Canyon releases race

Canyon's new e-enduro bike has mullet wheels, up-to-date geometry and Bosch's Performance Line CX Race Motor

This competition is now closed

By Nick Clark

Published: May 9, 2023 at 10:00 am

The Strive:ON is Canyon's first enduro-specific electric bike and features an aggressive geometry, carbon frame and 160mm of rear-suspension travel.

The new bike sits between the Spectral:ON and Torque:ON in Canyon's electric mountain bike line-up, with the prices starting at £5,499/€5,799 for the CFR Underdog edition and £6,699/€6,999 for the CFR, both of which feature a Bosch Performance Line CX electric bike motor.

A flagship CFR LTD model will be available later in the year, sporting a custom Fabien Barel colour scheme and Bosch's 2 Line CX Race motor. Prices for the limited-edition model will start at £8,999/€9,499.

All models are available with either 625Wh or 750Wh batteries, with the larger-capacity battery adding an extra £200/€200 to the bike's price.

The Strive:ON is available now to order in Europe, with bikes arriving on US shores later in the summer. Canyon has yet to confirm an exact date or US pricing.

The Strive:ON features a full carbon fibre frame that Canyon say uses the same carbon layup as the top-tier Strive CFR and weighs in at 3,268g for a size medium, including all assembly parts.

A Horst-link suspension linkage is still used, similar to that on the non-assisted Strive, but the shock is now horizontally mounted to leave room for the motor, top tube storage and a bottle cage.

Canyon hasn't included the Shapeshifter system found on the Strive. The Shapeshifter system uses a Fox-built air piston in the shock mount, which alters the damper's position, giving the bike two geometry and travel settings for pedal efficiency and downhill ability.

The bike has been designed around Bosch's Performance Line motors and also uses the brand's PowerTube batteries.

Canyon offers the bike with a 625Wh or 750Wh battery pack on all frame sizes, with the brand wanting to give riders the option of a lighter bike or a longer range.

The motor and battery terminal are protected by a moto-inspired skidplate, allowing the bike to ground out on technical terrain without damaging the frame or motor, according to Canyon.

Magnets feature on the inside of the guard to hold the retaining bolts when changing the battery, so you don't lose them.

While all the models in the Strive:ON line-up feature air shocks, Canyon says the new bike is compatible with a coil shock.

Coil shocks are becoming more common on electric mountain bikes, because the weight penalty is less of an issue when you have a motor to assist on the climbs.

All the bikes in the Strive:ON line-up feature a 170mm fork, with Canyon saying the bike is not dual-crown compatible, because the wide down tube that houses the battery would cause the fork to interfere with the steering angle.

The underside of the top tube has bolts for on-bike storage systems such as a tube or multi-tool holder, while the forks will feature Canyon's new screw-on fenders that mount directly to RockShock Zeb and Fox 38 forks.

Canyon says it has updated the Strive:ON's geometry compared to the non-assisted Strive, adapting the bike to meet the demands of e-enduro racing, which combines downhill trails with technical climbing stages.

The Strive:ON has a claimed head angle of 63.5 degrees, which is up-to-date with current geometry trends for enduro bikes.

A reach measurement of 475mm for a medium-sized bike makes it longer than other bikes in its class, such as the Orbea Wild, which has a 450mm reach for a similar-sized frame.

Canyon says it has given the frame a steep effective seat tube angle of 78 degrees to assist the bike going uphill. This is around two degrees steeper than the Specialized Turbo Levo.

Chainstay measurements are short at 445mm, with the bike using a mixed wheel size mullet setup. Canyon says this gives the Strive:ON high-speed stability and tight-trail agility.

Canyon offers the new Strive:ON with Bosch's Performance Line CX or Performance Line CX Race motors depending on the spec level.

Both motors deliver 600 watts of peak power with 85Nm of torque and have rapid motor response, meaning the power is delivered early in the pedal stroke.

The Performance Line CX Race on the Strive:ON CFR LTD increases pedal assist from 340 per cent to 400 per cent, meaning less input is required for more power output.

It also adds a race mode, which is said to deliver power faster and stronger.

The Race motor features an extended overrun mode that gives the bike an extra boost once the pedals have stopped spinning, helping to power up technical climbs by keeping momentum.

Digital Writer

Nick Clark is a digital writer for BikeRadar, focusing on all things mountain bikes. Having raced XC for most of his youth, he has a deep understanding of the sport and loves bounding around the UK to spectate at events. A mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales. Nick also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host countries. Described as having a good engine in his racing days, it's now common to see Nick wheel-sucking on club rides and sprinting for town signs. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. Nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has a keen eye for technical detail. He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road.

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