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Canyon launch an all-new 125mm Spectral downcountry bike.
Canyon slims down its Spectral trail bike format to create a downcountry shredder, available in both carbon and alloy options.
Anybody know more?
where did you hear or read that?
sounds interesting.
Got this link from a Canyon e-mail:
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/coming-soon/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=row-newsletter&utm_campaign=teaser_trailbike
Then did a bit of google-kung-fu!
Looks like they've potentially just put a shorter shock and a lighter build on the Spectral. I can't tell if the frame is actually different. Perhaps it is.
Prices seem very 2022 to me.
Not long to wait (bike available 17th Feb, apparently).
Looks good.
Lazy marketing at it's best right there. It's like that new Mondraker Raze that claimed it was "Downcountry". No it's a trail bike. I know "downcountry" started as a totally tongue in cheek thing, but now it is a thing, do it properly and don't just tag any new bike with it. Not that this looks like a "new" bike at all judging from that picture...
Such a bike would need to be lighter.
Looks like they’ve potentially just put a shorter shock and a lighter build on the Spectral. I can’t tell if the frame is actually different. Perhaps it is.
it's got the same head angle as the 160mm version and they're claiming 200g frame weight reduction so they must have tweaked the frame
Looks like they’ve potentially just put a shorter shock and a lighter build on the Spectral. I can’t tell if the frame is actually different.
well the Lux trail they just hacked about with the XC race bike and made a mess of it (based on multiple professional reviewers). If they've started from the other end and tried the same I imagine this will be a similar cock up.
Has any brand nailed this "downcountry" thing yet?
I'm confused, have they got short travel, burly trail bike confused with (as much as I hate the phrase, Downcountry)?
To me, Downcountry bikes are XC bikes, with fun geometry. Not trail bikes, that weigh nearly as much as enduro bikes, with 1/3 less of the travel.
Maybe I am biased, as I have a Spur. If I wanted a bike that weighed nearly as much as my Dreadnought, i'd ride that.
Weird.
Has any brand nailed this “downcountry” thing yet?
Transition Spur, Spec Epic Evo, Revel Ranger, Trek Top Fuel, etc. There are quite a few bikes out there that fit in the box. I'd also consider stuff like the Izzo & Tallboy over the Canyon cut & shut 🙂
I wonder if it’s similar to a Norco Optic - in that short travel but aggressive trail bike area. I don’t think it’s ‘downcountry’ in the same way as the spur etc. It’s more at the trail bike end of the spectrum with that geo and travel. It actually sounds like a really good option for a big chunk of UK riding.
Its such a stupid term, but downcountry bikes for me have either a 120mm Rockshox SiD or a 120mm Fox 34SC. If a bike has neither of those, it's not downcountry. There are 2 ways you can go about a so-called downcountry bike. You can go jumped up XC Race-based frame, like the Epic Evo, Blur TR, Scalpel SE, Lux Trail or you go for a bespoke "downcountry" frame, like the Spur, Ranger, Top Fuel etc, but fork travel stops at 120mm for me when it comes to downcountry bikes.
Transition Spur, Spec Epic Evo, Revel Ranger, Trek Top Fuel
was aware of the Spur as probably the benchmark. Has the Trek actually made its way to any paying customers yet?
Hobnob, you are pretty good at bike riding if I recall, is the SID 120mm up to scratch in your opinion?
I think there are a few Top Fuels out there, I was considering one instead of the Spur & it really came down to what was about second hand, as I had most of a build in bits anyway - short answer the Spur won, but I would have happily gone for the TF instead.
I assume you mean the SID fork, rather than the shock? If so, I didn't actually build mine with one, I went with a 120mm Pike, because I read way too many issues of bushing play on the SID & slow repair times on from SRAM UK.
I'm probably not the usual Spur demographic though, as i'll ride everything I usually ride on my bigger bike/ebike on the Spur, just a bit slower/more sketchily, on a big loop 😆
Its such a stupid term, but downcountry bikes for me have either a 120mm Rockshox SiD or a 120mm Fox 34SC. If a bike has neither of those, it’s not downcountry.
So what you're saying is we need a way to differentiate 125mm XC+ bikes from 125mm Trail- bikes.
That article above uses 'Enduro-country' for the latter 😀
Bushing issues aside (I seem to be lucky and have not had any! *touches wood*) the Sid is a crazy good fork. Its silly light but feels as stiff as a Pike as far as I can tell and its really well controlled too. It's a shame there are so many issues reported, because from my experience, if your bike has a 120mm fork, I don't see why you'd go for a Pike over a Sid if the reliability was the same.
I have only heard/read good things about the SID, other than the bushing problem, which does seem to be fairly significant in quite a few instances. A bit more isolated I would have taken a punt, but equally I had a Pike Ultimate anyway, which only needed an airshaft, so it was a bit of a no brainer.
They certainly don't feel as good as a Fox 38 Grip2, but they arn't bad given how little travel they have in comparison 🙂
Categorisation will eat itself
I assume you mean the SID fork, rather than the shock? If so, I didn’t actually build mine with one, I went with a 120mm Pike, because I read way too many issues of bushing play on the SID & slow repair times on from SRAM UK.
exactly my concern. but seems you did what I would do anyway - frame up build from my current 29er hardtail including Pikes and wheels more appropriate to my weight and lack of finesse.
have they got short travel, burly trail bike confused with (as much as I hate the phrase, Downcountry)?
This, I think.
Looks right up my street with the 64deg head angle.
125mm rear travel with a 140mm Pike would be a terrific all-rounder.
