Canyon Neuron:ON AL 9 review: a comfortable and controlled all-rounder that needs a couple of upgrades

Setup

I set up the RockShox Lyrik with significantly higher air-spring pressure than recommended to get the support from the fork I wanted.

I ran 110psi compared to the 75psi recommended for my 75kg weight and set the fork rebound at eight clicks from closed out of 25. I toggled the compression through its three-position adjuster but mostly ran it in its middle position.

The shock was set to 25 per cent sag (200psi for my weight). I ran the rebound adjustment at four clicks from closed out of 10. There’s no compression adjustment on the shock.

I settled for tyre pressures of 22psi up-front and 25psi at the rear.

Climbing performance

Point the Neuron:ON AL 9 uphill and the bike is unfazed.

The geometry positions you comfortably for meandering along the most mellow climbs, with the Bosch motor making you feel ferociously fit.

On smooth, flowing climbs and flat gradients, the bike doesn’t fatigue your back by folding you into a contorted position or placing excessive load through your hands. I found I could sit on the Canyon and drain a whole battery in comfort.

Take the bike into the backcountry, and the Neuron:ON AL 9 conquers steep trails with composure and minimal body movement.

Even with the tall 643mm stack height, the long 455mm chainstays and steep 77-degree effective seat tube angle meant I found myself sitting centrally on the bike between the wheels.

This helped keep the front wheel tracking on punishing pitches, and I didn’t need to shuffle around much to maintain rear-tyre traction and keep the front end weighted.

It's possible to winch up steep climbs without much rider input, thanks to the responsive Bosch motor.

On technical trails with rocks and roots, the shock tune and suspension do a good job of keeping the rear tyre in contact with the ground, smoothing out the terrain to improve comfort and grip, while preventing the bike from wallowing or sagging deeply past the sag point.

Canyon has balanced this well, which is important because the simpler RockShox Select Deluxe shock doesn't have a climb switch to firm up the rear end.

There’s plenty of grip and comfort without feeling as if you're on a monster truck.

The Neuron:ON AL 9 will give you access to tons of terrain. Whether you’re starting out and riding more mellow trails or a seasoned expert hunting for trails in the wilderness, this bike will enable you to reach places it should – or maybe shouldn’t – go.

Motor performance and battery life

The latest Bosch CX Performance Line motor has seen a couple of essential updates. While its headline figures remain the same, its new quiet freewheel is a big step up, quietening the Canyon on the trails.

With Bosch’s new 800Wh battery, I managed 49.3km and 2,250m of climbing from a single charge, using solely e-MTB mode, which is pretty impressive.

Range is dependent on a lot of factors, including weight and conditions, and here the trails were dry with the temperature around 11ºC.

Descending performance

The geometry and weight offer tons of stability. The gravity-friendly 64.5-degree head tube angle, roomy 460mm reach and long 455mm chainstays on my size-medium test bike give the Neuron:ON AL a sure-footed feel.

It needs an assertive and confident rider to really get the Neuron to feel active through the corners. Don’t read this as cumbersome – it just doesn’t have the agility of full-power eMTBs with mullet wheels and shorter back ends.

However, when ridden with authority, the Neuron:ON AL 9 feels controlled in the turns and enables you to attack the trail with confidence. The frame isn’t overly harsh and holds lines well.

There are pros and cons to this – its handling will suit those who prefer a safe and stable feel. It’s good to see Canyon has specced the small and XS sizes with 27.5in wheels to help improve nimbleness.

Rumbling across most trail surfaces, the more basic RockShox suspension feels good. The bike’s additional weight helps overcome suspension breakaway force, and the fork and shock feel supple as they move into their travel.

The support builds well through the rear end, giving the bike a stable chassis to pump and weight to get the best grip. Progression is good too, with no harsh ramp-up feeling, and I didn’t experience metal-on-metal bottom-out from the rear end.

The fork was good on most trails, but became unstuck on steeper sections with harsh compressions, lacking support deeper in the stroke. For riders who will push this bike hard, volume spacers may be needed to prop up the front.

A couple of issues stand out – firstly, the firm grips. While they should be durable, I’d upgrade these for something more forgiving.

Making a one-ebike quiver is no easy feat, and there will always be compromises. The SRAM DB8 brakes are great 90 per cent of the time; however, those pushing their limits would benefit from burlier rotors and sintered pads.

The same goes for the tyres. These will get the job done, but aggressive riders will want something grippier and more supportive. These are consumable products and relatively easy to replace, though.