Jack & Wil review the new Canyon Spectral
Ever since it debuted as a 27.5in trail bike in 2014, the Canyon Spectral has been one of the most popular and well-loved bikes to come from the German direct-to-consumer brand. Its success has seen the platform grow significantly over the years with the arrival of the Spectral 29 in 2020, followed by a mullet version in 2021, before both were joined by the short-travel Spectral 125 in 2022.
We’ve had a tonne of experience with almost every variation of the Spectral over the past five years, including the Flight Attendant-equipped Spectral CFR LTD that Mick purchased to be his personal trail bike. As you can imagine then, we were excited to hear that the platform would be getting a total overhaul for 2024.
It ain’t just a simple facelift either. There’s a new frame with big changes to the geometry and suspension design. Canyon has also brought on key improvements to address the issues we’ve encountered in the past, while introducing a few surprises too.
Watch our video review on the Canyon Spectral here:
Initially we found this a little puzzling, perhaps because we’ve been trained over the years to expect new models to be bigger than their predecessors. However, if you view the new bike as an amalgamation of the previous Spectral and the Spectral 125, things start to make a lot more sense.
An overview of the 2024 Canyon Spectral
Totally redesigned for 2024, the Canyon Spectral features a brand new carbon frame and a reduction in travel. Compared to the old bike’s 160/150mm travel configuration, the new Spectral comes is now equipped with a 150mm travel fork and 140mm of rear wheel travel.
Initially we found this a little puzzling, perhaps because we’ve been trained over the years to expect new models to be bigger than their predecessors. However, if you view the new bike as an amalgamation of the previous Spectral and the Spectral 125, things start to make a lot more sense. Indeed it now nestles in quite neatly between the Neuron trail bike and the Strive enduro bike.
Suspension & wheelsize updates
The new Spectral shares a familiar silhouette with a four-bar suspension platform that sees the shock mounted partway up the downtube. There’s a stiffer one-piece rocker link that’s designed to help reduce side loading on the shock, and the kinematic has been updated with less anti-squat for more grip and comfort over rough terrain. Canyon has also slimmed down the chainstays to improve rear-end compliance, which is good news as we always found the previous carbon frame to be a bit stiff and pingy. As a side benefit, the slender tubes offer more heel clearance.
A nifty feature of the new Spectral frame is its chainstay flip chip, which allows the rear end to accommodate a 27.5in or a 29in wheel. Most models will be available to purchase as a full 29er or as a mullet, though riders will have the ability to switch between wheel setups down the line as they wish. The exception is the Extra Small frame, which is only available as a mullet.
Internal storage
Along with an external top tube accessory mount, the new frame also incorporates in-frame storage, which is a first for the Spectral range.
Whereas the latest Lux Trail puts its storage hatch further up the downtube, the Spectral hides it underneath the bottle cage. The door features a knee lever mechanism not unlike a tool box, and a rubber lining gives it a snug seal to help prevent water ingress. There’s a neat tool pouch to go inside, but unfortunately Canyon doesn’t include this with the bike. If you want it you’ll have to purchase it separately.
There’s sufficient clearance for a 600ml bottle to fit in a side-entry bottle cage, though Canyon is also developing a custom 850ml Fidlock bottle that’ll be available in the near future.
No headset routing here!
Great news for folks who hate the idea of cables running through the headset, as the Canyon Spectral sticks to good old fashioned ports on either side of the head tube. We’ve already seen headset cable routing on the Lux Trail, Neuron and Spectral:ON, but it seems Canyon has decided against rolling it out for the new Spectral. Phew!
To minimise noise, the bolt-in ports clamp the cables and brake hose securely upon entry into the head tube. Internal guide tubes then send the control lines to their final destination, which makes future replacement much easier.
There are some other noteworthy details to be found on the new Spectral frame, including a two-piece mudflap over the main pivot. Given we had a rock get jammed in this area on the Spectral 125, we’re glad to see this issue addressed. In a similar vein, the updated chainstay armour offers a lot more coverage to minimise noise and paint chipping.
