Canyon Dude CF 9.0 Unlimited Fat Bike Review
Say what you will about fat biking, but it’s a heck of a lot better than riding the trainer inside. Photo by Neil Beltchenko
What is it
German direct-to-consumer seller Canyon makes virtually every kind of bike, including the fully rigid Dude CF 9.0 Unlimited fat bike. Highlights include a lightweight full carbon frame and fork, DT Swiss BR 2250 wheels, SRAM’s wide range GX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain with 30t chainring, SRAM Guide R brakes, Canyon cockpit components, a Fizik saddle, Ergon grips, and Schwalbe Jumbo Jim 4.0 tires.
The matte black carbon frame cuts an attractive profile among the aspen trees.
Key geometry measures include a 68.5-degree head angle, 74-degree seat tube angle, and 455mm chainstay length (size Large). There’s also a dual-position rear drop-out that allows you to adjust wheelbase and chainstay length (as low as 439mm for a snappier ride). Max tire clearance is 4.8, and Mtbr’s test bike weighed 26.6 pounds with tubes out of the box. And as usual price is a big part of the Canyon story, with this cool Dude coming in at $2799 delivered to your door. (One step down is the CF 8.0 Unlimited for $1999). Build-up is straight forward. Even a beginner mechanic should be able to get out of the garage and onto the snowy trails in under 30 minutes.
SRAM’s 10-50 GX Eagle cassette means you’ll almost never run out of gears on either end.
Pros
- Low price
- Low frame weight – 1550g claimed
- Easy to assemble
- Shifting/braking perfectly dialed right out of box
- Ample standover clearance
- Oversized seatpost QR
- Wheels can be converted to tubeless
- Wide 1×12 gear range
- Routing for dropper post
- Stock 760mm bars/60mm stem
- Balanced geometry
Cons
- Sloping top tube reduces frame bag space
- Only one bottle cage mount
- Lack of front suspension
- 4.8 is max tire clearance
- Stock 4.0 tires will be too narrow for some
- Only S, M, L — no XL frame size available
- Tight cockpit space for taller riders
- Must build it up yourself
- Not always in stock
The Dude got put to the test at Crested Butte, Colorado’s annual Fat Bike World Championships.
Mtbr’s Take
Without ever turning a crank, Canyon’s Dude CF 9.0 Unlimited fat bike gets high marks for value. For well under three grand you get a lightweight full carbon frame and fork, and smooth-operating SRAM GX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain. Peruse the web and you’ll quickly discover what a good deal that is. Similar builds from other major manufactures can run upwards of $1000 more.
Max tire clearance is 4.8, but these 4.0 Schwalbe Jumbo Jims provided more than enough float in most conditions.
As with all the Canyon bikes we’ve tested, build-up of the Dude was straight forward and easy. The German bike maker has all but perfected the direct-to-consumer sales model. Their bikes arrive at your house mostly pre-built, and what tasks remain pose minimal hurdle even to a beginner mechanic. All Canyon bikes also include simple-to-follow instructions and all required assembly tools. Plan on 30 minutes of work once you pop open the box, with much of that time spent stripping away packing material.
The Dude frame is equipped with a dual-position rear drop-out that allows you to adjust wheelbase and chainstay length (as low as 439mm for a snappier ride).
Once built, Mtbr’s size large test rig weighed 26.6 pounds, and we knocked that number down by almost a pound by converting to tubeless — and adding a dropper post. (The dropper post upgrade actually added 367 grams, but in my mind being able to get the saddle out of the way on steep descents and/or post-hole restarts is well worth it.)
Routing the dropper post meant tracing the external path of the rear brake housing and then ducking into the seat tube above the bottom bracket.
On the trail the bike had a well-balanced feel, its 68.5-degree head angle, 74-degree seat tube angle, and 455mm chainstays delivering a ride that was both uphill competent and downhill capable. With no suspension outside of the 4.0 tires at 5-8psi, this bike will never be confused with an enduro slayer. But on snow you don’t need a Fox 36 to have a good time. And by adding the dropper post, I felt plenty comfortable dropping into steeper terrain.
The size L frame was a tad tight for our 6-foot-4 frame, and unfortunately Canyon doesn’t sell and XL Dude.
The Dude also boasts a ton of standover clearance, which make restarts easier, but does limit frame bag options. That might seem like a peculiar niggle, but it’s really nice to be able to carry (or ditch) extra clothing and gloves so you can adjust to changes in temperature or ride pace. There’s also just one bottle mount, but this is only a minimal issue during wintertime rides when liquid consumption is lessened.
Stem and bars are Canyon house brand.
Other notable highlights include a handling-friendly 760mm bars/60mm stem combo, DT Swiss wheels that can be converted to tubeless with only minimal headache, and an oversize seatpost QR lever, making it easy to adjust saddle height without taking your gloves off. Tire clearance goes up to 4.8, which is plenty wide for all but the most aggressive powder hounds. And honestly, I had little issue with the stock 4.0 Schwalbe Jumbo Jims, which provided plenty of traction and grip in hardpack and medium-firm snow.
The DT Swiss wheel-Schwalbe tire combo was (relatively) easy to convert to tubeless, and performed admirably on medium and hard pack snow conditions.
Bottom line, if you’re looking for a dedicated wintertime bike that’s not a pig, but also won’t break your bank, Canyon’s Dude 9.0 Unlimited is a superb option. I just wish they offered it in an XL frame size, as my 6-foot-4 frame had a tough time squeezing into the smallish cockpit of the size large Mtbr tested.
Rating: 4 out of 5 
Price: $2799
More Info: www.canyon.com
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