- So I'm here in Koblenz in Germany
to take a look at a very special bike,
the brand new Canyon Strive.
To see how it's changed and how it's developed
from the old Canyon Strive.
(exciting music)
The Canyon Strive burst onto the mountain bike scene
at almost exactly the same time
as the Enduro World Series started, back in 2013.
In fact that first 27.5 wheeled Canyon Strive
took the win at the very first EWS,
in Punta Ala, underneath Barel.
But that was six years ago and mountain biking
has changed a bit, or let's say it's developed.
(logo thudding) (dirt rattling)
Starting in 2012 as a 26-inch wheeled prototype bike,
it was designed here in Koblenz, Germany, at Canyon HQ.
And then it was ridden and developed
by the two times World Downhill Champion, Fabien Barel.
The bike actually won the very first round
of the Enduro World Series in 2013-on.
In 2018 the Canyon factory Enduro team
won that team championship, and I'm entering Lars' domain.
He's the team manager, and head mechanic,
to pick up the bike, or should I say bikes,
'cause I wanna ride the old Strive versus the new Strive.
There it is.
Oof.
Canyon have invited GMBN out to Germany
for a first ride on the brand new Strive,
and its all new Shapeshifter.
But before I get too excited,
let's get reacquainted with the old bike,
take it for a blast.
(intense music)
(brakes squeal)
(stones and dirt rattling under wheels)
(brakes squeal)
The Strive is a bike with race pedigree, it's won EWS races.
And it's a bike that I know well myself,
I raced it at the 2017 Andes Pacifico.
And it's a beast, proper enduro bike,
can tackle that wild terrain.
And with the Shapeshifter it's an efficient
climbing bike as well.
The new Strive is again aimed at the pro riders of the EWS,
but also the everyday riders that want
to shred the bike down the hills,
but is really capable of pedaling back up.
We must talk about about the Shapeshifter,
the really important part of the Strive.
It literally changes the shape of the bike.
From a full travel, downhill-mode bike,
now it's 150 mil compared to the old 160,
it goes to a 135 mil climbing bike.
But importantly it changes the geometry.
It steepens the head angle and raises the bb,
for pedaling and maneuverability.
There's a brand new Shapeshifter lever,
but also the way you actuate it has completely changed.
Now you just hit the downhill button.
Next time you hit a bump and the bike compresses
it will go into downhill mode.
To change to XC mode just hit the button
and the next time you move the weight forward
the bike will change.
So it's much more intuitive than the old Shapeshifter.
Going from downhill mode to cross-country mode
shortens the travel from 150 to 135 millimeters,
it steepens the head angle 1.5 degrees to 67.5,
and has the same 1.5 degree effect on the seat angle.
But let's be honest the reliability
of that original Shapeshifter was its weakness.
So have Canyon addressed this?
Well I won't bore you to death with all the tech details,
Doddy'll do that over on GMBN Tech,
'cause he's got a full first look at this bike,
but let's say it's been completely redesigned.
Canyon recognize that was a problem,
so with Fox suspension's help this is the Shapeshifter 2.0.
Even the way you actuate it is different,
and the lever up on the bar is different.
Any other changes to the new Strive?
Well we've dropped 10 mil,
this is now a 150 mil travel bike.
There's a big change here, it's 29er wheels only,
compared to the 27.5 Strive of previous.
It's also carbon fiber frame only, front and rear.
Enough chat, let's get back on this amazing trail,
here in Koblenz, I wanna ride the new bike
and see how it compares to the old Strive.
(intense music)
(brakes squealing)
The 66 degree head angle
is not one of the crazy, new slack bikes.
And Canyon are keen to say it's not
because they're being conservative.
This is a fast bike.
Just, with the smaller offset on the fork,
that's becoming popular with many manufacturers,
not just Canyon,
you get the desired effect: a stable bike at speed.
In comparison I think the old bike's suspension
feels a bit more linear,
whereas the new one seems to take
influence from the downhill bike.
So it's nice and compliant at the start,
lots of good mid-stroke support,
and then it does ramp up, which makes the bike feel
like it's got more travel than it actually has.
Unlike other brands' designs
to make a longer travel bike that also pedals,
the Shapeshifter doesn't rely on a special shock.
Whatever you put on the Strive
the bike will function as designed.
So upgrade, replace, or even put on a coil shock.
(stones rattling under tires)
(brakes squeal) 'Kay so there's some
nice new features, or should we say developments,
to the Strive.
With that Shapeshifter 2.0,
and the way you actuate that thing with the lever.
But the real big change is the 29er wheels,
and of course some people always argue that 29
isn't as much fun, but to me it always surprises me
just how much fun these new 29er bikes are.
Proper fast enduro bike, and for me,
going fast is always gonna be fun.
It's definitely a bike that a lot of racers
are gonna take and ride very fast.
But it's also a bike for the enthusiastic riders
that love rallying the bike down a hill,
but don't want to the price
when you've gotta pedal it back up.
It really does make a difference,
and these new 29er bikes are really, really good at that.
If you want to see Doddy's really in-depth tech piece
about the brand new Canyon Strive click over there.
Thanks to Canyon for inviting us out here to Koblenz,
riding these amazing trails.
Give us a thumbs up if you like the look of the new Strive,
and hit that subscribe button.