First ride review: Canyon Neuron:ON CF 8 2023 – Touring full-susser or trail eMTB?

The new Canyon Neuron:ON is Canyon’s shortest-travel full suspension ebike. Generating 140 mm of travel front and rear, the updated 2023 model is more capable than its predecessor and relies on a carbon frame and Bosch motor system. Has the additional travel converted the Neuron:ON into a short-travel trail bruiser, or is it still a full-suspension adventure tourer?

Canyon are sprucing up their entire ebike range for 2023. Not only is the Neuron:ON their shortest-travel full-suspension ebike but also the only one that rolls on 29″ wheels front and rear. While at first glance, the distinctive frame silhouette and shock position make it look a lot like its predecessor, the new Neuron:ON was redeveloped from the ground up. First off, the Germans swapped the Shimano EP8 motor of the previous model with a Bosch Smart System, and bumped up the travel by 10 mm, running 140 mm both front and rear. Furthermore, all new Neuron:ON models feature a carbon frame, except for the base model, which has an alloy frame, a different geometry and a Shimano EP6 motor. For this review, we tested the € 5,599 Neuron:ON CF 8.

The new Canyon Neuron:ON CF 8 2023 in detail

At first glance, the Canyon Neuron:ON 2023 could be mistaken for its bigger sibling, the Spectral:ON, which shares nearly identical geometry values. Upon closer inspection, however, there are some differences between the two bikes: the Neuron:ON has a distinctive kink in the seat tube and big 29″ rear tire, which make it look more slender than the Spectral:ON. The Bosch Performance Line CX Smart System motor is paired with a 750 Wh battery, which is permanently integrated into the down tube, meaning that off-bike charging isn’t an option. This is an important factor to consider, especially when planning long tours that involve charging the bikes in a hut. A Bosch System LED Controller on the top tube shows the battery charge status and current support mode, and is paired with a wireless, bar-mounted Bosch Mini Remote. The absence of a screen enhances the tidy, minimalistic look. The chainstay protector prevents chain slap, but the elevated chainstay causes the chain to grind against the frame when riding in the smallest sprocket – a problem we already know from the Spectral:ON. That said, even after many months of riding, our SPECTRAL:ON test bike doesn’t show any signs of unusual wear.

Specs and variants of the new 2023 Canyon Neuron:ON.

The Canyon Neuron:ON is available in two carbon versions, and also an alloy model which has not only different spec and frame material, but also different geometry. Prices start at € 3,799 for the Neuron:ON 6 alloy model, which comes equipped with a Shimano EP6 motor and 504 Wh battery. The latter can be upgraded to a bigger 630 Wh model for an additional € 200. At € 4,799, the CF7 model is the gateway to the Neuron’s carbon dimension. Like all of the carbon variants, it relies on a Bosch Performance Line CX motor and 625 Wh battery, which can be upgraded to a 750 Wh battery for the same € 200 surcharge. Despite increasing the weight by 800 g, bumping up the battery capacity by 20% makes perfect sense, especially for heavy riders and those who are planning to embark on epic backcountry expeditions with serious elevation gains. The high-end CF8 model, on the other hand, is only available with the big 750 Wh battery and retails at € 5,599. The CF 8 in this test comes equipped with a FOX 34 Performance fork with matching FLOAT DPS Performance shock and Shimano brakes.

The spec of our 2023 Canyon Neuron:ON CF 8

The Canyon Neuron:ON CF8 features a solid mid-range spec with only a few minor flaws. The FOX suspension consists of a 34 Performance GRIP fork and matching FLOAT DPS Performance shock, both controlling 140 mm of travel. However, with its slim 34 mm stanchions, the fork is designed for XC and moderate trail riding, and is therefore undersized for an ebike in this category. The Canyon Iridium dropper post has a meagre 150 mm of travel, which isn’t enough even for a frame size M, thus unnecessarily restricting freedom of movement on the bike.

Shimano supply the XT drivetrain and matching XT four-piston brakes. The latter are paired with 200 mm rotors front and rear, providing powerful and reliable deceleration. For the wheels, the German manufacturer combines a DT Swiss Hybrid LN 350 wheelset and Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires in Super Ground casing and ADDIX Speedgrip rubber compound front and rear. However, while the thin Super Ground casing might help save weight, it doesn’t live up to the bike’s trail and touring potential. We recommend upgrading to the tougher Super Trail casing, which allows you to run lower tire pressures while at the same time ensuring better puncture protection, thus providing extra peace of mind on long tours.

