The German online retailer Canyon recently acquired the rights to sell its bikes under this brand name in Switzerland. This means that the days when Swiss customers had to wait until the new bikes were available as "Pure Cycling" are over.

The Neuron is available in numerous versions with an aluminum or carbon frame and as a women's model with slightly different equipment. Ride tested the trail bike in Koblenz and Switzerland.

Canyon is known for incorporating a lot of in-house developments into its products. We asked Junior Product Manager Rainer Lauterbach what sets the Neuron apart from other trail bikes:

"The series has a modern, but rather conservative geometry. The aim was to achieve a riding behavior that inspires beginners as much as professionals. The "Triple Phase Suspension" ensures a sensitive response, is stable in the SAG range and becomes progressive at the end of the spring characteristic curve. We have attached great importance to the bearing concept: Industrial ball bearings with double lip seals are installed, which are provided with a special grease that keeps out water and dirt many times better than ordinary greases. In addition, covers make the pivot points maintenance-free and durable.

Equipment

The Canyon Neuron CF 9.0 LTD is the model with the second-best spec in this series. The Fox suspension from the Factory series comes with the Kashima coating, as does the dropper post from the same company. The drivetrain comes from Sram's X01 Eagle groupset and the Guide RSC brakes. There are no compromises when it comes to the wheels either, with the elegant "DT Swiss XMC 1200" carbon wheels. The handlebars and stem come from Canyon itself and are discreetly designed.

Processing & details

The high-quality carbon frame is equipped with numerous Canyon details. Instead of cables being routed through the frame, there is a channel on the down tube that not only safely feeds the cables but also protects the down tube from stone chips. The seat stay is fitted with replaceable protectors to prevent damage from the chain. A headset with stop protection ensures that the top tube remains undamaged when the handlebars are twisted. The industrial bearings are fitted with a cover to keep dirt out. A pull-out "extension" is integrated into the thru-axle on the rear wheel, which can be tilted down to remove the wheel without tools.

On the flat

The combination of the central, slightly stretched seating position with the lightweight wheels results in very efficient acceleration. The shock absorber bobs only imperceptibly and hardens when pedaling. The rear provides clear feedback from the ground. Even on the first few meters, you notice how well balanced the bike is.

Up the mountain

At just under 12.5 kilos, the Neuron can easily be pedaled uphill for hours. The comfortable riding position also contributes to this, helping you to put a lot of pressure on the pedals. The kinematics ensure good traction on loose or rough surfaces.

Downhill

On the descents, the Canyon is agile but a little nervous. Here, a suspension fork with 140 or even 150 millimetres of travel would flatten the steering angle a little and optimize the handling. The rebound of the shock has to match the click, otherwise it lacks grip and the rear end is unstable. Once you have found the right setup, the Twentyniner feels plush on the trail and feels like it has more than 130 millimeters of travel. The suspension is firm, but still releases travel quickly and still has reserves towards the end. Due to its length, it pulls quickly around corners and can be accelerated out of them again.

Conclusion

For most people, the bike will fit well off the shelf. If you have a more active or aggressive riding style, you would be well advised to switch to a suspension fork with more travel. This makes the Neuron even crisper.

Specifications

Manufacturer/distributor

www.canyon.com