Completely revamped just over a year ago, Canyon’s popular Spectral trail bike platform finally gets the more-affordable AL aluminum frame treatment. The new Canyon Spectral AL keeps the core of what made the mid-travel CF carbon mountain bike great – from the same geometry, wheel size options, and same capable suspension – while simplifying things and dropping the cost of entry a lot.
Maybe just don’t call this a more affordable version of the carbon model. In fact, it’s an equally all-mountain-ready trail bike, and might even be a better option for those riders looking for something a bit less complicated and more indestructible. Plus, it’s less than 1 water bottle heavier than the most affordable carbon bike, and retails for more than a thousand euros less than when those bikes debuted last spring.
2025 Canyon Spectral AL aluminum 150/140mm trail bikes
For Canyon, the Spectral family is their range of trail bikes built to give regular mountain bikers the perfect blend of enduro descending capability and yet with more efficient, all-rounder climbing. Slotted in the overall MTB line-up, Canyon balances the Spectral with a 40% climbing & 60% descending focus. That “do-it-all DNA” doesn’t change for the new aluminum Canyon Spectral AL vs. last year’s Spectral CF. It’s just now simpler and cheaper with a metal frame.
“Some people keep their bike spotless, every bolt torqued to perfection, ready for a photoshoot at a moment’s notice. That’s cool, but let’s be real: that’s not all of us. Some riders go hard, rinse the mud off with a quick spray from the hose, and call it a day. Some riders have a rusty multi-tool that’s been through a decade—or two—of service, and it’s the only tool they need. Some riders are imperfectionists, and that’s alright with us. The new Spectral AL is for them.”
This is Canyon’s sweet spot for MTB riders looking to own just 1 mountain bike.
What’s the same?
What carries over is the same 140mm of rear wheel travel paired to 150mm forks, with the same revamped suspension kinematics as on its CF carbon brethren. That means the same tweaked leverage ratio with more linear mid-stroke support and a progressive end stroke that feels a lot like a longer travel bike. And reduced anti-squat for a better mix of pedaling efficiency up and more active descending at speed.
You even get the same 1-piece rocker link design for reduced rear-end flex & less stress on the shock.
You also get the same geometry as the carbon bike, set in the lower BB setting that Canyon says most riders preferred anyway. 64° headtube angle for confident descending and 76.6° to pedal back up the mountain.
And you still even get to pick whether you prefer a full 29er setup or a 29″ front + 27.5″ rear wheel combo when you buy it.
So then, what’s new?
Simplified ride, no flip-chips or K.I.S. required
Canyon says the alloy bike is more for mountain bikers who just want to ride, not necessarily worry about tweaking their setup. So the biggest difference is less adjustability. No flip-chips. Just the most popular setting out of the box.
The rear-end of the alloy bike is specific to the rear wheel size, which means you have to pick 29er or mullet when you buy, and stick with it. Both are great. You just have to decide if you prefer 29er speed or mullet playfulness.
Then, no hi/lo chip at the rear shock mount means you stick with the most popular low bottom bracket position and slacker head angle geo setting from the carbon bike. By dropping the flip-chips, the frame is simpler, a tiny bit cheaper, and you’ll never have to think about maintaining those extra tiny movable parts.
The other big bit missing is the K.I.S. steering stabilizer. It’s a pretty cool bit of tech, and I’ve had a lot of fun riding with it, but it’s still not everyone’s cup of tea. So in the interest of simplicity here, KIS is out. But don’t worry, more Canyon KIS development is still in the works.
Really, in the end, Canyon says most riders just set the bike in one position and leave it like that for the life of the bike. So, they just made the choice for you on the most popular setting. And, if do you want that adjustability, the CF carbon bike is your more adjustable option.
Without a big carbon downtube, internal frame storage is out too. But Canyon keeps the integrated storage possibility alive with a set of mounts above the shock for a bolt-on under-the-toptube spares & repairs bag.
Key Tech Details
- sleek & durable aluminum frame made from forged parts & hydroformed tubes
- Category 4 tested (just like Canyon Strive Enduro race bikes)
- 150mm fork travel paired to 140mm rear wheel travel
- 5 sizes available (XS-XL)
- mullet or 29er options for S-XL (XS only fits the smaller 27.5″ rear mullet setup)
- long travel 34.9mm dropper posts (29er: 170mm S, 200mm M & L, 230mm XL. Mullet all get just 150mm.)
- conventional internal cable routing through ports in the side of the downtube (with quite foam inner liner)
- sealed bearing pivots with Canyon proprietary extra grease-fill for extra long life, plus steel thread inserts for lifetime durability & serviceability
- BSA threaded bottom bracket with ISCG tabs
- Boost rear-end spacing with a UDH
- downtube bottle cage mount, plus under-toptube tool cage mount
- silent chainstay & seatstay protectors, plus downtube protector
2025 Canyon Spectral AL – Pricing, options & availability
Canyon offers the simplified, yet versatile and more affordable aluminum Spectral AL in 3 complete 150/140mm bike builds. Plus, everyone gets to pick from the playful feel of a mullet wheel combo. Or the trail-taming speed and rollover of a full 29er setup?
The most affordable is the 2300€ Spectral AL 5 built up with a RockShox Lyrik Select fork, Deluxe Select+ shock, no-nonsense Shimano Deore 1x 12-speed mechanical groupset, solid Deore 4-piston brakes, the long Canyon G5 dropper post, and 30mm internal alloy RaceFace rims wrapped in 2.4″ Maxxis Minion DHR II tires. All that at a respectable 15.8kg claimed weight, just 540g more than the lowest spec carbon Spectral CF. The bike rumor has it that this will be available in the US also, but we don’t know when exactly.
Then, a $3000 / 3000€ Spectral AL 6 steps it up to a Fox 36 Performance Elite fork, Float Performance shock, SLX drivetrain & brakes, Canyon dropper, and 30mm internal DT Swiss M1900 wheels with Minions – at 15.46kg claimed. Quite interestingly, a quite similar, slightly lower spec’d carbon CF 7 model is on sale right now for the same price as the AL 6.
CLLCTV Fabio Wibmer edition
Lastly, for the shredders who want the ultimate aluminum trail ripper, Canyon offers a special Fabio Wibmer edition Spectral AL CLLCTV for 4000€ with a no-compromises all-mountain build at 16.04kg.
You get RockShox Lyrik & Super Deluxe Ultimate suspension, a SRAM S1000 AXS T-type wireless electronic Transmission drivetrain, powerful Maven Silver brakes, Canyon dropper, alloy DT XM1700 wheels with heavy-duty 2.5″ Pirelli Scorpion Race Enduro M/T tires, plus Fabio Wibmer’s signature lightning bolt paintjob to make you faster.
All three are available now in most global markets. (Although, it looks like the first US buyers can only get a single 29er for now.)
