2024 eMTB SHOOTOUT

CANYON STRIVE:ON CFR UNDERDOG REVIEW

REASONABLY PRICED ENDURO RIPPER

Photos by Max Rhulen & Dusten Ryen
Video by Brian Niles / Treeline Cinematic

Following Robert’s long-term review of the higher spec’d Strive:ON CFR, he was adamant that we should include Canyon’s Enduro eBike in this year’s eMTB Shootout. The CFR Underdog spec was sure to be an interesting bike to test, with its sub-$6k price tag and the same frame as the more expensive specs. Check out the video or keep on reading to find out how this Bosch-powered E-Enduro machine performed.

2024 EMTB SHOOTOUT SERIES – The Canyon Strive:ON CFR Underdog was one of 14 eBikes that our staff thoroughly tested with absolute objectivity in mind. From different types of riders to terrain, our goal is to present the best and most honest information possible to help you make your best decision. Of course, we’d love to thank Fox Racing and Schwalbe Tires for being invaluable partners to this series and making it happen and to Howler Bike Park for hosting us for our testing.

QUICK HITS

• 160mm Horst Link Suspension
• Mixed Wheels
• Bosch CX Gen 4 Motor
• 625Wh Bosch Battery

Price: $5,799 – $8,099

WE DIG

WE DON’T

ABOUT THE CANYON STRIVE:ON CFR UNDERDOG

FRAME AND FEATURES | The Canyon Strive:ON CFR Underdog is built around a CFR frame – Canyon’s top-spec carbon fiber. They make use of their typical Horst Link suspension design to deliver 160mm of rear wheel travel, which is paired with a 170mm fork. Canyon designed the Strive:ON around a mixed wheel setup (29”F /27.5”R) exclusively, with no provisions to switch out the rear wheel for a 29er. The frame is rated to Category 4e for aggressive enduro riding, and backed by a 6-year warranty.

Canyon uses replaceable thread inserts throughout the frame to prevent irreparable damage, and uses double-sealed pivot bearings to boost resistance to the elements. On the downtube there is a large plastic skid plate to fend off impacts to the motor, and the chainstays receive a rubber protector designed to reduce noise. Canyon made provisions to fit a water bottle on all sizes; and there’s a tool mount on the underside of the top tube.

DRIVE UNIT AND ELECTRONICS | For their E-Enduro race machine, Canyon opted to spec the Bosch Performance Line Cx Gen 4 system, as it’s typically considered the faster system for racing. With 600W peak power, 85Nm torque and 340% assistance, it’s a solid performer that our crew enjoys a lot. The top-spec CFR LTD is fitted with the lighter and faster Bosch CX Race motor, boosting maximum assistance to 400% and shaving 150g off. Canyon offers the option of a 625Wh or 750Wh Bosch Powertube battery, which is integrated into the downtube and removable by undoing the motor cover and pulling the battery latch.

The Bosch Smart system features an integrated LED display in the top tube, which displays the mode selected and the battery life in 10% increments. On the bar, the wireless Bosch Mini Remote lets the rider change the power mode and use the Walk function. Using the Bosch FLOW app, you can adjust the four assistance modes (ECO, Tour+, eMTB and Race); update the firmware, and even lock and track the bike if it is stolen.

GEOMETRY | Canyon gave the Strive:ON geometry that is targeted at attacking E-Enduro stages, both up and down the hill. Most geometry figures are on the aggressive end of what is becoming typical in this category of bike, but the Reach numbers are longer than most. We opted to test the size Medium, which has a 475mm Reach, and was comfortable for our crew of 5’10” to 6’2” testers.

BUILD SPECS | In North America, Canyon is offering the Strive:ON in a choice of two specs: the CFR Underdog we tested at $5,799 or the top-spec CFR LTD at $8,099.

The CFR Underdog spec is sensibly selected to come in below $6k and therefore make it into the “budget” subcategory of this years’ eMTB Shootout. Fox Performance Line suspension is not the most adjustable, but our crew enjoyed riding the 170mm 38 fork and Float X Performance shock even so.

The drivetrain is a 12-speed Shimano Deore M6100, with a 165mm e*thirteen E-Spec Plus crank. Braking is handled by the SRAM DB8 mineral oil brakes, with a 220mm front and 200mm rear rotor. Canyon provides their G5 alloy bar and stem, and their Iridium dropper post is topped by an Ergon SM10 EMTB saddle.

Finally a set of DT Swiss H1900 wheels were wrapped in a pair of Maxxis Tires as standard. However, for this year’s eMTB Shootout every bike was equipped with the same Schwalbe Magic Mary 2.4” tires to level the playing field. We trusted the Super Gravity casings and Addix Soft rubber to give us dependable traction and durability to help us push our test bikes to the limits.

Our Canyon Strive:ON CFR Underdog build equipped with these control tires weighed in at a reasonable 53.5lbs (24.2kg).

