Canyon, one of the best bike brands, has rolled out a red hot new line of electric bikes for 2020
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Born in Germany, Canyon makes some of the best bikes you can buy, and their business model is entirely based online. Now they are shifting their Germanic FOCUS to making some of the best electric bikes you can buy. Also, no surprise here given their mountain bike heritage, some of the best electric mountain bikes.
Retailing in the UK and the rest of Europe as well as Australia and the US, the brand has serious pedigree with Canyon bikes being ridden by professional athletes across a range of cycling disciplines. They’re also incredibly popular bikes, due in part to their excellent value for money.
Canyon’s direct-sell model is partly to thank for this. Bikes are purchased online via the Canyon website, then assembled and shipped out to customers almost ready to ride. Usually, all you need to do is open the box, unpack the bike and pop the handlebars on the stem with all necessary tools and instructions provided.
Selling directly means that Canyon saves money on bricks-and-mortar infrastructure, which is passed on to customers. That’s not to say Canyon is a ‘cheap’ bike brand — far from it! The bikes it makes have won awards, races, group-tests and more, and are often highly rated by product testers and customers alike.
Now, for 2020, Canyon has dramatically increased it’s eBike offerings…
Canyon electric bikes 2020: which should you buy?
The Canyon e-bike range now consists of 6 models spanning everything from commuter and leisure riding to all-mountain MTB. The ‘e’ stands for electric, as these bikes have an electric motor powered by an on-board battery. This system gives what’s called an electric-assist; you still need to pedal, but the battery boosts the power you’re putting in through your pedal strokes giving you greater output, whether that’s a faster turn of speed on flats or making climbing significantly easier. Top speed is legally restricted to 25kph.
New additions to the eBike line-up are the brand new Grand Canyon:ON hardtail mountain bike and Pathlite:ON, a do-it-all commuter slash trekking bike.
Both the Neuron:ON trail eMTB and Spectral:ON all-mountain eMTB have had major overhauls. The Neuron:ON has a new, stiffer front end, an integrated battery in the down tube, and the Canyon:ON cockpit which allows cables to be internally routed through the handlebar.
The updated Spectral:ON has a completely redesigned carbon front triangle with new geometry and tweaked suspension kinematics to give an improved ride feel with more control. It’s also got the integrated battery and tidy cockpit design.
Then there’s the Roadlite:ON, a sleek eBike that doesn’t actually look or handle like an eBike, apart from when you want a bit of help on the climbs and over longer distances.
If you’re concerned about a lack of hands-on opportunities before you buy, Canyon also has an extensive demo program for its road, mountain, commuter and electric ranges which allows prospective purchasers to take one for a spin and see how it feels and fits.
Specifications
Key spec: 120mm front travel (100mm on XS), Shimano Steps E8000 motor and E8035 battery, Dropper seatpost, Hydraulic disc brakes
Reasons to buy
Take the efficiency and fun of a hardtail mountain bike and add a motor, and you’ve opened up a whole lot of possibilities. Hardtails are a blast to ride and are great if you’re looking for a versatile bike for off-road riding, a bit of A to B travelling over mixed surfaces, taking on towpaths or seeing what paths lie in your local woods, parks and countryside.
The 120mm of front travel (100mm on the size XS) gives plenty of cushioning to take a lot of the work out of rough terrain, and gives extra traction. Combine this with chunky, grippy Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres and you’ve got a package that should offer a confident, enjoyable ride experience.
The range-topping Canyon Canyon:ON AL 9.0 comes equipped with Fox 34 Rhythm forks with a Shimano Deore XT/SLX blend drivetrain. Wheels are a combination of RaceFace AR30 rims with Shimano hubs, and the bike is finished with Canyon’s eBike specific SD:ON saddle and Iridium dropper seatpost.
Two nifty features are the USB-C charging point on the top tube (sadly not on the XS size) which allows you to charge phones, GPS units and lights on the go, and the concealed kick-stand mount. Ebikes are still heavier than regular bikes, though getting lighter all the time, and adding a kickstand means you can park it up, upright, without having to find something to lean it against or having to hoist it up off the ground.
