It's been fairly a few years since we final noticed a carbon fibre path bike from Canyon. The truth is, it was 2014 when the Nerve CF was final kicking about – a relatively marathon-ish, light-weight full susser that featured racy geometry, 120mm of journey, and 26in wheels.
Fortunately, issues have moved on simply a wee bit since then, and that's left Canyon's vary considerably languishing with out a high-end path bike. Properly, till now.
Unveiled simply earlier than the finish of 2018, the Neuron CF has arrived to take the mantle as Canyon's model new carbon fibre path bike.
The Neuron CF is an all-new platform for Canyon. All pictures shot by Timothy Arch.
Canyon gives each full-alloy (AL) and full-carbon (CF) variations of the Neuron. Each are new for 2019, although the alloy body is extra of a refresh, and carries over the present body form and suspension platform from the pre-2019 mannequin. Of notice is that the 2019 Neuron AL shares virtually equivalent geometry to the Neuron CF, and we're advised that the suspension leverage price is very comparable too.
It's the clean, plastic-fantastic body that we've obtained on check right here although, and this specific mannequin – the CF 9.0 SL – sits proper in the center of the five-bike vary, which begins off with the CF eight.zero (£2,449 / $three,949 AUD) and peaks with the 9.0 LTD (£5,zero99 / $eight,149 AUD). There are additionally two ladies's fashions that utilise the similar body, but are spec'd with a lighter suspension tune, narrower bars, a shorter 50mm stem, and a ladies's saddle.
Canyon's advertising tagline for the Neuron CF is 'All You Need'. That's not solely the fact, as a result of you'll require pedals to journey this bike. For greatest outcomes, I might additionally advocate footwear, a helmet, and a constructive, can-do angle.
In all seriousness although, I consider Canyon is referring to the proven fact that the Neuron CF is merely meant to be a good ol' original path bike – one thing that pedals effectively, and goes up ze hills equally in addition to it goes down.
Certainly a fast take a look at the numbers will reveal that this is not the slacked-out, trail-blazing, genre-bending, adrenaline junkie from a 50to01 video. No, the focus right here is far more on endurance driving, over enduro racing. The Neuron CF needs to be extra Associates moderately than Jackass.
Now I'd usually be down with that, but I've beforehand examined an alloy Neuron, again when it was nonetheless referred to as the Nerve AL. It had a good black anodized body and it was spec'd well for the worth. Sadly I used to be left utterly underwhelmed by the rear suspension. Until you pumped the rear shock up to the wazoo, it had a behavior of blowing via the journey, leading to a spectacular bottom-out on even the smallest of landings. It significantly let the entire bike down.
The Neuron AL will carry over the present suspension design and body format.
Would it stay an solely wheels-on-the-ground, barely heavy, longer-legged XC bike? Or would I discover a noticeable enchancment from the sprightly, versatile path bike Canyon has promised us?
The 2019 Canyon Neuron CF 9.0 SL sits in the center of a 5-model lineup.
Let's not beat round the bush – this is one excellent wanting bicycle. With its matte paint job, full carbon fibre body, and the neatly built-in composite shock yoke, the Neuron CF is uber clear. Its dashing seems to be have definitely confirmed sufficient to warrant inquisition on each single group experience I've been on with it.
At a claimed 2920g with the rear shock (Medium measurement), the carbon body isn't as mild as I used to be anticipating. Examine that to Canyon's Lux SLX frameset, which purportedly weighs a lithe 2128g. Apart from the flattened prime tube although, all the things is fairly chunky and outsized.
Huge boxy chainstays are bridged for power and stiffness.
There's a plump tapered head tube, a big hexagonal downtube, and the boxy chain and seatstays are each bridged for added rigidity. Given the, err, Rubenesque form and a spotlight to element, I'd recommend this is a body made for the lengthy haul.
All the bearings are absolutely sealed, with the drive-side essential pivot that includes dual-row bearings, and every pivot capped with plastic covers to maintain crap out in the first place. Having eliminated a few of the pivot bolts out of curiosity, I used to be impressed to seek out them adequately greased, with the threads prepped with Loctite too.
With the new Triple Part Suspension format, Canyon has flipped up the rear shock, which now mounts beneath the prime tube. This enables for respectable standover clearance, whereas nonetheless offering room for a water bottle inside the mainframe.
Different practicalities embrace a threaded backside bracket shell (in contrast to the press-fit shell the carbon Spectral and Lux frames use) and the now-familiar IPU headset, which prevents over-rotation of the bars, whereas offering a larger vary of motion than Trek's Knock Block design.
The cutely-named Quixle thru-axle combines bolt-up cleanliness with a hid pop-out lever at the rear dropouts, although it does want cranking up fairly tight to cease it from working unfastened whereas driving.
Quixle lever slides again inside the axle for a clear look.
Canyon earns a vivacious high-five from me for the intelligent cable tunnel beneath the downtube, which makes use of bolt-on plastic plates to each cover and shield the cables with out having to resort to routing them inside the body itself.
Genius proper? Sadly the solitary mech cable does flap about a bit at the entry level although, and mixed with some occasional chain slap on the chainstay cable information, the Neuron CF doesn't fairly reside up to its stealthy appears on the path.
Although not the priciest choice, the CF 9.0 SL nonetheless comes dressed with a schmick outfit. The Fox suspension and dropper submit package deal complement the swish body, with shiny black stanchions and, extra importantly, high-tech internals all-round.
Reynolds TR 309 wheels are a robust spec selection at this worth level. The carbon wheelset is constructed with straight-pull spokes, sealed bearing hubs, and a Four-pawl freehub mechanism with 36 engagement factors. Confirmed weight is a affordable 1803g, and the 30mm inner width offers a good platform for the tubeless Maxxis Forekaster tyres.
Reynolds TR309 wheels function on the 9.0 SL.
The 30mm large (inner) carbon rims proved strong all through testing.
The 1×12 SRAM drivetrain is tarted up with an X01 mech and the wonderful X01 set off shifter, which possesses pretty, clean paddles which were a welcome change from the GX Eagle shifters I've been utilizing recently.
On the notice of gears, it seems the Neuron CF will truly match a entrance derailleur. The CF 9.0 truly comes with a 2×11 drivetrain as inventory, but any Neuron CF body can have a mech bolted onto a particular bracket by way of the major pivot. I point out this 2x compatibility, as a result of chainring and tyre clearance are a bit restricted. 32t is the largest 1x chainring you possibly can run (38/28t for a 2x setup), and Canyon states an official restrict of two.4in for the rear tyre.
I used to be capable of simply slot in a 2.6in extensive Maxxis Rekon tyre, although I personally wouldn't advocate it, notably for muddy circumstances. Given the rising reputation of massive quantity 2.5-2.6in tyres in the path bike area, this lack of clearance looks like a missed alternative on Canyon's behalf.
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This entry was posted in Bikes, canyon, canyon bikes, canyon neuron, review, Updates and tagged 2019, 90, Canyons, CF, Isnt, Model, Neuron, Review, SL, Step.