Canyon Spectral:ON CF 7 in review – Looking for riding fun

The Canyon Spectral:ON CF with its Shimano EP8 motor and 630 Wh battery is an old acquaintance from our mega eMTB group test. For our budget group test, we took a closer look at the cheaper Spectral:ON CF 7, which retails at € 5,199 and shares some similarities with its top-end counterpart. Can the lightest bike in this test assert itself against the strong competition?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2021 for € 5,500 – 7 budget eMTBs go head to head

In our mega group test of 25 of the hottest bikes of 2021, the Spectral:ON CF 9 flagship model impressed our test team with its elegant looks and seamless integration of the Shimano EP8 motor. It’s all the more reassuring that the € 5,199 Spectral:ON CF 7 is based on the exact same carbon frame as the top-of-the-range model. That means it shares some of its unique features, like the special Canyon SD:ON saddle with raised tail, the USB-C charge port on the top tube and proprietary ON key, which can be used to remove the 630 Wh battery. That also extends to the integration of the EP8 motor, which is just as seamless – only the one-piece cockpit is replaced for a more traditional stem/handlebar setup. The system’s speed sensor is neatly integrated into the dropout with the magnet safely tucked away inside the brake rotor and the cables are routed neatly through the frame. The cockpit looks tidy and boasts great ergonomics. With the Spectral:ON, Canyon want to deliver a playful eMTB designed to deliver uncompromised trail fun. To achieve this, the German direct to consumer brand relies on 150 mm travel front and rear, a low system weight and mixed wheel sizes with a big 29″ front wheel and smaller 27.5” wheel at the rear. Moreover, the Shimano EP8 motor is tilted to allow the shortest chainstays possible. At 22.92 kg in size L, the Spectral:ON is the lightest bike in the test field.

The spec of the Spectral:ON CF 7

The second cheapest bike in this test relies on a RockShox Lyrik Select fork and RockShox Deluxe Select shock, both controlling 150 mm travel. For the cockpit, the 780 mm alloy handlebars, stem and grips are produced in-house by Canyon, while everthing else is supplied by Shimano. The motor and dropper remotes, the SLX brakes levers and 12-speed shifter can all be positioned individually, allowing you to adjust the cockpit for optimum ergonomics. The brakes are combined with big 200 mm rotors front and rear. Nitpicking, we feel that Canyon should have followed FOCUS’ example and combined a cheaper SLX rear derailleur with an XT shifter, which features the practical Multi Release function. This would also provide better shifting performance over the XT derailleur and SLX shifter fitted. For the tires, Canyon combine a 2.5” MAXXIS Minion DHF at the front and 2.6” wide DHRII at the rear. The thin EXO/EXO + casing lets Canyon save weight and suits the range of application of the bike, provided you’re a light rider. On the other hand, heavier and aggressive riders should upgrade to a more puncture-resistant casing, particularly at the rear. Robust tires allow you to run lower air pressures and prevent pinch flats. For the wheels, Canyon rely on a proven DT Swiss H1900 wheelset, which offers great value and durability.

The spec of the Spectral:ON was chosen carefully and suits the bike’s intended use.

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The riding position, long-distance capability and geometry of the Canyon Spectral:ON CF 7

The geometry of the Canyon Spectral:ON CF 7 has two special features: the shortest chainstays and steepest head angle in the entire test field, both of which contribute to the nimble and fun character of the Canyon. You better be fond of this playfulness because at 480 mm (size L), the seat tube is far too long (the longest in our group test) and restricts your choice of frame sizes, making it difficult to size up for more stability. On flat terrain, the slack seat tube angle and upright riding position ensure a comfortable pedalling position while the voluminous tires make for a very smooth ride. On long rides, the USB-C port on the top tube allows you to charge a mobile phone, GPS device or to power a light during night rides. While some of our test riders found the SD:ON saddle to be very comfortable, others didn’t like the wide shape and raised tail.

Size	S	M	L	XL
Seat tube	430 mm	440 mm	480 mm	520 mm
Top Tube	590 mm	612 mm	632 mm	653 mm
Head tube	100 mm	115 mm	125 mm	135 mm
Head angle	66.5°	66.5°	66.5°	66.5°
Seat angle	74.5°	74.5°	74.5°	74.5°
Chainstays	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm
BB Drop	33 mm	33 mm	33 mm	33 mm
Wheelbase	1,171 mm	1,197 mm	1,221 mm	1,245 mm
Reach	425 mm	445 mm	465 mm	485 mm
Stack	620 mm	625 mm	635 mm	645 mm

Canyon’s convincing argument on the trail – Pure riding fun

Uphill, the special saddle continues to demonstrate its advantages, helping the rider to actively load the front thanks to its raised tail. With the Spectral:ON CF 7, this is especially necessary, because the front wheel lifts off the ground easily even on flat and flowing trails. Keep your weight over the front wheel and the bike winds its way upwards without batting an eyelid and is lots of fun to ride. The steeper the trail, the more input the short chainstays and rear-heavy pedalling position require to keep the front wheel tracking. Even with the saddle pushed all the way forward, the Spectral:ON reaches its limit on steep ramps, falling far behind the competition, regardless of whether you’re riding on forest paths or gravel tracks. With the Canyon, only experienced riders with good riding skills will be able to tackle tricky cruxes and technical terrain.

Downhill the Canyon gives you an injection of fun. The lively and direct handling combined with the poppy suspension turn every trail into a playground.

Tuning tips: some riders might want to change the saddle | (rear) tires with more puncture-resistant and stable casing i.e. MAXXIS DoubleDown

Downhill, the Canyon Spectral:ON CF 7 is in a class of its own! It’s nimble, lively and direct. This character, low system weight and poppy suspension encourage the rider to play with the terrain, accelerate out of corners and pull off ledges – it’s so much fun! Experienced and active riders will turn every trail into a playground on board the Canyon. The intuitive handling combined with the balanced weight distribution and sensitive suspension also make it a great choice for beginners, allowing even inexperienced riders to negotiate open corners with ease. However, on technical singletrack the Spectral:ON CF 7 is only average. Unfortunately, the long seat tube doesn’t allow for a dropper with more than 150 mm travel and, together with the raised tail of the saddle, restricts freedom of movement on very steep terrain. Ultimately, this limits the bike’s downhill performance and impacts on the rider’s confidence. At high speeds, the Spectral:ON CF 7 feels increasingly nervous and struggles to keep up with the competition. At high-speeds, the suspension simply lacks reserves and passes hits onto the rider, requiring careful line choice and early braking.

Conclusion

One thing’s clear: the lively character and fun handling of the Canyon Spectral:ON make it the king of flow trails! The comfortable riding position also makes it a great choice for long rides. The seamless integration of the Shimano EP8 system, high-quality look and sensible spec are the icing on the cake. If steep climbs and descents aren’t your cup of tea and if you aren’t interested in blasting down the trail at Mach 10, the Canyon offers an excellent overall package with its lively handling, the best value for money and most riding fun in the entire test field. A well deserved Best Buy!

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You can find out more about at canyon.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2021 for € 5,500 – 7 budget eMTBs go head to head

All bikes in test: Canyon Spectral:ON CF 7 | FOCUS JAM² 6.9 NINE (Click for review) | Haibike AllMtn 4 (Click for review) | INFRONT IF-2.1 Fully (Click for review) | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 700 (Click for review) | Propain Ekano AL 29 (Click for review) | SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 920 (Click for review)

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Words: Photos: Jonas Müssig & Valentin Rühl