All Arround MTB

Canyon share the same direct sales model as Radon, YT and Commencal, which means the Strive also comes with a stunningly good spec for the money. On top of that, it’s one of the quietest bikes here. Even on the choppiest Italian trail we rode, the Strive pattered down without a peep. It needs some volume bands in the shock to get the back end ramping up for the really big hits, but once sorted it’s a wonderfully efficient machine that carries speed incredibly well. The sizing feels spot on too, and it’s always nice to see manufacturers speccing longer dropper posts where possible. Our large Strive had one of the shortest seat tubes here, at 460mm, and used a 150mm drop Reverb. This meant none of our testers had any issues with arse-tosaddle clearance on the steeper trails we rode (unlike on the Commencal, with its 490mm seat tube). What we did notice when the trail began to drop away rapidly was the head angle. On our test bike it measured in at just under 67 degrees, making it ...

The Dudes of Hazzard main man’s bike is a steed of painstakingly fettled perfection and one of the lightest rigs in the Enduro World Series pits

In 2013 Canyon took on triple DH world champion Fabien Barel and together they turned the Strive into a race-winning enduro bike. Now they’ve applied the Barel treatment to a fresh downhill bike. Enter the Sender. After 14 runs down five different Portuguese DH tracks, five aspects really stood out for us.

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.

Canyon's Spectral falls right in prime trail bike territory. The 29in Spectral AL 7.9 has 130mm of travel at both ends, coupled with the big wheels - ideal for covering distance at a fast pace.

If you're happy waitings while and buying direct and not through your local shop, then Canyon's Spectral AL all-rounder is stunning value - if you get the sizing right.

WHO IS JOE BARNES? One third of the trio of young Scotsmen who enjoy causing a stir on the enduro circuit as the Dudes of Hazard, 26-year-old Barnes races for the Canyon team.

CANYON’S COLOUR-COORDINATED Spectral AL 9.0 looks like a bike that means business. With a wishlist of components, it’s hard not to question the fantastic price of this stunning new bike from Germany.

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.