Which Is The Ultimate Enduro E-Bike? | Canyon Strive:ON CFR Vs Orbea Wild M-Team
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- čas přidán 25. 12. 2023
- Check out the bikes here:
Orbea Wild M-Team: hawk.ly/m/Orbea-Wild-M-Team/i...
Canyon Strive:ON CFR:
www.canyon.com/en-gb/electric...
We match up two Bosch-powered, race-proven e-enduro bikes, to find out which offers the ultimate performance away from the race track.
Competition has always accelerated the pace of development, and the discipline of e-enduro racing is no different. This fledgling race category has not been around for very long, but it’s already pushing forward at a relentless speed. Advances in equipment ridden by competitors are continually shaping the bikes we’re seeing hit the showroom floor (and your local woods) in terms of motor choice, battery capacity, travel, geometry and suspension characteristics. Case in point; the two e-bikes tested here came out less than 12-months ago and are both designed specifically for enduro racing at the highest level. They share a remarkable list of similarities, from travel, to frame material, to motor brand, but they ride quite differently on the trails. So if you’re in the market for a versatile, full-power e-bike with the geometry and travel to take on pretty much anything, then this test is for you.
Another reason these two rivals make such a compelling match, is that they took home the ultimate bragging rights over their rivals by winning the overall 2023 E-EDR Championships. The mullet-wheeled Canyon under Fabien Barel, and the full 29in Orbea under women’s winner Flo Espiñeira. Their racing pedigree is in no doubt then, but we want to find out how they compare away from the microcosm of elite racing, as both will sell more units to riders looking to blast their local trails than enter a World Cup Enduro race.
Read the full reviews and compare geo and weights by reading the full reviews at MBR.co.uk:
www.mbr.co.uk/news/canyon-str...
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Both of those look sick dudes. But I have to tell you I am in love with my 2024 canyon torque on e. 🙏🔥
I have Wild and it's the best bike I've been on in my 10 years of riding. Forget the fact that it's an e-bike, the handling is supurb. I made a handful of upgrades to my custom M10 build - Magura calipers and rotors, Hope 155mm cranks, and a Maxxis Aggressor rear tire (for the loose over hardpack terrain here in Phoenix), and it's an absolute beast. The bike definitely rewards you going faster and faster, there are trails I've ridden a ton where I keep going quicker because I'm still looking for that limit. Never ridden a bike like this before, and I've been on other ebikes like the Pivot Shuttle LT, Ibis Oso, Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay and Santa Cruz Heckler (my regular bike is a v2 Megatower and before that I had a Ripley, a v1 Megatower, and a v2 Hightower).
Good for you buddy! The bike rocks!
Thank you guys !!!🥳
Been looking at these two as the main contenders to replace my kenevo SL. Uk riding, mostly off piste like the forest of dean with regular trips to BPW or Flyup417 what would you buy?
The onky thing worth noting os i didnt like my KSL till i mulleted it.
Thanks!
My CF8 Spectral ON also likes less sag, maybe 25%. It does like to ride down in the travel otherwise and pedal strikes are common with too much sag. Once I figured that out the Spectral worked Much Better. I may try 155 cranks just to see whats what.
We have endless rocks around here.
I have a Strive on : it is a beast ! Easy to ride and soooo fast ! I feel so confident with it. Going up or down, he does everything very well.
Which build?
@@davidec666 it’s the underdog version.
@@jean-philippeschwartz642
Thanks!
Any issues with the brakes?
@@davidec666 no Sram brakes are good, as the rest of the components. No issue at all.
Hope you didn't hurt yourself when you fell.
I am tall and I don't like to sit brnd over forward. The Wild seems to better in this regard
Sure wish Canyon still had that bike available!
Has it sold out?
@@MBRmagazine they only have the Highest and lowest spec, not the Goldilocks spec you review primarily.
I was lucky enough to ride in 6 countries last year. The orbea is Epic and it takes more time packing it in a bike bag then it does worrying about the battery. The Orbea is totally planted and nimble. If the geometry is on spec you don’t need the adjustment.
