Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

TECH NEWS

Canyon unveils 2017 Inflite cyclocross bike with updated paint jobs (and higher prices)

New bold paint jobs and price increases for Canyon's popular Inflite cyclocross range

With the cyclocross season getting underway next month, Canyon has just unveiled its 2017 range of Inflite cyclocross bikes. And it’s aiming to get noticed on the cyclocross circuit with the boldest paint jobs we’ve ever seen come out of a Canyon bike box. These bikes should also be available for the start of the cyclocross season as well.

- Review: Canyon Inflite AL 8.0 cyclo-cross bike

The Inflite was introduced in 2013 and combines an aluminium frame and carbon fork with disc brakes and space for cyclocross knobbly tyres. It adds a dose of versatility with concealed mudguard mounts, making it a good option for a do-everything winter bike. You can read my review in the link above.

There are no significant changes to the frame technology for this 2017 range, but it has introduced new paint jobs which in some cases are really quite bold, answering some critics of the brand that the paint jobs are subdued and boring. 

Inflite AL SLX 9.0 Pro Race.jpg

Prices have increased a bit, too. Last year the range-topping, race-ready Inflite AL SLX 9.0 Pro Race cost £2,399, it’s now £2,699.  You get a broadly similar spec, though, centering around a SRAM Force CX1 groupset with the brand new Quarq Prime Carbon chainset, a power-ready product that is compatible with the upcoming Quarq DZero Power Meter spider making it easy to upgrade to power at a later stage. More on that soon.

Disc brakes are hydraulic and wheels are the snazzy Reynolds Assault Carbon SLG SE carbon clinchers with Schwalbe X-One tyres fitted. Canyon uses it’s own aluminium stem and handlebar and its vibration absorbing VCLS 2.0 carbon fibre seatpost.

- Buyer's Guide to cyclocross bikes - how to choose the right one for you

As any serious cyclocross racer will no doubt tell you, you need two bikes for high-level racing, for when the conditions are so bad that frequent bike changes throughout the race are required. So it’s interesting that Canyon has recognised this and is offering a ‘sponsorship deal’ where you can order two identical AL SLX 8.0 Pro Race or 9.0 Pro Race bikes and save £400 and £600 respectively. 

Inflite AL 9.0.jpg

Next up in the range is the  Inflite AL 9.0 (£1,799) which uses the same frame finished with the most daring paint job we’ve ever seen come out of the Canyon factory. There’s a more subdued paint job if you’re not digging the boldness of the pictured bike. This bike gets a Shimano Ultegra groupset with RS685 hydraulic disc brakes and a 46/36 chainset, along with DT Swiss R23 Spline DB wheels and Schwalbe X-One tyres.

nflite AL SLX 8.0 Pro Race .jpg

Sharing the same paint job, the Inflite AL SLX 8.0 Pro Race (£1,699) switches to a single ring drivetrain with a SRAM Rival 1 groupset and hydraulic disc brakes. You get a 42t chainring paired with a 10-42t cassette, which should provide all the gear ratios you need for a typical cyclocross race or event. Rolling stock is the same DT Swiss R23 and Schwalbe X-One combination.

Inflite AL 9.0 S .jpg

The Inflite AL 9.0 S (£1,599) switches to a more road-friendly specification with the knobbly tyres swapped for Continental Grand Prix 4000S II’s and a higher ratio 52/36 chainset will cater for the higher speeds of pure road riding. 

Inflite AL 8.0.jpg

Propping up the range is the Inflite AL 8.0, which is up £300 compared to last year’s model, and now costs £1,399. This bike gets a Shimano 105 11-speed groupset with RS785 hydraulic disc brakes and DT Swiss R24 Spline DB wheels shod with Schwalbe X-one tyres. 

Check out the full range at www.canyon.com/en-gb/road/inflite/

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

Add new comment

12 comments

Avatar
Markopic | 7 years ago
0 likes

Brought mine two seasons ago, 9.0s for the same price as 2017 model. However, new model comes without mudguards and with R24 wheels instead of R23, so it is at least 200 euros more expensive.

I am very satisfied with the bike,  except the initial problem with rear hub which was not sealed properly, and due to "all weather" usage, bearings had to be replaced. Canyon offered to send the wheel to them for inspection on my expense, which was almost as expensive as rebuild in my LBS.

