Canyon Ultimate CFR AXS review: does the price reduction keep it competitive in 2024?

The Canyon Ultimate CFR platform has been around for a couple of years now, and in that time it has racked up a whole host of WorldTour success in both the men’s and women’s peloton.

Outdated then, you might think?

Well, like many other bikes, the Canyon Ultimate CFR has benefitted from a refresh this year courtesy of the new SRAM RED AXS groupset, giving the ever-popular range a new lease of life, and in doing so making the Canyon Ultimate CFR even lighter. Our test bike tips the scales at just 6.85kg, and has also seen a slight price reduction since it was featured in our Race Bike of the Year 2024 awards feature – worth an in-depth revisit then, I think.

I’ll return to the specs in a minute, but first I want to take a moment to appreciate the bike’s aesthetic. The Ultimate remains understated yet recognizable in 2024, even with some new colourways for this season. On test, I had the subtle-looking matt black frameset, which is admittedly quite modest, but if you do want to jazz the bike up somewhat, Canyon also offers a navy blue colourway with sparkles, and a ‘Funky Diamond’ pearlescent paint job too. Overall it’s a good-looking bike, but one that can disappear under the radar if you opt for one of the less obvious colourways.

Returning to stats, it’s a similarly modest but nonetheless competitive outlook. The 762-gram claimed frame weight might not be quite as impressive as it was when the bike was first released. However, consider the aero details around the head tube, down tube, and the added 30 grams of material around the bottom bracket, aimed at improving stiffness, and it’s safe to say the Ultimate is still competitive with some of the best two years on.

The Ultimate still sells as standard with the vintage CP0018 cockpit, but that bar performs incredibly well for most people. Unlike almost every other one-piece cockpit on the market, the CP0018 features adjustable bar widths from 370mm to 410mm. Though the new Aeroad takes this one step further, with the ability to actually change out the bar ends for different shapes, the CP0018 is still ahead of the competition. The only sticking point is that you still can’t change stem length without purchasing a whole new cockpit. Since Canyon is a direct-to-consumer brand, it’s not something they allow you to customise at the point of purchase like you might expect from concept stores or local shops.

And nowhere is this more true than in the tyre choice, particularly for us here in the UK. The bike comes standard with Pirelli P-Zero Race TLR Classic tyres in a 30mm width, which I think strikes a great balance between speed and ride quality without feeling mushy on the road. Of course, this is somewhat dictated by the Zipp 353 NSW wheelset which, being hookless and featuring a super wide internal rim width of 25mm, should be fitted with a minimum tyre width of 29mm according to international standards.

Back in the UK, I’ve put hundreds of kilometres on the Ultimate CFR, and it continues to perform well across varied terrain and the less-than-ideal road surfaces we often face. The Pirelli P-Zero TLR Classic 30mm tires deserve a special mention here – they provide a smooth ride over rougher patches, and absorb a lot of road chatter, making longer rides notably more comfortable. This is, of course, mostly down to the width, but it’s a great spec point to have as standard. On climbs, this bike comes into its own. The frame stiffness, paired with the impressively light 6.85 kg weight, makes it almost impossible for the bike to feel bad when the tarmac points up.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Row 0 – Cell 0	Row 0 – Cell 1	Row 0 – Cell 2
Row 1 – Cell 0	Row 1 – Cell 1	Row 1 – Cell 2
Row 2 – Cell 0	Row 2 – Cell 1	Row 2 – Cell 2

Ultimately – forgive me – the Canyon Ultimate CFR might not be the bike to grab if you’re seeking a quirky, high-character ride; it’s more like a well-made, dependable machine – think of it as the VW Golf of performance bikes. It’s exceptional in its versatility and reliability plus it’s very good value too. That said, for those looking for a bike with a bit of flair, it may feel just a touch understated. On the other hand, it’s the reliability and well-rounded design that will make it a go-to for many riders, especially those who want a bike that can handle almost anything without demanding too much from its rider.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Specification
Price	£9,749 / $10,499 (Only Shimano models available in US at time of publishing)	Row 0 – Cell 2
Weight	6.85kg (54)	Row 1 – Cell 2
Frame	Canyon Ultimate CFR	Row 2 – Cell 2
Fork	Canyon FK0108	Row 3 – Cell 2
Seatpost	CP0018 Aerocockpit	Row 4 – Cell 2
Cockpit	Canyon SP0064	Row 5 – Cell 2
Groupset	Sram Red AXS	Row 6 – Cell 2
Wheelset	Zipp 353 NSW Hookless wheelset	Row 7 – Cell 2
Tyres	Pirelli P Zero Race TLR Classic (30mm)	Row 8 – Cell 2
Saddle	Selle Italia SLR Boost 3D KIT Carbino Superflow	Row 9 – Cell 2

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Ratings
Looks	7/10	Row 0 – Cell 2
Weight	8/10	Row 1 – Cell 2
Design (livability)	8/10	Row 2 – Cell 2
Aero features	7/10	Row 3 – Cell 2
Value	7/10	Row 4 – Cell 2
Row 5 – Cell 0	Row 5 – Cell 1	Row 5 – Cell 2

Source link

Canyon Ultimate CFR AXS review: does the price reduction keep it competitive in 2024?

Jalen Johnson: Zaccharie Risacher showed why he’s the No. 1 pick vs. Knicks

Tennessee announces uniform combination for Mississippi State game

You may also like