Canyon Strive CF 9.0 Race – long-term test roundup
From mud and slop-fests in Scotland to never-ending Alpine descents via some beastly jumps on home trails, our long-term test bikes haven’t had it easy! They’ve stockpiled a ton of kilometres and even more vertical metres on some gnarly trails and lung-burningly tough races. Now that the new season has crept up on us, it’s time for the testers to slam down the lawful fist of justice on these bikes and reveal how their test bike fared, and whether it’s convinced them of its value.
Like all good things, my time on the Canyon Strive CF 9.0 Race must come to an end. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster with ups and down, from finishing 3rd in the UK Gravity Enduro series to ending up in hospital with multiple stitches, but both myself and the bike have come out triumphant.
The Canyon Strive CF is a respected race bike and has proved itself during the race season, gaining top results at the national level. It’s also shown its versatility, from uplift days to 60 km endurance races: more importantly, it has turned out to be a fun bike, a trait that is not very common on race bikes.
All of the components have performed exceptionally well as expected and have been reliable during the race season. The Enduro pivot bearings lasted well, with only two bearings requiring changing even with plenty of pressure washing. The original shock bushes proved soft and, with the added complexity of the Shapeshifter, were hard to change, so I replaced them with J-Tech’s heavy-duty hardware which lasted substantially better.
What about the elephant in the room: the Shapeshifter? Well, when it works it’s brilliant, offering more versatility than any other bike, but with its reliability issues I had I to keep asking myself whether it was worth it. There’s no doubt about its brilliance, but the reliability issues need to be overcome. (Editor’s note: Canyon have since revised the internals of the Shapeshifter for improved reliability). The Canyon screams quality with smooth lines and uncluttered cable routing, the long Race geometry is perfect, and I never once found myself wanting a smaller frame. The progressive linkage offered great support when charging, and the spec was excellent. The final verdict is very simple: Canyon have made one hell of a bike, at one hell of a price…enough said!
Price: € 4,299
Weight: 12.6 kg
Travel: 160/160 mm
More info: Canyon Website
KMs ridden: 1,216 km
Downhill metres: 65,000 m
Issues:
- Shapeshifter
- Shock bushings
- Rebound on the RockShox Pike
Would I buy the Canyon Strive CF 9.0 Race?
The Strive has been an awesome bike and I have some fond memories aboard it; however, the Shapeshifter issues were definitely a thorn in its side. The value for money, build quality, and exceptional performance lead me to say that I would buy the Canyon with my own money. I just wish the Shapeshifter was more reliable – but it’s still been one of the best bikes I have ever ridden!
Editor’s note: According to Canyon, a small selection of the first generation of the Shapeshifter had issues and couldn’t be re-adjusted. These issues have since been solved. But should a customer own a defective Shapeshifter, Canyon say they’re happy to exchange it for free.
Read more about the bike in Coop’s Canyon Strive CF 9.0 Race review. To see the original condition of the bike, check out the First Look.
If you want to follow our long-term test crew, check the long-term test timeline
Words: Andrew Cooper Photos: Doc Ward, Isac Paddock