How did you travel without being able to remove the battery?
@@emilianoartis oh, what I meant to say was that packing the eMTB into the bike bag takes longer than using a tool to unscrew six bolts to take the battery out.
I took way to long to decide on my eMTB but haven’t looked back. I went from SL to full power as my fit body type isn’t the traditional cycling body type, so back and forth between SL to Full Power and back. In the end the Wild with the CX motor is Epic. The battery gives me distance and occasionally l use full power but for me the bike is the best of all worlds. Short chain stays so no need for the compromise that 27.5 offers for all round. The Wild uses good quality parts where it counts and for the bits that last. The Shimano drive train (a first for me) has been trouble free and the replacement components are inexpensive by comparison. I’ve only broken chain links on another brand but I take spares for that with me anyway. No large single point of failure like an mgu so I haven’t looked back. A lot of folk focus on ideas rather than the practical ideals of every day living with a choice. The bike is totally planted, well respected and how often do we really need to remove a battery anyway?
A lament; there are very few head to head comparisons like this one by eMTB channels of any consequence. The potential conflict with benefactors gets in the way, which is a shame.
Another conspiracy theorist.
@@BrettEcuyer another daydreamer
Great review guys as always. The orbea is easier on the eyes by far and there are cheaper models in the range. I don’t mind the non removable battery as I don’t race and I don’t see the cable routing as a major issue either.
Thanks!
Totally agree 💯
The Orbea will be also be the more reliable bike, the Canyon is a hassle to keep the battery connection functional over the mid term. Sold mine after 6 months, as it has broken down 2 times for the same reason (battery connector inside the frame), two times that you loose the bike for about 8-10 days.
Great review and very helpful information regarding the sag setup and percentage @27%. I hardly have any pedal strikes now, thank you. Where did you add the volume spacer (apologies, I'm new to volume spacers and suspension mods? I've purchased a yellow Fox '38' 10cc spacer, is this the correct spacer and did you guys install the spacer in the front Fox 38 Performance Elite Grip2 fork shock (left-hand side) ?
I have the Canyon Strive On: CFR in Medium
Also, regarding the Bosch battery retaining clip, I haven't had any issues yet, but only done 270km on it so far. Is it worth contacting Bosch customers services and asking for the newer fix issued clip?
Thanks in advance to anyone.
Thanks for the comment. We installed the volume spacer in the rear shock. There are guides on how to do this on YT and the Fox website, but basically you let the air out, remove a circlip, and slide the air can off, then clip on a plastic spacer. Regarding the new battery clip, the best port of call would be Canyon customer service. Glad you’re enjoying the bike. 👍
I have one question, why they don t put a big helicoidal suspension on the strive on?
My Strive:ON is killer toy and tool for any steep madness
I didn’t want a bike without a removable battery but Orbea had a test wild at chicksands and it was amazing large drops, dirt jumping, it’s so poppy I had to have it
Sounds like you’re smitten! Enjoy it 👍
Same thing happened to me!! Bravo dude
Batteries not charging in the cold is not a stumbling block.... charging lithium ion in the cold directly effects the longevity of the cells.
Thanks for the comparison of the two interesting bikes. I would be interested to know if the range extender also works on the Canyon? I know that it works on the Orbea, but I can't find anything about it on the Canyon, which leads me to believe that it doesn't work yet? That would be a big disadvantage for the Canyon from my point of view.
As far as we know, Bosch’s range extender will work with any Bosch system on any bike providing you can fit it to the frame. Will have a look and see if there’s space and get back to you. 👍
Both uses the same Bosch system so of course it will work on Canyon if it works on Orbea, it's the same Bosch Smart ecosystem.
@@Echoes- No, it does only work on bikes that bosch decides to release the firmware for. my cube 750 can't receive the new firmware
@@lewiss66 Ok, that sucks, I can confirm it works on the Canyon Strive:ON though, it was in the last big over-the-air update with the new AUTO assist mode.