Another feature that seems like a great idea is the Abus YourPlus key system that the battery uses. You need a key to release the battery for off-bike charging, and to lock it in place again. This system means you can use the same key for your bike and your Abus lock, including select D-locks, chain locks, etc, which is much handier than scrabbling around for multiple keys.
Shop the Grand Canyon:ON rangeGrand Canyon:ON AL 9.0. £3049; Grand Canyon:ON AL 8.0. £2599; Grand Canyon:ON WMN AL 8.0. £2599
Specifications
Key spec: Aluminium frame, Shimano E8000 motor and E8035 battery, 130/135mm full suspension, Shimano 1×12 drivetrain
Reasons to buy
The Neuron:ON is a full suspension eMTB that’s ideal for everything from a quick blast around your local trails to longer days out exploring the countryside.
It’s had a big redesign for 2020 and now features an integrated battery in the downtube giving it a much neater, sleeker look over the previous incarnation. This redesign includes a suspension platform designed around the heavier weight and torque that comes with eMTBs, with a whole new front end that promises increased stiffness and better responsiveness.
The integrated Shimano E8035 battery can be charged in-situ or removed, with a charging pack that fits neatly in a rucksack for refills on-the-go. Its new position in the frame along with other geometry alterations give the bike a low centre of gravity that in turn provides extra stability and confidence on descents.
130mm of travel up front and 135mm rear travel is just right for the majority of UK trails and trail centres. It’s enough to allow for some technical, demanding riding if that’s your bag, but not so much that it sucks the fun from flatter trails.
Extra weight needs extra power to control speed and stop, so Canyon have built the wheels with a steel freehub to withstand the added torque plus chunky eBike specific Shimano brake rotors and powerful 4-piston brake calipers on the range-topping model.
The Neuron:ON 9.0 comes with a RockShox Deluxe Select R shock with RockShox Pike Ultimate forks, a more than capable set up for some hardcore riding. Shimano Deore XT and SLX 1 x 12 drivetrain and brakes give a wide range of gears, and the RaceFace AR30 rims with Shimano hubs have a capable combo of Schwalbe Hans Dampf and Nobby Nic tyres. As with other eMTBs in the range, it comes with an SD:ON saddle plus Iridium dropper seatpost.
Other features are, as you’d expect from Canyon, well considered; the dropper post, the saddle that provides good support for eMTB riding, and a minimalist cockpit and motor control with cables routed through the bars.
In fact, aside from a slightly chunkier downtube and the fact that this will fly up climbs, it’s a bike that keeps its e-assist on the downlow.
Shop the Neuron:ON range Canyon Neuron:ON 9.0. £4199; Canyon Neuron:ON 8.0. £3749; Canyon Neuron:ON WMN 7.0. £3349; Canyon Neuron:ON WMN 7.0. £3349
Specifications
Key spec: Aluminium frame, Suntour XCR fork with 100mm travel, 57mm tyres, Bosch Powertube 500 integrated battery, Integrated light, mudguards and pannier rack
Reasons to buy
From commuting or shopping to trekking to the school run, this versatile eBike is the workhorse of the Canyon eBike lineup. This user-friendly eBike boasts myriad features for the utilitarian cyclist or the avid tourer, including a kickstand, integrated lights and rack, and a double battery that gives a huge range on top-end models.
In fact, if you’re looking for the one bike that can do pretty much everything, the brand new Pathlite:ON is that bike. The fact that it’s designed for versatile use is clear in everything from the core frame design itself through to the parts, accessories and features it has.
The aluminium frame sits the rider in an upright position that’s ideal for navigating traffic or enjoying views while trekking, while the wide 57mm tyres will do a great job of soaking up uneven terrain and providing good grip when the ground is slick. And if the tyres don’t smooth out the ride, the 100mm of suspension in the Suntour forks up front will do, providing comfort for rides long and short.
