Canyon Spectral: ON CF 8 Electric Mountain Bike: Beginner-friendly, under $5K

The Shimano XT/SLX drivetrain and brakes are very popular in the eMTB market. You don’t get the lightest technology, but they are reliable work tools. Suspension comes from a FOX 38 Rhythm fork and Float X shock, which, like the drivetrain and brakes, are high-end performers. There’s 160mm of travel at the front and 155mm at the rear, which provides good support for rough, technical landings, while remaining effective on longer rides and over mixed terrain.

Also here is Canyon’s internal iridium dropper post, which is a 30.9mm internally routed unit with 125-170mm of travel, depending on your frame size. It’s sturdy, reliable and easy to use, although I found it to be somewhat slow to get back into position. It’s not a big problem. The DT Swiss HLN350 tires (15 x 110 30mm) are largely in line with the rest of the bike – reliable eMTB options that, while not flashy, will perform well and last.

All the component parts add up to a very impressive electric mountain bike that provides a lot of fun while riding. It doesn’t have the headline-grabbing features of a Specialized S-Works or Trek Rail, but at $4,500, it’s hard—no, impossible—to argue with it. Beginners will get more out of it than professional riders, but to me this increases its wider appeal.

However, it weighs 54.5 lbs. This is a heavy bike, even within the full-power e-MTB category. It’s an absolute beast to handle when you’re not riding it, and I pity anyone who has to get it up any ladder or out of a ditch. It’s also a bit unwieldy if you’re navigating technical terrain at slow speeds, but once you pick up the pace, the low-slung battery and nice geometry turn it into a trail-fed, mud-skiing cruiser.

Ride

Photography: Chris Haslam

The Canyon Spectral: ON CF 8 has eaten up local singletrack, muddy trails and tight tree lines. The 64-degree head angle is a bit slow, but suits my level of riding and terrain. It’s stable, and I feel like I’m in control on steep, fast inclines. It feels incredibly stable and encourages me to ride harder and look for more technical lines. Traction in corners is excellent, and the geometry should appeal to a wide range of mountain bikers. Beginners will gain confidence from the fact that you will need to work hard to get past the handlebars.