Canyon Spectral CF 9 first ride review

Canyon’s new Spectral CF is a refined update of the previous Spectral model with a few key changes. The whole range inherits the brand's K.I.S. (Keep It Stable) steering stabiliser. 

The new bike rolls on 29in or mullet wheels swappable via a flip chip, shrinks rear-wheel travel to 140mm and gets an increase in frame-size options to update it to Canyon's latest frame-size profiles.  

Tweaks to the kinematics are intended to bring out the best of its 140mm rear travel and plant the Spectral CF firmly in the trail bikes category. There’s now internal frame storage, stiffness updates and plenty of other subtle changes designed to make the new Spectral more user- and trail-friendly. 

I got a few rides on the new Spectral CF 9 ahead of its launch at my local testing tracks, enabling me to get a flavour of how it behaves.

Canyon Spectral CF 9 frame and suspension details

The new Spectral CF is a case of refinement over redesign. However, while the new silhouette may look strikingly familiar, there are plenty of differences under the hood. 

Canyon has kept the main frame's stiffness high to maintain a positive and responsive feel between the rider's feet and hands. Slimming down the rear-stay profiles, however, added some compliance to the rear end to better aid grip and comfort. 

A new one-piece rocker design helps minimise side loads, transferring to the shock to help optimise suspension performance and shock longevity. Its narrower stays should also help prevent dreaded heel rub. 

New for the latest Spectral CF is its chainstay flip chip that enables you to choose between 29in and mixed wheels while maintaining the bike's geometry. The bike carries over the shock-mount flip chip that gives the Spectral CF high and low geometry settings. 

The frame now gets internal frame storage for stashing tools and spares, or a new packable jacket Canyon has designed. There are additional mounts under the top tube. All frames can fit a 600ml water bottle with a side-loading cage. An 850ml custom Fidlock bottle will be available soon after launch. 

Canyon has updated its frame hardware to reduce the number of parts in the pivots and seals, which it says will make maintenance easier. The seat-tube diameter has expanded to 34.9mm to accommodate longer dropper posts, up to 230mm on the extra-large bikes, without bending affecting performance. 

Canyon has reduced rear-wheel travel to 140mm and fork travel to 150mm. It wanted to keep the capability of the previous generation, yet add the pedalling performance of the shorter-travel Spectral 125.

Canyon claims it has managed to do this by refining the leverage curve to make it slightly more linearly progressive (a straighter leverage curve) to produce a smooth ramp-up without harsh or unsupported areas.

To promote grip and traction, whether climbing or descending, Canyon has lowered anti-squat slightly. 

Keep It Stable system

Canyon has fitted its K.I.S. steering stabiliser to all its new Spectral CF models. We’ve got a thorough article explaining the system, which was introduced to some Canyon models last year, but Canyon has made some tweaks to this latest model. 

Principally, K.I.S. consists of two springs housed in the top tube that work to bring your bar back to centre as you ride. How strong this effect is is adjusted by the slider on the top tube. 

The idea is the system's centring force works to improve the predictability of the steering, improving rider control. Overall, Canyon claims this counteracts reduced traction on loose terrain, deflected steering on rough and off-camber sections of trail and front-wheel flop on steep climbs. 

Canyon has updated the system from the version you could buy on the previous Spectral. It has reduced the strength of the springs, giving the system lower maximum and minimum settings within its adjustment window. 

Canyon says all bikes are shipped with an easy-to-install blanking plate for the top tube, so you can remove the system if you want to. 

Canyon Spectral CF 9 geometry

There haven’t been too many tweaks geometry-wise with the new Spectral CF, but Canyon has increased the number of frame sizes to five to align with its current mountain bike sizing model. 

The size small I tested suits my 173cm height, and I fall within Canyon’s recommended size chart. The bike features a sensible 450mm reach and proportionate 621mm stack height. 

The head tube angle remains a capable 64 degrees, while the effective seat tube angle is a moderate 76.5 degrees. These blend to give a 599mm effective top tube length, which should make all-day trail rides comfortable, yet with a sporty seated position. 

There’s no size-specific chainstay length and for the 29in bike I was riding, the rear-centre length is a compact 437mm. The deep 36mm bottom bracket drop and 1,221mm wheelbase mean this Spectral CF should balance agility and stability well. 

The short 400mm seat tube should leave plenty of space for a long dropper post and it's great to see a size-small frame come with a 170mm dropper. 

Canyon Spectral CF 9 specifications

Looking at the kit bolted to the Spectral CF 9, Canyon has delivered impressive bang for your buck. RockShox supplies its latest Pike Ultimate Charger 3 fork and Super Deluxe Ultimate shock.

