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Canyon Precede:ON AL 7 – e-bike beauty for the city
Here is the model with a low entry – not quite as nice, but more practical.
© Canyon / pr
Silent riding with gears without clicking noises and Bosch power at the same time – the Canyon Precede:ON is elegant, powerfully motorized and practically equipped.
If you wanted to describe the Canyon Precede:ON AL 7 in one word, it would be “elegant”. Not just the looks, it’s the ride and the whole character of the bike. The electric drive takes a back seat to the look, although it is of course there. Safe because the battery is hidden in the frame. The dimension of the down tube is also embedded. Components such as the fork are also wider and thus lead to a harmonious overall impression. The iridescent shade of champagne and the largely hidden running features lead to a very tidy impression.
The riding position depends heavily on your own size and the size of the bike. With a height of 183 centimeters, normal proportions, we chose “M”. This leads to a direct and more agile driving experience than the “L”, which is also possible. Added to this is the “smaller” wheel size of 27.5 inches. The attitude is not exactly unusual. The rider sits on the bike in a slightly forward position. Far enough forward to put pressure on the front wheel and have safe control of the handlebars. At the same time upright enough to be able to look comfortably ahead.
Made for the urban
In terms of type, the Precede:ON is a classic “commuter” bike for urban use. It is intended for driving on covered ground. It’s surprising how well the continuously variable gears from Enviolo, the carbon belt and the Bosch motor harmonize with each other. Effortless locomotion without chains and shift noise or the judder of a gear change is striking here. Anyone who enjoys gliding along silently will be delighted. But you also have to be aware that the combination of belts and Enviolo gears means a significant surcharge compared to a simple derailleur gear. In addition to the driving experience, such a system is largely maintenance-free. Shifting problems, for example when changing gears while standing, and oil-smeared trouser legs are a thing of the past.
Field paths are also possible
The Precede:ON saves on any suspension, which also contributes to the elegant exterior. This is compensated by the tires with a width of a whopping 57 millimeters, mounted with a street profile – Schwalbe G-One Allround – they drive almost silently. Due to their format, they absorb light impacts well. How much can be determined individually by the air pressure. But even with thick tires, the Precede:ON doesn’t become a mountain bike, on rough cobblestones the elegance of gliding along is quickly gone.
The good control of the bike and the traction of the tires make it possible to conquer even more difficult, muddy and rocky dirt roads – uphill and downhill. The wide tires help enormously here, the bike doesn’t dance between the gaps between stones and roots. In terms of character, it is intended for the city and does not take a country trip crookedly. But if you mostly move away from covered paths, you should choose a different bike.
Very good equipment package
The Bosch Performance Line motor does not have as much torque as the Bosch CX, but it is also the right choice because of the gears. In any case, it has enough power and can also take you up inclines of just over 10 percent. For even higher gradients you would need a different shape of frame and also a different motor. Despite all the elegance, a stable carrier was installed, which is supported on the frame and not just on the mud flaps. The usual click systems of bicycle bags fit here, and there is also a stylish, wide tensioning strap with which you can attach luggage to the carrier. Brakes (Magura MT Thirty) and lights (Supernova Mini2) are more than adequate.
What do you have to pay attention to?
The Precede:ON is a designer bike. Here, the handlebar features disappear in the head of a special handlebar. It looks great, but it also means that the bike has to “fit”. Here later conversions are difficult if not impossible and they would disfigure the bike. It is therefore not possible to change the posture afterwards by fitting a higher stem or different handlebars. Unlike derailleur gears, you can’t just change the gear ratios with a belt. A trick that can otherwise be used to get a trekking bike to conquer mountain climbs. In the smaller sizes up to M, the bike comes with a 500 Wh battery, with the larger models the 625 Wh battery fits into the frame. This also explains the price jump of 200 euros. The bike can be charged with the battery removed or with the battery installed.
Who is the bike for?
You should mainly move in urban areas and not on fields and meadows, and you should also love control, agility and sportiness. Above all, you should be able to fall in love with the look of the bike. What’s the point of such a stylish bike if you don’t appreciate design? Those who like the look will love the effortless, silent glide that the Precede:ON enables. We didn’t miss the suspension on paths with pavement, on off-road paths you obviously have to be more concentrated with a bike like this than with a full-suspension mountain bike – but it works.
There are many design bikes that also look great, but basically work with drilled-out Chinese technology. The Canyon looks cool while using components from top manufacturers. And you can tell, the performance of the Bosch motor clearly exceeds that of a Bafang hub motor, the same applies to the brakes and the excellent light. The difference is most noticeable with the stepless Enviolo gearshift. In short: the technology keeps the promise of the design. At 3499 euros for size M, the Precede:ON is certainly not dirt cheap, but it has a very fair price.