First ride review: Canyon Pathlite:ON 2020 – the direct-to-consumer brand’s first e-trekking bike

With the new 2020 Pathlite:ON, Canyon present their first e-trekking bike. An ebike for day to day life: commuting, shopping, long day trips and weekend excursions. We tested the Canyon Pathlite:ON 8.0 with the Bosch dual battery system and we’ve got all the details.

There’s no mistaking the Pathlite:ON for anything but a Canyon. The accentuated hydroformed tubes in combination with the one-piece cockpit and the logo on the down tube give the bike its distinctive brand look. Providing assistance on this e-trekking bike is a Bosch Performance CX Gen 4 motor, which is powered by an integrated yet easily removable 500 Wh battery, as featured across the range. The two flagship models also come with an external 500 Wh Power Pack as standard, the dual battery system providing a whopping 1,000 Wh battery capacity. According to Canyon, the powerful motor is ideally suited to pulling a trailer or conquering steep climbs.

Cleverly designed details for a wide range of applications

The new Pathlite:ON is very versatile, excelling at everything from your daily commute to work, to running errands and multi-day excursions on unpaved roads. To make sure that you’re prepared for every eventuality, the three higher-end models feature an integrated Supernova lighting system, including a high beam function, a rear rack with Ortlieb’s QL 3.1 interface and high-quality aluminium mudguards. All bikes come equipped with a Croozer trailer hitch and an SR Suntour XCR 34 100 mm travel fork. In combination with Schwalbe’s G-ONE Allround tires, you should be guaranteed a comfortable ride.

Ranging from € 2,499 to € 4,999, the pricing for the Pathlite:ON is very fair, even allowing customers with a limited budget to experience the joy of an ebike. The option of leasing is particularly interesting with the Pathlite:ON too – Canyon have a cooperation with Jobrad in Germany, among others.

The spec list of the Pathlite:ON models at a glance

The geometry of the Canyon Pathlite:ON

Canyon are offering the Pathlite:ON in five sizes from XS to XL, enabling both very short and very tall riders to find a size suitable for them. For the wheels, Canyon deliberately opted for a so-called size split, so the models in sizes XS and S come with 27.5” wheels, and M, L, and XL all roll on the larger 29ers.

Size	XS	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	440 mm	465 mm	490 mm	520 mm	550 mm
Top tube	549 mm	556 mm	575 mm	600 mm	640 mm
Head tube	92 mm	98 mm	92 mm	114 mm	163 mm
Head angle	69.5°	69.5°	70.0°	70.0°	70.0°
Seat angle	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°	73.5°
Chainstay	443 mm	443 mm	460 mm	460 mm	460 mm
Wheelbase	1,058 mm	1,066 mm	1,098 mm	1,125 mm	1,167 mm
Reach	368 mm	374 mm	385 mm	404 mm	430 mm
Stack	610 mm	615 mm	630 mm	651 mm	697 mm

Our first impression of the Canyon Pathlite:ON

Before the official presentation, we had the exclusive opportunity to test the Pathlite:ON around our headquarters in Leonberg. We’ve done everything from short trips to the bakery in the morning to longer rides with our dog. The Pathlite:ON always proved to be a reliable companion.

Thanks to the huge battery capacity, long rides are no problem at all and you rarely need to plug it in as you go about your day to day routine. The riding position is central, although the rather aggressive, low front end will appeal more to fast commuters than relaxed cruisers. In terms of handling, the high centre of gravity is noticeable, especially through the corners where the bike feels a bit top-heavy and needs to be ridden actively. While we understand that the external range extender had to be positioned high to provide enough room for two bottle bosses in the front triangle, the question arises as to why the internal 500 Wh battery has also been positioned so high in the down tube. If you buy the flagship model and plan to ride without the additional range extender installed, you should know that the bike doesn’t come with an additional battery cover. In other words, the battery mounting hardware remains visibly exposed, which is a bit ugly, but at least it gives you the option of mounting another water bottle. We would have preferred some kind of cover, such as Simplon offer for their dual-battery bikes. As of now, Canyon aren’t planning on making one, but you could resort to using a cover from a different brand.

The Pathlite:ON remains easy to control with the rear rack fully loaded (certified up to 25 kg), but with the high centre of gravity at the front, we recommend you keep your hands on the handlebars! After all, the added weight on the back has a big impact on handling.

As usual, the assistance of the Bosch motor is powerful and very easy to control. We would have liked a bit more comfort at the rear and a dropper seat post – the latter does wonders for your confidence, even in an urban environment. There are a few suspended dropper seat posts available on the market that would offer exactly this combination. The shallow-profiled tires work well on paved roads, but they offer too little grip in muddy conditions.

With the exception of the flagship model, all bikes come with a Bosch Purion display, which works well on an eMTB, but we think the Intuvia or the smartphone hub would have been the better choice for an e-trekking bike. Not least because both versions allow you to attach your smartphone to the handlebar for navigation.

Our verdict on the new Canyon Pathlite:ON

The Pathlite:ON is a great addition to Canyon’s portfolio. It offers excellent value for money, specced with high-quality components designed for everyday practicality. The dual battery system increases range significantly, but the high centre of gravity noticeably affects handling. The integrated cockpit looks clean, but most riders who want a higher or a more customisable cockpit are likely to exchange it. Fast commuters who want to travel long distances or are simply too lazy to charge their bike every day will find a very attractive option in the Canyon Pathlite:ON.

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For more information, visit canyon.com

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Words & Photos: Robin Schmitt