Canyon Ultimate CF

sopworth

They seem to be, dare I say, value for money - given what you could expect to pay for something of a similar bike with a Trek/Specialized label.
I'd love to hear from people who have them and what they think as I'm seriously looking at getting one but the fact I can't test ride one is surely cycling sucide!
The fact that I can return it for a full refund, if i'm not happy, almost makes it an acceptable gamble.
Any Canyon owners out there who could shed some light on them?
What size frame did guys get? I'm 6ft and the website suggests I get a 58.
Anyone got one in the East Midlands that I could look at?
Regards,
Mark

Gazzaputt

Cannot give mine high enough praise.

I know with the search down on the site you can't see other threads on this subject.

I tested Cervelo R3 and a Cannondale Super Six Hi Mod and the Canyon is easily comparable if not better.

I paid 899 euros so it was a steal.

I'm 5'10" and ride a 56cm. They did recommend a 54cm and in hindsight I maybe should of gone with it. Their online bike measurement is very good.

For the money I cannot see better.

wombler

I recently bought a Canyon Ultimate CF 8 and am chuffed to bits with it. I am 5'11 with long legs/short torso and the 56cm fits me very well (that said, I researched geometry beforehand).

I did a test ride before I bought. Contact Canyon via the web site and their UK rep can arrange a test ride (you need to go to Epping in Essex though).

I also test rode a Cube Agree GTC Race, Bianchi Infinito and Bianchi Sempre. The Canyon was the best fit for me out of those (and best value in my opinion).

cal_stewart

Had mine for coming up 18 months, got the ultimate cf slx its so stiff yet so smooth. I really rate the maximus seat tube and I do think the 27.2 seatpost is a big plus. Not got the vcls post so I can't comment on that.

On the website fitting I used it and then had it pro fit done at my LBS the bloke only had to change it a few mm. I'm 5'11 and ride a 56cm. So its pretty good.

As for value, got my in the end of year sale so saved 600 euro and I'm luckly enough to be able to get tax free shopping so for 3.2k got a tour level frame with SR11 and Cosmics SLX for less than a Dogegg sorry dogma f&f.

On a funny side note the bloke who fitted me and turns the spanners is a cervelo dealer, after picking the bike up after the work was done he said it was great bike but thought it was a R3 copy and we all know how that worked out.

Anyway thats my 10p worth

RDB66

Fantastic bike, i love mine. Bought it (F&F)when the TDF was on last year.
Great customer service as well from Canyon.

Goes up hills like its a mountain goat !! Desends like its on rails !!

Its a absolute joy to ride. Im 5' 11'', 34'' leg and ride a 56cm.

Get one you wont be dissapointed.

giant_man

wombler wrote:

I recently bought a Canyon Ultimate CF 8 and am chuffed to bits with it. I am 5'11 with long legs/short torso and the 56cm fits me very well (that said, I researched geometry beforehand).

I did a test ride before I bought. Contact Canyon via the web site and their UK rep can arrange a test ride (you need to go to Epping in Essex though).

I also test rode a Cube Agree GTC Race, Bianchi Infinito and Bianchi Sempre. The Canyon was the best fit for me out of those (and best value in my opinion).

Know it well but i thought the UK customer centre was in Hainault?

TMR

A great looking bike - the R3 bears an uncanny resemblance!

If it wasn't for the hideous graphics on the Canyon, I might consider one. Seriously, what's with the sloped branding? Is that really the best they could make the bike look?

sopworth

Thanks for your input guys.
It's such a shame you have to trawl down Essex way to hop on one.
Having ridden a Cube Litening and a Super Six (the favorites of many test rides), I shouldn't really be considering a bike I haven't hopped on but they are great value and come with such good recommendations - but then again, so does the Cube.
Have to agree with the Mad Rapper on the graphics.

RDB66

Dont worry about the Graphics, you'll be smiling to much from the ride !!
I like um, bit differant from the rest.

Sopworth, where you live mate ?

Gazzaputt

The Mad Rapper wrote:

A great looking bike - the R3 bears an uncanny resemblance!

