectral 29, but rethought to provide a ride experience that transcends the travel difference in the bikes. You dont get the replaceable threaded pivot inserts, but instead steel inserts are integrated, which are said to be virtually indestructible, and replaceable by a trained mechanic if needed. Only had chance to ride it once so far, but its perfect for me right now. I still think personally although great value a lot of euro brands like canyon lag behind a bit when it comes to modern geometry and progressive design. Both of our full-suspension electric mountain bikes rely on the state-of-the-art Shimano EP8 system for pedal-assist power. Fazit: Spectral is for trail bikers, that want a fast turning bike. That results in the aluminum frame getting some harder edged, less organic shapes. First Look | The 2023 Canyon Lux World Cup is claimed to be one of the lightest XC bikes going, The 2023 Canyon Spectral:ON receives all-new carbon frame and two battery options, Flows Fresh Produce | Specialized launches new Ambush 2 & Camber helmets, Canyon adds spice to the Spectral lineup with the new Spectral 125, This website requires Javascript for optimum viewing purposes. Foxs 36 fork adds a stout finish to three of the five builds RockShoxs trail-oriented Pike sits on the other two builds. To manage what kind of cookies Canyon may use, select Manage Cookies. Hes also worked out that shaving your legs saves 8 watts, while testing aerodynamics in a wind tunnel. As we saw with the longer-travel Spectrals launched late last year, such as the, All bikes get the same EXO casing, MaxxTerra compound, 2.4in-wide. Get a Syncros iS Coupe bottle cage when you subscribe. A Yeti SB130 with a similar build is $8,300, or over $3,000 more than my Spectral 125 CF 8 review bike. The size-large bike has a reach of 486mm, which is as long as many larger. Twice a month I ride Red Hills or Silvan Reservoir. So the Spectral 125 gets not just more anti-squat than the 150mm Spectral, it gets a generous amount, period. I think bikes of the Spectral 125s ilk are often overlooked because theyre not a lighter weight XC oriented trail bike like the Trek Top Fuel, but neither are they a bigger trail bike like the 150mm Spectral. The pedaling performance is superb, and helps give this 30-plus pound bike a lighter and more efficient feel than I expected. Conditions were crazy this week! Snipe, CGT downhill, Follow Me and Wallaby are fun, but even on my 100mm 70 degree hardtail they aren't a challenge. The 125 has more than 100-percent anti squat in all gears at the recommended 25-percent sag. It also includes Canyons new G5 dropper post, which has 25mm of adjustability in stroke length, all done via a stepped guide within the post, and changeable at home. With the incredible growth in Trail and Enduro riding, we've designed three specific ranges to tackle the varied terrain. Another week, another chance to win! At just under 2.6 kg and its placement at the bottom bracket, your downhill performance will be improved thanks to a lower centre of gravity. But ultimately I wanted to like it more than I did. So to help you out we broke down the differences between our two award-winning models: the Neuron:ON and Spectral:ON. So Im not imagining things. Whether youre after long, epic rides out in the mountains or are more interested in shuttling all day to dial it in on the downhills, theres a Canyon e-mtb for you. Be sure to take a look at Wils in-depth review and video of the Spectral AL 6 here. But with less travel and a different approach to the 125s rear-suspension tune, the character of the Spectral 125 is distinct from the 150mm Spectrals. These are the sort of stuff I like - real black's, lots of technical stuff. I think a lot more riders would like them too if they gave them a chance and considered their overall performance instead of fixating on numbers. The neuron has a pretty steep head angle by todays standards. All-new for 2021 is the Neuron CF LTD, limited to only 100 available worldwide. Red Hill and Silvan are far more what I want to be riding. About me: I'm Australian (Victoria), a big guy (100kg, 184cm), 41 years old, been mountain biking for 18 months or so, but rode a lot as a youngster. Now coming every Monday: new stock, available to order! At a claimed 2,500g for the frame, its about 100g lighter than the longer-travel bikes, while still being tested to the Category 4 testing protocol put simply, its tough enough for EWS racing. And from what I can see, I can get a Canyon with X01 componentry for 2k less than any other brand I could find. Here are a few highlights from the new 2021 range, which were told are all now available on the World Wide Web via your friendly courier. The size-large