german direct to consumer brand Canyon have one of the most divers batch bike portfolios on the marketplace and it keeps growing. As a progressive drag motorcycle, the new Spectral 125 slots in between the Neuron tour bicycle and the prove Spectral with its wide variety of wheel size options. Offering 140 mm travel up front and just 125 mm at the rear, the Spectral 125 still belongs to Canyon ’ s class 4 motorcycle classification, which includes enduro bikes like the Strive. therefore, there ’ s no doubt about the bicycle ’ s intentions with its 29 ” wheels and why it bears its big buddy ’ sulfur appoint .
The 2022 Canyon Spectral 125 CF 9 in Detail
The new Canyon Spectral 125 looks bewilderingly alike to its bad brother and shares many of its tried-and-tested details. To keep the bicycle running courteous and quieten on the trail, you get big seat and chainstay protectors ampere well clamps at the intake and exit ports for the internally rout cables. There is outer space for a 600 milliliter water bottle inside the front triangle, though, with the in-house Canyon bottle, there is little more than a hair ’ s width of clearance between it and the shock.
There is a tool climb on the bottom of the top tube, which can be used in junction with the Canyon Load human body udder ( available for €34.99 ) adenine well as most conventional cock straps. The thread inserts are replaceable on all the carbon models, which should reduce the risk of damaging the frame. furthermore, the bearings of the carbon paper models are sealed doubly to keep them blank and running fluent .
The components and availability of the new 2022 Canyon Spectral 125
The newfangled Canyon Spectral 125 will initially be available in five configurations. Two of them come with an aluminum frame and three feature a full carbon paper translation. Prices range from €2,499 for the AL 5 to €5,799 for the flagship CF 9 on test. Each model gives you a choice of two colours and Canyon promise that most of the bikes will be available from February 17th, 2022.
The full carbon models don ’ thyroxine come with different carbon lay-up, as is the case with the long-travel Spectral ( CF and CFR ). As such, the carbon frames are identical throughout, giving you the same weight and awkwardness values. According to Canyon, the aluminum skeletal system weighs about 500 g more ( size M ) .
The spec of the 2022 Canyon Spectral 125 CF 9 on test
For our review, Canyon sent us the flagship Spectral 125 CF9 model, weighing in at 13.8 kilogram. It comes equipped with FOX suspension consisting of a FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 fork and a FOX FLOAT X air shock. The high-quality GRIP2 damp in the fork allows you to adjust both the eminent and low-speed bounce and compression settings. The shock, on the other hand, merely lets you adjust the low-speed rally and compression. It besides comes with a two-stage lockout lever for the rise .
For the drivetrain and brakes, Canyon choose to rely on components from SRAM. Stopping duties are taken care of by the brawny SRAM CODE RSC four-piston brakes – you ’ ll much see these on enduro bikes, underlining the new short-travel Spectral ’ south intentions. RSC means that you can adjust the lever compass and throw without tools. In addition, the alleged SwingLink engineering uses a kind of leveraging effect to reduce the feat required when brake, improving transition. The CODE RSC brakes are combined with the SRAM ’ s new HS2 rotors, which are said to offer increased braking ability and inflame underground. With a 200 millimeter rotor up front and a 180 millimeter model at the raise, the Spectral 125 is well equipped for the tax at hand. however, riders that weigh more than 80 kg and those who like tackling very long descents might benefit from upgrading to larger models .
The electronic SRAM GX AXS 12-speed groupset and 10-52 metric ton cassette provide crisp shift. The GX AXS is in no way inferior to the flagship wireless X01 model in terms of shifting performance, it just weighs a little more. The wireless shifting keeps the in-house G5 cockpit looking fairly. G5 represents the most full-bodied category of Canyon ’ s in-house components and is normally used on enduro and downhill bikes. The carbon handlebar is 780 millimeter wide and combined with a 40 millimeter stem. In addition to the bracken lines, there ’ s a third cable for the G5 dropper post, which is besides supplied by Canyon. On the frame size L, it offers an impressive 200 millimeter locomotion and can be inserted all the manner into the skeleton – excellent ! furthermore, the locomotion of the dropper post can be reduced by up to 25 mm without tools and the outside on the handlebar is a pleasure to use .
You should think about upgrading the tires. Canyon trust on a 2.4 ” MAXXIS Minion DHR2 up front and a 2.4 ” MAXXIS DISSECTOR at the raise, both featuring the hard MaxxTerra condom compound and the puncture-prone EXO casing. We would have preferred the softer MaxxGrip compound, peculiarly at the front. It would besides have made sense to fit tires with a thick casing to do justice to the bicycle ’ s likely and its gravity aspirations. MAXXIS ’ latest EXO+ casing looks to be a good alternative. identical aggressive or arduous riders might want to upgrade to the even thicker Doubledown variant. Along with improved puncture protective covering, thick casings would allow you to run lower tire pressures, giving you more grip and damping. additionally, slurred tires would help protect the carbon paper DT Swiss XMC1501 wheels .
