Issue #047, Review - June 11, 2021

Canyon Stoic 4 2021 on review – A hardtail for MTB beginners?

Do you even need a full suspension mountain bike to have fun on the trail? With their progressive Stoic hardtail, Canyon want to offer an accessible gateway to the trail riding dimension. Retailing at € 1,699, the Stoic 4 features an alloy frame, rolls on 29” wheels and offers 140 mm travel at the front. After putting the Canyon through the wringer, we can tell you whether it’s a sensible and affordable alternative to a full suspension bike or even just an exciting trail rocket!

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best mountainbike of 2021 – 22 models in review

**Canyon** Stoic 4 | 140/0 mm (f/r)
13.76 kg (size L) | € 1,699 | Manufacturer-website

In our search for the best mountain bike of 2021, we couldn’t possibly leave out this year’s most hotly-debated hardtail amongst our readers, the Canyon Stoic. Presenting itself in a discreet green finish, it combines 29” wheels with 140 mm travel at the front. The hardtail of the German direct-sales brand was developed to offer an accessible entry to mountain biking and cut a good figure on trails and long rides as well as pump tracks and dirt jumps.
The overall build quality of the aluminium frame with its pronounced welds feels quite rudimentary, even in light of the comparatively cheap price of € 1,699. The rear brake line is routed externally and held in place on the top tube with zip ties. The shift and dropper cables are routed internally, though the cable ports are positioned far down the downtube. This creates a rather odd-looking curve in the cables around the cockpit and leaves the cables free to rub against the frame despite the internal clamps and zip ties. Unfortunately, Canyon deliver the Stoic without a proper chainstay protector, using a thin plastic film to protect the paint instead. Needless to say, the Stoic plays a phenomenal chain slap concert on the trail. We recommend applying a generous amount of mastic tape before taking your Stoic to the trail!

The spec of our Canyon Stoic 4

Retailing at € 1,699, the 13.8 kg Stoic 4 is the top-spec model in the Stoic range, which starts at just € 899. At the front, a RockShox Pike RC fork controls 140 mm of travel. However, the fork feels harsh compared to the Select+ and Ultimate models, featuring a rebound and low-speed compression adjuster. Braking is taken care of by SRAM Guide T brakes paired with a 200 mm rotor at the front and a smaller 180 mm disc out back. Unfortunately, the brakes aren’t suitable for long trail sessions because they tend to overheat quickly, resulting in a wandering bite point and significant loss in braking power. A 12-speed SRAM NX rear derailleur with matching lever shifts gears on a cheaper and heavier 11-50 t SX cassette. At first glance, the Schwalbe tire combination with a Magic Mary at the front and Hans Dampf at the rear, both in the robust SuperTrail casing, looks promising. Unfortunately, the Alexrims DP30 rims don’t permit a reliable tubeless setup, strongly limitng the potential of the tires and even causing the rear tire to pop off the rim during our test: NOT GOOD! For the seat post, Canyon rely on their own Iridium dropper which offers a generous 170 mm travel (size L). However, the dropper remote takes some force to get moving. The rest of the cockpit consists of Canyon’s reliable in-house components, including the 780 mm (size L) G5 handlebars with matching stem. The bar width is adapted to the respective frame size and thus the height of the rider. Depending on frame size, the Stoic comes with 740 mm, 760 mm or 780 mm handlebars.

**What? :)**
Nothing to see here :) Yes, the shock is “missing”, but in return, you get plenty of unfiltered power when you step on the gas.

**Untidy**
We’re referring to the rough welds on the aluminium frame.

**Something to learn from**
When it comes to the tires, the Stoic does everything right and some bikes could learn a lesson or two from it.

Canyon Stoic 4

€ 1,699

Specifications

Fork RockShox Pike Select 140 mm
Seatpost Iridium Dropper 170 mm
Brakes SRAM Guide T 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM NX Eagle 1x12
Stem Canyon G5 40 mm
Handlebar Canyon G5 Riser 780 mm
Wheelset Alexrims DP30/KT M5er 29"
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary/Hans Dampf Evo Super Trail 2,35

Technical Data

Size 2XS XS S M L XL
Weight 13.76 kg

**Hot seat**
The SRAM Guide T brakes overheat quickly and deliver poor braking performance. This makes them the worst brakes in the test.

