2015 Canyon Spectral 7.0 EX review - Part 1
applause
Posts: 35
Hi
This is my review of the 2015 Canyon Spectral 7.0 EX (Medium)
I'm going to split this review into two parts. Part 1 is a generel review where I give my comments on the riding charecteristics, componentry, suspensionssetup etc. Part 2 is more of an reflection of my choice. I know many of You are looking for reviews and thoughts about choice of both biketype and sizing. So I thought I'd give my thoughts in why I chose a 140\150mm travel bike instead i.e. a 120mm travel bike. I'll also get into sizing as this is a big subject with there "Internet bikes".
You can read Part 2 here: http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13000285
Part 1
I'm gonna get easy around this one by refering to Pinkbike's review of the 2014 Spectral 9.0 EX found here: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Canyon-Spectral-AL-90-EX-2014-Reviewed.html
The 2015 Spectral 7.0 EX resembles the 2014 Spectral 9.0 EX in many ways. It has 150mm RockShox fork up front and a 1x drivetrain setup and is in generel build to suit a more aggresive riding style than the "normal" Spectral.
The beauty of it is that all of the critique that the 2014 Spectral has recieved both in Pinkbike's review and in general, has been taken care of with the 2015 7.0 EX (and 8.0 EX.) Read on...
Drivetrain and brakes
The 7.0 EX has a full SRAM X1 drivetrain that shifts buttery smooth. Coming from a 3x9 Shimano SLX setup this is a vast improvement in shifting experience. The gears was dailed in when I received the bike and I had not have a reason to tingle with it yet.
My personal opinion is that the 34 tooth chainring can be a bit too big on steepest of climbs. I feel that it resembles more the middle chainring\large cog combination of my old drivetrain so be aware if You do alot of climbing. A 32 tooth might be more suitable for many riders.
The stopping power is taken care of with the new SRAM Guide R. The Guide R is the "budget" model as it also comes in a RS and RSC model. The two other model offer the oppotunity to tweak stuff like reach and engagement.
The Guide R is a very powerful brake with a fast engagement and good modulation. In comparision the engagement of my old SLX brakes is about 2 cm and for the Guide R it is down to about 0.5 cm. The brakes is paired with a set of enormous discs (200mm front\180mm rear) and ensures the best braking performance i've ever tried.
Wheels and tyres
It comes with Sram's ROAM 30 which is their entry model of AM wheels although I would hesitate to call a 1800 gram stiff wheelset "entry level". The rim is a bit wider at 21mm than the standard 19mm I've been used to. Combined with the high volume 2.4" Maxxis tyres this means I can run a 1,6 bar without the tyres "dancing" on the rim. This means loads of tracktion and comfort of the trail.
MTBR has a first look on the 30's and the 40's back in May that You might find interesting as it is possible to mod the 30's to get a faster engagement though I've not yet felt the need for it. Read the review here: http://reviews.mtbr.com/first-ride-sram-roam-30-and-40-wheels.
I found the combination of the Highroller II and the Ardent a exellent combination and I've haven't riden a set of tyres that gave my that much traction before. Then again my old bike had 2.2" Continental Mountainking II so a bit more traction from the wider tyres is to be expected. I've also been on Nolby Nic's in the past which are OK general tyres but the traction of the top of the line Maxxis combo is just hilarious good. With wide tyres and loads of traction also comes a bit of dragginess. When summer comes I think a 2.2 Ikon in the rear and a 2.4 Ardent up front will be a better combo for those looking for some faster rolling.
Suspension
The suspension is taken care of by the solid combination of a RockShox Pike RC SA up front and the Monarch RT3 DebonAir back rear. The 35mm stiff PIKE was on of the things that many reviewers of the 2014 model would have liked seen changed and so here it is. There really isn't much to say about it cause I'd hardly notice it 'cause it's that good. I'm 90kg with gear and set it up at 85 psi and I think it's pretty much dailed right now. My rebound is 4-5 clicks from slowest and the low speed compression is also 4 clicks from open. The thing with the RC SA is that you do not get the faster Open\Trail\Lock option and the adjustable Trail mode, that you get on the more expensive RCT3. I've been used to a fork with the option of instant lock-out which is not possible with the PIKE RC SA. You can go to lockout but it's by clicking the low speed compression knob 180 degrees. For some this might be a moodkiller as you will ruin that setting you just found for low speed compression and it takes more time to get to lockout than a classic full lockout knob.
This bike is not build to be able constantly change your suspension setting on the fly. You can easily do this when you hit a long fireroad climb but not when the steep climb suprises you round a corner.
