Canyon debuts big-travel emtb, Torque:ON and updates popular Spectral:ON models

francois · Feb 2, 2021

Introduction
Canyon impressed us last year as we rode the Spectral:ON all winter. Here was an under $5000 carbon e-mtb with dialed looks and an eager, playful attitude. With its mullet wheels, whale-tail seat, and Shimano drivetrain, it impressed us with offering that showed great insight into the pedal-assisted category. It's sleek and playful, a combination of qualities rarely achieved in e-mtb's today. The only thing holding it back was the dated E-8000 Shimano motor and the small 504wh battery. So color us excited when we heard of this news from Canyon. And it's not just a motor update but an introduction of a new model in the US market. Read on what Canyon has revealed.

News Release from Canyon
Canyon is introducing an all-new, e-park bike-the Torque:ON-that combines the capability of the brand's heralded Torque model with the power and range of Shimano's new EP8 pedal-assist system. The brand's Spectral:ON model also receive the EP8 motor and battery update.

The Torque:ON is an absolute downhill-ripping, berm-slashing, air-boosting beast of a bike. It sports 175mm of ground-hugging rear suspension, a bombproof aluminum frame, and the kind of playful ride quality that's rare from a bike with so much suspension travel. The Torque:ON is, in short, the perfect rig for anyone on a quest to ride the steepest, fastest tracks-without the aid of a shuttle van or chairlift.

Canyon USA will offer American riders the $5,399 Torque:ON 8 for 2021. This model is also available in Europe, alongside the top-tier Torque:ON 9 model. The Torque:ON will be sold in the USA with a single 504-Wh battery. Riders in international markets can order an additional Torque:ON battery at the time of purchase.

The Spectral:ON returns for 2021. You might be asking yourself, „Didn't you guys launch that bike last year?" We did. Now it's back with Shimano's new EP8 motor and bigger 630-Wh battery. More boost, more miles...same trademark nimble-yet-capable ride quality.

The Spectral:ON sports a mullet (29/27.5) wheel set-up, 150mm of front and rear suspension, and a sleek carbon front triangle. This is that one bike that can handle anything-from all day pedals to truly punishing descents.

The Torque:ON with its 27.5 wheels and big travel

Canyon USA will offer four Spectral:ON models in 2021.

Spectral:ON CF 7 $5,499*
Spectral:ON CF 7 WMN $5,499*
Spectral:ON CF 8 $6,699
Spectral:ON CF 9 $8,500

*The USA's Spectral:ON CF 7 is called „Spectral:ON CF 6" in all other markets.

The incredible Spectral:ON gets the final piece of the puzzle to be a compelling contender, the latest EP8 motor and the 630wh battery.

The Torque:ON is an absolute downhill-ripping, berm-slashing, air-boosting beast of a bike. It sports 175mm of ground-hugging rear suspension, a nigh in- destructible frame, and the kind of playful ride quality you'd never imagine from a bike this capable.

Does all of that sound like overkill? Only if you dream of standing for hours in the bike park lift line, wasting your precious life waiting for a shuttle van, or humping way too much bike back up to the top of way too big a climb. In other words, the Torque:ON is rad.

TORQUE:ON - THE BASICS
• Alloy frame
• 180mm front & rear suspension • 27.5 wheelsize on all models
• 85 Nm SHIMANO EP8 motor
• 504 Wh battery (all sizes)

Extra 504 Wh battery option • 2 Models
• Price Range: 4.499 - 6.299 €

WHAT SETS THE TORQUE:ON APART

TRUE GRAVITY GEOMETRY
We didn't just slap a big fork on the front of a burly frame, scream "freeride" at the top of our lungs, and then go out for a post-work beer. Nope. We spent years creating what is undoubtedly one of the most capable e-MTBs on the planet. With the acoustic Torque as our foundation, we pushed the geometry even further to create a bike that is incredibly confident at high speeds, yet remarkably playful. The key ingredients? A seriously slack (63.5-degree) head angle, a long reach (485mm, size L), short (430mm) chainstays, and 27.5-inch wheels.

