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TECH NEWS
Canyon 2016: New Inflite AL 9.0 SLX cyclocross race bike star model in updated range
German direct-sales company Canyon has started releasing details of its 2016 bicycle range on its updated website, and one of the standout bikes so far is this new stunning Inflite AL 9.0 SLX.
With the cyclocross race season fast approaching, this bike is built for racing. “Burning lungs and mud - this is a thoroughbred cross bike built for racers,” boldly claims Canyon.
The new bike is equipped with Reynolds Assault Disc Carbon Tubular wheels and Challenge Grifo 33 tubular tyres, with a SRAM Force 1x11 drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes. And the price? Just £2,399. Canyon claims a complete bike weight of 7.85kg (17.31lb)
- Review: Canyon Inflite AL 8.0 cyclo-cross bike
The Inflite was launched a few years ago and represented Canyon’s first foray into the cyclocross market. There are five models of the Inflite in 2016.
While the AL 9.0 SLX above is clearly built for the racers, Canyon has smartly demonstrated the versatility of the aluminium framed bike with different builds. The other four bikes in the Canyon range are split across two price points, with the key change being different paint jobs and tyres, depending on whether you want a cyclocross bike for racing, or a more versatile riding to work and winter training option.
The Inflite AL 8.0 S (£1,099) for example is geared towards those cyclists looking for a rugged all-weather commuting bike or a dedicated winter training bike. It’s built with Shimano 105 and mechanical disc brakes and is fitted with wide profile DT Swiss R24 Spline DB wheels. It’s also available with custom SKS mudguards. The paint job also features reflective decals to boost low-light visibility.
- Your guide to cyclo-cross racing
For the same price the Inflite AL 8.0 (£1,099) is offered without the commuter and winter trainer friendly details like the reflective details, muted paint job and SKS mudguards. It retains the Shimano 105 drivetrain and mechanical stoppers however. It’s aimed more at cyclocross racers rather than those looking for an all-road versatile option.
The difference between the two bikes is also reflected in the tyres. The Inflite AL 8.0 S comes with slick Continental Grand Prix 4000S II tyres, while the Inflite AL 8.0 is shod with Schwalbe Rocket Ron cyclocross knobblies.
The mid-range model is the Inflite AL 9.0, and like the Inflite AL 8.0, is available in two flavours but based around the same groupset and mix of parts, just the tyre and paint jobs are the key differentiator.
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.
Latest Comments
- ROOTminus1 5 hours 30 min ago
In a better world, sure, it could be a good thing. But this is Britain, and our "leaders" from either side of house can't balance the books, keep a...
- NorthEastJimmy 6 hours 6 min ago
And a heads up that just clicking on someone's name sends them a notification.
- Wheelywheelygood 6 hours 10 min ago
Of course bikers are going to object how dare people think they have the right to be kept safe from law breakers on bikes . One way system , well I...
- giff77 8 hours 34 sec ago
Unfortunately too many British motorists believe that this white line is a de facto cycle lane rather than the boundary of the carriageway. Had a...
- David9694 8 hours 27 min ago
Gosh, Maida Vale into the centre - a real toughie.
- cmedred 12 hours 9 min ago
Thanks Ian. Sounds like devolution toward a system destined to create civil disobedience. It would certainly encourage my rebellious Yankee soul to...
- Geoff Ingram 12 hours 13 min ago
Correcto. Ffs, how many people in the whole of the UK actually have enough private land that they can need/use an unregistered vehicle which never...
- Dogless 12 hours 28 min ago
As ever, don't know why wild bikes (go outdoors etc) are always missed off these lists. The equivalent of the frog 61 (identical in almost every...
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There was a time when I would eagerly open up my Campag' levers to fix a problem with easily obtainable spare parts, using little more than a...
- chrisonatrike 12 hours 29 min ago
More chicken and egg problems / self-reinforcing systems....
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21 comments
Just to clarify the S models don't come included with the bike anymore. I got my Inflite Al 8.0 S delivered and was informed by Canyon that I need to order the mudguards myself from STS website and pay for them.
You can buy the Canyons (any one of the range) direct from the website and request to be invoiced in Euros. You can then transfer the money direct from your UK bank account to the Canyon Company account in DE and when the funds clear they will ship the bike of your preference. How do I know this.... I did exactly that after phoning Canyon DE to ask how I could get around the unfavourable exchange rate on their site. If anyone wants to tip me with any of the savings they can now make please feel free to haha.
The carbon fibre Canyon bikes are extremely good value (regardless of currency issues) considering the pedigree of their "manufacturer" in Taiwan i.e. Giant Bikes.
Canyon is one of only 4 'brands' Giant make C.F. frames for, the others being their own 'Giant' and 'Liv' frames, Canyon and selective Colnago frames (which incidentally they own the majority share in).
I'd be happy buying a Canyon because I know its a great frame (in terms of QC) and they offer crazy value compared to many 'brands'.
I've seen Giant's pricing for 2016, and it looks to offer great value for a retail brand (compared to direct sellers like Canyon). Really, a great time to be a bicycle buying consumer!
Just allow people to pay in Euros and issue is resolved.
Rose allow you to pay in Euros.
A few are missing the point a little. Yes, Canyon are really good value. Yes, people are free to choose where they buy.
However, the gripe is that I am paying £500 more than my French cousin to buy the same bike. Canyon is certainly not being fair to its UK customers so I contacted them:
"Canyon will be revising all our pricing this year".
