Pinkbike Awards: Innovation of the Year

Jan 28, 2015
by Mike Levy  
There are usually a handful of new products debuted each year that allow us mountain bikers to go either faster, further, up the game when it comes to reliability and performance, or just make our sport even more enjoyable than it already is. And as with anything new, there will always be those who put their tinfoil hat on before ranting about how it's all a big money grab from evil manufacturers, yet we don't see those same people out there aboard rigid steel mountain bikes with threaded headsets and bullmoose handlebars, do we? We're a skeptical bunch for a group of people who ride some pretty advanced two-wheeled toys in the forest, but it's good that things always move forward regardless of that cynicism. Sometimes it'll be small steps over a few years that add up to a better bike, and other times it'll be a single, giant game-changing leap in the right direction, but either way, don't forget that innovation is the reason that the bike in your garage isn't that steel beach cruiser with a coaster brake that our predecessors started out on.

This year's nominees include Yeti's clever railed rear suspension layout, a new carbon downhill bike from Specialized, Shimano's electronic shifting, Canyon's angle-adjusting Shapeshifter technology, and also Schwalbe's dual chamber Procore system. Of those five, Procore looks to make the most sense to take top honours. Unfortunately, we can't hand it more than an honourable mention given that we've still not been able to spend more than just a few days on an early prototype setup, meaning that we have no gauge as to the reliability of a production version at this point in time. Schwalbe might be out of the running, however, the win still goes to the Germans in our books...


Pinkbike MTB Awards
Innovation of the Year


Canyon's Shapeshifter Technology


Shapeshifter in DH mode left and XC mode right


This year's award for Pinkbike's Innovation of the Year goes to Canyon's Shapeshifter Technology that allows their Strive CF to switch between two different travel and geometry settings while on the move via a handlebar mounted lever. The general concept of doing such an action is not new - Cannondale has employed a different take on the idea for many years now - but Canyon's system is one of the first to not lock the rider into a proprietary shock that many find a bit scary. That's right, you can mount up any shock that's compatible with the bike. It uses a supplementary air actuator, hidden mostly out of view behind the rocker arm, that actually changes the location of the upper shock mount in order to alter the leverage. The upper mount moves by just 15mm, which doesn't sound like much, but it takes the Strive CF from 160mm to 130mm of travel, as well as raising the bottom bracket by 19mm and steepening the angles by 1.5 degrees. Canyon says that Shapeshifter adds a total of 200 grams to the bike, and that their team used the system throughout the 2014 EWS season.

Copyright Markus Greber
bigquotesOut the saddle in XC mode, the bike sprints like an XC race bike, and you can quite imagine utilizing this system mid-stage in an enduro race to blast up a short climb or power through a flat section. - Pinkbike, June 11th, 2014

Having spent a good amount of time on the Shapeshifter-equipped Strive CF, I can attest to how effective it is at flipping the bike's personality between a well rounded all-mountain bike to a demon descender that will only encourage you to put on your big boy pants, but this first iteration has its foibles as well: the unweighting motion to switch it back into short-travel mode feels somewhat unnatural, and I found myself unable to get it done a handful of times. That said, it's ridiculously effective when it does work, which was the large majority of the time, and Canyon is only going to improve on the system over the coming years.

An EWS racer's needs to be aboard a machine that crushes the downhills but can then also be ridden back up with minimal effort should make for some pretty interesting bikes as things evolve further, and Canyon's Shapeshifter technology is one of the most promising developments of the bunch. Enduro racing may be the butt of a lot of jokes lately, but it's also going to be the reason that trail and all-mountain bikes that we'll all be riding in a few years will be so awesome.

www.canyon.com

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mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

150 Comments
  • 115 7
 I believe that this was a good choice. Will be interesting to see how this idea will morph over time.
  • 7 7
 Totally. I can already picture all of the different variable linkage copycats that will come next. This actually looks like a good way to do variable linkage. Magic Link was just ass backward by comparison.
  • 14 3
 @Terryotomy: In my opinion, the only thing "backwards" about Kona's Magic Link was that the linkage was connected to the bottom of the shock. It used a non-proprietary main shock, like Canyon, and it was all controlled via chain tension, not some switch with a special "unweighting" maneuver required to make it work...
  • 7 8
 ya a good choice like taking home the least ugly girl at last call. whatta buncha mingers!
  • 5 3
 @ScandiumRider are you seriously trying to defend Konas "Magic" link as something other than a waste of metal?