Canyon Spectral 125 CF9 2022
€ 5,799
Specifications
Fork FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 140 mm
Rear Shock FOX Float X Factory 125 mm
Seatpost Canyon G5 Dropper Post 200 mm
Brakes SRAM Code RSC 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX AXS 1×12
Stem Canyon G5 45 mm
Handlebar Canyon G5 CF 780 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss XMC1501 29″
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHRII MaxxTerra EXO/Dissector MaxxTerra EXO 2,4″
Read more: Bronson
Technical Data
Size S M L XL 
The geometry of the 2022 Canyon Spectral 125
Canyon will be offering the modern Spectral 125 in four frame sizes from S to XL. By doing so, they ’ re cater to riders from 163 to 203 curium tall. The size L on test has a scope of 486 mm and a smokestack altitude of 632 millimeter. The seat pipe is equitable 435 mm long, offering all the exemption of motion you need on the descents, particularly when combined with the retentive and amply insertable dropper mail. Thanks to a flip chip on the shock climb of the carbon frames, the geometry can be adjusted. The bicycle gets shipped in the low adjust and by flipping the chip to the high position, you can steepen the 64° fountainhead slant and 76° seat pipe lean by 0.5°. You ’ ll besides decrease the 35 millimeter bottom bracket fell by 8 millimeter. The 437 millimeter chainstay length remains the same for all frame sizes .
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 395 mm | 420 mm | 435 mm | 460 mm |
| Top tube | 582 mm | 611 mm | 636 mm | 660 mm |
| Head tube | 110 mm | 120 mm | 130 mm | 140 mm |
| Head angle | 64.1° | 64.° | 64.1° | 64.1° |
| Seat angle | 76° | 76° | 76° | 76° |
| Chainstay | 437 mm | 437 mm | 437 mm | 437 mm |
| BB drop | 35 mm | 35 mm | 35 mm | 35 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1200 mm | 1230 mm | 1259 mm | 1288 mm |
| Reach | 435 mm | 460 mm | 486 mm | 511 mm |
| Stack | 613 mm | 622 mm | 632 mm | 641 mm |
The new 2022 Canyon Spectral 125 CF9 on the trail
At 189 centimeter tall, our test passenger choose to go with the size L of the new Spectral 125. On flat terrain, the riding position is slightly stretched out and hand-heavy, which limits long-distance ease but turns out to offer a clean advantage on the climb, specially on steep inclines. The movement rack of the 125 sticks to the ground no count how steep things get, allowing you to always stay in see. With the shock open, the firm rear end hardly bobs while pedalling, generating sufficient traction on technical ascents. We never felt the need to reach for the lockout lever on the FOX shock .
The Spectral 125 besides keeps your weight forward on the descents, which means you ’ ll constantly have batch of clasp on the front steering wheel. That said, you never feel like you might go over the bars. The short seat tube and long, in full inserted dropper stake allow you to throw your weight round unhindered on steep descents. however, it takes a certain total of effort to get the motorcycle onto the rear wheel. On flat, flowing trails, the CF9 convinced us with its agile and playful character, never failing to make us smile. The liberal rear suspension is poppy enough to allow you to preload the jumps while offering sufficient reserves to cope with overshot landings and riding errors .
Which bike should you get: the 2022 Canyon Spectral 125 CF9 or the 2022 Canyon Spectral CFR 29″?
If you enjoy riding shorter laps and tackling steep, technical wax, you should take a closer spirit at the newly 125. playful riders who enjoy seizing every airtime opportunity and experienced pilots on the hunt for seconds on the clock will besides find it a good company .
If you prefer long rides and want the motorcycle to instil you with confidence while offering extra reserves, then the long-travel Spectral CFR is the better choice. It can besides cope with the casual visit to the bikepark and demanding trails, such as those found in Finale Ligure, for case. furthermore, you have respective wheel size options to choose from.
Read more: Bronson
Conclusion on the new 2022 Canyon Spectral 125 CF9
The new 2022 Canyon Spectral 125 CF9 is sure to make its long-travel brother proud, convincing us with proven details and a tidy look. The generous freedom of movement, firm rear suspension and playful character are a lot of fun, resulting in a good time on the trail. If you’re the kind of rider who sticks to flowing trails or singletrack and occasionally enjoys a technical challenge will get a great bike that’s both well-specced and fairly priced.
Tops
- clean look and proven details
- freedom of movement on the descents
- firm rear suspension, offering lots of pop and reserves
Flops
- tires don’t do justice to the bike’s potential
For more information on the new Canyon Spectral 125, visit canyon.com
Words & Photos: Peter Walker
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