One year using a Canyon Exceed in XC and marathon tests

When it comes to buying a high-end bike to participate in races and rides, more and more cyclists prefer to go for full suspension instead of the classic hardtails for cross country. Over the past year, I have used the Canyon Exceed as my personal bike for all kinds of events: short, long, technical... And although many may criticize the fact of investing more than €4,000 in a hardtail bike, the truth is that it has performed phenomenally. Both on climbs with rough terrain, where traction could be a problem, and on technical trails with roots and loose rocks. These are my conclusions after a year using a Canyon Exceed SLX 9.0 for my rides and routes:

On fire roads, technical trails and marathon races

I debuted the bike in October 2018 with a lot of excitement and several MTB rides on the horizon. But it wasn't until 2019 that I really started to get the most out of it. We kicked off the season with a fast, low-elevation event, based on trails and short steep climbs, some very steep. I'm talking about the Puro Singletracks in Segovia. It was an event where a hardtail performs wonderfully, although it's true that, given the lack of technical sections, it could be done on a gravel. Great comfort on the bike, but with the feeling of not having gotten the most out of the Exceed. Later came the Desafío Oviedo, with a lot of elevation gain but no technical sections. This is where the 9kg of this Exceed made a difference, especially on the concrete climbs, all above a 15% gradient.

At the end of June we participated in the Desafío Caballero Negro Epic Race, a four-stage event in El Bierzo. Yes, I took a hardtail bike to one of the most demanding marathon races on the national calendar. In this case, I did miss a rear suspension system, since even though the SLX frame of the Canyon Exceed absorbs vibrations very well, the railway sections and such rough terrain were really calling for a full-suspension bike. A moment when the Exceed surprised us was when we took part in the Rosca de Somiedo, with an initial climb of 3 kilometers at more than 20% gradient, and some of the most technical descents. For some reason, except for a couple of descents, we felt very comfortable, since with the right tire pressure (I'll talk about this later), the Exceed can stay glued to the ground securely thanks to its geometry, which distributes weight perfectly. To finish the season, we went to the Costa Atlántica MTB Tour. Three stages in the province of Pontevedra, where mud and rocks were the main features. Technical climbs and descents, rough tracks, and very fast flat trails were the terrains we had to face. This was where the Canyon Exceed showed that its agility is everything.

Key points of the Canyon Exceed

The frame and wheels are the elements that make the difference on this bike. The SLX frame offers a very low weight, and the DT Swiss carbon wheels roll wonderfully. You can really feel how responsive this bike is, given its low weight and high-end bearings. Regarding the wheels and the absence of rear suspension, we come to a detail to keep in mind with hardtail bikes: tire pressures. I have always preferred high pressures, thinking it would reduce friction and allow me to ride faster. But when the terrain is rough, as has been the case this season—except in Segovia—with my 1.80m and 85kg, I preferred to lower the pressures to 1.4bar and thus benefit from greater comfort, traction, and cushioning (minimal, but noticeable). It must be said that comfort is something you notice from the very first moment thanks to the combination of the SLX frame and carbon wheels. But with lower pressure, this is amplified.

Negative points: the size

Canyon seems to present problems for those of us who are between two sizes. In my case, at 1.80 meters tall, I am between M and L. The main problem I see is that the M size in this model may be too small for me. And the L feels too big. The Canyon Exceed I rode was a size L. While it is true that with a longer or shorter stem, a centimeter issue in a size can be solved effectively, we must not forget that investing in a new stem after having spent over €4000 on this Exceed SLX 9.0 is not something anyone enjoys. 

The front suspension is a delight

Many cyclists value Fox forks over RockShox as stock. But in my case, I have to say that the RockShox SID 100mm model on this Exceed is totally reliable. This fork on the Canyon Exceed offers a sense of reliability on the most demanding trails, which has certainly convinced me. I should mention that the best-selling RockShox Reba gave me several problems years ago on another bike, but that could have been a one-off issue with that unit. One factor that caught my attention about the Exceed's suspension was the lockout function. By using the remote lever on the handlebar, the bike becomes fully rigid, something that is very much appreciated on uniform terrain or on the road. In addition, the lockout is incredibly robust, as on some occasions I have started a technical descent with the fork locked and it hasn’t suffered in the slightest. 

Components I have added

In addition to the obvious GPS, tool bag, and bottles, one element I have used a lot and missed in the stock model of this Exceed SLX 9.0 is the dropper seatpost. The retail price of this bike is a big investment and I think that, even though it was designed for XC and rally , a telescopic seatpost would have been a nice touch in this version. The Canyon Exceed SLX 9.0 Team version and other higher-end models do include it. It is true that a telescopic seatpost increases the weight, but for those of us who live in areas with very technical terrain, it is an almost indispensable component.

I love the bike on all terrains

For me, this bike is a delight. I have really enjoyed riding it on all types of terrain, not just fast tracks. After a year of use, I can only say that this bike is a marvel. And even though it is a true hardtail, it is an extremely versatile bike. It's also true that for the kind of races and rides I've done this year, I would have preferred a full-suspension bike, but I can't find any fault with the Canyon Exceed. Also, when considering the purchase of a mountain bike, the price jump for the same quality from a hardtail to a full suspension makes many riders value the agility of the former over the comfort of the latter, which is undeniable.

Canyon Exceed 2020 Range