One of My Favorite Mountain Bikes Just Got Much More Affordable

A manageable material swap is pretty much all it takes to significantly drop the versatile Canyon Spectral’s price.

Published April 23, 2025

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Updated April 23, 2025

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Launched way back in 2014, the Spectral nameplate has proven to be one of Canyon’s most enduringly popular mountain bike lines.

More than a decade later, the Spectral continues to thrive, as evidenced by the fact that the Spectral CF recently won “mountain bike of the year” awards from both Pinkbike and MountainBike Magazine.

canyon spectral 6 full — The Spectral 6’s weight gain isn’t so much as to stop you from catching air on the trails.

This week, in a welcome step to expand its reach, the German DTC brand has employed a material swap to make high-level Spectrals notably more affordable.

Meet the new Spectral 6: $700 cheaper, admittedly a bit heavier and still looking just plain fun as hell.

Aluminum all-star

Search for “spectral” on Canyon’s site and you’ll find no fewer than 70 different bike listings.

But relax, I’m just here to talk about the latest edition, which has me pretty stoked.

Yes, the Spectral 6 takes on a bit of weight, but not that much: a size medium weighs 34.09 pounds, compared to 33.65 pounds for the CF 7.

While the Spectral CF is one helluva trail bike, it’s pricey too. The one that just won all those awards, the CF 7, goes for $3,699.

The Spectral 6, meanwhile, dips just below $3,000 thanks to one major change — swapping out the carbon frame for one made of aluminum.

canyon spectral 6 element beauty — In addition to dark gray, er, Haze, the new Spectral 6 is also available in purple, er, Element.

Yes, it takes on a bit of weight, but not that much: a size medium weighs 34.09 pounds, compared to 33.65 pounds for the CF 7.

Greatest hits

Regardless, the aluminum version retains so much of what makes its carbon fiber sibling so appealing. I’ll dig into just a few noteworthy features below.

You get the exact same geometry, a blend of stiffness and compliance across the chassis that results in just the right balance of confidence and comfort on technical terrain.

canyon spectral 6 suspension detail — The Fox Float X Performance rear suspension and Fox 36 Performance Elite fork will help you stay upright when things gets bumpy.

When it’s time to catch air or drop into a gnarly rock garden, the Spectral 6 offers plenty of floaty Fox suspension (150mm front and 140mm rear travel).

Options for either a mullet set-up (29-inch front wheel, 27.5-inch back) or full 29ers enable you to dial in your riding style (maneuverability versus stability, basically).

canyon spectral 6 element action — Killer Moab-like background isn’t required for a true joy ride, but it sure doesn’t hurt either.

Meanwhile, reliable Shimano Deore SLX disc brakes to manage speed without, you know, flying over the bars.

Lastly, the user-friendly 1×12 Shimano Deore SLX drivetrain delivers a wide gear range to help you climb up out of any deep, dark valley into which you might descend.

Availability and pricing

The Canyon Spectral 6 is available now for $2,999.

Canyon Spectral 6

$2,999 at Canyon

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.