Canyon Spectral:ON CF 2026 Review

With a drastic price cut and a technical update, the Spectral:ON CF is making a comeback. After battery issues tarnished the image of the former e-MTB icon, Koblenz is now launching a counterattack. Is the Spectral:ON for under €4,000 the deal of the year 2026—or is the bike starting to show its age? We put it to the test.

There are many Canyon Spectrals out there. Therefore, before diving into the bike, it’s important to clarify which Spectral you’re actually interested in. This test focuses on the Spectral ON, the full-power EMTB with a large battery. The Spectral ONfly is the light EMTB version with a small TQ motor and a small 360 Wh battery. And, of course, there’s also a Spectral without a motor.

Because the light EMTB is very similar to the unmotorized Spectral, we also made a comparison between these two bikes. Overall, the light EMTB as the Spectral ONfly offers incredibly good value for money, but with its small battery, it targets a completely different audience. The Onfly model aims to mimic a natural riding experience similar to a non-electric bike. For the full-power version, the focus is clearly on the touring capability of the E-Bike.

What Canyon is doing with their pricing is nothing less than a declaration of war against the entire industry. Since company founder Roman Arnold has actively taken the helm again, “Value for Money,” meaning the value for the customer is back at the top of the agenda.

For under €3,800, the CF 7 offers a full-carbon frame, a RockShox suspension, and Shimano 4-piston brakes with a weight of about 24.5 kg. By comparison, even extremely budget-conscious direct-to-consumer brands or companies like Cube are often priced €1,000 higher for similar specifications. Canyon is making a bold price statement against its competitors, which is likely to spark significant interest among many bikers.

The excellent price is possible or rather necessary because the installed Shimano EP801 has lost some ground in performance compared to the new frontrunners like the Bosch CX of the 5th generation or the DJI Avinox. Shimano’s EP801 is still an excellent, high-quality full power e-bike motor, but it can no longer quite maintain the status quo of the best motors in the following parameters:

If you’re interested in the details of motor differences, you should check out our comprehensive motor comparison, where we compared the top motors in terms of sound, motor control, range, and power.

The Shimano system has an ace up its sleeve when it comes to range. Despite the smaller 800-Wh battery, the bike managed to cover more than 2,000 meters of elevation gain in our test (with a 100 kg system weight). This is very efficient and more than sufficient for 95% of all rides. Here, the motor system’s slightly lower power output compared to Bosch or DJI works in its favor. Because less power consumption also means less energy usage, and you can see that in the range.

Once you drop the saddle and charge into the trail, the Spectral:ON reveals its true strength. Thanks to the Mullet configuration (29″ front, 27.5″ rear) and the short chainstays, the bike remains extremely agile.

Although the geometry was introduced back in 2022, it still doesn’t feel outdated in 2026. While the 65.5° head angle might now be a bit steeper compared to other bikes in this travel category, it doesn’t negatively impact performance on the trail. On the contrary, the playful handling of the 27.5-inch rear wheel shines, even on less extreme trails—a characteristic many eMTBs struggle with.

The tall front end, combined with the beefy 38 mm forks (38 mm stanchions instead of 35 mm), ensures a stable ride even in rugged, steep terrain. However, this stability is only present on descents. On technical uphill sections, the high front and small rear wheel cause the front to lift noticeably. To counteract this, shifting weight forward becomes crucial on steep climbs.

The rear linkage is more linear. This means: a lot of comfort and massive grip on the rear wheel. Anyone not looking to set records on the jump line will love this “sofa feeling.” Because it provides a secure riding experience and gives you confidence in any situation. If you have a super active riding style, you can increase progression with volume spacers in the shock and give the suspension a bit more feedback.

Overall, it must be said that the combination of a not overly aggressive suspension and the fat 2.6-inch tires reveals a very clear intention in the design of the Spectral ON. This bike is not a sharp race machine, but a comfort-oriented and above all forgiving Enduro, which supports you with a safe ride even in rough terrain.

Durability: Our analysis of the bearing dimensions shows: Canyon has designed cleverly here. The loads on the main bearings are comparatively low, which suggests high longevity.