Canyon Endurace CF 8.0 road bike

Hi Stu,

Has your opinion on the Endurace CF 8.0 changed more than a year on? It's been very tempting 

Have you ridden Giant's defy range, how does it compare(if you have)?

Regarding the fun factor, would you say endurance bikes generally don't fare as well as race bikes, or have you found anything that is still somewhat exciting?

Cheers

Hello

I found this article and the following comments very interesting.
The Endurace CF 8.0 is not "fun" that seems its main (and nearly only) weakness.

So far so good it is not intended to be "fun" but to be "realistic" (as in "from a realistic point of view, not every race bike buyer is an unknow Bradley Wiggins and most of these buyers ride a bike much too performant for their own capability")

For those willing a dream machine, a "fun" machine, the Ultimate series is here.

As far as I have understood the Endurance series is devoted to the rest of us, people who are looking for a bike on par with their own capabilities.

Speaking for myself, I was ordering a Endurace CF 8.0 when I read this article.

I'm not looking for a "fun" bike, but for an efficient one. I do long distance (namely the Paris Brest Paris brevets, hopping to be on the starting line next August).

This said, as good as this article is , it forgot a very important point : no precision about the writer/rider physical status and the effect of this status on the bike behavior.

The Endurace is supposed to be confortable (read smoother) when the Ultimate is supposed to be stiffer( more rigid).. is it true with all riders weights ???

I used to have a Cyfac Nerv DS2 (a gem that as been stolen), a bike proposed for highly fit readers.. but my weight is 95 kgs and this frame was of the outmost confort.

A stiff frame for a 65kgs riders can be something completely different for a 95 and + one.

This I would have ben interested to know (much more than the obvious « this bike that is not intended to be a fun one is not a the end a fun one »).

As a side note, may be it would be good to define what endurance means for the readers/writer of this article, because when I read The benefit of this in reducing rider fatigue over a distance of 100 miles is marked.... for me 100 miles is not endurance it's a slightly long sunday ride.

Take care

Luc

Thanks for the review - I can totally get the comments about the bike being a bit dull.

My road bike (a "racing bike" in laymans terms, because it is.) is the sports car I can actually use, i want it to feel responsive and flighty, I almost want it to be compromised so that it feels fast. I'll almost certainly never race it though. Before buying my current bike I tried a few that were just plain boring. Very very competent bikes, but so dull. In this respect I know exactly what you are on about.

It seems to be amazing the number of people that don't understand this point - even my local bike shop don't get it. My description of what I wanted was interpreted as "unstable, you need a longer stem". Why would one of the largest bike manufacturers sell me a bike that was unstable off the shelf!?

More to the point what is this bike for? Its an endurance bike, but to me endurance means big miles. But this bike seems to be missing all the features that somebody who rides several hundred kilometers in a single sitting would require. You can't even put mudguards on it and the clearance around the chainstays looks like it could become a real pain in the ass...

@macbob - Just looking at the overall scores doesn't give the full picture though does it? Which is why I said to take a look back at the 'reviews' not the scores.

The Vitus Venon, same overall score and in the same category as the Endurace, a bit cheaper but Tiagra kit and not as comfortable over the distance but IT WAS FUN TO RIDE!

Same with the Bianchi Vertigo, my own Kinesis T2 or my cheapy Ribble Audax for the really crappy days - all bring a smile to my face when I ride them. The Canyon didn't regardless of how good a bike it is in terms of frame, kit, price etc. all which you seem to base your definition of a 'better' on. The overall score for the Canyon takes this into account exactly as I have said in my conclusion to the review.

Nowhere have I said the Canyon is a bad bike, in fact I said it was a great bike but its ride just doesn't appeal to me so therefore I personally wouldn't buy one. I can't just give a bike a score without justifying why and that's what I've done.

The review is there as a point of reference, my opinion on the bike by someone who's ridden loads of bikes, wheels and kit over 100,000 miles so I consider it to have a decent amount of credibility. If you've ridden the Endurace or any of the other bikes I've tested and disagree then fair enough but hopefully if someone who's interested in purchasing the Canyon can use this review along with other resources to make an informed decision.

Interestingly I see you state that the cassette is 11-28T whilst the Canyon website states its a 11-32T. Any clarification?

Graham.

Y'know, I'm having the same problem with our kettle.

Sure, it looks alright, it boils water pretty fast and it hasn't scalded anybody but there's, well, something missing. There's just no connection between us, no spark in our relationship, no excitement in the whole hot water thing. It's got so bad that some days I can't be arsed to plug it in and I boil water in a saucepan instead.

Funnily enough the one before, it looked pretty much the same but had the uprated 3-pin plug, was really invigorating to use. Why, some mornings I would make the tea twice so I could hold it a little longer. It's a funny old life being a critic.

And to put a tin lid on it, THREE DAYS after a review describing it as so boring the reviewer "couldn't be bothered to get it out of the shed to ride it or even look at it", the Canyon Endurace is listed on the same site as one of the best endurance/sportive bikes on the market.
And not just the Dura Ace equipped model - its listed as from £899 upwards.
I know different members of staff are entitled to different opinions, but what price a little editorial consistency ?

