Canyon Neuron:ONfly CF9 first ride review

Canyon’s burgeoning electric mountain bike range has been missing representation in the lightweight or SL category – until now.

The all-new Neuron:ONfly is the brand's first lightweight eMTB and is built around Bosch’s SX motor, a 400Wh battery and features 140mm of travel front and rear.

This size-large CF9 model, as tested, weighs in at 19.78kg (43.61lb).

Teamed with some fairly progressive geometry and a competitive price tag, this could be the electric mountain bike for the masses, blending human and motor-powered performance and feel.

On first impressions, the new Canyon Neuron:ONfly CF9 is an impressive all-round performer that eats up the miles, and is fun and engaging on descents.

It feels unrefined and under-gunned in some areas, particularly on rougher, more technical descents. Overall though, performance could be improved easily with a few small changes.

Canyon Neuron:ONfly CF9 frame, suspension and motor

The CF9 frameset is constructed from carbon fibre, with both front and rear triangles made of the black stuff.

The CF9 uses 29-inch wheels front and rear, and is not compatible with a mullet wheel setup.

The rear suspension is a Horst-link design, delivering 140mm of travel, with the bike sharing a similar silhouette with the heavier, full-power Neuron:ON.

A rocker link with a shock yoke drives the shock mounted under the top tube.

Cables are routed through the headset and SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger interface features at the end of the dropouts.

The Neuron:ONfly uses Bosch’s Performance Line SX motor. This lightweight electric bike motor puts out a maximum 600W of peak power and 55Nm of torque.

Allied to this is a 400Wh CompactTube battery that's integrated into the down tube.

A separately available PowerMore 250Wh range extender can be fitted in place of the bottle cage in the frame.

Controlling it all are Bosch’s System Controller and Mini Remote. Different colours on the top tube display indicate the riding mode and show the state of battery charge.

Canyon Neuron:ONfly CF9 geometry

The Neuron:ONfly is available in five sizes, from XS to XL. All feature the same modern geometry.

At 64.5 degrees, the head angle is slack for the bike’s travel figures. It’s matched with a 76.5-degree seat angle, while the chainstays on all sizes are 450mm long.

The bottom bracket sits 340mm from the ground and the geometry is fixed with no built-in adjustment.

My test bike is a size large, with a reach of 485mm and a short 445mm seat tube. The stack is on the taller side at 644mm, while the effective top tube is a roomy 640mm.

Canyon Neuron:ONfly CF9 specifications

The CF9 is the second most expensive model in the range, at £6,699 / €6,999. For now, it's not available in the US, with only the base CF7 model sold there.

The spec is very competitive for a bike of this price, with SRAM’s GX AXS Transmission featuring, alongside a full complement of SRAM family parts, including Code Silver Stealth brakes, a RockShox Pike Ultimate fork and Deluxe Select+ rear shock.

Rolling stock is taken care of by DT Swiss HX 1700 wheels wrapped in Schwalbe Hans Dampf and Nobby Nic tyres. Both use Schwalbe’s Super Trail casing, but feature differing compounds, with an Addix Soft up front and a SpeedGrip out back.

Canyon’s own-brand handlebar, stem, dropper post and grips round things out, with a Fizik Terra Aidon saddle perched atop the dropper.

Canyon Neuron:ONfly CF9 ride impressions

I tested the Neuron:ONfly CF9 over two days at the launch event in Koblenz, Germany, as well as a single day round my local trails in Llandegla forest.

The trails in Koblenz involved steep fire-road climbs, some technical ascents and a mix of steep root and rock-infested descents.

Back home, I treated the bike to Llandegla’s Black and Red trail-centre loops, offering a short chance to ride the bike on trails I know like the back of my hand.

Canyon Neuron:ONfly CF9 climbing performance

The Neuron:ONfly shows its efficiency on the climbs.

The ride position feels comfortable, but isn’t so relaxed it discourages you from putting the power down when you want to.

While the trend has been for even steeper seat angles than the 76.5 degrees here, it suits the bike well.

The Bosch SX motor requires a high cadence of over 100rpm to get the maximum assistance of 600W.

So far, I’ve found this suits my riding well, but if you’re used to the low-cadence power of a full-power eMTB, it may take some getting used to.

The suspension is definitely on the taut and efficient side, rather than gushy and traction-rich. I am keen to see how it performs on loose, technical ascents.

I’ve so far found the Neuron:ONfly to be very competent when pointed uphill. It’s not a cruisy climber, requiring a more active style to get the most out of it, but it's enjoyable and engaging.

Canyon Neuron:ONfly CF9 descending performance

The Neuron:ONfly continues to impress on the descents. The geometry feels incredibly well balanced, enabling you to push on at pace.

The relatively slack 64.5-degree head angle and 485mm reach gave me plenty of confidence to attack the downs.

The long 450mm chainstays balance this out nicely and the bike rails round corners as fast as I dare.

The stable geometry means you can carry plenty of speed on most types of trails, but highlights a lack of plushness from the rear end.

The RockShox Deluxe Select+ shock feels a little out of its depth when the speed and gnar levels increase.

One caveat is the bike I rode at the launch had a more aggressive tyre combination than comes stock on production bikes.

It featured a Schwalbe Magic Mary up front in Addix Super Soft compound and a Hans Dampf moved to the rear.

My only ride in the UK so far has been on the stock Hans Dampf/Nobby Nic combo, but I'd be keen to go for the setup I was treated to on the launch.

Of more concern was the incessant rattling from the Bosch SX’s freewheel. Over rough terrain, it makes one hell of a racket, which is amplified through the frame.

This proved annoying, and I found it disappointing on an otherwise incredibly impressive motor.

Canyon Neuron:ONfly CF9 early verdict

The Neuron:ONfly feels like a very impressive package from first impressions, but needs refining and strengthening in some areas.

The Bosch motor is an impressive drive unit, but the racket it makes is almost unforgivable on any bike, at any price, let alone at this level.

While adequate, the Schwalbe rubber and RockShox shock could both be beefed up to cope with the bike's capability.

It’s fast, fun and engaging to ride and I didn’t feel the extra weight all that much over a non-assisted bike. This is a big win for me against its full-powered and much heavier stablemates.

I’m certainly looking forward to spending more time with the Neuron:ONfly over the coming weeks. However, I might have to invest in some earplugs to block out that freewheel rattle.