Canyon Neuron CF SLX 9.0 LTD on test – How good is Canyon’s lightweight all-rounder?

Do you want to conquer new peaks, enjoy the sweet sound of nature in total silence and hit natural singletrails? The high-end, superlight version of Canyon’s touring rocket, the Neuron CF SLX 9.0 LTD is designed to hit the sweet spot between comfort and riding fun. But is it the ultimate all-rounder?

Lighter and stiffer – the mail order brand Canyon launched the new high-end version of its popular touring full-susser, the Neuron. The CF SLX 9.0 LTD features a brand-new frame, which, according to the German manufacturer, is stiffer and around 250 g lighter than the CF-line frames. To achieve this, Canyon uses special 40T UD carbon fibres. However, the geometry of Canyon’s 130 mm trail/touring bike remains unchanged. The mixed matt and glossy finish leaves some of the carbon layup visible, accentuating the construction. The slender tubes, elegantly integrated bearing covers and clean lines of the design make the Neuron true eye candy. As you would expect from Canyon, the spec of the top-end version leaves nothing to be desired! That includes a FOX Factory chassis and Kashima Transfer dropper, super light carbon wheels, a bling XTR groupset complete with brakes and a threaded BSA bottom bracket. And that’s not all! Classic Canyon features such as the downtube protector with integrated cable routing, the Quixle thru-axle and the Impact Protection Unit on the top tube round out the build. If that wasn’t enough, the bike is also extremely quiet. There’s no annoying rattling or creaking to be heard, which means you can focus on the trail and enjoy the sweet sound of nature in total peace.

The Canyon Neuron is incredibly direct and makes quick direction changes with clinical precision – a great option for exploring new trails.

Closer to a trail rig than an XC racer – Canyon Neuron CF SLX 9.0 LTD geometry

The geometry suggests that the Neuron is much more trail bike than XC racer. And that’s exactly why Canyon rightly places the Neuron between the XC Lux and the Spectral trail bike models, emphasising the Neuron’s trail DNA. The riding position is stretched and sporty,yet remains very comfortable. While the seat angle isn’t the steepest out there, the reach is still quite short for a modern trail bike. Together with the relatively steep head angle, it’s obvious that the Neuron wasn’t designed purely for speed, but wants to strike a balance between long-distance capabilities and trail performance.

How does the Canyon Neuron CF SLX 9.0 LTD ride on the trail?

In a nutshell, the Canyon Neuron CF SLX 9.0 LTD seduces you into piling up as many vertical meters as you can. The combination of low weight, superlight wheels and good rolling characteristics of the tires make the Neuron a true climbing rocket. Regardless of whether you’re climbing in or out of the saddle, the rear-end of the nimble Canyon Neuron SLX works efficiently and provides almost bob-free pedalling, even with the FOX shock in the open mode. If you want to feel more integrated between the wheels, you can slide the Fizik Taiga saddle all the way forward, for a more efficient and comfortable riding position, even on long tours with long climbs. If you’re planning to take the Neuron CF SLX 9.0 on short rides with little ascending, we recommend placing as many spacers under the stem as you can and – if you’re still not comfortable enough – swapping the bars for a version with more rise. This will make for a more upright riding position which in turn takes the pressure off your hands and forearms. The rear-end generates tons of traction and you’ll still maintain a decent amount of pressure on the front-wheel, which means the Neuron takes on even steep and technical climbs without breaking a sweat. When popping off ledges, the suspension provides sufficient support without sagging away. Despite the long 175 mm cranks, we didn’t have problems clipping our pedals. For those situations that don’t require maximum traction, for example on a fire road, we recommend switching the rear shock compression lever to the middle position to generate more speed and make for a nimbler ride.

Whether you’re riding challenging Alpine terrain or flat trails, the Neuron surprises with its lively and direct character – both up- and downhill.

Once you point its nose downhill, the lively and direct character of the Neuron emerges, allowing for quick direction changes and spontaneous line choices! The Neuron CF SLX 9.0 LTD feels at home on flowy trails and natural singletrack. Its lively character shines from the very first pedal stroke and provides nimble handling in all situations, converting even the flattest (and perhaps boring) trail into a playground. The progression in the suspension feels like you’re sitting on much more than 130 mm of travel. With good line choice and a little more care this fun 29er manages even technical terrain. However, when riding steep sections and open corners, the Neuron rewards an active riding style. Unfortunately, the weak MAXXIS Forecaster tires can’t keep up and quickly run out of steam, limiting the overall grip of the Neuron, particularly on wet forest ground. As the geometry suggests, the Neuron reaches its limits at high speeds, where it lacks smoothness and reserves – after all, it’s a long-distance trail full-susser and not an aggressive enduro rig! If you’re after a rowdy downhill machine, you’d be better looking elsewhere.

Tuning tips: more robust tires to improve downhill performance | if necessary, raise the stem and/or use bars with more rise

Conclusion

Whether you take it on a challenging Alpine crossing, a fun tour with lots of singletracks or fast-paced after-work rides with your mates, the Neuron CF SLX 9.0 does exactly what it says on the tin. Canyon’s sporty trail/touring bike offers tons of fun! It’s stylish, light and quiet and its top-end spec comes at a very fair price. While the Neuron rewards an active riding style on the way down, it is mainly aimed at climbing junkies who are looking to pile up endless vertical metres. But be careful: the Neuron is too sporty for relaxed cruises around the lake and a tad too nervous for fast-paced trail sessions.

Tops

• top spec
• climbs well
• lively, direct character
• great value for money

Flops

• tires lack grip
• nervous at high speeds

All of you who are looking for a cheaper version should check the all-new alloy models. Here you’ll find our first ride review on the Canyon Neuron AL 7.0 2020.

For more information head to canyon.com