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New Canyon Strive CF Shape Shifts Into Enduro Reality

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Canyon has literally taken the covers off their newest enduro creation and introduced the new Strive CF. The bike joins along side of the aluminum Strive, but much more than just a carbon version of the same bike, Strive CF introduces a completely new suspension technology to Canyon’s bikes – Shapeshifter.

If you’ve ever wished for two different bikes, one for the climbs and one for the descents, this could be your answer. Shapeshifter is just as it sounds and changes the bike based on your needs. How does it all work? Shift modes…

The All New Canyon Strive CF Shape Shifts Into Enduro Reality

While we can’t say the idea is completely new, Canyon offers their own take on the similar concept found in the Kona Magic Link. The main difference between the two, is that the Canyon Shapeshifter system is an on/off affair, with the suspension controlled by a remote lever at the handlebar. It also relies on a miniature air shock to actuate the two modes, which is simply an actuator and doesn’t compress with the suspension. Think of it as an air powered switch.

The All New Canyon Strive CF Shape Shifts Into Enduro Reality

The All New Canyon Strive CF Shape Shifts Into Enduro Reality The All New Canyon Strive CF Shape Shifts Into Enduro Reality

With the flick of a switch, you’re not only changing the rear travel of the bike, but also the spring curve and geometry as well. Based on the position of the rear shock, the Strive CF sees a 1.5 degree change in head and seat tube angle (66/67.5 degree and 73.5/75 degree), as well as a 20mm drop in bottom bracket height. In XC mode, the frame is limited to 130mm of travel with 17% sag compared to DH mode with 160mm of travel and 25mm of sag. Better still, all of this is accomplished with standard rear shocks since the Shapeshifter spring is a separate unit.

The All New Canyon Strive CF Shape Shifts Into Enduro Reality

Once packaged into the frame,  you can barely see the Shapeshifter spring as it is hidden under the rear link. Access holes are available for the air valve, as well as an indicator to tell you what mode you are in. Other highlights of the 2400g frame include fully internal cable routing, Canyon’s own 12mm QR rear axle, and a carbon down tube protector.

The All New Canyon Strive CF Shape Shifts Into Enduro Reality

strive-cf-8_c1024 strive-cf-8-race_c1091

Canyon bikes still aren’t available in the US, though that might be changing soon. If you happen to live in a country where Canyon will ship with their direct sales model, the Strive CF will eventually be offered in 5 different models, the CF 8.0, CF 8.0 Race, CF 9.0 Race, CF 9.0 Team, and CF 9.0 SL (coming soon).  For full bike specs and detailed geometry head over to Canyon.com.

 

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SamSkjord
SamSkjord
9 years ago

I have no idea what any of that said or what it does but damn it looks cool.

Von Kruiser
Von Kruiser
9 years ago

It’s the same idea as Bionicon w/ a slave cylinder to increase/decrease travel and geometry. However this looks like it changes the sag… not sure if Bionicon does that or not. Bionicon uses pneumatic instead of a cable so it’s a very light system. The front and rear suspension also is tied together and change at the same time… looks like the Canyon is rear only which is a “possible” bummer. Would have to ride it to have a real opinion though.

Eric E. Strava
Eric E. Strava
9 years ago

I think that should read 25% sag, not 25mm. Either way that’s not very much.

chasejj
chasejj
9 years ago

Very interesting. But the Mondraker still has my attention for my next Enduro beast.
So many of these new CF frames sure look like they all come from some commonly sourced molds with similar visual cues.

iperov
iperov
9 years ago

my knees works perfect both DH and XC mode xD

i
i
9 years ago

I would argue it’s more similar to the Kona coilair system, that had a smaller shock which controlled the position of the lower main shock pivot. Bionicon used a crazy system that let the front and rear air springs communicate so that you could increase the rear rate while decreasing the front, this more or less just gives you a bar remote to the 2 shock pivot locations.

Neat out of the box thinking. Personally I’ve never felt the need to change travel on a bike, but I guess someone must.
I’m guessing there is a finite number of times you can change travel before having the recharge the actuator?

Matt Holland
Matt Holland
9 years ago

Really neat system, i’d like to know more information about how the actuator works. I’ve not ridden either but i think i’d prefer this over Kona’s magic link as the rider is in control of the bike set up, not just orientation of the bike

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
9 years ago

Really nice design. Ability to run any shock, true Mac Strut 4bar, switchable suspension modes/frame geo ….nice. Now give us a high end fork and dropper post that will work with the rear end with one switch and I’ll be sold. I want to flip that switch and watch my bike slacken out and transform…lol…oh! and its got to make that transformer sound too…

Charles
Charles
9 years ago

I had a Gary Fisher Sugar back in the day that had a “Sybil link” with two travel settings. In short travel mode, the head angle was slackened substantially. In long travel mode, the head angle got steeper, which was the opposite of what you wanted. If you wanted to ride agressively, you had to settle for 3 inches of travel. It was a flat out stupid design, I don’t know how it made it to production, much less the cover of every mountain bike magazine being touted as the bike you had to buy or else you’d be stuck in the stone age. I always thought someone should come up with a design that gave you two geometry options, and suspension travel settings that properly complemented each, and this seems to be it.

savage
savage
9 years ago

Still won’t sell me a bike here in Australia either. 🙁

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
9 years ago

This NEEDS to be available in the US. …WTF???? I want one.

Chader09
Chader09
9 years ago

@Ripnshread
“Mac-strut” style suspensions are actually very different than a 4-Bar suspension.

This is a 4-Bar.

The old AMP Research B3 was a Mac. The key to a true strut design is that the shock is a side-load bearing member.

Justin
Justin
9 years ago

Cannondale knock off and not nearly as race proven or even as nice, at least with the jekyll or trigger you get under 100 m of travel for this type of suspension setup.

Brigand
9 years ago

@Justin: as much as C’dale is a Scott knock off

atleast you can run a shock of your own choice and not the pull thingy

phlizz
5 years ago

Its almost a “law” of creating functional systems: If you want a system to cope with various forms of stress, you have to make the system adaptive. But this will often create collateral rise of maintenance time, parts prone to wear and failure and a rise in instability and complexity. In this case it all goes into the part of the bike that is considered already as both, the ultimate reason and the ultimate disadvantage of the whole system “full suspension frame”: the rear suspension! Everybody knows: if you have a pushbike that complements your favorite riding style and the suspension is set to your liking and needs… you won´t even need the lock out switch 99.99% of your time riding… and it will be the bike you want to ride, even if its not “perfect” for everything.

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