Sure as an idea, it's similar to the shapeshifter but the execution was horriffic! Under braking it bangs around horribly, under pedalling it bangs around horribly, obviously pedal feedback on bumps was terrible. It never did it's job properly and was far poorer to ride than a properly set up standard Kona frame.
  • 10 0
 @willsoffe: You bet I'm defending the Magic Link, it was great outside the box thinking. Did it need refining? Sure it did, but the Canyon system is pretty much exactly that: simply a refinement of the Magic Link idea, not some ground breaking innovation. If Kona didn't come up with the idea of the Magic Link *seven years* ago, would we have this current "innovation" from Canyon? Who knows...
  • 3 2
 @willsoffe: So just curious, which Kona Magic Link bike did you own and for how many months/years?
  • 1 0
 CoilAir, for about a year. The thing was a nightmare of inconsistency. There was so much flex in the rear end I felt like I never knew what the rear wheel was doing... which is kind of my point about why it was backward compared to this. There were extra joints between the chainstay and frame with compounding slop (tiny little bushings) whereas the Canyon mounts the chainstay more directly. Next problem- the Magic Link required frequent adjustment. If I adjusted it per Kona recommendation, with their specified compound, it came loose all the time. I got the correct elastomer for my weight and tore through it faster than they could send me a spare. I will say the system got better over the years on models with the straighter chainstay, but this Canyon is a different animal altogether. I like the "automaticity" of the Kona system, but the reliability was rather poor and what it did to the frame stiffness was a real deal-breaker.
  • 1 2
 @ScandiumRider the Kona Magic link is activated by rider weight and position. The Canyon system is activated by a switch. Thus they are not comparable at all. That is what made Kona's Magic Link awful, you couldn't turn it on and off - the link was in control and not the rider.

@Primodeelux I didn't actually own one (thank goodness) I rode the Coiler with adjustable spring preload on the Magic link.
  • 2 0
 @willsoffe: Interesting opinion, but I think that two systems featuring a main shock, joined to an auxiliary shock via an extra link with the purpose of altering the bikes geometry and handling for either climbing or descending are pretty comparable, regardless of how the system is activated. I stand by my assertion that Canyon's system is simply a refined version ("better" if that makes you feel better) of Kona's Magic Link idea.
  • 2 0
 Well, I owned the 2010 Abra Cadabra for 2 years and rode her hard here on Vancouver Island. Very fun, capable bike. Only things I replaced was auxiliary coil shock for their auxiliary air shock (due to elastomers splitting on full travel), lower DU bushings (wore out quicker than uppers due to suspension design) and seatstay/chainstay bushings (lateral play due to carrying overloaded BOB trailer while trail building over 3 months). With the exception of the auxiliary shock, minor issues. Par for the course in my opinion.
  • 1 1
 Haha the more I think about it, the more I realize that I NEVER liked that bike. It's not even comparison that ruined it for me. Every bike I have had since then has worked better and been more reliable by orders of magnitude, sure, but even without that I still think back to how much I hated messing with that stupid suspension. Oh memories...
  • 80 34
 ITS JUST A KONA MAGIC LINK ON A BIKE WITH BETTER GEOMETRY! Not innovative, in fact its a step down from the magic link because you need yet another cable coming off your handlebars.
  • 16 10
 I wish I could up vote you more than once.
  • 47 7
 Except that it isn't.
  • 8 0
 Dunno what you're on about but i like it !
  • 23 8
 Hamncheez, so the Pike and the 34, or the Boxxer and the 40 are the same thing? Sure, they're all suspension forks but they each have their own proprietary tech. The U.S. Patent Office doesn't agree they're "the same". For the Shapeshifter, it may accomplish the same task as the Magic Link (slacker head angle, more travel), but it is not the Magic Link. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