Canyon continues to use replaceable thread inserts and double-sealed bearings for all the suspension pivots, though you’ll no longer find individual spacers. Instead, these have been integrated into the seals so you have less small parts to potentially lose when pulling things apart.
K.I.S comes standard
Another big story is that each Canyon Spectral model will now be coming with the K.I.S steering stabiliser fitted as standard.
Standing for ‘Keep It Stable’, K.I.S was first introduced in 2022 on a limited edition Spectral model. The system comprises of two springs that sit inside the top tube and connect to a cam bolted onto the fork steerer. The main anchor point can be adjusted via the slider on the top tube, which allows you to increase or decrease the spring tension.
The springs add a self-centring force to the steering, and it works well to reduce wheel flop on steep climbs and minimise deflection when riding through chunky rock gardens. Additionally, K.I.S helps to ‘connect’ the rear wheel to your inputs at the handlebar, and that brings some interesting benefits to hard cornering on sketchy surfaces.
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Despite its purported benefits, a lot of riders remain unsure about K.I.S. Canyon is clearly sold on the concept though, and by fitting it to every Spectral model, it’s giving a lot more riders the opportunity to experience the system for themselves. If they still don’t like it, the module is entirely removable, with a rubber blank included in the box to replace the top tube slider.
Keen to know more about how it works? See our long-term Spectral K.I.S review for the lowdown.
Canyon Spectral geometry & size chart
With the addition of an Extra Small, the new Canyon Spectral is now available in five frame sizes. This offers a broader spread that is claimed to cover riders from 155-203cm tall.
Canyon has also updated the Spectral’s geometry to bring it in-line with the sizing approach on its latest gravity bikes including the Strive. This sees reach measurements grow by a not-inconsiderable 15mm per size, putting the new Spectral very much on the longer side.
The Spectral otherwise maintains its 64° head angle, and the seat angle is pretty similar at 76-77°. The seat tube lengths have gotten shorter and they’ve also fattened out to accept a 34.9mm diameter seatpost, which is ideal for supporting a long-stroke dropper. To make the most of it, Canyon equips every Spectral with its new G5 dropper post that offers up to 230mm of travel.
With the new chainstay flip chip, there are two settings for the rear centre length; 437mm (29in position) and 429mm (27.5in position).
There’s also a secondary flip chip in the lower shock mount for further fine-tuning of the geometry. Bikes will come from the factory set up in the LO position, and flipping that into HI will lift the BB by 8mm and steepen the angles by 0.5°. For those who want another option to add in to the mix, it’s worth noting that the Spectral frame is rated for use with up to a 160mm travel fork.
Canyon Spectral price & specs
There will be four Canyon Spectral models in the 2024 lineup and each will be built around the same CF carbon frame. You’ll still be able to get an alloy Spectral, but those will carry over the previous generation frame.
All Spectral CF models will be equipped with a Fox 36 or RockShox Lyrik, a piggyback shock and Canyon’s G5 co*ckpit with a new stem and an adjustable travel dropper post.
The CF 8 CCLCTV model stands out as being the only bike of the bunch to feature a coil shock, and it also comes fitted with burlier wheels and a Maxxis Assegai front tyre.
The bike we’ve been testing sits one step down from the top. It’s the Canyon Spectral CF 9, and we’ve got with the mullet setup.
