Opinions/experience of Canyon latest road bikes?

[BlueNGT]

I am looking at a new road bike this year. I am no expert and have had my trusty Giant TCR for 8 years now and want to get a bang up to date bike and would like electronic group-set like Di2 which I hope will last me another 8 years or more.

Over the last 3 months I have been reading review after review of various brand sportive/endurance/not full out aero race bikes.

The obvious stuff came up, Cannondale Synapse, Giant Defy, BMC Granfondo etc. The Synapse seems to come out top in most reviews but it is frustrating you have to spend £3,600 to get the Hi-Mod if you want the lighter frame plus ok all-round equipment, but to get Di2 and the lighter frame you have to buy the Black Hi-Mod that is £6,500, now it looks superb but I couldn't justify, nor extract the best from a £6,500 bike.

So then my attention went back over to Giant, the Defy Advanced Pro 0....great looking bike to me, Di2, disc brakes but rims are in-house Giant and it is only the Advanced SL's which get the one piece frame/seat-tube etc and Di2 equipped Advanced SL 0 is £8,000.

After these I started look at alternatives away from the usual suspects and looked closer at Canyon, the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX to be exact. The weight, group-set and rims make it interesting. I have read the frame you buy is the same those run buy the Canyon Sponsored pro teams but of course they have the very best of everything bolted on!!

The same money as the Defy Advanced Pro 0 buys a Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8.0 Di2 which weighs in a 6.7 kilos, is Ultegra Di2 equipped and has Mavic Ksyrium SLR Rims as standard.

With no retail outlets in the UK a test ride is not going to be easy. And not being able to find many reviews of Canyon aside from those quoted/linked on their site I would be interested to hear if anybody has any real life experiences of Canyons latest bikes good or bad.

Thanks in advance.

[BlueNGT]

Thanks for the replies so far. I have actually looked at Rose before but not Radon. A 6 year guarantee with Canyon is very appealing and they are a bit different to what you see out on the road.

It is interesting you can buy in Euro, half my family live in Barcelona so that make it more interesting...also got friends in Germany, Stuttgart, so road trip not out of the question. Suppose if I was buying and used a Credit Card so I have the protection they provide they would calculate on their own exchange rate and make a charge for it. Looking at the Euro price it would take it under £3k in GBP!!

[BlueNGT]

nacnac - interesting if paying Euro but getting UK delivery was doable. saves the switching of brakes.

jfdi - good feedback and you have bought more after the experience of your first.

Did either if you manage to test ride before delivery or did you buy from reading other reviews?

I cannot see how a test ride can be dome in the uk

[BlueNGT]

Daveyraveygravey said:

OP - you could look at Sensa and Dolan, both have a shop up north so it may be easier for you to see and try before you buy. Cervelo and Storck should have something you could afford too.

My budget is half yours, and Rose seem to offer more than Canyon at this price point. If nothing else, they offer other colours apart from black and grey, and I want my next bike to stand out.

Having said that, if I buy something around £1500 and get cycle to work scheme discount, it means I can buy something locally and it will be as good vfm as Canyon/Rose.

Can I ask why you have ruled out an aero bike? I'm looking at Giant Propel or Fuji Transonic and people say they are pretty comfy. I ride about 5k miles a year, most are about an hour, so I'm not worrying too much about how comfy it will be on an 8 hour ride. I don't do that many long long rides so am not letting it influence my decision too much.

Hi, I am looking at endurance/sportive stuff as I have have a lopsided vertebra and approaching 40 so not getting any younger therefore airing towards more comfort this time.

[BlueNGT]

Daveyraveygravey said:

I'm not worrying too much about how comfy it will be on an 8 hour ride. I don't do that many long long rides so am not letting it influence my decision too much.

That is a point to consider - at most I probably would only do a 3 hour ride, maybe a 4 maximum. If the Aeroad was comfortable enough for that I would love one as it is one of my favourite looking bikes around.

tuffer said:

I have an Aeroad CF that I am very happy with, great specification.

Could I ask - do you use your Aeroad for Time Trial or Triathlon, or just everyday normal rides? Is it suited to all out speed or would it be ok for a quick 25/30 mile ride on pretty flat stuff with too much trouble and not shake the life out of me? Then longer of a weekend but no TT/Triathlon/Iron Man stuff?

It's pretty flat where I live so the few hundred gram difference between the Ultimate CF and Aeroad would'nt make a big difference. I know you shouldn't be swayed by the look of a bike but it is a factor when looking around.

Trying to sell myself an Aeroad here

Edited to correct it 'wouldnt' make any difference..thanks okgo

Edited by BlueNGT on Saturday 21st February 17:07

[BlueNGT]

okgo said:

The cf is going to likely have a harsher ride than the aeroad due to it being quite difficult to make aero tubes as stiff as non. And no bike apart from an actual time trial bike is 'suited to all out riding' any more than another really. It's your legs doing the pedalling after all!

Not sure if you got mixed up but if it's flat where you live the few hundred grams will make no difference at all. Even if you live in the Lake District it will still make almost no difference so don't worry too much about that.

Edited by okgo on Saturday 21st February 17:04

Edited by okgo on Saturday 21st February 17:04

Sorry, typo, should have said wouldn't make any difference.

[BlueNGT]

tuffer said:

I just use it for everyday rides, longest I have done is 100 miles. Its stiff but I have nothing else to compare it to.

I can deal with stiff so long as its not bone shattering, thanks.

Gruffy said:

The few reviews I've read on the 2015 Aeroad have been flattering about its comfort levels. For an aero bike. I'll report back once I've ridden and adjusted to mine.

Great stuff, look forward to hearing about it. Thanks

spongy said:

I have the aeroad from last year, the team cf with di2 etc and some full on carbon rims......and I love it. for the money I think its spot on.

If I was to go Aeroad I would be getting the CF SLX 7.0 Di2.

I am 6ft, have done all the measurements as per their site, inseam, upper body, arm length, shoulder width and it comes out with a Medium (56). My inseam is shorter than average though according to their guide. When people have ordered have you ordered from the sizing guidance on the Canyon website - if so has the size been pretty close to what you expected (personal fine tuning aside)?

Thanks for all the feedback so far

[BlueNGT]

Long Term review of the Aeroad here http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/...

Very positive review, the only issue they have is with the Mavic rims. Not being an expert on modern carbon wheels if the Mavic's dont get the best review is a Reynolds equipped model a better option https://www.canyon.com/en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=35...

Or are the Mavic rims not as bad as the review?

[BlueNGT]

I have Mavic on my current road bike at and never had any issues in 7 years.....wasn't sure if the review was referring to the aero profile of the wheels, maybe the fact Zipp are thought to be more aero? Have since read Reynolds have a more aero profile on some wheels!

If that is all they are referring to it doesn't bother me, I am not looking to shave seconds off any time-trial....