Canyon reinvents the Exceed with a surprising Gravel version

The Canyon Exceed expands its range of action. The well-known competition hardtail from the German brand is no longer focused exclusively on Cross Country but has become a broader family, capable of covering everything from marathon events to some of the most demanding off-road ultradistance competitions in the world.

Canyon takes the Exceed beyond XCO with two new versions: one for marathon and another for ultradistance gravel

Canyon has just introduced two new members of the range: the Exceed CFR, a high-level hardtail aimed at XCM and stage races, and the surprising Exceed CFR Gravel, which combines a mountain bike frame, 2.4-inch tires, front suspension, and a road handlebar.

Canyon Exceed CFR Gravel: a mountain bike with a gravel handlebar

The big news of this range expansion is undoubtedly the Exceed CFR Gravel. Canyon developed this bike after observing an increasingly common trend in events like the Atlas Mountain Race, the Tour Divide, or the Silk Road Mountain Race.

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In these multi-day competitions with particularly demanding routes, more and more participants, even among the best, have started to replace conventional gravel bikes with mountain bike frames equipped with curved handlebars.

The goal is to combine the advantages of both worlds, such as greater tire clearance, structural strength, suspension, and MTB-specific gearing alongside the different positions and aerodynamic possibilities offered by a road handlebar.

Canyon has decided to turn this handcrafted solution into a complete bike available directly from the factory.

The Exceed CFR Gravel uses the same CFR carbon frame as the mountain bike version, with a claimed weight of 1,250 grams, but incorporates a completely different setup.

At the front, it features a Fox 32 SC Performance fork with 60 mm of travel. A figure far removed from the usual 100 or 120 mm found in current XCO bikes, but sufficient to improve grip, reduce vibrations, and increase comfort on rough tracks and terrains.

Another of its most striking elements is the Canyon CP0039 Double Drop handlebar with Gear Groove system. This interface allows the installation of accessories such as cycle computers, lighting systems, or aerodynamic extensions without having to resort to multiple mounts around the handlebar.

The ease of maintenance has also been a priority during the development of the Exceed CFR Gravel.

In ultradistance and self-sufficiency races, a breakdown can mean much more than just a loss of time. For this reason, Canyon has opted for a wireless SRAM S1000 AXS Rival transmission, eliminating the internal mechanical cables of the derailleur.

The bike also features Canyon GR 30 CF wheels and components with conventional interfaces that, according to the brand, should facilitate repairs and maintenance when a professional workshop is not nearby.

Comfort during long hours on the bike has also influenced the setup.

Canyon equips the Exceed CFR Gravel with the well-known VCLS 2.0 carbon seatpost and an Ergon SPR20 TiNox saddle. Both components aim to filter some of the vibrations transmitted by the terrain and reduce accumulated fatigue during several consecutive days of competition.

“We continue to see cyclists competing with bikes like the Exceed in marathon XC races, but also increasingly in off-road stage events like the Atlas Mountain Race, the Tour Divide, and the Silk Road Mountain Race,” explains Bastian Langlitz, product manager at Canyon.

“We have also seen how they use road handlebars on mountain bikes to take advantage of the benefits of tire clearance, suspension, frame strength, and gearing range. We see the benefits of this approach and want to support cyclists looking for such a setup: we have created the right tool for this job,” adds Langlitz.

Despite its road handlebar, the specifications make it clear that we are looking at a bike much closer to mountain biking than to conventional gravel.

The Exceed CFR Gravel mounts Maxxis Aspen ST 2.4-inch tires, a size currently common in XC competition.

Its claimed weight is 10.2 kg.

Canyon Exceed CFR Gravel Setup

• CFR carbon frame of 1,250 g
• Fox 32 SC Performance fork of 60 mm
• SRAM S1000 AXS Rival transmission
• Canyon GR 30 CF wheels
• Maxxis Aspen ST 2.4” tires
• Canyon VCLS 2.0 seatpost
• Ergon SPR20 TiNox saddle
• Canyon CP0039 handlebar
• Claimed weight: 10.2 kg

Canyon Exceed CFR: a competition hardtail for XCM

Alongside the new version with a curved handlebar, Canyon also presents the Exceed CFR, a much more traditional setup aimed at cyclists looking for a lightweight hardtail for marathon races and stage events.

Both models share exactly the same CFR carbon frame of 1,250 grams, but the setup of this version is clearly oriented towards performance in mountain biking.

The suspension is handled by a RockShox SID SL Ultimate with 100 mm of travel, and it mounts the electronic SRAM XX SL AXS transmission.

The DT Swiss XRC1200 carbon wheels complete one of the most exclusive aspects of the setup.

Canyon has chosen Schwalbe Racing Ray and Racing Ralph 2.4-inch tires, a combination widely used in competition for its balance between grip and rolling speed.

The result is a hardtail with a claimed weight of 9.6 kg.

Canyon Exceed CFR Setup

• CFR carbon frame of 1,250 g
• RockShox SID SL Ultimate fork of 100 mm
• SRAM XX SL AXS transmission
• DT Swiss XRC1200 carbon wheels
• Schwalbe Racing Ray/Racing Ralph 2.4” tires
• Canyon VCLS 2.0 seatpost
• Ergon SPR20 Pro Carbon saddle
• Canyon CP0036 handlebar
• Claimed weight: 9.6 kg

With these two new versions, Canyon significantly expands the original concept of the Exceed. The hardtail that for years was closely linked to XCO now also covers marathon, stage races, and ultradistance competitions in self-sufficiency.

The new Canyon Exceed CFR and Exceed CFR Gravel are available exclusively through the Canyon official website and app.