If the connector for the charger on the bike is suitable, then the extender can be used. you can find the difference between the connectors on the internet. it must have 2 additional holes where the cable is fixed
Another question is which company actually has the bikes to sell you? I ordered my Orbea Wild many months ago and they keep pushing the delivery date back. Every 2 weeks they push it back another 2 weeks. Very frustrating. The Wild does look amazing though and I'm really looking forward to getting it.
Hope it turns up soon 🤞
Did you get it by now?
@@vgstb Yes I did. I got it a couple months ago. Already have over 700 kms on it. Amazing bike!
@@brendan1 great! I love it!
The Wild with the smaller battery should be a way more agile bike. And It doesn't look like a boat, so it would be my pick + Its been winning everywhere but here (no surprise) as the best emtb.
Could be wrong but not seen it tested anywhere else against the Strive:On? Also, we loved the bike. Not sure we could have made that clearer!
The smaller battery makes it a really, really playfull bike. Test rode it after I sold my Canyon just a couple of weeks ago, after getting fed-up with the battery connection fails.
03:32 The stick. 😂
Rustic FTW!
What height are you guys? Would you size down from a Large to a Medium if you were 6 foot on the Canyon?
We’re 5ft 10 and 5ft 11in. At 6ft we’d probably veer towards a large 👍
The orbea wild alloy models weigh 26 Kg, the fork for H20 and H30 is inadequate. Unfortunately, upgrade on the cards out of the box for the cheaper models. The weight is an issue for me.
How is weight a big issue on an ebike? COming from a non e-bike rider
The heavier the bike, the harder it is to move around, get it to do what you want to do. It’s physically tiring and usually not as agile.
Would you recommend a small or medium with the canyon at 5ft9” (175cm) the site recommended both 🤦🏻♂️
Probably medium. It’s got good balance and loads of stand over clearance. 👍
M for sure. But on the Canyon site you can type your measurements and it will answer. I'm 177cm and I have a M, it fits perfectly.
Thanks for the excellent and honest reviews. The practically non-removable battery on the Orbea, while the clunky battery positioning and loading mechanism +continuity at the top of the battery cavity, basically makes no sense to me when purchasing an e-bike. The battery will always move a small bit with hard hits, including cleaning and checking the battery requires taking the battery out IMHO on a weekly basis. So really, neither of these bikes are ideal for real consistent mid-high level aggressive rides over time for folks that are beyond the weekend warrior. I couldn’t imagine the battery losing continuity and dying on the trail, that would be a return like Fnnn fast.
And Canyon will rectify this battery issue. Never buy the first new model of anything.
The handling differences might mostly come from the rear wheel size. For non-racers, arguably the 29 is better bet, especially with better climbing and (for laymen) more planted descending. It's also about 1 kg lighter for the same equipment. So I tend to like the Orbea more, but... half an hour to take out the battery is just too much... so you need to keep it in a warm place in the winter, can't just take out the battery for a charge and/or storage. Might be updated in their next model, hopefully.
You either have a lighter and stiffer frame or you have a removable battery.
Not true - lots of e-bikes now have fully enclosed down tubes and removable batteries.
@@MBRmagazine That still makes it heavier and weaker...
All the things you say are true. But you have to keep also in mind that the removable battery should work and not fail so easily like in the Canyon. I sold mine just a couple of weeks ago, after it failed the second time for the same reason (faulty battery connector in the frame). Great bike, but it's not exactly cheap and things that cost a chunck of cash should just work.
What’s your height? Are you in between sizes and sized up for the Wild? I 5f 8in and considering a medium, but unsure.
We’re 5ft 10in and 5ft 11in. At 5 ft 8 in you should be ok either on a large with a 150mm dropper or a medium. Depends on whether you prefer a larger bike or not. 👍
@@MBRmagazine thanks!
I’m 5.11 with shorter than normal inseam for my height. I’m on a large. I tried both the M and the L and the L is a great fit for me. I’d sit on both. I suspect your maybe a M.
16:35 Under the 625w, website says reduce weight, boost agility. Shouldn't the 750w say increase weight, reduce agility, add cost?
