Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8 Ultegra Di2 Long-Term Review

About two weeks before the official presentation, we received an Ultimate CF SLX test bike in September 2022, which was tailored to me or my touristic use. Firstly, in size Medium and two-toned (black with black accents) and secondly, with what is probably the world's (second-) best groupset, the Shimano Ultegra Di2 12-speed, which can only be surpassed by a Dura-Ace Di2.

The initial excitement was quickly followed by another positive surprise. Because the assembly was quick and easy: No sawing off the fork steerer, no Traunviertler 86-experiments when wrapping the handlebar tape, not even the headset needed adjusting, let alone having to straighten the derailleur hanger or bleed the rear brake. Top!

After the indoor shooting and our usual strict weighing, I immediately embarked on the first ride, which spontaneously - believe it or not - brought a smile to my face. Because the Ultimate literally glided over the asphalt, for which I also suspected my favorite tires, the Schwalbe Pro One Skin in 25 mm at the front and 28 mm at the back. Whether sunshine, cold, or rain - the tire rolls, the tire holds.

But the "new geometry" also fit right away, as the actual difference from its predecessor was mostly in the millimeter range and was less significant than one would expect from the 8 mm longer top tube according to the geo-table, despite a lower stack and longer reach values. How was it possible to have a more athletic, stretched, and lower riding position in combination with an even shorter wheelbase and more agile, balanced handling? A look at the table revealed the solution to the puzzle: among other things, the frame in size M received 5 mm shorter chainstays (higher agility) and a seat angle that was 0.3 degrees slacker with a seatpost with 20 mm setback (better weight distribution and more comfort).
Besides that, I personally also find it more coherent that the two racing machines Ultimate and Aeroad now stand out even more from the endurance racing bike.

Although I was not unhappy with the mounted Selle Italia SLR, I would have preferred to install my favored SQLab saddle. Unfortunately, the exchange failed because the Canyon seatpost was only compatible with round rails and the required adapters were not included in the delivery. From my perspective, this is a clear point of criticism - because with all my last racing bikes, the support worked either with both rail standards or the adapters were included.

And with the 4iiii power meter, there was initially more shadow than light, because just after a few hours of operation, it went out, and it was not possible for me, even with various new batteries, resets, the smartphone app, and the 4iiii support, to get the power meter working again. Only a replacement crank arm from Canyon managed to solve the problem. Since the exchange, the 4iiii has mostly worked quite well, but after longer breaks in riding, it consistently had issues reconnecting automatically with one of my bike computers. Really annoying. Shortly before the end of the review, however, I was able to solve this problem because the 4iiii was mistakenly paired with one of my bike computers via Bluetooth (instead of ANT+) and the recurring connection errors were supposedly due to that. Tip: Make sure to connect your power meter exclusively via ANT+ with bike computers and use Bluetooth only for the smartphone, iPad, or desktop.

And while we're on the subject of grumbling, I would also like to mention that I found the cavity under the pre-wrapped handlebar tape, on the underside of the two screwed-on side parts of the aero handlebar in the upper grip position, to be somewhat uncomfortable. Under - underside - upper grip - uncomfortable... all unclear? Well, sorry folks, I can't describe it any better. Try taking an especially cramped upper handlebar grip on the CP0018 cockpit and feel how your fingertips sink through the handlebar tape. Of course, this does not detract from the function, but it feels odd.

Let us come to the riding characteristics - last but not least - which, despite the nearly identical geometry, differ in terms of comfort from the Aeroad. This is because the SLX frame, thanks to its shape and carbon layup, has better damping (vertical compliance), which means that bumpy road sections, manhole covers, and the like hurt noticeably less than on the purebred aerodynamic machine. Nevertheless, I would like to note that this is not the most comfortable racing bike I have ever sat on. However, the Ultimate now also fits tires up to 32 mm wide, so switching from the currently mounted 25/28s to 28/30 or 30/32 mm tires promises a significant gain in comfort. Additionally, the less high-modulus carbon fibers of the SLX frame provide better shielding against high-frequency road vibrations compared to the SLR frame, which should also prevent premature fatigue in addition to producing a nicer, more solid rolling noise.

Climbing with the Ultimate is fantastic. No matter how hard I pulled on the handlebars, there was no annoying flex - neither at the ends of the handlebars, the bottom bracket, nor in the area of the head tube, the fork, or the dropouts. It was also possible to sprint solidly with full force without negatively affecting stability or precision.

But the Ultimate really became fun when blasting on the flats and on the well-deserved descent. It maneuvered nimbly in the group, easily maintained speed, and conveyed an especially secure feeling of control and precision on fast downhills. This high level of balance helps one to maintain inner calm even in more critical situations and gives the Ultimate its incomparable riding experience.

With the three platforms Ultimate CF SL, CF SLX, and CFR, as well as a wide range of sizes, there is a suitable Ultimate model for every type of road cyclist or respective budget.

The cost-effective entry point is marked by the Ultimate CF SL 7 at 2,699 euros, which is available in five different variants. Also available: three Ultimate CF SLX bikes with prices starting at 6,299 euros for the Ultimate CF SLX 8 eTap with the SRAM Force eTap groupset.

Canyon Ultimate Prices MY2023

At the top end of the portfolio, three Ultimate CFR flagship models starting at 10,499 euros combine super-light CFR frames with the best components on the market. All CFR framesets are characterized by a high-end carbon layup that ranks at World Tour level in terms of lightweight construction, durability, and stiffness.