Canyon Spectral CF 2024 Review

The latest iteration of the Canyon Spectral might look like a mere facelift at first glance, but there have been significant changes. The K.I.S. system is now standard across all models, and while there’s reduced travel, a storage compartment has been integrated into the downtube. Are these just minor tweaks or noticeable upgrades?

Pump up the air, hop on, and hit the trail. For many, a mountain bike is a means to escape the modern, complex world. Yet for others, nothing goes without a tire pressure gauge, GPS speedometer, and the perfect suspension setup. The new Canyon Spectral CF strikes a balance between these two realms.

On one hand, the latest iteration of the Canyon Spectral CF intends to minimize hassle. With a threaded BSA bottom bracket, precisely routed internal cabling beyond the headset, and a new, more rugged dropper post with a 34.9 mm diameter, the folks in Koblenz make it clear: This bike doesn’t want to cause you any stress! However, they can’t completely keep their hands off the topic of innovation and, with it, a certain level of complexity.

With the latest edition of the Canyon Spectral CF, the crew in Koblenz is fully committed to adopting the new K.I.S. (Keep It Stable) system for steering stabilization. The exclusive license for the “Keep it Stable” system, secured by Syntace for the 2023 model year, has so far only been integrated into one model. Now that the system is available to other manufacturers, Canyon is rolling it out across their entire Spectral CF line.

Those who prefer their mountain bikes as straightforward as possible might be throwing their hands up in dismay. Another component to install. Another component adding weight. Another component that requires tuning and may potentially cause trouble. For those who are adamant about not engaging with this system, Canyon offers a very simple solution for riding a Spectral while avoiding all these issues.

Every new Canyon Spectral CF comes with a blanking cover. If you’re not into new tech, you can simply dismantle the system and seal the hole in the top tube with the blanking cover. For those eager to check out the new tech, we’ve taken a close look at the K.I.S. system. This includes specifically addressing the concerns mentioned in the previous paragraph.

We didn’t just ride the Canyon Spectral CF, we also took it apart, paying particular attention to the K.I.S. system.

Simply put: It stabilizes the steering. In detail: Two springs in the top tube clamp onto the steerer tube and pull the handlebars back to the center position when you lift the front wheel off the ground and let go of the handlebars. When you have your hands on the bars and are shredding the trail, the system noticeably aids with the spring force in returning the bars to a neutral position.

Even though the comparison with a car might limp a bit, it’s appropriate here. Because when you take your hands off the steering wheel while driving, the steering wheel re-centers itself. Imagine the effect of K.I.S. on the bike somewhat like this, though not as extreme.

There isn’t just one “aha moment” when it comes to the physics and the riding technique enhancements triggered by K.I.S., but rather a series of eureka instances you’ll experience once you engage with the system.

A sobering physical phenomenon occurs when a bike’s front end slightly dips while cornering. On enduro bikes, featuring slack head angles, riders can feel the infamous “wheel flop”—the handlebars tipping when cruising slowly on asphalt.

To counteract this, the lower mass has to be physically lifted back to its original position by the rider. The springs in the K.I.S. system negate this effect. The tension built up in the spring while steering takes on part of the workload during realignment, helping to lift the weight bearing down on the handlebars. Granted, this sounds a lot like a physics class. However, another aspect is much more practical in nature.

Sure, the rear wheel has always been connected to the handlebars through the frame, but until now, the headset has decoupled this connection. The springs installed in the top tube now provide tangible feedback at the handlebars on how far the rear wheel has kicked out.

Especially when the bike breaks traction, or more coolly put, when it drifts, it allows for much more precise handling. This means the sliding rear wheel becomes less likely to lose control. A similar effect occurs at the front wheel when diving into open corners or riding through off-camber trail sections.

Mountain biking becomes epic when you’re pushing your rig to its limits. However, shredding downhill carries significant risk. If the bike is angled and starts sliding in open corners, you abruptly lose control.

As riders, we often try to start a change in direction by increasing the steering input, even when the bike has already lost grip. The issue with this technique: in a sliding state, there’s zero feedback on how much you’ve actually turned the handlebars.

Where you’d normally experience that “light” front end feel on a bike without steering stabilization, the K.I.S. system provides decisive feedback on your steering input. This prevents the classic mistake of oversteering. Instead, it prompts you to straighten the handlebars to regain control in such critical situations.

The facts are on the table. Don’t expect the K.I.S. system to be a revelation or a miracle cure for every situation. The system is a subtle companion that especially comes into play when you hit the limit of your own skills. Compared to the first K.I.S. version, Canyon has fine-tuned the characteristics.