I use it as a wet/winter bike, and I have put 35mm tires on it. It handles pretty well and the brakes are fantastic. No issue with brake cable (hose) on top tube, and no issue with brakes whatsoever.

Avatar
timmyotool | 7 years ago
0 likes

Have to say I love the paintwork!
You can probably blame the price rise on brexit. It would be interesting to see the change in euro pricing.

Avatar
KoenM replied to timmyotool | 7 years ago
0 likes

timmyotool wrote:

Have to say I love the paintwork! You can probably blame the price rise on brexit. It would be interesting to see the change in euro pricing.

While I'm not 100% sure (been a few months seens I've looked at the Inflite) but the new price doesn't seem to have changed in €, and if it has it isn't more than €100.

 

Avatar
macrophotofly replied to KoenM | 7 years ago
0 likes

KoenM wrote:

timmyotool wrote:

Have to say I love the paintwork! You can probably blame the price rise on brexit. It would be interesting to see the change in euro pricing.

While I'm not 100% sure (been a few months seens I've looked at the Inflite) but the new price doesn't seem to have changed in €, and if it has it isn't more than €100.

 

Time to get ready for the cost of Brexit.... GBP has fallen throughthe floor and given most bike parts are made in foreign locations we can expect for Road.cc to be reporting lots of price rises in the coming months  2

 

 

Avatar
surly_by_name | 7 years ago
0 likes

"As any serious cyclocross racer will no doubt tell you, you need two bikes for high-level racing, for when the conditions are so bad that frequent bike changes throughout the race are required." In my experience a second bike in the pits is only really useful if you've got someone there to clean the one you get off. If Canyon were offering a deal on a "pit slave" it would be much more attractive.

Avatar
me | 7 years ago
0 likes

order now and available for which CX season?

Canyon prices really have gone up markedly over the last few years.

Avatar
StraelGuy | 7 years ago
0 likes

I'm looking at the Planet X Meteor titanium as my next n+1 and it has a similar thing, the hydraulic tube cable tied along the frame. Looks a bit jarring I agree.

Avatar
danthomascyclist | 7 years ago
0 likes

The external routing for the rear disc tubinge looks cheap. They hide it well in the photos, but having seen one in the flesh it really stands out; especially as it runs along the upper side of the top tube

Avatar
Broady. replied to danthomascyclist | 7 years ago
1 like

danthomascyclist wrote:

The external routing for the rear disc tubinge looks cheap. They hide it well in the photos, but having seen one in the flesh it really stands out; especially as it runs along the upper side of the top tube

Routing is done this way on CX bikes so it doesn't interfere when you shoulder the bike.

Avatar
danthomascyclist replied to Broady. | 7 years ago
0 likes

Broady. wrote:

danthomascyclist wrote:

The external routing for the rear disc tubinge looks cheap. They hide it well in the photos, but having seen one in the flesh it really stands out; especially as it runs along the upper side of the top tube

Routing is done this way on CX bikes so it doesn't interfere when you shoulder the bike.

 

Thank you for the insight - I didn't know that. And what reasons are there for not going internal?

Avatar
Broady. replied to danthomascyclist | 7 years ago
0 likes

danthomascyclist wrote:

Broady. wrote:

danthomascyclist wrote:

The external routing for the rear disc tubinge looks cheap. They hide it well in the photos, but having seen one in the flesh it really stands out; especially as it runs along the upper side of the top tube

Routing is done this way on CX bikes so it doesn't interfere when you shoulder the bike.

 

Thank you for the insight - I didn't know that. And what reasons are there for not going internal?

Likely to just be ease of manufacturing. Plus easier to repair when things go wrong if it's external, as they do often in CX.

Avatar
rtw replied to Broady. | 7 years ago
1 like

Broady. wrote:

danthomascyclist wrote:

Broady. wrote:

danthomascyclist wrote:

The external routing for the rear disc tubinge looks cheap. They hide it well in the photos, but having seen one in the flesh it really stands out; especially as it runs along the upper side of the top tube

Routing is done this way on CX bikes so it doesn't interfere when you shoulder the bike.

 

Thank you for the insight - I didn't know that. And what reasons are there for not going internal?

Likely to just be ease of manufacturing. Plus easier to repair when things go wrong if it's external, as they do often in CX.

Routing hydarulic hoses internally isn't much fun.

Latest Comments