As goes for the Monarch RT3 DebonAir it smoothes out just about everything. I'm still playing with different airpressures but I think I've found a sweetspot around 265 PSI which gives me around 30% sag while it still feels pretty firm for pedaling. Speaking of pedaling it IS pretty bob free when seated but even in "trail" mode the suspension compresses quite much when I put my power down on those steep climbs. I've always been a "seated climber" so I'm not to bothered with this and the suspension makes sure the rear wheel is planted on the rooty\rocky technical climbs. I hardly use the lockout mode exept on the steepest and longest of fireroad climbs.
With my current settings the suspension gives a firm pedaling platform while still smoothes out just about everything. It's not as poppy as the Canyon Nerve's 120mm platform that I tried last year but then again, this is a different bike for a different purpose. If You are looking for a more "poppy" feel I would advise You to play with the rebound before just adding more pressure as more pressure will contribute to a more harsh suspension feel.
Geometry
The geometry has been where Canyon have been taking a beating with the 2014 Spectral. Many reviewers found it very compact which were good in some situations and bad in others. Well Canyon have sorted this out, giving the 2015 Spectral a 17mm longer top tube. In contrast they have shortened the stem by 1cm on all their models so the reach is practically the same. This means a more precise steering while retaining a suitable reach for most.
I've also ridden the 2014 Spectral in large and the fit compared to the 2015 Spectral in medium i pretty close expept for the higher stack which you miss out on (Which is a good ting if You are 5'11 like me). I'll do a lot more commenting on the sizing and my choice in section two of this review.
Besides the longer top type, the numbers are the same as the 2014 model. This gives you a playfull bike that follows Your lead on the trail and that can easily be thrown around a tight corner.
In the geometry charts the 7.0 EX has a headangle of 67 degrees. I believe this is not the case as that angle is based on the 140mm models. The 7.0 EX has a 150mm fork hence the head angle is more like 66.5 deg. This is not a problem at all. In fact I can't believe I've ever been able to live with a 70 deg. head angle all this time up till now
Riding charecteristics and general take
The 2015 Canyon Spectral Al 7.0 EX is a blast. You can point i downhill and it just rips. The bike urges You to push harder and it's going to be You that gives up before the bike does. The geometry and great suspension allows You to jump every rock and root and it's a very fun ride. On the steepest of climbs the suspension will compress a bit but this might be due to the fact that You have to put alot of power down with the quite large 34 tooth chain ring. With a smaller chainring and a higher cadance the bobbing will propably not be so bad.
If You are looking for a sub 3000 Euro aggresive trailbike with top end components, this is Your choice.
If you are looking for a sub 3000 Euro trailbike but is not sure of the Spectral is the right type or if You have doubs about the sizing - then stay tuned for Part 2 of my review where I'll go much more into detail about this.
Hope You enjoyed the review
Regards, Rasmus
This is my review of the 2015 Canyon Spectral 7.0 EX (Medium)
I'm going to split this review into two parts. Part 1 is a generel review where I give my comments on the riding charecteristics, componentry, suspensionssetup etc. Part 2 is more of an reflection of my choice. I know many of You are looking for reviews and thoughts about choice of both biketype and sizing. So I thought I'd give my thoughts in why I chose a 140\150mm travel bike instead i.e. a 120mm travel bike. I'll also get into sizing as this is a big subject with there "Internet bikes".
You can read Part 2 here: http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=13000285
Part 1
I'm gonna get easy around this one by refering to Pinkbike's review of the 2014 Spectral 9.0 EX found here: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Canyon-Spectral-AL-90-EX-2014-Reviewed.html
The 2015 Spectral 7.0 EX resembles the 2014 Spectral 9.0 EX in many ways. It has 150mm RockShox fork up front and a 1x drivetrain setup and is in generel build to suit a more aggresive riding style than the "normal" Spectral.
The beauty of it is that all of the critique that the 2014 Spectral has recieved both in Pinkbike's review and in general, has been taken care of with the 2015 7.0 EX (and 8.0 EX.) Read on...
Drivetrain and brakes
The 7.0 EX has a full SRAM X1 drivetrain that shifts buttery smooth. Coming from a 3x9 Shimano SLX setup this is a vast improvement in shifting experience. The gears was dailed in when I received the bike and I had not have a reason to tingle with it yet.
My personal opinion is that the 34 tooth chainring can be a bit too big on steepest of climbs. I feel that it resembles more the middle chainring\large cog combination of my old drivetrain so be aware if You do alot of climbing. A 32 tooth might be more suitable for many riders.