**Hold tight, the journey begins**
Compared to its more expensive counterparts, the RockShox Pike RC feels harsh, passing on impacts and vibrations onto the rider almost unfiltered.

**Curvy**
The gear and dropper cables create an odd-looking loop.

The geometry of the Canyon Stoic 4 in detail

Available in a total of six sizes, XXS to XL, there should be a suitable Stoic for everyone between 158 cm to 192 cm tall. The three smaller frame sizes (XXS–S) feature 27.5″ wheels, while the M to XL bikes rely on 29″ wheels. Canyon adapt the geometry of the bike to the respective wheel sizes, with the primary changes being the chainstay length and bottom bracket height. Chainstays are 418 mm on all 27.5” bikes and 428 mm on all frames with 29” wheels. Compared to full suspension bikes, the chainstays are extremely short, regardless of the frame size. Of course, this makes for very agile and nimble handling. Our test bike in size L has a relatively long 480 mm reach and high front (635 mm stack).

Size	2XS	XS	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	365 mm	365 mm	400 mm	430 mm	460 mm	500 mm
Top tube	539 mm	564 mm	591 mm	623 mm	650 mm	678 mm
Head tube	90 mm	90 mm	100 mm	90 mm	100 mm	110 mm
Head angle	65.0°	65.0°	65.0°	65.0°	65.0°	65.0°
Seat angle	75.0°	75.0°	75.0°	75.0°	75.0°	75.0°
Chainstays	418 mm	418 mm	418 mm	428 mm	428 mm	428 mm
BB Drop	45 mm	45 mm	45 mm	60 mm	60 mm	60 mm
Wheelbase	1,104 mm	1,129 mm	1,158 mm	1,193 mm	1,222 mm	1,252 mm
Reach	380 mm	405 mm	430 mm	455 mm	480 mm	505 mm
Stack	592 mm	592 mm	601 mm	626 mm	635 mm	644 mm

**Helmet** POC Kortal Race MIPS | **Glasses** POC Aim | **Backpack** USWE Patriot 15 | **Shirt** Monserat J02
**Shorts** 100% Airmatic Shorts | **Kneepads** Chromag Rift | **Shoes** Giro Chamber II
**Socks** Stance Supercrew Comp Nano | **Watch** Wahoo ELEMNT RIVAL

This is how the hardtail behaves on the trail

Uphill, the Canyon Stoic 4 convinces with a comfortable pedalling position. The weight is evenly distributed between the front and rear, resulting in an equal amount of pressure on the hands and saddle. The Stoic is direct and powerful and potentially one of the stronger climbers in this test, provided you choose your line carefully. Nonetheless, you should avoid slippery roots and large obstacles or just ride around them, because the rear wheel gets caught up easily on obstacles and the rigid rear doesn’t absorb impacts. Unlike a full suspension bike, a hardtail has no suspension to sink into meaning its geometry remains unchanged uphill. As a result, the Stoic is easy to control even on steep climbs and the front doesn’t lift inadvertently. On fire roads and flowing trails, it can even keep up with the Trek Top Fuel and Yeti SB115. However, on rough terrain the absence of rear suspension and resulting lack of traction expose the dark side of hardtail bikes.

“Lots of fun for little money,” is the motto of the Stoic. Unfortunately, the poor build quality and dangerous spec hold it back from delivering the goods.

Tuning-tips: upgrade to more powerful brakes | upgrade the wheelset

Thanks to its front-heavy riding position, the Stoic implements steering input willingly and directly downhill, providing very precise handling. It’s intuitive, predictable and easy to control on well-built flow trails and always eager to take off into the air. When the trail gets rougher, the harsh fork spoils the party. Vibrations and hits are passed onto the rider, and not just at the rear, while even the slightest lateral force pushes the Stoic off the chosen line. Not only can this quickly lead to arm pump, but it also results in a lack of traction in corners and under braking. As a result, the Stoic requires you to stay significantly more alert than a full-susser as you have to compensate for the hits and vibrations by shifting your body.