bike has a reach of 486mm, which is as long as many larger enduro bikes. So while theres nothing too new, the pricing is as sharp as ever, interestingly the top model is more modest than in the past. For the 2021 season the Neuron scores a new top-level limited model, and the Neuron CF 8 scores a longer 140mm travel fork. I do find Foxs Float X is firmer-feeling (but much better overall) than the outgoing DPX2 shock, and, with 27-percent progression, the 125's suspension is decidedly more progressive than most in the category. If you like gnar then I imagine you'll get bored of Lysterfield soon and frequent Silvan and Red Hill more as they're about 30-40 mins from there. Those familiar with the Canyon line-up might ask how it fits into the brands family of bikes. By subscribing to our newsletter, you are agreeing to our, By choosing Accept Cookies you allow Canyon to collect device and browser information. A gear editor for his entire career, Matts journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and hes been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. With its shorter travel, the more nimble Neuron:ON is a strong climber and descender on anything but the roughest of the rough stuff. Minion DHR IIs make for a decent front tyre. If you prefer a bit more of the quickness, a flip-chip in the rear adds 0.5 degrees to the head and seat angles, and raises the bottom bracket eight millimeters. Lysterfield has next to no real downhill. The smaller rear wheel with wider rubber creates a larger contact patch to find next-level traction when scrambling up steep climbs or hitting fast corners. Despite having travel like the Neuron, the Spectral 125s feel, handling, and purpose has a lot more in common with the 150mm Spectral. This is kit designed to be raced at World-Cup level DH, so Canyon hasnt scrimped on strength. In fact, its more progressive than some enduro and downhill bikes designed for coil-spring shocks. All sizes come shod with 2.6 tyres for excellent traction and control. Five models will be offered at launch. Itll mainly be used for hacking around trails and some easy dh stuff but nothing extreme. In fact, its almost identical to the geometry of the 15omm (with 160mm fork) Spectral 29. I ended up disregarding the neuron as it was described as twitchy(not in a good way) going downhill and I ending up thinking the spectral would be over-biked for what I wanted to do with it. If you ever go Bright, Maydena, Buller, You Yangs then you will have more room for error but also a way more pleasant ride and less fatigue. Id like to see Canyon add a flexible adhesive flaplike Pivot usesto keep debris out of this area. Plus there are some new colours and new specs like; 10-52 range cassette and new Schwalbe Super tyres. The new Spectral 125 comes in five variants: two with an aluminum frame and three with a carbon frame. Canyon has yet another new trail bike, the Spectral 125. The frame profile and suspension design are the same, the geometries are close, the build kits are very similar, and the bike weights are similar as well. 125mm rear travel with 140mm forks and medium-duty builds, Prices start at $2,899 and top out at $6,199 for the five complete options. As far as water and tools go, and all sizes fit a small bottle inside the main triangle, and there's a set of bosses under the top tube for a tube/tool cargo mount. The aluminum version of the Spectral 125 frame is not an exact copy of the carbon frame rendered in a different material, but is optimized for aluminum production, Canyon says. Canyon doesn't want you to assume less travel means a lack of rowdiness. Its ideal for aggressive trail riders who want a poppy, playful bike and arent afraid to be under-biked. Generally speaking, geometry is near identical to its longer-travel siblings. Canyon says the Lux Trail is for those looking for light weight and speed uphill, while the Neuron gives the best balance between climbing and descending performance, for a comfortable all-day trail ride. For 2021 the Spectral remains much the same, just with two new colour options and an update for the 2021 spec lineup. Which mountain bike wheel size is right for you? Does anyone have either of the above? Two least expensive models use an aluminum frame with the more expensive models using carbon. The Spectral 125 seems to overlap with two of Canyons existing bikes. After all, the Lux Trail has 120mm of travel, while the Neuron has 130mm. Thanks, thats both very helpful and also making it harder! Thanks for popping by - why not stay a while? You've been subscribed to our newsletter. Thats because, in my opinion, the 125s rear suspension tune is off. But the distinction lies in the nuances. The whole system is