Canyon’s new 160mm-travel Strive is lighter than the Torque ES it replaces
Canyon’s new Strive uses a linkage-driven single-pivot rear end
Cartridge bearings are housed inside the main pivot
Expect to see more 142x12mm rear through-axle setups in the coming season
Lower shock mounts are fitted with needle bearings for a smoother stroke than the tradtional DU bushings
142x12mm dropouts mark the rear end of the new Strive
The chainstay bridge on the new Strive looks notably stout
Integral sag indicators (missing on this show display) will help users with initial setup
Seatstays on the top-end Strive models are carbon fibre
A tapered head tube is included on the new Strive
Each hydroformed top tube on the new Strive goes through 14 steps from start to finish
Derailleur cables are internally routed to protect them from dirt, debris and impacts, while additonal bolt-on guides provide for height-adjustable seatposts and Truvativ’s HammerSchmidt
Canyon are including height-adjustable seatposts on four out of five Strive models
Canyon’s Projekt 1.442 sports an intriguing 3×10 drivetrain with a three-speed internally geared rear hub
A set of planetary gears in Canyon’s upcoming rear hub mimics the traditional spread of a three-ring crankset
Canyon say their rear hub is still a work in progress but they hope to be able to bring it to market soon
The unused front derailleur mounts are used instead for the chainguide
Carbon fibre THM-Carbones Clavicula cranks help keep the weight down to 8.4kg
The 142x12mm through-axle dropouts prevent rear triangle twist but also provide more real estate for the hub
The 142x12mm axle spacing leaves room for Canyon to tuck the shift actuation bits inside the dropout
Canyon’s project bike was fitted with Syntace flat carbon bars
A lightweight DT Swiss fork is a natural choice for Canyon’s innovative hardtail project
Canyon could have saved even more weight by going with a 160mm front rotor but instead opted for the more usable power of a 180mm one
Cables are internally routed on Canyon’s Projekt carbon hardtail frame
Post mount rear brake tabs are included on Canyon’s Projekt frame
The seat tube still has an indentation for the front derailleur cage, even though one isn’t used here
Canyon’s carbon-and-basalt VCLS seatpost is astonishingly flexy, making for real world gains in rider comfort
The 120mm-travel Nerve XC gets a hydroformed top tube for 2011
Canyon are still looking into bringing their bikes into the US but Horst Link-equipped mountain bikes like the Nerve may not make the cut unless the company decide to pay a licensing fee
Canyon address one omission in their range with the addition of the new V-Drome track bike
Canyon use a straight steerer on the V-Drome
The aero-profile seat tube is topped with the same carbon post used on the Speedmax
The aero-profile seat tube is topped with the same carbon post used on the Speedmax
Steel dropout faces on the new V-Drome track bikes protect against frequent wheel removals and installations
The deep-section carbon fork doesn’t even have a mounting hole for a front brake – track use only, please!
Canyon’s Aeroad CF is their newest road model, aimed at reducing aerodynamic drag instead of focusing on outright stiffness
Canyon’s superb Ultimate CF SLX is unchanged for 2011
German direct-to-consumer outfit Canyon will replace their 160mm-travel Torque ES all-mountain machine with a lighter and more all-day-friendly platform called Strive.
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Strive will continue on with the same 160mm of rear wheel travel but will switch from the previous Horst Link four-bar suspension design to a linkage-actuated single-pivot setup similar to that used by Focus and Diamondback.
Conical half-shafts on the main pivot, an especially chunky chainstay bridge and 142x12mm through-axle dropouts should help prevent rear-end twist (a drawback of the other designs mentioned), while a needle-bearing equipped lower shock mount should make for much smoother action than the usual DU bushing setups.
Meanwhile, weight is kept in check with the hydroformed and butted alloy main tubing and chainstays, with the new frame configuration leaving enough room in the main triangle for a water bottle. Upper-end models get carbon seatstays, tapered head tubes are included throughout, and all but the least expensive Strive have height-adjustable seatposts as standard equipment.
Projekt 1.442
The rest of Canyon’s off-road range receives mostly minor tweaks but the Projekt 1.442 showpiece provides a glimpse of what’s to come – and we like what we see. Rather than use a conventional 3×10 drivetrain, the Project 1.442 mates a 10-speed cassette and rear derailleur with a three-speed internally geared rear hub. This offers a slightly greater spread than a traditional three-ring crankset, all supposedly at about the same weight as a Shimano Deore XT drivetrain.
Canyon say their rear hub is still a work in progress but they hope to be able to bring it to market soon: canyon say their rear hub is still a work in progress but they hope to be able to bring it to market soonJames Huang
A set of planetary gears in Canyon’s rear hub mimics the spread of a three-ring crankset
In addition to the claimed improved durability relative to a three-ring, Canyon say their Mach 3 hub requires almost no maintenance, allows for narrower pedal stance widths, and also makes for much better chain retention as a mini chainguide can then be used full-time up front. The system is based on a 32T chainring so as to maintain maximum compatibility with various suspension designs, and the 142x12mm rear dropouts leave enough room to tuck the shift actuation mechanism inside the stays for better protection from rock impacts.
Canyon hung the drivetrain concept on what looked to be a modified version of their Grand Canyon CF carbon hardtail frame (though perhaps more likely a development mule for the next-generation hardtail), complete with big chainstays and little seatstays – reminiscent of their Ultimate CF SLX road racer – direct-mount front derailleur tabs (used to mount the chainguide in this case) and internally routed cables.
Canyon’s projekt 1.442 sports an intriguing 3×10 drivetrain with a three-speed internally geared rear hub: canyon’s projekt 1.442 sports an intriguing 3×10 drivetrain with a three-speed internally geared rear hubJames Huang
Canyon’s Projekt 1.442 looks to be based on an updated Grand Canyon CF hardtail
The component spec was suitably lightweight, including a DT Swiss fork, Syntace bar and stem, Formula R1 brakes (with a 180mm front rotor!), Schwalbe tyres, a Tune front hub and DT Swiss carbon rims, all topped with Canyon’s remarkably cushy VCLS seatpost.
Road range
Aside from the introduction of the Aeroad CF aero road bike we showed you back in May, the road range is essentially unchanged but for the addition of a new V-Drome track model. As is usually the case with this genre, stiffness and aerodynamics were the main goals, resulting in the use of deep-section aluminium tubing, stout stays, steel-faced rear-entry horizontal dropouts, and the same carbon post used on Canyon’s Speedmax time trial bike.
Canyon address one omission in their range with the addition of the new v-drome track bike: canyon address one omission in their range with the addition of the new v-drome track bikeJames Huang
Canyon address an omission in their range with the new V-Drome track bike
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As for the rumors of pending UK and US availability, that’s something Canyon say they’re still working on but hope to nail down sometime in 2011. Keep your fingers crossed.