The workhorse elements of the Pathlite:ON include the integrated pannier rack and the fact that the bike has been specifically designed to work well with Croozer trailers, which means you can bring your shopping, kit or pet for the ride, or use it for the school or nursery run.
The motor on this bike is the Bosch Powertube 500, which gives two levels of support. The battery is integrated into the downtube for a neat look and can be charged on the bike or removed. It’s kept securely in place with a lock and key mechanism, which also means it won’t rattle loose if you’re riding hard on uneven ground.
For the bike-packers out there, the top two models in the range come with two batteries; one integrated into the frame, the other placed on top. Working together, these can give up to a whopping 150km in a single ride before they need to be topped up, which opens up a whole lot of distance. Think of the possibilities!
The range-topping 9.0 features Shimano Deore XT brakes with XT/SLX drivetrain with FSA crank and chainring, Alexrims MD25 rims with Shimano hubs and Schwalbe G-One Allround tyres in a chunky, grippy 57mm width. A rather snazzy Brooks C17 saddle finishes off the look.
Other extremely handy features is the integrated lights. These can be controlled with a remote switch on the handlebar that attaches via a magnet, so it can be moved and placed to a convenient position for the user. Anyone who lives in wetter climates will also be very happy to see the integrated mudguards too.
And finally, while it may seem like a little thing, but the Pathlite:ON has a kickstand… So you can park up wherever you fancy without having to find somewhere to lean your bike.
Shop the Pathlite:ON range Pathlite:ON 9.0. £4649; Pathlite:ON 8.0. £4099; Pathlite:ON 7.0. £2799; Pathlite:ON 6.0. £2599; Pathlite:ON 5.9. £2349
Gear Watch: Transition Teases ‘2 bikes in 1’ E-bike, Canyon’s new Lux World Cup, and New Giro Helmet
A flyweight full-suspension XC bike, an e-bike that you can ride without the battery, plus new and updated gear including two helmets, a tire, brake, and saddle.
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Gear Watch Wednesday is a weekly update on the latest mountain bike gear releases and products that Singletracks has received for test. Have gear news to share, or products you’d like us to check out? Email [email protected]
Canyon says Lux World Cup is possibly world’s lightest full-suspension
The new Canyon Lux World Cup CFR cross-country mountain bike frame is said to weigh 1,535g, knocking more than 100g off the brand’s already feather-weight Lux CF SLX frame. Canyon slacked the head angle by a full 1.5° to 68.5°, and expanded the reach on all sizes by 15mm. Despite losing weight, Canyon says the Lux World Cup CFR is even stronger and stiffer than previous models.
eThirteen Grappler Tire
The Grappler is a new gravity tire that’s designed for aggressive riding. It’s offered in both 27.5″ and 29″ diameters at 2.5″ wide and buyers can choose from a lighter weight and more supple 120tpi casing or the stiffer, DH version with 72tpi. Either way the proprietary compound mix is said to be sticky and grippy for steep trails.
Lighter Formula Cura X brakes
The new Formula Cura X brakes drop 34g off previous Cura brakes thanks to a carbon lever and new “half-collar” design. The brakes still feature titanium bolts and a Kevlar reinforced hose for a premium finish.
Ergon SM Downhill saddle updated
The updated Ergon SM Downhill saddle has been updated and redesigned to stay out of riders’ way as much as possible. DH-specific features include a cutout/recess at the back for wheel clearance and design that assumes a “nose-up” saddle angle.
MIPS helmet for kids: MET Hooray
If you’ve shopped for kids’ MTB helmets you know most of them are pretty basic, but the new MET Hooray and Hooray MIPS bring many of the features adults expect and appreciate to smaller head sizes — even toddlers. Available in sizes XS (46-52cm) and small (52-55cm), the helmet has nice features like an anti-pinch chin strap buckle, 10 vents, and insect netting to keep the bugs out. The MIPS version also includes an LED blinkie light in the rear.
