£6,199 Is this the Ultimate race-bike frameset?
Weight 7.26kg (L) Frame Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100 12-speed (52/36t, 11-34t) Brakes Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100 hydraulic disc Wheels DT Swiss ARC 1400 Spline Finishing kit Canyon Aerocockpit CP0018, Canyon SP0055 carbon seatpost, Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow Titanium saddle, Schwalbe Pro One TLE 700x25/28c (f/r) tyres, Shimano Ultegra R8100 4iiii Precision power meter
THE ULTIMATE CF SLX 8 DI2 IS THE least expensive of three builds Canyon offers in its second-tier, all-round road race bike CF range, which sits between the flagship CFR tier and more value-oriented CF SL tier. The CF SLX carbon frame is a touch heavier than the CFR (only 84g, size Medium), but with the benefit of back-to-back testing I’m confident it’s the more compliant of the two bikes – and no slower for it overall. And given the build is practically unimpeachable, it’s one of the most well-rounded race bikes available for the money today.
Aero gains
Canyon says the CF SLX’s carbon frame has been optimised to produce a more compliant ride compared to the top-level bike, while keeping a comparable stiffness to the CFR. Aero tweaks made to the Ultimate chassis in summer 2022 include flatter, straighter tube profiles, small tidy-ups of the dropouts, plus the use of a D-shaped seatpost. It also adopts the width-adjustable one-piece CP0018 Aerocockpit from the Aeroad CFR. The frame has clearance for 32c tyres.
The CF SLX’s geometry is identical to the CFR’s. The only difference is the SLX (and SL) has a setback seatpost while the CFR has an inline post, and the SLX has an additional 3XS size. My size Large has a 583mm stack with a 401mm reach, 14.5mm taller and 6mm shorter reach than the Scott Addict RC in this test. However, Canyon’s size Large is closer to an Addict RC XL (58cm). The angles are all in race-bike territory, though: a steep 73.3° head angle for sharp handling paired with a steep 73.5° seat tube angle. The wheelbase is notably long at 1,003mm, which should improve the bike’s stability when cornering, as well as tame its responsiveness.
Canyon has a well-earned reputation for offering good value, and the Ultimate CF SLX 8 Di2 is no different. Unless weight is your priority (in which case there’s an £8,299 Dura-Ace Di2 model), the Ultegra Di2 R8100 groupset delivers the best Shimano offers in terms of shifting and braking performance, at a much lower price. The 52/36-tooth crankset includes a single-sided 4iiii power meter, which measure