"a step down from the Magic Link"? Beacuse of a cable? So something that gives the user a choice is a "step down"? Think of it this way, at least with Canyon's tech, you won't be bogged down with a half kilo (or more) of linkages and springs, that you will NEVER get completley clean. I know, 'cause I've tried.
  • 13 16
 @CaptainSnappy It uses the same principles as the magic link- a short lever to change the position of one end of the shock to change the leverage curve and leverage ratio.

I didn't say it was better or worse, just that its not innovative. Fox and RS both use bladders to keep air out of their dampers. Fox did it first, so its not "innovative" when RS does it next.
  • 6 2
 You did refer to it as a "step down"...which one might translate to mean "worse" and I would second the notion that a rusty old sofa spring and some duct tape and a new fox racing fork generally use the "same principles" but differ in how they accomplish this and the application. Not shaking a stick at Kona, I think magic link was ahead of its time. I didn't have the chance to ride it but had friends who enjoyed it, though never spoke too highly of the bike the suspension was mounted to (angles etc.). It's exciting that companies like Canyon, with Kona and Cannondale before it, are advancing the idea with some success as I would love to ride something that can intuitively shift the ride qualities of the bike to better match the application (cable actuated or not)... this of course just before, and potentially aiding, the robot take over and our species brutal and bloody demise.
  • 9 2
 If you subtract the fact that overall, the canyon is most certainly a better bike, and look at just the adjusting geometry part, the magic link is a better method to change the leverage curve. No manual switch is involved; rather the terrain, braking, and chain tension control the position of the shock. The magic link is essentially automatic. It also isn't just on/off, it floats between the two extremes. Also, comparing an old rusty spring to konas several offerings is insulting to them.

But back to my main point: even if this works well, it isn't innovative. Bionicon, Scott (and now Cannondale), and even Trek (with their talas on the rear shock of their Liquid bikes) have made travel adjust rear shocks that worked. Yes, they required proprietary rear shocks, but Konas approach didn't. If the Manitou Mattoc introduced travel adjust next year it no doubt would be a good product, but not worthy of "Innovation of the Year"
  • 7 0
 I really wish Pinkbike and others would have done a proper review of Magic link equipped bikes. Pinkbike commented in the 2012 Kona lineup preview about the magic-link equipped Coilair "Check Kona's demo schedule and ride one - you will be impressed." but a full review never came. And on a preview of a 2013 Abra Cadabra with the newer air magic link Pinkbike said "We are pushing Kona to ride the new system and will report the news the moment we do," but I still never saw any reports / reviews of the system.. I wish they had because it's an interesting enough idea that I'd consider buying one used. www.pinkbike.com/news/Kona-Steps-It-Up-For-2012-First-Look-at-the-New-Gravity-Lineup.html, www.pinkbike.com/news/Konas-Prototype-Air-Actuated-Magic-Link-First-Look-2011.html
  • 8 0
 @davemays I have ridden several different magic link models. They really do what they claim. The coilair feels like an 8" bike when you go down, but pedals very well on the ups.

The problem was that the system was never fully refined/developed, probably because they didn't sell. The Geometry on the bikes never evolved past 2008. If the cadabra came back with the air-link, geometry as close to the process it would rock.

