Vanzyl Posted June 12, 2014 Share Canyon has today launched its latest enduro bike, the carbon Strive CF. The reveal has been long-awaited – team riders such as Fabian Barel and Joe Barnes have previously been seen riding heavily guarded prototypes that had cloth shrouds covering the suspension systems!Canyon has designed a new concept called ShapeShifter. It’s a relatively simple but effective way of adjusting geometry and suspension kinematics on the fly, switching between what Canyon calls XC and DH modes.The ShapeShifter is a bar-operated mini-piston, which actuates a knuckle link just below the main rocker on the frame. This moves the shock backward or forward in relation to the rocker, adjusting its spring rate, the suspension system’s travel and the geometry of the bike. The piston is nestled between frame tubes and rocker linkages, and looks like it's well out of the way of mud, thanks to the plastic cover over the top. The piston only moves when actuated, so it shouldn’t cause too many maintenance issues, and Canyon reckons it only adds 200g to the weight of the bike.In XC mode the Strive CF has 130mm of rear travel, which is relatively stiff compared to DH mode. Head and seat angles are, Canyon says, 1.5 degrees steeper (67.5 and 75 degrees, respectively) and the bottom bracket is around 20mm higher. This geometry makes the bike more suited to climbing, while the stiffer suspension reduces pedal bob. Canyon says that while some of the shocks offered on the bikes provide compression damping adjustment, it’s not really needed. http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2014/06/12/1402570915961-ngicrf7jkcoe-1630-354.jpgThe ShapeShifter piston is hidden below the plastic cover. The green dot denotes the bike is in XC modeDrop the bike into DH mode and the angles slacken to 66 degrees at the head tube and 73.5 degrees at the seat tubes, the bottom bracket drops, the suspension’s compression becomes softer and the rear wheel is able to travel through 160mm. The slacker angles, lower BB and softer but longer suspension mean the bike handles better in corners and high-speed sections.Shifting between modes is easy once you’ve got the feel for the system. To activate DH mode, you press and hold the ShapeShifter lever and shift your weight back, pushing down with your heels before releasing the lever. To shift back to XC mode you press and hold the lever, shift your weight forwards and up, and release the lever. A green dial on the rocker tells you which mode you’re in. The system has no mid-point between modes, and the pressure in the piston can be adjusted a little to accommodate riders of different weight, or whether you want the system to fall more easily into XC of DH mode. http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2014/06/12/1402570974974-1ngvohhmkue19-1630-354.jpgSide by side, DH and XC modes – the knuckle link is moved by the piston to alter the suspension's kinematicsThe other interesting shift is that Canyon now has seven different frames on offer. In the UK,we’ve been calling out for longer bikes from Canyon – in What Mountain Bike magazine’s Trail Bike of the Year awards, the shortness of Canyon's contender held it back a touch in the standings. Canyon is now offering four standard frame sizes (S, M, L, XL) and three ‘pro’ sizes (S, M, L); the only difference is that the pro models have a longer top tube. For example, the standard medium frame has an effective top tube length of 600mm, while the Pro version has a 629mm effective top tube length.The rest of the Strive CF’s features come as no surprise, and showcase Canyon’s usual attention to detail. The tapered steerer gives way to a down tube that holds the internally routed cables. Towards the bottom of the down tube there’s a plastic down tube protector to reduce the chance of rock-strikes damaging the frame. This is removable to give better access to the internally routed cables, which is a nice touch. It's good to see a chainsuck plate and bolt-through rear axle too, as well as the ISCG05 chainguide mount.The Strive CF range goes on sale today, with delivery expected in early August. The information we have suggests that the range will start at €3,699 for the Strive CF 8.0 Race (with the pro geometry), which comes with a 160mm travel Rockshox Pike RCT3 fork and a Monarch Plus RC3 Debon Air shock, a SRAM X01 groupset with RaceFace Turbine cranks, SRAM Roam 40 wheels, RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost and a mixture of RaceFace, Ergon and Renthal finishing kit.The top-of-the-line Strive CF 9.0 SL costs €4,999 and comes with the new 170mm Fox 36 fork, a Cane Creek DBinline shock, Shimano XTR groupset, Mavic Crossmax XL wheels and a smattering of Canyon’s own carbon finishing kit.The bike in the gallery is the Strive CF 9.0 Race with the pro geometry, and is priced at €4,299. UK pricing for all models is to be confirmed. gummibear, Steven Knoetze (sk27), Jakkals. and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaper Posted June 12, 2014 Share sweet looking ride!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Dale Posted June 12, 2014 Share What a beaut'I dig the brand Spoke101 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoLefty!! Posted June 13, 2014 Share Want one but heck what a convoluted path to get it here.... r0adrunner 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaco-fiets Posted June 13, 2014 Share Why no local agents? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gummibear Posted June 13, 2014 Share Why no local agents? Canyon only sell online. They stopped shipping to SA due to the high theft rates . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capricorn Posted June 13, 2014 Share Canyon only sell online. They stopped shipping to SA due to the high theft rates . what theft rates? Of canyon bikes sent via courier to ZA? Please, anyone that's had their frames stolen, please post up. Spoke101 and urbanroyal 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skylark Posted June 13, 2014 Share Is it just me or is every 2nd bike frame these days look like it was made in the Spez factory using the enduro frame mould?Awesome looking bike tho... Edited June 13, 2014 by Skylark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted June 13, 2014 Share Is it just me or is every 2nd bike frame these days look like it was made in the Spez factory using the enduro frame mould?Awesome looking bike tho...a spaz could never look that good! Spoke101, Brian Fantana and GoLefty!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skylark Posted June 13, 2014 Share a spaz could never look that good! Granted but they look rather similar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchelicious Posted June 13, 2014 Share What a beaut'I dig the brand Gonna tell Sagan you said that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanzyl Posted June 13, 2014 Share CANYON posted my bike with DHL, 2 days and it was here!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted June 13, 2014 Share CANYON posted my bike with DHL, 2 days and it was here!!! when? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoke101 Posted June 13, 2014 Share CANYON posted my bike with DHL, 2 days and it was here!!! When? Edit: Oops got beaten to the punch. Edited June 13, 2014 by Spoke101 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skott5 Posted June 13, 2014 Share That Canyon is the dogs danglies !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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