Kaden Apparel Gryla 3/4 Sleeve Jersey in 3 new colors
Kaden’s 3/4 jerseys are out in new colors that aren’t teal or traffic cone orange. The loosely cut not-too-tight-I’m-already-sweating 4-way stretch fabric now comes in lovely toned down hues of lavender orchid, dark persimmon, and dark blue (pictured, from left to right).
New Giro Full Face Helmet uses MIPS Spherical
Giro’s new full-face helmet, the Insurgent, uses MIPS Spherical, which the brand has been using for their half shell helmets like the Manifest. The Insurgent is designed for strong ventilation and comfort, with a claimed 50% cooling efficiency than Giro’s Disciple helmet. The Insurgent weighs 200g less also. The Insurgent has an adjustable visor, a D-ring buckle, and antimicrobial padding. It comes in three sizes and costs 350.
Transition teases “two bikes in one” E-bike for 2023
Transition is teasing a new “two in one” e-bike with plans to release the Relay in the spring of 2023 which will be a 160mm travel bike with a 170mm fork. It will work with 29″ wheels or as a mixed wheel bike.
The Relay will use the Fazua Ride60 system with a lighter 430Wh battery and a 60Nm motor. The battery will be easily removable with a tool free door so riders can shed their battery weight if they want a lighter bike to ride. It looks like this will be the biggest difference from their current 160mm travel, 29er e-bike.
“The options are nearly endless,” reads a news release. “Pull the battery out and go for a pedal lap on trails not open to ebikes, or hop on the chairlift to get some laps in the bike park. Put the battery back in and sneak in a few hot laps after work, or get another day of riding in when your legs are spent. The Relay is a bike that can truly do it all.”
We’re not sure how exactly this will play out or if the bike will be reasonably light enough to pedal without a battery, but we are interested to learn more this fall when Transition says they’ll have more to offer about the bike.
Lanciata sul mercato nel 2020 la e-mtb hardtail di casa Canyon è stata completamente rinnovata, anche nel motore che ora è un Bosch.
Canyon fino al 12 febbraio del 2020 aveva nel proprio catalogo solo due e-mtb, Spectral:On e Neuron:On, il giorno successivo alle 11:00 la famiglia delle elettriche (:On) della casa di Coblenza si allargò con l’arrivo sul mercato della Grand Canyon:On. Era la prima e-bike hardtail prodotta da Canyon, un modello che dopo tre anni in Germania hanno riprogettato ed oggi, martedì 9 maggio, è stata presentata la nuova Grand Canyon:On 2023.
Appena abbiamo letto la scheda tecnica ci siamo resi conto che Canyon ha cambiato pelle e cuore alla Grand Canyon:On. Gli unici elementi in comune con il vecchio modello sono l’escursione di 120 mm della forcella, il telaio che è in lega di alluminio e le gomme che sono sempre quelle molto larghe da 29×2.6”. Ottime perché trasformano la e-bike in una schiaccia sassi in discesa. Se commettete un errore di traiettoria e l’ostacolo è una pietra ci passate sopra.
È CAMBIATO IL MOTORE
Il cuore della nuova Canyon Grand Canyon:On 2023 è cambiato, non è più spinta dal motore giapponese Shimano EP8 ma dal rivale tedesco, il Bosch Performance Line CX con 85 Nm di coppia massima ed in questo caso abbinato alla batteria PowerTube da 750 Wh (volendo la Grand Canyon:On 7 la si può acquistare con quella da 625 Wh).
A comandare tutto ci pensa la app Bosch eBike Flow con la quale possiamo settare il motore, scaricare le tracce dei percorsi di Koomot e tramite l’eBike Alarm si può sfruttare l’antifurto.
Se i sensori notano un movimento della bici, parte un allarme che potrebbe scoraggiare il malintenzionato, nel caso ciò non bastasse parte il tracciamento del movimento della e-bike. Questa è una funzione che normalmente è a pagamento ma che su tutte le quattro versioni della nuova Grand Canyon:On è offerta gratuitamente da Canyon per un anno.