I mean isn't this in the same category almost as a yeti sb130, which is a classic Enduro bike? It's not downcountry in the slightest.
In fact I don't think the entire DC category makes any sense unless you're willing to drop dollar on at least carbon wheels and x01 (ish). Otherwise the weight loss from going from a bigger trail bike to a long shocked xc bike is barely significant.
Be interesting to see if canyon do call it a DC bike, or whether that's journalistic license...
The lux trail is their DC bike, the neuron closer to DC, as far as I can tell from the above leak, than this new Spectral.
Could just be a rad short travel trail bike like the old transition scout was...
Sounds like a decent trail bike. Another candidate to replace my Smuggler...
I mean isn’t this in the same category almost as a yeti sb130, which is a classic Enduro bike? It’s not downcountry in the slightest.
I don't think anyone is calling the 130mm Yeti an Enduro bike are they?
In fact I don’t think the entire DC category makes any sense unless you’re willing to drop dollar on at least carbon wheels and x01 (ish). Otherwise the weight loss from going from a bigger trail bike to a long shocked xc bike is barely significant.
Does 'downcountry' mean ripping hard on an XC-weight bike, then? I thought I was being downcountry, but maybe I'm merely Down-Enduro or something on my 125mm bike. I don't really care about weight. But having less travel gives a taughter, more precise ride that's great on tame and techy stuff alike.
I don't think it's a coincidence that the most fun bikes I've had were 125-130mm travel. Steamrollering stuff on an Enduro bike is faster but I'm fairly convinced most people would have more fun on less travel. But who am I to say?
I don’t think anyone is calling the 130mm Yeti an Enduro bike are they?
Not in my world for sure, they are firmly in the trail bike category. Although we are seemingly in a slightly strange world where most trail bikes these days are essentially short travel enduro bikes, with 36's on them, big shocks & DD or similar tyres. I guess its good to have the choice & I did in fact race a few enduro's on my old SB130, but then I also cracked them for fun.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the most fun bikes I’ve had were 125-130mm travel. Steamrollering stuff on an Enduro bike is faster but I’m fairly convinced most people would have more fun on less travel. But who am I to say?
More fun, or different type of fun? For sure my Spur is a great bike & bloody good fun. It makes most things entertaining to ride & can still get down pretty much anything I have thrown at it. But for outright speed, my big bike is way more fun (and safer!). But then it weighs over 5kg more.
At the end of the day choice is good, even if it does confuse.
I think the Spectral 125 looks good and is definitely of interest.
I recently managed to get hold of a '21 Spectral 29 in a private sale and built it up with RS suspension and a Shimano groupset. The size large fits me well. It rides well being reasonably poppy and playful for a big bike. It's well built. There's a lot to like about it but...
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the most fun bikes I’ve had were 125-130mm travel. Steamrollering stuff on an Enduro bike is faster but I’m fairly convinced most people would have more fun on less travel. But who am I to say?
...I have to acknowledge that I feel it's too much bike for me at 160F/150R (as I have generally opted for shorter travel trail bikes). So the same bike, sizing and geo with a little less travel and a little lighter would suit me, my riding and where I predominately ride better. Giving me the opportunity to hoon stuff still but cover the miles comfortably as well.
That said, the complete weights don't look to dissimilar to the existing 150mm Spectral. So if I wanted lighter (and to retain the travel) the CFR would be the choice.
I have a 2020 Top Fuel with a -2% Slack R set on it to bring all the angles etc. to Trek Top Fuel 22' angles (and coincidently, Spur).
My bike is built with a set of SID 35 Ultimates and so I would probably be inclined to say it meets the definition of down-country now.
Currently, I'm running it in 'light' mode, so it's probably around 24-25lbs in weight and goes like stink. I've previously run it with its original Reba's and a set of heavier Vittoria Mazza tyres - in that mode, it could take anything I lobbed at it, and I have even more confidence that the SIDs are even stiffer and capable.
I would say I can probably find my down a trail relatively quickly, and so I haven't pushed the SIDs to their max yet as it's been so gopping since I built it with them on, but I've taken it down all my local steeps and have had no cause to feel like it was out of shape.
The comment I would make between a 'down-country' and 'trail' bike is that it is less about its capability - there is little I'd lob the Top Fuel down (big drops are generally avoided for obvious reasons) but more about a bikes capacity. I use the word capacity to describe a bikes capacity to take on more of everything - speed, impacts, frequency etc. - a trail bike can take bigger faster hits for longer; a downcountry CAN do it, but you're more likely to literally run out of puff or get out of shape if you try to throw it down a more DHy trail at the same speed (say) as an Enduro bike.
However, as a do it all bike, it's mental good fun; I tend to grab it first in nearly all situations other than big boys days where I know I need the safety net.
The size large fits me well
What height are you?
I have a Spectral AL6.0 on order in large.
I want the red and black one...
https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/canyon-spectral-125-range-starts-from-2449/
Would.
Well if my optic ever dies (again) this looks like an almost identical replacement. Good news!
Actually nah, I want this one...
It's much more expensive that anything I've ever had before but it seems like a bargain compared to some other options. Plus I've never had a carbon frame or carbon rims so it's time to try them out.
I love the idea of it. Aggro geometry with a totally slammed saddle for shredding around on trails that aren't very chunky or mountainous. Perfect in a country full of small hills and man made trail centres.
I agree the red & black is the best paint job but the 9 is pick of the specs.
The thing is, if the Spectral 125 has the same weight & geo as the Spectral 150 (which reviewers talk about being a great poppy, pedaling platform) why would you choose the shorter travel? Genuine question!