2013 Canyon Strive AL 8

lochussie

I know somebody that has ordered one of these and has just seen this shocking review http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/categ ... t_comments

This in particular sounds terrible:
Even our 7st (45kg) tester pushed the stroke indicator ring right to the stops off small drops when it was set up with 10 percent sag for an 11st (70kg) rider.

The review says that the poor performance is down to the 2013 Fox CTD shock and fork, but I haven't seen other bikes with these getting marked down so much. I also thought that spacers or custom tuning could make these much better.

Any insight here?

Kowalski675

I read the review when it was in the mag, and I wouldn't say it was "shocking". They said plenty of good things about the frame and spec, their criticisms revolved solely around the overly linear suspension tune.

warpcow

lochussie wrote:

spacers or custom tuning could make these much better.

This works up to a point. Spring rate can be changed by adding oil to the chamber, and damping can be slowed a little with thicker oil. The 2014 damping cartridges are different internally though because the 2013s have been slated so much.

Tom Barton

My opinion is that the shock has let that bike down in the review. Personally, any frame that has a very responsive set of linkage must be a good thing - but it must be controlled and despite Canyons buying power the rear shock equipped probably does not give enough adjustability to control.

The 2013 forks have been criticised for their open mode performance - on the whole however testers have said that the medium 'trail' setting is pretty good.

I'd say - let your friend judge for themselves. Lots of Strive owners have been surprised by the review and they are popular bikes. If the rear shock proves to be a problem - put a RS monarch plus on the Xmas list (from bike-discount.de) - that'll sort it

rockmonkeysc

The Canyons I have tried (nerve am and Torque) both felt too linear at the rear which will cause it to blow through travel. A Push tune on the rear shock could cure it.

poah

not really a shocking review - the comments just backup what the company said about the design

rockmonkeysc

POAH wrote:

not really a shocking review - the comments just backup what the company said about the design

That sounds more like an excuse to me. Why would anyone want rear suspension which doesn't work when you ride hard.

prawny

RockmonkeySC wrote:

POAH wrote:

not really a shocking review - the comments just backup what the company said about the design

That sounds more like an excuse to me. Why would anyone want rear suspension which doesn't work when you ride hard.

To be fair it's a criticism I've heard levelled at most of the long travel German bikes. They're obviously not as gnar as us over there.

rockmonkeysc

Linear feels very nice on a demo ride or bounce around a car park, even out on the trail. Its when you push hard it becomes a problem, you just don't get any support and it blows straight through the travel.

adamfo

Fabien Barel’s Canyon Strive



http://singletrackworld.com/2013/09/eur ... s-spotted/

It can't be that difficult for hardcore riders to get a similar set-up ?

I believe he is now riding the Canyon Spectral 650b