Canyon Endurace CFR AXS review

The Canyon Endurace CFR is the brand’s new premium endurance road bike.

It usurps the Endurace CF SLX at the top of the Endurace model hierarchy.

'CFR' is an acronym for Canyon Factory Racing, a label reserved for bikes made from Canyon’s lightest grade of carbon.

So, unusually, the endurance road bike has a pro-level frame and spec to match.

This initially confused me. But the more I rode the Endurace CFR, the more the paradox made sense.

Speed, comfort and agile handling combine with few compromises for a high price.

Canyon Endurace CFR AXS frameset

Incorporating some of the changes implemented in the Canyon Endurace AL in 2022, the Endurace CFR has clearance for 35mm tyres and top tube storage.

Such features are increasingly common on endurance road bikes in 2023, as gravel has changed road design.

Race is not only in the Endurace CFR’s name, but its genes too. Aerodynamic aspects of the Aeroad CFR combine with the low weight of the Ultimate CFR.

The Endurace CFR eschews the deeper tube shapes, aero seatpost and dropped seatstays of the Aeroad.

But as on the brand’s aero bike, the down tube curves around the rear wheel and tapers sharply towards the bottom bracket.

The Endurace CFR’s slimmer, rounder down tube and traditional rear triangle bear close resemblance to the Ultimate.

The frame shape of the Canyon Endurace CF SLX and CFR is the same, but the material is different.

A slimmer head tube, down tube and fork reduce the bike’s frontal area and cut drag, according to the brand.

Canyon claims the CP0018 Aerocockpit – seen on both the Aeroad and Ultimate – which hides brake hoses and cables, also improves aerodynamics.

In total, Canyon says the aerodynamic improvements made to the Endurace CF SLX save seven watts at 45km/h compared to the previous model.

An endurance bike without mudguards

Canyon says it omitted mudguard mounts from the Endurace CFR to shorten the wheelbase and retain “desired handling characteristics”.

But other modern carbon endurance bikes, such as the Giant Defy Advanced 0, can take mudguards without apparent detriment to their handling.

As I descended a Welsh mountain in a deluge, getting wetter than Dylan Thomas’ whisky glass, I would have sacrificed slower handling for mudguards on the Endurace CFR.

But the absence of mounting points might not concern you if you live in a dry climate or prefer indoor cycling when it’s raining.

You could fit clip-on mudguards for wet-weather riding. But if you want your endurance road bike to prickle with fittings for mudguards and more, such as a rack and pannier bags, the Endurace CFR might not be for you.

This is one of several ways the Endurace CFR sits on the race/endurance fence. Its blend of characteristics might look versatile to you but unspecialised to others.

Canyon Endurace CFR AXS geometry and handling

The Canyon Endurace CFR uses the brand’s Sport geometry. This is less aggressive than the Ultimate and Aeroad’s Pro Sport geometry.

With 611mm of stack and 387mm of reach, my size-large test bike has a stack-to-reach ratio of 1.58.

In the same size, the Ultimate climbing bike has 583mm of stack and 401mm of reach in a 1.46 ratio.

The Endurace’s head and seat tube angles, of 73 and 72.8 degrees respectively, are typical for an endurance road bike and slightly slacker than both the Ultimate and Aeroad.

This helps slow down the handling slightly, and places you in a more upright and relaxed riding position.

I stand at the top of the height range of a size-large Endurace CFR, so I left the 15mm of spacers under the stem in place.

To attain a lower road bike position, you can remove these with the tools Canyon supplies without uninstalling the cockpit.

However, I did narrow the width of the handlebars from 430mm to 390mm, the widest setting to the narrowest possible.

This simply requires you to peel back the bar tape and loosen bolts on the underside of the handlebar with a T25 tool and 4mm Allen bit. You’ll need a torque wrench to retighten them once you’ve made the adjustment.

The range of adjustment seems reasonable. To prevent neck and shoulder pain, some bike fitters warn against using excessively narrow handlebars on the big days out the Endurace is intended for.

Canyon Endurace CFR AXS build

The Canyon Endurace CFR AXS has a belting build befitting a range-topping £8,599/$8,999/€8,999/AU$14,349 bike.

It comes with a full SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset, including a Quarq power meter, and DT Swiss ERC 1100 wheels set up tubeless with Schwalbe Pro One TLE tyres.

On my test bike's otherwise impeccable build, the Fizik Tempo Aliante R5 saddle hits a bum note.

It’s comfortable, despite being wider than I prefer, but is a lower-spec saddle than you’d hope for on a £8,999/$8,999 bike because it has steel rails.

But Canyon says if you buy the Endurace CFR yourself you will get the Fizik Tempo Aliante R1 carbon saddle.

The pricier (£9,499/€9,999/AU$15,099) Campagnolo Super Record WRL build includes a 3D-printed Fizik Vento R1 Adaptive saddle.

The Endurace CFR is also available with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9200 for £8,999/€9,499/$8,999/AU$14,349.

Compared to similarly specced endurance road bikes, the Endurace CFR AXS is considerably cheaper.

The Cervélo Caledonia 5 Red eTap AXS costs £11,000/$11,500/€10,499/AU$15,500.

The Trek Domane SLR 9 AXS will set you back £13,400/$13,199/€14,499/AU$18,499.99.

Highly rated, cheaper versions of the Endurace are also available, such as the aluminium Endurace AL and carbon Endurace CF 7 eTap.

Away from the glossy electronic groupset and carbon wheels, the Endurace CFR has more clever touches separating it from the cheaper versions.

Integrated top tube storage

The Endurace CFR incorporates Canyon’s new LOAD Top Tube Storage. Under the hatch, a neoprene sleeve holds what you need to fix a tubeless puncture and make adjustments to your bike on the road.

