Field Test: 2020 Canyon Lux - A Very Fast Baseline
PINKBIKE FIELD TEST
Canyon Lux SLX 9.0 Team
Words by Sarah Moore, photography by Margus Riga
Canyon Lux SLX 9.0 Team
Words by Sarah Moore, photography by Margus Riga
The Canyon Lux was released back in June of 2018, which by our standards usually makes it 'old' news. But since we hadn’t spent much time on it, and it’s got World Cup and World Championship winning pedigree under Mathieu van der Poel and Pauline Ferrand Prevot, we included it in our cross-country Field Test as a baseline. We were also interested to see how race-focused geometry has evolved in the past two years.
With a 70-degree head angle, the Lux has the steepest front-end of all the bikes in this Field Test. The 74.5-degree effective seat-tube angle on our size medium is in line with the other bikes, and the 435mm reach is the same as the Cannondale Scalpel, although the Lux pairs that with a longer 80mm stem. Other key numbers include 435mm chainstays and a 1,126mm wheelbase.
Canyon Lux SLX 9.0 Team Details
• Travel: 100mm rear / 100mm fork
• Carbon frame
• Wheel size: 29"
• Head Angle: 70-degrees
• Seat Tube Angle: 74.5-degrees (effective)
• Reach: 435mm (size M)
• Chainstay length: 435mm
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Weight: 22.5 lb / 10.2 kg (w/ dropper)
• Price: $6,999 USD
• www.canyon.com
• Travel: 100mm rear / 100mm fork
• Carbon frame
• Wheel size: 29"
• Head Angle: 70-degrees
• Seat Tube Angle: 74.5-degrees (effective)
• Reach: 435mm (size M)
• Chainstay length: 435mm
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Weight: 22.5 lb / 10.2 kg (w/ dropper)
• Price: $6,999 USD
• www.canyon.com
The Lux uses a flex-pivot suspension design, with the seat stays flexing rather than using bearings, thereby saving a bunch of weight. The Canyon is a bit different than how Cannondale does it on their Scalpel, though, which has a section on the chainstay that flexes like a pivot, not the seat stay. Other details include integrated chain retention, Canyon's Quixle thru-axle that makes it easy to remove the rear wheel without tools, internal cable routing, what Canyon calls their Impact Protection Unit bump stop, and flat-mount disc brakes.
The Lux CF SLX 9.0 Team that we’re testing is available in four sizes, small through extra-large, all of which are available only with 29" wheels, 100mm forks, and 100mm of rear travel.
Climbing
The Canyon Lux's strongest point is climbing. It gets around tight corners like a charm, as you would expect given its geometry. That being said, I never felt like I was truly comfortable while on the Lux. Yes, the seat angle is half a degree steeper than the Supercaliber, but the position didn’t feel as modern or inspiring.
While the quick handling allows you to wind through tight sections easily and make last-minute line choice decisions, the Lux doesn’t have the best traction, so while you might be able to change lines quickly, it doesn’t always translate into cleaning it. It feels to me like the Lux sacrifices a bit of traction for efficiency, and I dabbed more while on it than any other bike. In part, that's because the bike feels like it "rides high" as the suspension doesn’t move a ton, despite sitting at the recommended 25-percent sag.
That being said, on long, smooth climbs and less technical sections, it's incredibly efficient and as if all the watts are going into forward momentum. It also did well (like really, really well) in the Efficiency Test, but that's still to come. In other words, it's a speed machine on smooth ground.
Descending
Relatively speaking, it feels like you’re a long way over the front of the Lux when descending and, while I tried riding with and without the seat down, I was really glad this bike had a dropper post for steeper sections. I think it's telling that, despite being the only bike I rode with a dropper, I didn't set my fastest time on the descent when aboard the Lux. Nothing comes as easy on the downhills as it does on a longer, slacker cross-country bike, but no surprises there. When I was riding the Lux, it just seemed like the edge was closer and I had to be very selective with my line choices.
