On Test | The new 2022 Canyon Lux Trail is a spicier, long-travel version of the Lux

The Canyon Lux Trail has just arrived as a brand new full suspension XC bike from the German direct-to-consumer giant. As the name implies, the Lux Trail is something of an aggro riff on the existing Canyon Lux. While the two bikes look quite similar, the Lux Trail features more travel, slacker geometry, bigger tyres and a less race-focussed build kit. Though with complete bikes coming in as light as 10.9kg, it’s certainly no heavyweight.

Having had a load of experience with the existing Lux, we were intrigued to hear that Canyon would be adding a spicier flavour to the lineup. Here we’ll be diving into the details behind the new Lux Trail to see what it’s all about, and where it fits in. If you’re keen to know how it rides, be sure to check out our Canyon Lux Trail review.

Watch our video review of the Canyon Lux Trail here!

2022 canyon lux trail cf 8
Compared to the regular Lux, the Lux Trail gets a 120mm travel fork and 110mm of rear travel.

Canyon Lux Trail overview

Slotting in between the Lux (100mm XC race bike) and the Neuron (130mm trail bike), the Canyon Lux Trail is equipped with a 120mm travel fork and 110mm of rear wheel travel. That puts it alongside other pumped-up XC bikes on the market such as the Specialized Epic EVO, Trek Top Fuel, Merida Ninety-Six 8000 and Orbea Oiz TR.

According to Canyon, the Lux Trail ideally suited to longer distance marathon racing and fast-paced trail riding. Dedicated XCO racers will still be best served by the standard Lux with its short travel, lower weight and more conservative geometry. But those who are looking for a little more comfort and control, the Lux Trail could well be the better and more versatile option.

Same tail, new front-end

Aesthetically speaking, the Canyon Lux Trail looks very similar to the existing Lux. Like its racier sibling, the Lux Trail is built around a full carbon fibre frame and the single-pivot Flex Stay suspension design. In fact, the one-piece swingarm is identical to the regular Lux, and so too is the linkage, shock yoke and pivot hardware. As a result, the kinematics and anti-squat values are pretty much the same between the two bikes.

The key difference can be found within the shock stroke, which increases from 50mm to 55mm on the Lux Trail. And this is what boosts the rear wheel travel from 100mm up to 110mm.

The front triangle itself is also unique to the Canyon Lux Trail, and that’s where things get a little more interesting.

2022 canyon lux trail cf 8
The carbon swingarm is identical between the regular Lux and the new Lux Trail, with a direct-mount brake calliper and thin carbon flex-stays.
2022 canyon lux trail cf 8
The compact linkage is also the same, though a slightly longer 55mm stroke helps to eke out the extra travel.

Progressive XC geometry

Along with the longer shock and 120mm travel fork, the biggest differentiator on the Canyon Lux Trail is in its front-end geometry.

You’ll still find four frame sizes, and many numbers remain the same as the regular Lux. In fact, the chainstay length, BB drop, seat tube length, and effective seat angle are identical between the two bikes.

The top tube has been stretched out dramatically however. The Canyon Lux Trail gets a huge 460mm reach in the Medium size, compared to the 435mm reach on the regular Lux. The head angle also kicks back over two degrees to 67.5°.

To match the longer and slacker front end, the Canyon Lux Trail gets wider 760mm bars and a shorter 60mm stem (compared to the 740x80mm cockpit on the standard Lux). This means the Lux Trail will still offer quite a long and low riding position like an XC race bike, albeit with wider bars and a broader wheelbase. With that in mind, those chasing a more comfortable and upright riding position will still naturally gravitate towards the Neuron.

2022 canyon lux trail cf 8
The front end is unique to the Lux Trail, featuring a dramatically longer reach measurement and a much slacker head angle.

2022 canyon lux trail cf 8
Familiar features, like the IPU headset, are carried over from the existing Canyon Lux.

Canyon Lux Trail weight

Unlike the standard Lux that is offered in two different frame levels (CF and SLX), the Canyon Lux Trail will only be coming in a single carbon frame option (CF).

