Speed is nothing without control. That’s exactly why Canyon’s aero-monster is now available with disc brakes. How does the Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 Di2 stand up against the climbing specialists and all-rounders of our test? Will the aerodynamic DNA of the Aeroad pave its road to GRAN FONDO success?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: What’s the best road bike of 2018? – 12 race bikes put to the test

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 Di2 | 7.52 kg | € 6,999

The Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 Di2 is Canyon’s aero flagship. With a price of € 6,999 and a weight of 7.52 kg, the Canyon offers an interesting overall package with many interesting highlights. First of all, the Aerod loves integration: the Di2 Junction Box is neatly hidden in the Canyon H11 carbon aero cockpit, which looks fast and feels extremely comfortable. The Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 with big 160 mm rotors (front and rear) and their black cooling fins fit the overall picture of the Canyon superbly. One pretty and very practical detail is the low bottle cage mounting points, which allow you to place the bottle cage far down the downtube and take advantage of every little quantum of aerodynamics. Are you ready for your next triathlon? The one thing that left us a little perplexed (and quite frankly a tad disappointed) is the sloppy cable routing in the head tube; this develops an annoying rattling noise and causes the cables to rub the paint off the frame. Ouch!
In many occasions we praised the outstanding performance of the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 with disc brakes. Needless to say, these – combined with the 64 mm-deep Mavic Comete Pro Carbon SL UST wheels, Canyon’s high-end componentry, and the aero cockpit­ – make for a very promising spec indeed.

Riding the Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 Di2 is a bliss.
Tuning-tips:
Tires with better comfort and more grip, i.e. Vittoria Corsa
35 – 45 mm-deep wheels

If you keep silent for a minute, you’ll hear the Canyon Aeroad screaming for speed! The deep Mavic rims, chunky aero frame and the gorgeous paint job will make every lactic-acid junkie’s heart beat just a little faster. From the start, you can feel how efficiently the stiff frame converts every little pedal input into powerful acceleration. This translates into “pure fun” in fast sprints. It’s a shame that the (relatively) heavy aero wheels spoil the party; they just feel bulky and take ages to get up to speed… but once you get there, the Aeroad rolls superbly and asks you to ride as fast as you can – as long as there isn’t any side-wind. Unfortunately, you can feel every gust of wind pulling on the front wheel, which isn’t surprising considering the deep 64 mm profile of the rims. This means you’ll have to stay switched on all the time, which can be a strain in the long run.

Considering its weight, the Aeroad climbs incredibly well. To some extent this is due to the stiff and very efficient bottom bracket area of the frame. We can tell comfort wasn’t the top priority for Canyon’s engineers, as the stiff frame picks up and amplifies every little imperfection of the tarmac. The Canyon H11 carbon aero cockpit impressed us with its ergonomic shape and proved the most comfortable cockpit in our test. On long, winding descents the handling of the Canyon Aeroad feels sharp and precise, but becomes a little restless on rough tarmac and when performing abrupt decelerations. This happens on the one hand because the imperfections of the tarmac are filtered through the uncomfortably stiff frame, and on the other because the strong braking force of the 160 mm discs cause the bike to swerve a little. We weren’t too impressed with the performance of the Mavic Yksion Pro UST tires either, as they clearly lack grip, especially in wet conditions. This really affected our riding confidence and also explains why the Canyon only managed the rear-midfield in our timed session.

Helmet ABUS GameChanger | Glasses 100% Speedcraft | Jersey Rapha Core Jersey | Gilet Rapha Pro Team Lightweight Gilet | Bibshorts Rapha Pro Team Bibshorts | Socks Rapha Pro Team Socks | Shoes Mavic Comete Ultimate

The Dura-Ace disc brakes deliver great braking performance, good modulation, and a superb bite. Only the power distribution of the two 160 mm rotors doesn’t feel 100% right! The combination of a stiff frame and aggressive riding position cause the rear end to overbrake a little too easily. A 160/140 mm combo would be a more suitable setup and would also get rid of the aesthetically-questionable adapter on the flat-mount.

   The Canyon H11 carbon aero cockpit impressed us with its ergonomic shape and proved the most comfortable cockpit in our test

The Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 Di2 in detail

Drivetrain Shimano Dura Ace Di2
Wheelset Mavic Comete Pro Carbon SL Disc
Brakes Shimano Dura Ace
Tires Mavic Yksion
Weight 7.52 kg
Price € 6,999

Internal cable routing and electronic shifters make for a clean look. Unfortunately, the rattling noise is really annoying.
The Dura-Ace disc brakes deliver outstanding braking performance with good modulation and a great bite.
The deep Mavic rims, chunky frame, and quality paint finish are true bliss for every lactic-acid junky.
Internally-routed cables and electronic shifting make for a super clean rear end.
The Mavic Yksion Pro UST tires offer poor grip, especially in damp or wet conditions.
The Canyon loves integration: the Di2 Junction Box is hidden inside the Canyon H11 carbon aero cockpit. Not only does this look great, but it is also extremely comfortable.
The Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 Di2 is sprinting like a cheetah.
Pure efficiency – the slightest pressure on the pedals is directly converted into acceleration, which means lots of fun in sprints.

The geometry of the Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 9.0 Di2

Conclusion

The Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 9.0 Disc Di2 is the ideal choice for all aero-freaks, speed-addicts, and flatland-racers signing up for the occasional hilly triathlon and fast-paced time trial. The price of € 6,999 gets you a lot of bike for your money. Unfortunately, the nervous handling and a noticeable lack of comfort fail to inspire confidence, especially on fast downhills – and this throws the Canyon back into the rear-middle of our test field. Having said that, it totally dominated the class of thoroughbred aero-racers in our test.

Top

– Efficient frame
– Ergonomic and comfortable cockpit
– Di2 integration

Flop

– Tires (mostly in wet conditions)
– Rattling noise and cable rub
– In sprints, the wheelset feels sluggish and is very susceptible to side winds

Uphill
Downhill
Sprint


For more info head to: canyon.com

For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: What’s the best road bike of 2018? – 12 race bikes put to the test

All bikes in the test: 3T Strada | BMC Teammachine SLR 01 Disc Team | Corratec EVO eTap Konfi | Fuji SL 1.1 | Rose X-Lite 6 eTap | Scott Addict RC Ultimate Disc | Specialized S-Works Tarmac 2018 | Speedvagen Road | Standert Triebwerk Mach 3 | Trek Emonda SLR 8 Disc | Wilier Superleggera SL

This article is from GRAN FONDO issue #008

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Words: Manuel Buck, Robin Schmitt, Benjamin Topf Photos: Noah Haxel