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.
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.
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.
New guises for the staples
For more information on the new bikes head to canyon.com