SURPRISINGLY PLAYFUL
We didn't want to simply create a straight-line, speed plow. We wanted the Torque:ON to feel stable, sure, but also playful. We aimed to build a bike that begged you to catch air, corner hard, and ride recklessly fast.

For the record, the whole "playful" thing is hard to achieve when you're adding a high-power motor and battery to the mix, but we've

hit that target. Short chainstays and smaller 27.5 wheels help here by keeping the wheelbase from getting tractor-trailer long. Equipping the bike with a smaller 504-Wh battery also helps maintain that agile handling. Why go smaller on the power source? Because it helped us cut a kilogram from the frame and, yes, you definitely notice it.

The Torque:ON feels alive on de- scents and on tight trails.

ABSOLUTELY BOMBER FRAME
The Torque:ON is designed to let you ride as hard and fast as you see fit...on the toughest tracks you dare to pummel. In order to pull that off, we had to make this thing bomb-proof. The Torque:ON meets the same punishing Category 5 strength and impact tests as our World Cup downhill bikes. In addition to building a seriously beefy frame, we ensured the linkage hardware was up to the task, equipping the pivots with large, heavy-duty bearings and a proprietary low-friction grease that is especially good at repelling water, grit, and miscellaneous contaminants.

PARTS THAT TAKE A BEATING
High speeds, tons of torque, big jumps.... The Torque:ON is de-signed to be ridden with reckless abandon and that meant there couldn't be a single weak link when it came to the bike's components. Accordingly, the Torque:ON models are spearheaded by stout Fox 38 and RockShox Zeb forks. Powerful 4-piston disc brake calipers and massive rotors bring you to a tidy stop.

Last but not least, DT Swiss' tough HYBRID series wheelsets are tailor-made to withstand the higher torque loads and greater impacts that go hand in hand with giving people the power to ride faster and harder all day long. Reinforced rims and spokes, steel freehub bodies, larger bearings, thicker hub shells-the precisely-designed DT Swiss hoops don't add much in the way of rotational weight, but surely add a serious dose of reliability to your ride.

SPECTRAL:ON
The original Spectral:ON immediately turned heads. Here was a rebel of a mountain bike that apparently didn't understand that e-MTBs were supposed to be clumsy and uninspiring beasts. The Spectral:ON was playful. It was capable. It lived to get rowdy.

And then last Spring we went and introduced the second generation Spectral:ON and the bike clearly still hadn't gotten the message, because it proved itself lighter, just as nimble, and even more of a hell-raiser.

So, for 2021, we've decided the Spectral:ON is never going to slow down and learn how to be mediocre. It'll always be a shredder, so we've upped the ante by giving the Spectral:ON even more power and range, courtesy of Shimano's all-new EP 8 drive system.

End result? Even more fun.

SPECTRAL:ON - THE BASICS
• Carbon front triangle, alloy rear end
• 150mm front and rear suspension
• Mullet (29/27.5) wheelsizing on all models
• 85 Nm SHIMANO EP8 motor 630 WH Battery (all sizes)

6 Models (4 Unisex, 2 WMN)

• Price Range: 4.599 - 7.599 €

SPECTRAL:ON - THE NEW BITS
• SHIMANO EP8 ecosystem and drive unit
• 630 WH Battery
• New Battery Covers
• Spectral:ON CF 6 - A new
entry-level model (called "Spectral:ON CF 7" in USA)

WHAT SETS THE SPECTRAL:ON APART

LIGHTWEIGHT AND CAPABLE
The Spectral:ON features a sleek, carbon front-triangle and neat- ly-integrated, internal battery. The frame design is light and stiff. More importantly, the design lowers the bike's center of gravity-effectively turning the Spectral:ON into a corner-carving beast. The bike's geometry and suspension kinematics were designed with an eye to increasing rider control, going up and down the mountain. In other words, this thing rips.

