Canyon Spectral 2024 Ride Review: What Makes It A Brilliant All Round Bargain?

Canyon's latest Spectral CF7 is the best riding mountain bike they've ever made. Jump on board this outstanding affordable all rounder to find out why I think that in Part 2 of my deep dive review.
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[@leejohnh22]

Great review Kes! Just some feedback, like some others in the comments I really enjoy your live ride reviews as I feel that sets you apart from the other reviews on KZbin for sure!

[@GuyKesTV]

Cheers man, that's really useful feedback

[@TivonSanders]

LIVE ride reviews?! Oh that's cool! That alone makes me wanna subscribe.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@TivonSanders cheers mate

[@petedog9581]

Nice bike. 15.4 kg is not that heavy. My 2023 Rocky Mountain Instinct C30 (150/140mm) w a full Deore spec, Marzocchi Z2 150 is a burly trail bike and just over 14kg stock after going tubeless. I think the improvements are smart on this bike. It is an all-mountain ripper now.

[@Tom-sc4qk]

Great review Guy. I love the live ride reviews (your USP} alongside a sit down bike talk

[@GuyKesTV]

Cheers Tom, it's funny I thought everyone would prefer this style as it's what everyone else does. I guess because it's easier on the brain keeping things separate. it's a whole lot more work in editing though and I feel it lacks the immediacy of a genuine unscripted live ride. Plus having great 3rd person riding shots like this to play with is almost never happens and I sure as shit can't afford a proper video guy!

[@maxlloyd3740]

Great job Guy! I must admit like the riding when reviewing the bikes. Like the excitement even though i don't think i could ride and tallk on some of the trails you do! 😂 Whats the bumbag you are riding at the Forest of Dean? Looks a good size!

[@GuyKesTV]

Cheers Max. Funny thing is talking about the bike stops me internally bitching about how bad I'm riding so it actually helps 🤣

[@dxp8668]

Nice one, thanks a lot. Do you have also ridden the new YT Jeffsy?

[@GuyKesTV]

Sounds like I need to, I'll give James from YT a shout

[@arudenko87]

Thanks for the review. May I ask, is most of what's been said can be applied to the Spectal AL 6 version as well or is experience totally different cause of alm frame? Travel changed to 150/150 but else did from the previous model from what I can tell.

[@TheDoctor46vr]

I love your character and enthusiasm as usual Kes. "You're such a good boy Spectral!" Haha. Nothing wrong with the way you did this review you did a top job like always, but i do prefer the live ride reviews you do. But i'd imagine that can be a challenge between chatching your breath and trying not to stack it.

[@GuyKesTV]

haha, thanks man, I think it'll be back to business as usual as I prefer the live rides more in terms of relating the performance to the action. Plus it's very rare for me to have so much 3rd party riding footage

[@TheDoctor46vr]

@@GuyKesTV yeah it's hard to beat the live reaction and enthusiasm and your realisations resulting in you breaking it down. And it's rare I don't see many people with a similar review style as this.

[@kenneththomson3123]

I was tempted to get one but decided to buy the Stumpjumper EVO Comp CF after watching your review of that bike.

[@GuyKesTV]

Great choice. Definitely more bandwidth for bigger stuff on the Evo 👍🏻

[@kenneththomson3123]

My bike arrived today and I noticed Hunt have a sale on so I've ordered the HUNT Trail Wide MTB 29 Wheelset and got an extra £40 off as a first time customer. Congratulations on your Lezyne sponsorship.

[@mgiles2160]

Defo on my shortlist for next bike, how about SC Bronson vs? Hmmm

[@woodmanmtb]

Hhhhm I have a 2018 spectral and looking at next bike, this is on the list, the bird Aeris as well…I do a lot of riding to and from trails so needs to pedal and hit trails but I don’t do massive stuff

[@jean-pierrekenil5350]

Hello Guy great vidéos👍 do you préfère this bike vs stump Evo? Thanks

[@hambo76]

The previous Spectral carbon didn't like anything less than a 32 tooth round chainring. With this one I'd look at a 32T oval, Hunt Trail Wide wheel (or Proven if you have the coin!), and a Dissector on the back if you want to stick with Maxxis. Oh and a PNW carbon bar :)

[@TheDoctor46vr]

The whole slimming of the frame has me concerned. Maybe it'll be fine being the rear triangle but the last frame had a horrible reputation for cracked frames. And for someone who is looking to pick one of these up second hand when the time comes I won't have warranty behind me. So I hope the frame doesn't crack like the last one did. (I know there are resale warranties but they don't compare to the new bike warranty.)