All of those points are true, but Canyon has only highlighted the advantages of each battery rather than the pros AND the cons.
The smaller battery is the way to go, 900 grams lighter and all that weight is removered from the top in the downtube. Makes it a really really playfull bike.
@@vgstbmaybe but I run the larger battery right down on most rides so it was the right choice for me. Horses for courses
Ive been pretty happy with my Ransom E-ride honestly. I sold my turbo Levo after getting it as It works as an everyday bike bit also can bomb through the chunk and hucks. It's a big of a chunky boi with its weight which would be my only grip well besides the computer it uses it older and doesnt seem to have an app to adjust settings. But the Bosch motor in E-ride works great anyways.
I was mainly blown away with the value for what I spent compared to if I would have stuck with Specialized and got the kenevo
Where is the battery connecter on the canyon? is it internal? If so how would you service or clean.
I cant help to feel the power stage in Emtb racing has no real word relevance to EMTB riders. Im my case climbs are always dictated by battery preservation where possible.
A bosch motor really isn't a selling point for me , tight nasty sucky parts of a trail may suck a little less using the bosch but they still suck for everyone.
Two great bikes neither ticks my boxes, shame the Orbea isn't mullet and the strive isn't factory.
A 160 forks are a little underdone surely a 170 would b better and even go a 36 over the 38 for the weight saving.
Battery connector on the Canyon is at the top of the down tube, towards the head tube. The Charging port is just above the motor on the seat tube. Regarding the forks, both bikes come with 170mm travel forks. You just have to tick the option box on the Orbea. Not sure the 36 is available in 170mm travel.
I am stuck in a loop with choosing a new E-bike: I can't test a StriveON, can't even sit on one to check the size 😞. Seems like at 5'9" I'm bang inbetween the S and M. So I've ruled it out.
Tested a Spech Levo Comp Alloy in size M3. Excellent handling, maybe just a touch front-heavy, but corners so much better than my Whyte E-150RSV2 or my mate's Trek Rail 9 (Gen 2). But the Brose motor is so unresponsive - it's like a turbo diesel. This exacerbates to front end "weight" problem because the power doesn't come in quick enough to pop the front end up and if you stop pedaling even for an instant to clear a step on a climb, the bike just stops. Spesh reckon the "Responsiveness" can be tweaked in the app - but I'm dubious.
So I look at the Wild. I've ridden one round a car park. That's the only test I can get 😞. Felt very decent but MBR reckon it's less nimble than the Strive and it's 26Kg and fixed battery etc. So I look at the Strive and repeat ad infinitum!
Any advice on how to get out of this loop?
You’ll be fine on a medium Strive:On. 👍
@@MBRmagazine Thanks for the rapid answer. Still nervous... there's a test on another site (Loam Wolf) where the rider is 6'2" and Fabien Barel himself recommended he size down from L to M. Hard to reconcile being 5" shorter and fitting the same size - although his seatpost did seem a ridiculously long way out.
No worries. Fabien himself rides a medium and he’s 5ft 10in (same as me).
I test rode a strive on medium and I'm 5'9". It was hands down the best bike I've ever ridden with or without a battery. However I also tested a small torque o which was amazing until it got steep and technical. I'm with you, I just don't get why bike brands have their crossover in bike sizes at the average height of a European bloke. I didn't get to test the strive on small but suspect with the stack height being lower than the torque on, it would throw you over the front on steeps. If you put riser bars on you will shorten the feel of reach.
It's a frustrating dilemma but I do agree the medium strive on would be a good option. Just a shame you will loose some agility.
@@Johnvdubable After checking with Canyon via email (they were very responsive) I went for a StriveON in size Small. I put the stem up one spacer, which is the limit, and have the saddle a bit further back than in the middle. Although I think I would be OK on a Medium, I absolutely love the Small. The handling is amazing! I was a bit worried it would be boring on the easy stuff, but the way it can be made to do a controlled oversteer with the back wheel by dropping the bike over suddenly makes tame trails massive fun. It's way above my pay grade for descending and it's a superb tech climber.
