Canyon has specced exclusive DT Swiss CRC carbon wheels on its premium Inflite SLX 9 and SL 8 cyclocross bikes. It has also added a power meter to the more affordable SL 7 model.
The Inflite carbon frame, including the kinked top tube, is unchanged for 2023.
All four Inflite models come with UCI-compliant 33mm Schwalbe X-One Allround TLE tyres and Canyon says the frame can fit up to 38mm-wide tyres.
The 2023 Inflite range starts at £1,999 / €1,999 / AU$2,999. The CF SL 6 and the SRAM Force eTap-specced Inflite CF SLX 9 top out at £4,699 / €4,699 / $5,999 / AU$6,949.
New wheels exclusive to Canyon
The UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championship-winning Canyon Inflite SLX 9 and the Inflite SL 8 have new DT Swiss CRC carbon wheels. Canyon claims it is the only brand to have access to these new wheels.
Canyon says the CRC’s 22mm internal rim width is perfect for 33mm cyclocross tyres. The 45mm-deep rim is claimed to be aerodynamic and able to slice through sand and mud.
The CRC 1400 and 1600 use the brand’s DT Swiss 240 and 350 Ratchet System hubs respectively.
No alloy for 2023
The whole range has been carbon since 2021, when Canyon discontinued the aluminium Inflite AL.
Canyon launched the Inflite CF SLX in 2017 and the bike has been ridden to four UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championship titles (three times by Mathieu van der Poel and once by Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado).
Canyon says the Inflite’s distinctive hump at the top tube / seat tube junction makes the bike easier to shoulder when running with it, while leaving enough seatpost exposed to boost comfort over bumps.
Being a dedicated cyclocross racing bike, the Inflite differs in several ways from Canyon’s gravel bikes.
There are no rack or mudguard mounts and tyre clearance is insufficient for many gravel tyres.
Geometry is even more aggressive than on Canyon’s gravel racing bikes, such as the Canyon Grail CF SLX.
The Inflite has shorter reach and steeper head and seat angles to facilitate cyclocross skills, such as cornering.
The range
The entry-level Inflite is the CF SL 6. The bike is built around a 1x Shimano GRX600 drivetrain and tubeless-ready alloy DT Swiss Cross LN wheels.
The carbon frame is the same shape as the flagship CF SLX, but a claimed 300g heavier at 1,200g in an unspecified size.
Instead of the one-piece H31 cockpit on the CF SLX 9 and CF SL 8, the CF SL 6 has the Canyon H17 Ergobar AL handlebar and V13 stem.
The top two Inflite models, the CF SLX 9 and CF SL 8, already had Quarq power meters. Now the CF SL 7 has a 4iiii power meter, along with its 1x Shimano GRX800 groupset.
The Inflite CF SL 8 costs £3,699 / €3,699 / AU$5,499 and the CF SL 7 will set you back £2,999 / €2,999 / $2,999 / AU$4,499.
2023 Canyon Inflite cyclocross range | Specs
Canyon Inflite CF SLX 9
- Frame and fork: Canyon Inflite CF SLX Disc, Canyon FK0045 CF Disc
- Cockpit: Canyon H31 Ergocockpit CF
- Gearing: SRAM Force eTap AXS 12-speed, SRAM Force1 DUB Quarq Powermeter 40T crank, SRAM Force XG-1270 12-speed 10-36t cassette
- Wheels: DT Swiss CRC 1400 carbon
- Tyres: Schwalbe X-One Allround TLE 33mm
- Brakes: SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD hydraulic disc
- Saddle: Selle Italia SLR Boost
- Claimed weight: 7.72kg (unspecified size)
Canyon Inflite CF SL 8
- Frame and fork: Canyon Inflite CF Disc, Canyon FK0045 CF Disc
- Cockpit: Canyon H31 Ergocockpit CF
- Gearing: SRAM Rival eTap AXS 12-speed, SRAM Rival1 DUB Wide Quarq Powermeter 40T single chainring, SRAM Rival XG-1250 12-speed 10-36t cassette
- Wheels: DT Swiss CRC 1600 carbon
- Tyres: Schwalbe X-One Allround TLE 33m
- Brakes: SRAM Rival eTap AXS 2s hydraulic disc
- Saddle: Selle Italia SLR Boost
- Claimed weight: 8.24kg (unspecified size)
Canyon Inflite CF SL 7
- Frame and fork: Canyon Inflite CF Disc, Canyon FK0045 CF Disc
- Cockpit: Canyon H31 Ergocockpit CF
- Gearing: Shimano GRX RX800 11-speed, 4iiii Precision Slim power meter, GRX810 11-34T 11-speed cassette, 46/36T Ultegra chainrings
- Wheels: DT Swiss C1800
- Tyres: Schwalbe X-One Allround TLE 33m
- Brakes: Shimano GRX800 hydraulic disc
- Saddle: Selle Italia Model X
- Claimed weight: 8.5kg (unspecified size)
Canyon Inflite CF SL 6
- Frame and fork: Canyon Inflite CF Disc, Canyon FK0045 CF Disc
- Cockpit: Canyon H17 Ergobar AL, Canyon V13 stem
- Gearing: Shimano GRX RX800 11-speed, GRX810 11-34t 11-speed cassette, GRX600 40T chainring
- Wheels: DT Swiss Cross LN
- Tyres: Schwalbe X-One Allround TLE 33mm
- Brakes: Shimano GRX RX600 hydraulic disc
- Saddle: Selle Italia Model X
- Claimed weight: 8.68kg (unspecified size)