2024 Canyon Spectral CF LTD
- Frame | CF Carbon, Four-Bar Suspension Design, 140mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 36, Factory Series, GRIP2 Damper, 44mm Offset, 150mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float X, Factory Series, 210x55mm
- Wheels | DT Swiss XMC 1200, Carbon Rims, 30mm Inner Width
- Tyres |Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO 3C MaxxTerra 2.4in Front & Minion DHR II EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 2.4in Rear
- Drivetrain | SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12 w/32T Carbon Crankset & 10-52T GX Eagle Cassette
- Brakes | SRAM Code RSC 4-Piston w/200mm HS2 Rotors
- Bar | Canyon G5 Alloy, 30mm Rise, Width: 760mm (XS-S), 780mm (M-XL)
- Stem | Canyon G5, 40mm Length
- Seatpost | Canyon G5 Dropper, 34.9mm Diameter, Travel: 150mm (XS), 170mm (S), 200mm (M-L), 230mm (XL)
- Claimed Weight | 14.56kg
- RRP | $10,599 AUD (plus shipping)
2024 Canyon Spectral CF 9
- Frame | CF Carbon, Four-Bar Suspension Design, 140mm Travel
- Fork | RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, Charger 3 Damper, 44mm Offset, 150mm Travel
- Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate, 210x55mm
- Wheels | DT Swiss XM 1700, Alloy Rims, 30mm Inner Width
- Tyres |Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO 3C MaxxTerra 2.4in Front & Minion DHR II EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 2.4in Rear
- Drivetrain | SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12 w/32T Alloy Crankset & 10-52T Cassette
- Brakes | SRAM Code RSC 4-Piston w/200mm HS2 Rotors
- Bar | Canyon G5 Alloy, 30mm Rise, Width: 760mm (XS-S), 780mm (M-XL)
- Stem | Canyon G5, 40mm Length
- Seatpost | Canyon G5 Dropper, 34.9mm Diameter, Travel: 150mm (XS), 170mm (S), 200mm (M-L), 230mm (XL)
- Claimed Weight | 14.94kg
- RRP | $7,649 AUD (plus shipping)
2024 Canyon Spectral CF 8 CLLCTV
- Frame | CF Carbon, Four-Bar Suspension Design, 140mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 36 Performance Elite, GRIP2 Damper, 44mm Offset, 150mm Travel
- Shock | Fox DHX Coil, Performance Series, 210x55mm
- Wheels | DT Swiss E 1900, Alloy Rims, 30mm Inner Width
- Tyres |Maxxis Assegai EXO 3C MaxxTerra 2.5in Front & Minion DHR II EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 2.4in Rear
- Drivetrain | Shimano SLX 1×12 w/32T Alloy Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
- Brakes | Shimano XT 4-Piston w/203mm Ice Tech Rotors
- Bar | Canyon G5 Alloy, 30mm Rise, Width: 760mm (XS-S), 780mm (M-XL)
- Stem | Canyon G5, 40mm Length
- Seatpost | Canyon G5 Dropper, 34.9mm Diameter, Travel: 150mm (XS), 170mm (S), 200mm (M-L), 230mm (XL)
- Claimed Weight | 15.84kg
- RRP | $6,449 AUD (plus shipping)
2024 Canyon Spectral CF 7
- Frame | CF Carbon, Four-Bar Suspension Design, 140mm Travel
- Fork | Fox 36 Rhythm, GRIP Damper, 44mm Offset, 150mm Travel
- Shock | Fox Float X, Performance Series, 210x55mm
- Wheels | DT Swiss M 1900, Alloy Rims, 30mm Inner Width
- Tyres |Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO 3C MaxxTerra 2.4in Front & Minion DHR II EXO+ 3C MaxxTerra 2.4in Rear
- Drivetrain | Shimano SLX 1×12 w/32T Alloy Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
- Brakes | Shimano SLX 4-Piston w/203mm Ice Tech Rotors
- Bar | Canyon G5 Alloy, 30mm Rise, Width: 760mm (XS-S), 780mm (M-XL)
- Stem | Canyon G5, 40mm Length
- Seatpost | Canyon G5 Dropper, 34.9mm Diameter, Travel: 150mm (XS), 170mm (S), 200mm (M-L), 230mm (XL)
- Claimed Weight | 15.36kg
- RRP | $5,249 AUD (plus shipping)
Combined with the low-slung chassis and short chainstays, the dynamic Spectral is an absolute corner-ripping machine. It loves popping up the front wheel and getting airborne, making it a hoot to ride on fast and flowy trails.
