Speaker: What is a trail bike? How do two trail bikes differ? Well, today I have two
130 millimeters, 29 inch wheeled trail bikes that are so very, very different. How do two
bikes seemingly separated at birth grow up world's apart?
[music] Speaker: The first bike. This is my Nukeproof
Reactor. It's a bike I've had since about December and I've ridden a massive variety
of trails on it. It's 130 millimeters of rear travel paired to 140-millimeter fork but it's
similarly capable to some 150 or 160 bikes I've ridden. It's for that reason they're
often referred to as the Enduro riders trail bike. Although, it's a very ample pedaler
it's definitely suited to somebody who wants to push it on the downhill road.
[music] Speaker: If this is the Enduro riders trail
bike, why wouldn't they just get an Enduro bike? Well, it's because a bike like this
that mid-travel 29er has capabilities that really would surprise many but it's still
agile and responsive. That really comes into its own on flatter or more undulating terrain.
At the core of the Reactor, if you'll excuse the pun, is this just good no-nonsense fun.
It's the hot hatchback, similar in its capabilities to its longer travel siblings, but seemingly
always on the front foot willing you to go forward. Now, that really comes in handy when
you look at the areas Enduro bikes have traditionally struggled which is longer climbs and flatter
trails. [music]
Speaker: An aggressive trail bike like this can really liven up the trail compared to
a long travel brute. See, bikes that have a huge amount of travel can often smother
the life out of the trail and all the nuances and subtleties go out of the window. Riding
170-millimeter travel bike on a trail that doesn't demand it can often be a bit like
trying to text in oven gloves. It is just no good. Who is the Reactor for?
Well, if you like riding steep, tacky trails, you want to ride a 1000 meters event on a
Saturday and there may be some bike park laps on a Sunday, a bike like the Reactor may well
be for you. If you like riding trails that demand aggressively treaded tires but not
huge quantities of travel that should be right at your street. What about the Neuron? Well,
this is a bike I haven't had for so long admittedly but I do feel quite well acquainted now. This
bike uses 130 millimeters at the back, paired to a 130 fork. Although I've heard of people
running 140 forks for the bike. [music]
Speaker: Hold your horses, so we got caught in some-
[screaming noise] Speaker: -and so we thought, what are the
chances this can possibly happen again? Let's postpone the shoot for a few days and unbelievably
it's rained again in England but that can't stop the party. It's time for the Canyon Neuron
C. [music]
Speaker: Here is the Canyon Neuron. It too, like the Reactor, is 130 millimeters 29er
but unlike the Reactor, it has just 130 millimeters travel on the fork. Although I have heard
of people upping the travel to 140. What is this bike for? Well, to me it's the XC riders
trail bike. It's fast, agile, and maneuverable. It's far more versatile than a traditional
XC race bike. It does that by having larger volume tires, a dropper seat post, and a bit
more travel. All of that and it is still staggeringly light. It's like an XC bike for those that
have no interest in smuggling illicit budgies. It is very capable but I think it has more
of a classic approach to riding. Bikes like this are great on big days and that's because
it's very efficient to pedal and it's handling comes second nature. Not everybody does want
something that is long, low, and slack. It's also worth noting whilst trying not to sound
like an old man it is remarkably comfortable. You see, XC bikes typically can be something
of a springboard but with just 30 millimeters more travel, it really manages to negate that
while staying very efficient in terms of pedaling. It really is the difference between a four-poster
bed and the IKEA futon of death. This kind of bike is for the person that wants
to ride the trail center on a Saturday and maybe do an XC race on a Sunday or an off-road
Sportif. It's for those people that love tech, single track, and bridleways in equal measure.
If we return to the metaphor from earlier one of the Reactor being racing slicks and
a roll cage, then this is a powerful saloon car, just fantastic on the open road. It's
not layering and that's the term of it, an accusation often leveled a true XC bikes is
that they're wanted ponies are not very versatile. A bike like this, with only 30 mm more travel,
gives you so much more confidence and security on techier trails, whilst not being labored
with excessive weight. This is XC in terms of weight but not XC limited, and it's a great
bike for those people who want to explore and don't be concerned they're going to find
something on the trail that's going to overwhelm their lightweight XC rig.
