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TECH NEWS

Canyon unveils 2016 Speedmax CF SLX time trial bike

Updated frame, new front brake and more integration

Canyon has launched a brand new Speedmax CF SLX, and Jan Frodeno went and won the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii on the new bike at the weekend. Not a bad debut at all.

The current Speedmax was first unveiled in 2012, and road.cc reviewed it earlier this year. The new Speedmax CF SLX is an evolution of the previous version with a focus on improved integration, particularly changes to make it even more suitable for longer distance triathlon and Ironman events. It’s still UCI legal, provided you remove the additional hydration and bento boxes the bike is pictured with here.

- Review: Canyon Speedmax CF 9.0 SL

The new bike is based on the previous Speedmax we reviewed recently but takes integration to another level. A ‘system complete’ mantra has been the overriding design brief of the new bike, and all the typical accessories that are added to time trial bikes for the longer distances involved in Ironman events have been seamlessly built into the frame.

For triathletes and Ironman competitors, that means an updated carbon fibre frame now has dedicated Gear Box storage unit for spare inner tubes and Co2 cartridges in front of the seat post, and a nutrition storage box (often called a bento box) behind the stem for stashing energy gels, bars and hydration tablets. Two water bottles can be carried behind the saddle with a removable adapter.

- Canyon 2016 road bike range first look

The modified handlebar setup has a Hydration Source, developed with Profile Design, sandwiched between the extension bars and in front of the stem, with a short hose allowing easy hydration on the move. A Garmin mount has been integrated into the front of the Hydration Source unit.

Canyon has sought to improve the ergonomics of the handlebars as well. A Canyon H26 carbon fibre base bar is fitted with Ergon base bar grips and the extension bars are fitted with new Ergon elbow supports. New Ergon extension grip tape to provide more road vibration damping and better grip.

The Speedmax’s integrated brakes have been overhauled. The front brake is now positioned at the front of the fork (it’s behind the fork on the regular Speedmax), and the actual caliper has been developed in collaboration with TRP. Canyon says this change has resulted in a stiffer braking platform and feel has been improved. A cover maintains aerodynamics and protects the brake. The rear brake is still located underneath the chainstays.

The ride and handling of the previous Speedmax impressed, but Canyon reckons it has improved the high-speed stability by modifying the steering angle. The new bike also has increased adjustment in the seat and cockpit areas so a more compact position can be achieved if desired.

The new Speedmax CF SLX should be available in December but pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet. The company hasn't released any aerodynamic data for the UCI legal version of the Speedmax just yet.

More at www.canyon.com 

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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21 comments

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Flying Scot | 8 years ago
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As if carbon Canyons weren't ugly enough.

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Kaben | 8 years ago
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All you guys complaining about the looks. You do realise that the lunch box and water bottle come off to make it UCI compliant right? It will look very similar to the old speed max without them, just with a thicker rear triangle at the seatstays.

IMO it's perfect - will be an awesome
Long distance triathlon steed and still a fantastic weapon for normal time trials with the gubbins removed.

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gsk82 | 8 years ago
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looks like i don't need that +1 anymore. truly awful!

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Kloudy | 8 years ago
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A bit OTT other than for ironman distance but probably great for that.

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Paul J | 8 years ago
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It's bike like this, and the ones in the comments, that make me appreciate the UCI regulations.

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mrchrispy | 8 years ago
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and today children your CDT exam test is to design a bike using only a ruler and a compass.

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mike the bike | 8 years ago
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Over many years I have seen quite a few ugly bikes and this is another. It has overtones of an 'A' Level Technology project combined with a staggering self-confidence that could only originate in ignorance.
And no, I don't much care for it.

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HalfWheeler | 8 years ago
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Ugly as sin

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2 Wheeled Idiot | 8 years ago
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WHY WHY WHY canyon, you took the best looking tt bike and turned it into a triantelope special edition  31

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cyclotripper replied to 2 Wheeled Idiot | 8 years ago
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agree, the old bike was sweet.

I have trouble keeping my water bottles from growing things. If I had one of these bikes I may as well plant a flower up front.

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hampstead_bandit | 8 years ago
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@philbrown

Looks like the same company in Taiwan or China is moulding the ' lunch boxes' for all of these bikes, variations of the same theme  3

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PhillBrown | 8 years ago
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Scott make a nice looking lunch box too...

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CygnusX1 replied to PhillBrown | 8 years ago
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PhillBrown wrote:

Scott make a nice looking lunch box too...

I nearly lost my lunch after seeing those pictures  31

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hampstead_bandit | 8 years ago
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Looks like Giant and Canyon have similar thinking with their new 2016 Tri bikes?

Great storage options for hydration and fuel, plus riding spares

//ep1.pinkbike.org/p6pb12771934/p5pb12771934.jpg)

Canyon is Giant largest external customer for carbon fibre manufacturing

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pwake | 8 years ago
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Sign me up for a Kona version with eTap and Zipps please.

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dgmtc | 8 years ago
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That rear triangular box looks like it could hold two small slices of pizza. Take my money, Canyon.

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Mart0023 | 8 years ago
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Is it a bike or an aero lunchbox on wheels.

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rnick | 8 years ago
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Just how I would imagine an aero e-bike might look. Plenty of room for batteries in those boxy sections.

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Leviathan | 8 years ago
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I thought they had cancelled the third Tron movie. This suggests otherwise.

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KarlR | 8 years ago
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On my list for my next bike, just hope I can afford it!

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PhillBrown | 8 years ago
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What a machine... It looked awesome on the roads of Hawaii at the weekend!

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