New Canyon Strive CF 9 on review – All-rounder or Race eMTB?

With the new Strive, Canyon send their hard-hitting eMTB into its second generation. The key figures stay familiar: 170/160 mm of travel front and rear, the proven fifth-generation Bosch Performance Line CX motor with power to spare, and a handful of targeted detail updates. But is that enough to keep pace at the sharp end of a fast-moving eMTB market?

Canyon’s eMTB range is huge, with a model for almost every kind of riding. The Strive is built for rough terrain and now enters its second generation with a host of updates. Its predecessor already impressed us enough to secure a coveted Best Buy recommendation in our big 2024 e-mountainbike group test.

Canyon have stuck to the proven recipe when it comes to the fundamentals: 170/160 mm of travel, a mullet wheel setup and a fifth-generation Bosch Performance Line CX motor, powered by a removable 750 Wh battery. On top of that, the German manufacturer has made a number of tweaks aimed at improving durability and, for the first time, integrated the K.I.S. steering stabilisation system. Our CF 9 test bike in size M tips the scales at 24.8 kg, so it’s certainly no lightweight, and will set you back € 6,499. But the competition never stands still, with exciting new bikes and concepts arriving all the time. Can the Canyon Strive still stay ahead of the pack, or is it starting to lose ground?

The New Canyon Strive in Detail

Visually, the new Strive barely moves the game on from its predecessor. The horizontally mounted shock flows into the seat stays, while straight lines continue to shape the design. Compared with sleeker rivals, the down tube and motor area look bulky, thanks in part to the 750 Wh battery, which slides down past the motor for removal. It earns no style points, yet it pays off day to day. Undo one bolt on the skid plate and the battery is free for indoor charging.

Another useful everyday feature is the new integrated multitool at the bottom of the top tube. This includes all essential tools, though getting it out takes a little patience. On the plus side, it sits rock-solid in the frame and is completely silent on the trail. Speaking of keeping things quiet, the rear end gets a generously sized chainstay protector that keeps the chain under control when the trail gets rowdy. The K.I.S. system has already featured on several of Canyon’s mountain bikes and now makes its way onto the Strive too. Canyon’s steering stabilisation system uses two bands inside the top tube to actively pull the handlebars back towards the centre position. The idea is to improve stability both in a straight line and through corners. You can adjust the level of assistance to suit your preferences via a screw on the top tube.

The spec of the new Canyon Strive CF 9.

The Canyon Strive CF 9 model we tested comes in at €6,499. As with its predecessor, Canyon rely on the proven Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which delivers up to 120 Nm of torque and 750 W of peak power, fed by a large 750 Wh battery. Directly above the motor sits the charging port, protected by a purpose-built cover. Ours, unfortunately, gave up after just a few charging cycles and no longer closed reliably, leaving the port exposed to dirt and water. Control comes from the Bosch System Controller integrated into the top tube, though you go without a full-size display such as the Kiox 400 C: the K.I.S. system claims the available space inside the top tube. Battery level and support mode can therefore only be read from the coloured LED bars. As ever, the motor characteristics can be tuned through the intuitive Bosch eBike Flow app.

For the suspension, Canyon rely on a FOX 38 Performance Elite fork with the GRIP X2 damper and 170 mm of travel up front. This forgoes the fancy Kashima coating of the Factory series, but delivers the same top-tier performance as its top-tier counterpart. A FOX FLOAT X2 Performance shock controls 160 mm of travel at the rear.

SRAM MAVEN brakes with 200 mm rotors front and rear provide powerful, reliable deceleration. On long, steep descents, however, heavier riders would benefit from a thicker HS2 rotor at the front for improved heat management and consistency. For shifting, the new Strive uses the mechanical SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission, based on the robust Full Mount system. In terms of shift performance, it has little to fear from its electronic and significantly more expensive X0 and XX siblings.

For the wheels, Canyon rely on aluminium DT Swiss H 1900 SPLINE HYBRIDs, wrapped in Maxxis rubber front and rear: a soft MaxxGrip ASSEGAI with an EXO+ casing up front and a Minion DHR II at the rear, the latter in the tougher DoubleDown casing with a firmer, longer-lasting MaxxTerra compound. Anyone who rides hard over rocks should upgrade the front to the sturdier DoubleDown casing too. Cockpit and dropper post both come from Canyon’s own catalogue, with the post delivering a generous 200 mm of travel and slipping almost completely into the seat tube, leaving ample freedom of movement when the trail points down.