Riding Characteristics

Uphill

sluggish
efficient

Agility

cumbersome
playful

Stability

nervous
confident

Handling

demanding
balanced

Suspension

harsh
plush

Fun Factor

planted
poppy

Value for money

terrible
very good

Intended Use

XC

Trail

Enduro

Downhill

Conclusion

The Canyon Stoic 4 Hardtail is supposed to offer an accessible gateway to trail riding, but completely fails to meet its objective! It’s the cheapest bike in our group test and great fun on easy climbs and manicured flow trails but quickly becomes dangerous on singletracks due to its poor braking performance and poor-quality wheelset. If that wasn’t bad enough, the build quality of the frame is rather rudimentary. While the Stoic 4 is the top-end version of the Stoic range, quite a number of significant safety-relevant flaws in the spec limit the bike’s range of application and thus degree of riding fun. Despite the very affordable price, the Stoic 4 doesn’t offer a good price-performance ratio!

Tops

comfortable pedalling position
good climber on easy trails
precise and direct handling

Flops

poor build quality
critical spec, especially the wheels and brakes
poor value for money, even in light of the low price

Find more information here: canyon.com

The testfield

Einen Überblick über diesen Vergleichstest erhaltet ihr hier: The best mountain bike of 2021 – 22 models on review

This scale indicates how efficiently the bike climbs. It refers to both simple and technical climbs. Along with the suspension, the riding position and the weight of the bike all play a crucial role.↩
How does the bike ride and descend? How spritely is the bike, how agile is it through corners, how much fun is it in tight sections and how quickly can it change direction?↩
Is the bike stable at high speeds? Is it easy to stay in control in demanding terrain? How composed is it on rough trails? Stability is a combination of balanced geometry, good suspension and the right spec.↩
This is all about how balanced the bike is and particularly about how well it corners. Balanced bikes require little physical effort from the rider and are very predictable. If a bike is unbalanced, the rider has to work hard to weight the front wheel to generate enough grip. However, experienced riders can have a lot of fun even with unbalanced bikes.↩
How sensitive is the suspension over small bumps? Can it absorb hard impacts and does it soak up repeated hits? Plush suspension not only provides comfort and makes a bike more capable, but it also generates traction. The rating includes the fork and the rear suspension.↩
This aspect mainly comes down to the suspension. How much pop does it have, does it suck up the rider’s input or is it supportive, and how agile and direct is the bike?↩
We don’t calculate value for money in an excel spreadsheet or based on how high-end a bike is specced. We are more concerned with how a bike performs on the trail and how the bike benefits the rider. What good are the best components if the bike doesn’t perform well on the trail? Expensive bikes with a lower-end spec can offer very good value for money – provided they excel where it matters. Just as supposedly cheap bikes with good components can get a bad rating if they don’t deliver on the trail.↩
No, it’s not about racing, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along flowy singletrack and gravel roads need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret XC more like the Americans do: big back-country rides instead of a marathon or XC World Cup with the ultimate in lightweight construction! Uphill-downhill ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
...also known as mountain biking. Classic singletrack with roots, rocks and ledges – sometimes flowy, sometimes rough. For this, you need a bike with good all-round qualities, whether climbing or descending. Uphill-downhill ratio: 50:50↩
Even more extreme and challenging compared to Trail riding, riddled with every kind of obstacle: jumps, gaps, nasty rock gardens, ruts and roots. For this, you need (race)proven equipment that forgives mistakes and wouldn’t look out of place on a stage of the Enduro World Series. Climbing is just a means to an end. Uphill-downhill ratio: 30:70↩
Strictly speaking, a 200 mm travel downhill bike is the best choice for merciless tracks with big jumps, drops and the roughest terrain. Those would be the black or double-black-diamond tracks in a bike park. But as some of the EWS pros (including Sam Hill) have proven, it’s the riding skills and not the bike that define what you can ride with it. Climbing? On foot or with a shuttle, please! Uphill-downhill ratio: 10:90↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩

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