The Torque is Canyon's latest bike to get electric power for 2021. The Torque:ON model is a long-travel electric mountain bike that's designed for aggressive, thrill-seeking riders who want to ditch the uplift.
The 650b wheeled, 180mm/175mm Torque:ON is powered by Shimano’s latest EP8 motor system and sees a common aluminium frame across two builds. According to Canyon, the EP8 motor and its 504Wh EP8035 integrated battery combination was chosen due to its natural feel and impressive power and range.
The freeride-friendly Torque:ON joins a growing list of Canyon electric mountain bikes, including the popular Spectral:ON and Neuron:ON trail bikes as well as the Grand Canyon:ON electric hardtail.
When the Torque:ON’s development began in 2017 it was intended as an e-MTB for bike parks and freeride terrain. Canyon’s press material stresses that even though this remains the bike’s forte, the Torque:ON should also have no difficulty with enduro riding.
Available with only 650b wheels, Canyon decided against making the Torque:ON a 29er to “keep the bike really playful and fun to ride and jump”. A mullet option has not been developed and Canyon doesn’t recommend fitting a 29in fork up front to homebrew the idea either.
The motorised Torque's geometry mimics that of the unassisted bike, with relatively short 430mm chainstays, a 63.5-degree head angle and a generous front centre length across all sizes.
The Torque:ON uses an air-sprung shock with an extension, meaning there’s a direct connection between that and the shock body itself. The extension makes the frame incompatible with coil shocks.
The suspension kinematics have also been altered over the regular Torque to reduce anti-squat values and thus decrease pedal kickback as well as improve traction at the rear wheel.
Canyon says a lot of its efforts have gone into making this frame durable: “the bearings and overall construction of the rear end (particularly the rocker and extensions) are exceptionally robust”.
Canyon Torque:ON range
The Canyon Torque:ON range starts with the £4,499/$5,399 Torque:ON 8, which uses a RockShox Zeb R/Super Deluxe Select R suspension setup and drivetrain, with braking components from Shimano’s 12-speed SLX group.
It's also the only option to be sold to American buyers.
Every Torque:ON rolls on the same DT Swiss H1900 wheelset that’s shod with Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR tyres and is finished with Canyon’s own brand parts, including its Iridium dropper seatpost.
The Torque:ON 9 retails for £5,799 and has the same chassis and finishing kit, but sees an upgrade to Fox 38 Factory/X2 Factory suspension and SRAM’s GX Eagle 12-speed transmission with SRAM Code discs.
Both builds are available with an extra 504Wh battery pack, for an additional £500.
