27.5" wheels, designed for tire widths of 2.4 and 2.6 inches, 140 millimeters of travel at the rear and 150 millimeters at the front, a carbon frame weighing around 1950 grams - these are the first key data of the Spectral. In addition to this fundamentally unexciting basis, Canyon has shown great attention to detail: On the frame, for example, a handlebar impact limiter with stops on the top tube and upper headset shell helps to ensure that descents don't end up with a demolished top tube.

The seat dome on the Spectral is particularly eye-catching, as it is visually close to the shape of the frame of the Sender downhill bike. Compared to its predecessor, the top tube has been lowered further so that dropper posts with a stroke of up to 150 millimetres can be used. This seat dome should also allow dropper posts to be clamped evenly, which should be good for the sliding mechanism within a dropper seat post, which will probably thank you with smooth operation and durability.

Canyon and Pure Cycling have launched a real, albeit hidden, highlight with the routing of the brake and gear cables. A cover is bolted to the underside of the down tube, with the cables running underneath. This design combines the look of cables routed in the frame, but the cover can be removed in no time at all for maintenance work - and the annoying fiddling with internal routing is a thing of the past! This is a customer-friendly solution that is all the better for a mail-order company, but it could also be used by other brands.

The Spectral is not yet available on the Swiss Pure Cycling website. Numerous models can be ordered on www.canyon.de, the range includes bikes from 2199 to 6999 euros, the cheaper models roll onto the starting line with an aluminum frame.