Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team review

The Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team is designed for the toughest cross-country (XC) tracks in the world, as the name would suggest.

With a claimed 10kg weight that rivals some XC hardtails, this model of the Lux is designed to be at the pointy end of XC racing.

The XTR groupset, CeramicSpeed bearings, plus Fox suspension mean the Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team delivers excellent bang for your buck at £6,699.

There is no dropper post, however. This saves weight, but does it compromise ride feel, especially on the ever-increasing gnar of XCO (Olympic Cross-Country) race tracks? I took to the trails to find out.

Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team frame and construction

Canyon has focused largely on shedding weight with this version of the Lux frame, with a reported saving of 127g from the outgoing top-tier model.

However, compared to the cheaper CF carbon used lower down the Lux range, there’s a total saving of 390g. Canyon says the weight difference is due to the different layup and materials used in the construction process.

A single-pivot suspension design with slender seatstays intended to flex as the rear shock goes through its travel, helps to keep frame weight low.

With the shock located in a recess under the top tube, the frame can accommodate two large water bottles. This is great news for marathon races or long training rides, where pit stops are few and far between.

As with many Canyon bikes, the rear axle uses the brand's Quixle thru-axle, making the removal of the rear wheel tool-free and quick.

A quick-release on the Fox fork also helps with swift wheel changes under race pressure.

Headset cable routing keeps the bike looking clean and internal guiding tubes help with setup.

Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team geometry

The geometry gets an update from previous iterations of the Canyon Lux, making it more in line with modern XC bikes.

Although still not as long, low and slack as other World Cup race machines – such as the BMC Fourstroke 01 Two and Santa Cruz Blur – the Canyon Lux is heading in that direction.

The head angle is slightly slacker and drops from 70 degrees to 68.5 degrees, while the reach has increased by 15mm across all frame sizes – to 470mm on the large size – in a bid to boost stability.

The chainstay has been reduced by 3mm to 432mm, with the aim of giving riders more control in tight and twisty sections of track.

Canyon has steepened the seat tube angle by half a degree (now 75 degrees) to try to create a more efficient rider position.

Bottom-bracket drop remains the same at 38mm, which boosts stability further.

Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team specifications

True to Canyon’s reputation of giving its customers great value for money, the Lux World Cup CFR Team comes impressively specced.

Shimano provides the 12-speed drivetrain – 10-51t cassette and 34t chainring – and stopping power with XTR-level components.

Keeping weight down, the direct-mount calipers clamp a 180mm rotor up-front, with 160mm out back for all sizes of frame.

Fox supplies suspension with the lightweight Fox Factory 32 Step-Cast forks and Fox Float DPS shock – both with two-position remote lockout.

The nifty chain guide ensures the chain stays in place without adding excessive weight to this light race bike – it’s 7.8g (including bolt).

To ensure the Lux doesn't weigh the scales down too much, Canyon has opted to use a fixed carbon post rather than add a dropper post, as it did on previous models. This undoubtedly saves weight but may put some buyers off.

Canyon's own integrated bar and stem is fitted with the brand’s latest Impact Protection Unit (IPU) that’s designed to shield the top tube in the event of a crash, preventing the bars from over-rotating.

This test bike came fitted with a Garmin mount (weighing 18g).

Frame, headset and bottom bracket bearings are all made by CeramicSpeed and have a lifetime warranty. These bearings are designed to be self-lubricating, stay super-smooth for longer and offer protection against corrosion.

The bike sits on a DT Swiss XRC 1200 Spline wheelset with Maxxis Ikon Exo 2.35in tyres.

This size-large test bike weighed 10.26kg without pedals.

Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team ride impressions

I had a good chunk of time testing the Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team, with a mixture of trail rides and XC races across the south of England and Wales. These were mostly in the dry.

Races included a mix of national and regional XC events and the British National Marathon Championships.

The courses varied from fast, flat and rooty with punchy climbs to steep and technical with long climbs, drops, rock gardens and tabletop jumps.

Although Canyon supplies its bikes with inner tubes fitted, my test bike came set up tubeless. The only change I made was installing a RockShox AXS dropper for steeper and more technical races and rides.

Getting the bike set up was relatively straightforward, but rebound adjustment becomes somewhat challenging due to the dial's limited accessibility, making it a bit intricate to achieve the precise setting.

Although Canyon provides a small Allen key to assist with this, the adjustment remains less straightforward than desired.

Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team climbing performance

This bike is designed to be fast and efficient on the climbs, and it doesn't disappoint.

The geometry centres you nicely over the bottom bracket and allows for maximum power – I found the Canyon glided effortlessly up hills.

The ease with which the bike accelerates on climbs was a welcome attribute on the racetrack, too, and certainly felt like a contributing factor to passing my competitors when putting the power down.

The 470mm (size-large) reach allows for excellent maneuverability when out of the saddle, which helped to keep traction on both wheels, even on steep loose climbs. I never had a back-wheel spin that I could not correct in a jiffy to keep on rolling.

When the climbs got techy again, the bike performed. It was easy to manoeuvre over rocks and roots, thanks in part to the low weight and compact chainstay, making popping up and over features a breeze.

Because I installed my own dropper post, I benefitted from being able to get the seat out of the way on short, sharp climbing tech features.

This was the only point when I felt the need for a dropper, but some riders might not have the same problem.

The bottom bracket drop of 38mm – a vast difference from the BMC Fourstroke 01 Two I reviewed earlier in the year (53mm) – meant I never felt the BB would get hooked up and pedal strikes were nearly non-existent.

The tyres held traction at high speeds and offered good grip on the climbs when conditions were dry and dusty.

I was impressed by the climbing capabilities of this bike, something Canyon alluded to in its marketing. The claim that this bike is a “climb devouring race machine” is spot-on.

Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team descending performance

The Lux World Cup is a race bike and, as such, performs best at high speeds under race conditions.

When the track was fast and smooth with a lesser gradient, the Canyon carried speed and felt planted in corners. It benefited from being ridden fast, at slower speeds feeling unstable and less confidence-inspiring.

However, when the track got steeper, and the rocks and roots became chunky – as often found on modern XC race tracks – the Lux began to struggle.

The lack of dropper made it hard to move around on the bike, while the steeper head angle forced my weight too far forward. This made for some hair-raising moments on steep features when the front wheel was loaded up.

Dropping the dropper

Canyon has done away with the dropper post.

This may not be a big deal for some riders, who will prefer the weight saving, but it could steer away many who don't fancy the extra hassle and cost of fitting a dropper later down the line.

The frame can accommodate a dropper, though. There is a small port in the headset to get a cable through, but no guides through the frame, so some patience and cable-routing wizardry will be needed.

That is, of course, unless (as I did) you fit a Rockshox AXS dropper.

Considering how gnarly XC courses are becoming, it seems an odd choice from Canyon.

How does the Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team compare to the BMC Fourstroke 01 TWO?

Compared to the BMC Fourstroke 01 TWO, another 100mm race bike I reviewed earlier in the year, the Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team was a winner on the climbs, but fell behind the BMC on the descents.

The Canyon Lux excels on the climbs; when you put the power down it feels as though it accelerates at an alarming speed.

The Ikon tyres provide ample grip in the dry conditions.

The BMC felt longer and lower (just as the geometry figures would suggest), which gave a more cumbersome feel on technical climbs with features that required getting up and over.

When it comes to technical descents littered with steep chutes, the BMC outperforms the Canyon Lux considerably.

The lower bottom bracket makes the bike feel planted when the going gets rough and the slacker head angle gives you security to really push it on the descents.

The Canyon lacks this stability and doesn’t smooth out chatter quite as well as the BMC. It does, however, have better clearance and its chainring and cranks didn't get bashed on roots and rocks nearly as often as the BMC's.

Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team bottom line

Canyon’s updated race bike excels on the climbs and flies on smooth, flatter courses, handling tight twisty trails and sharp climbs with ease.

The faster you go, the more at home this bike feels and, on some courses, the rigid seatpost and light build will help you gain the edge on your competitors. But, if the track throws you some steep rocky shoots, hefty drops and extreme tech, it falls short.

For some, the Canyon Lux World Cup CFR Team will hit the mark, but for those who want a more confidence-inspiring ride on the gnar of modern XC tracks, splashing out for a dropper or looking elsewhere will be the answer.

Canyon offers a trail version, but without the high-end gloss of the World Cup range – CF carbon without CeramicSpeed bearings. However, with 120mm travel and a dropper, it could suit many racers.

This bike delivers an enjoyable riding experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed racing it on various courses. However, when it came to tackling technical terrain that demanded increased speed, it left me somewhat hesitant and lacking the full confidence to truly push my limits.