The new Endurace CF SLX is the marathon counterpart to the competition-oriented high-end models Aeroad CF SLX and Ultimate CF SLX from Canyon. The test model Endurace CF SLX 9.0 with mechanical Dura-Ace drivetrain costs € 4,300, which is in the middle of the five equipment variants. The bike weighs 7.3 kilos, which is low considering the equipment; the frame set in size M including the headset is also light at 1,190 grams. Visually, it resembles the Ultimate CF SLX, from which, among other things, the aerodynamically shaped tube profiles originate - a novelty for marathon racers. The elegant handlebar/stem unit also appears to have been taken from the Ultimate, but the shape of the bar is tailored to the requirements of touring and marathon riders. The wide, easy-to-grip upper handlebars are easy for the rider to hold. The handlebar ends are slightly flared to the sides and the stem rises slightly upwards. You therefore sit a little more upright than the STR value of 1.53 would suggest - and very relaxed overall.
Like many other new bikes, the Endurace CF SLX is only designed for disc brakes; a version with rim brakes is not planned. The BR-RS805 brakes from Shimano with Ice-Tech Freeza discs, each with a diameter of 160 millimetres, showed no weakness in the test. Even the monster descent from the Kitzbüheler Horn with a gradient of up to 22 per cent did not push the brakes to the limit with a system weight of 76 kilos of rider and bike. The sturdy aluminium wheels from DT Swiss are held in place by thru-axles with a diameter of 12 millimetres each. The very wide rim bed of 21 millimetres is unusual. The nominally 28 millimetre wide tyres from Continental expand to an impressive 31 millimetres, which even makes excursions on gravel paths possible. The fork and rear triangle offer space for tyres up to 32 millimetres wide.
In addition to the tyres, the standard VCLS 2 leaf spring seat post provides almost sedan-like suspension comfort. Its swivelling head allows two saddle positions with more or less distance to the handlebars. A segmented clamp integrated into the seat tube well below the upper edge of the tube secures the seatpost in place without damaging the material. Above the clamp, the seat post is guided in an elastic plastic sleeve. This extends the area in which the support can flex by up to eleven centimetres, depending on the frame size. In order to fully utilise the bending capacity of the construction, the seat tube is shifted slightly forwards and slightly kinked, while the top tube is rather short. Nevertheless, the wide horizontal adjustability of the saddle means that any sensible seat angle can be realised.
Record comfort values
The high effort is reflected in laboratory values that set the Endurace CF SLX far apart from all its competitors: In the front saddle position, the value at the saddle is 69 N/mm, in the rear 64 N/mm - both lonely record values for road bikes. In many situations, this set-up is pleasant to ride. The large tyre volume, filled with relatively low pressure - we chose five to six bar - gives the rider a sense of well-being, especially in places where they would otherwise be shaken around a lot, such as on cobblestones. The tyres never give the feeling of rolling sluggishly, traction and control of the bike are excellent.
However, not every rider will be happy with the soft set-up. When riding quickly through individual potholes, the seat post bounces back quite abruptly and rebounds; at very high pedalling frequencies, it also oscillates significantly as it has no damping. Racers and heavy riders who are likely to be bothered by this could retrofit a conventional seatpost with a firmer tune. Light riders, on the other hand, can experience on the Endurace CF SLX just how comfortable road bikes can be today.
Another point of criticism, which also does not affect all potential buyers, is the lack of legroom. On bikes up to size M, the tips of the shoes can touch the tyres from size 43 upwards when the bike is turned sharply. This is not a new problem for Canyon, other manufacturers don't have it. However, the riding experience is not significantly spoilt by this. With its extremely comfortable set-up, especially at the rear, the Endurace CF SLX doesn't have to fear any competition, at least in its price class.
PLUS stable, lightweight, tyre clearance up to 32 millimetres, top price-performance ratio
MINUS Handlebar-stem unit makes position adjustment and transport difficult, limited foot clearance, seatpost too softly tuned for heavy riders and high pedalling frequencies
OVERALL GRADE 1.5
Price 4,299 Euro
Weight 7.3 kilos
Info www.canyon.com
Weight frame/fork/steering bearing* 796/359/35 grammes
Frame sizes** XXS/XS/S/M/L/XL/XXL
Seat/top tube/head tube 515/540/156 mm
Stack/Reach/STR*** 578/378 mm/1.53
Drive/gear shift Shimano Dura-Ace (52/36 t, BB86)
Brakes Shimano BR-RS805 (160/160 mm)
Wheels/tyres (weights) DT Swiss Dicut RR21/Conti GP 4000S2, 28 mm (1,219/1,583 grams)
MEASURED VALUES & INDIVIDUAL NOTES****
Weight of complete wheel 7.3 kilos: 2.3
Steering head stiffness 103 Nm/°: 1.0
Lateral stiffness fork 52 N/mm: 2.3
Bottom bracket stiffness 66 N/mm: 1.0
Suspension travel seat post 69 N/mm: 1.0
Fork travel 73 N/mm: 2.3
* Weighed weights.
** Manufacturer's test size bold.
*** Stack/reach projected vertical/horizontal dimension from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube; STR (stack to reach) 1.36 means a very stretched, 1.60 an upright riding position.
**** Individual grades, which are weighted differently in the overall grade, are only partially printed for reasons of space. The grades are calculated with all decimal places up to the final grade; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are shown with rounded decimal places.