I think the main problem with the whole concept is that any bike can be made to pedal decently with just a flick of the propedal lever.
  • 3 0
 Hey thanks @hamncheez! Ya that makes sense. That's part of why I wished there had been more reviews of the system. Maybe more people would have considered it and the technology would have continued to be refined.
  • 5 0
 I own a 2010 coilair and clearly disagree with that geometry point. Mine has a really good geo, and it's morph with magiclink movement is brilliant. I think it lacks a better a control of the ML, for example, its too sensible when trying to manual. On the other side i think that it smashes this canyon tech by not having a cable, and delivering infinite positions. Kona made it to be ridden and forgot the money part, Canyon made to make money, but I not sure if they'll succeed.....
  • 2 0
 The Kona Magic link system is actually rather different. At least I think so.
I believe the Canyon here has an 'air actuator' that only moves the shock's upper mount location, and this subsequently changes geo, travel, shock rate, etc... that is, it's not an extra shock.
The Magic link was different in that the lower mounting bolt of the shock had an extra link with a coil spring(later models air spring) that was an active shock. Kona's design used chain tension to isolate that auxiliary shock so it pedaled kinda well, but descended (at speed) like an alligator in a boot factory (?). Slower, technical trails were the weakness. i owned 2 cadabras & I agree on extinct geo @hamncheez
But anyways, canyon is cool because you dont need to disassemble your linkages to effectively 'flip the chip'.
  • 2 0
 alligator in a boot factory

is that good or bad? lol
  • 1 0
 @terashred what do you mean by extinct geo?
  • 58 10
 Better than a pump
  • 109 11
 It's useless without a pump
  • 9 6
 i think this blows most other bikes out of the water
  • 27 3
 Waki just blew my mind...
  • 10 5
 Let's hope it isn't an idea that goes flat.
  • 10 10
 If it goes flat then pull Canyons lever and it will shift shape
  • 7 17
flag keatonmtb (Jan 28, 2015 at 8:21) (Below Threshold)
 I think this could be a reall shapeshifter in the mountain biking scene
  • 37 3
 Strive for a better pun. CF you can!
  • 5 9
flag Spthomas (Jan 28, 2015 at 8:40) (Below Threshold)
 It's really going to charge ahead in a flash.
  • 18 3
 You guys are making me want to go throw myself into a canyon...
  • 7 1
 this discussion has travelled from a serious topic to some shocking puns
  • 9 0
 @jesse, travelled? I think the word you were looking for is shifted...
  • 2 4
 I have that ape shitter deep in my Grand Canyon! Give me a reliable air sprung travel adjustable fork and I ain't gunna need yet another knob on me bars!
  • 8 0
 I just wish there was a speaker on board to give you an audible feedback that you made the switch....perhaps the sound a transformer makes when changing!?!
  • 1 0
 @outsmith

That my friend, is the new benchmark. The best timed and constructed pun 'one-two' I have ever seen. Strive for a better pun? Lets see if anyone can..
  • 15 1
 Fak it ,ill be impressed when all my twenty seven controls along my handle bars can be controlled by electronic switches on a dashboard like a fakin airplane apart from my bell coz I like dinging that manually,ding ding comin through coz you flicked the wrong switch or it broke while you unweighted yourself does that mean you just shit yourself coz you lost traction?
  • 2 1
 funniest comment this month
  • 1 0
 Do I get an award?
  • 1 0
 It's in the post. You deserve it.
  • 1 1
 Yeahey Ithat sounds pretty sinister its in the post what anthrax a horses head I know there's a community on this site and its cool "below thresh" but you know were all cyclists in a fuked up worldy so err...
  • 19 5
 Haha, just yesterday I was chatting to a mate. It went a bit like this:

That ProCore thing looks f*cking excellent!
Yeah, i reckon it'll be the biggest game changer in a long time.
Yeh man me too. Definitely the most exciting thing this year.
Well, yeah except its not actually out yet is it.
True, I want one tho, you reckon its gonna be worth the ÂŁ160 or should I wait till they iron out all the issues first and the price comes down a bit.
Yeah probably wait, ÂŁ160 is a bit steep for essentially a pair of inner tubes and tyres....

