The new Canyon Neuron CF 2019 promises to be the perfect companion for long rides and relaxed trail excursions, appealing to riders of all skill levels. We had the opportunity to test Canyon’s latest bike in Portugal, and we’ll tell you what it’s capable of.
If you enjoy long rides on your mountain bike and you prefer taking it easy on the downhills, predominantly riding flow-trails, it’s not easy to find a suitable bike these days. Trail bikes with between 120 and 150 mm of travel have evolved into potent all-rounders in recent years, easily able to compete with long-travel enduro bikes on demanding trails, but they’ve also become relatively heavy due to the increasingly harsh demands. With the Neuron CF 2019, Canyon is once again offering a trail bike that fills the gap between its XC race bike, the Lux, and its trail bike, the Spectral. With 130 mm of travel and moderate geometry, the new bike should shine on forest roads as well as easy trails. The Neuron CF rolls on large 29″ wheels in sizes M, L and XL, while Canyon relies on 27.5″ wheels for sizes XS and S.
The Canyon Neuron CF 2019 in detail
While Canyon merely gave the Neuron AL a facelift for the 2019 season, the 2019 Neuron CF has been completely redesigned. The design of the rear end is particularly striking – you can draw a straight line from the rear axle to the front shock mount. You won’t find much aluminium on the Neuron CF’s stylish frame; apart from the front triangle, the seat and chain stays are also made of carbon. The shock extension, on the other hand, is a fibre reinforced plastic composite that Canyon produces via injection moulding. This manufacturing method is intended to provide previously unattainable freedom in design.
As with the Spectral, the cables are routed along a closed channel under the down tube. This combines the easy maintenance of external cable routing with the clean look of an internal solution, and it doubles as a downtube protector. There is space for a water bottle in the front triangle, from size M and up you’ll even have sufficient space for a large 750 ml bottle. Canyon’s patented Impact Protection Unit, IPU for short, limits the steering angle and protects the frame from being damaged by the brake or gear levers in the event of a crash or during transport.
Canyon attached great importance to the service life of the bearings in the rear linkage: an asymmetrical design with two bearings on the drive side supposedly improves force distribution and reduces the load on the bearings. The main pivot is shielded from environmental influences with a special seal and screwed on covers, thus further increasing the longevity of the high-quality industrial bearings. At the rear Canyon uses its specially developed Quixle quick-release axle, thanks to which the rear wheel can be removed without the use of tools.
As with the Spectral, the kinematics of the Neuron CF are based on Canyon’s DH bike, the Sender, and adapted them for the Neuron’s intended use and the 29″ wheels accordingly. The aim of the “Triple Phase Suspension” is a sensitive initial response, lots of mid-travel support and a progressive ramp up at the end. The suspension, therefore, is supposed to work as efficiently as possible while still providing reserves when needed. The XS and S frames have been specially adapted to suit the lighter weight of smaller riders; shorter shocks with a different kinematics should respond even more sensitively on these frame sizes and make better use of the available travel.
Geometry of the Canyon Neuron CF 2019
Through its direct-to-consumer sales channel, Canyon has access to a great deal of data on the body measurements and preferences of its customers and uses this knowledge in the development of the geometries. With the Neuron CF, Canyon wanted to achieve the perfect compromise between efficiency and comfort. The result is a balanced geometry without any big surprises, the moderate dimensions underline the intended use of the Neuron CF, differentiating it from the more aggressive Spectral. Size-specific tube diameters should ensure a perfect ratio of stiffness to weight as well as a consistent riding feel across all frame sizes.
| Size | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 400 mm | 400 mm | 445 mm | 480 mm | 520 mm |
| Top tube | 619 mm | 638 mm | 681 mm | 698 mm | 724 mm |
| Head tube | 88 mm | 100 mm | 102 mm | 112 mm | 143 mm |
| Headangle | 67° | 67° | 67,5° | 67,5° | 67,5° |
| Seatangle | 74,5° | 74,5° | 74,5° | 74,5° | 74,5° |
| Chainstays | 430 mm | 430 mm | 440 mm | 440 mm | 440 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1.121 mm | 1.145 mm | 1.166 mm | 1.190 mm | 1.222 mm |
| Reach | 398 mm | 418 mm | 433 mm | 453 mm | 473 mm |
| Stack | 577 mm | 588 mm | 613 mm | 622 mm | 651 mm |