compact, lightweight and integrates well with the bike's dynamic design. Three of the seven are aluminium, the top four using a carbon frame. Lystey is 10 minutes away so I can just hop in the car and go down there on a lunch break, or get up early and hit it before work. Truflo Mini Shock Pump review: twofer bargain or double trouble? Canyon says suspension feel is key to how a bike rides, and despite having less travel, it appears the Spectral 125 should still be able to handle the hits. Canyons thinking here is its a costly pain in the butt to replace an entire front triangle if you strip out a shock mount. The Spectral 125 aluminum frame has a claimed weight of 3,000 grams (no shock). As the name suggests, its closely related to the, Those familiar with the Canyon line-up might ask how it fits into the brands family of bikes. The alloy frames are also EWS-rated, and come in at a claimed 3,000g. Delivery up to 8 weeks. Canyon also says it has built the bike with a little more playfulness than the 150 and 160mm bikes, thanks to more progressive suspension, additional anti-squat and a bit of weight saving. The bike I received for review and shown in my images is the CF 8 which sells for $5,199. Im in the market for a new mtb around the 2k mark. This is the site of the 2006 Commonwealth Games XC course and is pretty mild riding. Many of the frame details are shared with the regular Spectrals, so for more detail on the process of designing the carbon and alloy bikes read our news story linked in the first paragraph of this article, or our review of the 2021 Canyon Spectral CF 29 8.0. This set of Shimano XT disc brakes also (sigh) had strong case of wandering bite point, though, surprisingly I didnt hear the pads rattling. Though Canyon states they tried to ensure it wasnt too progressive because, If the suspension ramps up too quickly on a short-travel bike, things quickly stop feeling awesome and start feeling harsh. Canyon did not offer a progression percentage, but based on eyeballing the charts provided, it sits around 27-percent, which is a lot (a Canyon rep later confirmed my estimate is correct) For contrast, a Norco Optica similar bike with the same travel figures as the Spectral 125has about 17-percent progression. This guarantees consistently agile handling across the entire range. Opinions? But I've never ridden 29er, and being big maybe something burlier would be better. Our buyers guide has everything you need to know to help you decide which Canyon e-mtb is for you. When I think about how smooth riding some of my favorite bikes with similar travel arethe Following, a Spot Mayhem 130, Yetis SB130, Treks Fuel EX, the Santa Cruz Tallboy, the Ibis Ripley AFand other bikes Ive sampled with similar travel like the Marin Rift Zone and Norco Optic, Im a bit puzzled by Canyons decisions because it feels like they built a 125mm bike with suspension tuned for huck-to-flats, not riding trailseven rowdy ones. Strive is faster, more for racing, but you have to be a bit more active while driving. Theyre not currently shown in Canyons USA store, but they should land there soon. Its still built around 27.5in wheels and 150mm of travel and various models come with either a 160mm travel Fox fork or 150mm RockShox fork. As the name suggests, its closely related to the 150 or 160mm Spectral bikes, but comes with much less travel 125mm, in fact. The leverage curve is also steeper, with a quicker ramp to give the 125 more pop than its 150mm sibling. The pivot bearings are double sealed and filled with a proprietary grease. Will versatility add up to a useful tool? Theyre designed from the ground up too, with their own tube profiles and shapes, rather than being attempted as a copy and paste of the carbon bikes shape. One is the 130mm Neuron and the other is the 150mm Spectral 29. With 130mm travel out the back and either 130 or 140mm up the front it strikes a balance between the cross country race-ready LUX and longer travel Spectral. Canyon sees suspension feel as central to how its bikes ride. The Spectral 125 is a good bike, and largely succeeds at Canyon mission to make a playful, shorter travel all mountain bike. When not riding he can be found at the climbing wall, in his garden or cooking up culinary delights. