Buying a boxed bike direct from Germany – dodging the costs of traditional retail – makes Canyon models look incredible value. But online performance is one thing. Trails are quite another.
Ride & handling: Lightweight climber
The handling is neutral and vice free, but it’s obviously biased more to going up and along than blasting downwards. That occasionally felt odd and slightly sketchy in company with the more stable, slacker trail bikes on test, but it’s totally predictable and appropriate to the fast XC/Trail character a lot of riders want from their rides.
It’s the bike’s lack of weight – and of wheel weight – that make the biggest impression, with the Canyon charging out of corners and floating away from other bikes up climbs.
It’s not just a cut price clothes horse; this frame is tight and eager, with the CTD Trail Adjust dampers on the shock and fork letting you set small bump sensitivity/pedal firmness to taste.
Frame & equipment: Incredible value
The Nerve AL frame isn’t new to our Trail Bike Of The Year test; it won in 2011 and took second in 2012. It’s a finely wrought piece of alloy – extensive hydroforming puts metal only where it’s needed for a light yet stiff result. The first year we hammered it through the worst conditions imaginable – including Scotland’s Strathpuffer winter 24-hour race – and its bearings and anodised finish held up admirably.
There’s no doubting it’s the unbelievable spec value that puts the Canyon cat among the shop-sold pigeons. At a price where XT would be impressive, Canyon do XTR cranks, BB and rear mech (cassette, shifters and front mech are XT), Mavic CrossMax ST wheels, powerful Formula T1 brakes, a carbon Ritchey seatpost, a light Selle Italia saddle and top-quality Schwalbe Evo tyres.
The classic four-bar rocker linkage also gains a full ‘Factory’ spec Kashima rear shock for the ultimate in smooth control. It’s phenomenal value, but sensibly chosen too; the 180mm rotors, chain-quietening clutch rear mech and ST rather than SLR wheels make the Nerve trail tough, despite it weighing only just over 11kg (24lb).
The obvious downsides to buying direct are having to build up the bike yourself and a lack of immediate support, free servicing back up and potential future kit deals from your local shop. Try before you buy opportunities are limited too, so make sure you use the very thorough Canyon ‘Perfect Positioning System’ online sizing tool.
If you want more, it’s not the only Canyon option; the Nerve AL+ range covers the slacker and longer-travel side, while for going even lighter there’s the Nerve CF range.
This bike was tested as part of magazine’s What Mountain Bike 2013 Trail Bike of the Year feature – read the full results in issue 147, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
