This feature was produced in association with Canyon
Canyon says its Speedmax CF SLX range is designed for the complete spectrum of athletes, from the fastest racers in the professional peloton, to Ironman triathletes, to amateurs riding their local 10.
A bold claim indeed, though we daresay if you turned up to your local club 10-mile on the 9.0 Ltd you’d be sure to turn some heads.
Impressive-sounding marketing speak aside, the spec on the Speedmax 9.0 is straight out of the top drawer.
Zipp’s 808 NSW wheels are amongst the fastest money can buy, while Shimano’s latest 9150 Dura-Ace Di2 reduces cable clutter and delivers precise shifting at your fingertips.
WorldTour pro and time-trial specialist Tony Martin is said to be such a fan of this bike that his switch from Quick-Step to Katusha this season is partly attributed to the chance to race on it.
For us mere mortals, it’s pleasing to note that Canyon’s design hasn’t just put speed at the top of the list at the detriment of everything else.
The wheelbase is adjustable, thanks to the Rake Shift fork with its unique switchable dropout, allowing you to easily tailor the ride feel for additional stability on windy days or a more agile feel for a technical course.
Wolfgang Kohl, product engineer on the Speedmax project, adds that aesthetics were important too: ‘When taking the Speedmax from the drawing board to real-world testing, the aim wasn’t just to create the fastest bike, but the fastest-looking bike as well.’
Looking good, as we all know, is worth a few extra watts on its own, and we wouldn’t bet against the Canyon Speedmax CF SLX being ridden to a World Championship success by the end of the season.
Canyon Speedmax CF SLX 9.0 Ltd
Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace 9150 Di2
Wheels: Zipp 404 NSW front/808 NSW rear
Finishing kit: Canyon H26 CF Basebar, Canyon E192 AL extensions, Canyon V19 AL Aero stem, Canyon S31 seatpost, Fizik Ardea saddle
Weight: 8.56kg
Price:£8,199 approx as pictured
Contact: canyon.com