CANYON ENDURACE AL DISC 7.0
£1349 › Can Canyon’s alloy alchemy take our gold medal?
Previous rim brake versions of Canyon’s Endurace bike have won top honours in our tests and its very clean looking frame creates a brisk, high-clarity character. A harsh ride, despite quality 28mm tyres, higher cost than before and lack of everyday practicality count against it when compared to the latest crop of contenders.
The alloy frame wears its welds proudly but the multi-shaped pressure-formed tubes still look super-clean, right down to blanking plugs for the 12mm thru-axles. At a claimed 1350g for a medium frame it’s a good weight for a metal frame too. Signature Canyon features like the stiffness-boosted asymmetric flared Maximus seat-tube are carried over from the carbon Endurace. A lack of bridges on the straight stays gives ample room for the 28mm rubber, and will take 33mm tyres for a more floated ride.
Internal mainframe control cables emerge from under the bottom bracket for easy servicing, and front and rear brakes are flat mounted. The full carbon fork has a straight 1.125in steerer rather than a tapered one, and there are no mudguard or rack eyes on the frame or fork, which is an irritating oversight.
It’s clear that the Race part of the Endurace is the dominant gene. The 73/73.5-degree head and seat angles create fast and agile steering for keen pilots rather than relaxed angles for passengers. Despite the thin, straight steerer fork it can place the front wheel precisely and transmit all the traction feedback you could want into your hands. The shifter body ergonomics are questionable, but the Shimano’s 505 disc brakes are precise and seriously powerful thanks to 160mm rotors.
Continental’s excellent Black Chili rubber compound means the Grand Prix tyres can fully exploit that
It’s clear that the Race part of the Endurace is the dominant gene
accurate engagement in all weathers. A sub-metre wheelbase also creates a naturally agile and alert ride. The stiff mainframe, plus tight and light DT Swiss/Continental wheel package give a taut feel when pumping extra watts through the pedals.
Obvious stiffness and combatready handling isn’t necessarily a bonus on a bike billed as an endurance racer. Even the large volume Grand Prix SL 28mm rubber on 20mm internal rims can’t disguise the sharp transmission through the frame, and the Canyon clatters along the road surprisingly harshly. Things improved when we dropped tyre pressures down to 60-70psi, and it should be noted that the DT Swiss wheels can be converted to tubeless with a strip of sealing tape and the right tyres.
The underlying character trait is still of a very stiff and firm bike rather than a forgiving sportive contender, and momentum and morale soon get chewed away by rougher surfaces. The lumpy Shimano 505 levers don’t help hand comfort and our test team was also constantly slipping around on top of the Selle Italia saddle.
Price of the 7.0 is significantly higher than the £999 Canyon asked for the similarly Shimano 105-equipped Endurace AL Disc 6.0 last year, making the 2018 model adequate but not amazing value once you’ve added £48.98 for shipping and, admittedly sturdy and reusable, cardboard box.