Canyon Ultimate CF SLX thread

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  • ReesA
    ReesA Posts: 62
    The two reasons I am going for a full new bike is that firstly I want a switch from Alu to carbon and secondly that I want a compact (finally). I started road riding in 2005 and have been on my Principia with 9 speed ultegra standard ever since. Took it to the Alps once :) was pretty hard core but made it through OK. However after moving to Leeds and never getting away from climbing (which I really enjoy) I've finally realised I need to seriously up my cadence on the hills and take more care of my knees.

    Anyway, it's great to hear all the input on the Canyons and the wheels/gearing as well. I wanted to plough all the cash into frame and wheels only but Canyon seem to offer such good value and quality they are too good to pass on.
  • I visited the Canyon showroom in Koblenz on Friday to check out the Ultimate CF and CF SLX. The friendly & helpful staff took my measurements and input these into their sizing programme, the Canyon computer recommended a 58 or 56 size frame (I am 5'10" but with long legs), after test riding around the car park I settled on a 56 with 90mm stem.

    While in the area (2.5hrs north by car) I stopped in at Rose BikeTown, which is very impressive. They took my measurements with a highly impressive sizing machine, this recommended a 57 frame (their system predicted my saddle height to within 3mm without even measuring my inside leg) , after test ride around the showroom :( I again decided that a shorter stem was necessary. The Rose salesman then offered a very good deal on a Rose Xeon CRS-3000 (good exchange rate, free bottle cages, discounted pedals, etc.). Rose also offer exchange on stems and saddles within 4 weeks of purchase, which I liked.

    However at the end of the day I decided on a Canyon, the current sale makes certain models exceptional value for the specification offered.

    My Ultimate CF SLX 8.0 stealth should be arriving the first week in September. :D

    Absolute fool! :lol: I am bias though! Looking foward to hearing how the Canyon rides. As mine was for the Rose, I imagine the wait will be agony.
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    What professional teams have won on Rose bikes?
  • baldwin471
    baldwin471 Posts: 366
    ShutUpLegs wrote:
    What professional teams have won on Rose bikes?

    Bingo
  • Well I just went out for a short trip this afternoon on my slx 8.0 (compact not double as the N York moors are hilly!) and all I can say is flippin heck! It's quick and lively, just a little different from my Specialised Secteur Sport triple but it's lovely. :mrgreen:

    All I can say to anyone thinking of ordering one is do it! Now contemplating the 102 mile Darlington sportive next weekend :shock:
  • jezzpalmer
    jezzpalmer Posts: 389
    ShutUpLegs wrote:
    What professional teams have won on Rose bikes?

    How many have won with Storck, Scapin etc?
    Perhaps they don't have the resourses or the need to sponsor a team?

    That said I was about to pull the trigger on a SLX a couple of months ago then I read the preview of the 2013 SLX with integrated DI2, so decided to hang fire until their release.
  • baldwin471 wrote:
    ShutUpLegs wrote:
    What professional teams have won on Rose bikes?

    Bingo

    Easy ladies! As said above the company isn't very large yet and wouldn't be able to sponsor a pro team. Personally I was after something more lightweight and something more stiff. Having ridden both bikes before purchase the Rose offered this much more. The canyon was more comfortable but didn't feel as responsive or stiff.
    I really think it would be wiser to judge a bike by riding it, rather than look at what sponsors are throwing money at. Clearly the sponsors desired effect is working on you :) .
  • Skerryman
    Skerryman Posts: 323
    ben16v wrote:
    i`ve done a couple hundred miles on my slx 8.0 and must say its very comfortable - i think down to the seatpost and forks, but i can fell every pedal stroke when pushing or climbing.
    my previous bike is a cube alu which i cant fault but this does feel that little bit more special
    my frames are both 56 but the canyon is slightly larger but the bar seat measurements are pretty close - the pps worked pretty well although i did do a lot with the tape measure and a notepad with my cube and the spec sheets
    anyway, any questions i`ll do my best to answer
    IMAG0442.jpg

