Canyon Torque too much or Spectral too little?

[lindz1817]

Going to the Rotorburn brains trust for a little advice. I'm very close to purchasing a new bike. Went back and forth between YT, Canyon and Commencal a fair bit in the process of looking and now I'm leaning toward Canyon.

I live in North East Victoria so I ride mostly Wodonga/ Albury/ Beechworth/ Yackandandah with occasional trips to Bright.
I ride a lot of rocks, but generally not all that steep.
I was pretty set on a YT Capra or Canyon Torque (Torque got the edge due to being between sizes in YT and not being able to test ride one), but now that the new spectral has come out with 150/160 and a dpx2/ fox 36 I'm thinking maybe it would suit better than the torque.
I also have a Production Privee Shan that I will be keeping for the smoother/ flatter trails or when I'm feeling adventurous, which has lent me to looking for something a bit overkill as it won't need to be dragged around for cross country rides

Torque
https://www.canyon.com/en-au/gravity/torque/2019/torque-cf-9-0.html

Spectral
https://www.canyon.com/en-au/mtb/spectral/2019/spectral-cfr-9-0-sl.html

 

[cokeonspecialtwodollars]

n+1 where n=Shan or replacing something?

 

[lindz1817]

n+1 where n=Shan or replacing something?

N+1. Had the Shan as my only bike since 2014 and haven’t ridden a dually since. It was awesome when I lived in Ballarat, but since I moved here there are a lot more rocks/ drops/ jumps etc on local trails.


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[kiwiinmelb]

Isnt the Strive in between the torque and the spectral ?

New one should be released soon .

 

[lindz1817]

Isnt the Strive in between the torque and the spectral ?

New one should be released soon .

Yeah, I should have clarified that I’m not keen on the strive due to the shapeshifter, geometry and the builds they offer. The rumour mill seems to suggest the new strive will be a 29er when it comes out. Haven’t wanted to go 29er due to always riding 26 and thinking it might be too much of an adjustment between bikes without being able to test ride


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[slider_phil]

An area I know pretty well, even though I don't live there. Mid travel, efficient bikes are king in those regions. Steep hills to climb, with tons of rocks to navigate up and down, especially Beechworth. But also lots of gravity stuff around too which suits the bigger travel bikes. I guess it depends on which way you sway towards. If it were my pick I'd go the Spectral. But if it wasn't one of those bikes, it'd be a 29er just due to the rocks .

 

[JTmofo]

Spectral with 150mm fork and a coil.... be happy.

I was for 2 years.... still miss it.

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[treble]

I have a Commencal Meta 4.2 and my brother in-law recently bought a new spectral. Although my bike is longer travel, they feel pretty similar to ride. I'm actually really impressed with the spectral. Unless you are riding big downhill stuff all the time the Torque would probably leave you a bit over-biked, and the spectral would be a lot more fun when the trails are a bit flatter.

 

[cokeonspecialtwodollars]

Spectral with 150mm fork and a coil.... be happy.

I was for 2 years.... still miss it.

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I'd vote for something like this, I'm still yet to find anything outside of our top DH tracks that you need anything much more than 150-160mm.

 

[tkdbboy]

DH
Park
Enduro
Trail
XC

Chuck a % between each that you'd ride per year and that'll pretty much tell you.
If majority is in the bottom three then go the Spectral.

I've got a Torque, check out my PYR for my thoughts on it.
Compared to 2018 models, the 2019 Torque models are spec'd a bit oddly.
If you're an L then theres a few 2018 CF8's on the factory outlet discounted new.

I'd be surprised if the Strive went 29er ... my guess is they might bump up the travel to 170 and have an improved shapeshifter.

 

[moorey]

Shan duallie. You know you need one, mate.

 

[Ultra Lord]

Vote #2 shan full squisher

 

[moorey]

Vote #2 shan full squisher

There’s barely a sexier bike on the planet. I know your weakness, @lindz1817

 

[Ultra Lord]

There’s barely a sexier bike on the planet. I know your weakness]

And if you don’t like everything yellow (which personally I think is amazing just quietly)

So good!

 

[pink poodle]

Go big! Are you worried about not setting top results on the climbs? Do you ride with a bunch of whippets who will never shut up about your big heavy bike? Are you smashing marathon laps of some wilderness trail? Get the big bike, take it easy on the climbs, send it bit on the way down.

 

[Oddjob]

You could split the difference and get a Liteville 301. Can be run as a 140mm or 160mm. Get a DPA Pike and voila! An enduro bike and trail bike in one.

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[moorey]

 

[lindz1817]

View attachment 349288

There’s barely a sexier bike on the planet. I know your weakness, @lindz1817

You bastard! I drooled over one for about 6 months when they came out. But it will turn into a very expensive build for a pretty heavy trail bike. The Shans would look so good together though!


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[moorey]

Short term pain, long term gain. They have one blue one left...on special....apparently.

 

[lindz1817]

Short term pain, long term gain. They have one blue one left...on special....apparently.

I know I’m going to regret asking this, but.......... do you have a link?


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