THE DIRT – RIDING THE CANYON STRIVE:ON CFR UNDERDOG

SETUP | Canyon’s geometry philosophy with the Strive series – both human-powered and the Strive:ON eBike – is to combine a long front-center with a relatively compact rear end. Because of this, Reach figures on the Strive:ON are extreme, leading us to request a size Medium to suit our 5’10”-6’2” test crew. Once you’ve selected the size that offers your ideal fit, the rest of the geometry is quite sensible and well-selected for an aggressive Enduro eMTB.

Getting the relatively basic Fox Performance line suspension setup proved to be a very easy task on the Strive:ON. With 28-30% rear sag and Fox’s recommended air pressure in the fork, our test crew was left happy to hop on and start charging. If we were to own the bike, we’d likely swap out the dropper post for a longer unit than the 170mm fitted to maximize clearance on the descents, but everything else felt comfortable.

ELECTRONICS AND INTEGRATION | As one of the six Bosch Performance Line CX-equipped bikes in this year’s eMTB Shootout, the Canyon Strive:ON displays some solid integration and drive unit performance. The Smart System’s integrated top tube LED display is a very clean solution, though some of the crew would like to see more information. You can purchase the Kiox 300 display separately to add to the handlebars if you so desire. The Wireless Mini Remote is effective and sufficiently tactile – not our favorite, but easy to live with.

Bosch has been our benchmark for drive unit performance for the last couple of years, and continues to deliver solid performance even if the likes of the Shimano EP801 have caught up in some respects. We’d still likely favor the Bosch system for a racing scenario, as it feels to have a little more grunt when trying to push the limits of speed. The overrun or “extended boost” feature can be an effective tool to get up technical portions of the climb without having to complete a full revolution of the pedals. The eBike Flow app is solid, and allowed us to get the power ramped up to maximum in quick time.

The removable 625Wh battery is reasonably well integrated and we had no issues with rattle on this bike. Our original long-term test bike was equipped with a previous generation of the battery latch, which led to issues being faced with rattle and motor cut-out, but it appears as if Bosch has remedied this so far. Even so, we’d love to see the “quick release” latch replaced by a more solid bolt-in solution to ensure the battery is fixed as securely as possible.

Anecdotally, the 625Wh battery offered up comparable range to other bikes with batteries in this zone. Bosch’s eMTB mode would surely extend this, and also allows for better control of the power delivery, but we used TURBO for all of the riding to ensure a level playing field for bike-to-bike comparison. The acoustics of the Strive:ON were on the slightly louder side, but it was still a passably quiet bike to climb.

CLIMBING | With the Bosch drive unit, solid climbing geometry and a nicely balanced suspension platform that offers plentiful comfort and traction without being overly soft, the Canyon Strive:ON is a very solid climbing machine. The slack head tube angle and mid-length rear end can lead to the front wheel becoming light on the steepest climbs, but otherwise there’s a fine mix of traits that lead to a fast and comfortable bike for the uphills.

DESCENDING | The Strive:ON really comes alive when the trail points down, with capability that rivals the best of them. It’s more planted and plush than it is ultra-sharp, but it’s by no means a slouch. Once up to speed, the Strive:ON is a bike that really encourages you to get off the brakes and charge hard.

You can still play on the Canyon Strive:ON, but it requires a little more user input to make quick direction switches or get airborne than the likes of the Pivot Shuttle LT. Instead, it’s a more speed-focused bike that provides one of the best platforms on the market to attack a race stage. The bike ran quietly and smoothly, offering a quality feel on the trail that rivaled the best of them.

The SRAM DB8 brakes are the only spec item that’ll limit capabilities for all but the most discerning riders. Though they offered solid performance, the rider is required to pull the levers harder than most in order to achieve the maximum stopping power, leading to increased fatigue on longer descents.

FINISH AND VALUE | Canyon has done a solid job at putting together a high-quality frame with a solid build spec for under the $6k mark, standing out far above the other bikes in the more affordable end of our eMTB Shootout lineup for this year. The looks were divisive, with some riders enjoying the subdued nature, and others complaining of the protruding downtube, but all agreed that the Canyon is a bike that performs well enough that the looks shouldn’t matter.

The spec list doesn’t read excellently on paper, but the Shimano Deore drivetrain and Fox Performance level suspension both performed well enough to blend into the background. Aside from the aforementioned brakeset and dropper length upgrades we’d likely opt to do, the Strive:ON CFR Underdog is absolutely a bike that we’d feel comfortable hopping on and racing or riding until the wheels fell off. Canyon has delivered very impressive performance for its $5,799 price tag.

The Wolf’s Last Word

With a reasonable price and some killer performance, the Canyon Strive:ON CFR Underdog is an enduro eMTB that impressed all of our testers. Ranking highly in both value and capability, it’s safe to say Canyon has knocked it out of the park with this one.

WHO’S IT FOR?

Riders seeking a capable Enduro eMTB that’ll offer a comfortable and capable ride both up and down the hill. The CFR Underdog spec will likely keep eBikers on more of a budget happy, thanks to its solid performance for the price tag. 

Price: $5,799
Weight: 53.5lbs
Website: Canyon.com

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 eMTB SHOOTOUT SPONSORS

Without their support, we would not be able to make this series possible.

FOX RACING

SCHWALBE TIRES

HOWLER BIKE PARK