Good call on giving it a miss this time I reckon PB
  • 5 0
 I'd like to Jere if anyone has tried the ghetto version.
  • 2 0
 PB is keeping us laughing this day's i do believe this thing comes with a good warranty .... Smile
  • 1 0
 Si, successful Smile
  • 4 0
 Schwalbe doesn't compete in Awards at all. Why? I don't know. That's the only reason why they didn't win an Design & Innovation Award of Enduro-MTB Magazine or a Pinkbike Award.
  • 4 1
 I'm not entirely sure what that system is trying to achieve at all, perhaps someone could explain it to me?

The whole point of tubeless is weight saving over anything. Or running silly low pressures?

That is effectively adding a tube back in thus adding more weight. With how good and easy tubeless has become I honestly don't see where the struggle in tubeless setups comes from? I run 2 getto tubeless setups on 2 different bikes and each time it was dead easy to pop on home made rim strip (cut bmx tube) and add sealant. If it doesn't sit first time, just add the original rim strip under it and it will. So what exactly is the procore trying to achieve?
  • 4 1
 Procore allows you to run like 10 psi without pinch flatting tubes or burping the air out of tubeless. That low pressure improves traction. It will be interesting to see how well it actually works once it is in the hands of some reviewers.
  • 7 0
 Lower pressures=more traction and less rolling resistance. However they also mean more rim damage, tyre squirm and burping.

Procore should allow for even lower pressures, while reducing tyre squirm and eliminating rim damage and burping. You should also be able to run a lighter sidewalled tyre, which will help balance out the weight added by the procore system. Basically its a win-win-win. If it lives up to my expectations anyway...
  • 3 0
 Dunno about anyone else but I run tubeless front/rear , but when I run my magic marys I always need a tube in the rear as it burps in heavy corners , so much that on a long run , so for me at least , the procore won't actually be a weight penalty.
  • 6 0
 For race runs it really isn't so much about weight but being able to run lower pressure without getting a pinch flat. Pro core is a pretty nice insurance policy that you won't have to Gwin it to the bottom to collect points.
  • 3 5
 @gabriel-mission9 just thought you should know, lower pressure makes more rolling resistance, not less.
  • 11 1
 @BillieCook97 , just so you , know higher pressures only lower rolling resistance on smoother surfaces , off road lower pressure tyres deflect less over rough terrain , making them roll faster/more momentum , and giving you more grip at the same time.
  • 1 0
 Anyone know the release date of the procore system? I can't find anything online, I emailed Schwalbe and never heard a thing.
  • 2 0
 Nothing definite. Few months now I think.
  • 2 0
 I called the Australian distributor this afternoon and he said they have a shipment coming in from Schwalbe at the start of Feb, but he hasn't received confirmation that ProCore will be included in that, but its likely it will be.
  • 2 0
 was talking to schwalbe rep on monday. apparently the special valve system isnt quite sorted yet. (infact the system he was showing me had a dummy valve for exactly that reason)
  • 7 0
 @higgi18 - We`re actually packing the sets here in Germany to send them out worldwide in beginning of February to all the shops, distributor and wholsale who ordered them. As we have a very high demand, we will not be able to satisfy every customer who wants to buy procore right from the start, but first orders will receive their procore set first. If you want a set, make sure you have ordered it and your shop ordered it as well, so he`s in line for the delivery.

@gabriel-mission9 - No worries, the system is all sorted and tested, the dummy was probably a sample that he received at Eurobike to explain the way it works, when we didn`t had enough prototypes for all the reps, yet. We will have a working set at London Bike show if you`re coming.

