Canyon Nerve XC bike owners - advice req'd

hard-rider
hard-rider Posts: 460
edited January 2012 in MTB buying advice
I'm looking at possibly getting a Canyon Nerve XC 8 and have a couple of questions.

Would you consider the geometry to be racey and / or aggressive? I currently ride a Scott Scale and find it a bit tiring on longer rides due to the slightly stretched out position so want something a little more relaxing whilst still remaining light and agile. Would you say the riding position is stretched on the Canyon XC range? I know it's a bit subjective but would like to hear your views anyway.

Is there enough room in the frame to hold a 1L bottle in the bottle cage?

Having never seen a Canyon in the flesh what are the colour options like? It's hard to tell anything from the web site
Is the black anodised a matt finish or does it have glossy laquered topcoat?
Is the Forest Green colour a fully painted and laquered glossy finish? Does anyone have a high picture of the Forest Green finish?

Thanks.

Comments

  • Shackster
    Shackster Posts: 257
    I have an XC 8 in red (2011 model), small size, so hopefully I can answer some of your questions.

    Geometry: I've done some very long all day rides on it without any discomfort, and I have suffered with back pain before on bikes. I haven't got much to compare it to really, but it's a lot less aggressive than my mid 90s hardtail! There's a good review of the XC-8 on bikeradar. By the way, you may find one negative comment about the suspension bearings not being good enough; mine (and two mates) has been through some really horrible conditions and is still silky-smooth after nearly a year.

    Not sure about the bottle cage, will check tonight if I remember!

    A mate has a black anodised XC 9 and it's a matt finish - he does moan a bit about it being hard to clean, but it looks very nice and I would probably have gone for it if he didn't already have his! My red one is glossy, so I would think the green one is too.

    Re your other thread about the suspension - again I've got little to compare it to (my hardtail has 50mm elastomer forks!) but this bike is brilliant as far as I'm concerned, and has taken everything I've thrown at it in its stride, including the Cwmcarn DH course (albeit at a very scared slow pace :D ). The review on here will be a bit more objective though!
    2011 Canyon XC 8.0 (Monza Race Red)
    1996(?) dyna-tech titanium HT; pace RC-35's; Hope Ti Hubs etc etc
    Bianchi Road Bike
  • hard-rider
    hard-rider Posts: 460
    Thanks for the feedback. I've read about the suspension bearing being under sizes and not sealed. I wonder how much of a problem it really is. Hard to tell on forums etc as people generally only post about problems.

    My problem with my current bike is that it's a little stretched so on longer, 40Km+, my upper shoulders and neck start to ache so I want a slightly more upright position. I don't want to be sitting upright but want a little less weight on my arms.
  • sanchez89
    sanchez89 Posts: 567
    if you feel your too stretched out, why not try a shorter stem? alot cheaper than a new bike.
    2011 KHS Full Susser Carbon 29er Race Build
    Clank wrote:
    M'eh, I might just go back to zapping it with frikken lay-zur beeeems. And sharks.
  • Growmac
    Growmac Posts: 117
    Where are you based? Assuming you're not actually on the Algarve then there are plenty of people on here who have Canyons and might be willing to let you have a test ride.

    I'm on an AM not an XC, but the riding position is a lot shorter than my 04 Marin, and to me more comfortable to the extent that the Marin will be getting a new stem. Have had no problems at all with the suspension bearings so far despite 6 months of intermittent but hard use in all sorts of filth.
    1994 Clark Kent F12; 2004 Mount Vision; 2011 Canyon AM 7, 2012 Canyon Torque FRX 6, a unicycle and a Brompton.
  • hard-rider
    hard-rider Posts: 460
    sanchez89 wrote:
    if you feel your too stretched out, why not try a shorter stem? alot cheaper than a new bike.
    I've already dropped the stem to an 80mm length from 120mm. I was considering trying 50mm riser bars next but don't want to keep throwing good money after bad. It's a great bike as long I keep my rides less than 2 hours.
    Growmac wrote:
    Where are you based? Assuming you're not actually on the Algarve then there are plenty of people on here who have Canyons and might be willing to let you have a test ride.

    I'm on an AM not an XC, but the riding position is a lot shorter than my 04 Marin, and to me more comfortable to the extent that the Marin will be getting a new stem. Have had no problems at all with the suspension bearings so far despite 6 months of intermittent but hard use in all sorts of filth.
    Yes, I'm in the Algarve and unfortunately I've not seen a Canyon here. I guess I could take the punt and just send it back on the 30 day no quibble return.

Categories