NUOVE GEOMETRIE
Che questa e-mtb hardtail abbia cambiato pelle lo si capisce leggendo le quote delle geometrie. È vero che l’angolo di sterzo non è cambiato (68°) e che il tubo sella è cambiato nell’inclinazione di un solo grado (da 74° a 75°) ma il carro posteriore è stato allungato passando da 440 a 460 mm.
Questo significa che la nuova Grand Canyon:On 2023 rispetto alla vecchia dovrebbe essere più stabile in discesa ma meno maneggevole sullo stretto.
Questo perché è una e-bike più lunga, l’interasse in taglia M è passato da 1.157 a 1.206 mm. Lo confermano anche le misure del reach che passa da 430 a 450 mm. Tutte queste quote ci fanno capire che il ciclista è in sella in una posizione confortevole.
ABS
Sulla versione top di gamma, la Grand Canyon:On 9 a Coblenza hanno deciso di montare l’ABS eBike, il sistema pensato per evitare che le ruote si blocchino in caso di frenate improvvise. Sviluppato in collaborazione con Magura, gli specialisti tedeschi dei freni, questo sistema è compatibile con il Bosch Smart System che equipaggia la nuova e-mtb hardtail di Canyon.
TAGLIE
Leggendo le taglie abbiamo notato che non c’è più la XS, nella vecchia Grand Canyon:On nella due misure più piccole, quindi anche nella S, la e-bike aveva un telaio con ruote da 27.5 pollici per meglio adattarsi alle persone di bassa statura. Invece ora la nuova Grand Canyon:On 2023 è pensata per ciclisti di statura compresa tra 1.60 e 2.00 metri e le taglie vanno dalla S alla XL.
A CHI LA CONSIGLIAMO
La nuova Canyon Grand Canyon:On 2023 è una e-bike mono ammortizzata con una forcella che ha solo 120 mm di escursione, quindi è una mountain bike elettrica adatta per escursioni fuoristrada leggere. Le gomme da 2.6” vi permettono di aggredire le discese, ma non essendo una biammortizzata è meglio non lanciarsi come kamikaze su piste che vi portano a valle con salti, grandi rocce e molto tecniche.
Vi porta dappertutto, ma bisogna saper scegliere i sentieri giusti, mai imboccare la pista nera, come la chiamano gli sciatori. La presenza del cavalletto è un altro indicatore sull’uso promiscuo che si può fare di questa e-mtb, giri lungo gli argini delle ciclabili e sulle colline dietro casa. Con un portapacchi la si può trasformare in una bici da commuting.
QUANTO PESA
Normalmente la bici più cara è la più leggera, non è così per la Grand Canyon:On 9, che pesa 24,9 kg. Il motivo è molto semplice, la sicurezza della frenata con l’ABS di Bosch Magura la si paga per il peso non indifferente dell’impianto. La più leggera in assoluto è la Grand Canyon 7 che con la batteria da 750 Wh secondo Canyon pesa 23,5 kg mentre con la Powertube da 625 Wh il peso scende di 600 grammi.
VERSIONI E PREZZI
Canyon propone questa nuova Grand Canyon:On in tre diversi allestimenti. La entry level Grand Canyon:On 7 ha un prezzo di 2.999 euro equipaggiata con la batteria da 625 Wh mentre aggiungendo 200 euro la si ottiene con quella da 750 Wh che troviamo invece come unica opzione sul Grand Canyon 8 e 9 che costano rispettivamente 3.799 e 4.299 euro. In comune hanno il cambio Shimano XT, la forcella Fox 34 AWL specifica per le e-bike, e il reggisella telescopico Iridium. La differenza nel prezzo è data dal sistema ABS Bosch-Magura. A questi prezzi bisogna aggiungere spese di trasporto ed imballo visto che Canyon consegna solo on line.