The stopping power is taken care of with the new SRAM Guide R. The Guide R is the "budget" model as it also comes in a RS and RSC model. The two other model offer the oppotunity to tweak stuff like reach and engagement.
The Guide R is a very powerful brake with a fast engagement and good modulation. In comparision the engagement of my old SLX brakes is about 2 cm and for the Guide R it is down to about 0.5 cm. The brakes is paired with a set of enormous discs (200mm front\180mm rear) and ensures the best braking performance i've ever tried.
Wheels and tyres
It comes with Sram's ROAM 30 which is their entry model of AM wheels although I would hesitate to call a 1800 gram stiff wheelset "entry level". The rim is a bit wider at 21mm than the standard 19mm I've been used to. Combined with the high volume 2.4" Maxxis tyres this means I can run a 1,6 bar without the tyres "dancing" on the rim. This means loads of tracktion and comfort of the trail.
MTBR has a first look on the 30's and the 40's back in May that You might find interesting as it is possible to mod the 30's to get a faster engagement though I've not yet felt the need for it. Read the review here: http://reviews.mtbr.com/first-ride-sram-roam-30-and-40-wheels.
I found the combination of the Highroller II and the Ardent a exellent combination and I've haven't riden a set of tyres that gave my that much traction before. Then again my old bike had 2.2" Continental Mountainking II so a bit more traction from the wider tyres is to be expected. I've also been on Nolby Nic's in the past which are OK general tyres but the traction of the top of the line Maxxis combo is just hilarious good. With wide tyres and loads of traction also comes a bit of dragginess. When summer comes I think a 2.2 Ikon in the rear and a 2.4 Ardent up front will be a better combo for those looking for some faster rolling.
Suspension
The suspension is taken care of by the solid combination of a RockShox Pike RC SA up front and the Monarch RT3 DebonAir back rear. The 35mm stiff PIKE was on of the things that many reviewers of the 2014 model would have liked seen changed and so here it is. There really isn't much to say about it cause I'd hardly notice it 'cause it's that good. I'm 90kg with gear and set it up at 85 psi and I think it's pretty much dailed right now. My rebound is 4-5 clicks from slowest and the low speed compression is also 4 clicks from open. The thing with the RC SA is that you do not get the faster Open\Trail\Lock option and the adjustable Trail mode, that you get on the more expensive RCT3. I've been used to a fork with the option of instant lock-out which is not possible with the PIKE RC SA. You can go to lockout but it's by clicking the low speed compression knob 180 degrees. For some this might be a moodkiller as you will ruin that setting you just found for low speed compression and it takes more time to get to lockout than a classic full lockout knob.
This bike is not build to be able constantly change your suspension setting on the fly. You can easily do this when you hit a long fireroad climb but not when the steep climb suprises you round a corner.
As goes for the Monarch RT3 DebonAir it smoothes out just about everything. I'm still playing with different airpressures but I think I've found a sweetspot around 265 PSI which gives me around 30% sag while it still feels pretty firm for pedaling. Speaking of pedaling it IS pretty bob free when seated but even in "trail" mode the suspension compresses quite much when I put my power down on those steep climbs. I've always been a "seated climber" so I'm not to bothered with this and the suspension makes sure the rear wheel is planted on the rooty\rocky technical climbs. I hardly use the lockout mode exept on the steepest and longest of fireroad climbs.
With my current settings the suspension gives a firm pedaling platform while still smoothes out just about everything. It's not as poppy as the Canyon Nerve's 120mm platform that I tried last year but then again, this is a different bike for a different purpose. If You are looking for a more "poppy" feel I would advise You to play with the rebound before just adding more pressure as more pressure will contribute to a more harsh suspension feel.
Geometry
The geometry has been where Canyon have been taking a beating with the 2014 Spectral. Many reviewers found it very compact which were good in some situations and bad in others. Well Canyon have sorted this out, giving the 2015 Spectral a 17mm longer top tube. In contrast they have shortened the stem by 1cm on all their models so the reach is practically the same. This means a more precise steering while retaining a suitable reach for most.
I've also ridden the 2014 Spectral in large and the fit compared to the 2015 Spectral in medium i pretty close expept for the higher stack which you miss out on (Which is a good ting if You are 5'11 like me). I'll do a lot more commenting on the sizing and my choice in section two of this review.
Besides the longer top type, the numbers are the same as the 2014 model. This gives you a playfull bike that follows Your lead on the trail and that can easily be thrown around a tight corner.