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Tom Marvin is a technical editor at BikeRadar.com and MBUK magazine. Id probably say the same about being over-biked on both(its my first fs) but I mainly ride at Cannock and when I went round on the camber I remember thinking that the spectral wouldve flattened everything out too much for me at the speed Im riding right now. Since they both use the lightweight EP8 motor, they're more differentiated by their handling than they are by kilograms. However, the Neuron has shorter and steeper geometry and a lighter weight build. Its geometry uses a more linear rear shock progression to improve comfort in the saddle as well as offer solid sensitivity over smaller obstacles. Alloy bikes get the slack head angle and low BB position of the low setting, but the steeper seat angle of the high setting the best of both worlds, perhaps. Try 3 issues of Cycling Plus magazine for just 5! There are a whopping 11 new Neuron models in this 2021 release, which includes three womens models and the Neuron Young Hero for kids around eight years and older. If I sort my geometry spreadsheet by head angle, the Spectral 125 sits among 150 to 170mm bikesIts 1.5 degrees slacker than a Yeti SB130, Ibis Ripley AF, or Santa Cruz Tallboy 4. Even after removing the volume spacer from the shock, I came up well short on using full travel; and I did much of my ride testing of this bike in Moab. But the rear end tune feels off for trail riding. But there are ridersI know because Im one of themwho want the capability, stiffness, and tough parts of a bigger bike but also prefer to feel the texture of terrain more, as well as the crisper pedaling performance of a shorter travel bike. The result is increased control on bigger hits, but also ample support when you push your weight into the bike, giving it plenty of pop. The Spectral 125 drops into a rowdy little pond with the likes of the Evil Following, Trek Fuel EX, Spot Mayhem 130, Guerilla Gravity Trail Pistol, Yeti SB130 , RAAW Jibb, Reeb Sqweeb ST and a few others. Outside of testing bikes, Tom competes in a wide range of mountain bike races, from multi-day enduros through to 24-hour races in the depths of the Scottish winter pushing bikes, components and his legs to their limits. DH World Cup Round 6 Snowshoe delivers drama! Are you more of a rowdy Spectral rider, or suiting an all-rounder like the Neuron? The posted blacks are most really blues, and the biggest climb is under 150m. The topic Canyon Neuron or Spectral is closed to new replies. Enjoyed that article? I'm not pro, but I'm far from slow. Thats at least what Canyon claims. Please, It appears you're using an old version of Internet Explorer which is. Id like to offer more feedback on this bike, but when a full suspension bikes rear tune is off by quite a bit, as it seems to be in this case, it makes almost everything else about bike hard to evaluate. Ill update this review if I get a different shock. So I'm asking here And if people want to suggest something else, that's OK too but remember I'm in Australia so we have less options. But agree 100% on Lystey. 29 wheels hold speed well while a shorter wheelbase keeps steering snappy on both up- and downhills. Buying your first electric mountain bike can be overwhelming with the ever-expanding range available. Tom has written for BikeRadar, MBUK and Cycling Plus, and was previously technical editor of What Mountain Bike magazine. Standard EXO casing is perhaps our one question when it comes to speccing does a bike like this deserve tougher rubber. The Spectral 125 carbon comes in at about 2,500 grams for the medium frame with no shock, or about 100 grams lighter than the Spectral 29 carbon. I love my Canyon roadbike so am pretty keen to get another Canyon as I dont see such good value elsewhere. How we test gear. Essentially, it is the 150mm Spectral, but with a bit more snap and pop, and a more connected feel. He has a particular focus on mountain bikes, but spends plenty of time on gravel bikes, too. Canyon sent my bike with its own cargo mount with matching bag and an adorable mini toolI found all of them excellent and I plan to forget to send them back with the bike. With lots of anti-squat, I wasnt surprised to find the Spectral 125 pedaled well, though the firm shock likely plays a role as well. Not that Strava means much, it's just an indicator. I'm top 5% in Strava on most the downhill segments at Lysterfield, and have a few top 1% segments too. This means that despite having less travel, the Spectral 125 still has an aggressive, low-slung shape and suspension thats similar, but not identical to, those bigger bikes and thus should be more than capable on steep, gnarly tracks. For more information, see the, Neuron:ON vs. Spectral:ON // Photo: Canyon.com. Bikes should be available now, though our US readers will likely have to wait until early spring for carbon bikes to arrive, with alloy coming later. The shorter travel bike is more playful, quicker feeling, and skips across bumps rather than flowing through them. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. So I'm leaning towards the Spectral, but I'm not sure this is a rational decision. