Canyon Strive CF 9.0 Race 2015 Long Term Review

Setting up the Canyon Strive CF 9.0 Race

For a racer the Spec on the Strive CF 9.0 Race is almost perfect, I, however, had to make a few small changes for personal preference. The formed profile of the ERGON grips doesn’t seem to mix with my hands so I swapped them for the more traditional and super thin HOPE SL grips. Also, I prefer to run slightly narrower bars for quicker turning and more maneuverability so the RENTHAL Fatbar Carbon was cut down to 750mm.

I weigh 76Kg and have an aggressive riding style, the Monarch plus shock was set to the specified 25% sag and it felt perfect straight away, the most notable characteristic about this bike is how progressive the linkage is. The initial stroke is supple, ideal for small bumps and greasy corners, but as you push further into the stroke it really stiffens up ready for the big hits. At the front, I was running the ROCKSHOX Pike at 17% sag and 2 bottomless tokens with the low-speed compression 3 clicks from max resulting in a balanced ride.

With me being 170cm tall, I’m right on the cusp between the small and medium frame, I chose the medium frame to see how manageable the long top tube would be in general trail conditions. Initially, I found the front end was getting away from me on the corners as I couldn’t quite get enough weight on the front wheel so I removed one of the stem spacers, dropping the bars by 5mm. This made a massive difference, the small drop helped me bring my weight more forward getting that much-needed grip.

Climbing on the Canyon Strive CF

The Canyon Strive CF 9.0 Race weighs in at a respectable 12.7kg which is certainly noticeable when climbing. We initially tried climbing with the Shapeshifter in the downhill setting and found there was noticeable pedal bob and the riding position is too far backwards making it a hand full to keep traction while not wheelieing. A quick flick on the shapeshifter to xc mode results in a much more climb friendly bike, the rider’s weight is placed more forward and so directly over the rear wheel (when climbing) resulting in more grip, control, and a more comfortable climbing position. The shapeshifter stiffens the rear suspension by reducing the sag to 15%, resulting in less pedal bob.

Here the shapeshifter does its job superbly, completely changing the characteristics of the bike from a full on descending monster to an XC whippet. The Shapeshifter really does separate the Strive CF from the competition and makes it the most versatile bike I have ever ridden.

Descending on the Canyon Strive CF

The Strive CF 9.0 is thoroughbred race bike with some serious ambitions and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The long top tube took a little time to get used to, continually thinking to keep your weight more forward, but it quickly became second nature. This long top tube gives the Strive CF a very planted and confidence inspiring ride and I never once found it an inconvenience in tight corners, thanks to the super short chainstays, it really can turn on a dime!

The Strive CF 9.0 uses the proven Horst link to activate the rear shock, it doesn’t rewrite the book in terms of linkage design, instead it offers a platform refined with perfect pivot locations to give a progressive feeling. The bike is balanced and has a neutral feeling, poised ready to react for oncoming obstacles. Carving corners is natural, precise and immediate thanks to the stiff carbon frame and the front and rear suspension working together in perfect harmony. The canyon may be a race bike and it will certainly have you going faster than before it also a very fun bike, It’s just as home hitting jumps and drops as it slaying corners.

Also thanks to the Shapeshifter the designers have had to worry less about producing a good pedaling platform. While it does pedal bob it’s small bump compliance is one of the best I have ever tested and thanks to the progressiveness it eats up the larger bumps as well. It somehow manages to feel planted but yet can easily be hopped, it’s equally at home whether it be smashing or tip-toeing through the trail.

On easy trail center descents I ran the shapeshifter in XC mode, the stiffer suspension resulted in a more immediate acceleration while the steeper head angle carved the flatter tight corners. Riding in XC mode does unbalance the bike slightly and can result in a slightly odd feeling but is still very capable when things get rowdy.

The Strive CF is a race bike and certainly proved it, I managed to take the canyon to 3rd overall in the UKGE series in the highly competitive senior category. The Canyon proved itself on every type of surface imaginable, from flat out open moors, super tight loamy sections and flowing trail centers.

Reliability of the Canyon Strive CF 9.0

The SRAM Guide RSC brakes performed excellently, they were initially squeaky but did quiet down once bedded in, the bite control was a very useful feature helping to set the brakes up perfectly. The SRAM rail 50 wheelset is light and stiff enough to keep you online, however, the rims are a little soft and dented easier than expected. SRAM’S X01 groupset performed well, however, the frames cable routing uses grommets so the gear cable doesn’t run in an outer in the front triangle. This resulted in having to change the gear cable every few months due to mud buildup in the frame.

The frame bearings have lasted well even though they look undersized in places thanks to the high quality and well sealed ENDURO bearings. There are a few scuffs appearing on the carbon frame from shoe rub marks and crash damage but overall the frame still looks in excellent condition, the lack of paint and just the unidirectional carbon fiber results in a very rugged good wearing frame.

The Shapeshifter is an extremely innovative idea and has resulted in the canyon being one of the best all round rides ever, however it is not without its faults. The small unit has very high pressure (up to 18 bar) but with little volume, CANYON include a special adaptor for the shock pump so all the air is not lost when the shock pump is removed. Unfortunately, I suffered from 2 Shapeshifter failures were the unit would not fully engage the XC mode. CANYON were very quick to replace the units, the first time the bike was sent back to the Canyon factory where the unit was replaced, the second time I replaced the unit myself. While I could complete it myself with no special tools it wasn’t an easy task with a complicated and time-consuming procedure.

Improvements that could be made

I found myself continually catching the seat when trying to shift weight over the back and would love to see it specced with a 150mm dropper post. This is more of a problem on this bike than others possibly because of the longer top tube. I would like to try a 170mm FOX 36 fork and a Float X with EVOL can. The 170mm fork would slacken the head angle another 0.5 degrees and provide better damping taking this bike to the next level. Fortunately, Canyon already offers this with their higher specced bikes which would certainly be our choice.

Conclusion

Canyon have succeeded in making the arguably most versatile bike to date and while the Shapeshifter has its flaws they are far outweighed by its advantages. The exceptional value, amazing performance, and sleek looks makes the Strive the all round package. It has racing in its DNA but has proved itself in every single aspect.

Don’t miss Coop’s long-term test round up of the Canyon Strive CF 9.0 Race

Words: Andrew Cooper Photos: Isac Paddock

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