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TECH NEWS

The all new Canyon Ultimate is here and it could save you 10 watts

The fifth generation Ultimate all-round race bike from Canyon wasn't exactly a secret, but now we have all the facts and figures

Everyone act surprised, Canyon has released the 'new' Ultimate! The new bike might just be the worst-kept secret in cycling having been raced by the pros for the majority of the 2022 season. Today's release, however, does give us some nitty-gritty tech details including a claimed 15% increase in head tube stiffness and a 10 watt saving at 45kph, with the weight starting from 6.3kg for a full bike. 

> Read our review of the new Canyon Ultimate 

2023 Canyon Ultimate CF SLR silver

The latest Ultimate is definitely an evolution rather than a revolutionary step forwards, and as suspected the biggest difference is the integration of the brake and gear hoses.

Canyon says that the new bike "[builds] on the design principles and innovations of the previous four generations. All distilled into a pure form that reflects the continuous development of a bike with an illustrious legacy. In short: this is the natural next step in the evolution of a truly iconic design."

2023 Canyon Ultimate evolution

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Critics may argue that the latest Ultimate is a little late to the party when it comes to integrating cables, but Canyon says it represents the "bleeding edge" of road bike performance by "perfectly balancing the five performance factors that define a world-class road race bike".

What are those I hear you ask? Well, Matthias Eurich, Canyon's Road Product manager, says the new bike balances aerodynamics, stiffness, weight and comfort (that's four ticked off at least) and Canyon adds that in collaboration with pro riders, 'toughness' has also been considered.

2023 Canyon Ultimate Infographic

To hit the optimal balance of lightness and durability, Canyon says the new Ultimate frames are reinforced in high-stress areas with an extra 30g of carbon fibre, namely in the seat tube junctions and bottom bracket area. This extra material is said to "significantly improve the lifespan of the frame, making the new Ultimate not only more durable but a significantly more sustainable product too."

The changes

2023 Canyon Ultimate tyre clearance and computer mount
  • Increased tyre clearance: now space for up to 32mm tyres
  • Improved aerodynamics: 10 watts more efficient at 45kph when used with the same wheels and components
  • Integration: hidden cables and lines 
  • Better fit: new cockpit (CP0018 as seen on the Aeroad) has height and width adjustment with no steerer tube cutting required
  • Lower weight: a size Medium Ultimate CFR Di2 has a claimed weight of 6.3kg
  • Stiffness: 15% increase in head tube stiffness compared to the previous generation
  • New 3XS size
  • Scaling chainstay lengths for a better fit for more riders

Who is it for?

2022 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX - seat stay.jpg

We've already mentioned that we've seen the new Ultimate being used by pro road racers, and this has been on both mountainous and flat stages. Canyon says that it "does the Ultimate an injustice to pigeonhole it ‘just’ as a climber’s bike or say it’s only for pros looking to shave every possible gram".

Instead, it says the bike is made for "a range of riders, from casual club riders through to committed performance junkies and pros. And everyone in between."

Jay Vine on polka dot 2023 Canyon Ultimate (Jay Vine on Twitter)
(Jay Vine on Twitter)

> One bike to rule them all: why lightweight aero bikes are now THE essential race weapon

We've seen many brands head towards a one-bike approach for their performance needs. The Specialized Tarmac SL7, for example, killed off Specialized's aero road platform, the Venge.

This launch indicates that Canyon appears to have no intention of following suit with the Aeroad, which is designed for pure speed on the flats, and the Ultimate is for everything else; although you only need to look at the variation in choices of the pro peloton to realise that these lines are pretty blurred!

2022 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX - bars.jpg

The new Ultimate is also designed to be user-friendly despite the increased integration. Originally developed for the Aeroad, the CP0018 Aerocockpit features complete cable and line integration and will come standard on all Ultimate CFR and CF SLX, plus on selected CF SL bikes. 

For travel the 'wings' of the bars unscrew, and this also gives 40mm of width adjustment for day-to-day use. It's also possible to switch between two stem heights with no need to take a hacksaw to the steerer tube.

2023 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX geometry table

The Ultimate now also shares identical fit and handling with the Aeroad: ..."combining incredible stability and agility and creating consistent riding dynamics across the complete Canyon road racing line."

