Canyon releases race-bred Strive:ON electric enduro bike with 160mm of rear travel

Canyon releases race-bred Strive:ON electric enduro bike with 160mm of rear travel

Canyon's new e-enduro bike has mullet wheels, up-to-date geometry and Bosch's Performance Line CX Race Motor

Nick Clark / Our Media

Published: May 9, 2023 at 9:00 am

The Strive:ON is Canyon’s first enduro-specific electric bike and features an aggressive geometry, carbon frame and 160mm of rear-suspension travel.

The new bike sits between the Spectral:ON and Torque:ON in Canyon’s electric mountain bike line-up, with the prices starting at £5,499/€5,799 for the CFR Underdog edition and £6,699/€6,999 for the CFR, both of which feature a Bosch Performance Line CX electric bike motor.

A flagship CFR LTD model will be available later in the year, sporting a custom Fabien Barel colour scheme and Bosch’s 2 Line CX Race motor. Prices for the limited-edition model will start at £8,999/€9,499.

All models are available with either 625Wh or 750Wh batteries, with the larger-capacity battery adding an extra £200/€200 to the bike's price.

The Strive:ON is available now to order in Europe, with bikes arriving on US shores later in the summer. Canyon has yet to confirm an exact date or US pricing.

Carbon frame and a moto-stye skidplate

Strive:On CFR LTD frame
The new Strive:ON uses the same sealed bearings as the Sender DH bike. - Canyon

The Strive:ON features a full carbon fibre frame that Canyon say uses the same carbon layup as the top-tier Strive CFR and weighs in at 3,268g for a size medium, including all assembly parts.

A Horst-link suspension linkage is still used, similar to that on the non-assisted Strive, but the rear shock is now horizontally mounted to leave room for the motor, top tube storage and a bottle cage.

Canyon hasn’t included the Shapeshifter system found on the Strive. The Shapeshifter system uses a Fox-built air piston in the shock mount, which alters the damper’s position, giving the bike two geometry and travel settings for pedal efficiency and downhill ability.

Canyon StriveOn pack bosch cx motor
Bosch’s Performance Line motors offer 85Nm of torque and a maximum of 600 watts of power. - Nick Clark / Our Media

The bike has been designed around Bosch’s Performance Line motors and also uses the brand’s PowerTube batteries.

Canyon offers the bike with a 625Wh or 750Wh battery pack on all frame sizes, with the brand wanting to give riders the option of a lighter bike or a longer range.

The motor and battery terminal are protected by a moto-inspired skidplate, allowing the bike to ground out on technical terrain without damaging the frame or motor, according to Canyon.

Magnets feature on the inside of the guard to hold the retaining bolts when changing the battery, so you don’t lose them.

Canyon StriveOn pack Fox X2 rear shock
The Strive:ON CFR features a Fox X2 Performance rear shock. - Nick Clark / Our Media

While all the models in the Strive:ON line-up feature air shocks, Canyon says the new bike is compatible with a coil shock.

Coil shocks are becoming more common on electric mountain bikes, because the weight penalty is less of an issue when you have a motor to assist on the climbs.

All the bikes in the Strive:ON line-up feature a 170mm fork, with Canyon saying the bike is not dual-crown compatible, because the wide down tube that houses the battery would cause the fork to interfere with the steering angle.

Canyon StriveOn pack under frame mount
The top tube has bolts for mounting various storage. - Nick Clark / Our Media

The underside of the top tube has bolts for on-bike storage systems such as a tube or multi-tool holder, while the forks will feature Canyon’s new screw-on fenders that mount directly to RockShock Zeb and Fox 38 forks.

Long reach and a mixed wheel size

Canyon StriveOn pack wall
Canyon says the 27.5in rear wheel improves acceleration and agility through tight trails - Nick Clark / Our Media

Canyon says it has updated the Strive:ON’s geometry compared to the non-assisted Strive, adapting the bike to meet the demands of e-enduro racing, which combines downhill trails with technical climbing stages.