I didn’t need to use the tools, but liked having them neatly stowed away in the same place.

The aesthetics of the top tube hatch might not appeal to everyone, though.

Less conspicuous integrated tool storage options exist, for example in the down tube of the Trek Domane SLR 7 P1. But these could be harder to access.

The Domane costs a similar amount, but is specced with SRAM’s second-tier Force AXS groupset. It’s also about a kilo heavier and doesn’t have an adjustable, integrated cockpit.

If you want mounting points and slightly wider tyre clearance, the Domane might still edge it for you. But the comparison indicates how the Endurace CFR is competitively priced.

The CP0018 cockpit enables you to customise the front end of the Endurace in ways this type of road bike handlebar doesn’t usually afford.

As is the case on other fully integrated cockpits, to change the stem length you’d still have to buy another handlebar and go through the tedious process of swapping the whole thing out (or, more likely, delegate it to a professional mechanic).

Canyon separately sells the 3D-printed Forward AM computer mount, which screws in under the stem, for £45.95.

Canyon Endurace CFR AXS ride impressions

On the rolling West Midlands roads and in the North Wales mountains, the Canyon Endurace CFR excelled as an endurance road bike.

I also tapped into the Endurace CFR’s racier side during harder efforts. The frame and handling will be sufficiently responsive for most riders.

Unlike on a rock-solid race machine, if you’re not a pro, you'll enjoy the experience of riding the Endurace CFR for hours on end.

The frame is still stiff, but not in the places that will cause you hand or back pain if set up correctly.

The compliance of Canyon’s S15 VCLS 2.0 seatpost enabled me to glide over cratered tarmac where I would have expected to be jarred and jolted on a racy carbon road bike.

No doubt, the 32mm-wide, rear Schwalbe Pro One tubeless tyre aided comfort too.

I would’ve liked Canyon to spec the same size at the front to enhance compliance.

Instead, Canyon says the narrower 30mm front tyre improves aerodynamics – the Aeroad also has mismatched tyre sizes.

This aero gain isn’t something you can feel while riding, though, whereas the improved vibration damping and grip of a wider tyre is, in my experience.

Beguilingly fast

Although probably not as quick as the Aeroad, the Endurace CFR’s speed snuck up on me.

At up to 50km/h on the flat, I didn’t experience the noise and vibrations I associate with riding a performance road bike that fast.

I attribute this to the Endurace CFR’s ride quality and quiet-running drivetrain.

Its deft handling flattered my substandard cornering, enabling me to carve through bends comfortably.

Given most pros stick to the Aeroad or Ultimate for the cobbled classics these days, the Endurace CFR could be Canyon’s raciest bike never to be raced in the WorldTour.

However, even in the narrowest handlebar setting, I didn’t detect twitchiness in the Endurace CFR.

Based on my brief off-road excursions on the Endurace CFR, I wouldn’t be surprised if Canyon-sponsored riders race it at the UCI Gravel World Championships.

Its 35mm official tyre clearance is wider than on the Canyon Ultimate CFR Gianni Vermeersch rode to victory last year.

The versatile 45mm-deep DT Swiss wheels are a wise choice on the Endurace CFR.

While hardly scientific, my average speed around the familiar loops I tested the Endurace CFR on suggests they perform well aerodynamically.

Their stability helped me hold my line in fast corners, and they didn’t prove overly susceptible to gusty sidewinds.

Their respectable 1,447g weight for a mid-section wheelset contributes to the Endurace CFR’s adroit acceleration on the flat and hills.

On climbs, I wasn’t expecting the Endurace CFR to come close to my rim-brake Canyon Ultimate CF SLX, given the kilogram weight disadvantage.

But for an endurance road bike, the Endurace CFR felt really good uphill, with its 7.3kg actual weight.

When you dance on the pedals and pull on the handlebar, the Endurace CFR is as taut as a drawn bow.

Good gear range

The 12-speed 48/35T SRAM Red AXS drivetrain has ample range for longer climbs.

Its 35/33t bottom gear doesn’t match the 1:1 ratio of some endurance bikes, but the Endurace CFR’s low weight counteracted this for me.

Even carrying a pair of laden bikepacking bags, I didn’t run out of gears on the 8km ascent of Bwlch y Groes, Wales’ second highest paved mountain pass.

I am admittedly one of the top 100 hill climbers in the country, however.

If you live in a hilly area, you might find the gearing too hard.

The 48/10 hardest gear equates roughly to a 53/11 on a standard chainset, which stronger riders should only spin out on long descents.

Mixed handlebar comfort

The handlebar’s comfort could be improved. Handlebar tape extends only a few centimetres from the brake hoods. I presume this is because you have to unwrap it to adjust the handlebar width.

In its widest (430mm) and middle (410mm), there is a lot of unwrapped, thin carbon on the tops. At 390mm wide, the tape covers more of the bar.

Once you’ve settled on a width, you could retape the bar to cover more of the tops. Initially, they aren’t that grippy or comfortable.

The flat shape of the bar provides a comfortable place to rest your wrists and forearms with your elbows at 90 degrees.

I really liked the ergonomics of the SRAM Red eTap AXS brake hoods and shifters.

My sizeable hands slotted around the hoods. You move the single paddle on each shifter to change gear, which I find more tactile than with other electronic groupsets.

Canyon Endurace CFR AXS bottom line

A bike’s specificity tends to increase in step with its price. So, you might expect a bike costing just shy of five figures to excel at one thing.

The Canyon Endurace CFR AXS bucks that trend by merging race performance with endurance comfort.

The genre-blurring result is a long-distance superbike.

To some, it may lack the aspirational allure of WorldTour race bikes.

But in and above its price bracket, the Endurace CFR will prove a more suitable performance road bike for most riders.