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New Canyon Ultimate CF Evo weighs 4.96kg and costs £11,599

Canyon launches its lightest ever road bike but the price tag isn't so light

Back in 2015 Canyon stunned the crowds at Eurobike by unveiling its lightest ever road bike, the 4.96kg Ultimate CF Evo. Questions about pricing and availability quickly followed but the German company kept quiet. Until today: it has just launched two models with the most expensive version setting you back £11,599. Better start saving…

Canyon is offering two versions of the Ultimate CF Evo, each based around the same frame that retains the same design and tube shaping as the regular Ultimate CF SLX, but utilises a far more advanced and costly carbon fibre layup. The result is a 665g frame and 270g fork. To put that in perspective, a regular Ultimate CF SLX weighs 780g for the frame and 295g for the fork. 

P3-Ultimate-CF-EVO-10-SL.jpg

It’s offering two builds, and the lighter version is actually the more affordable of the two. The 10.0 LTD weighs 5.8kg and the 10.0 SL comes in at 4.96kg. Prices are, and I hope you’re sitting down for this, £11,599 and £8,999 respectively. We’ll let that sink in for a moment. You can also buy the frameset in electronic and mechanical gear versions for £2,949. 

As well as the lightweight frame and fork, the 10.0 LTD owes its lightness to a dream list of components, including Lightweight Meilenstein Clincher wheels (1,210g) with a SRAM Red eTap groupset and a THM Clavicula M3 SRM chainset

The 10.0 SL sheds even more weight courtesy of Lightweight Meilenstein Obermayer tubular wheels (935g for the pair) with Ceramic Speed bearings, a SRAM Red 22 groupset and THM Clavicula Sine Exception cranks (293g). The SRAM brake calipers are substituted for THM Fibula brakes (120g a piece) with Tune brake shoes. 

P2-Ultimate-CF-EVO-10-LTD.jpg

The idea for creating a super light version of the Ultimate was raised during the development of the latest version of the frameset. “During the development of the latest 4th  generation Ultimate CF SLX, Canyon engineers explored the potential of raising the bar of frameset performance to new levels. Combining their leading carbon expertise with state-of-the-art materials previously unused in the industry, they were able to create the Ultimate CF EVO,” says the company. 

The new Ultimate CF Evo retains the key features and outline of the regular model, there’s no special frame design here, instead, the layup has been refined and high-grade carbon fibre utilised. “The secrets behind its outstanding figures lie within an extensively optimised layup, consisting of ultra-high modulus pitch-based fibres that required special permission from the Japanese Ministry of Defence to access. These fibres enable the Ultimate CF EVO to deliver previously unheard of levels of stiffness and responsiveness at its incredibly low weight. Each part of the bike, from its fork to its seatpost to its integrated cockpit, has been subjected to the same tests and standards as the rest of the Ultimate range, to create a bike that is meant for the roads, not the trophy case,” adds the company. 

Ultimate-CF-EVO-THM-Cranks.jpg

It’s light, but is it the lightest? No. Trek’s Emonda SLR 10 weighs 4.6kg, Merida’s Scultura 9000 Ltd comes in at 4.55kg and you can get an AX Lightness Vial Evo Ultra that tickles the scales to just 4.4kg. 

- 6 of the lightest road bikes

- Check out the new Ultimate CF Evo in more detail here

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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17 comments

Avatar
drosco | 7 years ago
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I don't think anyone could argue Canyon aren't great value for money.

Avatar
700c replied to drosco | 7 years ago
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drosco wrote:

I don't think anyone could argue Canyon aren't great value for money.

Depends on the value you place on customer service, using a local shop etc. But bang for buck, they're up there.

Avatar
700c | 7 years ago
0 likes

£3k RRP seems competitive for a frame of this quality & weight, but there's far better value to be had shopping around for older models.

Eg my 2015 TCR advanced SL frameset cost £1100 (and some still available at £900 now!). Had some bits in the shed (brakes, saddle, pedals) but bought everything else including treating myself to some new wheels (3T 63mm tubs), mainly Campag Record 10s + ceramic bearings. Spent under £3k, for something well into 'superbike' territory, albeit without the latest 11s groupset. 6.9kg including pedals etc. Not much can match it for stiffness, either. Oh and I'm 6'2, so a large frame.

Plus the satisfaction of building it up yourself, (learning from your mistakes!), dealing with an actual person in a shop with actual stocked products rather than some dubious ordering and delivery service from overseas (ahem Canyon!)

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
2 likes

@Python

 

Vial Evo Ultra  £4.5k RRP 

http://www.ubyk.co.uk/ax-lightness-vial-evo-ultra-frameset-2017/63878

 

Ultimate Evo £2.949 RRP (includes stem/bar)

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road/ultimate/f-ultimate-cf-evo-electric.html

 

Addict SL 2015 £2.799 RRP 

https://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/scott-addict-sl-hmx-sl-road-frameset-2...

 

That makes the Ultimate the best value frameset out of them. The Canyon will drop to around £2600 mid summer during their sales, I really don't think you'll get an Evo Ultra at that price in 2017. If lucky you can find an odd leftover size Addict SL somewhere. Maybe. 

 

 

 

Avatar
mogrim | 7 years ago
0 likes

pfft. No disc version. That's me out.

Avatar
700c | 7 years ago
0 likes

Actually the headline should read 'New Canyon Ultimate CF Evo weighs 5.8kg and costs £11,599'

So, save a few grand and get the 4.9 kg one!

If you really wanted a lightweight bike, this is probably the way to go though - the frame should be stiff enough and I've heard that those wheels, albeit not a new design, are very stiff as well

 

 

Avatar
Christopher TR1 | 7 years ago
0 likes

Man! I've got no space in the cellar for another bike  2

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes

Frameset looks a steal compared to the Emonda SLR, RCa etc

 

Under £3k. Pretty much no competitor at that weight, quality and price. 

 

Cynical side of me thinks that the fully kitted models are a way for Lightweight to flog off their retro wheels which might not be selling as well any longer. 

 

Will wait for the Giro to see what the new R5 comes in at before adding this to the 'list'.

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Kadinkski | 7 years ago
0 likes

Sweet. I've been looking for something to spend some of my bonus on, and this is it. Just hope they're going to have reliable delivery lead times.

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Danger Dicko | 7 years ago
0 likes

Fuck me! That's a lot of money.

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mike the bike | 7 years ago
2 likes

 

I'll wait until one appears in Brick Lane market at £450.  Honest officer, I had no idea!

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Simmo72 | 7 years ago
2 likes

Richmond park will be awash with the stuff.

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ashliejay | 7 years ago
1 like

to be fair that wheelset alone is around £5000, and this actually looks £12k as it's not using own brand components(except seatpost, and bar stem combo) like spec'd and trek, and the parts are boutique and small production volume.

Avatar
Rapha Nadal | 7 years ago
1 like

Those wheels look so outdated these days.  Have they even moved with the times in terms of width etc?

Avatar
beezus fufoon replied to Rapha Nadal | 7 years ago
1 like

Rapha Nadal wrote:

Those wheels look so outdated these days.  Have they even moved with the times in terms of width etc?

I'm guessing it's not designed to run 500mm tyres at -30psi

Avatar
StraelGuy | 7 years ago
1 like

You're very kind but I'd rather have six Fairlight Straels to be honest.

Avatar
steviemarco | 7 years ago
1 like

Your £12,000 loan is ready for approval!!!!!!

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