BUILT FOR SPEED
E-mountain bikes can exact a heavy toll on their components. After all, when you introduce a motor to the mountain bike equation, you also add weight, speed, and mileage to the mix. That's why the Spectral:ON is equipped with massive 203mm rotors and powerful four-piston disc brakes. It explains why we spec each model with burly FOX 36 forks or RockShox Lyrik forks. And, finally, it's the reason we obsess over every little detail: from the tire casings to freehub bodies. You're going nowhere fast if your components suddenly bite the dust in the middle of your ride.
The Spectral:ON is built speed- for the long haul.

PROVEN POWER
The Spectral:ON is powered by Shimano's new EP8 drive system. At 2.6 Kg, the magnesium-clad Shimano motor is one of the lightest full-power motors on the market. It's also one of the most powerful, with 85 Nm of peak torque that effectively quadruples your pedaling power and makes punching up steep climbs that much easier.

DETAILS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
The Spectral:ON is loaded with smart details that deliver out on the trail.. Our fiber-reinforced skid plate, for instance, simultaneously shields the motor from rocks and serves as a bash guard for your chainring. Our custom Canyon SD:ON saddle gives you more leverage to scale steep climbs. Our Canyon:ON bar and stem reduce cockpit clutter by allowing you to route wiring through the bar and stem. Last but not least, our top-tube mounted USB-C charging port ensures that you never run out of the juice to power up your light, smartphone, GPS unit, or other devices you want to bring along for the ride.

DUAL-BATTERY OPTIONS
We equipped the Torque:ON with a 504-Wh battery, which gives riders a good deal of range. Interestingly, we could have gone bigger here on the battery, but doing so would have added weight to the chassis and dampened the ride quality we love. We chose to go with the outstanding ride quality. That said we know some days it's hard to stop lapping your favorite trail- so both the Torque:ON 8 and 9 are also available as a great value package with an additional battery and cover. A quick switch in the parking lot, and you are ready for more party laps.

Brad_Trent · Feb 2, 2021

I was honestly surprised with Canyon's decision to go with a 504wh battery in the Torque, but I suppose I get it as a weight saving thing. Honestly, if you're not a guy who does more than 3.5+ hour rides, the extra battery capacity...and weight that comes with it...is sort of unnecessary. I've never drained a battery on my Spectral yet and I've gone up to 4 hours and 1600+ feet of elevation gain/loss. Even recent rides in the cold (25-ish degrees...12-14 miles) hasn't emptied my battery and I stay in Trail mode 95% of the time!

But what really surprised me when I checked the German Canyon Site is they still list the Spectral with the E8000 build! I'm sure the EP8 is great, but when you can pick up a Spectral 7.0 for 4300€ or an 8.0 for 5200€ and all other specs are the same as the EP8 build, you'll hafta go a long way to convince me that the new engine is worth the extra cash! For the vast majority of non-shredding eBike users, paying 7-800€ more for the same bike with an arguably 'better' motor is gonna be a tough sale. Hell...Shimano still markets the E7000 and bike makers are still dropping it into some very expensive bikes...yes, I'm looking squarely at the Santa Cruz Bullit!

But back to the Torque and particularly here in America where we have less to choose from...I think Canyon is gonna have a harder time convincing the gnarlier among us to pop for the one of these things when a quick side-by-side comparison with something like the Commencal Meta Power SX brings up a lotta questions. The Fork/Shocks the same, but the 630wh battery and better Brakes & Drivetrain on the Commie...for the same price...really stand out. I dunno...in the end it's a Mercedes vs BMW kinda argument and I'm not gonna lose sleep over it, but I'd still love to ask the guys at Canyon what they thought about their direct competition in the Super Enduro EMTB range when they spec'd the Torque.....

francois · Feb 3, 2021

Brad_Trent said:
I was honestly surprised with Canyon's decision to go with a 504wh battery in the Torque, but I suppose I get it as a weight saving thing. Honestly, if you're not a guy who does more than 3.5+ hour rides, the extra battery capacity...and weight that comes with it...is sort of unnecessary. I've never drained a battery on my Spectral yet and I've gone up to 4 hours and 1600+ feet of elevation gain/loss. Even recent rides in the cold (25-ish degrees...12-14 miles) hasn't emptied my battery and I stay in Trail mode 95% of the time!