If it wasn't for the hideous graphics on the Canyon, I might consider one. Seriously, what's with the sloped branding? Is that really the best they could make the bike look?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

wombler

giant mancp wrote:

wombler wrote:

I recently bought a Canyon Ultimate CF 8 and am chuffed to bits with it. I am 5'11 with long legs/short torso and the 56cm fits me very well (that said, I researched geometry beforehand).

I did a test ride before I bought. Contact Canyon via the web site and their UK rep can arrange a test ride (you need to go to Epping in Essex though).

I also test rode a Cube Agree GTC Race, Bianchi Infinito and Bianchi Sempre. The Canyon was the best fit for me out of those (and best value in my opinion).

Know it well but i thought the UK customer centre was in Hainault?

That wasn't open when I did my test ride, although they were looking at opening a showroom back then. I guess test rides will be where the bikes are...

sopworth

RDB66
I live in Leicestershire but I work in Plymouth so travel up and down the country each week.
Would love to see one in the flesh if possible.
Mark.

wildmoustache

I have an Ultimate SLX.

I'm fractionally under 5'10" and have a 56cm. Fits perfectly, but a few things to note on their geo / set-up:

1. Relatively steep seatubes ... suits me ... it does mean that effectively the top-tube is a bit longer

2. Relatively tall headtubes. For me it just means I don't need any spacers for a perfect fit. For the vast majority on this board a taller HT will mean fewer / no spacers. For a minority the HT will be too tall/they will need a negative rise stem.

3. Steeer is OS all the way up, meaning only a small number of stem options (Ritchey, Syntace, Specialized)

It's a superb frame and I have stacks of high-end bikes. It's smooth and rigid. The front end is absurdly rigid and can be a little much over harsh surfaces. Plus side is out of the saddle climbing there's just no flop at all, and descending is a "i could take my hands of the bars at 50mph" experience.

SLX and basic CF use different CF and lay-up but probably very little real world difference.

cal_stewart

just on the stem options, canyon warranty only covers ritchey and syntace NOT specialized stems. Plus u need to buy the stems from canyon. Still you get one with the frame anyway.

kfinlay

Anyone in central Scotland got one?

cal_stewart

NW germany if anyone fancys it.

wildmoustache

@kfinlay ... i was in central scotland recently and I have one (though it wasn't with me at the time).

Does that help?

Seriously, don't sweat this too much. The big thing is that the bike fits. You need to know the geometry you are looking for to get that right. If you don't know that, you need to work it out, perhaps with the help of a professional fitter.

These are pro-level frames for bargain prices. The cheapest frame raced in the Tour de France last year I think.

kfinlay

I'm a 52 on the Canyon as I'm 176cm tall but only have 78cm inseam. The tall seat tube angle will allow more setback on the saddle than my current bike but I still might need a longer stem, probably a 90mm instead of the standard 80mm. Also the handlebars are quite narrow on a 52 as they are listed as 400 wide. Is this C-C or O-O. I normally use 420 C-C. The handle bar reach may come into as well when I'm considering the stem but I plan on waiting until I'm going to buy before confirming things as I have a couple of other options in my head just now (lugged italian or french frames!). In the mean time I'm waiting until the TdF in the hope Canyon have a good sale again so instead of a CF Ult 9.0 I might be able to stretch to a CF SLX 9.0 Pro 8)

wildmoustache

176 = 5'9.3" right?

You are half an inch shorter than me.

I'd be suprised if you were two sizes down from me on the canyon. At that height you'd need to have really long femurs and a very short torso to have to get a 52cm to give you the appropriate set-back and short reach.

Suspect a 54cm frame would also fit you, nothwithstanding the headtube height which is large part comes down to flexibility / comfort preference.

EKIMIKE

RE Stems, the UK agent has been very good with me and organised a swap for a 100mm to 110mm stem.

For me, i was between a 56 and 58. I still can't work out which one is/would've been best. I went for the 56 but obviously needed a longer stem but if i'd gone for a 58 i'd have needed a shorter stem. Just take your time analysing the geometry charts and comparing to your current bike's set-up. IMO it's better to go a tad too small than too big considering they ship with relatively short stems. You don't want to end up with an 80/90mm stem on a 56/58 frame.

wildmoustache

You are right about the general wisdom in going smaller.

In kfinlay's case I wonder if the geometry is suited. There comes a point where
because of the steep seat angle you need to go small on frame size and / or stem size that you're going to be messing around with the handling of the bike.

