Canyon gave its aero road platform a thorough overall for this year - James Huang / Immediate Media
Whereas the original Canyon Aeroad uses nominally teardrop cross-sections throughout, the new Aeroad CF SLX uses truncated profiles that are supposedly more efficient at a wider range of wind angles - James Huang / Immediate Media
Instead of mounting the rear brake down by the bottom bracket, Canyon elected to stick with the more conventional location and direct air around the caliper - James Huang / Immediate Media
The steerer tube is bigger than before but narrower bearings maintain a trim outer profile - James Huang / Immediate Media
Canyon equips the Aeroad CF SLX frame with press-fit bottom bracket cups - James Huang / Immediate Media
The chainstays are broad and tall to help keep the rear end rigid - James Huang / Immediate Media
Even the seatpost and integrated cockpit get the squared-off treatment - James Huang / Immediate Media
The included Aerocockpit CF is one of the most striking aspects of the bike. Unlike many aero handlebars, this one is actually quite comfortable to hold - James Huang / Immediate Media
Canyon includes matching profiled headset spacers so as to maintain the profile all the way down to the top tube - James Huang / Immediate Media
Housing and wire routing through the integrated cockpit is impressively tidy - although there's no obvious way to use an out-front Garmin computer mount - James Huang / Immediate Media
The D-shaped seatpost is held in place with a hidden binder - James Huang / Immediate Media
The deep drops and supplemental sprint shifters suit the bike's aggressive nature - James Huang / Immediate Media
The Mavic wheel and tire combo feel fast in a straight line but the sharply pointed trailing edge and flat sides can be hard to manage in strong crosswinds. The rim's 13mm internal width is also disappointingly narrow - James Huang / Immediate Media
As with other experiences with this variation of Shimano Dura-Ace direct-mount calipers, brake performance is outstanding with excellent lever feel - James Huang / Immediate Media
Canyon specs mid-compact 52/36T chainrings on the Aeroad CF SLX 9.0 SL - James Huang / Immediate Media
A Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070 electronic transmission promises consistent and fast shift performance - James Huang / Immediate Media
Mavic's second-generation Exalith 2 sidewall treatment is far less noisy than the original but does offer excellent braking performance, particularly in the wet - James Huang / Immediate Media
The Shimano Di2 wire enters the frame through the same port as the rear brake housing - James Huang / Immediate Media
Canyon claims that its Aerocockpit CF saves 5.5 watts over a conventional setup - James Huang / Immediate Media
The Aerocockpit CF is particularly striking from this angle - James Huang / Immediate Media
Canyon designed its original Aeroad aero road bike with the primary goal of minimising frontal area, but has now thrown the full gamut of tech R&D tools at the wholly revamped second-generation Aeroad CF SLX.
The German consumer-direct outfit says this new version is considerably faster over a wider range of conditions, and also lighter. And now we've taken delivery of the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2-equipped Aeroad CF SLX 9.0 SL model, we can confirm that it looks fantastic too.
Whereas the first-generation Aeroad used more classic teardrop-like tubes, the new and more modern Aeroad CF SLX chassis feature nominally truncated airfoil cross-sections for better aerodynamic performance across a wide range of wind angles. As a side benefit, this has also allowed Canyon to include wider tubes for a claimed 11-percent boost in chassis stiffness and an official frame weight of just 960g for a size 56cm sample.
Whereas the original canyon aeroad uses nominally teardrop cross-sections throughout, the new aeroad cf slx uses truncated profiles that are supposedly more efficient at a wider range of wind angles:
The previous version's teardrop-shaped tubes have given way to truncated profiles for more balanced performance at various wind angles
Aero-minded details are littered throughout, including an impressively tidy combined port for the Shimano Di2 wire and rear brake housing, a partial fairing for the rear wheel, a sleekly hidden binder for the proprietary D-shaped seatpost, and front and rear direct-mount Shimano Dura-Ace calipers, which Canyon says areeasier to work on than chainstay-mounted brakes and produce less drag as well.
The focus on improving airflow isn't limited to the frameset. Our tester also arrived with Canyon's new Aerocockpit CF, which combines the carbon fibre stem and handlebar into a distinctly flattened and low-profile form that the company says save 5.5 watts of drag on its own.
The included aerocockpit cf is one of the most striking aspects of the bike. unlike many aero handlebars, this one is actually quite comfortable to hold:
The stock Aerocockpit CF is visually striking and supposedly quite fast
Canyon has even carried over its novel adjustable fork rake design, which uses flippable 'chips' in the dropouts that let you choose mellower or quicker handling.
Rounding out our test bike build are a set of Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLE WTS wheels with brake-boosting Exalith 2 sidewalls, matching Mavic Yksion Pro GripLink and PowerLink clincher tyres, and a fi'zi:k Arione saddle. Total weight for our complete 50cm sample is 6.83kg (15.06lb) without pedals.
The mavic wheel and tire combo feel fast in a straight line but the sharply pointed trailing edge and flat sides can be hard to manage in strong crosswinds. the rim's 13mm internal width is also disappointingly narrow:
The stock Mavic wheel and tyre package is good but could be better
We're already well underway with testing and so far it's been clear sailing. The new bike is indeed noticeably stiffer and snappier than its predecessor, the direct-mount brakes and Mavic Exalith 2 sidewalls work extremely well, the ride quality is quite reasonable given the genre, and yes, the bike does at least seem fast as you wind things up.
And while it's not exactly cheap at £4,899 / €5,699, it's quite well equipped for the money.
How will things shake out long-term? We'll have our final wrap-up in a few weeks so stay tuned.
James Huang is BikeRadar's former technical editor. After leaving BikeRadar in 2016, he worked at CyclingTips and Escape Collective. He now runs the Substack cycling publication N-1 Bikes.
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