Despite the longer and slacker front end, Canyon states the Lux Trail frame is only 30g heavier than the Lux CF, and 220g heavier than the Lux SLX. Claimed weight for the Lux Trail frame is 1,905g, though cheekily that weight doesn’t include the rear shock, thru-axle or chainguide. Once you add those essential elements in, that weight bumps up to 2,276g. Here’s how that compares to the regular Lux frames;

So it’s not quite as light as the class-leading 100mm travel XC race bikes on the market, but it’s really not that far off and it’s still very impressive for a bike that features 120/110mm of travel.

Familiar frame features

As well as sharing a similar overall aesthetic, the Canyon Lux Trail carries over many of the same technical details found in the regular Lux. That includes the IPU steering limiter, a PF92 bottom bracket shell, and a super minimalist chainguide that is said to weigh just 3.7g on its own.

There’s plenty of clearance to fit two water bottles inside the mainframe, and guided internal cable routing has been employed to the process of replacing a gear or dropper post cable a whole lot easier. Out back you’ll find a flat mount rear brake calliper, and the very nifty tool-free Quixle rear axle.

2022 canyon lux trail cf 8
All Lux Trail models will come with a dual remote lockout and dropper post.

You also get a dual remote lockout, which activates both the fork and shock simultaneously. However, the configuration is different depending on the bike model.

On the Lux Trail CF 8, which features RockShox suspension, you’ll find a TwistLoc remote lockout along with an under-the-bar Reverb AXS dropper lever. The rest of the Lux Trail models utilise Fox suspension, and these get an under-the-bar remote lockout, with an over-the-bar dropper lever (as shown above on our CF 9 test bike).

Canyon Lux Trail price & specs

There will be four models available in the 2022 Canyon Lux Trail lineup, and unbelievably, most of those are actually in stock at the time of writing. Prices start at $5,049 AUD for the Lux Trail CF 6, and go up to $8,799 AUD for the Lux Trail CF 9. However, you’ll need to add the obligatory shipping fee, since Canyon sends its bikes directly to the customer.

Each model will come standard with a dropper post and a 120mm travel Fox 34 Step-Cast or RockShox SID fork. Canyon has also spec’d proper 2.35-2.4in wide tyres, which are supported on rims with a 30mm internal width.

We’ve been putting the new Canyon Lux Trail CF 9 to the test on our local trails, in order to see how it compares directly to both the standard Lux, and some of the other rad rippers we’ve been testing lately including the Specialized Epic EVO and Merida Ninety-Six 8000. If you’re keen to know what it rides like, be sure to check out our Canyon Lux Trail review.

Otherwise read on to check out the detailed specs and pricing of the 2022 Canyon Lux Trail range.

2022 canyon lux trail cf 9
The top-end Lux Trail CF 8 gets Fox Kashima suspension, a Transfer SL dropper post, DT Swiss XRC 1200 wheels, and one of the best paint jobs we’ve seen from Canyon!

2022 Canyon Lux Trail CF 9

2022 canyon lux trail cf 8
The Lux Trail CF 8 goes for an all-SRAM affair with GX AXS shifting, a Reverb AXS dropper post and RockShox SID suspension. Tidy!

2022 Canyon Lux Trail CF 8

2022 canyon lux trail cf 7
The best-looking bike of the lot? The Lux Trail CF 7 gets tan-wall Schwalbe tyres with a Wicked Will up front and a Racing Ralph out back. Shimano XT and Fox suspension round out a classy, and extremely well-priced package.

2022 Canyon Lux Trail CF 7

2022 canyon lux trail cf 6
The Lux Trail CF 6 is your entry point into the range, though with its Fox suspension, Shimano SLX groupset, DT Swiss wheels and Transfer SL dropper post, this bike is anything but entry level.

2022 Canyon Lux Trail CF 6

2022 canyon lux trail cf 9
With a dual remote lockout and a dropper post, the cockpit is pretty busy on our Canyon Lux Trail CF 9 test bike!
2022 canyon lux trail cf 8
Keen to know what it’s like to ride? Be sure to check out our Canyon Lux Trail review!

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