First riding impressions of the Canyon Torque 2018
Canyon flew us out to Madeira to get out first impressions of the Torque and while time was short, we can give a quick initial riding impression. We were testing the top Torque CF 9.0 PRO model, with a 180mm Fox 36 FLOAT Factory fork, Fox Factory FLOAT X2 shock and full SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain. On the uplift we did not really know what to expect, would it be a Sender with a single crown fork or a Strive on steroids?
As soon as we threw a leg over the Canyon Torque 2018 it was pretty clear what the bikes intention was, gravity and fun. The comfortable geometry is instantly familiar, nothing radical or crazy, easy to exploit and drive from a central position, manuals, flicks and effortless handling were all instantly available. The numbers sit closer to an aggressive enduro bike than a DH bike, with a 65.3° head angle and 1219 mm wheelbase, you quickly forget that the Torque is rocking a serious 180 / 175 mm of travel. Pedaling uphill, the 74° seat angle does feel a little lazy, but the suspension platform is well balanced and delivers a burst of acceleration with every kick of the pedals. It’s not a bike you would want to race an XC on, but it pedals far better than the numbers would suggest, we were very impressed.
As soon as you plough into some rough terrain the Torques long travel reserves gets to work, running exactly 30% SAG you have a lot of suspension to play with and the FOX pairing simply rips through the hits – bad lines, rock gardens and jumps are absorbed without fuss. The cable routing keeps everything whisper quiet, allowing you to focus on the highlight of the bike, the tune of the suspension kinematics where Canyon have done a superb job. One worry about pushing a bike to 175 mm travel is that too much of the feedback from the trail will be lost, resulting in a fast but boring experience, however, the Canyon Torque 2018 is a total blast to ride. On our short test the Canyon Torque felt riotously fun to skip and power down the trail, pumping compressions and launching lips in the trail, all the while holding its deep travel reserves for bad lines or cased landings. There was no wallow or lethargy in the suspension, just instant response and lively handling. A full test on home trails will be needed to draw more in-depth conclusions, but this is a bike that defies its numbers.
The Canyon Torque 2018 may seem a little confusing on paper, it certainly does not fit into any conventional categories, but it’s a bike that will attract many fans. For riders who live near bike parks or big mountain terrain, who are looking for a bike that can bring DH bike capability with a surprisingly efficient pedalling ability, the new Canyon Torque packs a mighty punch.
More information at: canyon.com
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