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TECH NEWS

Canyon reveals 5.6kg Ultimate CF SLX 80 Superlight road bike

Limited edition Ultimate available with Lightweight wheels and Campagnolo Super Record 80th Anniversary groupset

Canyon Bicycles has unveiled a limited edition Ultimate CF SLX 80 Superlight road bike model, based on the bike that won the Giro d’Italia earlier this year, with a claimed weight of just 5.6kg (12.34lb) and a price tag of £7,299. Weight, it seems, still holds a draw for manufacturers wanting to impress.

The bike achieves the low weight thanks to a 790g carbon frame and build kit comprising a set of Lightweight Meilenstein Obermayer (claimed weight for those alone is 975g) and a Campagnolo Super Record 80th Anniversary mechanical groupset. The wheels are tubular - because tubs still much lighter than clinchers - and come supplied with Continental Force and Attack Competition tubs.

Canyon hasn’t skimped on the rest of the build either, with Ritchey’s lightweight Superlogic C260 Carbon stem and WCS Superlogic EvoCurve handlebar. A Fizik Antares R1 saddle sits atop a Canyon S14 VCLS 2.0 seatpost.

The bike is available now from stock, but in limited numbers, with seven frame sizes available. Take a look at it here on the Canyon website. 

This Ultimate is essentially identical to the Ultimate CF SLX 9.0 Movistar road bike we tested earlier this year, just with a different parts package. 

Though clearly a huge pile of cash, the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 80 Superlight is still a fair bit cheaper than the £10,000 Emonda that Trek launched just before the Tour de France, but that extra money does get you a bike weighing just 4.6kg (10.25lb).

While lightweight bikes are more accessible than they ever have been with 6-7kg bikes far more attainable than they ever have been, seriously lightweight bikes still command a hefty premium. The Canyon though is probably one of the most affordable ways to get your hands on a sub-6kg road bike.

 

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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6 comments

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darth | 9 years ago
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I just love bikes that look like this (and weight soooo little)! Does seem funny though, how they have - although very cool - parts like the stem, bars, post etc. that are, compared to mine, heavy!!!

Note: I'm not posting this just to show off! If I was going to do that, I'd mention that the lightweight parts below are fitted to my Cannondale Evo Black!!!  3

According to the Richey website this stem (in 110mm) weighs 125 grammes. My 120mm Extralite Roadstem OC alloy stem weighs (on calibrated scales) 91.9 grammes! {And I've put this thing through it's paces - and I weigh 96Kg - and not even the slightest creak!} Oh, and the Extralite is cheaper!

The Superlogic Evocurve bars (42cm) are 195 grammes. My Bontrager RaceXXXLight VRC (42cm) weigh 173.7! Etc. etc. etc…

I guess the manufacturer partners a deal with a high spec. brand for these parts, and it does look nice if they all match (and suit the bike).

Now if we can just get the UCI to lower the 6.8Kg weight limit, then we could see bikes like this in action - for a real test in Paris Roubaix!!!

Oh, and given these wheels seem to retail in the UK for £4000, I'm tempted to sell my soul and buy this - to fit the wheels to my Evo - and keep the rest as spares!!!  19

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Leviathan replied to darth | 9 years ago
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darth wrote:

Oh, and given these wheels seem to retail in the UK for £4000, I'm tempted to sell my soul and buy this - to fit the wheels to my Evo - and keep the rest as spares!!!  19

I'll give you £1200 for the frame.

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Leviathan | 9 years ago
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". Maximum load including rider and luggage must not exceed 120 kg" Cool practical too, I will put one on my shopping list for Christmas 20willneverhavethemoneytoaffordthis.

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Gstar | 9 years ago
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Hmmm....having waited 6 months for mine and experiencing several delays it has now developed a crack in the seatpost tube after 3 months, awaiting a response from Canyon so it will be interesting To see how they respond (given their direct sales model it's pretty critical). To be fair they have been pretty good in the past (I've had three bikes from them) but seem to have been struggling recently to cope with demand. In the interest of balance I'll update with a response.

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The _Kaner | 9 years ago
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an aspirational bike...I fear though, it would be somewhat ornamental and wasted on me....and I'd have to sell some limbs to afford it...
"Right, so we've got sixpence"....

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ronin | 9 years ago
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A bike like this is really suited to me, simply because I'm heavy enough to stop it floating away  4

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