Canyon Spectral sizing & fit
At 175cm tall I typically ride a Medium in most brands. Based on my height and prior test bike experience, Canyon arranged for a Medium size to be shipped out prior to the official launch.
Compared to the previous model the reach has grown from 460mm to 475mm, which is very long for a Medium. The stack has also increased from 619mm to 630mm, and combined with the 30mm rise bars the co*ckpit feels very tall and stretched out. With the increased proportions the Medium has effectively morphed into a Large.
Trimming the bars to my preferred width of 760mm, dropping the stem down a few spacers and sliding the saddle forwards on the rails all helped to dial things in. I also needed to reduce the dropper post travel to 195mm to get the right pedalling height. I’ve been able to make it work, but there’s no denying it’s a big bike. With that in mind, I’d be very interested in trying out a Small.
To get some additional feedback we also had young Jack test out the Spectral. Jack’s only a smidge taller than me, but his long limbs proved to be a better match for the longer reach and taller front end. With the seatpost extended and the stem positioned at the top of the steerer, the Medium has fit him like a glove.
With that in mind, anyone interested in the new Spectral should take a close look at the geometry chart. Much like the latest Striveyou’ll likely want to consider sizing down rather than up.
Suspension setup
I’ve complained many times before about the lack of detailed suspension setup recommendations from Canyon, which is especially pertinent for a direct-to-consumer brand. Things are thankfully starting to change on that front, with the Spectral owners manual including a table of suggested shock pressures based on rider weight.
We gave those pressures a crack but unfortunately they were way too low. To hit the recommended 27.5% sag for my 68kg riding weight I needed 160psi, rather than the 130psi that Canyon lists.
There’s otherwise no further info on rebound or compression settings, so you’ll need to work that out on your own. I ended up with the rebound damping a touch faster than halfway at 8/15 clicks, and ran both the high and low-speed compression adjusters in their neutral positions.
Using the recommendations from the RockShox Trailhead app, I’ve set up the Lyrik with 65psi and the rebound at 12/20 clicks. High-speed compression is at -1 and low-speed is at -3.
Canyon Spectral weight
Our Canyon Spectral CF 9 test bike weighed in at 14.78kg without pedals and with the tyres set up tubeless. It’s marginally lighter than claimed, though I expect that’s due to the listed weights being for the 29er version.
There’s nothing overly dainty about the build kit, which includes the excellent GX AXS Transmission, Code RSC brakes with 200mm rotors, that thicc 200mm dropper post and a sturdy alloy DT Swiss wheelset.
Canyon has also updated the rear tyre spec to a slightly thicker EXO+ casing, which is a good move. With a CushCore Pro insert in the rear wheel, I’m at pressures around 21-22psi for the front and 25-26psi for the rear.
What do we dig about the Canyon Spectral?
We thoroughly enjoyed riding the previous generation Canyon Spectral, and we’re happy to report that the new bike isn’t a dramatic departure from its predecessor. However, a number of small refinements have come together to balance out and improve its all-round capabilities.
Thanks to the slimmed-down rear end and 10mm reduction in travel, the new Spectral has a considerably more zesty feel than its chunky figure would have you assume. It is terrifically agile, with the short chainstays and mullet setup doing a lot of the legwork when darting around tight and twisty trails.
The low BB and tall front end help to position your bodyweight deep within the hub axles, and combined with the superb Minion DHR II tyres, cornering performance is outstanding. It feels bold and intuitive to tip in, encouraging you to rip turns as hard you dare.
There’s great support from the suspension too, with the bolstered mid-stroke giving your feet a notably stronger platform to push against. There’s greater reward when pumping the bike through rolling terrain, and it springs into the air whenever commanded. Manuals and nose bonks feel equally effortless, making for an action-packed ride for those willing to exploit its inherent playfulness.
Big bike attitude
The Spectral is still highly capable on rough terrain, with its near-identical angles maintaining the enduro attitude of the previous model.
The front end feels stout and reassuring, inspiring confidence when pointing down steep gradients. That’s complemented by the 200mm dropper and 27.5in rear wheel on our test bike, which gives you a heap of room to hunker down and push your bodyweight back when needed.