@sebb427 - We didn`t competed in the Design & Innovation Award, as we have to buy in and pay a fee which is not our idea about an award that honors an innovation. The Pinkbike award does not charge anything. We first knew, that we were nominated, when it appeared on the site. Too bad they didn`t had enough time to ride and test it. The article from our February test camp was quite positive: www.pinkbike.com/news/Schwalbe-Double-Chamber-System-first-ride.html With giving Pinkbike the chance to test it on a long term now, we`re looking forward for the next innovation of the year award!
  • 2 0
 Sweet! good to hear. No I won't be at London Bike sadly. I would love to see a set in action. Frown
  • 2 0
 Thanks for the update @schwalbe ! I'm excited to get my hands on these Smile
  • 20 3
 Please "ShspeShift" into my garage
  • 30 2
 Or at least into US distribution, amirite.
  • 4 2
 @groghunter super right.
  • 8 3
 How come PB keeps pushing Canyon, which is not available stateside and omits YT ? Multiple DH and Enduro award winners all over Europe.
Why, why, why ?
  • 3 0
 IDK, but i like YT's Capra, but the Canyon DHX. only because the Tues is much too small for me. they did have the piece on Kelly Mcgarry though.
  • 4 2
 Because PB is global, not solely North American. Besides PB started in Canada, FTW!
  • 2 0
 der ! reread what i said snappy
  • 2 1
 When they get US distribution you will see them every where they are such good bikes and ride amazingly. I would recommend canyon to anyone and there downhill bikes are amazing as well
  • 11 0
 Looked pretty good until reading the disclaimer "Extended and regular use in bike parks and when tackling “North Shore” sections should be avoided."
  • 3 1
 Where do you think does the weight difference between a DH bike and a enduro bike come from? there must be a difference in toughness, the DH bike will obviously last longer.
  • 1 2
 or bigger bikes just weigh more... less dh bikes are made of carbon, enduro bikes are actually made to be light because youre climbing too, whereas with dh bikes durability and strength are prioritized, plus dh bikes also use primarily coil suspension and 40-50mm more of it both ends. such a stupid comment @wipz07
  • 2 0
 your comment made no sense mfbeast. wipz07 is spot on. of course dh bikes are tougher than enduro bikes.
  • 1 0
 Shizz goes wonky all the time if you ride enough you learn to respec your machine and learn to maintain and pay sometimes it hurts your wallet physical self or your emotionz ....or a tree.
  • 13 5
 What about Bionicon? They are sporting a similar technology for years now, even lowering the forkwith one switch.
  • 7 0
 Afaik: Bionicon's system does not work with any shock but requires specific shocks.
  • 7 1
 Does anyone actually read the article?
  • 28 0
 What article?
  • 6 0
 @RyanWensley: Reading and comprehension are two different things.
  • 7 0
 comments are much more entertaining
  • 1 0
 @RyanWensley Ooops, shame on me. You're having a good point there.
  • 6 1
 "You don't have to be locked into a proprietary shock, just use any shock compatible with the bike." Good use of words there PB.
  • 4 1
 You can use any shock you want as long as it's this shock.
  • 3 0
 true innovation would be a bike that thinks for itself and adjusts automatically, then maybe pedals for you, helps you turn, keeps you away from trees and other things.... lol Or go back to simplistic bikes, single up front, dual suspension, make it simple to work on and fix. Build it simple, Build it right and enjoy the ride.
  • 3 0
 My buddy and I were just discussing how this is hardly innovation of the year. I seem to remember a concept like this appearing on a purple and yellow bike that was built in Canada 15 years ago. This just seems like an overly complicated Rocky Mountain pipeline that you can adjust on the fly.
  • 4 1
 The notion of two bikes (or geometries, really) in one is intriguing. Not sure, though, that I like this implementation of it. The mechanism seems like it would be a definite weak spot in the overall setup. All-mountain bikes take a pounding, not just through a couple of race weekends (pro riders) or even one season of racing, but years of use. There are still a lot of people who prefer the Santa Cruz single pivots over the Santa Cruz multi-link bikes for reasons of simplicity and feel, and are willing to compromise a wee bit of climbing for that. You've already got all the weight of a 160mm multi-link bike (plus a wee bit extra) - if all you're changing is the attachment point, that seems like a pretty crude way to manipulate geometry. So something is going to be pretty compromised - in this case, since Enduro is all about the downhill with "ease" rather than performance on the up, I'm guessing that this might make sense for a recreational enduro racer, but will actually not be all that great for the non-racer agressive rider, as it probably compromises performance in technical uphill sections (i.e., makes climb trails less fun). But I'm stoked they're working on this. If nothing else, it will lead to yet more understanding of how multi-link systems work (or don't).
  • 2 0
 Good point well made.
  • 1 0
 Ive seen a couple of tests of this bike in some bike mags, and at some point they have had problems with this shape shifter system sticking and loosing pressure. OK, so early days yet and will be refined over time and only get better. But at the mo, if I was in the market for this bike Ill keep my money in my pocket for a while longer. Good concept though!!
  • 4 0
 this bike looks really nice but i really hate all those cables on the handlebars.