The Bosch Smart system is a lot better than the previous version - they even seem to have tamed the overrun a bit. Which takes it even further ahead of the Brose (never tried a Shimano motor).
The Fox suspension is way better than the Rock(hard) Shox stuff on the previous bike and I vow to never have a bike with SRAM brakes and gears again!
My bike was delivered without the i-spec integration nut. Canyon customer service was very quick and effective at sorting this.
Overall, it's a great bike!
I just rode the new Canyon for the first time. I’m a relatively advanced rider. I was very disappointed with the uphill pedal strike. My Levo has a 12” clear pedal height. Canyon has a 9” clear height. Does anyone put shorter cranks on the Canyon to help solve this problem? Do shorter cranks negatively impact anything else? The striking issue was really bad in rocky terrain.
Yes, pedal strikes can be an issue on the Strive:On. Firstly it’s important to get the right sag. So 28% in the seated position, not standing. Set this sag in the standing position and it will be too soft and the bb too low. Secondly, we think Canyon should have fitted shorter cranks. Fitting 160mm or 155mm cranks instead of the stock 165mm will really help as well.
I am actually looking for a emtb to buy very soon. My top picks are the Strive On or the Levo Comp Alloy. Does anyone have any advice which I should choose. My riding will be mostly trail with some enduro. I am a very average rider of 54 years old looking to ride more often and have more fun, especially when riding up hill.
Strive ON more bike for money. Specialized is a good bike, but will have slightly lower specs price for price.
It always depends on your budget, experience, the kind of riding you’ll mostly doing and trails you’re planning on riding in. Determine those things and find look into the bikes that suit your needs.
*Tip: Try to attend mtb events around your local area where multiple brands have test bikes for people to try. Opportunities to actually test the offerings from big box brands and boutique manufacturers is a huge plus when it comes to informed decision making. Especially if you’re planning on dropping a sizable wad of disposable income on an E-MTB.
Thanks for your coment Alex. I have some reservations about carbon fame durability versus the alloy fame, do you think this should also factor in my choice?@@alexbiketester
@@alexbiketester Yup, that Specialized name on the frame costs money. Ive got 2 Canyons, an Endurace roadbike, and the Spectral ON CF8......both have been very solid bikes.......................I dont see the carbon frame as being a problem.
Specialized can command a premium however their support is typically second to none. I bought a kenevo from my local shop a couple months ago. They carry a few different brands. I asked who has the best warranty support and they said hands down, specialized. Was also a great deal at over 30% off.
I have a wild team came with the alloy rims and Dh tyres it feels dead, changed to reserve SL30s and 2.4 magic Mary and big bettie combo and the bike feels 40% better in every way!
And, if you go faster? Does it come alive?
Just referring back to the title... for the racers aka supported riders - both fit i.e. they're winners.
For the average Joe... 30 mins plus to change out battery & a motor that cuts out!?
I'll take neither!!
What would you take instead?
If I had unlimited coin...?? I'd get all blingy, Yeti, YT, Evil, Unno etc.
What 'did' I choose??
I got a GT Force Amp+ 👌It was 2-4K cheaper than similar offerings from other brands.
NB, I did chuck on my own personal fork (36 Fox Factory @160mm) and swapped the rear shock out for a Cane Creek Double Barrel coil jobby.
I changed rig out to mullet w/ my own personal wheelset.
I did have to buy better tyres though... this was offset by selling stock tyres.
Bike has a couple quirks, but runs like a dream 🤘it has saved my butt plenty of times, when said butt has tried writing checks that would've normally bounced 😇
PS - if I had not come across the Amp+ at the price it was, I'd still be on Amish only
My Orbea wild has never cut out and these reviewers are stressing the battery removal too much when it takes only 5 minutes to complete.
The battery doesn’t rattle around and being a carbon it’s one of the and if not lightest emtb out there.
