There is A LOT to like about the Canyon Spectral | 2025 Pinkbike Field Test

Canyon's goal with the latest version of the Spectral was to make it more of an all-round trail bike, as opposed to an all-mountain / almost-enduro thing. As we've established, mountain bike categories are harder to define than ever, but to accomplish that goal Canyon reduced the rear travel by 10mm, dropping it to 140mm, and equipped the bike with a 150mm fork.

*Note: We tested the size Medium Spectral, which has a 475mm reach. The overlay in the video has the correct reach but the wrong size labeled.

Presented by:

More Field Test videos:
We Tested All the New Trail Bikes - Pinkbike’s 2025 Field Test

A Freeriders Trail Bike? | Devinci Troy Review - 2025 Pinkbike Field Test

Subscribe for more content from the pulse of mountain biking.

[xjuanx]

Funny seeing the last 4x thumbnails for this series of tests. Goes to show how the HORST Link patent expiring changed every bike manufacturers linkage designs overnight.

[antoinedoinell]

kaz and dario, well done. keep it this way pinkbike.

[nicholashines]

I had a 2020 27.5. It was a super fun bike. I am sure this one will not disappoint.

[Pienimusta]

Got Jeffsy from an insane sale, which is very similar to Spectral. Changing the travel to 160mm was really great upgrade for very small cost. Love it.

[jeremygansler]

would love to see a transition smuggler review

[BDKR]

Just have to comment on the "Canyon Medium" part... I couldn't help but LOL on that. But you might want to be careful here. Reach numbers tell a big part of the story, but so does wheel base, AND those things in relation to what you are after.

I started sizing up my bikes around 2011 and went to Large frames from medium. And with great success in my opinion. But the geo's were a still rather different compared to today. My last bike before going to the '23 Spectral was a size large '14 Canfield Balance. So when looking at bikes and comparing the geo's to the Balance, I found that while the large Spectral wheel base was nearly 4 inches longer, the reach number was only a half inch longer!

In other words, the cockpit is nearly identical while now I having a longer wheelbase (which creates different pros and cons). This sounded perfect too me on paper and so far has been the case in the real. Had I gone down to a medium, I would be back in a more cramped cockpit AND not gotten what I was looking for from a longer wheel base.


Perhaps a vid or story diving more into bike and size selection in relation to modern geo's vs old ones AND riding styles?

That all said, great series!!!! Keep it up!

[stevehunter]

I’ve got a 3 year old Spectral and when I bought it- $4600.CAD When the bike arrived in Canada, customs calls and asks which province you live in, then they let you know what your tax will be and the duty on your bike. My total was about $1300 to pay customs before they can release my bike to UPS so they can deliver it. This is all fine, I understand how businesses work. But I could not find this information before purchasing. Direct to consumer brands should maybe have a chart on their sites saying if you live in this country and your purchase is “x”$ then your duties should be approximately this much. I’m sure a few customers have been shocked by the extra cost.

[Chrizzowski]

Great review. I have a 22' Spectral 125 that I swapped out the airspring to 160 and bumped up the shock stroke a bit. Sounds like Canyon had a similar idea with this version.

[qasimabid]

No the sizing aspect is very important to any review cause not everyone is same size as you

[JeffMTBinVA]

Wow, I was very surprised by the glowing review. Any idea why it is not available in the U.S.?

[franciscopichardo]

The videos from pink bike lately are 🔥

[Sai-tbxt]

with the now old spectral i use it as a straight up enduro bike. dunno if i would be the target audience anymore

[Neurocite]

it would be really useful if you mentioned how tall the range of riders are that tested the bikes. gives alot of context to sizing, great vid though

[audiophizile]

Would you guys consider doing a review on the Ari Delano peak now that it has 142 travel stock vs the fezz having had 135?

[davekal]

Question: will you guys also be doing another xc/downcountry feild test this year?

[matejbabic]

This spectral or trek fuel ex ride better?

[vrwgqq]

I know the seat tubes are short but does everyone at PB have like a 40+ in inseam?

[POSITIVEVIBESONLY-krnv]

Hey guys thanks for the great reveiws! I’m 6, 1 with inseam at 321/2 should I get a medium or a large? direct to consumer means I can’t ride before I buy . I know you mentioned that the medium was fitting like a large . Really appreciate your input:) Ryan

[virginiascurti]

So are the less expensive one's worth it? This i snot a bike I see much of compared to the stump jumper.

[justincapek]

Such in-depth analysis. Really good, guys. So many good trail bikes out there. Love my Primer. Ya'll haven't reviewed Intense in a minute..