Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc 8.0

The rim brake version was good, but will Canyon’s Aeroad CF SLX Disc be even better?

- Stu Bowers

For some, Canyon is a devil, killing off distributors and independent bike shops with its direct-to-consumer sales strategy. For others, Canyon is an angel, with a business model that allows it to offer good bikes at great value in a heavily price-driven market. What your own view is rather depends on where you stand in the whole bike retail system.

What’s not up for dispute is the quality of Canyon’s bikes. The latest addition to the range is the Aeroad CF SLX Disc, which is a re-engineered version of its previous aero road bike to accommodate the addition of disc brakes.

The addition of discs appears to be mainly because it completes the set – all of Canyon’s other top-end road models already offer a disc version – but the company admits that the discs do nothing to help the Aeroad’s aerodynamic proficiency. However, the extra drag is minimal, with Canyon claiming it amounts to less than a watt of extra effort compared to the rim brake version.

That’s scarcely going to be perceptible, while the additional half-kilo or so in extra weight is likely to be more noticeable. Regardless, I had high expectations of the Aeroad CF SLX Disc, as I was a big fan of the previous version, and I’m generally in favour of the more predictable braking offered by discs.

On the money

Before I get onto my experiences out on the road, I can’t just brush aside the money issue. There’s no getting away from the fact the Aeroad CF SLX Disc 8.0 Di2 is great value.