Spectral (All-Mountain)

Name: Canyon Spectral (All-Mountain)
Brand: Canyon

mtb

Origin

Canyon Bicycles is a Koblenz, Germany direct-to-consumer manufacturer that skips bike shops and ships bikes to the customer's door, a model that lets it spec premium components at prices shop brands cannot match. The Spectral launched in 2014 as Canyon's do-it-all 27.5in trail bike and quickly became one of the brand's most beloved models, earning a near-cult following as the bike you buy when you want one capable machine for everything. It ran a 150mm-travel four-bar frame (Canyon's Triple Phase Suspension) through multiple generations, gaining a separate 29in version around 2021 alongside a smaller-travel Spectral 125 and the Spectral:ON e-bike. For 2024 Canyon melted its overlapping trail models into a single, ground-up redesign: 140mm rear paired with a 150mm fork, a slack 64-degree head angle, adjustable geometry and wheel-size flip chips, and in-frame downtube storage. Reviewers noted the redesign traded a little travel for a livelier, more playful trail character while keeping the descending confidence the Spectral was known for.

Specifications

Frame: Carbon (CF / CFR trims) or 6061 aluminium (AL trims); Category 4 rated, in-frame downtube storage on current gen
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: 1x12 SRAM (GX Eagle / GX AXS Transmission) or Shimano (SLX / XT) by trim
Brakes: 4-piston hydraulic disc: SRAM Code or Shimano SLX/XT; 200/203 mm front, 180-203 mm rear
Wheels: 29in (all sizes) or mullet 29/27.5 via chainstay flip chip; DT Swiss / alloy hoops by trim

The verdict

+Strengths

Outstanding value - carbon frame and quality suspension for well under shop-brand prices
Playful, confidence-inspiring trail/all-mountain handling with modern, adjustable geometry
Practical, well-thought frame: in-frame storage, flip chips for wheel size and geometry

−Weaknesses

Online-only: you assemble it yourself, sizing is by chart, and there is no local dealer to fit or service it
Not the strongest climber - high initial leverage means some pedal-induced suspension movement
Some testers wanted more fork support for very aggressive riding; storage-door feel criticised

Generations

27.5in era (2014-2020)
- The original do-it-all Spectral; four-bar Triple Phase Suspension, carbon-front/alloy-rear on cheaper trims. Uses older bearing-kit fitments (2014-16, 2017, 2018-20 differ).
Wheels
27.5in
29in / 125 split era (2021-2023)
- Canyon added a dedicated 29er alongside the 27.5, longer/slacker geometry, added the KIS steering-stabiliser on some trims. 2021-onward bearing fitment.
Wheels
29in (separate 27.5 Spectral 125)
Unified redesign (2024+)
- Ground-up redesign merging previous trail models; less travel but livelier, in-frame storage, geometry + wheel-size flip chips, progressive ~30% leverage curve.
Wheels
29in or mullet (flip chip)

Versions & builds

Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.

Versions & builds
Spec	CurrentSpectral CF 7 (2024+)	CurrentSpectral CF 8 (2024/2025)	CurrentSpectral CFR / CF LTD (2024+)	CurrentSpectral AL 6 (2024+)	Spectral 29 CF 8 (2021-2023)	Spectral CF 8.0 (2020, 27.5in)
Year	2024	2025	2024	2024	2021	2020
Frame	Carbon (CF)	Carbon (CF)	Carbon (CFR, lightest)	6061 aluminium (AL)	Carbon (CF)	Carbon front / alloy rear
Drivetrain	Shimano SLX 1x12	SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission 1x12 (CLLCTV: Shimano SLX/XT)	SRAM XX/X0 AXS Transmission	Shimano Deore/SLX 1x12	Shimano XT / SRAM 1x12	Shimano XT / SRAM GX 1x12
Brakes	Shimano SLX 4-piston	SRAM Code Bronze / Shimano XT 4-piston	SRAM Code Silver/Ultimate	Shimano 4-piston	Shimano XT 4-piston	4-piston
MSRP	€3,449	€4,699	€6,999	€2,799	€4,599	€3,999
Purpose	Value	Balanced	Flagship	Value	Balanced	Balanced