Canyon Spectral 125

87/100
BikeRide Score
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Users (75 ratings)
88
Experts (4 reviews)
82
Canyon Spectral 125
Where to buy
$2,742.26 Amazon See it $2,799.00 Canyon See it
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Facts

Gender
Men, Women
Type
Mountain, Trail, Non-Electric
Release Year
2022
Brand
Canyon
Wheel Size
29”
Number of Gears
12 (1x12)
Gearing Type
External Derailleur
Weight
30.65, 34.75 lb
Suspension
Full
Brake Type
Disc: Hydraulic
Frame Material
Carbon Fiber, Aluminum

Summary of Reviews

We have read all expert and user reviews on the Canyon Spectral 125. In summary, this is what cyclists think.

11 reasons to buy

  • The Spectral 125 is available in two builds: the carbon CF 7 or the aluminum AL 5.
  • Testers say the progressive enduro-oriented geometry keeps the bike stable and tracking on steep descents.
  • Reviewers appreciate how the long dropper travel and low standover enable free movement.
  • Experts and owners say the bike's excellent performance on descents makes it seem like it has more travel.
  • Testers find the Spectral 125 comes alive on fast downhills.
  • Experts praise the “poppy,” agile handling, which promotes high-speed cornering and taking jump lines.
  • The supportive suspension platform encourages catching air.
  • The stiff Spectral 125 responds well to pedal input, according to experts.
  • Testers find the seated climbing position comfortable, thanks to the steep seat angle.
  • The frame has head tube cable routing, a threaded bottom bracket, replaceable pivot mount inserts, a SRAM UDH, and a bottle and accessory mount.
  • The carbon frame has a geometry flip chip, but reviewers prefer the Spectral 125 AL's fixed geo, which combines the carbon's HI and LO positions.

9 reasons not to buy

  • Testers say the rear wheel can bounce around over rough sections, making the bike hard to manage.
  • The Spectral 125's downhill-oriented geo means doesn't climb as well as other short-travel trail bikes and flat terrain feels "uninspiring."
  • Multiple reviewers complain of pedal bob when riding without the suspension locked out.
  • Reviewers complain of fatigue on long rides due to the stiff frame and suspension kinematics.
  • Testers find suspension setup tricky, and Canyon doesn't provide a guide for setup.
  • The frame doesn’t have internal storage and isn’t compatible with mullet wheels or a coil shock.
  • Multiple test bikes suffer from paint chips on the chainstay where the protector ends.
  • One test bike arrives with loose pivot bolts, and another two have creaky suspension pivots.
  • Pins run through the uniquely shaped stem and spacers, making swaps difficult.

Bottom line

The Canyon Spectral 125 is a trail mountain bike with an unusual combination of short travel (140mm front/125mm rear) and enduro-style geometry. Experts relish the bike's confident and composed descending, but the slack geometry makes it slower on tight tracks than bikes with similar travel. The unique design makes it hard to define the Spectral 125, and expert opinion is divided, with differing views on the bike's climbing performance, pedal efficiency, and overall versatility. Like all Canyon bikes, the direct-to-consumer sales model means competitive pricing for the Spectral, but apparent quality control issues are worrying.

Expert Reviews

82/100 based on 4 rated expert reviews
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80
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This review has been given a score. Read more here
BikeRadar
Level 5 expert

Canyon Spectral 125 CF 8 Review

Level 5 expert

It’s neither a responsive downcountry whippet nor terrain-swallowing enduro machine, but with the travel of the former and the weight of the latter.

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76
Bike Perfect
Level 5 expert

Canyon Spectral 125 CF 8 Review – Less Travel, More Fun?

Level 5 expert

The ‘underdog/unduro’ vibe isn’t for everyone though, and having awkward-to-balance suspension on a direct-sell bike is definitely a downside… I’d be raving about it (and on it) more with a lighter ‘tough trail’ rather than ‘full enduro’ build.

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90
Mountain Bike Rider
Level 5 expert

Canyon Spectral 125 CF 9 Review

Level 5 expert

The Spectral 125 CF 9 is difficult to pigeonhole. In terms of travel it’s at the short end of the trail bike spectrum. Switch your attention to handling however, and it’s much closer to a traditional 150mm trail bike.

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80
BikeRadar
Level 5 expert

Canyon Spectral 125 CF 7 Review

Level 5 expert

The short-travel, but tenacious personality, combine to encourage you to ride the bike way harder than the travel figures suggest you should. When doing so, you’ll find some shortcomings, especially if you’ve not dialed in that rear suspension perfectly.

