As one of the competitors in the Enduro annual bicycle race in 2020, can Canyon’s latest Shapeshifter technology help make Strive the ultimate Enduro machine?
Canyon has had a history of Strive for many years. During that time, it has witnessed the success of companies such as Fabien Barel and more recently Ines Thoma and Florian Nicolai.
Head to our annual bike center for a complete list of winners, categories and shortlisted bikes, as well as the latest reviews-or read about how we tested the behind-the-scenes features of the 2020 bike.
The new Strive is a beautiful-looking bicycle. Its clean lines and delicate details make it stand out in a highly competitive category. However, Canyon only offers the latest 29er Strive carbon fiber.
The new Shapeshifter Stage 2.0 system is at the core of Strive. This beautiful little system has been completely redesigned with the help of Fox suspension, and now has a new gas spring with a two-way valve, and it runs at lower pressure and the entire system has less friction.
Now, because the revised remote control is located under the left side of the handlebar, it is easier to switch between the two modes.
To enter the pedal friendly mode, simply press the “click” lever and step on the pedal. The result is a suspension kinematics switch, making things firmer and more gradual, limiting the rear stroke to 135mm, and effectively tilting the head tube and seat tube angle by 1.5 degrees.
Press the “slack” lever and enter the first bump, you will once again get the slack angle and the full 150mm travel of the rear wheel.
At the rear, Strive uses a four-bar linkage and top-of-the-line RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock absorber for a 150mm stroke to ensure everything is normal.
There are many neat features, including an integrated rubber protective layer under the down tube and under the bottom bracket, and a robust entry/exit port for internal cable routing, which not only contributes to the smooth style, but also keeps things completely quiet, no Quack.
There is also Canyon’Quixle’ rear axle. Although it may not sound like much, what you actually have is a neat axle that looks like a bolted through axle. But by pulling the pull ring, a pivot rod can be slid from the inside, and the pull ring can be loosened/tightened without using an Allen wrench.
Strive is available in four sizes, but the numbers are not as progressive as possible. Although the Shapeshifter makes Strive feel like a more efficient machine when going uphill, at least in my opinion, this German brand is not taking full advantage of what is offered here.
It feels that the descent pattern may be more extreme. As far as the current situation is concerned, the head angle of my medium-sized test car in downhill mode is 65.5 degrees, and the reach is only 440mm.
I certainly think that the extension range can be expanded a bit, and of course the head angle can be further relaxed to enhance absolute high-speed stability without any adverse effects on the climbing ability of the bike.
Canyon does offer two CFR models (“R” stands for “Race”), they use 170mm instead of 160mm travel fork, so the head angle is looser. However, both bikes are much more expensive than the CF 9.0 seen here.
Other notable figures include the relatively low 340mm bottom bracket height (36mm drop) and 435mm chain length, which, like most brands, does not change with the frame size.
In climbing mode, the seat angle of 73.5 degrees can actually be steepened to 75 degrees. Although it may not sound particularly steep, the rear suspension is significantly hardened, so when you start to winch upwards, it will never feel Too slack.
Canyon’s direct sales model may mean that you won’t get any support from your local bike store, but you do get impressive cash specs.
It is worth mentioning here that RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork and Super Deluxe Ultimate shock absorber are some of the best on the market.
Both units are super compliant, provide a lot of support, and can be easily adjusted to increase/decrease the progress they provide.
Renault carbon fiber wheels are wrapped in Maxxis DHR II tires-some of my favorite tires-but alas, no EXO+ or DoubleDown shells provide extra protection at the rear. They do set up tubeless, which is an added benefit.
Canyon uses its own carbon fiber rods, and the carbon fiber Truvativ Descendant crankset is matched with SRAM X01 Eagle 1×12 gears.
SRAM’s G2 brakes do make bicycles of this performance (and this ability) somewhat disappointing, and do not match the power and impact of the powerful Code brakes, which are common in many endurance racing equipment.
In order to get the best feeling of Strive, I ride it on various roads. From steep, natural, technical trails, to root spreading, curved ground and loose curves, to high-speed bike lanes, there are high jumps, berms and rock gardens everywhere.
It is worth mentioning that I also spent some time buying the cheaper CF 8.0 before the end of 2019.
