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Cor this one sure is a doozy,
Really struggling between these two bikes.
Basically the same price and shipping window.
Canyon has a better kit but man.... that YT frame makes the Canyon look like a backyard project in comparison.
Anyone got any thoughts that might swing me either way?
Thanks!
I've not ridden the 27.5 Jeffsy but have ridden the first gen spectral and own a 29 Jeffsy.
The specs are give and take, you get DT Swiss wheels and a Yari over a Pike on the Jeffsy but a better fork damper and rear shock on the Spectral. The other main difference is in the geometry, the Spectral is quite conservative: not huge reach, fairly slack seat tube. Good if most of your riding will be flatter, tighter trails with a bit less emphasis on nailing rough downhills. Probably a bit more playful too.
The Jeffsy is a bit longer, has a steeper seat angle, and will be more competent and stable downhill and on the steep trails.
I was this >|< close to buying a Canyon Spectral but decided I would buy a 29er if I could find one with enough agility - the Jeffsy 2019 29er was that bike. 😁
How tall are you? If you're over 6ft, then the Jeffsy will probably fit you better, I'm 6ft 3in on an XXL and it's perfect. The Jeffsy also has a lower seat tube so you can either size up to a longer bike or fit a 200mm+ dropper post.
Hey thanks for the words.
I tend to like my bikes to be fun and flickable, if thats helps. I've read the Canyon is the more 'all rounder' and the YT is the more hooligan of the two, but suffers uphill/long distance because of that.
Most of my riding will probably be trail centers and the like with some full-day adventure style stuff in there. It really is a head vs heart. The heart says "Wow look at that YT frame and how FUN it looks" and the head is saying "The Canyon is the sensible choice that'll be more than suitable for my riding".
Sighh.
I'm 181cm / 5.11ish. Smack in the middle of the YT Large size and Canyon comes out as a large also.
Cheers
This sounds like a position I was in before Christmas. I now own the spectral but for me the decision was made easier as YT's stock is a bit hit n miss. I like the canyon and the spec is quality. I'm located in west Yorkshire, if your local pop in and we'll do a circuit.
I can't offer any advice on the jeffsy but I have a 2019 spectral. I'm 5ft 10 and went medium and size wise it is a good fit. I think from reading previous forum posts here and pinkbike that a lot of people around my height were finding that they had to have the dropper post quite low in the seat tube even on medium so a large wouldnt have fit very well. I have 30inch inside leg and have the dropper post out by only a couple of inches.
Ride wise it has been a really great bike. I was riding a strive 2016 previously and found it hard to deal with and couldn't get in with it but the spectral just feels very easy to ride. Strangely I feel much more confident riding steep and techy stuff on it than I did the strive. It climbs well and is very fun to ride, easy to jump and manoeuvre. I have the cf9 purely because it was on offer at the time and sane price as cf 8 but in hindsight probably should have went cf8 for the Dr wheels and fox shock. But still, I'm very happy with it and can't wait to get out for a ride (just having the fork and shock serviced).
Thats interesting what you say. Thanks.
I'm a inch taller but have a 33inch inside leg. That might tip me into large size?
Anyway, I think the Canyon is winning me over. The spec is much better, and the shock on the YT is a bit... basic.
Cheers all 🙂
Just to say the Rockshox Deluxe shocks are fine and you can add a Megneg to them if you like a plusher initial stroke with more ramp up in the midstroke.
Honestly, I think you'll be fine which either. Pick the one in the best colour!
Or, seeing as you're 'nearly' tall (anyone under 6ft is short in my eyes...!) you could consider the Jeffsy 29 version 😉
I went from a 2015 YT Capra to a 2018 Spectral, make climbs a bit easier and less crazy on the decents.
It was soon after launch, I didn't get on with the 2.6 tyres and thought the bottom bracket was too low with 2.4 tyres so also changed the fork to 160mm.
Both these modifications are how the bike comes now, it's a superb all rounder, feeling and feedback have improved my riding skills overall.
Allow me to muddy the waters.
I had a Strive last year for a few months for a sponsored feature.
It was, hands down, a bloody brilliant bike that climbed really well but descended with real confidence and was just plain fun. All three of us who rode one loved it. As my mate Pete succinctly put it, it's a bike you can just get on and ride really technical trails and all day adventures without having to do anything to it. It just works!
I'm 6 foot 1 and the large felt right. Very easy to throw about while gives you real confidence to tackle rocky and steep terrain.
I'm not paid by Canyon to say how good their bike is. It is simply an excellent bike.
Ok so it isn't a Spectral ( I had one of them in 2018 for the feature below) but the Strive is definitely the more capable bike of the two. I know that you are looking at 650B machines but I reckon you might be missing a trick not to consider the Strive.
https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/notes-from-a-small-island/
Hope this helps?
Cheers
Sanny
Arg, no it doesnt help!! Haha.
The footage on that trip looks epic. I just checked the site and there is no stock of the Strive in my size, so thats an easy decision made for me.
I'm gonna add that you really want to check the current reliability of the shapeshifter on the strive. Previous models had canyons own branded one and I was always having problems with it and it used to really ruin rides when it would stick in one position or half way between. The new shapeshifters are fox ones and Ive no idea on reliability.
When the strive was working it was a decent all rounder for such a long travel bike, but I just couldnt get on with it and am glad to not have it anymore. The spectral is very capable downhill and I wouldn't say it has held me back anywhere. It's used on all types of trails and I'm not a total mincer.
I was between M/L, was advised to go large but found the bike was a touch too big. I swapped the 150mm dropper for one of the £59 ebay jobbies with 125mm drop and the bike is spot on. I think the red looks better in real life than and pictures don't do it justice.