{"id":36014,"date":"2022-04-20T11:00:45","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T09:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=671385"},"modified":"2022-04-20T11:14:13","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T09:14:13","slug":"canyon-narrows-the-strives-focus-to-a-full-bore-enduro-race-bike","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/canyon-narrows-the-strives-focus-to-a-full-bore-enduro-race-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"Canyon narrows the Strive\u2019s focus to a full-bore enduro race bike"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Luke Marshall\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 20 April 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The Strive has long been Canyon\u2019s enduro bike<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yet, until now, it\u2019s needed an extra layer of versatility to satisfy the 29in wheel, long-travel crowd, who prefer trail riding or big mountain lines to racing because it was the only bike Canyon offered with big wheels and big travel.<\/p>\n

Following the release of its new 2022 Spectral<\/a> and 2022 Torque<\/a> models to fill the trail and freeride gaps, Canyon decided to take the Strive back to its roots and make it a thoroughbred race bike.<\/p>\n

The bike\u2019s geometry gets an extensive overhaul. There\u2019s more suspension travel<\/a>, a stiffer frame and improved kinematics. Canyon has retained the Strive\u2019s Shapeshifter geometry adjustment system, yet the changes to the bike make it more trail-oriented rather than just a climb switch.<\/p>\n

With input from the Canyon CLLCTV Enduro race team and Canyon\u2019s gravity department, the brand says its engineers set out to build a bike that could shave time off every trail, from hotly contested KOMs to EWS stages.<\/p>\n

Canyon Strive CFR frame and suspension details<\/h2>\n
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While there is a striking resemblance to the old Strive, the latest version features geometry, kinematics and chassis changes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Boris Beyer<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Purely from a speed perspective, Canyon has stuck to 29in wheels<\/a> for the Strive CFR, thanks to their ability to maintain momentum and help improve grip.<\/p>\n

The brand thinks the overall benefits of 29in wheels outweigh a mixed-wheel mullet bike<\/a> design for enduro due to the variety of terrain and less consistently steep trails than in downhill mountain biking. The bike isn\u2019t mullet-compatible.<\/p>\n

The four frame sizes: small, medium, large and extra-large are made from carbon fibre and are only available in Canyon\u2019s CFR flagship lay-up.<\/p>\n

As it\u2019s an uncompromising race bike, Canyon says the higher-spec carbon allowed the engineers to meet their new stiffness goals while keeping the weight to a minimum.<\/p>\n

Through altering the cross-sections of nearly every tube on the frame and subtly adjusting pivot locations and carbon lay-ups, the front triangle is now 25 per cent stiffer for a 300g weight penalty.<\/p>\n

Canyon claims the new frame is still only 100g heavier than the lightweight Spectral 29. The front-triangle stiffness was increased to keep the bike more stable and composed at speed, while the rear triangle keeps a similar stiffness to maintain tracking and grip.<\/p>\n

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There are bolt bosses under the top tube to attach bags or tool-storage solutions.<\/span><\/figcaption> Boris Beyer<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

There isn\u2019t any internal frame storage, but there are bosses under the top tube for attaching spares. The frame, from a size medium up, can also fit a 750ml water bottle inside the front triangle.<\/p>\n

The internal cable routing uses foam lining to minimise noise. To add to this, the chainstay protection is hefty and should keep the chainstays free from chain slap.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a decent down-tube protector to help prevent rock strikes from causing any harm.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s tyre clearance for a maximum 2.5in (66mm) width. It also uses a threaded 73mm bottom bracket shell and Boost hub spacing.<\/a><\/p>\n

Triple-phase suspension<\/h3>\n

The new Strive gets an additional 10mm of travel that takes it to 160mm. This extra travel has let Canyon tune the start of the suspension to be more sensitive to hunt grip, add composure and reduce fatigue.<\/p>\n

The mid-stroke and end-stroke follow a similar suspension curve to the triple-phase design on the previous model. The suspension character is one of the key attributes Canyon wanted to carry over from the previous bike.<\/p>\n

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The rear suspension now delivers 160mm of travel. The extra 10mm makes the initial travel more supple to increase grip and reduce fatigue.<\/span><\/figcaption> Boris Beyer<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

However, there are a few changes, especially to the bike\u2019s anti-squat. Due to the extra suspension and increased sensitivity, Canyon upped the anti-squat at sag to help the Strive be a proficient climber.<\/p>\n

Still, it\u2019s managed to mitigate the pedal kickback potential by having the anti-squat drop rapidly to give the Strive a more chainless feel as you go through its travel.<\/p>\n

Canyon says the frame is compatible with a coil and air shock and has been designed around a 170mm travel fork.<\/p>\n

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The new Strive (yellow lines) has a higher anti-squat at the sag point, but it drops off quickly through the travel to minimise chain interference with the suspension deeper in the travel.<\/span><\/figcaption> Canyon Bikes<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Canyon Strive CFR geometry<\/h2>\n