That feeling was partly due to the geometry, and partly due to the fact that the rear-end just didn’t maintain traction that well. It's very much as if compliance and comfort have been sacrificed in the name of efficiency... Like it's a race bike. It didn't help that I kept accidentally hitting the lockout lever whenever I used the dropper post, either. The Lux is most comparable to the 60mm-travel Trek Supercaliber on the descents, which has almost half as much cushion.
Conditions were quite wet during testing, so the rocks and roots offered far less traction than usual and that didn't help the Lux's cause. But there are plenty of places around the world full of smoother terrain, which is exactly where the Lux will shine.
Timed Testing
Our timed lap for the trail bikes was just shy of 20 minutes long and split into three sections. First, we powered up a smooth section of switchbacks before starting up a more technical, twisty section of trail that tested the bike's slow-speed handling and traction with tired legs. After that, we evaluated how the bikes maintained speed on a short bumpy traverse before the main descent, comprising of a small rock roll before a series of rough, suspension-testing corners and straightaways. Nothing too rowdy, but representative of the terrain the trails these modern cross-country bikes were intended to see.
Don't forget that timing is just one of many ways to judge a bike, and fast doesn't always mean it's the best for everyone.
Sarah Moore: "This was actually the slowest bike in my timed testing, both on the climbs and the full lap. It was 8.4% slower on the complete lap, 9.6% back on the tech climb, and 10.9% back on the entire climb. That being said, it was just 0.3% back on the descent, although I would have expected this bike to win the descent by a landslide since I used the dropper post!"
Pros
+ Ultra efficient feel on smooth, less technical climbs
+ Shimano XTR gear ratios, great shifting under load
+ It has a dropper, even if the setup isn't ideal
+ $2,500 USD less than the closest priced bike
Cons
- Relatively harsh feeling suspension
- Geo holds it back when the terrain is challenging
The 2020 Pinkbike Field Test was made possible with clothing, protection, and support from Giro. Control tires provided by Schwalbe, and power meters provided by SRM. Filming took place at The Backyard pub in Squamish.
Photos: Margus Riga
Video: Jason Lucas, Cole Nelson, Max Barron
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
When she is riding uphill she is like riding an E bike !
This can be seen in the lap times @sarahmoore is getting. The scalpel was the fastest on the techy climb IIRC or second fastest despite it feeling smooth and less fast. It's similar to why Nino and Kate are now running 2.4" tires and even DH riders are on 29. They feel slower but they time faster.
You gotta give some advices to Nino because even him can't do this
I race an XC hardtail, and will on occasion ride/race technical trails that require me to be out of the saddle for LONG periods of time. It is more than doable. I also prefer to stand on anything that isn't a fireroad, which is also true when I am on my 170mm bike.
My XC HT climbs better than any bike I have ridden. The Epic FS I used to race climbed fine sitting, but I prefered to stand. So mostly just dead weight on the bike (and my climbing suffered).
Very curious what such a hybrid drop bar would look like. I personally would not like multiple brake levers / shifters, but would be interested in some smooth aftermarket dropper post integration (ie NOT purchasing a whole new front brake lever just to add a dropper post to my gravel bike).
Is a bike: +5 point
Has a nice color: +1 point
Is a German brand: +3 point
Has fancy German tech: +1 point
Two questions for Mike and Sarah: 1-gun to your head XTR or XX1 AXS? 2- Which of the 4 race bikes is your favorite on looks alone. I’m a fan of the unique Canyon aesthetic and color schemes.
1 - For me, I'd choose AXS. I love how it's a button touch rather than pushing a lever through an arc a very specific amount to shift. XTR's shifting under load is impressive and helpful, but gimmie the wireless robots!
2 - Based on looks alone, the Supercaliber is gorgeous. I love the clean lines.
Isn't it wonderful how sighted bias can totally warp our perception? If only there was a way to conduct blind testing of bikes (and components), it would wreak total havoc on the hyperactive marketing machine that is the bike business.
that said im loving the xc content so thank you so much for these awesome vids.