It gets a full complement of SRAM GX Eagle Transmission drivetrain and powerful Code RSC brakes with 200mm front and 180mm rear rotors. 

The Spectral rolls on reliable DT Swiss XM 1700 wheels. Perhaps the only weakness in its spec is the Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO-casing front tyre. The rear tyre is identical, except for the tougher EXO+ casing option. Hard-hitting riders might have preferred that on the front too. 

The cockpit is Canyon’s G5 kit, although it would have been good to see a higher-rise handlebar so I didn’t have to rely on stem spacers to get my preferred bar height. The 34.9mm-diameter G5 seatpost is a welcome addition for reliability and strength. 

My test Spectral CF 9 in a size small without pedals weighs in at 14.8kg. 

Canyon Spectral CF 9 ride impressions

I spent some time testing the Spectral CF 9 on my local test loops in the Forest of Dean and South Wales. 

Jumping on the new Spectral CF 9 made me feel completely at ease from the get-go, depending where I set the K.I.S. steering stabiliser. 

Still, the geometry on my size-small bike was balanced and the suspension refined. It delivered a predictable, comfortable and controlled trail demeanour, while the spec list is nothing but high-quality functionality. 

If you want to go mountain biking and take in everything from all-day trail centre blasts and bike-park laps to local wood thrashes and anything else you can think of, the Spectral feels up to the task. It’s a fine Swiss Army Knife of a bike. 

A quick word on K.I.S.

Canyon has employed its steering stabiliser across the range of new Spectral trail bikes. This essentially uses two springs to pull the handlebar back to centre, with the aim of making handling more predictable across a range of trail conditions, boosting confidence. 

I found there are pros and cons to this system, and it takes time to fine-tune the spring tension. Set it too firmly and the bike is difficult to initiate turns and wants to stand up, causing understeer and panic in mid-turn braking. It's not ideal.

Still, find the sweet spot and the effects in the turns are minimal, enabling you to carve corners as hard as ever. It adds front-end stability on steep trails when the front wheel is loaded less than ideally, or when bouncing over sections of rough trails, keeping you tracking where you want to go. 

Initially, it appears to be a fine balancing act, but I’m sure once you're used to it, there are potential improvements in handling.

Canyon Spectral CF 9 climbing performance

Given the Spectral is now an aggro 140mm trail bike, it climbs much as I expected. The seated position was comfortable and distributed my weight between the wheels well, so I had plenty of grip on the back tyre, while the front wheel remained loaded and able to track accurately on steeper climbs. 

The 76.5-degree effective seat tube angle and 599mm effective top tube length gave a comfortable seated position that enabled an efficient pedal stroke over a wide range of trails and gradients. I was seated comfortably for long days in the saddle for my 173cm. 

On more technical trails, I left the climb switch open to maximise grip and comfort. The bike has good pedalling characteristics and rear-end stability even in this mode, but on smooth climbs I flicked the shock's climb switch to maximise pedalling efficiency. 

The Spectral CF 9 is a capable and comfortable climber.

Canyon Spectral CF 9 descending performance

The Spectral CF 9 was intuitive to ride once I got its K.I.S. tension to my liking. Initially, this was in its softest setting, but I started to increase tension slowly. 

The bike is light on its wheels, and has plenty of pop and a lively ride feel due to its moderately damped shock tune. This gives a decent platform to push against on the trails and helps maintain speed, but lacks a little small-bump finesse. Still, it's a trail bike with 140mm of travel and everything has to be balanced. 

With K.I.S. in a setting that enabled me to feel comfortable in the corners, the Spectral CF 9 was playful and fun. It exhibited a precision and stability that meant I could ride aggressively without the bike feeling vague or nervous through the turns.

The Spectral was incredibly predictable in its handling and suspension feel, boosting confidence on the trail and handling harder hits well. It’s got a wide comfort zone on the descents, thanks to its 64-degree head tube angle, and doesn’t feel easily overwhelmed. 

For those wanting to push the upper end of its limits, a sturdier front tyre than the EXO-casing Maxxis Minion DHR II might be needed. 

Canyon Spectral CF 9 early verdict

The Spectral CF 9 is a predictable, capable and brilliantly fun mountain bike. 

It will be a terrific companion for those who love doing a little bit of everything. It might take a little more time to figure out your ideal K.I.S. tension, but I think it has potential. Get it wrong though, and the bike is a chore. 

Value for money is impressive, but lighter riders might need to fork out for a shock tune to eke out the most from the rear suspension.

Based on my initial experience, I think the Spectral CF 9 is a fine mountain bike.