When really opening up the throttle, we noted how much control the Spectral offers. Some of this is due to the K.I.S system, which helps to calm down the steering when pin-balling down rocky chutes. There’s less chance of deflection, allowing you to commit to properly weighting the front wheel.
Compared to the old carbon Spectral there’s also been a welcome improvement in rear-end compliance. The added lateral flex makes the new bike notably smoother across off-camber chunk, which is complemented by the alloy wheels and supple tyres. The result is more traction and the ability to better hold a line through tricky sections.
Quality over quantity
Of course the Spectral’s excellent suspension deserves plenty of praise too. While initially a bit sticky and firm, both the fork and shock have bedded in a lot over the past three months of riding.
The shock in particular has become smoother and more active as the seals and bushings have settled in. Combined with the reduced anti-squat and anti-rise, there is considerably less feedback through the chassis and drivetrain compared to the old bike. It floats through the chunk, with the supple suspension helping to generate grip while isolating you from the terrain.
The shock also doesn’t ramp up as aggressively, so while there’s 10mm less travel it feels similarly effective on rough terrain. It’s certainly smoother, helping the Spectral to punch well above its weight for a mid-travel trail bike.
It still climbs well too
We also found the neutral suspension behaviour to be beneficial on the climbs. When things get choppy the back end does a much better job at maintaining grip. There’s less feedback through the pedals, allowing you to keep the power down as the rear wheel traverses over tricky root beds and rock slabs.
Despite the reduced anti-squat the Spectral is still a great pedalling bike. It doesn’t suffer from excessive bob, and the only reason you’d reach for the climb switch would be for riding on bitumen or up a really long and smooth dirt road.
Of course the near-15kg weight means climbing is a steadier affair compared to lighter-duty trail bikes. However, the steep seat angle and tall front end provides an upright position that makes for a comfortable experience.
The only issue was an excessive number of pedal strikes. This made sense after I measured the BB height at just 332mm off the floor. This was with the shock’s flip chip in the LO position, which is how the bike comes out of the box. I flipped the chip into HI to lift the BB by 8mm, bringing it back up to the 340mm height that’s listed in the geometry chart.
This made a massive difference to the Spectral’s climbing abilities thanks to the extra 8mm of clearance underneath the pedals. It also steepened the seat and head angles, putting additional weight onto the front wheel and making the bike feel more balanced on undulating terrain. Canyon says it’s possible to run either position regardless of the wheelsize, so I’d suggest experimenting with the flip chip to see what works best for your trails and riding style.
What haven’t we liked?
While the rear suspension on the Canyon Spectral is fantastic, the front end isn’t quite as adept at mitigating feedback.
The RockShox Lyrik is no doubt a great fork, with the Charger 3 damper delivering loads of support and control when pushed hard. However, as we found in our back-to-back testing against the Fox 36, the Lyrik doesn’t offer the same degree of small-bump sensitivity. It’s less responsive across high frequency buzz, resulting in a firmer ride that was particularly apparent on the Spectral given its sublime rear suspension.
On the note of suspension, though it is a capable package overall we expect some folks will be disappointed that Canyon didn’t stick with the 160/150mm travel platform. We did occasionally run out of travel on the Spectral since it’s such a confidence-inspiring bike to pilot. Bottom-out events were never harsh or uncontrolled, but we’d suggest those with a heavier riding style will benefit from adding volume spacers into the fork and shock.
Of course you could extend the fork travel by fitting a 160mm air shaft, which the frame is rated for. That being said, folks who are after a longer travel bike for gravity riding and enduro racing will be better off looking at the Strive or Torque instead.
To K.I.S or not to K.I.S?
We expect some riders will be turned off by the K.I.S system, which hasn’t been helped by some unfavourable first ride reviews online. Admittedly most journalists only get one or two rides in at a bike launch, typically on unfamiliar terrain, which isn’t conducive to getting used to the K.I.S system. In reality, you need a lot more ride time to adapt to it and understand how it affects the bike’s steering.
