Today, Canyon announces a complete update to the Spectral:ON eMTB platform with the release of the Spectral:ON CF 9, with three more builds — the CF 7, 8, and LTD — following in the coming months. The new platform boasts updated geometry and 1,500W of peak power thanks to the Avinox MS2 drive unit, all at a very impressive weight. Canyon claims the soon-to-be-released Spectral:ON LTD will be “one of the lightest full-power eMTBs to date,” weighing just 20.8kg (45.8lbs).
Like many brands this year, Canyon joins the Avinox crowd
Likely the biggest point of conversation surrounding e-bikes this year has been the release of the new Avinox M2S drive unit. And we all know the stats — the new motor delivers tremendous power, reaching 1,500W and 150Nm of torque.
Canyon is among many brands moving away, in part, from previous motor manufacturers (Shimano for Canyon) to Avinox for its power. Pivot, YT, Atherton, Mondraker, Orbea, Nukeproof, and Ari are among some of the brands to release a new or updated e-bike with the Avinox M2S motor in 2026.
While some early adopters may not have been able to take full advantage of the M2S’s power, that won’t be the case for the Spectral:ON. In its press release, Canyon mentions that Avinox “now offers 150Nm of torque and (setting it apart from many other Avinox-equipped bikes) 1,500W of peak power in every ride-assist mode.”
Now, whether someone actually needs all that power might be a different story, and many of you think it’s a problem. Shortly after the M2S’s release, a survey showed that Singletracks readers felt e-bikes were too powerful (49%) and too fast (40%). That said, the Avinox motor, like many others, is relatively easy to tune to a lower output setting.
Canyon will pair the Avinox M2S motor with a 700Wh battery. The system claims faster charging times, reaching 80% within roughly 76 minutes (when charging from 0%). The Canyon press release mentions no optional smaller or larger battery options, nor does it mention a range extender.
Canyon also makes significant geo changes
Along with a completely new drive unit, Canyon also makes some fairly drastic geometry changes from the previous Spectral:ON. The new Spectral:ON sees a slacker head tube angle (64°) and a steeper seat tube angle (78.5°) — both significant changes by at least 1.5°.
Canyon also updates the chainstays to be size-specific, though not across each size. Set up as a mullet, smaller frame sizes will have 442mm stays, while larger ones will stretch to 447mm. Set up as a full 29er, the Spectral:ON will boast 451mm chainstays on Small and Medium frames and 456mm chainstays on Large and X-Large.
(The Spectral:ON will come as a mullet across all sizes, but can be set up as a full 29er via a flip chip and, of course, a larger rear wheel.)
Reach also changes, with Canyon saying reach numbers stretch by 10mm across all sizes. The new Spectral:ON’s reach now spans 445mm to 520mm, with medium and large frames sitting at 470mm and 495mm, respectively. This is certainly a bit longer than “normal” for these popular sizes, and some riders may opt to size down.
A full-power e-bike with mid-power weight
E-bikes are a story of compromise. We want all the power and are enticed by the added watts and torque. But those added watts bring added weight, with full-power offerings easily reaching the mid-50s in poundage. But not with the new Spectral:ON, as Canyon boasts weights nearly 10 pounds lighter than some competitors.
Canyon claims the Spectral:ON CF frame weighs just 6.4lbs. They accomplished this by taking “everything we learned from building the last three generations of Spectral:ON (as well as the past two generations of Strive:ON) to shave every unnecessary bit of weight without compromising durability.”
Canyon claims more power and a larger battery for the Spectral:ON platform, with only a few pounds more than mid-power offerings. For comparison, Yeti’s MTe features the TQ HPR60 (mid-power) motor, with 350W of power and 60Nm of torque. It pairs this with a 580Wh battery, and the bike weighs around 44lbs. The Norco Fluid VLT has a Bosch SX (600W and 60Nm of torque) motor and a 400Wh battery, and it weighs an impressive 42.5lbs.
That said, Canyon clarifies that the claimed 45.8lbs of the Spectral:ON is for the currently unreleased “LTD” build. Regardless, sub-46lbs is impressive for a full-powered e-bike, and it won’t surprise us if all the builds are under 50lbs.
The Spectral:ON CF 9 and future builds
Canyon isn’t sharing much yet about the new Spectral:ON platform or what each build will consist of. Today, the brand is introducing its highly spec’d CF9 build — at least based on the components they shared.
The Spectral:ON CF 9 features 155mm of rear travel delivered from a Fox Factory Float X shock, paired with a 160mm Fox Factory 36 fork. Canyon also says that the Spectral:ON can accommodate a 170mm fork. The build features a SRAM XO Transmission drivetrain, Maven Silver brakes, and DT Swiss HCX1700 carbon wheels.
We will have to wait for future builds to be released over the next few months. On November 12, Canyon will release the Spectral:ON CF LTD (only 150 made), followed by the CF8 on December 4th. On December 4th, Canyon will also begin taking orders for the released bikes. On January 19, 2027, Canyon will release the Spectral:ON CF7 and simultaneously begin shipping orders of all models.
Canyon expects customers to begin receiving their orders in February. While pricing for the other models is not yet known, the Spectral:ON CF9 retails for $9,499.
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