Canyon Spectral CF Custom Review

“I can’t, I’m not allowed, I shouldn’t…” – seriously, this is old news. The change is too risky, the route too hard, the political correctness too correct. For issue #18 we threw all those concerns overboard and got hold of the absolute sickest bikes money can (not) buy. We at ENDURO are convinced: Dreams can come true!

This article is part of our magazine feature: Dreams Come True – 7 Incredible Bike Builds.

Canyon Spectral CF Custom

[emaillocker id=”115604″]

It took less than three minutes for Canyon to enthusiastically accept our invitation: “Yeah! Dream bikes? That’s such a cool task – of course, we’re in!” A few weeks later, their entry arrived and rendered the entire office speechless. Upon opening the box, we discovered a veritable dream-come-true in bad-ass black. Cue: sweaty palms, racing hearts, and glazed eyes.

There’s no other way to describe the Canyon Spectral CF than just to say ‘simply perfect’. The exclusively black colourway gives the bike an extremely high class, aggressive, and swaggeringly-cool aesthetic. The choice of parts is equally as uncompromising, with minimal weight meeting maximum performance as the guiding principle.

The Spectral will handle anything you throw at it!

The results are visible; weighing no more than 11.1kg, the Spectral can take on any trail, and even tackled the bike park without any issues during our testing. Canyon wisely saved weight in the right areas – going for the crucial gram-saving SRAM XX1 drivetrain, lovely Enve M60 carbon wheels, a Tune carbon saddle, and ESI grips – while recognising where robust parts would serve a better purpose. Thanks to the grippy Maxxis tyre combination (a Highroller II at the front and a Minion SS at the rear) as well as the potent RockShox PIKE fork, the Spectral descends with no holds barred. The lightweight Canyon glides over the trail, ironing big hits flat without even raising an eyebrow. The low weight, progressive rear with a tidy ‘pop,’ and short chainstay mean it takes corners like on rails, a true corner killer – but one that knows just how to get air when you want it. The slack 66.4° head angle and long 455mm reach (large frame) deliver stability and handling precision that excels no matter how technical the trail. Thanks to the bar-mounted switch for the hydraulic damping platform on the RockShox Monarch XX damper, those spontaneous sprints and attacks take less than half the usual time – an incredible overall package!

Details

Love it or hate it: Grip shift splits the world in two. Some detest the motion, while others appreciate the direct shifting. One thing’s for sure: it saves weight! — **Love it or hate it:** Grip shift splits the world in two. Some detest the motion, while others appreciate the direct shifting. One thing’s for sure: it saves weight!

Grip tape: Canyon dug deep into their box of tricks and kitted out both the lever for the RockShox Reverb as well as the rear shock lever with grip tape. Increased grip and ease of usage = good job! — **Grip tape:** Canyon dug deep into their box of tricks and kitted out both the lever for the RockShox Reverb as well as the rear shock lever with grip tape. Increased grip and ease of usage = good job!

Turbo Boost: Activating the damping platform from the bars in time for sprints, the Spectral gets a serious turbo boost. — **Turbo Boost:** Activating the damping platform from the bars in time for sprints, the Spectral gets a serious turbo boost.

Devalued: The ENVE rear wheel had a nipple ripped out of the rim bed, which is naturally an expensive defect – but one that ENVE fix under guarantee, or so the Americans assured us. — **Devalued:** The ENVE rear wheel had a nipple ripped out of the rim bed, which is naturally an expensive defect – but one that ENVE fix under guarantee, or so the Americans assured us.

Specification: Canyon Spectral CF Custom

Fork: RockShox Pike RCT3 Solo Air 150 mm
Rear Shock: RockShox Monarch XX Debon Air 140 mm
Drivetrain: SRAM XX1
Cranks: RaceFace Next SL
Brakes: SRAM Guide RSC
Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth
Stem: Canyon V12 Carbon
Handlebar: Canyon H23 CF 2
Tyres: MAXXIS Highroller II / Maxxis Minion SS
Wheelsize: 27.5″
Wheels: ENVE M Series 60 Forty Carbon
Price: € 7,000

[/emaillocker]

Strengths

Geometry to put you at ease.
Black and rad.
Incredibly efficient.
Super lightweight.

Weaknesses

The ENVE rim suffered a defect.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for the perfect trail bike defined – look no further. With this test-customised creation, Canyon have tuned the Spectral CF to reach dizzy new trail bike heights. Lightweight, playful, and extremely fast, this bike keeps it cool on the gnarliest of terrain – and looks damn good in the process. A true dream bike!

For more information on the Canyon Spectral visit the Canyon website.

This article is part of our magazine feature: Dreams Come True – 7 Incredible Bike Builds. Check out the other dream bikes from this feature here: Bold Linkin Trail Race Day 29 Custom | Ghost PathRiot LC 10 | Focus SAM C Team | Mondraker Dune Carbon XR | Scott Genius LT 700 Tuned Plus | Trek Top Fuel 9.9 SL

Looking for a cheaper version of the Canyon Spectral? Check out the Canyon Spectral AL 7.0 EX Review. We’ve also reviewed the stock Canyon Spectral CF 9.0 EX.

Words & Photos: Christoph Bayer

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.