Round two, and the 6.0 leaps out of the blocks. From the moment we're off the smaller wheeled Spectral wants to go flat out. Standing on the pedals on the small steep climbs is slightly more reactive, surging the Spectral forward that little more eagerly. We need more body language to get the wheels over the roots, but again the 2.4in Mountain King's tread impresses.
The Spectral 6.0 comes with 140mm of travel at each
end, 10mm more than the 29er version. We hit a steep, loose and rocky climb,
one the local DHers push up. While the 29er Spectral covered the ground with
little worry, we have to play with fore and aft weighting a bit smarter here to
maintain traction, and the longer travel feels a touch more wallowy, at least
in Descend mode.
Guiding light
Canyon's E168 chainguide features on both bikes - a
nylon runner hung under the chainstay prevents the chain slapping around too
much, equally controlled by the Shimano XT Shadow + rear mech. On the climbs
you can feel the chain running over the runner, but on descents that chain is
kept nicely in check. With a double ring setup not benefitting from narrow/wide
rings it's an extra bit of security.
When we hit the irst descent with its table tops we
don't pick up speed quite so fast, but we're easily airborne and the bike's
playful nature comes out. Flicking the back wheel out mid air is easier than on
the 29er and there's plenty of pop off the lip. It's not long until we hit the
roots once again. While the 29er Spectral battered through them, the 650 model
is happiest hopping over them. All out speed is similar, but they handle it
differently.
Subtle size differences
The two bikes feel reasonably similar in size. In
Medium the effective toptube is 1mm longer in the 650 version, but this jumps
to an 8mm difference in size L. That extra length should give more stability at
higher speeds. The shorter 430mm chainstays in the AL 6.0 mean the back end is
more lickable and eager to turn, adding to that playfulness.
At 140mm the Fox 32 is pushed to its limits of
stiffness; there's noticeable twang when hitting corners at full pelt. Damping
from the Evolution damper is good, but not quite as plush and supportive as the
Performance unit found on the Al 7.9. Thankfully Canyon has specced a stiffer,
if heavier, DT Swiss M1900 wheelset than the more XC-focused M1700 set fitted
to the 29er.
Once we hit the tight, twisty descent on the 650b
Spectral it's back to business with cornering. We don't need to ride the front
of the bike so much, and like the Scott Scale, it's just a case of dropping our
shoulder for instantaneous direction changes. With the trail snaking below us
it's an easy job of placing the bike just where we want it in corner.
Both cockpits feature Iridium
bars and stems - 740mm and 60mm respectively. They're nicely shaped and for
trail bikes the bar is wide enough. That can't be said of the Ergon GE1 grips,
which bulge and taper along their length. It's a personal thing, but we prefer
regular shaped grips.
One of the most fun trail bikes out thereforthemoney,
beefiertyres wouldboostitstrail tamingpotential.
FRAME Canyon
Spectral AL
FORK Fox
32 Float CTD Evolution, 140mm
SHOCK Fox
Float CTD Performance
WHEELS DT
Swiss M1900 Spline
TYRES Continental
Mountain King II Protection 29x2.4in (F & R)
CRANKS Shimano
SLX, 36/24
GEARS Shimano
SLX shifters, SLX mech (F), XT Shadow + mech (R)
BRAKES Shimano
SLX, 180/160mm rotors
SEATPOST RockShox Reverb Stealth
HANDLEBAR, STEM, SADDLE Iridium 3-0 Trail
GRIPS Ergon GE1
SIZES XS,
S, M (tested), L, XL
WEIGHT 13.6kg
(29.9lb)