Grand Canyon:ON 9. 2023
Motore: Bosch Performance Line CX
Batteria: Bosch PowerTube 750Wh
Forcella: Fox 34 AWL 120 mm
Ruote: Rodi TRYP30 con mozzi Shimano MT410
Reggisella telescopico: Iridium
Prezzo: 4.299 euro spese di trasporto 39.90 euro e imballo 19.90 euro
Grand Canyon:ON 8
Motore: Bosch Performance Line CX
Batteria: Bosch PowerTube 750Wh
Forcella: Fox 34 AWL 120 mm
Ruote: Rodi TRYP30 con mozzi Shimano MT410
Reggisella telescopico: Iridium
Prezzo: 3.799 euro spese di trasporto 39.90 euro e imballo 19.90 euro
Grand Canyon:ON 7
Motore: Bosch Performance Line CX
Batteria: Bosch PowerTube 750 Wh oppure da 625 Wh
Forcella: RockShox Judy Silver 120 mm
Ruote: Rodi TRYP30 con mozzi Shimano MT410
Peso: 23,5 kg con batteria da 750 Wh, 22,9 kg con quella da 625 Wh
Prezzo: 3.199 euro con batteria 750 Wh, 2.999 euro con batteria 650 Wh spese di trasporto 39.90 euro e imballo 19.90 euro
This Old-School Mountain Bike Is Perfect for Cheap Thrills (No Frills)
Canyon‘s classically styled Grand Canyon 7 hardtail is frisky, fun and just 1,299.
Wraparound shades. Mullets. Jorts. If you haven’t noticed, all three of these ’80s/’90s staples are very much back in fashion. And they aren’t the only throwbacks rising, zombie-like, from the nostalgia graveyard.
After all, Germany’s two-wheeled DTC sensation Canyon — makers of excellent road, gravel and mountain bikes and recent recipient of a 30 million investment from LeBron James — believes in at least one product whose heyday resided in this era. I speak, of course, of the hardtail mountain bike.
Hardtail is slang for a bike featuring only front suspension, and back in the day, such a set-up was your only realistic option. Yes, full-suspension bikes technically date back to well, 1885(!), but mountain bike innovators didn’t start seriously experimenting with them till the ’90s, and even then hardtails were the standard.
Fast-forward to 2022, and full-squish bikes are all over the trails, whereas hardtails are almost like stick-shift cars: increasingly rare. Yet, just as there’s a certain satisfaction in properly operating a manual transmission, these old-school bikes have their own appeal. So when Canyon offered me the opportunity to test out its affordable, anachronistic Grand Canyon 7, I pulled a Doc Brown and said, what the hell?
So having not ridden a hardtail in probably 20 years, I saddled up. Here are my impressions after several weeks of testing.
What’s Great About the Canyon Grand Canyon 7
The Grand Canyon 7 Is Surprisingly Cheap
Most people I know who are interested in mountain biking but haven’t tried it yet are quick to mention that mountain bikes are, in a word, expensive. And certainly if you are in the market for loads of bells and whistles, or multiple shocks or even, say, a motor, you probably will be going deep into the four figures — especially if you are buying new.
That’s why I blink every time I look at the price tag for the Grand Canyon 7. Yes, there’s no rear suspension, but it does have a lively Rockshox Judy Silver front shock, a smooth SRAM SX Eagle 1 x 12 drivetrain, beefy Schwalbe Tough Tom 2.25-inch tires and a sweet Iridium dropper post. And yes, none of these are top-of-the-line components, but that’s still a hell of a lot of value to pack into a bike that costs. wait for it. 1,299.
The Grand Canyon 7 Is Relatively Light
Considering there isn’t an ounce of carbon fiber present in this bike, you might not expect it to be featherweight. But the frame isn’t steel, it’s aluminum, which is fairly light in its own right. And as great as rear suspension is, there’s no question it adds a few pounds.