[@plainuser48596]

Precious gen spectral did really crack. If you are referring to bottom bracket. It was the glue not the carbon. Any frame repair shop would be able to fix it easy

[@user-hu5tq5yc7w]

How would you compare this bike to the Stumpjumper Evo?

[@neilrichards7649]

Excellent review Guy. Where are you riding?

[@GuyKesTV]

Thanks Neil, shot that one in the Forest of Dean. Park end trails to be specific. Not ridden them before but they were great.

[@neilrichards7649]

@@GuyKesTV thanks Guy. Will put that on the list for a visit sometime. I always like your Stainburn rides as its my local but like to see elsewhere for road trip inspiration!

[@tombailey3807]

‘Affordable’ - price of bike £3299. I know the industry is having a bit of a reset at the moment. I think the low/long/slack seems to have settled down now. The next stage of r&d has to be focused on bringing prices down. I’d love to ride one of these, especially after the glowing review, but realistically this way out of most people’s budgets.

[@christianborris6754]

2024 Yeffsy or Switchblade next please, Guy!

[@GuyKesTV]

Righto, I’ll get chasing!

[@ivostarmans1199]

When is the new Jeffrey for sale?

[@christianborris6754]

@@ivostarmans1199 Now!

[@octodadmtbmartyrichards2862]

Good review bro Will the aluminium cheeper models be similarly very good all round trail bikes? Would these be ok for:normal trail bike riding, 2 mild enduros per year and the odd bike park trip to Rotorua? Trying to choose between spectral and Merida 140

[@GuyKesTV]

Thanks man. The alloy bikes are still the older 160/150mm travel design but they're still very good all rounders that would be great for the use you describe. Over here Canyon definitely have the edge on value but I think Merida are really strong with pricing on your side of the world (I'm guessing you're not far from Rotorua?). The geometry on the Merida is more radical though (particularly the seat tube) so I'd say that's more suited to extreme climbing and descending rather than all round use. Make sure you get the later model seat post if you go for the Merida too as first generation ones were really unreliable. Overall I think there's a lot less potential glitches if you go for the Canyon but with the Merida you get proper dealer support if something does go wrong. Sorry if this has been no help at all, just got in from a pretty tough night ride so maybe I'll come up with more sense when it's not 1am 🤣

[@octodadmtbmartyrichards2862]

@@GuyKesTV thanks tired 😴 guy! Yes, Rotorua is my main local, 40 mins from our farm. New Merida bikes will be at crankworx Rotorua soon so will probably have a demo

[@danielray1558]

How would you compare this to the Druid v2?

[@GuyKesTV]

I'd still have the Druid V2 as the suspension really is something else, but the frame feel and overall performance of the CF7 is amazing considering it's almost half the cost

[@TheDoctor46vr]

It says a lot coming from you when you say you don't mind the weight. Because i know usually if a bike doesnt seem heavy to me on paper i then hear you say you wish it was lighter hahaha. So it's very promising to hear it hides it's weight well.

[@GuyKesTV]

Yeah I’m really surprised that neither the weight or the low anti squat git in the way of me really loving this bike. I think I’d be more beefed about the weight if it wasn’t so cheap. I’d forgotten I actually went into a bit more length on the previous Spectral in this chat too so hopefully that explains things.

[@TheDoctor46vr]

@@GuyKesTV do you mean the previous Spectral you rode had more length? Or you went into more detail on the previous Spectral review?

[@GuyKesTV]

@@TheDoctor46vr sorry I’ve got flu head. I mean I went into more length on my thoughts on the previous spectral in this video. Strewth even I’m confused now 🙄

[@TheDoctor46vr]

@@GuyKesTV haha it's all good, thanks Kes

[@yoavmiller216]

Dave Arthur's the definition of a skinny guy, which means extra layers on without anyone noticing😁

[@GuyKesTV]

My hands were so frozen I couldn’t film getting the tool off the top tube because I kept dropping it!