These Are the 11 Best Canyon Bikes You Can Buy Right Now (2024)

It’s hard to believe German manufacturer Canyon Bicycles has been selling its consumer-direct bikes in the U.S. for only about three years. The company was launched in the mid-80s by amateur bike racer Roman Arnold as a supplier of bike parts, and had begun manufacturing bicycles to sell online under its current name by 2001. Today, the brand is known for its high-end road, mountain, triathlon, and commuter bikes, available in more than 100 countries. Here are a few we’re loving right now:

Canyon has long been one of Europe’s largest bike makers, but it wasn’t until 2017 that an American customer could order a Canyon and have it delivered directly to his or her house. Now that the bikes are here and we’ve had the chance to test a range of builds across all categories, we’ve been largely impressed with the high quality of the bikes and ease of building them at home. Here’s a little more about Canyon’s sales model, pro team sponsorships, and accolades, as well as our favorite models from the brand.

Consumer–Direct Model

With an online sales model that cuts out the middleman, Canyon has made a name for itself by delivering an ever-widening range of bikes paired with higher-end components for less. As a consumer, you are responsible for not only the shipping and tax, which will vary depending on where you live, but also the assembly once the bike arrives in a box at your house.

But don’t let the idea that you have to build your own bike intimidate you—all the Canyon bicycles we’ve tested have arrived well-tuned, with little more required than installing the wheels and handlebar. Even our most inexperienced mechanics took about a half hour to finish assembling the bikes. However, if you’re still unsure about putting together your own bike, Canyon has partnered with Velofix for mobile repair and delivery for about $130.

Pro-Level Sponsorship

From day one, Canyon supported race teams and had equipped its first team to ride in a UCI ProTour by 2007. In 2014, the brand was involved in its highest-profile win: Nairo Quintana rode two Canyon models—an Ultimate CF SLX (for road stages) and a Speedmax CF (for time trials)—to victory at the Giro d’Italia. Canyons have also seen riders to the podium at Professional Road Race World Championships, Tour de France stages, Ironman World Championships, and most recently to both men’s and women’s cyclocross world titles. Today, Canyon Bicycles not only equips the WorldTour team Movistar, but also a fleet of mountain bikers on the Topeak-Ergon Racing Team, Canyon Factory Enduro Team, and Canyon Factory Downhill Team. Canyon also sponsors several triathletes and freeriders through the company’s Canyon Triathletes and Canyon Factory Freeride Team programs.

Why It May Be Harder to Find a Bike Right Now

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the bike industry has experienced an exponential boom in sales, partially due to public transit restrictions and also because people are looking for a fun, healthy way to get outside. It has also experienced a shortage of bikes due to factory restrictions and delays. Because of this, many bike shops and online brands are nearly sold out of bikes. If a bike on this list is sold out, you might still have the option to pre-order it or join a waiting list.

Editors’ Choice Winners

In the short time Canyon Bicycles have been available for testing in the U.S., two road bikes have won our Editors’ Choice awards for all-around excellence and value. During our 2017 Editors’ Choice testing, the Canyon Ultimate WMN CF SLX 8.0 Di2 was voted by our panel as a “screamin’ fast race machine” with every detail “fine-tuned to be light, responsive, and efficient.” In 2018, we found the Ultimate CF SLX Disc 9.0 SL to be an extraordinary race bike that’s intuitive in its responsiveness under power and “attends to aerodynamics, handling, and even the details of cable routing and a refined seatpost binder.”

But those aren’t the only two models that have blown us away with a combination of exceptional ride quality and value-for-parts. Here are 11 of our favorite Canyon bicycles right now.

Canyon Mountain Bikes

—MOST VERSATILE MOUNTAIN BIKE—

Canyon Strive CF 7.0

The Strive is a hearty enduro bike that has adjustable suspension to make the climbs a little less of a drag. It employs Canyon’s proprietary Shapeshifter technology, which allows riders to adjust the 160mm of fork travel down by 15mm via a button on the handlebar, making the front end a bit stiffer so you can climb more efficiently. The carbon frame and components are no-holds-barred as well: The 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain’s massive 11-50t gear range is ideal for both climbing and hitting the gas.

—BEST TRAIL BIKE—

Canyon Torque CF 8

Built to take big blows without losing its playful vibe, this newly updated, full-suspension mountain bike can handle a super-enduro race or just an epic Saturday riding trails. A laundry list of highlights of this iteration of the bike include a 180mm RockShox ZEB Select Plus fork, RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ RT shock, DT Swiss E1900 wheels with 30mm internal width, 2.4-inch Maxxis Minion DHR II tires, SRAM Code R disc brakes, and an Iridium dropper post. The SRAM 1x12 GX Eagle drivetrain adds to the bike’s versatility, giving you everything you need to keep pedaling when the downhill section ends and the trail starts to arc upward.

—BEST XC RACE BIKE—

Canyon Lux CF SL 8.0

This XC-focused bike proves that sometimes it’s better to specialize than try to be good at everything. The sub-25-pound bike (claimed, size medium) has a 69.5-degree head-tube angle and 100mm of frame travel, with go-fast touches like remote suspension lockout, carbon hoops, and light tires with minimal tread. It pedals extremely efficiently and, amidst the slackening of mountain bike geometry, the sharp-turning Lux feels exhilarating. On the smooth California trails where we tested the Lux, the responsive suspension matched the terrain’s undulations and bumps to deliver an energetic riding experience that made the singletrack feel like a high-speed pump track.

