Canyon have launched their new marathon platform, the Lux CF (no prices as yet). The German brand are aiming the 100mm 29er at the large continental marathon market, where light, efficient bikes are essential. However, as many privateer racers will only have one main bike, they want the Lux CF to perform well on the trail too.
As such, the bike has been designed to be race ready and trail worthy, with light components such as a 1,850g frame, custom DT Swiss wheels and a RockShox SID or Fox Float 32 fork. However, it still has a number of features that should aid trail capability, such as a relatively wide bar, short stem and the ability to take a dropper post.
The frame’s influences have come from the 2012 Nerve CF full-suspension bike and the Grand Canyon CF SL hardtail, and the aesthetic similarities are easy to see. However, Canyon were keen to point out that the carbon monocoque section frame has been designed from the ground up, with a new suspension platform – the Flex Pivot.
The Lux is essentially a linkage activated single pivot. However, to help tune the suspension’s compression curve, the seatstays have an inherent flex similar to that of a leaf spring. The maximum deflection of the seatstays occurs mid-way through the travel, before they straighten out for maximum compression, reducing the risk of damage from large impacts.
The result is a bike that feels linear and then increasingly progressive through its travel. Canyon have done away with the floating shock design of the Nerve, as it isn’t necessary for the travel and intended use. The Flex Pivot also saves around 100g on the frame over the Nerve CF. The stiff chainstays pivot around a 12mm thru axle-like suspension pivot, with preloaded angular contact bearings, which Canyon claim effectively widens the effective support, improving stiffness.
The bottom shock mount is fixed, as the Flex Pivot system doesn't need a floating shock
Canyon have integrated a number of frame features to further cut weight or allow the geometries they wanted for the 29er wheels. A direct-mount front mech is placed high on the seat tube to allow mud and tyre clearance.
The seat tube is dropper post ready, allowing both internally and externally routed designs, and a press-fit bottom bracket is mounted directly into carbon, as opposed to an aluminium sleeve.
Finally, looking to the future, there’s also a battery mount on the non-driveside chainstay. Canyon were pretty coy, but hinted that it would take a Di2 battery or unit for the Fox iCD electronic suspension system.
That elusive battery mount
The Lux CF will come in a number of different model options, from the range-topping 9.9 Team, with a SID XX World Cup fork and XX/X0 2x10 groupset, to the 7.9, with a SID XX fork and predominantly X9 groupset.
The Lux CF is due to launch at some point around the Eurobike trade show, at the end of August, with prices to be released then too – expect them to be similar to costings for the Nerve CF bikes, though.
For more information see www.canyon.com.
