Canyon have been very, very, clever cookies. This is the new Endurace CF SLX, which is like the bike that Canyon launched at the spring classics, but much more affordable. The one we’ve got in for review, the CF SLX 8 model with Ultegra Di2 shifting, actually costs a little less than its predecessor.
I personally think the CF SLX and CF are both going to be generally better suited to non-professional types like you, me, and the vast majority of Canyon’s customers; in fact, I think this has the potential to be the best bike ever for riding fast in comfort. Will our chief reviewer Stu Kerton agree? I’ll start by explaining why I think you shouldn’t bother with the top-of-the-range CFR model even if you can afford it (unless you’re a pro), then you can find out if Stu’s first ride impressions are as positive as my initial thoughts…
To outline the reasons why why, first I have to explain why you – unless you are a pro – shouldn’t bother with the top-of-the-range CFR model…
Canyon Endurace CFR
What we didn’t know was an Endurace at the time popped up in grainy Instagram posts earlier this year. It had deep tubes and a bar that swept forward, so most of the internet thought this was a new Aeroad or an Ultimate (us included).
So when decent resolution photos appeared showing it was a new Endurace, a fair few people were annoyed, and I think they had a right to be. It could be argued that the Endurace CFR is just an Aeroad with more tyre clearance, which wasn’t going to be a great bike for fans of the previous-gen Endurace.
For me, it is too race-focused, foregoes practical features, and lets be honest, the CFR layup may be too harsh for us mere mortals.
But then Canyon actually launched the Endurace CFR and no other bikes were included in the range, so shock and horror, the CFR isn’t the end of the story for the 2026 Endurace.
Enter stage left, the rest of the Endurace range, which is to my eyes, completely different to the CFR version. So why is this better? Let’s look at four key features of this bike.
Endurace CF SLX: geometry
| Measurement | 2XS | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
| Body height | 159–165 cm | 165–171 cm | 171–178 cm | 178–185 cm | 185–192 cm | 192–198 cm | 198–204 cm |
| Seat tube length | 432 mm | 462 mm | 492 mm | 522 mm | 552 mm | 582 mm | 612 mm |
| Top tube length | 533 mm | 544 mm | 553 mm | 562 mm | 577 mm | 593 mm | 608 mm |
| Head tube length | 103 mm | 123 mm | 141 mm | 161 mm | 183 mm | 208 mm | 229 mm |
| Head tube angle | 70.3° | 71° | 71.8° | 72.5° | 72.5° | 72.8° | 72.8° |
| Seat tube angle | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.5° |
| Chainstay length | 418 mm | 418 mm | 418 mm | 418 mm | 418 mm | 418 mm | 418 mm |
| Wheel base | 999 mm | 1005 mm | 1008 mm | 1009 mm | 1025 mm | 1039 mm | 1054 mm |
| Effective stack | 611 mm | 632 mm | 650 mm | 671 mm | 693 mm | 719 mm | 739 mm |
| Effective reach | 502 mm | 518 mm | 533 mm | 546 mm | 565 mm | 584 mm | 603 mm |
One of the main reasons that this is such a good bike for non-racers is the geometry, which is different to the CFR model. Thankfully, Canyon designed the CFR specifically for the pros and then left the other models alone.
Compare this to the Endurace CFR and you will find that this CF SLX is taller in the head tube, shorter in the reach and the wheelbase is longer. That means it is going to be comfier, especially for your back, but it will also be a bit calmer in its handling and there is more good stuff when you look deeper into the figures.
Compare this to the old Endurace and you have got longer chainstays and an increased front centre, making room for bigger tyres and reducing toe overlap.
If you stick with the compact drops, which this CF SLX comes standard with, the effective stack and reach figures are just like they were on the old Endurace, which is excellent, because it was a great bike.
Canyon is also being very progressive. Take a look at the cranks.
The size large we have been sent has a 58cm top tube, so its a big boy. I would expect to find 172.5, maybe even 175mm cranks. Specialized does that with the new Aethos. But here, we have a set of 170mm, which Canyon say will do all sorts of good things for hip angles and comfort.
Speed
The bike that we have here is not going to be as fast as Van der Poel’s CFR and there is a few reasons for that. Firstly, and probably most importantly, Stu is not quite as strong as Van der Poel. Secondly, the CFR has 65mm DT Swiss wheels and the new Race Bar fitted to make it just as fast as the current Aeroad, though the Aeroad has 50mm deep wheels, so you could argue a little bit of number fudging has gone on there.