There’s 3 Allen bolts and the motor is out.😅
At 8K for almost any Emtb; you’d have to be extremely bonkers to quibble over quick release batteries 😅 I’m sorry, Orbea did something that a lot of these companies didn’t do and that’s why the Orbea wild is the coldest E Bike out there.
Not even halfway through, I wouldn't buy a bike without a removable battery.
How often would you ever remove it?
I change mine out 2 to 3 times a day
@@thim8009 What?! 😂
@@thim8009are you doing 150 miles a day???
I'm a big guy, it makes a big difference. Some of the places I go is really steep. I can make it in trail, but turbo is a lot nicer. I ride 10 hours a day in a lot of different spots, so I swap out batteries in-between rides.
Sizing with canyon is tricky, I’m 5’8 so it says a small frame but I always ride a medium.
Maybe it’s my napoleon complex kicking in to not have a small bike
Just seen Troy Brosnan rides a small Strive:On and he’s 170cm, 175cm, or 176cm depending on which web profile you believe! 😂 Either way, small might be the way to go as it’ll not lack stability.
I ride a Small frame and it's so agile in tight stuff plus the Mullet effect!
Kinda lost me when you didnt manage to put the same tyres on both bikes and comparinsing weight with trail tyres on one and DH case on the other.
Yeah and medium bike feels more agile than large bike shocker.
@@baddevotionsboth bikes have almost identical reach.Orbea Large=Canyon medium
The bikes are almost identical in terms of reach. Canyon is 473mm and Orbea is 471mm.
True, we could have matched the tyre casings. Would have added about 250g to the front tyre on the Canyon.
1/2 a pound does make a difference in handling on rotating mass. I think you did a good review. But there should be a standard tyre weight for claimed bike weight from manufacturers. Some put light trail casing on emtbs to get low claimed weight. And first thing most riders do is put on DH casing tyres. So in some cases add as much as 1kg. The other thing is environment. Can only speculate in how many unused tyres are thrown each year worldwide as a consequence of manufacturers getting low official weight on their bikes. @@MBRmagazine
I live in California the canyon strive On that they sell in the states has the Shimano EP801. Does anyone know if I could order the version with the Bosch motor in it?
We can see the Strive:ON with Bosch on sale on the US site here: www.canyon.com/en-us/electric-bikes/electric-mountain-bikes/mountain-ebikes-striveon/strive-on-cfr-underdog/3428.html?dwvar_3428_pv_rahmenfarbe=BK%2FBK
i am looking at a 2022 model (different frame, removeable battery) wild fs h20, second hand from a rental/bikeshop with 1.4k km for 2.500€ - good deal?
Not in this current market. You could get a new bike for 3.5K of decent quality.
how tall are you guys?
178cm and 180cm 👍
"Which is the ultimate enduro E-bike?" The Nukeproof Megawatt. Carbon 297 😁👍‼
For me the yt core 4 720 battery 5899
Its a 6 year old bike, not even comparable.
That battery situation in the Orbea is insanity.
Only if you’re racing or have to keep it in a cold shed.
All the canyon frames crack at the pivot point and the allot frame at the HAZ so orbea for me
My Canyon alloy never cracked ; bullshit comment ( all ).
my alloy spectral cracked my mates alloy neuron cracked@@BrettEcuyer so suck an egg
I’ve had 3 canyons. They’ve all been hammered on the trails and I’ve never had a problem with the frames
Shut up MUPPET!
12000€?! WTF!
My Orbea wild has never cut out and these reviewers are stressing the battery removal too much when it takes only 5 minutes to complete.
The battery doesn’t rattle around and being a carbon it’s one of the and if not lightest emtb out there.
There’s 3 Allen bolts and the motor is out. It’s not as if we are trying to dismantle an Ikea bunkbed! 😅
At 8K for almost any Emtb; you’d have to be extremely bonkers to quibble over quick release batteries 😅 I’m sorry, Orbea did something that a lot of these companies didn’t do and that’s why the Orbea wild is the coldest E Bike out there.
If you’re happy with the design then great. We’re just pointing out some of the limitations. And we’re sure you meant there are six bolts holding the motor, not three. 😉