Eurobike 2016, News -

Canyon 2017: Prototypes, lightweight hardtails and familiar faces

Although Canyon’s stand at EUROBIKE was primarily dominated by black, there were some eye-catching flashes of colour that struck a chord with visitors to the fair. As we’ve now come to expect from the German brand, Canyon seized EUROBIKE as an opportunity to present their ultra exciting ‘Project’ concepts, including an intriguing green shifter lever and new design evolutions for the coming season.

Pull the trigger: Part of Canyon’s latest ‘Project,’ this bright green lever sports the cryptic name Dis\Connect.
Pull the trigger: Part of Canyon’s latest ‘Project,’ this bright green lever sports the cryptic name Dis\Connect.

The Canyon Project Dis\Connect

Conceived with downhill legend and Canyon team rider Fabien Barel, Project Dis\Connect essentially disconnects, or disengages, the drivetrain from the suspension entirely. Seeing as Downhill World Cups are often won by hundredths of seconds and that suspension is often a decisive factor, Canyon’s ambition to achieve the most effective decoupling of the drivetrain seems like a wise one.

Open and closed – activate the lever to separate the ratchet rings ...
Open and closed – activate the lever to separate the ratchet rings …
... and decouple the drivetrain.
… and decouple the drivetrain.
The cable is connected from the remote to the axle along the driveside chainstay.
The cable is connected from the remote to the axle along the driveside chainstay.
Canyon’s guinea pig to show how the system works.
Canyon’s guinea pig to show how the system works.

Inside the freehub the two ratchet rings can be separated, or re-joined depending on what action you want. For the Sender Project bike, Canyon are relying on a thumb shifter, with recoupling done by movement sensors on the cranks. Right now the project is still in the development phase, with Canyon aspiring to learn as much as possible about best removing chain-forces from the chassis and evolving suspension set-ups for the future. It’s not wholly clear whether, or even how, Dis\Connect will make it onto series bikes.

Canyon Exceed SL – Cutting-edge XC speed at a fair price!

The younger sibling of the well-known Exceed SLX, the Exceed SL was on display at EUROBIKE too. With a different approach to its carbon fibers, the Exceed SL frame carries a few extra grams – although it has scrubbed off some dollars from the price. The slack head angle and long frame render it a particularly deft downhiller, and it’s compatible with an internally routed dropper post. In terms of its aesthetic, it definitely toes the Canyon line, channeling a clean and cohesive look.

Canyon-Exceed-Spectral-Sender-2017-1

New guises for the staples

For 2017, the Canyon Spectral retains the same frame but its spec has seen some changes:
For 2017, the Canyon Spectral retains the same frame but its spec has seen some changes.
The top-of-the-range Canyon Spectral CF 9.0 EX is now kitted with some lovely Mavic Crossmax XA Pro Carbon wheels …
The top-of-the-range Canyon Spectral CF 9.0 EX is now kitted with some lovely Mavic Crossmax XA Pro Carbon wheels …
… a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain …
… a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain
… and FOX Factory suspension.
… and FOX Factory suspension.
Tried, tested and approved: the Renthal cockpit.
Tried, tested and approved: the Renthal cockpit.
New name, old bike? The Neuro may have borrowed the Nerve’s frame, but it has majorly updated the spec.
New name, old bike? The Neuro may have borrowed the Nerve’s frame, but it has majorly updated the spec.
Und dann so braaaaap – das Sender ist eines der spannendsten Downhillbikes auf dem Markt.
And then braaaaap – the Sender has to be one of the most exciting downhill bikes out there!

For more information on the new bikes head to canyon.com