If you put the 65mm wheels on and the new Race bar, which is an aftermarket option for the Aeroad by the way, it’s probably going to be faster. The CF SLX has much friendlier 35mm deep DT Swiss ERC hoops. That’s not as fast, but they will handle better in the wind and they will roll pretty well.
You are also getting the existing Pace bar, but even by Canyon’s own numbers, you are only losing 2 watts at 45kph compared to the Race bar, so I wouldn’t lose sleep over that.
It is worth mentioning here that Canyon has upped tyre clearance from 35-38mm, and you now get 32mm instead of 30mm because why not use the space you’ve provided.
Frame storage
I will admit to you now that I have long found frame storage to be a bit dull. But I can appreciate a well designed solution, and this is where Canyon has made a genuinely well-considered change, moving the storage from the top tube to the down tube.
What this does is give you more space to actually store stuff, so it is more usable, and it also moves that weight down the bike, lowering the centre of mass. Access is easy because the lever has been well-designed and what is inside is good too.
You have got a C02 canister and its adaptor, and tucked away is a basic multitool. I would have liked to see a chain tool on this, but otherwise you have everything you need for the bike.
The Di2 battery is mounted in this space too, giving you super easy access when it needs replacing, which it eventually will and then hidden above is yet more good stuff.
A pouch houses another C02 canister, tyre levers and a Pirelli Smartube. I would add a tubeless plug tool personally and maybe swap my mini pump for the second canister, but that is all of my usual repair stuff without needing a saddle bag.
Time will tell if the system is quiet, however.
Mudguards
Mudguards are very useful. A well-designed set will keep you dry, other people dry and won’t rattle. If the bike is well-designed, like this one seems to be, the mounts will be neatly hidden.
Our bike hasn’t come with the mudguards, but we’ve asked for a set so, hopefully, Stu will be able to let you know how they do in his full review.
But it is great to see Canyon adding them back to the Endurace after the last bike didn’t have them. Add these to the redesigned frame storage and it shows Canyon is listening, but the biggest bit of listening has come with the price…
Pricing
The CFR bikes are still rather expensive, but the CF SLX and CF ranges look to have been very well priced. Here’s the full list of UK prices:
Endurace CF 5 – £1,699
Endurace CF 7 – £2,299
Endurace CF 7 AXS – £2,999
Endurace CF 8 Di2 – £3,299
Endurace CF SLX 7 Di2 – £3,999
Endurace CF SLX 7 AXS – £3,999
Endurace CF SLX 8 Di2 – £4,499
Endurace CF SLX 9 DI2 – £6,999
The CF SLX 7 with Shimano 105 Di2 or SRAM AXS shifting at £3,999 has gone up compared to the previous version (£3,749), but interestingly, the Ultegra Di2 bike we have here is £4,499, which is £150 cheaper than the old bike. You can still go quite a bit cheaper with Cube’s Attain (£3,099), but compared to the Giant Defy (£5,499), the new Endurace in this spec is great value.
And then there’s the CF range, which starts with a Cues 10-speed model at £1,699. This is a little odd, in my opinion, because Shimano just confirmed its new Tiagra groupset, and this Cues bike is also £100 more expensive. But looking at the range, there are a lot of good options at decent prices.
So, it is good on paper, but what about actually riding it? I best hand over to Stu for some ride impressions.
Stu Kerton’s fide impressions
“With this new model, Canyon haven’t made any radical changes over its predecessor, and that’s a good thing.
The Endurace remains an efficient, easy to live with bike ideal for all kinds of general road riding, especially for those riders who put a comfortable ride position above aero performance. As soon as I jumped on this CF SLX the position felt spot on, and the front end doesn’t feel as tall as the aesthetics would suggest.
The steering is incredibly neutral, so it’s an easy bike to ride. It feels direct and well planted too, unless you are pushing hard through the corners, where I could feel a little hesitancy through the handlebar. This is an endurance bike though, so I’m not going to criticise it for this. I’ve never really found any iteration of the Endurace to be what I’d consider a really exciting bike to ride, and that hasn’t changed with this model. It’s safe and predictable.
The one thing I’ve not been overly impressed with is the ride quality from the frame. There is an underlying feeling of some harshness there, and it passes through a lot of road vibration. It’s not uncomfortable, but I’ve ridden other endurance bikes from the likes of Scott, Giant and Specialized recently which do a much better job on broken roads.
So far, I’m generally impressed with Canyon’s latest Endurace, but those early few miles have given me the feeling that this could be a complex bike to get my head around. I reckon this one is going to evolve over the next three to four weeks of testing.”