His results are all over the place. If you look at the people who are consistently winning winning year to year, they are usually on a bike that starts with an "S", which are the brand's that really invest in R&D. To be consistent in XC everything has to be dialed, all of the time.
There is a reason that if you go to an XC race it's a sea of Scott bikes.
XC is all about the rider. MVDP could probably podium on a unicycle.
Not saying that Scott doesn't make great XC race bikes. They certainly do. Just saying that riders like Nino and MvdP could win or challenge for the win on any bike on the start line at a WC.
www.singletracks.com/mtb-gear/the-winningest-world-cup-xc-mountain-bikes-over-the-past-3-seasons
Personally, I'm 6'4 and 210is lbs so I'm never going to be competative in XC, so I dont need bleeding edge super light bikes, and I'm not really that dogmatic, as my fox/RS mixed suspension setup indicates.
"clink83 (4 hours ago) Ginsu2000: you provide a lot of opinions but not much to back it up."
Love this. Classic stuff.
I was "average" in the Open/Pro class yesterday at a local XCM race.
1st: Epic HT (that rider would probably have won if he just ran the whole race though, barely an exaggeration).
2nd: Epic FS
3rd: Pivot Les
4th: Scott Spark
5th: Surly
6th: 2013 Scott Spark
2-4th were relatively close to each other. Also if interesting note, the HT was the bike that descended fastest in the most technical downhills of those three (2-4 place).
Point 1: the rider makes the bike, the bike doesn't make the rider.
Point 2: "local pro racer" are probably going to ride mostly on what is affordable to them. 1st, loaner bike. 2nd, best friend owns a Spec dealer. 3rd, used. 4th, local shop support.
Did the same by mistake and even liked it but unfortunately there is one thing you can't do with that setup: lock the rear AND lower the saddle a bit on very steep and slow ascents to be able to shift even a little more weight to the front (best lowered by fully opening fork) ...
This bike was super efficient on the climbs... but it was the slowest climber (although it wasn't a gravel road climb).
Some of the logic didnt make sense.
It was slow around the lap though.
The best bikes are those that feel slow when going fast, just means your base fast speed inst taxing the bike at all. That is the best feeling, knowing you are flying but feeling like you are croozing.
This bike was sketchy fast though, probably means her XC experience kicked in and that is what got the fast time. That and a dropper. Which XC racer wouldnt fit a dropper to the other bikes? But would that impact thier performance. These variables are part of the issue with this kind of testing.
I love these tests though.
For $7,000, I want a sticker telling me what pressure to set the shock to.
Fox has an air pressure guide for their forks that for me I've found to be accurate within 2 psi (and that when I wasn't within 2 psi and 1 click of LSC it was because I needed to remove spacers),
They obviously can't do this with shocks because of different leverage curves. For a bike manufacturer not to have a recommended starting psi for your weight is simply lazy on their part.
and: " Fox has a guide online for a quick google too?"
... there's no reason to keep their customers who just dropped $7k informed and satisfied with service?
... if they can't figure it out themselves they're not worthy of this bike?
The only thing you're going to be able to come up with here is just the equivalent of, "because f-you, that's why."
For the record, I don't think that's their intent. It's an oversight, but it's one they should correct.
" The guides are a ballpark of a huge data set that will work well for most people."
Fixed
How to use the internet:
1) open a browser
2) go to google.com
3) google the following "fox 32 psi rate"
4) Enjoy the adrenaline rush of doing something yourself
Also as mentioned by you: "Fox has an air pressure guide for their forks that for me I've found to be accurate within 2 psi (and that when I wasn't within 2 psi and 1 click of LSC it was because I needed to remove spacers)"
Did i just not get the memo we're suddenly switching to shocks? LOL
I haven't had a bike that came with a sticker for the shock but there is usually a recommended psi chart based on weight on the website. I just bought a bronson www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-CA/bikes/bronson . If you go to the bottom where it says tech support and click on the tab for shock setup there is a chart for recommended baseline settings. Most manufacturers have this so that you have an easy starting point for setting up shock pressure.
