FIRST RIDES
The Spectral 125 is a new shorttravel relative of Canyon’s 150 and 160mm Spectrals. With less suspension, it should outmanoeuvre them on climbs and at trail centres. However, with geometry, kinematics and strength reminiscent of its longer-travel siblings, it’s designed to still excel on technical descents. Canyon say they’ve built the “rowdy” Spectral 125 to feel playful, with more progressive suspension than its stablemates and extra anti-squat, which should mean less pedal bob and more ‘pop’.
So, is this a successor to muchloved playbikes such as the 26inwheeled Commencal Meta 4X and Specialized SX? A quiver-killer, do-it-all ride? Or could it be a jack-of-all-trades and master of none? Canyon already make a 120mm-travel bike, in the form of the Lux Trail, so are they stealing market share from themselves? We hit the trails to find out.
THE FRAME
There are five Spectral 125 models, two made from aluminium and three from carbon fibre. We tested the mid-range carbon-framed option. With its 125mm of rear-wheel travel and 29in wheels, the Canyon screams ‘downcountry’, but its long reach (486mm on the large) and slack head angle (64 degrees) give it similar geometry to a full-blown enduro rig. Its substantial frame tubes, progressive suspension and general air of thuggery mark it out as a bike suited to jibbing and razzing, as do its short seat tube (435mm, large) and chainstays (437mm). However, the sharp handling of that compact rear end is offset by the high-speed stability of the long reach, making it a difficult bike to categorise. Canyon class it as a short-travel trail bike.
THE KIT
Up front, a substantial, 140mm-travel Fox 36 fork offers ample support, aided by a stiff all-aluminium cockpit. Shimano XT four-pot brakes grab big 203/180mm rotors, indicating a bike that’s intended for serious descending, while the 200mm-travel dropper post allows you to get the seat well out of the way. DT Swiss’s XM 1700 wheels are no lightweights, but these rugged hoops never missed a note, despite taking a beating. The XT drivetrain is precise, reliable and offers a good spread of climbing gears, although a 30t rather than 32t chainring would have been nice on steeper ascents.
Included with the bike is a 600ml bottle, squeezed into Canyon’s own side-loading cage, plus a handy framemounted tool bag (stocked with a ratcheting multi-tool, CO2 inflator and tyre plugs). This fell off and required
retrieval, but when we then refitted it backwards, it remained attached.
THE RIDE
The Spectral 125’s long reach and steep 77-degree seat tube angle enable confident climbing on any gradient. However, noticeable bob from the rear end – in spite of that extra anti-squat – saw us make frequent use of the Fox Float X shock’s lockout lever. It isn’t the lightest bike, so although ascents are dispatched efficiently enough, it’s not going to zap you uphill in the same way that the latest XC-derived downcountry rigs will. Rather, it’s a burly short-travel descent-slayer.
On steep tech under an aggressive rider, it’s almost too much fun. Its grin-inducing front-end grip, whippy chainstays, progressive suspension and taut frame come together to provide ridiculous amounts of confidence through any gravity-fed schralp-fest. Elsewhere, though, the Spectral 125 can feel lacklustre or even a bit awkward. On flatter, undulating trails, its weight makes it feel sluggish compared to rivals with similar amounts of travel, while its slack head angle makes it uninspiring through the slower tight turns that can be rewarding on steeper trail bikes.
Performance on rough terrain is compromised, too. The aggressive geometry and stiff frame goad you into romping down techy blacks and reds, but if you plough into root or rock sections, the firm suspension and limited travel mean you get hung up and thrown about, making you wish you were on an enduro bike – which would be similar in weight, shape and spec, but have more travel.
That said, if you’re a precise rider who loves steep tech and schralping berms, this could be the greatest ride you’ve ever had. The enduro geometry keeps you pointing where you need to, regardless of how gnarly the terrain is, and the frame stiffness – akin to that of a burly ‘park’ bike – means there’s no offputting noodliness when you really load it up in a turn or g-out. In addition, the Spectral 125’s minimal travel funnels your energy and speed towards the next feature, with no momentum lost to unnecessary suspension movement.
The spec is masterful, too. Canyon have added extra weight compared to many short-travel bikes, but only to bring you big brakes, a meaty frame and substantial fork, sticky tyres, strong wheels and a 200mm dropper. All these aspects significantly enhance the riding experience when the going gets fast or steep.