Marathon bikes for around 4000 euros: The Canyon Endurace CF SLX 7 Di2 on test

The Endurace CF SLX Di2 is one of Canyon's most popular marathon bikes. Demand is so high that the Koblenz-based company only listed frame heights for people over 1.92 metres tall at the beginning of the year. All other interested parties will have to be patient, with supplies due to arrive in the second quarter. There are many reasons for the great interest in the Endurace in the elegant champagne colour.

The most important is probably the traditionally high level of suspension comfort, which is unrivalled in this test field. Even beyond the comparable competitors, very few bikes handle bumpy roads with similar ease. While bad tarmac only elicits a tired smile from the Endurace rider, the bike also takes off-road excursions without complaint. The excellent damping at the rear is a co-production of the extremely flexible leaf spring seat post and the supple tyres. Because the frame and fork can accommodate tyres up to 35 millimetres wide, the Canyon can be tuned to be even more capable off-road.

Canyon Endurace CF: The only one-rider candidate

The back-friendly riding position, the unagitated steering behaviour and the mountain-compatible gearbox with compact cranks and 1:1 ratio in the lowest gear underline its character as an all-rounder. With the storage compartment integrated into the top tube, Canyon also picks up on a trend in all-road bikes. However, not every puncture repair kit will fit in the small compartment and the appropriate tools are not included. Canyon has dispensed with mounts for mudguards. At just over eight kilograms, the Endurace doesn't get top marks in the weight category, but because the cheapest CF-SLX model doesn't allow itself any other slip-ups, it is the only test participant to earn an A before the decimal point.

However, this time the Endurace has to leave the price-performance tip, which the Koblenz-based company has traditionally leased for itself, to others. After all, the Endurace completely exhausts the price range at 4499 euros. An exciting alternative within the huge Canyon fleet is the CF 7 Di2. Although it is based on a heavier frame and comes without a power meter, it saves 500 euros on the otherwise almost identical equipment.

Canyon Endurace CF SLX 7 Di2: Info & test grade

• Price: 4499 Euro
• Weight of complete wheel: 8.1 kilos
• Frame sizes: 3XS, 2XS, XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL (test size greased)
• TOUR grade: 1.8 (TOUR test winner)

Geometry

• Seat/top/head tube: 515/550/164 millimetres
• Stack/Reach/STR: 599/380 millimetres/1.58
• Stack+/Reach+/STR+: 658/555 millimetres/1.19
• Wheelbase/caster: 990/60 millimetres

Equipment

• Drive/gear shift: Shimano 105 Di2 (2x12; 50/34, 11-34 t.) | Grade: 1.0 (5 % share of the overall grade)
• Brakes: Shimano 105 (160/160 mm) | Grade: 1.5 (5 % share of the overall grade)
• Tyres: Schwalbe Pro One TLE 30/32 mm (eff.: 31/32 mm) | Grade: 1.0 (5 % share of the overall grade)
• Impellers: DT Swiss ERC 1600 Dicut 35
• Impeller weights: 1296/1787 grams (front/rear)

Measured values

• Weight of complete wheel: 8114 grammes | Grade: 3.3 (25 % share of the overall grade)
• Rear comfort: 77 N/mm | Grade: 1.0 (20 % share of the overall grade)
• Comfort front: 75 N/mm | Grade: 2.0 (10 % share of the overall grade)
• Front stiffness: 8.2 N/mm | Grade: 1.7 (10 % share of the overall grade)
• Bottom bracket stiffness: 64 N/mm | Grade: 1.0 (10 % share of the overall grade)
• Lacquer: Grade: 1.0 (5 per cent share of the overall grade)
• Maintenance/adjustment: Grade: 2.0 (5 % share of the overall grade)

Advantages and disadvantages of the Canyon Endurace CF

• Plus: Unrivalled comfort, including power meter, eight frame sizes
• Minus: often sold out

All 12 bikes in the comparison test

• Canyon Endurace CF SLX 7 Di2
• Cervélo Caledonia 105 Di2
• Cube Agree C:62 SLX
• Focus Paralane 8.8 >> available here
• Giant Daffy Advanced 0 >> available here
• Koga Roqa Premium >> available here
• Merida Scultura Endurance Rival Edition
• Rose Reveal 04 105 Di2 >> available here
• Scott Addict 30 >> available here
• Stevens Izoard Pro
• Storck Fascenario.3 Comp
• Veto B983

>> We have compiled all the information about our test here.