But what really surprised me when I checked the German Canyon Site is they still list the Spectral with the E8000 build! I'm sure the EP8 is great, but when you can pick up a Spectral 7.0 for 4300€ or an 8.0 for 5200€ and all other specs are the same as the EP8 build, you'll hafta go a long way to convince me that the new engine is worth the extra cash! For the vast majority of non-shredding eBike users, paying 7-800€ more for the same bike with an arguably 'better' motor is gonna be a tough sale. Hell...Shimano still markets the E7000 and bike makers are still dropping it into some very expensive bikes...yes, I'm looking squarely at the Santa Cruz Bullit!

But back to the Torque and particularly here in America where we have less to choose from...I think Canyon is gonna have a harder time convincing the gnarlier among us to pop for the one of these things when a quick side-by-side comparison with something like the Commencal Meta Power SX brings up a lotta questions. The Fork/Shocks the same, but the 630wh battery and better Brakes & Drivetrain on the Commie...for the same price...really stand out. I dunno...in the end it's a Mercedes vs BMW kinda argument and I'm not gonna lose sleep over it, but I'd still love to ask the guys at Canyon what they thought about their direct competition in the Super Enduro EMTB range when they sped'd the Torque.....

Very good observations man!!! I've ridden all the bikes you talked about. Here are my thoughts.

The move to put a 504wh battery is risky but it follows a good concept. It's about the modularity of batteries and that one shouldn't carry a massive 700wh batter if going on a 1-hour ride. But it's better done with a 500wh and a bunch of 300wh batteries. Kinda like the Levo SL concept. To just say 504wh and "here, buy two" is not a good solution moving forward.

The E8000 offering is something people are doing now. The Bullit and Heckler are doing it. It's not a bad move but it is not obvious enough to buyers. They might get a shock when they get delivery of the new bike. Personally, I would never do it. The EP8 is sooooo much better than the E8000.

The Commencal Meta Power SX is a great bike. But it's 54 lbs. And it's not sexy. It's a great choice, but there's room for others.

The Bullit is amazing. Simply amazing. As much as the Heckler is a stepping stone, the Bullit is the Arrival of Santa Cruz in the ebike market. It's just so expensive. Too expensive for most. But it will be sold out all year.

The EP8 is amazing. Truly amazing. It does rattle though when freewheeling on all bikes I've tried. They'll fix it I'm sure. But not done yet...

DtEW · Feb 3, 2021

I dunno about the smaller battery, unless the emphasis was descending-performance-above-all-else.

Sure, it's rare that the average ride would require the full capacity of the larger batteries that are coming on eMTBs. But using the full-capacity of Li-ion batteries wears them out prematurely, both at the fully-charged and fully-depleted ends. Keeping a Li-ion's battery in the middle of its state-of-charge (SoC) maximizes its longevity, but that obviously has practical limitations. Many advise a compromise, which is to try to use your Li-ion battery between 80-20% (some even say 75-25%) SoC.

This is to say that the bigger the Li-ion battery, the greater longevity you can potentially reap for whatever given level of charge consumption (being that you keep it more in the center of its SoC). I do think that given both the significant cost of replacement eMTB battery packs and the desire to consume-less to minimize impact on the environment... battery longevity must be a part of the discussion.

Brad_Trent · Feb 3, 2021

DtEW said:
I dunno about the smaller battery, unless the emphasis was descending-performance-above-all-else.

Sure, it's rare that the average ride would require the full capacity of the larger batteries that are coming on eMTBs. But using the full-capacity of Li-ion batteries wears them out prematurely, both at the fully-charged and fully-depleted ends. Keeping a Li-ion's battery in the middle of its state-of-charge (SoC) maximizes its longevity, but that obviously has practical limitations. Many advise a compromise, which is to try to use your Li-ion battery between 80-20% (some even say 75-25%) SoC.

