Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8.0 Di2 review

We put Canyon's lightweight climbing bike through its paces

Cycling Weekly Verdict

Canyon’s consistency in hitting delivery schedules may have been called into question over the last year, but its consistency in producing exceptional bikes cannot be faulted. Once again the latest Ultimate has ticked all the boxes. Its stiff rear end and low overall weight make it an absolute rocketship when the road rears upwards, while the sharp handling means it will thrive in a crit environment. Add the impressive comfort for a top-end race frame and you can’t help but applaud Canyon on the work it has put into this model. The only things holding it back are the wheels, which are well-built but don’t seem to be up to the high standards that we’ve come to expect of Mavic

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Lightweight frame

  • +

    Comfortable ride

  • +

    Superb climbing performance

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Sub-par wheels for the quality of frame

  • -

    Value could be better

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

The Canyon Ultimate has been in the German company's range since the early 2000s, so it should be no surprise that the bike has evolved into something rather special.

Frame

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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.