Canyon Bikes launch the 2021 Exceed

The original Canyon Exceed was raced to World Championship victory, shattered the course record at Leadville, and repeatedly rocketed to World Cup podiums at Albstadt, Cairns, Nove Mesto, and Val di Sole. How do you improve on all that? Like this. The all new 2021 Canyon Exceed is lighter, stiffer, and carries you over rough courses with absolute control.

On Tuesday August 18th, the new Canyon Exceed CF, SLX, and CF-R line-up, debuted with price points ranging from € 1,699 (USA $1,999) to € 6,499 (USA $6,999). CFR (Canyon Factory Racing) models also debuted and are premier products evolved from a partnership between Canyon engineers, designers, mechanics and the world’s fastest riders.

CFR – the new speed of light

The new Exceed CFR possesses one of the lightest production frames on earth, tipping the scales at a mere 835 grams (size Medium). State-of-the-art engineering and materials make that a reality.

The CFR is one of the very few bikes in the world to utilize something Canyon call “unicorn hair” — an uncommon carbon fiber (Toray M40X) that is so cost prohibitive and hard to come by that it’s rarely used in the cycling industry. Canyon also call the stuff unicorn hair because it is both stiff and strong. In the world of carbon fiber, that’s an even rarer thing…and it’s what enabled them to make the CFR so damn light. Generally speaking, particularly strong carbon fibers are not particularly stiff and stiff fibers are not particularly strong. Because unicorn hair is both strong and stiff, they can add fewer reinforcing fibers to the frame and create an astonishingly lightweight bike without sacrificing strength or stiffness. Light plus strong, plus stiff…equals victory.

Canyon believe every rider should have the best possible bike no matter their budget. That principle is one of the things that sets Canyon apart and it’s why every Canyon Exceed frame possesses the same core features and is built using the same carbon molding process. All the geeky bells and whistles you’ll find on the Canyon Factory Racing “CFR” model (including our exacting tube profiles, integrated seatpost clamp, Impact Protection Unit, dropper post com- patibility, Quixle, etc) are also featured on our more affordable models.

So, what’s the actual difference between the Exceed CFR, SLX, and CF frame platforms? The exact blend of carbon materials and composite layup differ, yielding very similar stiffness and ride quality, but at varying stiffness to weight ratios. Or to be less nerdy about it, as you go up the line, the frames get lighter. All frame weights below are for size Medium and (per the DIN standard) include artwork, chainsuck plate, chainstay protector, integrated seatpost clamp, and universal derailleur hanger.

CFR FRAME WEIGHT: 835 G

SLX FRAME WEIGHT: 1 , 015 G

CF FRAME WEIGHT: 1 , 312 G

All of Canyon’s new Exceed models feature a thoroughly modern, yet balanced geometry. It’s no secret–World Cup cross country courses have got- ten rowdy. That’s why they gave the new Exceed a thoroughly modern yet balanced geometry that boosts your control on tough terrain while still proving quick and nimble through the tightest trails. In practical terms, Canyon slackened the head angle to 69 degrees, increased the reach 10 millimeters, moved to 80 millimeter stems on all frame sizes, and shortened the rear center 2 millimeters. The end result is a bike that’s both confident on tough descents and an absolute rocket on steep climbs and through tight corners.

The new Exceed models roll on 29er wheels and sport room for two water bottles, even in the new XS size, which fits riders down to 158cm (5’2″)

Made for Racers by Racers!

World Cup threats like Kristian Hynek, Petter Fagerhaug, Matthieu van der Poel, and Pauline Ferrand Prévot provide crucial feedback to our engineers and product developers. And those same Canyon engineers and product managers personally put their latest creations to the test in grueling events such as the Absa Cape Epic. Those days and weeks spent sprinting for the holeshot and fighting to drop the competition shaped every bit of the new Exceed.

Built for Speed

While Canyon obsessed over every detail of the new Exceed frame, they paid just as keen attention to each component fitted to that frame. CFR and SLX models feature a new, full carbon mountain bike cockpit that tidies up your handlebar/front end while providing you with an aerodynamic riding position that shaves precious seconds from your best efforts.

What’s more, Canyon partnered with DT Swiss to create ultra- light dropper posts specifically for the Exceed. The novel droppers are available in carbon (CFR) and aluminum (SLX) and provide racers with 60mm of seat height ad- justability. More to the point, the DT Posts are among the lightest production dropper posts available today, weighing in at 390 grams (carbon post with remote) and 420 grams (alloy post with remote). They build every Exceed to be that rare combination of uncompromising performance and outstanding value.

Its in the details:

Canyon’s Impact Protection Unit (IPU) protects the Exceed’s carbon frame by preventing the handlebars from over rotating into the top tube. They refined the IPU on the new Exceed, reducing its size and integrating it even more neatly within the frame.

The brand streamlined the new 2021 Exceed with an integrated seatpost clamp. Likewise, Canyon reduced the potential for mud build up by equipping the Exceed with sludge shedding tube profiles, adopted from our World Championship winning Inflite cyclocross bike.

The new 2021 Exceed even takes tidy cable routing to a higher level. A novel headset design enables us to route the cables within the headset. This, in turn, allows for tighter cable routing with no loss in shifting performance or binding sensation in the steering. The end result is less cockpit clutter, a lighter steering feel, and a design that ultimately enabled them to create a lighter, stiffer headtube.

Canyon equipped the Exceed with a universal DERAILEUR HANGER that protects your derailleur during impacts (by pivoting back and out of the way), improves day to day shifting performance and works with all drivetrains, should you upgrade at some point in the future.

The famous Quixle through axle design boosts stiffness yet tucks neatly into the axle, providing easy, tool-free wheel removal.