This is to say that the bigger the Li-ion battery, the greater longevity you can potentially reap for whatever given level of charge consumption (being that you keep it more in the center of its SoC). I do think that given both the significant cost of replacement eMTB battery packs and the desire to consume-less to minimize impact on the environment... battery longevity must be a part of the discussion.

So apparently Canyon found that while developing the Torque, a heavier battery with more capacity made the bike less responsive. I'm willing to take them at their word on that. I mean, it certainly makes sense that if you're adding another kilo to an already heavy bike, it's probably gonna be less reactive across the board. But, for the sake of argument, let's assume you're right with your SoC theory that a bigger 630wh battery will naturally have a longer life and some (microscopically) positive impact on the environment. Using that logic, it translates into you'd rather have a bike that doesn't perform as well as it could if it were lighter, over a probably sluggish bike that has a battery that lasts longer over the period of ownership?!! In other words...the bike ain't great, but it sure lasts a long time! You'll hafta excuse me, but that's just loopy. Nobody is buying eBikes as a way to promote environmental consciousness. With the cost of admission around $5-10 Grand for an eBike, I doubt you could find a single person willing to take the less fun bike because...battery-wise...there's an unproven idea that it may have less impact on the environment.....

DtEW · Feb 3, 2021

Brad_Trent said:
So apparently Canyon found that while developing the Torque, a heavier battery with more capacity made the bike less responsive. I'm willing to take them at their word on that. I mean, it certainly makes sense that if you're adding another kilo to an already heavy bike, it's probably gonna be less reactive across the board. But, for the sake of argument, let's assume you're right with your SoC theory that a bigger 630wh battery will naturally have a longer life

It's all "theoretical" and "for the sake of argument" when one isn't familiar with facts and consensus.

BU-808: How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries

BU meta description needed...

batteryuniversity.com

Proper Care Extends Li-Ion Battery Life

Li-ion battery lifetime depends on battery chemistry, depth of discharge, battery temperature and battery capacity termination level.

www.powerelectronics.com

Tips for extending the lifetime of lithium-ion batteries

ANN ARBOR—Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere these days, used in everything from cellphones and laptops to cordless power tools and electric vehicles. And though they are the most widely applied technology for mobile energy storage, there's lots of confusion among users about the best ways to pro

news.umich.edu

How to extend the life of your lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, which is annoying to you and me, but very handy for smartphone manufacturers, who are all too keen to sell you a new one every two years. There are, however, ways you can look after your batteries to make them last longer, and this advice isn't restricted to…

newatlas.com

I mean, I can cite more. The first link has references to papers you can look up, if desired.

Brad_Trent said:
and some (microscopically) positive impact on the environment.

See Table 2 of the batteryuniversity.com page.

Let's try one example. Let's say a given ride, all things held equal, requires 400 watts of energy consumption.

With a 500WH battery, 400 watts requires an 80% depth-of-discharge (DoD).

With a 700WH battery, 400 watts requires a 57% DoD. Let's just round that up to 60%, since there is a data point in the table for that.

A 500WH battery that is continuously utilized at 80% DoD vs. a 700WH one that is continuously utilized at 60% DoD will only exhibit 60% of the longevity of the bigger-but-shallower-discharged battery.

Let's try another example. Let's say another given ride, all things held equal, requires 300 watts of energy consumption.

With a 500WH battery, 300 watts requires a 60% DoD.

With a 700WH battery, 300 watts requires a 43% DoD. Like above, we'll round (down, this time) that to 40%, since there is a data point in the table for that.

A 500WH battery that is continuously utilized at 60% DoD vs. a 700WH one that is continuously utilized at 40% DoD will only exhibit 50% of the longevity of the bigger-but-shallower-discharged battery

Maybe it's just me, but almost halved (or doubled, depending on your perspective) longevity seems to not quite work with the word "microscopic," in both the context of environmental preservation nor one's pocketbook, the latter-of-which you have oddly ignored. Be sure to start budgeting for that second battery just to match the longevity others will achieve with higher-charge-capacity eMTBs.

