2023 Canyon Exceed CF 5: My 2,829mi ownership experience
On August 23, 2023, I purchased a brand new Canyon Exceed CF 5 for $2,153.93. The kicker? I bought it online without even doing a test ride. That’s the new way of buying bikes I guess.
I’m happy to report that it ended up being a very good purchase. The sizing was perfect, and it looked even better in real life than it did on the Canyon website.
A full overview of what it’s like to own (and ride!) a 2023 canyon Exceed CF 5
This was the bike that I purchased to replace my 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Comp. I didn’t need a mountain bike considering that I never ride off road. However, the roads aren’t very smooth in the area that I live – so I needed something tough that could take the abuse.
Here’s the full spec sheet of the bike that I purchased:
FRAME | Canyon Exceed CF |
SUSPENSION FORK | Rock Shox Recon RL Remote |
REAR DERAILLEUR | Shimano DEORE M6100 |
SHIFT LEVER | Shimano DEORE M6100 |
CASSETTE | Shimano DEORE M6100 |
CRANK | Shimano DEORE M6120 |
BOTTOM BRACKET | Shimano Pressfit BB71 |
CHAIN | Shimano CN-M6100 12s |
FRONT DISC BRAKE | Shimano SLX M7100 |
REAR DISC BRAKE | Shimano SLX M7110 |
BRAKE ROTOR | Haves D-Series |
FRONT WHEEL | DT Swiss LN XC |
REAR WHEEL | DT Swiss LN XC |
TIRES | Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2.25″ |
THRU AXLE | Canyon Quixle Thru Axle |
STEM | Race Face Ride |
HANDLEBAR | Race Face Ride Rise |
GRIPS | Canyon push-on Grips |
SADDLE | Selle Italia Model X |
SEATPOST | Race Face Ride |
The day that it arrived
Since the only way to buy a Canyon bike is online, they will ship it directly to your home. Minor assembly is required.
My CF 5 was shipped from Canyon’s warehouse in Los Angeles (just north of where I am in San Diego). It arrived at my door just three days after purchase.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about the unboxing experience was realizing how heavy it was. Altogether, it weighed in at 31 pounds. Not what I was expecting for a bike with a carbon fiber frame and wheels.
Close up detail shots from the inaugural ride
I was still recovering from a recent hernia surgery, so I wasn’t able to ride it for the first time until September 3 (a little more than a week after it arrived). I couldn’t wait to get out of ride this thing!
The only thing that I didn’t like about the inaugural ride was how big and heavy this bike felt. I was struggling to decide between the small and medium frame during the purchase process, but I’m so glad I went with the small. This thing is huge.
2023-2024: 2800 miles of fun and exploration
By far the most important lesson I learned in the first year of riding this bike is that I don’t think I’ll ever buy a 29 inch mountain bike ever again. It’s just too tall for my liking. Call me old school, but I’m of the opinion that mountain bikes with 26 inch wheels are far more nimble (and a lot more fun).
I’ve put exactly 2,829.7 miles on this Exceed at the time of this writing (which happens to be just over a year of ownership). It’s not as light as I would like it to be. The “small” frame is too big and tall for my tastes. But I don’t hate it.
Stay tuned for more updates…