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. My motorbike is about to sell (fingers crossed) which means I can now invest in my latest passion. I'm torn between the Canyon Neuron CF 9.0 SL and Spectral CF 9.0 models. So, the bike feels lively and nimble despite its length and sedate steering. With 130 mm of front and rear travel, the Neuron:ON makes the perfect companion for a long rolling day of ascending and descending where comfort is key. The stroke provides a stable platform through the middle phase before ramping up so you can really go big. Carbon frames come with double-sealed frame bearings, replaceable threaded inserts and fully guided internal cable and hose routing. And I'm looking at Harcourt (I work in Bendigo every month or two) and of course the others you mentioned. We like to keep the front end stiff, but in the rear triangle especially we were really precise to tune the flex and stiffness how we wanted it. The Spectral 125 also gets a much different suspension tune than the 150mm Spectral, which I break down in the suspension section below. Short chainstays make it playful and easy to manoeuvre while a long wheelbase and slack head angle keep it stable on big drops and at high speeds. Price: $5,199 (CF 8, tested)Weight: 30.5 lb. For a relative newcomer, I consider myself quite accomplished. I habe a brief summery of spectral vs strive: Size of wheels Inner tubing of cables in case of Strive, outer for spectral, but covered Frame suspension has shape shifter in case of strive, For riding the main differences: In both you sit very well, Strive: more fun when it is going steeper/faster. Longer, slacker, more travel: The Spectral:ON is built for the most technical terrain you can find flattening out rough singletrack climbs, and smashing big descents at will. My general impression of the handling is that itunsurprisinglyleans stable and predictable. In the Neuron corner, I'm thinking 29er might be good for most my riding, and the suspension travel will be fine for my regular (Lysterfield). Price, claimed weight, and build details for all models can be found below. There is a small difference in the suspension between the carbon and aluminum framesthe aluminum frame runs a shock with 2.5mm shorter stroke and different kinematicsbut total travel and overall feel are very similar, a Canyon rep told me. Other cookies allow us to personalize what marketing materials you see and monitor website performance. The steering feel is calm, and the bike is a rock at higher speeds, but the pop and support offered by the rear end offsets any sluggishness the geometry might portend. A cycling community enthusiastic about mountain biking and all things related. (Medium CF 8). Canyons new short-travel Spectral 125 is built for the trail-riding hooligan, Canyon has yet another new trail bike, the Spectral 125. Weve had plenty of experience riding the Neuron, Wil recently tested the aluminium version of the bike when it was launched earlier this year, take a look at Wils in-depth review and video right here. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, 30-Minute Indoor Cycling Workouts to Get Fit Fast, How Tour de France Femmes Riders Handle Tough Days, After Sudden Diagnosis, She Turned to Cycling, An Abs and Glutes Workout to Help You Crush Climbs. Here's the crme de la crme of Canyon's 2020 offerings. Contact UsPrivacyForum RulesClassifieds RulesLink RemovalLogin/cookie issues?Newsletter SettingsAdvertising, Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total). (And it helped the camber had been reduced to 1350 from 2000ish). Canyons engineering team also reduced frame stiffness slightly which, not only cut some weight, also refined the ride said Leo Malmeryd, the Spectral 125s carbon engineer. There are two frame variants: An aluminum frame for lower priced bikes, and carbon frame for the higher priced versions. They had loads of 2016 models on their outlet store with big discounts. I spent a lot of time debating the two, but couldnt find a way to get a test ride so had to go off the reviews. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? Latest news, tips and exclusive offers directly into your inbox. For example, the Neuron runs Fox 34 forks while the Spectral 125 gets a Fox 36. The internal hose and housing routing is fully tunneled for less frustration, while SRAMs universal derailleur hanger (UDH) makes finding a replacement easier. (SPOILERS). Then theres plenty more to check out on Flow Mountain Bike, including all our latest news storiesandproduct reviews. Lot's of tree roots, and the downhills have some chunky braking divots. After all, the. That should make it fun to hit jumps on, or exit berms with tons of speed.