Brad_Trent said:
Using that logic, it translates into you'd rather have a bike that doesn't perform as well as it could if it were lighter, over a probably sluggish bike that has a battery that lasts longer over the period of ownership?!! In other words...the bike ain't great, but it sure lasts a long time! You'll hafta excuse me, but that's just loopy. Nobody is buying eBikes as a way to promote environmental consciousness. With the cost of admission around $5-10 Grand for an eBike, I doubt you could find a single person willing to take the less fun bike because...battery-wise...there's an unproven idea that it may have less impact on the environment.....

Loopy?

By that logic, nobody would ride an enduro eMTB when a manual enduro is 9-7kg lighter and more fun in all the times that matters.

Also, by that logic, nobody would ride a full-fat eMTB when "Lite" eMTBs are 4-5kg lighter. And if you want to argue that no "Lite" eMTBs are equivalent to the "fun" you can have with the bikes in question, let me point you in the direction of the Specialized Turbo Levo vs. the Specialized Turbo Levo SL for a perfectly equivalent comparison, given that they are almost identical bikes aside from compromises in e-motivation to reap 4-5kgs in weight savings. And guess which one sells better?

Seriously man, you have sold yourself the full load of rationalization. As Kirk Lazarus might say... never go full load.

Captain Kirk · Feb 4, 2021

Good looking bike etc but what's with the name? sounds like someone needed to find a name in a hurry so used their password

Brad_Trent · Feb 4, 2021

DtEW said:
It's all "theoretical" and "for the sake of argument" when one isn't familiar with facts and consensus.

BU-808: How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries

BU meta description needed...

batteryuniversity.com

Proper Care Extends Li-Ion Battery Life

Li-ion battery lifetime depends on battery chemistry, depth of discharge, battery temperature and battery capacity termination level.

www.powerelectronics.com

Tips for extending the lifetime of lithium-ion batteries

ANN ARBOR—Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere these days, used in everything from cellphones and laptops to cordless power tools and electric vehicles. And though they are the most widely applied technology for mobile energy storage, there's lots of confusion among users about the best ways to pro

news.umich.edu

How to extend the life of your lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, which is annoying to you and me, but very handy for smartphone manufacturers, who are all too keen to sell you a new one every two years. There are, however, ways you can look after your batteries to make them last longer, and this advice isn't restricted to…

newatlas.com

I mean, I can cite more. The first link has references to papers you can look up, if desired.

See Table 2 of the batteryuniversity.com page.

Let's try one example. Let's say a given ride, all things held equal, requires 400 watts of energy consumption.

With a 500WH battery, 400 watts requires an 80% depth-of-discharge (DoD).

With a 700WH battery, 400 watts requires a 57% DoD. Let's just round that up to 60%, since there is a data point in the table for that.

A 500WH battery that is continuously utilized at 80% DoD vs. a 700WH one that is continuously utilized at 60% DoD will only exhibit 60% of the longevity of the bigger-but-shallower-discharged battery.

Let's try another example. Let's say another given ride, all things held equal, requires 300 watts of energy consumption.

With a 500WH battery, 300 watts requires a 60% DoD.

With a 700WH battery, 300 watts requires a 43% DoD. Like above, we'll round (down, this time) that to 40%, since there is a data point in the table for that.

A 500WH battery that is continuously utilized at 60% DoD vs. a 700WH one that is continuously utilized at 40% DoD will only exhibit 50% of the longevity of the bigger-but-shallower-discharged battery

Maybe it's just me, but almost halved (or doubled, depending on your perspective) longevity seems to not quite work with the word "microscopic," in both the context of environmental preservation nor one's pocketbook, the latter-of-which you have oddly ignored. Be sure to start budgeting for that second battery just to match the longevity others will achieve with higher-charge-capacity eMTBs.