Those two factors leave the Grand Canyon 7 tipping the scales at 30.8 pounds, on the lower end of the scale for an aluminum MTB. For comparison, Canyon’s new, carbon-framed Neuron CF 9 weights 28.6 pounds, a 2.2-pound difference that you probably won’t notice nearly as much as the fact that your wallet is 5,200 lighter than it would be if you bought the bike being reviewed here.
As I have mentioned in previous reviews, I often ride tester MTBs to Cunningham Park in Queens, New York, a distance of 16 miles from my place on the west side of Manhattan. That distance can be a slog on bikes not designed for road riding, but with the Grand Canyon 7, I was positively cruising.
It’s worth noting that most modern mountain bikes have little dials you can turn to adjust the level of suspension — and basically disable it for maximum efficiency on paved roads. The Grand Canyon 7 has a little lever/button combo on the left handlebar that lets you switch the front shocks simply “on” or “off.” It’s less flexible than higher-end MTBs, but the fact the switch is at your fingertips is, literally, kind of handy.
The Grand Canyon 7 Is Incredibly Fun
Of course, neither of those first two points would mean a damn thing if, in practice, the Grand Canyon 7 were clunky or awkward or boring. But it’s none of these things. The user-friendly drive train (complete with an 11-50 cassette and 454 percent gear range) and relatively light weight combine to make for a pretty capable climber. When it comes to obstacles, I found the front fork and its 120 mm (nearly five inches) of travel was happy to bounce over rocks and surmount mid-sized logs.
Going downhill, while not exactly effortless, was totally doable. In addition to front shocks, the two MTB components I rely on most are a dropper post and reliable disc brakes. Having those three elements working together, I had the confidence to tackle the three biggest descents at the park — and have a blast doing it. (Granted, it’s a little mountain bike park in Queens, but these aren’t, like, bunny slopes.)
Because the reality is, if you get back behind the seat, stay loose and gently push the bike over the features facing you, that front wheel and your own human suspension will absorb the majority of the impact. The suspension-less back wheel may bounce around under you, but you can stay upright and get to the bottom in one piece — just like the hardtailing mountain bikers of yore — most likely with a simultaneously relieved and blissful grin on your face. That was my experience, anyway.
What’s Not So Great About the Canyon Grand Canyon 7
The Grand Canyon 7 Can’t Do Everything
As I mentioned above, 30.8 pounds is pretty light, and 4.7 inches of front fork travel is pretty good for taking on run-of-the-mill trail features. But if you’re looking to go bigger — in the form of epic climbs, gnarly descents and rock gardens — this entry-level trail bike is likely to leave you feeling, shall we say, under-biked. In other words, with less suspension and capability than you really need.
The Grand Canyon 7 Is Less Forgiving Than a Full-Squish Bike
The nice thing about full-suspension mountain bikes is that in many situations you are actually over-biked. You have more than you need, which means that if you misread a situation and hit a feature going too fast or too slow or at the wrong angle, the bike will cut you some slack. It might not be pretty, but you won’t skid out or endo or otherwise bail. With the Grand Canyon 7, you might not be so lucky.
I know this from experience too. About an hour into my first trip to the park on this bike, I didn’t realize that the backside of a roller didn’t, well, exist. As I came over the top of it, I looked down to see my front end just drop, and the next thing I knew, I was flying over what was actually a little jump. It wasn’t the worst crash in the world, and it was almost entirely my fault, which actually helps make the point: riding a hardtail, you’ve got to be a bit more locked in and skillful — and, you know, maybe actually inspect the trail features before blindly rumbling over them.
The Verdict on the Canyon Grand Canyon 7
I feel like I’ve pretty much said it all, but in closing, I’ll jump back to my very first point. If the major factor preventing you from giving mountain biking a shot is thinking that you have to spend four or five grand to even get started, the Grand Canyon 7 is a 31-pound piece of proof that you don’t. It’s not the lightest, fastest or gnarliest mountain bike out there, but for the money, it’s a great way to get your foot in the proverbial door — and once you do, there’s no telling just how far you can go.