I'm agonising over my next bike, and whether to go endurance/sportive or more fast/racy. I like the Canyon look, it's not in your face or over done, the price is great and the spec is as good as anything else in that range. I'm just not convinced I want an armchair-type bike yet, although I've never raced or even joined a club. This review has steered me away from the Endurace to an Ultimate, maybe.
My current bike is an old ally Olmo frame, which I love. I've had a short spin on an Aithein (car park trip) and it didn't feel massively different to my Olmo. I don't think they are THAT harsh, it depends on which review you read. In a perfect world I could line all the bikes in my shortlist up and take them all out on the same bit of road for a few hours to compare.

I've just bought one of these, but with the Campag Chorus group. The differences of opinion cited above are just that, diffs of opinion - that's the problem with reviews, they are mainly just personal, subjective opinion.

My own opinion and perception of the frame is totally different from the reviewer's. My last best bike was a Cervelo R5, which would presumably have the excitement factor he talks about, more responsive, faster feeling etc. For me, though, the Canyon has more of the excitement factor he mentions, because all I do now is longish relatively slow rides, no racing or hard training in a group. The Cervelo was becoming a bit boring for me, feeling a bit too hard or harsh. I prefer the softer 'plush' feel of the Canyon, more relaxing, less jolting. It has that X factor for me, I really look forward to going out on it. What you find exciting depends on where you are in your cycling life and what kind of riding you do.

I've been looking at Canyon's for a while and have been so close to ordering but in the final analysis I always hold back simply because they look dull as hell.

I hate to invoke "German efficiency" stereotypes but surely they could add some more design flair to their range. They all look the same and stealth black doesn't really do it for me.

Other than that they're obviously brilliant bikes. Shame really.

Rose has the CGF-2000 for a little more, a ligther frame and direct mount brakes. Would be nice know how the two compare.

And as an aside I am currently saving for the Dura Ace version. But then I am boring and just get things done.

Food can contain exactly the same ingredients in exactly the same quantities, but it is the 'chef' that makes the dish...special or inspiring.
Same as a rider and a bike. 100% of 'us readers' may like all of the ingredients, (what's not to like about a Canyon...great equipment, great frames, great prices? - perhaps in some peoples opinion - a bit bland in the colour dept...)
That does not necessarily mean you want to consume the same 'meal' day in day out...otherwise we'd all be cycling on the very first bike we owned for eternity...save a few worn out items being replaced
...if the bike doesn't make you sparkle, despite it's 'top notch' componentry, then it doesn't make you sparkle...
It's like my opinion on a Micra...it's a fugly car usually 'driven badly' by 'non drivers'...it gets you from A to B...but why would anyone that likes driving buy a Micra?

So, just to recap Stuart:
This bike has a top frame, brilliant spec, impressive weight and a buttery smooth ride at an amazing price and this results in a bike which is so boring and lacking personality that you can't be bothered to get it out of the bike shed or even look at it.
You've said twice now that plenty of other comparable bikes you've ridden are much better. So why not name them. Bikes with a frame as good as this, built up with a spec as good as this (no cheaper substitutions in the groupset) AND AT THIS PRICE (£1299).
Name them.

While the frames of the CF 9.0 and the CF 8.0 may be the same the bikes will behave differently due to the near 2lb weight difference. A 15lb build is going to feel quicker and more responsive than a heavier bike will, whether that is why I didn't find the CF 8.0 as engaging as Dave Arthur found the 9.0 I can't say for certain without riding both but I would say its a fair bet.

Ignoring the overall scores mine and Dave's findings are actually pretty similar and as I've said in the review the CF 8.0 is a very good bike, though for me compared to what else I've ridden or am riding now I found it rather dull.

That's my honest feelings about the bike and I stand by it.

Kind of goes to show that you should definitely try out a new bike, not just go on someone else's review of it. One person's perfection certainly isn't everyone's, and it probably depends what you're used to riding just as much as the bike itself. If something's sharper than your regular bike then it's bound to feel 'racier' than if your regular bike is already very sharp and racy.

I own an Canyon Inflite Al S that I use as my all round commuter, weekend blaster and even occasionally off-road. Solid bit of kit that handles everything that's thrown at it. I guess the 'lack of personality' comes from the Germanic perfection (to use a cliche), don't forget the Giro was won on a Canyon... https://www.canyon.com/en/specials/ultimate-cf-giro/

Since the rider is out of the saddle, the height looks about right.

Photo 2 of 36?

Surely the rider and the roads define the boredom factor of the bike and not the bike itself?

So...

This bike lacks "personality" and "real crispness in the corners, and leaves you wanting a bit more responsiveness and feedback."

And... "the ride is very safe and middle of the road" and the bike "lacks any sort of excitement and passion."

But the 9.0 (same frame), "leans closer to a race bike in its handling" and "remains on the sharper side of the handling divide with a great urgency detectable through the frame and fork when making swift direction changes."

It's also "a bike that feels really settled at speed but sparkles when you give it some welly through the corners or up the climbs. It feels closer to a race bike than many of its peers."

But the above "needs a bit of personality to make it fun"?

Come on, which one is it?

Remember, it's the same frame and... "the frame is always the heart of the bike rather than just a component."