Loopy?

By that logic, nobody would ride an enduro eMTB when a manual enduro is 9-7kg lighter and more fun in all the times that matters.

Also, by that logic, nobody would ride a full-fat eMTB when "Lite" eMTBs are 4-5kg lighter. And if you want to argue that no "Lite" eMTBs are equivalent to the "fun" you can have with the bikes in question, let me point you in the direction of the Specialized Turbo Levo vs. the Specialized Turbo Levo SL for a perfectly equivalent comparison, given that they are almost identical bikes aside from compromises in e-motivation to reap 4-5kgs in weight savings. And guess which one sells better?

Seriously man, you have sold yourself the full load of rationalization. As Kirk Lazarus might say... never go full load.

Wow...you really have too much time on your hands.....?

DtEW · Feb 4, 2021

Brad_Trent said:
Wow...you really have too much time on your hands.....?

So that's the best defense you can come up with for your refuted claims? "TL;DR"?

Are you like, 14 and on Ritalin?

Brad_Trent · Feb 4, 2021

DtEW said:
So that's the best defense you can come up with for your refuted claims? "TL;DR"?

Are you like, 14 and on Ritalin?

Blow me, Junior...I've got socks older than you. I just don't have the vast amounts of free time you obviously have to waste linking arcane articles on battery life in a thread on a mountain bike forum...?

DtEW · Feb 4, 2021

Brad_Trent said:
Blow me, Junior...I've got socks older than you. I just don't have the vast amounts of free time you obviously have to waste linking arcane articles on battery life in a thread on a mountain bike forum...?

So enough time to pay attention to this thread, but not enough to formulate a rebuttal to my evisceration of your claims. Got it.

kimochi · Feb 4, 2021

Nice review FC. Is torque's cockpit bigger than spectral? I'm looking at getting the torque and trying to decide which frame size. It seems I need to size down to small (170cm height on a good day) based on the geo numbers. I usually ride a medium. Thanks.

Brad_Trent · Feb 6, 2021

kimochi said:
Nice review FC. Is torque's cockpit bigger than spectral? I'm looking at getting the torque and trying to decide which frame size. It seems I need to size down to small (170cm height on a good day) based on the geo numbers. I usually ride a medium. Thanks.

I'd prolly trust Canyon's sizing calculator...I'm 6' and it told me I'd need a Medium Spectral...called Canyon just to make sure, cuz like you, I've never had a Medium before, but they assured me the Spectral ON runs big. They're right! But for piece of mind, give 'em a call...they're good dudes!

francois · Feb 8, 2021

Ok, this just arrived Friday (surprised me, believe it or not). Some first thoughts:

- packaging is unbelievable. I thought YT packaging was perfect but this is even next level. The box has these knobs that you turn on all four corners to unlock. Isolation of parts is crazy and assembly is just a few minutes.

- I got the CF9 which is $8500 with XTR and the best suspension and carbon bits. The one-piece bar and stem is so trippy. But it is th e right length for me. Looks like a 780 bar with 35 stem and maybe 8 degree sweep. The saddle is trippy with a whale tail.

- Shimano 12- speed and 4 piston brakes are so good it makes me weep. They really are an unfair advantage... even at the SLX level. For ebikes, they are key since it shifts when it is ready, not abruptly, taking in 100nm of torque. The brakes too are key for 6000-foot descent rides. XTR... even better. We'll see long term.

- The bike on the first ride, so perfect. The Shimano EP8 still has a knock when coasting but much less than my early SC Bullit. The bike is so quiet, so ready and easy to change direction with. It is a mullet but it doesn't look like one. But it is sooo easy to ride. I need to dial in the suspension and give it some pop and life. More to come.

Brad_Trent · Feb 8, 2021

Yo, Francis.....I've been on a Spectral since September......you're gonna LOVE it!!!

francois · Feb 8, 2021

Brad_Trent said:
Yo, Francis.....I've been on a Spectral since September......you're gonna LOVE it!!!

