Sport And Biking Talk: Canyon Torque super enduro bike launched

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Canyon Torque super enduro bike launched

The Torque is designed with true mountain biking in mind. How you define the ride is up to you.

Seven days after launching a fully revised version of its Spectral trail bike, Canyon is at it again, but this time with a heavy . This time the German direct-to-consumer seller has unveiled the new Torque super-enduro bike, as well as an aluminum Sender DH rig, and G5, the company’s new line of gravity-focused handlebars, stems, and grips.

Meet the Torque

Aimed at the big-mountain/super-enduro/freeride/bike park/whatever you call it segment, the Torque is rowdy ready with 175mm of rear travel, 180mm up front, and a new four-bar linkage design that builds off the three-phases kinematic originally developed for the Sender DH sled. The end goal is a 27.5 bike that can capably take on a backcountry epic, but also feel comfortable tackling a burly jump line or racing the gnarliest of gnarly enduro segments.

As usual, Canyon delivers a lot of bang for your buck.

Key features include a 74-degree seat tube angle, 65.3-degree head angle, lower standover to allow for use of longer dropper posts (150mm on XS-M; 170mm on L and XL), and a suspension curve that is, you guessed it, supple off the top, supportive in the middle, and progressive at the end. This was in part achieved through the use of a shock position where activation is driven by a yoke that straddles the seat tube.

Reach is 460mm for a size large and chainstays are 425mm. It’s all within the realm of new normal, but not over the top by any means. The general idea is that this bike could hold its own on the biggest line in your riding zone, but also has enough anti-squat and pedaling platform support that you don’t need a chairlift or Toyota Tacoma to get there. You will, however, need a hydration pack or fanny bag, as there’s no room for a water bottle cage on this frame.

Instead of full internal routing, which can be a headache to work on and is susceptible to rattle, the Canyon Torque employs this unique covered cable channel.

The Torque uses the same cable routing strategy seen in the new Spectral, where housing is routed through a cable channel that’s housed in a removable plastic cover, meaning it’s both protected and accessible. The housing cover also serves as a de facto bash guard, protecting your frame if you happen to run out of talent on a burly big mountain line or hold-on-and-hope drop. The Torque also plays nice with the latest generation of metric shock, has ISCG05 mounts, and comes with a threaded bottom bracket.

Frame options include a carbon front-alloy rear model, and a full aluminium version. In the US, the Torque will be available in four builds: AL 5.0 – $ 2499, Torque CF 7.0 – $ 4000, Torque CF 9.0 Pro – $ 5500, and Torque CF 9.0 LTD for $ 7500, which is an exclusive US-only build that comes with an ENVE M70 carbon wheelset and Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4 tires. You can see the full geo and spec sheets below, just note that these have European pricing and do not include the US-only build. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]

Canyon Torque Geo

Canyon Torque AL Specs

Canyon Torque CF Specs

Canyon Factory Team rider Troy Brosnan was integral in development of the new bikes and components.

Sender in Aluminum

Privateer racers rejoice. Developed with input from Fabien Barel and based on the bike Troy Brosnan rode to victory at the 2017 World Cup stop in Vallnord, the Sender AL brings race winning pedigree to a more budget friendly aluminum frame. All versions come with a coil shock and employ a simplified version of the three-phase kinematic used in the carbon fiber Sender.

The Sender downhill bike is now available in a more budget friendly aluminum version.

Wheel size is 27.5, rear wheel travel is 200mm, head angle is 63 degrees, and chainstays are adjustable between 430mm and 446mm. There will be one model available in the US, the $ 2999 Sender AL 5.0.

G5 Components

Receiving a highest category 5 rating for rowdy readiness, Canyon’s new gravity-focused G5 component line includes bombproof handlebars and stems, and grip enhancing grips.