If you're the long-femured type I'd suggest there are better geometries than the Canyon.

kfinlay

Points taken guys, I am really on the cusp of a 54 as my inseam is 78.7 and the Canyon sizing chart changes to 54 at 79 inseam. I have checked it out pretty thoroughly though as my current bike is a 510mm from centre of BB to seatpost clamp with a sloping TT, the effective TT size is 530mm and the HT 140mm which are pretty much identical to the 52 Canyon. The difference in the seat tube angle will mean 20mm more setback for my saddle and 20mm less on the stem (maybe a bit of fine tuning from there). I can ride 100 miles on my current aluminium bike comfortably so the fit can be too far off being right.

wildmoustache

kfinlay wrote:

Points taken guys, I am really on the cusp of a 54 as my inseam is 78.7 and the Canyon sizing chart changes to 54 at 79 inseam. I have checked it out pretty thoroughly though as my current bike is a 510mm from centre of BB to seatpost clamp with a sloping TT, the effective TT size is 530mm and the HT 140mm which are pretty much identical to the 52 Canyon. The difference in the seat tube angle will mean 20mm more setback for my saddle and 20mm less on the stem (maybe a bit of fine tuning from there). I can ride 100 miles on my current aluminium bike comfortably so the fit can be too far off being right.

Yep, that is what I thought from your previous post kfinlay. 2cm off stem length is material. Fine if we're talking 130 > 110 or even 120 > 100 but when you're thinking of going down to 80 or 90mm stem then you've really got to think about whether a bike with a shallower ST would be better.

Buy the bike that fits!

garethld

i took delivery of my slx 8.0 just 3 weeks ago and am really pleased with it. i went with the online fitting recommendation 58cm frame with a 56.5cm top tube... i'm between 6ft and 6'1 with a 34in inside leg and i have my saddle height at 78cm.
here it is -


i've swapped the saddle in for a fizik antares with carbon rails, and gone for zero stainless pedals, it's weighing in at 7kgs

if i had gone for the 56cm option i would of had a ton of seatpost and then had a relatively low front end, aggressive position yes but comfortable i dont think so...

kfinlay

WildM I'd probably be a 90mm stem for the Canyon which I feel would still be fine but no shorter.

Lovely bike Gareth, if I go for it I'll go for one of the campag models

wildmoustache

Kflinlay ...i'm sure you could get the contact points in the right position and you've clearly done your homework.

BUT contact points in right position can still mean compromising handling due to weight distribution and stem length. Your call, but I know how intoxicating a great deal is, and to be honest you've always got to put fit first if you want to get the best out of a bike.

sopworth

Garethld

What area are you mate? If you are near to me (south Leicestershire), i'd love to have a look at it as the website recommends me for a 58.

Mark

kfinlay

WildM, agree with you overall but as a 52 Canyon comes with an 80mm stem as standard I would expect it to steer well with 80-110mm stems, 120mm+ could make things a bit slow.
I have zero set back on my current seat post so 20mm set back will be fine on the Canyon - their seatposts are very adaptable with fore/aft adjustment. I believe you may have thought my saddle was already set back so an extra 20mm could affect handling with extra weight over the rear wheel.
After thinking all this through and being willing to wait to buy a Canyon I then get other ideas in my head such as a second hand Look 585/595 or Colnago C50/Extreme - wish I had more money so I could just go buy one and be happy. I do like my cheapy Alu framed Vitus though, it's comfortable and reliable just not desireable :oops:

cal_stewart

kfinlay wrote:

WildM I'd probably be a 90mm stem for the Canyon which I feel would still be fine but no shorter.

Lovely bike Gareth, if I go for it I'll go for one of the campag models

tru that, the carbon campag crank with the matt black is sex.

EKIMIKE

Try putting your measurements into this spreadsheet:

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... hp?t=51071

It's a really good starting point.

Basically, you don't want to go any shorter than the stem provided by Canyon. If anything, short reach bars can easily give you 10mm less reach to the hoods.

garethld

sopworth wrote:

Garethld

What area are you mate? If you are near to me (south Leicestershire), i'd love to have a look at it as the website recommends me for a 58.

Mark

i'm far south of you... Leatherhead, Surrey... welcome, just PM me...
G