It’s a pedigree race bike, obstinance and all
the Shapeshifter. This device, which is switchable on-the-fly, gives two distinct modes that influence the dynamic geometry, ride height, suspension characteristics and pedalling performance. The aim is to enable a bike that descends without compromise, but can be adapted to climb and pedal as efficiently as possible. Saving energy is crucial over the course of a long EWS race, and Canyon’s racers swear by the system, claiming to use it on every liaison stage as well as timed stages that feature climbs or sustained sprints.
Our own testing – not the most scientific, I’ll admit – gave a rough indication of potential gains, with the Shapeshifter saving just over 10 seconds on a three-minute climb. Although there are no points for being fastest up the climbs in enduro, if you can get there in the same time as your competitors, using less energy, that’s a valuable weapon in your armoury and ample payback for the circa 200g weight penalty.
The nuts and bolts of the device haven’t changed. It still consists of an air-filled piston that pushes the upper shock mount relative to the rocker link. This changes the attitude of the front triangle relative to the swingarm and alters the suspension kinematics, most notably the leverage and anti-squat. To switch between modes you toggle a lever and press a release button above the dropper remote, then use your body weight to help facilitate moving the shock position. To get it to work smoothly does take a bit of practice, but the remote is light action and can be configured within easy reach. Once you have mastered its function, using it midstage only takes minimal planning and should be considered as much a part of race craft as choosing the best line, or pacing your effort.
Back in 2019, when the previous generation Strive was launched, 150mm travel was considered enduro territory for a 29er. Now, with 170mm increasingly standard issue, that seems laughable. To keep up with the times, Canyon has thrown an extra 10mm at the Strive, bringing it up to 160mm at the back.
Canyon has reworked the four-bar linkage to better utilise this additional travel, in the knowledge that it also has the firmer Pedal mode to fall back on when efficiency becomes more important than grip. Less force is required to achieve any given travel than the old bike, which makes it more supple, but the extra travel means a similar force is needed to bottom it out. Anti-squat has been increased on the new bike, most noticeably in the Pedal setting, but tweaked to drop away earlier in the