Canyon has quietly updated its Grand Canyon aluminium hardtail by adding a bit of travel at the front and shaving some weight out of the frame.
With three models now earning the ‘SL’ moniker, the travel has been bumped from 110mm to 120mm, and the geometry only sees slight tweaks.
Interestingly the WMN's versions don't appear to receive longer forks, with all of the models currently on the Canyon website marked 'new' still showing 110mm.
Even with the extra 10mm of squish (on the unisex frame) the head angle remains 68.5 degrees, however the seat tube is steeper by almost a full degree, now measuring 72.8.
The reach is also 10mm longer and the stack is 7mm higher, now measuring 430mm and 610mm in a size medium. At the back, the frame still sees 148mm Boost hub spacing.
With a total of 11 models, according to Canyon, the rear triangle will now accept up to a 2.4in tyre mounted to a 30mm-wide rim.
For when the trail points down, the higher end models are specced with four-piston stoppers and 180mm rotors, and Canyon has even whacked a 150mm internally routed dropper post in the top two versions.
It is a surprise to see a front derailleur tab across the whole Grand Canyon 2019 range, especially with the budget-friendly new SRAM SX and Shimano's latest SLX. In total, eight models — including the top of the range WMN AL SLX 9.0 model — see 2x drivetrains.
The frame has two sets of bottle bosses inside the front triangle and there are rack mounts on the rear drop out — should someone want to make the Grand Canyon their touring bike.
Canyon is also employing size-specific wheel sizes, with everything under a Medium rolling on 27.5in hoops to maximise standover height for riders of all sizes.
The top-end Grand Canyon AL SL 9.0 will cost £1,549 / $N/A / AU$2,499 and comes with a Fox 34 Rhythm fork, SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, Guide R brakes and dropper post, and is claimed to weigh 12.59kg.
The entry-level AL 4.0 costs £629 / $N/A / AU$999 and is specced with a SR Suntour Fork, 2x Shimano Deore drivetrain, Shimano MT200 brakes and is said to tip the scales at 14kg, .