View attachment 1915210

I see, i see. Same here... since the fall. My only complaint was the E8000 (old-ish) motor. But man, was it ever a cool, seamless bike.

What are some of the things that surprised you? Your first emtb?

Brad_Trent · Feb 8, 2021

Francis Cebedo said:
I see, i see. Same here... since the fall. My only complaint was the E8000 (old-ish) motor. But man, was it ever a cool, seamless bike.

What are some of the things that surprised you? Your first emtb?

First EMTB...and while I haven't ridden an EP8 (obvs) I have no real complaints with the E8000. We're riding in Jersey...typical ride 3-3.5 hours, maybe 16 miles total with 12-1500 feet of elevation gain. Nothing that burns a battery and the E8000 has plenty of grunt to do what we need. I actually sold all five of my old-ass analog bikes (GT DHi, Bullit, Cover Stiffee FR, Turner 5.Spot and VooDoo Bokor) that I wasn't riding to fund the Canyon. Getting old sucks and I was making excuses to NOT ride cuz of the turn-around time I was having after even the easiest rides. But not any more...we're riding at the drop of a hat...any place any time! And **** anyone who says EMTB's are a cheat. I say anything that gets you out on the trail is good enough for me. Hell...I laughed at the idea before Orb convinced me to give it a go. He bought one a few months before I did. We still hafta work on the downhills...but now we're not so Goddamned tired after the climbs to enjoy it! And we're sharper, too! Not getting our asses kicked going up means I'm not so bloody whipped that I make stupid mistakes on the way down. And old fukkers like me gotta worry about breaking a hip, right?!!

Here's the Orb and me on top of Powerline at Allaire a month ago.....

francois · Feb 8, 2021

Brad_Trent said:
First EMTB...and while I haven't ridden an EP8 (obvs) I have no real complaints with the E8000. We're riding in Jersey...typical ride 3-3.5 hours, maybe 16 miles total with 12-1500 feet of elevation gain. Nothing that burns a battery and the E8000 has plenty of grunt to do what we need. I actually sold all five of my old-ass analog bikes (GT DHi, Bullit, Cover Stiffee FR, Turner 5.Spot and VooDoo Bokor) that I wasn't riding to fund the Canyon. Getting old sucks and I was making excuses to NOT ride cuz of the turn-around time I was having after even the easiest rides. But not any more...we're riding at the drop of a hat...any place any time! And **** anyone who says EMTB's are a cheat. I say anything that gets you out on the trail is good enough for me. Hell...I laughed at the idea before Orb convinced me to give it a go. He bought one a few months before I did. We still hafta work on the downhills...but now we're not so Goddamned tired after the climbs to enjoy it! And we're sharper, too! Not getting our asses kicked going up means I'm not so bloody whipped that I make stupid mistakes on the way down. And old fukkers like me gotta worry about breaking a hip, right?!!

Here's the Orb and me on top of Powerline at Allaire a month ago.....

Right on, really cool share.

A lot of folks wouldn't dare ride emtb and they have a stable of bikes that are collecting dust. But with Covid and all these new riders, even old FS bikes have great resale now. So it is a good way to fund an emtb purchase and actually get out and ride again. Not everyone I know is becoming a faster climber with emtb. But definitely those folks are riding more and becoming much better bike handlers.

Brad_Trent · Feb 8, 2021

Francis...I'm climbing better now than I did what I was 30!!! And honestly having a lot more straight-up fun than I've ever had on a bike.

kimochi · Feb 8, 2021

Brad_Trent said:
I'd prolly trust Canyon's sizing calculator...I'm 6' and it told me I'd need a Medium Spectral...called Canyon just to make sure, cuz like you, I've never had a Medium before, but they assured me the Spectral ON runs big. They're right! But for piece of mind, give 'em a call...they're good dudes!

Thanks man. Tried to preorder but can't. Sucks they don't allow preorder and always have to keep an eye if they are in stock :/

Canyon debuts big-travel emtb, Torque:ON and updates popular Spectral:ON models

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