Friends,
I wonder if it´d be good to consider buiying the current Canyon Aeroad.
I hesitate because of:
What´s your experience? Are there any other points to observe?
Thank´s for your highly appeciated answer.
I have a 2024 CFR bought last November, previous generation, not the one released that summer. No issues other than I couldn’t lower the stack height. I had to have REI/Canyon figure it out - they said I should be able to put it back up easily but I have not tried.
i have an aeroad cf sl 7, with 105 di2 and scope r4 wheels. Haven’t looked back since. Absolutely 0 issues. I did chose for new bike day at canyon service centre in eindhoven to ensure it was properly built up and checked.
Ok thank´s for your input - it´s exactly my fear that this kind of jack of all trades cockpit CAN create trouble. On the other hand it´s a great solution for saving money for trying out what cockpit setup suits best - but only if it´s rock solid and easy to handle.
I have the latest gen sram red aeroad. They were not kidding when they said the main improvement was making it more user friendly. This bike is incredibly user friendly compared to the previous gen or the Ultimate. I swapped the stem by my self and it took a total of 3 hours over two days, it was simple. Everything I didn’t like about the ultimate, they fixed on the new aeroad. I am really happy with mine. cockpit is very quiet, no issues there.
My stack height issue wasn’t supposed to happen, so that was more of a problem in the way they installed it - I am on the CP0018. As @PiperPrincess the newer handlebar setup is better.
Had it for 4 full seasons now. Replaced headset bearings and bottom bracket (with a screw-together one). Absolutely love it and wouldn’t hesitate to get another one … Except for one rather big/annoying issue, though I’m not sure whether it is a frame issue, or another issue. Two years ago I started to drop the chain when shifting from small to large ring, in a few instances getting it stuck and destroying the chainsuck plate. New chain rings, new BB, new cassette, repeated FD alignment, etc. and no luck. I have noticed that the issue happens more with a chain that needs waxing/lubing than it does with a freshly oiled/waxed chain, though a fresh chain does not offer a no-drop guarantee sadly.
2019 Aeroad…Im torn. I quite like the bike but US customer service is so hit or miss. Sometimes, you get someone thatll bend over backwards to help you with any problem, other times, Im convinced the guy im talking to is splitting time with Comcast customer service.
The pros… came with really great spec for thousands less than a comparable “bike shop” bike woulda cost me. at 6 years old, it still looks and performs like new. The press fit BB has never been an issue. The stock one did easily 12K miles. Only reason I changed it was I needed a new DI2 battery and the BB had to come out for that. No sense in pressing an old bearing back in, so replaced it with the cheapest item in the dura-ace catalogue.
The cons…
Stock wheels are very outdated. quite narrow by todays standard and do horrendous in crosswinds.
The proprietary parts can really be a pain in the rear. For instance, headset bearings. Acros makes them…well…made them. My 6 year old bike is apparently in planned obsolescence. When I needed bearings, canyon no longer sells them and directed me to Acros. If canyon aint buying them, acros aint making them. Was able to find a shop in europe that had em and shipped to the states. What would have been $15 for a trek or spesh was over $100 for my aeroad.
Needed a seatbolt screw. Went on the canyon site, didnt have them. Called customer service, was told its only sold with the seatpost, so in order to get a $0.30 screw, id need to spend almost $200 for their odd-shaped head screw. I was able to easily find a screw that fit and hit the head with an angle grinder, so no harm no foul, but again, on a spesh or trek, that woulda been in the junk drawer and they probably woulda given you the screw and a spare for free.
Unless I got another screaming deal on it, not sure Id buy another canyon. The money saved upfront is coming back to cost more to keep it on the road
2022 Aeroad here. So post handlebar snapping debarkle, but pre the very latest revisions. When it all works it is a brill, fast, lively bike. Looks great and always gets lots of comments (positive) from other cyclists. No BB creaks (which I was a little concerned about).
Have had some seatpost wear (due to designed in flex) which Canyon were good to sort out. Newer version has a different seatpost so assuming not a problem.
The one piece bar and headset assembly is too complicated for its own good. It does not use a traditional expander (aheadset) set up, but rather a wedge system running through a slot in the fork steerer. Mine has creaked a lot. I have managed to sort it with some very fiddly application of carbon paste to the clamp surfaces (really difficult to do without disconnecting the brakes hoses from the hoods). I dont believe an end user should need to fiddle and fight in this way to solve a handlebar stem creak caused by an over complicated design (from new). The new version has a revised one piece handlebar.