    Hi, I currently own a Alu Cube Agree and have been looking at the Canyon to upgrade as soon as I get the cash together. Just wondering do you find the Canyon 56cm noticeably bigger than the Cube 56 and would you have went for a smaller size in hindsight? My Cube is a 58cm and the Canyon size calculator recommends a 56cm for me. If the Canyons comes up slightly larger then I'm thinking it might be about right taking into account the seatpost has setback on the Canyon which I don't have on the Cube. Lovely looking machine by the way.
  • ben16v
    ben16v Posts: 296
    the frame is larger on the canyon but i actually think its the correct size for me and the cube is slightly small - i just went for the correct legth top tube according to my bike fit data, i reckon i couldve gone either way with frame size but im long body shorter legs so probably wouldve needed a longer stem (i have 130mm on the cube - 100mm on the canyon also its worth noting the headset designs are different so the stack height is much lower on the canyon)
    worth noting you can email them with your measurements and they will look at it in person too
    i need more bikes
  • Skerryman
    Skerryman Posts: 323
    Thanks for that. I'm about 180cm tall and they recommend a 56 cm. The top tube on the 56cm Canyon is just over a cm longer than the top tube on my 58cm Cube, reckon the 54 cm would be too small. Must email then measurements when I'm closer to ordering. Also torn between white or black both look nice, can't fault them for value for money anyway. Would you mind telling me your height and inseam measurements?
  • baldwin471 wrote:
    ShutUpLegs wrote:
    What professional teams have won on Rose bikes?

    Bingo

    Easy ladies! As said above the company isn't very large yet and wouldn't be able to sponsor a pro team. Personally I was after something more lightweight and something more stiff. Having ridden both bikes before purchase the Rose offered this much more. The canyon was more comfortable but didn't feel as responsive or stiff.
    I really think it would be wiser to judge a bike by riding it, rather than look at what sponsors are throwing money at. Clearly the sponsors desired effect is working on you :) .

    I road both the Rose Xeon CRS and Canyon CF SLX but it was impossible to read much into it as I only got to ride the Rose in their showroom and the Canyon in their car-park. The initial sensation I got was that the Canyon felt more comfortable but as for stiffness I can't comment. Although based on the tests done by Tour magazine (http://www.tour-qtr.com/epaper_4_2011) there isn't much to choose between the Canyon CF SLX and the stiffer version of the Rose their X-Lite.
  • Skerryman wrote:
    Thanks for that. I'm about 180cm tall and they recommend a 56 cm. The top tube on the 56cm Canyon is just over a cm longer than the top tube on my 58cm Cube, reckon the 54 cm would be too small. Must email then measurements when I'm closer to ordering. Also torn between white or black both look nice, can't fault them for value for money anyway. Would you mind telling me your height and inseam measurements?

    I'm 180cm with 85cm inside leg (long legs). I tested the frames at their showroom and ordered a 56 with a shorter 90mm stem (standard is 100mm).
  • Skerryman
    Skerryman Posts: 323
    Skerryman wrote:
    Thanks for that. I'm about 180cm tall and they recommend a 56 cm. The top tube on the 56cm Canyon is just over a cm longer than the top tube on my 58cm Cube, reckon the 54 cm would be too small. Must email then measurements when I'm closer to ordering. Also torn between white or black both look nice, can't fault them for value for money anyway. Would you mind telling me your height and inseam measurements?

    I'm 180cm with 85cm inside leg (long legs). I tested the frames at their showroom and ordered a 56 with a shorter 90mm stem (standard is 100mm).

    Cheers for that, I'm pretty much the same measurements as yourself so, I've a 84cm inside leg. I'm presuming you tried the 56 and the 54cm when you were at the showroom? Don't have the option of viewing one myself but I'd say the 54cm would be too small.
  • ben16v
    ben16v Posts: 296
    i`m 181cm tall and 81cm inseam - you can see how much seat post is visible in my pics to imagine the saddle up a few cm, and you`d be good
    i need more bikes
  • Canyon staff took my measurements and fed them into a PC which recommended a 58 or 56. I knew a 58 would be too long for me but tried one anyway, I quickly moved on to a 56 which felt pretty good immediately (they set saddle to the height I use 775mm), after riding a few circuits of the car-park I thought the 56 should be fine with a slightly shorter 90mm stem. Even though I had planned to try a 54 after riding the 56 I didn't feel it necessary.