Who is this bike for? Well, it's just for people that love cycling, the great outdoors
in all its glory, and getting outside on an adventure. For people that love going up and
down all of it. How do you separate two seemingly quite similar types of bike? Well, a great
place to start is the geometry. An aggressive trail bike has a longer reach, typically 470
or 480 mil. To balance out the long reach, it will often be quite a few degrees steeper
in the [unintelligible 00:06:13] angle which helps keep the bike planted on climbs. All
of that is coupled with an aggressive head angle between 65 and 66 degrees and a more
enduro focused cockpit so short stem and a wide bar.
Also a bike like this often has a flip-chip to fine-tune the geo to suit your needs. The
lighter more nimble trail bike typically has a shorter reach paired to an ever so slightly
longer stem and narrower bar. It very much has its roots and origins in XC. In recent
years that's become something of a dirty word but it's nonsense really. This style of bike
will really suit some people because not everybody wants an aggressive bike. Mountain biking
and trail biking, in particular, is such a wide spectrum. There are some people who want
that long glow stable geometry because there's such an emphasis on them before descending.
Similarly, some people don't have that much of an interest and really just enjoy riding
in the countryside on more tame trails. That kind of people they're not really interested
in hitting the jumps steeps or ruts, and the only gap they heard of is the one next to
WH Smith. They're very different and that's okay. What else is there to signify the bikes
intentions? Look at the tires, how aggressive are they? Are they XC nimble or enduro aggressive?
Do they have thicker casing or are they welterweight? This alone can paint a vivid picture.
Now here at GMBN we're supported by Vittoria but the tires are fitted are similar in their
nature and intent to the originals. Also, look at the suspension a piggyback shock after
only means one thing, the Reactor in other specs comes with a Fox 36 which is a far bearlier
offering compare to the 34 mph fork on the canyon. Are there tabs on the bottom bracket
shell for a chain device? Just look for anything that might signify gravity focused and that
will be the smoking gun as to the bikes intentions. You may also remember that I recently did
a video fitting an angle adjust headset to the Reactor where is the integrated headset
on the Neuron would not allow for this. The last but very important way to identify
what a bike is meant for is what does the manufacturer say and what do they suggest?
Well, this is what NukeProof had to say about the Reactor. "The Reactor is designed from
the ground up to be the ultimate aggressive trail bike. It is at home on technical climbs,
but happiest when thrashing the most technical trails you can point it at." Which sounds
about right to me. Now what does Canyon say about the new one?
"Long days on challenging terrain have never been more fun. Thanks to its modern comfort-focused
geometry and excellent suspension setup. The Neuron CF 9.0 just got even more versatile.
On an after-work rip through the woods, a weekend trip to a flow trail or a multi-day
journey in the mountains. The Neuron CF 9.0 is just waiting to take you on new adventures."
Well, it's all there, isn't it? Sometimes bike companies are given a hard
time for pushing a second agenda or speaking in riddles, they just tell the truth. Honestly
it often doesn't require reading between the lines too much. Bottom line how different
are these two bikes and as mountain bikers should we welcome further subcategorization
of our bikes? Well, I'd like to look over towards road cycling, because within both
cycling you have Aero bikes, climbing bikes, and enduro bikes, but to the untrained eye,
they all look very similar to ride them it becomes quickly apparent, and that is absolutely
in the case of these two. Honestly, blindfolded you will be blown away
for the difference and they really both have their strengths and their suited needs. Thank
you for joining this comparison. I've never known rain like this in the UK, it's very
uncharacteristic of the area. Now [unintelligible 00:09:59], you're going to like and subscribe,
please do because it really helps support the channel. Thank you very much and we'll
see you next time.