The geometry of the 2023 Canyon Neuron:ON CF 8

The Canyon Neuron:ON CF 8 is available in four sizes, S to XL, providing a suitable option for riders between 165 cm and 202 cm tall. The entry-level Neuron:ON 6 alloy variant is also available in size XS, which caters for riders under 160 cm. The two smallest frame sizes roll on 27.5″ wheels. Overall, the alloy version has a more compact geometry with a shorter reach, lower stack height, steeper head angle and slacker seat tube angle, which make it more suitable for touring rather than trail riding. In size M, the carbon model combines 460 mm reach and a 440 mm seat tube. The latter is relatively long, restricting freedom of movement together with the short-travel dropper post. Chainstay length is a generous 450 mm across the board.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Top tube	576 mm	600 mm	625 mm	650 mm
Seat tube	420 mm	440 mm	460 mm	480 mm
Head tube	120 mm	130 mm	140 mm	150 mm
Head angle	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°
Seat angle	76.5°	76.5°	76.5°	76.5°
BB Drop	35.5 mm	35.5 mm	35.5 mm	35.5 mm
Chainstay	450 mm	450 mm	450 mm	450 mm
Wheelbase	1.203 mm	1.232 mm	1.256 mm	1.285 mm
Reach	435 mm	460 mm	485 mm	510 mm
Stack	631 mm	641 mm	650 mm	659 mm

The Canyon Neuron:ON CF 8 2023 on the trail.

The Canyon Neuron:ON places you in an upright, slightly stretched pedalling position that puts a light pressure on your hands when riding on level ground. The rear suspension is plush enough to ensure a good level of touring comfort without bobbing, and at the same time works efficiently enough even without activating the climb switch. Riding uphill, the front wheel always remains planted on the ground, even on steep climbs. However, the long chainstays and big 29″ rear wheel result in a rather sluggish character, making it hard to negotiate narrow uphill sections and tight hairpin switchbacks aboard the Canyon.

When gravity takes over, the Neuron:ON is easy and intuitive to ride from the get-go. It’s agile and fun on moderate trails, and the suspension always provides tons of support, making it easy to generate speed by pumping through rollers and berms. The Neuron:ON also cuts a good figure on smooth singletracks, but quickly reaches its limits on technical trails. This is partly due to the fork, which provides little mid-stroke support, rushing through its travel far too abruptly. As a result, your upper body ends up far over the front end, especially in steep trail sections. On the other hand, the rear end offers significantly more reserves than the front, which results in a rather unbalanced ride feeling. The rear suspension releases its travel efficiently, providing good support, decent braking traction and sufficient progression towards the end of the stroke. Overall, the rear suspension delivers a very good performance, showing no evident weaknesses and making the Canyon a small yet potent trail bike. Unfortunately, the Neuron:ON is held back by its own spec, with the fork and tires playing a major role. Given the muddy conditions of our test trails, we upgraded the front tire to a Big Betty in Super Trail casing, because the standard Nobby Nic would have slipped around like a bin-bag on ice with its shallow profile. If you tend to ride primarily on tarmac and want to squeeze the most out of your battery, the Nobby Nic will do just fine, but if you want to turn the heat up on the trail, we recommend upgrading to a more robust, more aggressively profiled tire to increase both puncture resistance and safety – and with such a powerful ebike, rolling resistance isn’t really an issue.

Who should take a closer look at the 2023 Canyon Neuron:ON CF 8?

The Canyon Neuron:ON CF 8 is an excellent choice for laid-back tourers who want a comfortable companion for long days in the saddle and want to drop into a moderate trail from time to time. If you want to squeeze a little bit more trail performance out of the Neuron:ON, a relatively cheap tire upgrade will significantly increase the level of safety. If you’re looking for a bike with better all-round qualities, you might want to take a closer look at the Spectral:ON, which is comfortable enough on long tours and also has a removable battery and more trail potential. Of course, you’ll have to compromise a little on flowing trails, which the Neuron:ON handles significantly better with its agile character and supportive rear suspension.

While the new Canyon Neuron:ON might not look a whole lot different from the previous model, it has been redeveloped from the ground up. The updated 2023 model has more travel, a brand new carbon frame and a Bosch motor system. The rear suspension is comfortable yet efficient uphill and offers good all-round qualities downhill. The Neuron:ON also cuts a good figure on moderate trails, but the thin, shallow profiled tires and slim fork prevent it from unfolding its full trail potential.

Tuning tips: Tires with more aggressive profile, tougher casing and softer rubber compound.

For more info, visit canyon.com

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Words: Simon Kohler Photos: Markus Greber, Roo Fowler