Descending
62
A solid all-round descender (65.5° head angle, 155mm) — capable in the rough and steep without being an all-out bruiser.
Canyon
Spectral:ON 2023
Discontinued✎Full Power · TrailLegacy · 0.4/10iFreshness 0.4/10
How current the bike is — newer chassis, motor and battery score higher. 10 = brand-new, 0 = legacy.
How current the bike is — newer chassis, motor and battery score higher. 10 = brand-new, 0 = legacy.
Motor
Shimano EP8 (DU-EP800) · 85Nm · 500W↗
Battery
Canyon 900Wh
Travel F/R
160/155mm
Wheels
MX (29F / 27.5R)✎
Frame
Full carbon
Weight
22.75 kg
Price
From £4,799
From £4,799
EMTB Forums verdict
The 2023 Spectral:ON was Canyon's playful all-mountain mullet e-MTB and, for this generation, went fully carbon across the board. Both the CF and CFR frames pair a 29in front wheel with a smaller 27.5in rear, 160mm of fork travel and 155mm out back via Canyon's Triple Phase Suspension layout, driven by Shimano's 85Nm EP8 motor and Canyon's own high-capacity 900Wh battery (720Wh on size S and the CF 7).
Geometry is consistent across the five builds: a slack 65.5 degree head angle, a 76.5 degree effective seat angle and reach from 435mm (S) to 510mm (XL), aimed squarely at confident, centred descending while the mullet rear keeps things flickable. The range opens with the value-focused CF 7 at GBP 4,799 (RockShox Lyrik Select, Deore/XT mix) and climbs through the FOX 36 SLX-equipped CF 8 and the SRAM GX AXS Transmission CF 9, up to the XT Di2 CFR and the SRAM XX AXS, RockShox Flight Attendant equipped CFR LTD flagship at GBP 11,449.
This generation has since been discontinued and superseded by later Spectral:ON models, so the 2023 bike is now an end-of-line model. It remains a well-rounded, full-carbon mullet e-MTB with a wide spread of builds and Canyon's class-leading battery capacity.
Geometry read
What the numbers mean on the trail
Computed from this bike's geometry, spec and build kit — reach, wheelbase, chainstay, head and seat angles, travel, motor, weight and the fork/tyre/brake spec — and worked out per size, because a fixed chainstay can make an S and an XL feel very different.
Size
Playfulness
58
A fair bit of pop, but happiest on flowing trail rather than trials moves.
Size balance
85
Balanced front-to-rear in L (FC:RC 1.85) — weight sits evenly between the wheels.
Technical climbing
62
Climbs well — a 76.5° seat keeps the front planted. 500W of peak power and 85Nm of torque — a strong full-power motor.
No single standout trait — a balanced, versatile bike.
The numbers are well balanced for its category.
How it stacks up vs other Full Power · Trail bikes (from 223 bikes in the database)
Weight22.75 kgabout average weight
Battery900 Wh193 Wh above average
Motor torque85 Nm13 Nm below average
Value for money72/100from £4,799 · most Shimano EP8 (DU-EP800) bikes ~£5,610
Computed from geometry + spec, not a paid review. Scores are guidance, not gospel.
💬 Forum discussion
Important safety note from Canyon: the Spectral:ON CF / CFR and Torque:ON CF models may have damage to the battery
639 replies · 151.3k views · last reply 4 weeks ago
Join the discussion →
“I did return. Just a new Orbea Wild owner...”