    My current bike is a Scott CR1 56 which I ride with an 80mm stem, 30mm shorter than standard.
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,620
    to add to the confusion im 172cm and the 54 with a 90mm stem is perfect for me. for a 6 footer the 54 will be too small
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • Skerryman
    Skerryman Posts: 323
    Any opinions on the new models coming out later in the year? Look sweet but judging on the article here they'll be a bit more expensive, €3000 for the Ultegra version, considering you can get Dura-Ace for €2650 at the moment thats quite the jump.
  • ReesA
    ReesA Posts: 62
    Skerryman wrote:
    Any opinions on the new models coming out later in the year? Look sweet but judging on the article here they'll be a bit more expensive, €3000 for the Ultegra version, considering you can get Dura-Ace for €2650 at the moment thats quite the jump.

    The current £2100 Dura Ace is mechanical and I am guessing the €3000 Ultegra is Di2.

    I've only had a short spin on a Di2 Ultegra bike and while it was fun/smooth/pretty impressive, a quote from someone I met describing Di2 as "a solution in search of a problem" is kind of where it remained with me -- at least for the current money and the level I ride at. (maybe I need to try Di2 again more seriously so opinions on it would be great)

    I guess my question is if the Ultegra Di2 CF SLX is €3000 do people think (based on what other companies do) that there will be cheaper mechanical options as well?
  • baldwin471 wrote:
    ShutUpLegs wrote:
    What professional teams have won on Rose bikes?

    Bingo

    Easy ladies! As said above the company isn't very large yet and wouldn't be able to sponsor a pro team. Personally I was after something more lightweight and something more stiff. Having ridden both bikes before purchase the Rose offered this much more. The canyon was more comfortable but didn't feel as responsive or stiff.
    I really think it would be wiser to judge a bike by riding it, rather than look at what sponsors are throwing money at. Clearly the sponsors desired effect is working on you :) .


    I road both the Rose Xeon CRS and Canyon CF SLX but it was impossible to read much into it as I only got to ride the Rose in their showroom and the Canyon in their car-park. The initial sensation I got was that the Canyon felt more comfortable but as for stiffness I can't comment. Although based on the tests done by Tour magazine (http://www.tour-qtr.com/epaper_4_2011) there isn't much to choose between the Canyon CF SLX and the stiffer version of the Rose their X-Lite.

    I think the Canyon CF SLX was much more comfortable but I wanted a bit more lightness and stiffness and cared little for comfort as it never seems to bother me with my position being good, again I think it they are quite similar bikes. The Canyon I'm sure will be a brilliant bike.
  • Skerryman
    Skerryman Posts: 323
    ReesA wrote:
    Skerryman wrote:
    Any opinions on the new models coming out later in the year? Look sweet but judging on the article here they'll be a bit more expensive, €3000 for the Ultegra version, considering you can get Dura-Ace for €2650 at the moment thats quite the jump.

    The current £2100 Dura Ace is mechanical and I am guessing the €3000 Ultegra is Di2.

    I've only had a short spin on a Di2 Ultegra bike and while it was fun/smooth/pretty impressive, a quote from someone I met describing Di2 as "a solution in search of a problem" is kind of where it remained with me -- at least for the current money and the level I ride at. (maybe I need to try Di2 again more seriously so opinions on it would be great)

    I guess my question is if the Ultegra Di2 CF SLX is €3000 do people think (based on what other companies do) that there will be cheaper mechanical options as well?

    Ah yes, Di2 Ultegra would make more sense, I was thinking mechanical Ultegra. Wouldn't bother with Di2 myself, perfectly happy with mechanical any performance gain would surely not be worth the extra cash. Hopefully the mechanical Dura Ace versions of the SLX won't jump too much then, would definitely consider hanging on if it was only a few hundred extra.
  • I have the Cf slx 8 and it is brilliant. I had a 2011 Cervélo R3 and the Canyon beats it hands down. Quicker acceleration, corners and descends brilliantly. It not only feels quicker but by comparing usual route times and ave mph is quicker.And the best bit the whole bike with dura ace costs approx £300 more than just the R3 frame. Size not an issue just be very accurate with your measurements and then use Canyon's on line system.
    Have no fears this is an amazing bike for relatively little money.
  • Skerryman wrote:
    ReesA wrote:
    Skerryman wrote:
    Any opinions on the new models coming out later in the year? Look sweet but judging on the article here they'll be a bit more expensive, €3000 for the Ultegra version, considering you can get Dura-Ace for €2650 at the moment thats quite the jump.