hint: innovation award 2016: clean that mess up!
  • 5 1
 Well, would you look at that, Canyon have made an electronically implemented Kona 'magic link'.
  • 1 0
 wellll fancy seeing you here @JohnSinclair
  • 1 0
 I don't see an advantage. I run 18 psi rear tire and 10 psi front tire, with 33mm inside width front rim and 21mm inside width rear rims. I get away with a 530g 2.4 rocket ron rear and 750g 2.4 hansdampf or 800g 2.4 trail-king, on the fronts. I just don't see these catching on. Why have a 200 gram weight penalty, per wheel. As far as flat protection goes. With tubeless ready tires and Stan's sealant. I just don't get flats, ever. My riding weight, pack and all is around 210 lbs. My wife's riding weight is closer to 115. She uses even less psi. 10 front and 15 rear.
  • 10 6
 not really much of an innovation - bionicon have had adjustable geometry on the rear (and front) for a while
  • 14 2
 The innovation lays in the compatibility to standard shocks. You don't have to run propietary shocks and forks like on bikes from Bionicon or Cannondale or Scott. And that's what makes this bike so much more attractive.
  • 5 0
 You must listen to the mighty Monarch. Otherwise, he'll send henchman 21 after you.
  • 2 0
 but that's still not really innovation its adaptation.
  • 3 6
 Its an upside down Kona Magic Link with yet another control cable and better geometry. Not innovative.
  • 2 1
 No, it makes it mainstream. again & again, we see proprietary solutions wither on the vine until a standard compliant way of doing the same thing shows up, then it's suddenly everywhere.

Not a lot of people were riding 650b when you had to buy stitched together tires from Pacenti. Now, everybody's running them. XX1 took off once XD drivers were available for other hubs. suspension forks weren't common until they started coming in standard lengths that frame companies could design around.

I'm certainly hopeful that I'll have several brands to choose from with on the fly variable geo in a couple years.
  • 2 0
 no matter your bike with technology or not..the most important is that you ride your bike everyday.. but yea for some maybe the technology is more important due to the style..
  • 3 2
 Shapeshifter is a great concept. Simultaneous travel and geometry adjustment literally transforms the bike for a minimal weight penalty, and it uses a non-proprietary shock. Not about to buy a Canyon though...
  • 3 0
 You couldn't anyway being in the US. They're some of the nicest bikes I've ever seen, you'd own one if you could
  • 6 2
 Our favorite bike in the quiver of bikes at our Colorado USA offices!
  • 1 0
 How did you get one to the USA?
  • 2 0
 We purchased the bike from Canyon when we visited our home office in Germany, flew back with it.
  • 3 3
 Remember the days when the cockpit was clear of all those extra pesky controls ?
Now it's a dropper, suspension changes F/R, GPS for Strava, etc with all the extra maintenance and weight