> Video first ride review: Canyon Aeroad CFR Di2

Two seatposts are available: a 20mm setback option (110g) will come as standard on the SL and SLX bikes and a 0mm setback (70g) on the CFR bikes for a more aggressive riding position.

Frames and builds

2022 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX - seat tube junction.jpg

The Ultimate will be available in three platforms: the SL, SLX and CFR, with the main difference being the carbon layups. Each of the frames will be available in multiple build options (a total of 11) to suit a range of budgets.

The frames are available in sizes 3XS up to 2XL, eight sizes in total, and this is the first ever Canyon bike with scaling chainstay lengths. This means that on sizes L, XL and 2XL, they are longer proportionally than on smaller frames.

The SL frames in sizes 3XS and 2XS will have 650B wheels. SLX frames have 650B in size 3XS and 700c only on CFR frames to "guarantee easy serviceability for team mechanics".

2023 Canyon Ultimate CF SL specs

The Ultimate CF SL range includes bikes both with external and internal cable routing. With the exception of the Ultimate CF SL 7, all Ultimate CF SL models are equipped with integrated power meters and except for the Ultimate CF SL 8, all CF SL models have electronic shifting.

2023 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX specs

The Ultimate CF SLX and Ultimate CFR platforms come with full system integration, with exclusively electronic shifting.

2023 Canyon Ultimate CFR specs

CFR models are equipped with pro-level groupsets and wheels for maximum performance. 

Pricing

2023 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX landscape

Unfortunately the UK does see a slight premium when compared to the euro pricing, but the new Ultimate is still a fair bit cheaper than many of its competitors. The cheapest build comes in at £2,699 and the most expensive at £10,899.

2023 Canyon Ultimate pricing UK

We've already been lucky enough to get out for some rides on the new bike. You can read our full review here.

What do you make of the new Ultimate? Does it have all the refinements you were hoping for or were you looking for some more radical changes? Let us know in the comments section below...

Jamie has been riding bikes since a tender age but really caught the bug for racing and reviewing whilst studying towards a master's in Mechanical engineering at Swansea University. Having graduated, he decided he really quite liked working with bikes and is now a full-time addition to the road.cc team. When not writing about tech news or working on the Youtube channel, you can still find him racing local crits trying to cling on to his cat 2 licence...and missing every break going...

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17 comments

Avatar
jaymack | 1 year ago
1 like

Buying one could save you 10 watts, not buying one could save you £10,000. If only all of life's choices were so easy!

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eburtthebike | 1 year ago
2 likes

"......could save you 10 watts"

Is that as much as a new kettle? and will it reduce my £3,500 energy bill significantly?

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mattw replied to eburtthebike | 1 year ago
0 likes

£2500 energy bill.

Minus subsidies.

Did you miss Fizzy Lizzy's announcement?

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Hirsute replied to mattw | 1 year ago
4 likes

No, there is no cap on the amount of your bill. There is a cap on unit price and the average bill is likely to be no higher than 2500 but there is no 'your bill won't be more than 2500'.

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to eburtthebike | 1 year ago
1 like

eburtthebike wrote:

"......could save you 10 watts"

Is that as much as a new kettle? and will it reduce my £3,500 energy bill significantly?

only if it's an e-bike, don't think I've ever seen a swytch bike wheel on a high end road bike.

Avatar
themuffle | 1 year ago
0 likes

105 Di2 for £4,000..... Also stupid having 27.5" wheels on a road bike. Why Canyon??

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Liam Cahill replied to themuffle | 1 year ago
0 likes

There is. The CF SL 7 Di2 at £3,999. Gets DT Swiss Performance LN wheels, Continental Grand Prix 5000 Skin, 4iiii Precision Powermeter, 11-34T cassette, the CP18 cockpit and weighs a claimed 8.02kg.

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themuffle replied to Liam Cahill | 1 year ago
0 likes

Yep, my mistake, I thought that was Ultegra at first glance being 4K!

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Jamie Williams replied to themuffle | 1 year ago
1 like

Article now updated with UK prices  1

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chocim replied to themuffle | 1 year ago
1 like

On the smallest frames, toe overlap tends to be an issue, which is somewhat counteracted by smaller wheels. My wife ordered a 2XS Ultimate that came with 650B Wheels; she ultimately (no pun intended) returned it and got herself a 2XS Endurace with 700C wheels, but mostly because they were aero carbon hoops unlike the Ultimate ones. The thing is, there was no issue whatsoever with toe overlap with 650B, and there is some with 700C. On a 3XS frame I imagine this would only be exacerbated. So it is a controversial call, but there is some rationale behind it.

