Ultimate (Race)
Origin
Canyon unveiled the first Ultimate at Eurobike in 2004, and it quickly became the cornerstone of the young German brand's road range. Canyon's approach broke with heritage tradition: sell direct-to-consumer online, cut out the dealer margin, and pour the savings into engineering and component spec. The Ultimate carried that ethos onto the biggest stages in cycling — Cadel Evans won the 2009 World Championships in Mendrisio aboard one, and Andre Greipel took its first Tour de France sprint stage in 2011. Over five generations the Ultimate evolved from a pure lightweight climber into a modern all-round race bike, gaining disc brakes, wider tyre clearance and — in the 5th generation launched for 2022 — deeper, more aero-shaped tubes borrowed from the Aeroad, while defending its reputation as one of the lightest and most praised race bikes in the cycling press.
Specifications
- Frame
- Carbon fibre (5th-gen Ultimate). Frame weight ~1,110g CF / ~885g CF SLX / ~780g CFR (size M, claimed)
- Weight
- kg
- Drivetrain
- 2x12-speed. Trim-dependent: Shimano 105 / 105 Di2, Ultegra Di2, Dura-Ace Di2, or SRAM Rival/Force/Red AXS. Typical 48/35T chainset, 10-33T cassette
- Brakes
- Flat-mount hydraulic disc, 160mm front / 140mm rear rotors
- Wheels
- Trim-dependent: alloy or carbon. CF SLX: DT Swiss ARC 1400; CFR: DT Swiss PRC 1100 Dicut or Zipp 353 NSW
The verdict
- Outstanding stiffness-to-weight — light, snappy and fast on climbs and accelerations
- Race geometry that is aggressive yet manageable, with a smoother ride than the numbers suggest
- Exceptional value: World-Tour spec for hundreds to thousands less than dealer-sold rivals
- Direct-to-consumer means self-assembly and no local dealer support — a factor in the Baltics with no Canyon service point
- Hookless carbon wheels on some CFR builds cap tyre width (30mm+) and pressure (75psi)
- Aggressive low-stack fit and integrated cockpit make big fit changes fiddly; not the most endurance-friendly Canyon
Generations
4th-gen Ultimate (2020-2021)
- Pure lightweight climber; geometry aligned with the redesigned Aeroad.
- Frame
- Carbon CF SL / SLX, round-ish tubes
- Brakes
- Rim and disc versions
5th-gen Ultimate (2022+)
- Stiffer, more aero, wider tyre clearance (up to 33mm); three frame tiers sharing one geometry.
- Frame
- Carbon CF / CF SLX / CFR, deeper aero-shaped tubes
- Brakes
- Disc only, 160/140mm
Versions & builds
Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.
| Spec | CurrentUltimate CF / CF SL (entry) | CurrentUltimate CF SLX Di2 / AXS (mid) | CurrentUltimate CFR Di2 (top) | CurrentUltimate CFR AXS (top) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | 2024 |
| Frame | Carbon CF ~1,110g | Carbon CF SLX ~885g | Carbon CFR ~780g | Carbon CFR ~780g |
| Drivetrain | Shimano 105 / 105 Di2 2x12 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 or SRAM Force AXS | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 2x12 | SRAM Red AXS wireless 2x12 |
| Brakes | Hydraulic disc 160/140mm | Hydraulic disc 160/140mm | Hydraulic disc 160/140mm | Hydraulic disc 160/140mm |
| MSRP | €3,000 | €5,400 | €8,900 | €9,500 |
| Purpose | Value | Balanced | Flagship | Flagship |
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