Can anyone name any other major companies that dont provide a basic set up for their bikes?
On my morning commute in i am guaranteed to drive behind at least one driver already smoking at 6 am. It starts early here. that being said it happened before it was legal anyway.
You don’t need a sticker or anything just the information readily available on the website. I have a consumer-direct bike. Their website has maybe 2-3 sentences devoted to the topic, which is all anyone is asking. It reads something like, “Sag should be set between 30-35% to start. As a rule of thumb, that is approximately rider weight plus 30 pounds.” That’s it. That’s $2,000 worth of information? Hell no. It would cost them virtually nothing to put that somewhere on their website, right in there with the other information about the bike. No good reason they shouldn’t do it.
Thanks
First thing, I removed the remote lockout. This bike climbs better with the shock wide open, even on bitumen and the lockout shifter limits what dropper lever you can run. I swapped to a 60mm stem and recently upgraded to the new 120mm Sid.
The internal cable routing is not not the greatest either. I’m guessing they didn’t expect droppers being used on WC XC races. The internal ports are rubber and seem to tweak out no matter how you run the cables through them. Would also like to see a threaded bb on the next generation.
You also have to add shipping to the rrp which doesn’t include the box you need to buy to ship it in.
Loving these XC reviews! Ive been into mtb’s for a while and got to say the new generation of XC bikes are unreal!
Given the Epic with Brain is basically locked out I am surprised it did not do better.
Impressive that the Lux is 6 seconds faster than the Brain Epic.
On the other hand that efficiency I suppose also gives the lower grip levels in tech sections.
But for a racer on more smooth tracks / marathon the "old" Lux should be quite impressive. For the DC pinkbike crowd on the other hand it is surely not the right bike.
So far in the duels I read the Scalpel beat the Epic and timing wise in this shoot out Scalpel is ahead as well.
Just about to pull the trigger on one of them allthough Evo or SE so super interested in all comparisons. Things swing in favor for the Evo though as I prefer slacker HA and less proprietary stuff (AI offset wheels and cranks, BB30 press shit .etc).
Also the Carbon 2 build is soooo poor on the Dale and SE1 above budget.
Opps! It's late and my brain is not fully engaged. Hope you have a nice day.
Con: Slowest bike in the test
Me: "mkay"
Most of the xc races is my country don't have too much(if at all) tech climbing and descending. There are a couple where you could go dh on your trail-enduro bike but those are a few and the no. of participants is less than 300, in one case, less than 150 ppl. For the most of them, participants from 1500 ppl and above. On those, with smooth fire roads up or down and smooth wide trails on 20-30% on the total length of the race, for those, it is the perfect bike.
For MVDP, it does not matter as he could ride my niece bike on a WC course and still finish 2 laps in front of 99% of us.
(although, by then probably more XC bikes will come with a dropper post as stock)
I had a 2013 Scale 900, which was 73.9/69.5 on paper. The 2020 Scale 900 has....73.9/69.5. For all the talk of how cross country is "changing" and "modern geometry", Scott hasnt changed their angles on the scale in over 7 years.
ot: mad props to pfp of course
This is a little paradoxical: you're arguing that "if we want more than white males in the sport...", and making that argument about content where Sarah Moore is what I would call the lead reviewer. While I don't want to assume anything, I do not believe she identifies as a white male.
While I can see in hindsight that comment too could have made sense to the guys on the podcast as they all knew the spec of the bike, to me as a listener with no knowledge of the bike's component spec, it was flat out ridiculous and really put me off - surely the Canyon Lux's two biggest wins were the two rainbows under PFP.
I've had a snickers too, so I'm a bit less quick to get cranky now. Looking forward to finishing the week with the Epic review tomorrow. Thanks again.