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OnYerBike replied to themuffle | 1 year ago
3 likes

There are also cheaper, mechanical options if you prefer (indeed the mechanical Ultegra build is cheaper than the 105 Di2).

And what exactly is wrong with having smaller wheels on smaller frames? It's quite common practice and means you can reduce toe overlap and improve the geometry to maintain desirable handling characteristics without compromising fit. 

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themuffle replied to OnYerBike | 1 year ago
0 likes

You have zero choice for a wheel upgrade and hardly any decent tyres come in 27.5. Inner tubes the same. The womens pro peloton all seem to manage on 700c. No other bike companies seem to do it. Liv bikes have small frames and as far as I am aware all are 700c.

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Awavey replied to themuffle | 1 year ago
2 likes

That's largely because they dont get given the choice, Emma Pooley I know preferred 650, but had to ride 700 for most of her career and theres more than one or two riders in the current peloton who would benefit from a switch down. But you hit all the problems of neutral service and teams carrying two sets of wheels just for a couple of riders and it just becomes easier, though not for the rider, to stick with 700.

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Secret_squirrel replied to themuffle | 1 year ago
1 like

themuffle wrote:

You have zero choice for a wheel upgrade and hardly any decent tyres come in 27.5. Inner tubes the same. The womens pro peloton all seem to manage on 700c. No other bike companies seem to do it. Liv bikes have small frames and as far as I am aware all are 700c.

Weird comment. There's a whole UCI junior racing class built around it. 

Cannondale do it as do Specialized, and that's just the ones I know without a google  

Zipp 303 Firecrests are available in 650b as are GP5000's

So whilst the choices maybe more limited they're hardly a disaster, and in return shorter people get a better bike fit option if they want it.

 

 

 

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themuffle replied to Secret_squirrel | 1 year ago
0 likes

Secret_squirrel wrote:

Weird comment. There's a whole UCI junior racing class built around it. 

Cannondale do it as do Specialized, and that's just the ones I know without a google  

Zipp 303 Firecrests are available in 650b as are GP5000's

So whilst the choices maybe more limited they're hardly a disaster, and in return shorter people get a better bike fit option if they want it.

All I am saying is that it makes life easier if road bikes have standard 700c wheels. 

My son is 11 and rides and races at Herne Hill Velodrome - he has a Dolan Pre Cursa 45cm and yes 700c wheels. As do all the other 11/12/13 etc year olds. When he needed some new wheels he had my old Miche ones and I got some new fancy ones - Easy.

My wife has a 27.5 Canyon Endurace road bike and I would like to get her some Hunt or Scribe wheels - guess what, they don't make them. Yes, Zipp 303 are in 650b but they are the only ones in that size, all the others are 700c. They are also way more expensive than Hunt and Scribe. If her wheels need trueing or something else and we take them to a bike shop she cannot just use a pair of mine temporarily so she has no bike until she gets them back.

All I saying if that it makes life easier if we all have the same.

Also, do Specialized and Canyon make 27.5 wheeled road bikes? The new Allez Sprint is 700c as is the Tarmac and that goes down to a 44cm frame. Cannondale - the CAAD bikes are 700c, the CAAD13Women's Disc is 700c and so is the SuperSix EVO - 700c.

Continental GP5000 do come in 650b yes but only in 25 and 28mm. 700c come in 23, 25, 28 and 30mm. Grand Prix 4-Seasons - only 700c, Gatorskins - the same. 

 

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AidanR replied to themuffle | 1 year ago
0 likes

Riding in the peloton or around a velodrome isn't like riding in the real world - there's not need to stop at junctions and negotiate very tight corners, which is where toe overlap becomes an issue.

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bmxboyx01 replied to themuffle | 1 year ago
0 likes

Some, like the new Canyon, are having 650b so they can have the small frames and not lose the dynamics/geometry making the rear stays stay in ratio to the rest of the bike. 700cc would be too big. Handmade independent bike makers have been doing it for a while. 

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