First Look: Canyon Stoic – A new trail-hardtail from Canyon
Riding fun for little cash – that’s the idea behind the development of the new Stoic trail hardtail. Canyon’s new trail-hardtail wasn’t designed to offer the usual standard faff and mudguard mounts but to deliver uncompromised riding fun at minimum price. We have all the relevant information for you.
The folk at Canyon are on a roll. After launching the new Spectral just a week ago, the Germans are introducing the brand-new Stoic Hardtail, which wants to be their accessible gateway into the trail-riding dimension. To make this possible, Canyon rely on a robust aluminium frame, very exciting prices (from € 799) and 140 front-travel. The wheel size varies on the frame size: This way, short riders riding smaller 27.5″ wheels should experience similar handling as tall ones with bigger 29″ wheels. According to Canyon, the Stoic is an absolute multi-talent that cuts a fine figure both on muddy, slippery trails as well as pump-tracks – and even jumplines!
While Canyon rely on smaller 27.5” wheels for frame sizes 2XS-S, taller riders (M-XL) should enjoy the benefits of 29″ wheels.
The Canyon Stoic should be a genuine and, above all, very robust trail bike. The reinforced frame is also designed to withstand rough trail sessions and big jumps.
Without a shock, there’s plenty of room for a water bottle in the frame triangle of the Stoic
The rear brake line is routed externally and thus easy to swap or replace. All other cables are routed internally but make a rather unpleasant rattling noise on our test-bike. In production, they should be sufficiently clamped by a cable-holder underneath the bottle cage.
The threaded bottom bracket is easy to replace even for newbies. All in all, the Stoic is a very home-mechanic-friendly bike.
The spec of the Canyon Stoic
For € 1,699 you could get either a carbon wheelset or the top-end version of the Canyon Stoic 4.0. With its spec, Canyon have tried to strike an ideal compromise between price and trail performance. At the front, a Pike Select RC generates 140 mm of travel1. SRAM Guide T four-piston brakes with 200/180 mm rotors take care of the braking and provide more braking power than the brakes of less expensive Stoic models. The drivetrain is a SRAM NX-Eagle 12 s. With the cheaper € 799 Stoic 2.0 and €1,199 Stoic 3.0, the top-spec Stoic 4.0 shares not only the same alloy frame but also the Shimano/Alexrims wheelset and Schwalbe tire-combo with a 2.35″ Magic Mary at the front and 2.35″ Hans Dampf at the rear. Both come in the SuperTrail casing and are designed for the trail rather than for the pump track.
In times where many brands are still delivering their full-suspension trail bikes with low-profile tires, Canyon deliver their hardtail trail steed with a grippy yet fast-rolling combo: Magic Mary at the front and Hans Dampf at the rear.
We couldn’t imagine life without a dropper post. On the Stoic 3 and Stoic 4 models, a 170 mm dropper (size L) will get the saddle out of your way before dropping into the trail. Unfortunately, Canyon deliver the entry-model with a conventional seat post.
With the top-of-the-range Stoic 4.0. you’ll get a RockShox Pike fork, which generates 140 mm of travel.
Why should a hardtail be less demanding on the brakes than a full-susser? Unlike many manufacturers, Canyon deliver their hardtail with reasonable brakes.
Thanks to the 500% gear range of the SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain, the Stoic winds its way up any mountain.
Canyon Stoic 4
€ 1,699
Specifications
Fork RockShox Pike Select 140 mm
Seatpost Canyon Iridium Dropper170 mm
Brakes SRAM Guide T 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM NX Eagle (10-50)
Stem Canyon G5 40 mm
Handlebar Canyon G5 775 mm
Wheelset Shimano MT400/Alexrims DP30
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary/Hans Dampf 2,35"
Technical Data
Size 2XS S M L XL
Wheelsize 29" (M-XL) 27,5" (2XS-S)
All Canyon Stoic models
At € 799, the Canyon Stoic 2.0 is a whopping € 900 cheaper than the top-end version, which makes it a very attractive and accessible gateway to Canyon’s trail universe. However, the affordable price calls for compromises on the trail – at least in terms of functionality. Without a dropper post, for example, you’ll have to stop and adjust the saddle by hand and even the Shimano MT200 brake fails to convince us, at least on paper: with its special 3-finger lever, it delivers a very gentle bite, which in our opinion is only suitable for very light children or trekking bikes. On a trail bike, on the other hand, you should be able to brake using just one finger, even on steep trails. So if you’re not ten years old and if you’re not thinking of taking your Stoic on a trekking tour, you should plan on a budget to upgrade both components. While at first glance the 10s Shimano drivetrain might look outdated, the 11/42 tooth cassette actually provides a very reasonable gear range and should therefore be able to handle any sort of climb except for very steep ramps.
The Canyon Stoic 3 retails at € 1,199 and stands right between the entry-level and top-of-the-range models. The spec includes a SRAM SX 12 s drivetrain, which delivers the same gear range as the Stoic 4, SRAM Level T 2-piston brakes and a RockShox Recon RL fork. Although these brakes are designed to allow for one-finger control, they can’t keep up with the braking performance of the 4-piston Guide T. Except for the cockpit, the Stoic 3 shares the same components with the Stoic 4, which costs € 600 more.
All Stoic models feature the same Schwalbe tire-combo and Shimano/Alexrims wheelset
Geometry and sizes
With a total of six available frame sizes, there should be a suitable Stoic for everyone between 1.49 m and 2 m. This makes it a very exciting option not only for beginners but also (and especially) for kids and teenagers. The three smaller frame sizes feature 27.5″ wheels and a 150 mm fork, while the M to XL bikes rely on 29″ wheels and have a fork with 140 mm travel.
| Size | 2XS | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laufradgröße | 27.5″ | 29″ | ||||
| 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° | |||||
| Seat angle | 75° | |||||
| Chainstay | 418 mm | 428 mm | ||||
| BB Drop | 45 mm | 60 mm | ||||
| Wheelbase | 1084 mm | 1137 mm | 1166 mm | 1195 mm | 1224 mm | 1253 mm |
| Reach | 380 mm | 405 mm | 430 mm | 455 mm | 480 mm | 505 mm |
| Stack | 593 mm | 593 mm | 602 mm | 625 mm | 634 mm | 643 mm |
Availability
Canyon’s new Stoic trail hardtail is available from now in the Canyon online shop. However, for the time being, the bike won’t be available for American customers
First impressions
The new Stoic is Canyon’s accessible gateway to the trail universe. Particularly exciting are the robust frame and well-thought-out spec of the top-of-the-range Stoic 4-0. We’re currently working on a very special review for you, so stay tuned! We’re curious to see whether the Stoic manages to deliver top riding fun at minimum price. At just under € 800, the Stoic 2 strikes as a very attractive option for newbies and price-conscious riders who want to add a hardtail to their bike stable. Before you can take it to the trail, however, you’ll have to make a few upgrades.
More info at canyon.com Want to see the Stoic in action? Check out the video below!