The suspension’s response is now more gradual. The adjustability range has also shifted towards “softer”. We’ve also tested bikes from Liteville with this system. The developers themselves confirmed to us: Each K.I.S. system has its own characteristics.

At the end of the day, the system isn’t a gamechanger, but it still makes the Spectral that much better of a bike. The good thing is: The decision about the system lies with the customer. If you’re not interested in this additional feature, you can simply remove it and enjoy the rest of the Canyon Spectral CF without the K.I.S. system. After all, the bike itself has undergone quite a few changes compared to its predecessor.

Beyond the K.I.S System, the Canyon Spectral has evolved. The most noticeable update: it sports 10 mm less travel front and rear than its predecessor. With 150 mm travel on the fork and 140 mm at the rear, the folks at Koblenz aim to better differentiate the new Spectral from the Strive, their in-house enduro rig. In the old version, the differences were quite minimal.

Despite the reduced travel, both the frame weight and the complete bike weights remain in a similar range. We weighed the frame at 2815 grams. Our test bike outfitted in the descent-focused Collective trim tips the scales at 15.8 kilograms without pedals, making it the heaviest bike in the new Spectral lineup. And this comes with a price tag of 3999 €.

The top-end Canyon Spectral CF LTD model costs 6,999 € and weighs 1.2 kilograms less. Clearly, these bikes have attractive price points but aren’t the lightest on the market. If you’re primarily into long tours, you’d be better served with Canyon’s Neuron. Despite less travel, the focus of the Spectral’s development remains on downhill fun.

Also new is the option for a mullet wheel setup from the factory on every model. With a flip-chip in the chainstay, you can tweak the geometry to suit either a smaller or larger rear wheel. Those who want to can also convert a mullet bike to a full 29er after purchase.

The somewhat stuffy tool pouch of its predecessor has now been replaced by a snazzy storage compartment in the downtube. Its latch is easy to use and rattle-free on the trail. Inside, there’s room for a spare tube and snacks. There’s even a Canyon rain jacket with a small packing size that’s been specially designed for this storage compartment. The mini tool, as seen on the Canyon Lux Trail, is mounted on the underside of the top tube, making it super quick to access when you’re out riding.

The more test rides we logged on the Spectral, the more the bike’s true nature came to light. It’s a bike for downhill fun. Climbing, you’ll wrestle with just under 16 kilograms for every meter of elevation or spin them out calmly without worrying about time, with some elevated heart rate and sweat.

Descent-wise, with slightly less travel, the bike is minimally more nimble than its predecessor. Even as the weights are largely identical, the bike sinks less into the travel on flat trails, with the rear suspension working less progressively than before.

On the trail, you’ll feel that the rear suspension is dialed more harmoniously over the full range of travel than we were used to with the old Spectral. Those who love to launch will have adored the pop of the previous rear end. Ground-oriented riders, on the other hand, will prefer the new characteristics, especially since there’s no real disadvantage when it comes to jumping because of these traits.

Descending, the bike is minimally more agile with somewhat less suspension travel than its predecessor. It doesn’t sink into the travel as much on flat, flowy trails. It feels good. But turning off from flowy paths onto trails like the Tschilli Trail in Latsch, the flip side of this coin becomes apparent. Simply put, where there is less suspension travel, there’s inherently less cushion.

While we attributed unrestricted skills, even on the rugged trails of Finale Ligure to the predecessor, one must be aware that 140mm of rear travel is just 140mm of rear travel. Canyon squeezes the maximum out of these 140mm, but it’s a pity that the bikes weigh roughly the same as their predecessors despite having less travel.

The improved differentiation from the Canyon Strive, which is aimed to be achieved with less suspension travel, is understandable considering the portfolio, but it should consequently be more apparent in terms of weight as well.

Geometry, suspension, and components leave a consistently solid impression on downhill runs. You can count on this bike for fun descents; it’s reliable and just delivers thrills on the trails.

All the discussed details and changes solely pertain to the Canyon Spectral CF models. The Spectral 125 and the Spectral AL remain unchanged for now. At €3399, Canyon offers an affordable entry into the carbon class. Even the top-tier model is fairly priced at €6999, considering its specs.

The Mullet and 29er versions only differ in wheel sizes and otherwise boast identical setups. Riders not willing to compromise on weight should definitely check out Canyon’s Neuron models, which are geared more towards touring.