The Canyon concept began in founder Roman Arnold’s garage and has grown to be one of the best bike brands with a reputation for innovation and quality, its bikes being ridden by some of the best mountain bike and gravel bike riders all over the globe. The direct-to-customer brand has been very busy lately with a host of new drops in its range of electric mountain bikes that included a boost to the ON e-MTB range, with the all-new Strive, Torque and Grand Canyon models, an update to the Canyon Spectral:ON, and the brand also launched its all new app that offers Canyon bike owners setup guides, maintenance advice, and even bike GPS tracking.
Canyon released a redesigned Torque in 2022 with the engineers making the popular freeride range even better with a full-carbon lineup that was slacker, lighter, stiffer and capable of going big at the bike park. As a brand that continues to evolve, it didn’t just stop at the frames, and for 2023 and for the first time, the Torque is now available as a mullet wheel mountain bike sizing with a fast-rolling 29-inch wheel taking care of business up front and an always rowdy 27.5-inch wheel giving a party at the back.
The 2023 Torque range will give riders the choice of the mixed wheel size, with mullet wheels offering the benefits of both worlds that suits a huge range of riders. The big 29-inch wheel up front delivers better rollover, improved stability at speed and a larger contact patch for improved traction with the smaller 27.5-inch providing agility, and superior maneuverability in tight corners and also helping avoid ass buzz when hanging off the back on steep sections.
The new range of bikes retains the impressive features that made the Torque a versatile bike suitable for a whole season of riding both in the bike park and backcountry. The frames are claimed to be now stiffer, lighter and more durable, and they incorporate slack headtube angles, longer reach, reduced offset forks, and steeper seat tube angles.
The Torque range is tested and rated to Canyon’s highest Category 5 standard with riders in the Canyon family like Thomas Genon and Kaos Seagrave putting it to the ultimate test riding some of the toughest lines in the world at Red Bull Rampage. In honor of the Torque's incredible capability, Canyon has launched a dual crown offering in the range with the Torque DH CLLCTV. A bike they say will be a heavy-hitting freerider or a downhill-ready rig. This aluminum framed beast is made to be sent hard, only available in one choice for color featuring the Kaos Theory artwork.
The Torque range starts with the Torque Mullet AL 5 and Canyon says it has a game-changing aluminum frame, kitted with a RockShox Zeb and Super Deluxe suspension pairing, Shimano Deore shifting and gnarly Maxxis Assegai and DHR II triple compound tires suitable for those looking for an introduction to serious park bike riding. On the other end of the price spectrum, the Torque Mullet CF 9 comes fully decked out with supple Fox Factory suspension, wireless and accurate SRAM AXS shifting and DH-proven DT Swiss wheels.
Canyon adds that although the focus is on mullet bikes, there will still be options for the one-wheel-size purists. The AL Torque 6 will be available with full 27.5-inch wheels and the Torque CF 7 and CF 8 will have full 29-inch versions. Completing Canyon’s freeride offering is the Fabio Wibmer signature edition Torque. This will be the third version of the Austrian’s signature Torque since he joined Canyon. His 2023 bike features all new artwork, updated specs and mullet wheels.
Pricing and availability
The complete Torque family is available to order from 23rd May 2023 at canyon.com. With pricing starting at $2,999 / £2,599 / €2,699 for the Torque Mullet AL 5, $TBC / £3,099 / €3,199 for the AL 6. The CF 7 at $TBC / £3,849 / €3,999, CF 8 at $5,399 / £4,599 / €4,799, CF 9 at $TBC / £5,749 / €5,999.
The Fabio Wibmer Special Edition is priced at $TBC / £5,499 / €5,799 and the dual crown offering in the range, the Torque DH CLLCTV at $TBC / £2,899 / €2,999.
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