While many brands are currently "blowing up" their cross-country bikes into down-country machines, Canyon is doing the opposite and creating a kind of up-enduro bike. 140 millimeters at the front and 125 at the rear sounds like a fun trail bike. However, the new Spectral clearly has enduro genes.

Canyon lists the following differentiating features:
1. the Spectral 125 is one of the most progressive bikes in its suspension travel category. The geometry with the 64-degree steering angle and the low bottom bracket make the bike the ultimate jibber among trail bikes. We have developed the Spectral 125 as the perfect all-rounder for all shredders who not only want to let it rip on technical terrain, but also want to score style points on every bump.

2. chassis and kinematics of the Spectral 125 underline the progressive orientation. The Spectral 125 meets the same category 4 criteria in terms of robustness and durability as our competition enduro bike Strive, and for a short-travel 29er trail bike it is extremely downhill-oriented. Thanks to the special kinematics, the bike can keep up with much longer-travel bikes despite the short 125 millimeters of travel, but climbs much better and allows for a very playful riding style.

3. finally, the Spectral 125 is a bike that can be ridden hard at the limit. Powerful brakes, high-performance suspension and clever features such as durable bearing seals and replaceable threaded inserts ensure that the 125 impresses time and time again in tough terrain.

Statement by: Jack Noy, Brand Manager MTB Gravity at Canyon

Special features

- Canyon Load frame bag - storage box for tools and spare parts
- Screw points under the top tube
- Sram UDH derailleur hanger
- Telescopic dropper post with adjustable stroke
- Thru axle with lever extension
- Geometry adjustment via flip chip

On the flat

The riding position is pleasantly upright, as you would expect from a full-grown enduro bike. It pedals forward easily and efficiently. It quickly becomes clear that this machine wants to be ridden with traction and likes it when you pedal hard and speed through the area. The precise steering behavior in combination with the well-balanced geometry ensures a lot of fun on moderate terrain.

Up the mountain

The Spectral 125 is generally easy to ride uphill. Even though it is no lightweight at over 14 kilos. Only very steep single trails are a challenge. You'll need strong legs or a smaller chainring than the 32 t chainring fitted. Otherwise, you'll be propelling over roots and stones as if the ground were flat. Thanks to the firm suspension, it hardly bobbed at all, even when pedaling out of the saddle.

Downhill

For such a short-travel bike, it has a very slack steering angle, which makes it very composed without sacrificing agility. The Canyon handles well around tight radii, but also pulls nicely through long corners. The suspension hardly swallows up any small bumps, but the harder you go, the better it works. Even then, it is not a comfort miracle. Light riders will even find the rear too heavily damped. Those with more weight on the scales will certainly get on better with it. The high end progression ensures that there are always reserves left. The firm suspension compensates for this with a lot of counter-pressure when you push hard for jumps - the Canyon willingly takes to the air. If you ride fast, you usually have to hit the brakes hard. And that's where the Spectral 125 scores with a very active system that's easy to control. The Spectral 125 also shines on steep and rough terrain, where it's not speed that counts but good balance and riding skills. The well-balanced bike masters the tightest switchbacks, high steps and rock slides with ease.

Conclusion

The Canyon Spectral 125 CF is at home in two worlds. It likes high-speed banging as well as very slow sections where balance comes before suspension travel. On moderate terrain, it's moderate fun, unless you put enough energy into the suspension. The bike clearly has the genes of a race enduro bike and not a trail bike.

Recommendation

If you're looking for a bike that has little suspension travel but can still be ridden like an enduro bike, the Spectral 125 is just right. The bike is also well suited to people with a little more body mass, who can put a lot of energy into the suspension. For others, going to a tuner will help; a slightly softer compression damping will certainly work wonders.

Specifications

Geometry

All data here: Link

Manufacturer

www.canyon.com

Test report published in issue no. 80 of Ride magazine.