Not sure whether that means lower prices?!
Nice CX bike - not sure my skills in the WMCCL justify buying one yet though!
A few things.
A cross bike marketed as being race ready which actually comes with a race ready (tubular) wheelset and not clinchers. Hooray. (Although the suggestion that this is a good commuter bike is a bit misplaced, surely - tubs for commuting? I flirted with the idea but then came to my senses.)
Wow - light for an aluminium frame.
Wow - expensive for an aluminium frame. Still think the value leader in this segment is the Planet X XLS with Force CX1 including hydros which is currently going for £1499. The PX finishing kit is quotidian and I've never been a massive fan of the PX fork (although now its full carbon rather than the carbon/aluminium boat anchor they used to ship it with), but it's cross, they are going to get trashed anyway.
For all those posters complaining about the cost - really? If you can find better value somewhere else then don't buy Canyon. In my experience it's still quite hard to do so. Great bikes, good service and still good value.
Also, re: criticism of Canyon for not repricing based on moves in currency spot rates. Hard to know whether this is valid, Canyon may not be making windfall profits as it may have hedged currency for coming year already (as per airlines, which didn't suddenly become profitable with a decline in oil prices because they had already hedged their purchases into the future).
not the cost, if everyone in Europe was charged the same I would have no problem, it's the discrimination I object to. I can't think of any other goods or services I have bought from the EU where I have been charged a different price.
currency fluctuations - there are two options 1) adjust prices regularly, Rose seem to manage to do this. 2) accept orders in euros from anywhere in the EU, let me pay the exchange charges and take the risk on fluctuations
A 2399 GBP disc-brake bike with no thru-axles? A deal-breaker, at least for me, seriously.
Just checked the price for that Ultimate CF Aero the 2016 model in Denmark is around 2200£, also i can only pay in dkr and not euro's.
Not sure I get the complaints, price is listing at £1,099.00 for the INFLITE AL 8.0 S (£1,146.98 with shipping). That's £100 less than what I payed in 2014... not really that surprising that they don't allow you to pay in euros, considering we're based in the UK (VAT etc).
Still a good deal considering the cost of bikes elsewhere. Hardly Apple levels of price mark-up.
Cheeky b'stards.
I was set to buy a Ultimate CF Aero 2015 at £2.5k last week. Asked Canyon about a € payment but was told from a UK purchase this isn't possible. IN € the bike was €2.7k. No mention 2016 bikes were due for release.
At current exchange (£1 = €1,38) they would have had €3450! €750 above what anyone else in the EU would pay.
Now for 2016 they have lowered the price to £2.350 . Still making it a huge mark up on what the € price paid in the EU is (€2.7k) . But they would still have taken my £2.5k for a 2015 bike when the 2016 price is £2.35k
They cancelled my order thank god.
Sorry Canyon you are ripping off UK buyers especially charging what you do for postage and packaging.
I no longer feel Canyon are the online bargains they are cracked up to be. I've owned 2 Canyons but never will again.
For 750euro, I would collect from the factory and pay the euro price. Pretty sure this is allowed.
Definitely allowed! 400 miles or so from London - that's a long day's drive but entirely doable (I know not everyone's in London). Phone ahead so they've built your bike for you, ride around a bit to scrub the tyres, put in car, drive home.
Don't think you can get C2W with Canyon anyway, but yes the disparity in price is a bit fiendish.
Yes Canyon don't offer C2W. But with C2W you can top with cash above the £1k limit these days so the price slipping above that price point is often no longer that relevant (depending on your scheme provider).
Would be a lot better if Canyon just allowed you to pay in Euros.
canyon may not, but many schemes will offer to buy the bike from anywhere.
in practice you can top up, officially you can't, and of course you are then paying from property which will be owned by your company.
why can't we just pay 1400euros like everyone else? I accept the transaction charges from the bank as the cost of not being part of the single currency, but surely this is against European law. I'm sure if I started a business and arbitrarily decided to charge people in Germany more, there would be complaints.
Not against European law. Not even a little bit. Yes, there would be complaints (as pathetic as the ones above). But you don't HAVE to buy from them. If you did, then it might be illegal. As you don't, you are free to exercise your rights to shop elsewhere.
People/businesses are allowed to make a profit. There are many more expensive bikes out there that aren't as good as those offered by Canyon. If you don't think Canyon represent good value, shop with someone else.
There is nothing pathetic about been over charged €400 for a bike, Canyon boy.
Do you think a) they do not make a profit at the euro price? b) if that it the case that it is reasonable to make all the profits from UK customers?
quite simply until Canyon end this policy of discrimination I will not shop with them and if everyone in the UK would do the same market forces would cause them to change this policy. But as long as there are sufficient mugs who think it;s fair to be charged more than someone in Ireland for an identical product then Canyon will continue thinking everything is OK.
At least when we were being ripped off for cars, there was an argument about different cars to different specs, this is exactly the same product, there is no defense for the price differential.
I don't think anyone would call the complaints pathetic if you went into a shop to buy something, and the salesperson said, oh no the price to you is £130, not £100 because you come from France.
As usual with canyon 15% UK premium. Crucially in this case taking the cost of a good commutet bike above the cycle to work threshold.
You cannot use cycle to work scheme unless your business buys it direct.
Just checked this out myself in regards to the prices, what a con. €2,999 in France to buy the bike & €3406.68 in the UK. You pay tax at source so there is no UK VAT to pay.
One big scam. A Canyon UK tax of £281 just because you are from the UK.