The newest Strive\u2019s head tube and seat tube angles have been given a makeover compared to the outgoing model.<\/p>\n

Head tube angles now sit at 63 degrees or 64.5 degrees, while seat tube angles are either 76.5 degrees or 78 degrees depending on the Shapeshifter\u2019s setting (keep reading for more information on the Shapeshifter system).<\/p>\n

However, the bike\u2019s key angles aren\u2019t the only thing to receive an extensive makeover. The reach numbers have had a growth spurt too. The small size now starts at 455mm, increasing to 480mm on the medium, 505mm on the large and 530mm on the extra-large.<\/p>\n

Canyon has also managed to lower the standover heights and shorten the seat tube. These range from 400mm to 420mm, 440mm and 460mm from sizes S to XL.<\/p>\n

The two items to remain consistent are the ground-hugging 36mm bottom bracket drop and snappy 435mm chainstays used across all sizes.<\/p>\n

Some might suggest the short chainstays don\u2019t pair well with the long reaches. However, Canyon CLLCTV mentor Fabien Barel says the expert riders and racers this bike is designed for should be able to actively weight the front wheel and carve the bike through turns to take advantage of both the front-centre stability and rear-centre agility.<\/p>\n

Shapeshifting geometry<\/h3>\n
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Canyon\u2019s Shapeshifter in its \u2018shred\u2019 and \u2018pedal\u2019 (extended) modes. This piston changes the bike\u2019s geometry and suspension kinematics on the fly.<\/span><\/figcaption> Boris Beyer<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Strive\u2019s Shapeshifter \u2013 a tool the race team specifically requested to improve the versatility of the bike \u2013 acts as an on-the-fly flip chip and gives the Strive two geometry settings. The neat air-powered piston developed by Fox changes the bike\u2019s geometry and suspension kinematics by increasing anti-squat and reducing leverage.<\/p>\n

Now the Strive is a dedicated enduro bike, Canyon has been able to extend the Shapeshifter\u2019s range of adjustment.<\/p>\n

The two settings are called \u2018shred mode\u2019 \u2013 that\u2019s designed for descending or rowdier riding \u2013 and \u2018pedal mode\u2019 designed for less extreme riding or ascending.<\/p>\n

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The Shapshifter lever enables you to change the Strive between its \u2018shred\u2019 and \u2018pedal\u2019 modes from the handlebar.<\/span><\/figcaption> Boris Beyer<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

In the \u2018shred\u2019 setting, Canyon has sliced off 2.2 degrees from the head tube angle to a slack 63 degrees. It has also steepened the effective seat tube significantly by 4.3 degrees to 76.5 degrees.<\/p>\n

Changing the Shapeshifter to the pedal mode makes the Strive a sportier bike. It increases the head tube and effective seat tube angles by 1.5 degrees to 64.5 degrees and 78 degrees respectively. It also lifts the bottom bracket by 15mm and lessens the travel to 140mm while increasing progression.<\/p>\n

Reach adjusting headset cups<\/h3>\n
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Changeable headset cups enable you to increase or decrease the reach by 5mm from its standard setting.<\/span><\/figcaption> Boris Beyer<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Another new feature of the Strive is the reach-adjusting headset<\/a> cup.<\/p>\n

With 10mm of adjustment, you can lengthen or shorten the reach and front centre by plus or minus 5mm. This should give different-sized riders on the same-sized bike the option to find a more suitable setup. Plus, it allows riders to change their setting depending on course profiles to maximise performance.<\/p>\n

Canyon says the new sizing structure with the reach-adjustable headset cups means the sizes cover a larger range of riders. You can easily choose between sizes, especially if you fall between the medium and large frames.<\/p>\n

<\/colgroup>
Canyon Strive CFR (shred position)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Size<\/td>Small <\/td>Medium<\/td>Large <\/td>Extra-large<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube length<\/b> (mm)<\/td>400<\/td>420<\/td>435<\/td>460<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube length<\/b> (mm)<\/td>601<\/td>627<\/td>654<\/td>683<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>105<\/td>110<\/td>120<\/td>140<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>435<\/td>435<\/td>435<\/td>435<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket offset<\/b> (mm)<\/td>36<\/td>36<\/td>36<\/td>36<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase <\/b>(mm)<\/td>1,243<\/td>1,270<\/td>1,300<\/td>1,334<\/td> <\/tr>
Head angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>63<\/td>63<\/td>63<\/td>63<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube angle <\/b>(degrees) <\/td>76.5<\/td>76.5<\/td>76.5<\/td>76.5<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack <\/b>(mm)<\/td>627<\/td>632<\/td>641<\/td>658<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach <\/b>(mm)<\/td>455<\/td>480<\/td>505<\/td>530<\/td> <\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>