The Strive:ON has a claimed head angle of 63.5 degrees, which is up-to-date with current geometry trends for enduro bikes.

A reach measurement of 475mm for a medium-sized bike makes it longer than other bikes in its class, such as the Orbea Wild, which has a 450mm reach for a similar-sized frame.

SMLXL
Seat tube length (mm)395420435460
Top tube length (mm)584610637665
Head tube length (mm) 110120130145
Head tube angle (degrees) 63.563.563.563.5
Effective seat tube angle (degrees) 78787878
Actual seat tube angle (degrees) 72.372.67373.3
Chainstay length (mm)445445445445
Wheelbase (mm)1,2451,2741,3041,336
Stack (mm)628637646660
Reach (mm)450475500525
Spacers (mm)20202020
Stem (mm)40404040
Handlebar Width (mm)780780800800
Crank arm length (mm)165165165165
Dropper travel (mm)150170200200

Canyon says it has given the frame a steep effective seat tube angle of 78 degrees to assist the bike going uphill. This is around two degrees steeper than the Specialized Turbo Levo.

Chainstay measurements are short at 445mm, with the bike using a mixed wheel size mullet setup. Canyon says this gives the Strive:ON high-speed stability and tight-trail agility.

Bosch Performance Line motors

Canyon StriveOn pack sump guard
The motor is protected by a motocross-style guard. - Nick Clark / Our Media

Canyon offers the new Strive:ON with Bosch’s Performance Line CX or Performance Line CX Race motors depending on the spec level.

Both motors deliver 600 watts of peak power with 85Nm of torque and have rapid motor response, meaning the power is delivered early in the pedal stroke.

Strive:On CFR LTD motor
An increased power assist and extra boost set the CX Race apart from the normal CX. - Canyon

The Performance Line CX Race on the Strive:ON CFR LTD increases pedal assist from 340 per cent to 400 per cent, meaning less input is required for more power output.

It also adds a race mode, which is said to deliver power faster and stronger.

The Race motor features an extended overrun mode that gives the bike an extra boost once the pedals have stopped spinning, helping to power up technical climbs by keeping momentum.

Canyon Strive:ON specs and pricing

Canyon Strive:ON CFR Underdog

Strive:On Underdog pack
The Strive:ON Underdog still features Fox 38 forks. - Canyon
  • Fork: Fox 38 Rhythm, 170mm
  • Shock: Fox Float X Performance
  • Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX
  • Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
  • Brakes: Shimano Deore
  • Wheels: DT Swiss H1900
  • Tyres: Maxxis Assegai 2.5 EXO+ (front), Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4 DD (rear)
  • Price: £5,499/€5,799 (625Wh battery), £5.699/€5,999 (750Wh battery)

Canyon Strive:ON CFR

Canyon StriveOn rear linkage
The CFR uses a Shimano XT drivetrain with an SLX cassette. - Nick Clark / Our Media
  • Fork: Fox 38 Performance Elite, 170mm
  • Shock: Fox X2 Performance
  • Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX
  • Drivetrain: Shimano XT
  • Brakes: Shimano XT
  • Wheels: DT Swiss H1700
  • Tyres: Maxxis Assegai 2.5 EXO+ (front), Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4 DD (rear)
  • Price: £6,699/€6,999 (625Wh battery), £6,899/€7,199 (750Wh battery)

Canyon Strive:ON CFR LTD

Strive:On CFR LTD
The Strive:ON CFR LTD features a custom Fabien Barel paintjob. - Canyon
  • Fork: RockShox Zeb Ultimate RC2, 170mm
  • Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
  • Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX Race
  • Drivetrain: SRAM X01 AXS
  • Brakes: SRAM Code RSC
  • Wheels: DT Swiss HX1501
  • Tyres: Pirelli Scorpion Enduro M 2.5
  • Price: £8,999/€9,499 (625Wh battery), £9,199/€9,699 (750Wh battery)