Issue #050, Review - December 22, 2021

Canyon Torque CF 8 2022 – Cheap and cheerful?

Performance over bling. No other bike in our “Best Enduro Bike of 2022” group test epitomises this approach as exhaustively as the Canyon Torque CF 8 2022, which takes on the competition with an understated look and the most attractive price tag in the entire test field. With its mixed wheel setup and dominant freeride genes, the Torque CF 8 2022 proves that cheap doesn’t have to mean worse!

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike of 2022 – 11 models in review

**Canyon** Torque CF 8 | 170/175 mm (f/r)
15.86 kg in size L | € 4,499 | Manufacturer’s website

The Canyon Torque was primarily designed to appeal to gravity-focussed riders. For 2022, the German brand has unveiled an updated version of the Torque, which drifts into the new season on three different wheel sizes, 27.5”, 29″ and a mixed wheel setup. With its fresh and held-back look, the new Torque CF 8 2022 resembles its little brother, the Spectral. While at € 4,299 it’s by far the cheapest bike in the entire test, the CF 8 version here actually sits in the middle of the Torque range. The flagship CF9 retails at € 5,299. Nevertheless, the affordable CF 8 still comes with a full carbon frame and features a generously-sized seat and chainstay protector, huge TPU plate on the down tube and even SRAM’s UDH mech hanger, on top of which you also get a bottle cage and tool-strap mount on the top tube! Unfortunately, the latter relies on a single screw mount, making it incompatible with standard tool straps. We recommend ordering Canyon’s optional LOAD top tube bag together with your new bike.

Cheap and cheerful! The spec of the Canyon Torque CF 8 2022

The spec reflects that the 15.8 kg Torque CF 8 2022 represents understatement and performance. The 170 mm FOX 38 Performance Elite fork shares the same GRIP2 damper as the Factory model, solely forgoing the bling Kashima coating and offering the same excellent performance as its high-end counterpart. The Torque is the only bike in our group test with a coil shock, a FOX DHX2 Factory that controls 175 mm travel. One cool detail is that Canyon deliver the new Torque CF 8 2022 with two extra springs (3 in total), allowing you to choose the spring rate that suits your weight and riding style best. Unfortunately, to swap it, you’ll need a bearing press to remove and reinstall the eyelet bushings. A 12-speed Shimano XT drivetrain ensures smooth and accurate shifting but the chain drags on the chain guide in the lowest gear and even after several attempts, we couldn’t adjust it to get rid of the annoying grinding noise. Despite its dominant freeride genes, the Torque CF 8 2022 doesn’t come with a bashguard. Shimano XT four-piston brakes with 200 mm rotors front and rear provide reliable and powerful deceleration. For grip and traction, Canyon combine a MAXXIS 2.5” ASSEGAI in the EXO+ casing and soft MaxxGrip compound at the front, and a 2.4” Minion DHR2 in the robust DoubleDown casing and harder MaxxTerra rubber compound at the rear. For fast and heavy riders, we always recommend using tires with a robust casing, both front and rear, so that you can run lower pressures and get better grip and performance.

**Direct mount**
The chain guide is attached directly to the frame and doesn’t allow for any further adjustment. As a result, the chain grinds on it when riding in the lowest gear.

**Cheap and cheerful**
Canyon’s own-brand G5 dropper allows you to adjust the travel of the post between 175 and 200 mm without any tools. This allows Canyon to use the same dropper for different frame sizes and lets you get the maximum amount of dropper travel that will fit you.

**Not for everyone**
To swap the spring on the FOX DHX2 coil shock, you’ll need a bearing press to remove and reinstall the eyelet bushings.

Canyon Torque CF 8

€ 4,499

Specifications

Fork FOX 38 Performance Elite GRIP2 170 mm
Rear Shock FOX DHX2 Factory 175 mm
Seatpost Canyon G5 200 mm
Brakes Shimano XT 4-Kolben 200/200 mm
Drivetrain Shimano XT 1x12
Stem Canyon G5 40 mm
Handlebar Canyon G5 800 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss FR560 29/27.5
Tires MAXXIS ASSEGAI/Minion DHR II 2.5/2.4

Technical Data

Size M L XL
Weight 15.86 kg

Specific Features

flip chip
tool mount

**Less bling, huge performance**
The FOX 38 Performance fork relies on the same GRIP2 damper as its high-end Factory counterpart and, as a result, offers the same excellent performance on the trail.