I say just learn what you are riding for ALL conditions
  • 1 0
 One more thought is all this gubbins for people who really wish they can climb a mountain bike offroad but actually cant go buy some spandex and a racer and have done with it.
  • 2 0
 It may not use a proprietary shock, but that doesn't mean there isn't a bunch of proprietary bullshit going on in there. Order your spare parts now...
  • 3 0
 hopefully not santa cruz vpp is the winner XD
  • 1 0
 PROCORE is much more relevant than ShapeShifter, which actually seems a copy and an advancement of stuff that others have done before. Typical Canyon Me-Too job.
  • 1 0
 I still think that (like nearly all the other similar 'innovations' by other companies) this most likely won't be on the 2016 models and definitely won't be around by 2017.
  • 2 0
 Bionicon did it first... And their system has got alot better over the years...
  • 1 0
 Procore has been shifted back to end of march for uk release, dealers can preorder. If it lives up to the hype next years winner is a cert....
  • 5 7
 Translation: We all knew who the real winner was going to be, but they're a bit late to the party, so I guess we have to hand it to the only other thing on this list that really has any innovation in it. Congrats, uh, wait- who is this again? Oh yeah, congrats Canyon!.
  • 2 1
 Althoug it does not reduce travel to 130 and actually to 143... it is still an awesome concept...minus the LIES!
  • 2 0
 Interesting design, but looking at that bike makes me feel color blind...
  • 2 3
 I don't think that an exclusive suspension design should be considered for "innovation of the year". Innovation should be able to be used by multiple different companies across multiple fields and disciplines.
  • 1 0
 Why? I kinda see the nucleus of your idea here, not disagreeing with you, I can see both sides of this idea, just think a little more explanation or exploration is required. I'm interested. Where does the duration of a patented 'monopoly' fit into it all too?

Which makes me think actually, did raceface license out the narrowwide thing? Or could they simply not patent such a thing? Or was it not even their idea? Just a question. Sorry for my patent ignorance.
  • 1 0
 Ohhhh... I was really hoping it would be specializeds 'clothing with pockets'.
  • 3 2
 Now I just have to figure out how to get one to the US
  • 1 0
 Originality aside good god thats one sexy bike.
  • 1 0
 My buddy and I were just talking about how this is
  • 3 0
 Is what? The suspense is killing me!
  • 2 0
 Good choice!
  • 1 0
 Bluetooth the switch and dropper post controls and you've got gold!
  • 3 0
 yah I want it to be able to upload to Facebook and Strava.
  • 1 0
 Shitshape....the bike is missing a link, innovative!
  • 4 3
 what with PRO Core
  • 5 0
 if March of 2015 took place in the year of 2014, perhaps it would be the innovation of the year. Instead, it has been the tease of the year.
  • 1 1
 The WTB 650b+ tires come out around the same time, so I wouldn't be surprised to see those two duking it out next year.
  • 1 1
 such a beautiful Shapeshifter! this will be my next bike..
  • 1 1
 So when are canyon bikes going to be sold in America? I want one Big Grin
  • 1 0
 That's a nice saddle
  • 1 1
 AL version starts at 2800$. Sorry for our non - european mates
  • 2 2
 Sick
  • 13 1
 are you, what did you eat ?? Smile
  • 11 12
 That looks like one more thing that can break, great.
  • 21 4
 "One more thing to break" is the same old argument that was thrown at dropper posts, suspension forks, rear suspension and every other innovation that's made bikes what they are today. All of them brilliant innovations. How may of those are you doing without for fear of breaking them?
  • 7 1
 And the old stuff broke plenty besides
  • 4 0
 Bionicon Technology is pretty badass, I own their scandium golden willow and it rides like a boss! Although to the another thing to break argument, I did blow a seal on the system and it has been a pain in the ass to fix, ended up upgrading to a newer fork model and finding out that they changed thread sized on the fittings which has created a whole new challenge plus the fact that they pulled out of the US market and the rep for the US is helpless as far as being able to get my hands on spare parts to fix the system has lead to me building a Trance 27.5 for reliability. But none the less I am still a supporter of Bionicon's bikes cause I love it when I had it for the 3-4 years before the seal went.
  • 5 1
 When the wheel was invented, it was one more thing that could break... so let's keep dragging stuff behind a horse. *cue sliding/grinding sound*
  • 3 0
 I'm not arguing. it's up to each one to decide if something is worth the cost and the maintenance time and if they accept it does not work sometimes: "the unweighting motion to switch it back into short-travel mode feels somewhat unnatural, and I found myself unable to get it done a handful of times. That said, it's ridiculously effective when it does work"
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