So, when it works, it works and is lovely. Perhaps the new versions have ironed these things out. Canyon customer services have been pretty good (here in the UK).
Quite generally, the topic of pressfit BB issues is completely overhyped and ignores other sources of creak such as seat posts. E. g. I have had issues with the seat tube of my last mountain bike being too large and that had an aluminium frame. My current road bike (a 3T Strada) with pressfit BB has been flawless, I’m still running of the original BB (4+ years old at this point with > 300 hours of use per year).
Dont own a Canyon, but do have a Giant Propel thats 7 year old with a pressfit BB and had no bother with it, ever.
Canyon however, ive always fancied one but recently started seeing some worrying quality concerns particularly on FB although ofcourse you typically hear more bad stories than good ones.
One particular concern was a brand new bike delivered where they had forgot to apply the second “N” of CANYON on the non drive side. Obviously doesnt effect how the bike works, but it doesnt bode well for their Quality controls if that can get to the customer.
Well ok I think that´s a problem with the installed groupset - am I right? Is it an older SRAM groupset? On the newest E1 groupsets SRAM optimized the FD - many customers had issues with chain drops.
I made the same experience with a Ridley Helium SLX back in 2017 - no issues there - creaking always came vom seatpost or cockpit. But I don´t know if this is true for all Brands.
Ok thank´s for these insights - helps me a lot!
Ok these are the kind of problems I feared and my decision is clear that I won´t change to a Canyon bike. I´ll build up a bike by my own as I did with my last 4 bikes. It´s important for me that I can repair a bike easily by myself and I made bad experiences with hotlines of all kind. I want to know all the parts if I pay some thousand $$$ for a bike. Thank you for sharing your experience.
In my experience, manufacturing issues are typically specific to components or certain bikes at certain times.
I don’t own a Canyon bike and don’t plan to. But I’d be cautious to take the approach you are taking. Loads of manufacturers have had recalls and problems. DT Swiss, one of the most established and reliable wheel brands out there recently sent out no-ride notices. Manufacturers such as Giant and Specialized have had recalls within the last few years. And they have had plenty of more documented issues with their bikes.
The issue with direct-to-consumer brands is simply that you don’t have a LBS supporting you. At least most don’t like that you cut them out (which makes Canyon bikes cheaper), but add to their support burden.
I think the modern hyper integrated bike makes it tough on all shops. However, Canyon does have REI support now. I went there for my Aeroad. It was new for them, but it got settled fairly quickly between them and Canyon. And for my Giant Revolt, I went to my Giant-affiliated LBS to help me figure out a rear derailleur setup issue, and they couldn’t figure it out and basically gave up. I even called Giant on their behalf. I then went to a different LBS and they got it done right away. I went to the Giant one first, because I figured they’d be more experienced and able to get it done without hassle.
Not sharing to disagree, but more to say that I’ve learned LBS / dealer support is not necessarily what I expected.
That’s for sure since all parts are specific to the make and model. If I want a different seat post on my road bike (a 3T Strada with an aero seat post), I have the choice between 3T and 3T. On my older mountain bike (with a round seatpost), I can get anything. However, that’s not specific to Canyon, most bikes these days have some level of integration.
Finding a good LBS and keeping them in business isn’t easy. I paid a premium for my bike, because it was built up by a LBS. (In Japan, where I lived at the time, 3T bikes can be ordered direct-to-consumer or to certain LBSs. Not sure about other countries.)
I have the 2024 Aeroad SLX 7 with score r4 wheels.
Gotta say did not notice any creaking or noise. I do have the say the BB was worn within a year which was a bit surprising to me. I’m a nice weather rider who only takes the Aeroad out in the spring/summer months, about ~3000km on it. In bad weather and winter I’m on my indoor bike (old bike on trainer). More than half my volume is not even on the aeroad.
I also (think) I maintained it well generally. But yeah..
edit: got to say the service centre in eindhoven from canyon is good. I’ll let them do the big maintenance once a year
2024 CF SLX 7 Axs here - zero noise issues. Wasn’t even affected by the DT Swiss recall!
So handy to pack/ rebuild compared to my previous (non intergrated handle bar) bike as well. Only bugbear was having to pay extra for the aero drops.
Should add, I absolutely love it!