**Silent knight!**
All cables are neatly routed inside the frame and securely clamped at the ports, ensuring a quiet ride.

**Just in case!**
If you’re likely to forget which bike is yours, Canyon will happily print your name on the top tube ;)

Unfortunately, our DT Swiss wheelset with FR 560 rims required us to tighten the spokes after just a few laps into the test. For the rest of the spec, Canyon rely on in-house components, including the new G5 dropper: this has a whopping 200 mm travel, though provides the option to reduce this to 175 mm without any tools allowing you to adapt the maximum extension to suit your anatomy and Canyon to spec the same dropper on different sizes.

The Canyon Torque CF 8 2022 is great fun and inspires huge amounts of confidence. Unfortunately, the long frame and significant lack of support force you to actively load the front wheel to keep it tracking.

The geometry of the Canyon Torque CF 8 2022

The new Canyon Torque CF 8 will soon be available in three frame sizes, from M to XL. Chainstay length is 435 mm across all sizes. At 490 mm for a size L, the reach is rather long, ensuring plenty of freedom of movement and thus inspiring huge amounts of confidence together with the 200 mm dropper post and the long insertion depth of the frame. Moreover, the short 445 mm seat tube (size L) allows you to choose the frame size based on your desired reach, while a flip chip in the seat stay lets you adjust the head and seat tube angle by 0.5°, as well as the bottom bracket height.

At € 4,299, the Canyon Torque CF 8 2022 is by far the cheapest bike in our ‘Best enduro bike of 2022’ group test.

**Just hold onto it!**
When the going gets rough, the high front and small rear wheel inspire huge amounts of confidence and encourage you to plough through nasty rockgardens without hesitation.

Size	M	L	XL
Seat tube	430 mm	445 mm	460 mm
Top tube	604 mm	631 mm	658 mm
Head tube	105 mm	115 mm	125 mm
Head angle	63.5°	63.5°	63.5°
Seat angle	77.5°	77.5°	77.5°
Chainstays	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm
BB Drop	30 mm	30 mm	30 mm
Wheelbase	1,248 mm	1,277 mm	1,307 mm
Reach	465 mm	490 mm	515 mm
Stack	629 mm	638 mm	647 mm

**Helmet** SCOTT Stego Plus | **Glasses** NAKED HAWK | **Jersey** Troy Lee Designs Lilium
**Shorts** Troy Lee Designs Lilium | **Kneepad** Dainese Trail Skins 2
**Shoes** ION Rascal | **Socks** Stance

The Canyon Torque CF 8 2022 on the trail

Uphill, the pedalling position on the Torque is comfortable but the suspension tends to bob slightly. As a result, the Torque is one of the least efficient climbers on test, making its way to the trailhead at a leisurely pace alongside the GT Force.

**Party until the end**
You can ride straight into the sunset with the new Torque. The Canyon is fun, the riding position comfortable and the spec fit for purpose.

Downhill, the Torque isn’t the most balanced bike in our big ‘Best Enduro Bikes of 2022” group test, with the geometry and rear suspension being the main reason for this. Combining a long front centre and short chainstays, the Torque forces you to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking, especially in corners. Moreover, the coil shock tends to rush through its travel, even with a stiffer spring and less sag. As a result, the rear suspension sits deep in its travel, leading to an unbalanced, rear-heavy weight distribution, especially in flat open corners where you have to actively load the front wheel to avoid understeer and vague handling. By contrast, the Cannondale distributes weight evenly between the front and rear, allowing you to generate traction by pumping through corners. That being said, the Torque doesn’t bottom out as easily. Downhill, you’re nicely integrated into the bike and safely tucked away between the wheels, which is a godsend on steep trail sections. Together with the small rear wheel and excellent freedom of movement, this inspires huge amounts of confidence on all kinds of descents. On fast trail sections, the Torque feels just as smooth as the Pivot Firebird. Overall, the Torque is great fun and encourages you to pull off huge, fast jumps with confidence and shred your way down into the valley on steep trails with a massive grin on your face.

Tuning tip: fit a bashguard

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 new Canyon Torque CF 8 2022 is an honest and unpretentious contestant and perfectly embodies Canyon’s performance over bling approach, which we’re massive fans of! However, with the imbalance in its suspension and geometry it’s also quite demanding and requires a skilled rider. On rough terrain, the smooth character inspires confidence and makes it great fun to ride.

Tops

great fun
confidence inspiring
composed

Flops

demanding handling
rear-end lacks support
wheelset build quality

You can find out more about at canyon.com

The test field