Review: Canyon Spectral:ON CF 8 Electric Mountain Bike

It has not been an easy couple of years for Canyon. In late 2024, the German direct-to-consumer brand issued a stop-use and recall notice for its highly regarded Spectral:ON electric mountain bike. Some batteries developed cracks in the casing, and there were concerns that water ingress could short-circuit safety systems and pose a fire risk. The problem left bikes unusable for months while the company worked out a fix, and it cost Canyon a small fortune in replacements and refunds.

But the good news for fans of great-value carbon-framed electric mountain bikes is, the Canyon Spectral:ON is finally back, with a new 800-Wh integrated battery. Geared towards mountain bikers looking to do a bit of everything well—rather than just being a descent monster, for instance—this full-power trail-riding machine clocks in at 54.5 pounds and boasts 85 Nm of torque.

In terms of specifications, it’s not a million miles away from the $15,000 Specialized S-Works Levo 4, which is remarkable given the $10,000 difference. That’s ten thousand dollars. Price isn’t everything, though, and there are plenty of great electric mountain bikes that cost similar, or even less. How does the new Class 1 Canyon Spectral:On CF 8 stack up against the competition, how has the brand managed to cut costs so hard, and most importantly, how does it ride?

Motor, Power, and Battery

Photograph: Chris Haslam

Canyon is using Shimano’s EP801 5.7-pound mid-drive e-MTB drive unit motor here, which delivers 85 Nm of torque and 600 watts of peak power. It was first introduced in 2022 as an upgrade to the EP8, which, in Electric Bike Time, feels like ages ago.

In truth, the Shimano motor is starting to look a little undercooked. Bosch’s Performance Line CX (Gen 5/CX-R) pushes torque up to around 100 Nm and peak power to 750 watts, while Specialized’s Turbo Full Power 3.2 motor peaks at 850 watts, with an impressive 111 Nm of torque. At the top end, DJI’s Avinox motor shifts the category entirely, with up to 120 Nm and 1,000-watt peak power.

Peak numbers only tell part of the story, though, and the Shimano EP801 remains a lightweight and hugely capable motor with a smooth, natural feel over a wide range of pedaling cadences. Even in Boost mode, the power feels controlled. That makes it an excellent choice for beginner or timid riders, who won’t be thrown off by a surge of power.

Courtesy of Canyon

Feeding the motor is Canyon’s new, now-safe 800-Wh aluminum-housed battery. It replaces previous 720- and 900-Wh options, and it has faster charging (from around 0 to 80 percent in two hours) and improved durability with an IP57 rating. It weighs around 10 pounds, 4 ounces, which is around 5 ounces lighter than the previous 900-Wh design.

Canyon estimated up to 53 miles of range or 6,230 feet of climbing on a single charge. On a two-hour full-pelt tear through undulating forest, the battery indicator dropped two of five bars. (And yes, irritatingly, the accompanying Shimano SC-EM800 color display doesn’t offer any more precise battery data than that. At least it's bright and easy to read.)

But it’s the position, rather than the capacity of the new battery that has the biggest impact here. Canyon has mounted the battery low and horizontally within the down tube, rather than vertically. This not only gives it a svelte appearance—especially in the soon-to-be-launched Barely Olive colorway—but by dropping the center of gravity, the company has tweaked how the bike behaves when you lean it over or load it up through a turn. At 54.5 pounds it is still a heavy bike, but it carries that weight in a way that makes it surprisingly easy to manage once pedaling.

The Non-Electric Bits

Photograph: Chris Haslam

Given the price, it’s easy to forget this bike has a full carbon frame. It has a mullet wheel setup, with a 29-inch front wheel and a 27.5-inch rear wheel that makes the bike nice and responsive and easier to maneuver on descents. Add in the low battery position and you’ve got a nicely planted feel, especially at speed.

