Canyon Neuron:ONfly Review

With an entry-level price of under €5000, the Canyon Neuron:ONfly is currently the most affordable full-suspension bike equipped with Bosch’s SX motor. For its first foray into the light e-MTB category, the direct-to-consumer brand doesn’t focus solely on extreme lightweight construction but aims to impress with other standout features.

EMTBs face two major issues: they’re heavy, and they’re expensive. Canyon’s first light-EMTB has the potential to tackle both problems simultaneously. That’s because the most affordable bike in the Neuron:ON lineup is just €4,849, with a weight of 20.3 kg. The combination of price, motor, and weight is currently unmatched in the market. Is Canyon returning to its roots of exceptional value for money?

Usually, a manufacturer highlights their flagship models during a product launch. But the icing on the cake in the lineup of 4 new Canyon Neuron:ONfly models is actually the most affordable bike. Because at a price of 4849 €, it stays under the magical 5000 € limit that many employers set for job bike leasing.

Canyon makes no compromises on the motor or frame. There’s no other bike on the market with such a well-designed carbon frame and Bosch’s SX motor at this price point. Considering the specs, even the top model at €7999 is significantly more affordable than comparable offerings from competitors. Our uniform bike check reveals that also the CF 9 version stands out markedly from its market environment.

After Canyon has raised prices several times over the past few years, the complete lineup of Neuron:ONfly models is a bold statement in terms of pricing, designed to show its main competitor, the specialty brand Cube, where the real value-for-money deal is. This is because the comparable Cube AMS Hybrid models are slightly more expensive. Information about each bike in their respective price categories can be found on the detailed pages linked to these buttons.

Canyon has made design a cornerstone of their brand over the last decade. The Neuron:ONfly frame clearly demonstrates that design is more than just good looks. The designers have given the latest Neuron an aesthetic shape with many planar elements. But design also includes the integration of technical features.

The spacers for the rear triangle (Washers) with integrated seals and a convex shape already convinced us with the Raaw Jibb and are now being used by Canyon for the first time. The additional seal extends the lifespan of the bearings, while the shape primarily makes mounting during a service more convenient.

The continuous carbon-laminated internal cable routing also significantly eases the replacement of a derailleur cable or dropper post cable. Installing a new brake system becomes a lot easier as well. Most notably, the cables are rattle-free inside the frame.

A steering stop limiter protects the frame from damage in case of a crash. Space is provided for the water bottle or optionally Bosch’s Range Extender in the usual downtube position. There is one compromise: the battery is not removable and is permanently fixed in the frame.

The stylish and high-quality frame is slightly heavier than other models. Consequently, the Canyon is not a super light eMTB. It still has a good weight, especially if you look at the prices. However, other manufacturers are setting benchmarks for lightweight construction well below 19 kilos. With Canyon, the focus here is on durability.

In the light eMTB sector, TQ and Fazua motors have been the frontrunners until now. However, Bosch is clawing back more market shares from the Bavarian manufacturers with its new SX unit. A key reason why Canyon is unveiling its first light eMTB with the Bosch motor isn’t due to the ride characteristics but because of the global service promise that Bosch offers.

For a direct-to-consumer brand like Canyon, this is a substantial argument to guarantee their customers minimal downtime in case of an issue. In line with that statement, customers will receive the Bosch Premium Service valued at 40 € per year for free. This package includes updates, theft protection, and other benefits.

The Bosch SX motor is about a kilo lighter than its full-power counterpart and has a slightly smaller build. Although it’s on par with competing motors from TQ and Fazua in terms of weight, the aesthetics of its rivals are considerably more subdued. The Bosch SX isn’t a motor that hides behind the chainring. It’s smaller than the Bosch CX, but it’s not tiny.

The soundscape is reminiscent of its bigger brother, with a clearly audible whirring as soon as you demand power from the motor. We had hoped that Bosch had tackled the gearbox clatter known from the Bosch CX and the Shimano EP8 with the SX model.

However, our field test dashed these hopes. When you ride down the trail with no tension on the chain, the motor’s freehub clatters quite audibly. The Bosch SX is no silent runner, but it has other qualities to offer.

The Bosch SX motor delivers a torque of 55 Nm, placing it squarely between the competitors from Fazua (60 Nm) and TQ (50 Nm). Full power motors from Bosch and Shimano produce 85 Nm. What’s astonishing is that despite its smaller size, the SX still manages to hit a peak output of 600 watts, almost matching the performance.

On the trail, the Bosch SX indeed provides powerful assistance, particularly when the cadence is right. While the Bosch CX, the full power model, pulls its full power across a wide rpm range starting from around 50 rpm, there’s relatively little happening with the SX at a lower cadence.

It’s not until 90 revolutions per minute and above that the Bosch SX motor unleashes its full power. If a rider can maintain that, the motor impresses with a sporty character and strong support. Just hopping on the saddle and letting your legs drop onto the pedals is not enough to get the Bosch SX motor into the desired performance zone. To truly feel the full power of this motor, you need to be prepared to break a sweat or two.

The integrated 400 watt-hour battery isn’t built for endurance. Riders who push the motor to full output in Turbo mode with a high cadence will be surprised at how quickly the battery level depletes.

We’ve done several rides with the bike with a body weight just over 70 kilograms, covering close to 1200 vertical meters, and managed to complete them on a single charge, despite heavy use of “Turbo mode.” However, the jersey was significantly sweat-drenched afterwards, and our riding style was accordingly aggressive.

Unfortunately, there is no option to remove or swap the battery mid-tour. However, the Canyon is ready to incorporate the Bosch Range Extender with 250 Wh. Those who need more range should take a look at the Full Power model of the Canyon Neuron:ON. Our comparison feature clearly highlights the strengths and weaknesses of both options.

We didn’t just put the CF9 model through its paces on the trails in the Koblenz City Forest, but we also thoroughly tested the more affordable Canyon Neuron:ONfly 7. For this purpose, we hit the legendary trails in Latsch. This allowed us to gather a wide range of impressions and achieve more than just a fleeting sense of ride quality.

What stands out both on the climbs and the descents is that the Canyon is a rock-solid bike with very high steering precision. Riders can be confident that every steering input is precisely translated into the desired change in direction. This is often a point of criticism, especially with bikes that have minimal suspension travel. The not-too-slack head angle also supports this direct steering feel.

The athletic riding position complements the vibe the motor delivers. The Neuron isn’t your leisurely beer garden cruiser, it’s a sporty sparring partner for that power-hour session post-work.

Descending is a joy on flat, flowy trails thanks to its low weight and the factory-equipped tires that roll well. Here, 160mm full-power EMTBs often get bogged down by their own heft. The 140mm bike is right at home on trails with minimal roots and rocks.

However, as the terrain becomes rougher or the descent steeper, the tires quickly reach their limit. For testing, we’ve outfitted the bike with rugged Schwalbe Super Gravity tires. With a Magic Mary tread up front and Hans Dampf at the rear, the bike gains a bit more confidence, managing even the occasional aggressive detour on the trail. But 140mm of travel is still 140mm of travel.

Typical Canyon: The rear suspension is very responsive and provides good resistance after the first third of travel. The suspension works really well, even on the most budget-friendly model. However, even with beefier tires, there’s only so much you can do with 140mm of travel. The Neuron:ONfly isn’t a full-throttle hammer for the bike park, but rather a touring bike for fun trail rides, and it should be ridden accordingly.