Tuning tip: Heavier riders should fit a front tyre with the tougher DoubleDown casing for extra puncture protection on descents.

The geometry of the new Canyon Strive

Canyon offer the Strive in four sizes, from S to XL. As is typical for Canyon, the frames run fairly large. At around 180 cm, our tester found size M a perfect fit. The geometry has barely changed from the previous model: the head angle stays at 63.5°, and so does the reach, which at 475 mm in size M is on the long side. If you fall between two sizes, we would therefore steer you towards the smaller one. A pleasantly short 420 mm seat tube, together with a dropper that retracts almost fully into the frame, frees up plenty of movement on descents. The chainstays measure 445 mm across every size.

All other spec options of the new Canyon Strive

Canyon offer the new Strive in three different spec options. All of them share the same 170/160 mm travel, mullet setup, K.I.S. system and 750 Wh battery. The range starts with the Strive CF 8 at € 4,999. It comes with a more basic RockShox suspension setup consisting of a Domain Gold R fork and Super Deluxe Base shock. Shifting is handled by a mechanical Shimano DEORE drivetrain. As such, the CF 8 offers a relatively affordable entry point, although it cannot quite match its more expensive siblings in terms of adjustability and outright performance.

At the top of the range sits the flagship CFR model at € 7,499. It already sets itself apart with its motor, relying on the more aggressive Bosch Performance Line CX-R motor, which features an additional, very direct Race mode and also weighs slightly less than the conventional Performance CX. Canyon also pull out all the stops with the suspension, fitting a RockShox Ultimate setup consisting of a ZEB fork and Vivid air shock. Shifting is taken care of by an electronic SRAM X0 AXS Transmission drivetrain. In our opinion, the CF 9 we tested at € 6,499 offers the best balance of price and performance in the Strive range, while the CF 8 provides a more affordable way into Canyon’s eMTB line-up.

How does the new Canyon Strive CF 9 ride on the trail?

How does the new Canyon Strive CF 9 perform uphill?

The Canyon Strive CF 9 puts you in a pleasantly upright riding position, which remains comfortable even after a long day in the saddle. The sensitive rear suspension plays its part too. It bobs ever so slightly, but in return it delivers plenty of traction, even when you are picking your way up wet roots or rock steps.

Despite weighing in at just under 25 kilograms, the mass hardly makes itself felt, and the eMTB can still be steered precisely through tight uphill switchbacks. The powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor in eMTB+ mode delivers its power in a controlled, easy-to-manage way. Thanks to the removable battery, you can also make a quick pit stop and tackle very long day rides or even weekend adventures without charging, as long as you bring a spare battery along.

How does the Canyon Strive CF 9 perform downhill?

From the very first metres of the descent, the Strive feels instantly reassuring. You stand deep and low between the wheels, and the slightly taller front end adds a welcome sense of security that feeds your confidence. Here the bike’s slightly higher weight works in its favour. As soon as the trail turns rough, the Canyon feels planted and composed, holding its line with real authority. You can charge straight into rock gardens and blown-out sections without overthinking it, and more often than not you come out the far side carrying even more speed.

The suspension responds sensitively to small impacts, offers plenty of reserves at the end of the travel for big drops or botched landings, and does not collapse uncontrollably when you push through berms or pump rollers. In tighter sections or on flow trails, the Strive never feels sluggish. Instead, it is surprisingly lively and easy to flick from one turn to the next.

Conclusions about the new Canyon Strive CF 9

Despite the relatively modest updates, the Canyon Strive CF 9 has no reason to fear the competition. Uphill, it impresses with excellent traction and the familiar punch of the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, while downhill it combines plenty of composure with surprising agility. The bulky motor integration and high overall weight do little to spoil the package: the Strive CF 9 is a capable all-rounder that delivers strong performance and good value for money.

Tops

• Intuitive handling for riders of all skill levels
• Strong performance at a fair price
• Sensitive suspension

Flops

• No lightweight
• Bulky motor integration

You can find more information about the Canyon Strive on the website of Canyon.

Words & Photos: Mike Hunger