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OWNERS’ REPORT
Geometry · hover a row to highlight the measurement on the bike
| S | M | L | XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | 435 mm | 460 mm | 485 mm | 510 mm |
| Stack | 634 mm | 643 mm | 652 mm | 661 mm |
| Seattube | 420 mm | 440 mm | 460 mm | 480 mm |
| Chainstay | 440 mm | 440 mm | 440 mm | 440 mm |
| Headtube Angle | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° |
| Seattube Angle (eff) | 76.5° | 76.5° | 76.5° | 76.5° |
| Wheelbase | 1194 mm | 1223 mm | 1252 mm | 1281 mm |
| Headtube | 115 mm | 125 mm | 135 mm | 145 mm |
| Standover | 809 mm | 814 mm | 820 mm | 825 mm |
| Front Centre | 754 mm* | 783 mm* | 812 mm* | 841 mm* |
| FC:RC | 1.71 | 1.78 | 1.85 | 1.91 |
Trims · 5
CF 7 £4,799 | CF 8 £5,749 | CF 9 £7,149 | CFR £8,999 | CFR LTD £11,449 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motor | Shimano EP8 (DU-EP800) · 85 Nm · all trims | ||||
| Battery | Canyon 900Wh · 900 Wh · all trims | ||||
| Travel F/R | 160/155 mm · all trims | ||||
| Frame | Carbon (CF) | Carbon (CF) | Carbon (CF) | Carbon (CFR) | Carbon (CFR) |
| Fork | RockShox Lyrik Select, 150 mm, 35 mm stanchions, 42 mm offset | FOX 36 Rhythm, 160 mm, 36 mm stanchions, 44 mm offset | FOX 38 Performance Elite, 160 mm | FOX 36 Factory Grip2, 160 mm, 36 mm stanchions, 44 mm offset | RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, 150 mm, 35 mm stanchions, 44 mm offset |
| Shock | RockShox Deluxe Select R | FOX Float X Performance Evolution | FOX Float X Performance Evolution | FOX Float X Factory EVOL | RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Flight Attendant |
| Stem | Canyon:ON ST0031, 45 mm · all trims | ||||
| Handlebar | Canyon:ON HB0057 Riser bar, 780 mm, 30 mm rise, 35 mm clamp · all trims | ||||
| Grips | Canyon Lock-On · all trims | ||||
| Saddle | Fizik Terra Aidon X5 · all trims | ||||
| Seatpost | Iridium Dropper Post, 30.9 mm | Iridium Dropper Post, 30.9 mm | Iridium Dropper Post, 30.9 mm | FOX Transfer Factory dropper, 30.9 mm | RockShox Reverb AXS dropper, 30.9 mm |
| Brakes | Shimano Deore 4-piston hydraulic disc | Shimano SLX M7120 4-piston hydraulic disc | Shimano Deore XT M8120 4-piston hydraulic disc | Shimano XTR 4-piston hydraulic disc | SRAM Code Ultimate Stealth 4-piston hydraulic disc |
| Rear derailleur | Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed | Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed | SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission | Shimano Deore XT Di2, 12-speed | SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission |
| Crank | Shimano STEPS | Shimano STEPS | Shimano STEPS | Shimano STEPS HOLLOWTECH e-MTB crank arms | Shimano STEPS HOLLOWTECH e-MTB crank arms |
| Shifters | Shimano Deore M6100 | Shimano SLX M7100 | SRAM AXS POD Infinity | Shimano SW-M8150-R (XT Di2) | SRAM AXS POD Ultimate |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore M6100, 12-speed | Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed | SRAM GX Eagle Transmission, 12-speed, 10-52 | Shimano XTR CS-M9101, 12-speed, 10-51 | SRAM XX Eagle Transmission, 12-speed, 10-52 |
| Chain | Shimano CN-M6100 | Shimano CN-M6100 | SRAM GX Eagle Transmission | Shimano CN-M9100, 12-speed | SRAM XX Eagle Transmission Flattop |
| Drivetrain | Shimano Deore XT M8100, 12-speed; Shimano STEPS; Shimano Deore M6100; Shimano Deore M6100, 12-speed; Shimano CN-M6100 | Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed; Shimano STEPS; Shimano SLX M7100; Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed; Shimano CN-M6100 | SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission; Shimano STEPS; SRAM AXS POD Infinity; SRAM GX Eagle Transmission, 12-speed, 10-52; SRAM GX Eagle Transmission | Shimano Deore XT Di2, 12-speed; Shimano STEPS HOLLOWTECH e-MTB crank arms; Shimano SW-M8150-R (XT Di2); Shimano XTR CS-M9101, 12-speed, 10-51; Shimano CN-M9100, 12-speed | SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission; Shimano STEPS HOLLOWTECH e-MTB crank arms; SRAM AXS POD Ultimate; SRAM XX Eagle Transmission, 12-speed, 10-52; SRAM XX Eagle Transmission Flattop |
| Wheels | RaceFace AR30 (front) / AR35 (rear) on Shimano MT400/MT510 hubs | DT Swiss HLN350 Centerlock (30 mm) | DT Swiss HX1700 (front) / H1700 (rear) Centerlock | DT Swiss HXC 1501 Spline One Centerlock | DT Swiss HXC 1501 Centerlock (29 front / 27.5 rear) |
| Tyres | Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 (front) / Maxxis Minion DHR II 27.5x2.6 WT (rear) | Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 (front) / Maxxis Minion DHR II 27.5x2.6 WT (rear) | Maxxis Assegai EXO+ 29x2.5 (front) / Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO+ 27.5x2.6 WT (rear) | Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5 (front) / Maxxis Minion DHR II 27.5x2.6 WT (rear) | Maxxis Assegai EXO+ 29x2.5 (front) / Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO+ 27.5x2.6 WT (rear) |
| Weight | 23.3 kg | 24.5 kg | 24.4 kg | 22.75 kg | 22.75 kg |
| Price | £4,799 | £5,749 | £7,149 | £8,999 | £11,449 |
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