―BEST FAT BIKE―

Canyon Dude CF 8.0

One of the most affordable carbon fat bikes you can buy, the Dude CF sets you up for winter riding success with a light frame and low gearing—a 30-tooth chainring paired with an 11-50 cassette helps this bike power up hills. The wheels and tires will have you hooting and hollering on the descents—the 3.8-inch Maxxis Minion FBF tires on 27.5-inch DT Swiss BR 2250 rims are fun and weight conscious and keep the bike light. A carbon forks also helps absorb shock on packed surfaces.

Canyon Road Bikes

—BEST ROAD BIKE—

Canyon Aeroad CF SL 8 Disc

If you’re looking for a straight-up aero bike, check out the Canyon Speedmax. But if you’re looking for a bike built for wind-cheating speed without sacrificing all-day road comfort, the Aeroad offers just that. The newly updated Aeroad’s carbon frame has aero tube shaping to match the aero-oriented wheels. The integrated co*ckpit adds a unique and user-friendly feature: handlebar width is adjustable. and a 52/36 crank with an 11-28t cassette give the bike more all-arounder versatility. This model sits toward the middle of the Aeroad range, with deep Reynolds tubeless-ready carbon wheels, Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc brakes, and Ultegra shifting.

—BEST ENDURANCE BIKE—

Canyon Endurace AL Disc 7.0

For the price, this is a solid endurance road bike for beginners and long-time riders alike. The biggest surprises for the cost are a full Shimano 105 groupset, including rear derailleur, front derailleur, cassette (11-32), and crankset (52/36), and 105 hydraulic disc brakes—durable, high-performing components you might not expect to come stock on a bike that costs less than $2,000. The lightweight aluminum frame puts the rider in a more relaxed, upright position, and is complemented by a carbon fork and 28mm Continental Grand Prix SL tires on a DT Swiss E1850 Spline DB wheelset (with clearance for up to 33mm tires). All together, the Endurace is a great choice for those who prioritize comfort and stability over speed for long, meandering road rides.

—BEST ROAD RACER—

Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc 9.0 eTap

Sitting near the top of Canyon’s Ultimate range of disc-equipped road bikes with carbon frame and fork, the Ultimate CF SLX Disc 9.0 eTap has a stable, planted feel that splits the difference between stiff and responsive. Components like SRAM Red hydraulic disc brakes and a SRAM Red e-Tap groupset deliver a top-shelf ride experience, while deep-dish DT Swiss ARC 1100 wheels enhance the bike’s aerodynamic superpowers. The overall package is a lightweight, versatile road rocket with the tire clearance to float over any terrain.

—BEST TIME-TRIAL BIKE—

Canyon Speedmax CF 8

Unlike the previous bikes in this roundup, which all boast some level of multiuse versatility, the Speedmax is designed for one thing and one thing alone: to go fast as hell. An aero bike with serious Tour de France and Ironman bonafides, this wind-tunnel-tested TT bike has a newly updated frame and geometry with a shorter reach and higher stack for less crunched positioning during long races. The bike comes equipped with full Shimano Ultegra derailleurs and shifters, as well as hydraulic disc brakes and an 11-speed drivetrain with a 52/36 chainrings and an 11-30 cassette. Bonus features to help you slice through the wind like a laser include an energy box tucked behind the stem for your fuel and speedy deep-section DT Swiss ARC 1600 wheels.

―BEST FITNESS BIKE―

Canyon Roadlite 7

Don’t let the flat handlebar fool you into thinking this is just another hybrid: The Roadlite 7 is a light, zippy road bike that happens to have a flat bar instead of a traditional drop bar. The svelte aluminum frame has the steep angles, long reach, and aggressive fit you expect from a high-performance road bike—there’s even a carbon fork. Compact 50/34 chainrings and an 11-34 11-speed cassette also fit the bill, never mind that it’s almost unheard of to find a one thousand dollar bike with Shimano’s 105 drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes. The upright riding position takes pressure off your hands, puts less strain on the back and shoulders, and makes it easier to balance a heavy backpack or shoulder bag. The Roadlite 7 gives you comfort without sacrificing speed, stability, and maneuverability—all prized qualities for commuting and battling rush hour traffic.

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Canyon Gravel/Cyclocross Bikes

—SHREDDIEST GRAVEL BIKE—

Canyon Grail CF SL 8

Likely the first thing you’ll notice about this carbon gravel bike is the double-drop bar, an odd-looking Canyon innovation intended to soak up harsh chatter from rough roads. The next thing you might spot is how sleek and clean the blue-on-black frame looks for a bike designed to go hard in the dirt, thanks to internal routing and a design that incorporates a few aero touches, like an integrated co*ckpit. Designed to be fast and comfortable on any surface, the Grail is stiff and responsive without feeling overly harsh. This iteration of the bike has an 11-34 11-speed Shimano GRX drivetrain, Shimano RX810 hydraulic disc brakes, and aluminum wheels with 40mm-wide Schwalbe G-One Bite tires.

—BEST ’CROSS BIKE—

Canyon Inflite CF SLX 7.0

With a longer reach and wheelbase than most cyclocross bikes, this lightweight carbon race machine puts you in a low, stable position that feels fast and furious without sacrificing handling. The frame might look a tad eccentric, but that’s because the bike has a bent-top-tube design for more shouldering space on a run-up. Component highlights include a SRAM Rival 1x drivetrain and DT Swiss C 1850 carbon wheels that can easily be converted to tubeless. Canyon has also accounted for a healthy amount of mud clearance, with plenty of space around the 33mm Schwalbe X-1 Allround TLE tires at the rear stays and fork. Ultimately, this is a great value for a bike that can go this hard in the mud.