Although Shapeshifter seems to add complexity, it doesn’t, and setting up Strive is a quick and easy thing.
Unlike the old version of Shapeshifter, it not only seems cumbersome to set up (it can also be very unreliable), but also requires a huge physical weight change to adapt to its climbing mode, while the new 2.0 version is much easier.
Press the “click” lever and depress the pedal with some force, enough to get you into a more efficient mode. After the engagement, it does have obvious effects and it is easy to feel.
First of all, Strive is not a bad pedaler, but once it enters climbing mode, it feels more agile and eager to climb hills. In this regard, it definitely has an advantage over many long-distance travel counterparts. It also weighs only 14.21kg, which also helps.
The rear end feels firmer in climbing mode, without the need to step down and tap the low-speed compression rod of the shock absorber.
However, to be honest, due to the upside-down position of the shock absorber, in any case, it is actually very tricky to reach the problematic joystick while riding, so it is very convenient and not really needed.
Press the “slack” lever and slide into the first bump, Strive’s 150mm stroke returns almost immediately, while the angle relaxes to provide greater downhill stability.
Hammering it to the blasting full-speed downhill section, Strive doesn’t feel as rock-solid or staggering as the Specialized Enduro Comp or Whyte G-170C RS 29er, but the distance is not far. This is because, although the angle may not be great, the excellent job Strive does is to provide its 150mm of travel at the rear in a very controllable combination, and it is a bike that is easy to adapt to rapid changes.
In fact, this subtle improvement does make you feel as if you have traveled more often than you might think. The suspension device is currently the best suspension device, and it provides a very good balance between the front and rear, which is very helpful.
The excellent Lyrik Ultimate front fork provides a really soft initial touch, but when you want to load the front of the bike when turning or jumping, you never feel a lack of support and still manage to make it without tilting. The slope is big enough to feel harsh from the bottom up.
It is also very comfortable, and I have never experienced hand or arm fatigue when dealing with longer and rougher bike parking times.
However, I did find that I had to fully open the rebound damper on the Super Deluxe Ultimate shock absorber to make it feel as I want-if you weigh 68 kg lighter than me, it is not ideal.
When I tested Strive CF 8.0, I mentioned the sturdy Renault wheels, which might feel a little harsh at times. The CF 8.0 is equipped with Fox suspension (36 forks uses the less forgiving FIT4 shock absorber), which is not commensurate with the softness of the CF 9.0 tested here.
This sensitive, super-active suspension may explain why even when driving on rough, uneven roads, I have so much less feedback on the wheels of this model.
Although I might criticize some conservative numbers for full high-speed stability, these numbers do equate to a very interesting journey. Strive is eager to jump from one turn to another or from one line to another without any effort. One jump.
The low bottom bracket, pliable suspension and traction-rich tires also help make it a real ripper in corners, where you can find loads of fun and speed.
And, if you are worried that the low-end bracket may cause annoying crank hits and carbon loss, don’t worry, because Canyon wisely sets the CF 9.0 crank to 165mm.
Nevertheless, it still cannot be denied how capable Strive is. It may not feel like a real rough, best-in-class bike on a full-speed downhill treadmill, but it can still handle them without problems, which helps it become one of the easiest bikes to solve this problem. Back to top.
Although it is not a complete miniature downhill movement, you can put down the heel and plow-type machine, but it is inevitable. It is one of the best long-distance all-rounders on the market and can almost go very far (whether steep or ) (Or elegant and soft) riding pleasure.
Stick the rear tire with a stronger shell, and then replace the G2 brake with a set of codes, the effect will be better.
Although you will no longer get the support of a reliable local bike shop, Strive CF 9.0 provides excellent specifications and high-quality riding experience.
Shapeshifter makes it one of the best long-distance all-around racing cars available, and its easy (albeit somewhat conservative) geometry makes it really easy to ride.
BikeRadar thanks 661, IXS, Leatt, Garmin, Facom and BlackTown Trails for their support in our annual bike test.
Rob is the cycling encyclopedia of bicycles and kits. He spent a lot of time traveling the world to release the latest products and organizing how and where to test Bikeradar and MBUK gears. Rob is a super stylish rider, even a beard groomer, who is not afraid of getting into the best pace in the industry.
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Post time: Mar-03-2021
