Inflite (CX)

Name: Canyon Inflite (CX)
Brand: Canyon

road

Origin

Canyon, the Koblenz-based German direct-to-consumer brand, entered cyclocross in 2016 with the first-generation Inflite (marketed as the Inflite CX / AL), an aluminium race bike built around smooth-welded AL SLX and AL 7005 frames with a full-carbon fork and the flexing VCLS carbon seatpost for comfort. In 2018 Canyon completely reinvented the platform as the full-carbon Inflite CF SLX. Its engineers questioned cyclocross bike fundamentals and produced a distinctive raised top-tube junction — a patent-pending, Red Dot 'Best of the Best' 2017 award-winning shape that opens the front triangle so racers can shoulder the bike more comfortably during run-ups. The carbon frame dropped to a claimed 940 g and gained a longer, more aggressive race geometry. Ridden by Alpecin-Deceuninck stars Mathieu van der Poel and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, the Inflite has collected a string of UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championship titles, and the platform continues today as the CF SL, CF SLX and flagship CFR.

Specifications

Frame: Carbon on CF SL / CF SLX / CFR (~940 g Medium claimed on SLX); early Inflite CX/AL was aluminium (AL SLX or AL 7005, ~1,480 g Medium)
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: 1x race focus: SRAM Force/Rival AXS or Shimano GRX 1x; some builds 2x Shimano 105/Ultegra/GRX. Top current CFR runs Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
Brakes: Flat-mount hydraulic disc (Shimano/SRAM), 160 mm rotors on race trims; earliest 2016 alloy builds used mechanical disc (Shimano BR-CX77 / TRP Spyre)
Wheels: Trim-dependent: DT Swiss C1800/R23/R24 alloy on value builds; DT Swiss CRC carbon (22 mm internal) on SLX/CFR

The verdict

+Strengths

Genuine WorldTour-proven race pedigree — multiple CX world titles under van der Poel and Alvarado.
Excellent value: direct-to-consumer pricing gives more groupset and better wheels per euro than shop-sold rivals.
Stiff, agile handling with a comfort-tuned frame/fork and flexing carbon seatpost that tames trail buzz.

−Weaknesses

It's a pure CX racer — tighter tyre clearance and racy geometry make it less versatile than a modern gravel bike.
Early alloy AL builds are heavy (~9.2 kg) with portly wheels and mechanical discs by today's standards.
Direct-only sales mean no local dealer support in the Baltics — sizing/servicing is on you.

Generations

Gen 1 — Inflite CX / AL (2016-2017)
- First Canyon crosser; carbon fork + VCLS seatpost, rack/fender mounts, versatile winter/CX bike.
Frame
Aluminium (AL SLX / AL 7005)
Brakes
Mechanical or hydraulic disc
Gen 2 — Inflite CF SLX (2018+)
- Red Dot-winning raised top tube, longer/racier geometry, no fender mounts — pure race focus.
Frame
Full carbon (~940 g Medium)
Brakes
Hydraulic disc, flat-mount
Current — CF SL / CF SLX / CFR
- 2024 World Championship-winning platform; DT Swiss CRC carbon CX wheels on premium trims.
Frame
Carbon (CFR = top flagship)
Brakes
Hydraulic disc

Versions & builds

Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.

Versions & builds
Spec	Inflite AL 8.0 (CX)	Inflite AL SLX 9.0 Pro Race (CX)	CurrentInflite CF SL 6	Inflite CF SLX 8	Inflite CF SLX 9	CurrentInflite CFR
Year	2016	2016	2023	2023	2023	2024
Frame	Aluminium (AL 7005)	Aluminium (AL SLX smooth-weld)	Carbon CF SL	Carbon CF SLX (~940 g)	Carbon CF SLX (~940 g)	Carbon CFR (flagship)
Drivetrain	Shimano 105 2x, CX50 46/36	SRAM Force CX1 1x11	Shimano GRX 1x12	SRAM Rival AXS 1x12	SRAM Force eTap AXS 1x12 + Quarq power	Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 + dual-side power
Brakes	Mechanical disc (BR-CX77)	SRAM hydraulic disc	Hydraulic disc	Hydraulic disc	Hydraulic disc	Hydraulic disc
MSRP	€1,399	€2,699	—	—	€4,699	—
Purpose	Value	Flagship	Value	Balanced	Flagship	Flagship