We’ve had a load of experience with K.I.S after Jack spent several months testing the Spectral CF 8 last year. Being a more advanced gravity rider, he’s really enjoyed the way the internal springs help to connect the front-end steering to the rear wheel. This is beneficial when cornering across traction-poor surfaces, whether it’s wet and muddy or loose-over-hard. In these conditions, inputs at the handlebar help to straighten out the bike and keep the tyres tracking together to mitigate sliding.
The downside for Jack is that the K.I.S spring tension has been decreased on the new Spectral. That means he’s had the slider set to the maximum position the whole time, and even then he’d like the option to add more spring force.
This will likely be a positive for more riders however, since the effect of the K.I.S stabiliser is more subtle and easier to get used to in the first place. It’s still noticeable with the adjuster set in the middle position, and I found for my mediocre riding abilities it genuinely helped to calm down the steering when descending, particularly janky trails. It actually saved me in one specific instance where the front tyre slid across an off-camber root while bombing a warp-speed descent. Instead of the front wheel tucking and sending me over the bars, I could feel the spring pull it back inline before the tyre regained traction on the backside of the root. A heart-pounding moment that could have easily ended in disaster. Phew!
As well as reducing how much the front wheel pings about on the descents, the K.I.S system also helps to stabilise the steering on the climbs. You notice less see-sawing at the handlebar, which can be an issue with a 64° head angle and a 40mm stem.
Those benefits aside, I do think that the K.I.S system is a bit wasted on machine-built flow trails where the added steering tension can feel odd. It can also be a bit sketchy when hitting jumps due to the way that it wants to keep the rear wheel inline with the handlebar. You do adapt to it, but I expect jibbier riders will either set it to the softest position or remove it entirely. Given the fact that it is easily removable, I can’t really see any negatives.
Component highs & lows
For the most part our Canyon Spectral CF 9 test bike has performed well over the past three months of testing.
The DT Swiss wheels have been reliable, offering a sturdy feel with a notable degree of compliance compared to an equivalent carbon wheelset.
We’re also big fans of the Maxxis Minion DHR II tyre spec. These deliver loads of cornering and braking traction, with the 2.4in width giving them a nice balance of trail-damping and steering precision. Sure, the 3C MaxxTerra rubber isn’t as gooey as the 3C MaxxGrip compound, but it wears significantly better. It also means rolling resistance is decent, and weight is reasonable thanks to the EXO/EXO+ casing combo. Schralpier folk may want to fit heavier tyre casings if they’re hitting up particularly rocky terrain, but we had good results simply adding a CushCore insert for the rear wheel.
The SRAM GX Transmission works well and the Code RSC brakes have great feel with plenty of power, even after having come off the bigger Mavens. We also like that Canyon has gone with the non-Stealth lever design, which provides a more functional and aesthetically-pleasing path for the hydraulic hoses as they route into the ports behind the head tube.
All the in-house components are up to scratch, with that whopping 200mm travel dropper post being a notable highlight. However, the G5 grips certainly aren’t our favourite, being quite thin and hard. The right side also developed some creaking that made for an unsettling feel on the descents.
Otherwise we’ve been impressed by the overall frame finish, with the tidy chainguide, generous armour and bolt-up cable ports helping to quieten down general trail chatter.
Our test bike has developed some creaking around the cable housing between the front triangle and swingarm, which is something we encountered on the Spectral 125. A careful dab of lube or some silicone spray should be enough to silence it.
The downtube storage is a handy feature, and although the door can occasionally be tricky to close, it has proven to be plenty secure. We haven’t noticed any untoward noise or vibration even with a full water bottle on board.
Which Canyon Spectral model would we choose? Mullet or 29in?
Out of the four model lineup, it’s the Canyon Spectral CF 7 that we’d go for if we were spending our own cash.
It’s a considerably cheaper bike at $5,249 AUD (plus shipping), though it uses exactly the same full carbon frame, G5 co*ckpit and Maxxis Minion DHR II tyres as the CF 9 we’ve been testing. It also features DT Swiss wheels and a Shimano SLX groupset, which is all solid stuff.