The Shimano XT/SLX drivetrain and brakes are popular across the eMTB market. You’re not getting the very lightest tech, but they are reliable workhorses. Suspension comes from a FOX 38 Rhythm fork and Float X shock, which, like the drivetrain and brakes, are classy performers. There’s 160 millimeters of travel up front and 155 mm at the rear, which gives good support for rough, technical descents, while remaining efficient on longer rides and over mixed terrain.

Also included here is Canyon’s in-house iridium dropper post, a 30.9-mm internally routed unit with 125- to 170-mm travel, depending on your frame size. It’s solid, reliable, and easy to use, although I did find it fairly slow to return to position. It’s not a big deal, though. The DT Swiss HLN350 (15 x 110 30-mm) tires are very much in keeping with the rest of the bike—trusted eMTB options that, while not flashy, will perform well and last.

The constituent parts all add up to a hugely impressive electric mountain bike that’s a heck of a lot of fun to ride. It doesn't have the headline-grabbing features of the Specialized S-Works or the Trek Rail, but at $4,500, it’s hard—no, nigh on impossible—to argue with. First-timers will get more from it than pro-level riders, but for me that just adds to its wider appeal.

It does weigh 54.5 pounds, though. This is a heavy bike, even within the full-power e-MTB category. It’s an absolute brute to handle when not riding it, and I pity anyone who has to get it up any stairs or out of a ditch. It’s also a bit unwieldy if you’re navigating technical terrain at slow speeds, but once you pick up the pace, the low-slung battery and friendly geometry transforms it into a track-munching, mud-surfing cruiser.

The Ride

Photograph: Chris Haslam

The Canyon Spectral:ON CF 8 ate up my local singletrack, muddy paths, and tight tree lines. The 64-degree head angle is fairly slack, but that suits both my level of riding and the terrain. It’s stable, and I feel like I’m in control on steep, fast descents. It feels incredibly stable and encourages me to ride harder and seek out more technical lines. Traction in the corners is excellent, and the geometry should appeal to the widest range of mountain bikers. Beginners will take confidence from the fact that you’ll need to work hard to go over the handlebars.

It climbs confidently too, but is no chair lift. Picking fairly technical lines up through the trees, I still needed my wits about me, and on wider, more forgiving paths it takes up the slack. I love how the bike never gives the impression it’s doing all the hard work. It’s an enormous amount of fun to ride, and the motor and big battery make it easier to get out for longer rides. I’m still knackered afterwards, but I’ve covered twice the distance at double the speed.

I immediately felt at ease on the bike, which is not always the case with serious electric mountain bikes, but after a few climbs and fast downhill singletrack lines I was able to trust it implicitly. If you’re concerned that I’ve painted a picture of a bike that feels a bit too safe, don’t be. Yes, it feels accessible, is easy to ride, and instills confidence, but not to the detriment of thrills and spills. The rear suspension is lively, the pedal assist is smooth, and the mullet setup superb on the descents. It’s a mountain bike that makes me want to do silly things at speed.

$4,500 is not small change for any bike (for normal people at any rate), but in the world of cutting-edge electric mountain bikes, it’s a steal. Many bikes with poorer, older specifications will only hit this price in the sales. Canyon manages to keep prices abnormally low thanks to the direct-to-consumer business model. It's not the only brand cutting out the retail network, but it's currently the best at it. The trade-off, however, is a distinct lack of retailer/shop support (although the service network is improving fast, and now includes REI). You'll also need to finish building the bike yourself.

It took me about 35 minutes to unbox the bike, locate the included torque wrench, and attach the handlebar, hopper controller, pedals (not included as standard), and seat. There’s a pump included for the suspension too. I’d give the print instructions a 6 out of 10 rating, but that could be more to do with my eyesight and the font size. The online videos are superb, though.

The aggressive pricing from Canyon could also be driven, in part, by the problems they had with the cracked Spectral:ON batteries. Smaller profits might be the price for staying in the game long-term. I certainly hope so.