Issue #021, Review -

Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race Review

Describing the Lux CF as ‘Record Breaking Luxury,’ Canyon’s claims appear to already have been validated by the score of successes notched up by ‘the Albanator,’ Alban Lakata. So that’s the elites covered…but can the Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race deliver fun for regular riders too?

Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race | € 4,499 | 10.76 kg | Travel (front/rear) 100/100 mm
Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race | € 4,499 | 10.76 kg | Travel (front/rear) 100/100 mm
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Right from the stand, the Lux CF does justice to its name and emits an attitude that murmurs luxury rather than screaming it. From the saddle to the hubs, the fully’s stealth black, classic design profile is met with approving nods. As we’ve come to expect, the Koblenz-based direct sales company haven’t cut any corners when it comes to the spec; it’s all consistently top-end and well thought-out. There’s no dropper post though, which might disappoint more trail-orientated XC riders, but the frame is compatible for one.

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The 29er (large frame) gives a pretty aggressive position for our 180 cm-tall rider, but it’s far from overly stretched out. At 90 mm, the stem length is pretty substantial, and the 720 mm bars are adequately wide. Both the seat and head angle can be described as steep, at 74° and 70° respectively. This comes at the cost of some stability on hairy descents, but will see you dig deeper into those pedals with more power on the climbs. On tight sections the bike needs a little coaxing to get round switchbacks and narrow trails. The stock 100 mm RockShox suspension, made up of an RS1 fork and Monarch rear shock, works mega-efficiently, and has great end progression to ensure there’s sufficient in reserve – but it’s not the most forgiving suspension we’ve ridden. 25 % sag proved ideal during out testing.

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There’s no rear pivot between the chainstays and seatstays, instead Canyon went for so-called flex pivot carbon stays, which pushes the overall weight down (as does the fixed lower mount on the rear shock) to a featherweight 10.76 kg (including tubes!). The low weight, along with the fast-rolling Continental X-King tyres and Full Sprint lever (which locks out the suspension), is the catalyst for some serious charging.

Details of the Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race

Flex Pivot: Am Hinterbau des Lux CF verzichtet Canyon auf ein Lager, dessen Funktion durch flexende Sitzstreben ersetzt wird. Das spart Gewicht und minimiert die Wartung.
Flex Pivot: Canyon removed the rear pivot on the Lux CF, relying on the flex of the carbon seat stays. Lower weight and less maintenance are the welcome results.
Geht ab: Der Continental X-King überzeugt mit geringem Rollwiderstand und guten Beschleunigungswerten. Auf harten, trockenen Böden ist auch der Grip in Ordnung. Bei Nässe und Matsch fehlt es aber an Traktion.
Full gas: With low rolling resistance and a mean accelerating kick, the Continental X-King showed great grip on hard-packed, dry ground, but there was inadequate traction in mud and slop.
Gut geschützt: Die Impact Protection Unit am Canyon Lux CF schützt das Carbon-Oberrohr vor Beschädigungen durch den Lenker bzw. die daran verbauten Shifter und Hebel.
Well protected: The Impact Protection Unit on the Canyon Lux CF protects the carbon top tube from potential handlebar damage.
Eigenkreation: Das Cockpit des Lux stammt von Canyon selbst und verfügt über einen 90 mm langen Vorbau und einen edel anmutenden, 720 mm breiten Carbonlenker.
Their own creation: The Lux’s cockpit is a Canyon special, with a 90 mm stem and stylish-looking 720 mm carbon bars.

Specification of the Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race

  • Fork: RockShox RS-1 100 mm
  • Shock: RockShox Monarch XX
  • Drivetrain: SRAM X01
  • Brakes: SRAM Guide RSC
  • Seatpost: Canyon S29 VCLS CF
  • Stem: Canyon V14 90 mm
  • Handlebar: Canyon H20 720 mm
  • Tyres: Continental X-King Racesport 2,2″
  • Wheel Size: 29″
  • Wheels: DT Swiss XR 1501 Spline One
  • Weight: 10.76 kg
  • Price: € 4,499
Geometry of the Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race
Geometry of the Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race

Conclusion

Primed for marathon racing, the Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race has a superb spec and ultra-low weight, making it a beast on the climbs. It does lose some ground on the descents, asking for all your attention and a serious amount of exertion to keep it on track.

Strengths

  • A mean accelerator
  • Top spec
  • Super-stylish

Weaknesses

  • Overly firm suspension for trails
  • Nervous on technical sections

For more information on the bike head to the Canyon Website.

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About the XC Bike Group Test 2016

Just outside the sprawl of Barcelona, we took out the test fleet onto the varied trails, confronting them with everything from frighteningly steep climbs to challenging descents. All of this occurred with the backdrop and climate of the Mediterranean Sea – and despite it being February, the conditions couldn’t have been better. The test team consisted of four riders, each with their own nuances when it comes to mountain biking, but all with years of experience when it comes to testing bikes.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: XC Bikes Group Test 2016

All bikes in test: Canyon Lux CF 9.9 Race | Giant Anthem SX Advanced | Pivot Mach 4 Carbon | ROSE THRILL HILL 3 27,5″ 2016 | ROTWILD R.R2 FS 29 Evo | SCOTT Spark 710 | Specialized Epic Elite Carbon 29 World Cup | Trek Top Fuel 9.8 SL

Words & Photos: Christoph Bayer