In the geometry charts the 7.0 EX has a headangle of 67 degrees. I believe this is not the case as that angle is based on the 140mm models. The 7.0 EX has a 150mm fork hence the head angle is more like 66.5 deg. This is not a problem at all. In fact I can't believe I've ever been able to live with a 70 deg. head angle all this time up till now
Riding charecteristics and general take
The 2015 Canyon Spectral Al 7.0 EX is a blast. You can point i downhill and it just rips. The bike urges You to push harder and it's going to be You that gives up before the bike does. The geometry and great suspension allows You to jump every rock and root and it's a very fun ride. On the steepest of climbs the suspension will compress a bit but this might be due to the fact that You have to put alot of power down with the quite large 34 tooth chain ring. With a smaller chainring and a higher cadance the bobbing will propably not be so bad.
If You are looking for a sub 3000 Euro aggresive trailbike with top end components, this is Your choice.
If you are looking for a sub 3000 Euro trailbike but is not sure of the Spectral is the right type or if You have doubs about the sizing - then stay tuned for Part 2 of my review where I'll go much more into detail about this.
Hope You enjoyed the review
Regards, Rasmus
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Comments
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Please feel free to ask any question that You would like me to answer in the second part of my review. Stay tuned.0
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I have a question. Why are you reviewing your bike? Why not post a picture and tell us you are having a blast?Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0
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paul.skibum wrote:I have a question. Why are you reviewing your bike? Why not post a picture and tell us you are having a blast?
Why is anybody reviewing bikes? I guess it's to help others make the right decision. I wished to write a review to all of those looking for some info to make the right decision but maybe I posted it in the wrong forum?
Anyways I AM having a blast
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Reviews mean nothing out of context - one person telling me that a bike does x well is only ever going to be compared to other bikes they have ridden and is going to depend on their skill and experience. I read a review on Pink Bike by, say, Seb Kemp, and I know his experience and ability so if he says "the fork tracked well through a rock garden" or something I know he's ridden a bunch of forks on a bunch of bikes where as Joe Blow tells me he found a tyre lacked grip entering corners how do I know he's not running it too hard or riding without weight on the front.
I like to see peoples bikes, I like to hear about modifications they make to customise and improve and why and I draw conclusions from what they say about their riding to work out if that's a good choice for me. But primarily this sections about bike porn - for you to show off your pride and joy and us to admire it - which means pictures!
Maybe that's just me.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0 -
paul.skibum wrote:Reviews mean nothing out of context - one person telling me that a bike does x well is only ever going to be compared to other bikes they have ridden and is going to depend on their skill and experience. I read a review on Pink Bike by, say, Seb Kemp, and I know his experience and ability so if he says "the fork tracked well through a rock garden" or something I know he's ridden a bunch of forks on a bunch of bikes where as Joe Blow tells me he found a tyre lacked grip entering corners how do I know he's not running it too hard or riding without weight on the front.
Your right about the context part and I'm not Seb Kemp. That's why I initially refer to the Pinkbike review and in general conclude that the critique is now met. I then add my own biased opinion and compare to what I've ridden before.
I urge You to "absorb" the review "as is" knowing it's biased.
P.S. I'll upload pictures when I get the chance.0 -
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Thank you for your review, there are so few of them to be found (for this model in particular). I am looking forward to the second part.0
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Having ordered the Medium and at 5'11.5" I'm looking forward to part 2. (nice write up)0
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A review by the owner of a bike is always a bit pointless.
Firstly, are you a good enough rider to notice faults with suspension or flex in the frame? If you don't ride well or hard it might feel good to you but not so good to others.
Secondly, what have you ridden to compare it to? Have you ridden all this bikes competitors and done enough miles on them for a fair comparison?
Thirdly, after spending a bucket load of cash on this bike you will be biased whether you think you are or not, sub consciously you will be biased.
Just post some pics, write about your rides and upgrades and experiences.Transition Patrol - viewtopic.php?f=10017&t=130702350 -
RockmonkeySC and paul.skibum. I appriciate You've even taken the time to read the review but You are obviously not the target audience. If You read the review thoroughly You will find that I do not compare the bike or any of the components to competeting bikes in the same category. I only compare to what I've ridden before at what the new bike does for me.
If Your are looking for a Pro review then wait till the Pro's get around to it. In the mean time let us amateurs help each other 0 -
At a smidge under 6ft And looking how much post you have out of the frame, I'm glad I've ordered large. Look forward to part 20