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Pinkbike
Level 5 expert

Field Test: Canyon Spectral 125 AL 6 – When Trail Meets Enduro

Level 5 expert

The bike’s aggressively long and slack geometry and progressive suspension are more ideally suited for steeper, less boney terrain. That’s where this unique bike will really shine.

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The Loam Wolf
Level 5 expert

Canyon Spectral 125 CF 8 Review

Level 5 expert

The Canyon Spectral 125 CF 8 is everything Canyon has marketed it as and more. It is confidence-inspiring and can ride terrain we usually don’t think about taking a 125mm bike in.

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Mountain Bike Action
Level 5 expert

Canyon Spectral 125 Trail Bike Review

Level 5 expert

The Spectral 125 is nimble and flickable both in cornering and in the air, but it is stable enough to feel confident when going fast. It doesn’t feel like a short-travel bike at speed.

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Flow Mountain Bike
Level 5 expert

Canyon Spectral 125 Review | A Short Travel Ripper That Won’t Be for Everyone

Level 5 expert

Combining progressive geometry in a mid-travel package, the Canyon Spectral 125 delivers a raucously fun ride quality that thrives on modern high speed flow trails.

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off-road.cc
Level 5 expert

2022 Canyon Spectral 125 CF 8 Review

Level 5 expert

… it’s also got the chops to become heaps of fun wherever you choose to point it. It might not have the outright confidence that more suspension travel gives you, but that’s all part of the Spectral 125’s infectious charm.

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David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes
Level 5 expert

The New 2022 Canyon Spectral 125 Is the Perfect UK Trail Bike! First Ride Review

Level 5 expert

I like the idea of underbiking because I can reach the limits of the bike much more easily than a bigger travel bike that requires a lot more speed and commitment to really unleash the full potential.

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Singletrack
Level 5 expert

Canyon Spectral 125 CF 8: First Ride Review

Level 5 expert

The Canyon Spectral 125 doesn’t have short travel, it has enough travel. It has the geometry to get down, and up, and along, anything you care to show it. It may well leave you feeling a bit more worked-over…

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BLISTER
Level 3 expert

Canyon Spectral 125

Level 3 expert

The Spectral 125 is definitely on the more aggressive, less versatile end of the spectrum for its travel range, but for precisely that reason it’s a whole lot of fun on the right trails and with the right riding approach.

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The Radavist
Level 5 expert

Punker Than You Are: The Canyon Spectral 125 Didn’t Have to Exist, so We Had to Review It

Level 5 expert

However unique I’m making this bike seem, I think it has pretty broad appeal. The aggressive geometry will allow riders like me to get shreddy, but will also keep newer riders feeling stable while they grow into it.

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ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine
Level 5 expert

Canyon Spectral 125 CF 9 – In Our 2022 Trail Bike Group Test

Level 5 expert

The Canyon is an excellent climber… and makes you feel as if you’re sitting on a bike with more travel when riding downhill, thus inspiring huge amounts of confidence. However, the direct handling borders on harsh, requiring good riding skills.

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BikeRumor
Level 5 expert

Review: Short-Travel Enduro Spectral 125 Is Canyon’s Most Fun Mountain Bike in Our First Rides!

Level 5 expert

For a technical rider, the Spectral 125 just seems really close to that all-rounder ideal we are always hunting. Short-travel enduro bike, indeed.

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NSMB
Level 5 expert

2022 Canyon Spectral 125 CF 8 Review

Level 5 expert

Once I figured out how to ride it, the small Canyon returned the favor by giving me a feeling of being more in tune with the trails I rode and being more rewarded for the effort I put in.

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MTB MAG
Level 5 expert

Canyon Spectral 125 Reviewed and Compared to the Spectral 150 [Italian Video]

Level 5 expert

The 125 is a bad ass bike, that’s for sure, but it has some limits when riding rough stuff.

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User Ratings

88/100 based on 75 ratings
  • 5 star
    77%
  • 4 star
    7%
  • 3 star
    4%
  • 2 star
    4%
  • 1 star
    8%

Rankings

Compared to other bikes
#72 Best Mountain Bike
Top 50%
#39 Best Trail Bike
Top 50%
#8 Best Canyon Bike
Bottom 50%
#350 Best of All Bikes
Top 40%

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Bike Comparison

Canyon Spectral 125 in comparison to averages
Canyon Spectral 125
87
Average All Bikes
84
Average Canyon Bike
87
Average Mountain Bike
87

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