Canyon Ultimate CF

Price Paid:  $750.00 at Canyon online

Favorite Ride:
Hills

Bike Setup:
Ultimate CF Evo frame with one-one-four SLX fork and Ritchey VCLS seatpost,
Ultegra 6700 groupset,
Fulcrum racing 1 wheels

Summary:
I bought the Ultimate CF evo frame to upgrade from Planet X SL Pro Carbon. The bike has the Ultegra 6700 groupset and Fulcrum Racing 1 wheels.

There's nothing wrong with the bike. It is both an incredible climber and a descender. The frame transmits any power you can generate right to the tarmac. The steering is highly accurate. You can trust the bike in all situations, regardless of the speed.

NOTE: Be careful with the sizing! The Canyon "perfect positioning system" takes into account only the inseam length. That may provide wrong results if you have e.g. a relatively short torso & long legs.

Strengths:
Overall quality.
Stiffness of both BB and front combined with quite high level of comfort.
Very precise cornering.
Degree of stability in descends.

Weaknesses:
"Non-standard" sizing of the stem.

Similar Products Used:
Planet X SL pro carbon, Bianchi 1885 Veloce

Price Paid:  $1600.00 at Canyon

Bike Setup:
Super Rec / Ritchey / Reynolds Assault

Summary:
Anyone got a 60cm Canyon CF SLX? Just ordered one and want to know how it sizes up. I'm 6'2" with a 90cm inseem. Not sure If i should go for a 58cm. Currently riding a Specialized Tarmac S Works 2007. Measuring up I would not need any spacers on the 60 cm compared to my tarmac.

Decisions, Decisions.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at canyon.com

Favorite Ride:
Canyon Ultimate CF Pro

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace
Grammo Carbon Wheels with American Classic hubs.

Summary:
I bought the Canyon as an upgrade from my 2010 OPERA Canova which is an excellent bike but a little on the heavy side.
The Canyon impressed me with the looks, the weight (7.3kg altogether) and the handling. Especially the front part with the enforced head tube is incredibly stiff. The also very stiff BB and chain stays make the bike very very responsive in acceleration and during climbs. It literally flies uphill and feels great when you're out of the saddle.

In terms of comfort the Canyon is not as smooth as my (heavier) OPERA. You can feel that it's made for racing and not cruising. But I do not consider that as a disadvantage.

Strengths:
Stiff, responsive, light. Great during climbs and sprints. Looks fantastic.

Weaknesses:
none

Price Paid:  $1690.00 at Canyon online

Favorite Ride:
anywhere

Bike Setup:
Campagnolo Chorus / Record
Mavic ES training wheels and Zipp 303 race wheels

Summary:
This frame set was an upgrade to my first carbon bike from an the ever reliable and bullet proof aluminum Cannondale CAAD 8. Built the Canyon with a 10 speed campy chorus/record group set with Mavic ES training wheels and Zipp 303 tubular - race wheels. I was expecting the Canyon to be stiff but not quite as stiff as the Cannondale - I was wrong, this thing is super stiff, light and comfortable. The only thing I did regret slightly is going for the 60cm instead of a 58cm in size. Canyon’s web site has a measuring system online that's a good ‘guide’ to what size frame you should go for, but in my case I was on the border line of 58 and the 60 ? the only reason I went for the 60 was the extra height in head tube - which lacked by 20mm (used spacers to lift the stem) on my 58cm cannonade. The problem with trying to adjust height in the Canyon is limited, 1. the frame comes with the stem and forks pre-cut and 2. the steer diameter size is 1'1/4 which is bigger than the normal 1'1/8 (hard to get spacers 1'1/4). Anyway the Canyon on the road is performs superbly - great value for money and has an excellent finish in the team white (if you enjoy cleaning bikes). I will need to get use to slightly bigger frame size – but that shouldn’t take long at all. I’d recommend a second option on selecting your frame size – unless you speak German well. I’d found there customer service and turn around time pretty good.

Strengths:
light, stiff and power to the ground

Weaknesses:
none as yet

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale CAAD 8

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Price Paid:  $2000.00 at canyon.com

Favorite Ride:
Mt Nebo

Bike Setup:
Canyon CF Ultimate Pro 56
Campagnolo Record 11sp Group 172.5 12.25
Deda Newton Shallow bars 42 c t c
Ritchey WCS wet look stem 110mm
Ritchey WCS carbon seatpost 27.2
Fizik Arione saddle
Campagnolo Eurus 2 way fit wheels
Hutchinson Fusion 2 tubelss clinchers

Summary:
My first full carbon bike after coming off a carbon / titanium mix. A much lighter frame with a tremendously stiff and efficient feel to it. The handling is a little sharper than my trusted Colnago but not at all "twitchy". I am running on tubeless clinchers for the first time and I am not sure how much impact this has had on the ride however I have not found the frame uncomfortable at all. Firm sure, but secure and fast is more the feel. The stability from the front end with the oversize headset is fantastic - it just tracks giving awesome confidence. My frame is in the team white and turns heads with ease while the finish and quality of the paint is excellent. Given the sharp price I am very happy. I did not have the negative experiences that some report re ordering and shipping and mine came to Australia so you can't get too much further from Germany than that.
Check the geometry very carefully however as my 56 Canyon is very close to the same real terms size as other bikes of a much smaller stated size ie top tubes are short. Price is Aussie dollars and includes discount for UCI licence (which is a nice touch) and shipping. Does not include Australian duty payable here.

Strengths:
Light, efficient, very stiff yet with enough comfort,incredible front end stability, good value, sharp looking, not common here

Weaknesses:
Headtube might be a bit tall for young boy racers types? Be careful with sizing, white bikes need LOTS of cleaning & TLC ...

Similar Products Used:
Cannondales X 2, Colnago CT1

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