Most importantly the CF 7 features a Fox 36 fork with the GRIP damper, which will offer smoother and more active performance compared to the RockShox Lyrik on our test bike.
Spec options aside, what about going for the full 29in wheel setup?
We expect many prospective Spectral buyers will be asking the wheelsize question, and we reckon it’s great that Canyon provides the option in the first place.
To help provide an answer, we got our hands on an identical DT Swiss rear wheel and Minion DHR II tyre to embark on some back-to-back wheel testing with our Spectral CF 9 test bike. Curious about the differences in ride quality and which one might be best for you? See our Canyon Spectral mullet vs 29er test for the lowdown!
Canyon Spectral vs Neuron
While the new Canyon Spectral may have moved away from the Strive and Torque, it’s now positioned a lot closer to the Neuron. Indeed with just 10mm of travel between them there appears to be a lot of overlap. On the trail however, they couldn’t be any more different.
Built specifically around 29in wheels, the Neuron features lighter duty suspension with a 140mm travel Fox 34 up front and an in-line Float DPS shock that delivers 130mm of rear travel. The four-bar layout is different with the shock mounted underneath the top tube, and the kinematic is designed to provide zipper pedalling performance.
The overall frame design looks cleaner, in part thanks to the headset cable routing. There’s no internal storage or associated hatches, and you won’t find any flip chips either.
Further differences can be found in the Neuron’s more conservative geometry. It gets a steeper 66° head angle, a slightly more relaxed 76° seat angle and a less extreme 455mm reach on the Medium.
On the trail the Neuron is a much sprightlier trail bike. It pedals with more enthusiasm thanks to its efficient suspension design and quick-rolling tyres, which see it dispatch climbs with considerably less effort than the Spectral.
A lot of this comes down to the overall bike weight, with the Neuron benefitting from a near-2kg advantage (12.86kg vs 14.78kg). That makes it a great option for longer distance adventure rides and multi-day events where it’ll eagerly rack up both elevation and distance.
The firmer suspension means it isn’t as settled on chunky trails however. It’s less stable due to the steeper head angle, and traction isn’t always guaranteed from the hard compound tyres. It’s still a stout and capable trail bike, it just doesn’t inspire confidence on rough terrain like the Spectral does.
Indeed for descending down technical trails, schralping turns, hitting jumps and flying off drops, the Spectral is for sure the better bike. Its build kit, geometry and mullet compatibility reflects this, making the difference pretty clear when looking at the two bikes side-by-side.
Flow’s Verdict
Between the reduction in travel and radical change in sizing, it took us a while to warm to the new Canyon Spectral. The more we’ve ridden it however, the more we’ve come to appreciate all of the changes that Canyon has made to its flagship trail bike.
The suspension in particular is sublime. It’s smoother and more active, passing less feedback onto the rider thanks to its neutral kinematic. It still pedals well though, and the new Spectral is no doubt a better technical climber due to the improved traction.
Really though, it’s on wild and wooly descents where it shines brightest. The updated rear end offers better compliance and off-camber grip, while the enduro-adjacent geometry and burly build kit gives you plenty of confidence to get off the brakes and charge.
When facing bigger features and steep chutes, we’ve appreciated the clearance afforded by the long travel dropper and 27.5in rear wheel. Combined with the low-slung chassis and short chainstays, the dynamic Spectral is an absolute corner-ripping machine. It loves popping up the front wheel and getting airborne, making it a hoot to ride on fast and flowy trails.
The fact that it can accept either a 27.5in or 29in rear wheel is a great feature, and along with the in-frame storage, considered cable routing and practical hardware, it should be an easy bike to live with in the long run.
Indeed if you’re looking for a capable and fun-filled all-rounder that errs on the more aggressive side, the Spectral gets the thumbs up from us. Just make sure you take a good look at the geometry chart to make sure you choose the right frame size.
