1ST IMPRESSION
has the potential to be ridden every bit as hard as the standard Spectral. Still, upgrading the rear tyre to a tougher EXO+ casing is an easy, and relatively inexpensive fix. In fact, at the launch of the Spectral 125 at Bike Connection in Italy, a lot of the test bikes had already succumbed to pinch flats and had the rear tyres upgraded to something more robust. Canyon also downsizes the rotors from 203mm to 180mm, further reducing weight, but even when combined with the lightweight DT Swiss wheels, the top-end Spectral 125 CF 9 is only 0.4kg lighter than the cheaper Spectral 29 CF 7 that we tested in our Trail Bike of the Year test.
HOW IT RIDES
Now, given that geo and weights are pretty close between the regular Spectral and the 125, you’re probably wondering what the point is of the short-travel bike? I thought the exact same thing, then I rode the Spectral 125 back to back with the 150mm bike and realised there are in fact pronounced differences between the two bikes.
Bowl along flowing singletrack, or even up a gradual fire-road climb, and the bikes behave in a very similar fashion. Both pedal well with limited movement at the Fox Float X shocks and it’s only when the climbing gets steep and more laboured that you notice the increased efficiency of the shorter-travel bike. Stand up to sprint and the 125 is also more responsive.
And not because it has less travel on the rear; that helps, but it’s actually the shorter-travel fork that seems to make the biggest difference here, as there’s noticeably less movement up front when you get on the gas. The 140mm-travel fork also provides more stable dynamic geometry while descending. This is most noticeable on low-speed, steep switchbacks, as the 36 fork doesn’t dive as much as the 160mm version. This inherent stability really gives you the confidence to open up the taps on fast terrain, and makes the bike feel more reactive when you pump rollers or need to load the tyres for extra grip. It’s fun, poppy and engaging, simply because everything happens that little bit faster on the Spectral 125. It cuts both ways though, and on rougher terrain it’s harder to keep your feet firmly glued to your flat pedals, as there isn’t such a big suspension buffer.
And after several rides tweaking the suspension set-up on the Spectral 125, I discovered that the bike has a lot of latitude. I won’t bore you with all of the details regarding the testing process, but after much experimenting I ended up running the Spectral 125 in the high geometry position, but with less air pressure in the shock and with more sag. And while that seems counterintuitive, it allowed me to maintain the same dynamic ride height as the low geometry position but with an overall lower spring rate, which makes the suspension more sensitive and less progressive. Even with this inverted set-up, the bike still pedals really well, but there’s noticeably more grip. The softer rear suspension also makes the bike feel more dynamic than it did in the low setting with the recommended amount of sag. And thanks to the new Fox bottom-out bumper and inherent progression in the frame design, there’s never a harsh bottom-out even when you use the full 125mm travel. If you want a tighter suspension response, or sharper pedalling characteristics, just run the stock settings.
So the new Spectral 125 is a solid, capable and adaptable short-travel trail bike that highlights just how myopic we are when it comes to trail-bike travel. It would be a great choice for anyone that already has an enduro bike and is looking to spice up their local trails, or even for a heavier rider that wants a robust short-travel bike. Yes, the new Spectral 125 is a niche within a niche, and while I’m not convinced that it’s as versatile as a regular 150mm-travel bike, there is a small subset of riders that will love it. So it’s cool that Canyon had the vision to create it.
HIGHS
Tight, responsive handling that rewards riders who want to engage with the terrain. Top-quality build kit. Low-slung frame design looks killer.
LOWS
Thin-casing EXO tyres. Not much lighter than a 150mm-travel bike.