    The current £2100 Dura Ace is mechanical and I am guessing the €3000 Ultegra is Di2.

    I've only had a short spin on a Di2 Ultegra bike and while it was fun/smooth/pretty impressive, a quote from someone I met describing Di2 as "a solution in search of a problem" is kind of where it remained with me -- at least for the current money and the level I ride at. (maybe I need to try Di2 again more seriously so opinions on it would be great)

    I guess my question is if the Ultegra Di2 CF SLX is €3000 do people think (based on what other companies do) that there will be cheaper mechanical options as well?

    Ah yes, Di2 Ultegra would make more sense, I was thinking mechanical Ultegra. Wouldn't bother with Di2 myself, perfectly happy with mechanical any performance gain would surely not be worth the extra cash. Hopefully the mechanical Dura Ace versions of the SLX won't jump too much then, would definitely consider hanging on if it was only a few hundred extra.

    Minimal details of 2013 models are now up on the Canyon site - http://www.canyon.com/_en/eurobike2012/roadbikes.html

    Looks like bottom of the new SLX range could be Ultegra, there is a 7.0 Di2 model and below that a plain 7.0

    Overall it looks like Canyon are introducing an increased range of specifications. The Ultimate CF coming in 5 specs ( was 3) and the CF SLX coming in 11 different specifications (was 5).

    I expect the mechanical Dura Ace CF SLX to increase in price because this will probably feature the new 11 speed Dura Ace and the new frame is said to be more expensive too.
  • ReesA
    ReesA Posts: 62
    Looking good. Great news that there are more variations.

    Here's the youtube video.
    http://youtu.be/AwHnpg7cMpA
  • gingermagician
    gingermagician Posts: 326
    edited August 2012
    Minimal details of 2013 models are now up on the Canyon site - http://www.canyon.com/_en/eurobike2012/roadbikes.html

    Looks like bottom of the new SLX range could be Ultegra, there is a 7.0 Di2 model and below that a plain 7.0

    Overall it looks like Canyon are introducing an increased range of specifications. The Ultimate CF coming in 5 specs ( was 3) and the CF SLX coming in 11 different specifications (was 5).

    I expect the mechanical Dura Ace CF SLX to increase in price because this will probably feature the new 11 speed Dura Ace and the new frame is said to be more expensive too.
    There's a downloadable brochure on the page you've linked to with all the specs - looks like you're right on the CF SLX 7.0 being Ultegra (standard CF 7.0 is 105 and Equipes).

    I'd guess the prices are going up a fair bit looking at the way the headline specs are changing across the range. As an example, the new CF SLX 8.0 (I've just ordered the current model in their sale :lol:) has the new Dura-Ace and an upgraded WTS wheelset (rather than standard Ksyrium Elites).
  • Anyone any idea of why they only do SRAM red versions with more pricey wheels compared to Dura Ace? It looks like this is the same for 2013.
  • rando
    rando Posts: 285
    From previous years experience of Canyon does anyone know when the new 2013 bikes will be available to order or at least when they will announce prices.
  • stan1000
    stan1000 Posts: 49
    From the canyon account @Pure_Cycling on twitter earlier it indicated new models can be ordered from October
  • The Canyon Eurobike brochure with details of new models - http://www.canyon.com/eurobike2012/cany ... 012_en.pdf
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Oh dear I feel October purchase coming on. 790g for the new SLX?

    Yes please I'll take one.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Looking good for me too, the new ones are rather lovely aren't they, so much nicer looking than the 2013 Cervelo graphics too. Funny how the 8.0ES seems to be the only one in the SLX range to get the rather sexy looking new VCLS 2.0 seatpost, although it could (or should) be an option when purchasing any one, no?