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Apr 26, 2024
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The Neuron:ONfly combines remarkably low weight with the power of a heavier eMTB, resulting in a playful ride that can keep up with burlier e-bikes.
Of the many e-bikes we saw at the Sea Otter Classic, one of the most exciting was one we couldn’t talk about in our coverage. Canyon has just released its latest eMTB, the Neuron:ONfly, and not only is it Canyon’s lightest eMTB by more than 5 lbs., it achieves that weight without giving up power.
Producing a sub-50-lb. eMTB isn’t easy and the way some companies have accomplished this is by shrinking the battery and motor, resulting in an eMTB that can produce more power than the rider alone can, but lacking the peak power necessary to keep up with other e-bikes. This is where Canyon’s new Neuron:ONfly is different.
Canyon chose the Bosch Performance Line SX motor because, at 4.4 lbs., it is Bosch’s lightest motor, but still produces a maximum output of 600W and 55Nm of torque. And it is powered by Bosch’s CompactTube 400, a 400Wh battery which can offer more than 3000 feet of elevation gain per ride. The combined weight of motor and battery comes in at just 11 lbs. This is a Class 1 e-bike with a maximum assist speed of 20 mph in order to be legal on as many trail systems as possible.
The Neuron:ONfly rolls on 29-in. wheels both front and rear, rather than going with the increasingly popular mullet setup; there are those of us who prefer 29-in. wheels both front and rear. Suspension travel stands at 140mm, both front and rear, thanks to a RockShox Pike fork and a RockShox Deluxe Select + shock.
Thanks to a 12-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain and SRAM Code R hydraulic disc brakes and other strategic choices, the Canyon Neuron:ONfly weighs just 44.76 lbs., and comes in at roughly $5500 for the complete eMTB.
Canyon’s release of the Neuron:ONfly is arguably the most exciting new eMTB this year thanks to its combination of low weight and full power.
Mountain bikers face a transition when riding eMTBs after years of regular mountain bike riding. While the greater weight of an eMTB aids traction and makes the bike feel more planted. That’s good. However, in riding a bike that may weigh close to double what their previous mountain bike did, eMTBs tend not to feel as playful. They aren’t as easy to loft over rocks and roots. They tend to bash their way through rock gardens. And getting the front wheel off the ground, while not difficult, requires thought and conscious effort because muscle memory is programmed for much less weight.
The upshot is that riding an eMTB is a somewhat different experience than riding a regular mountain bike and it requires some adjustment. For the rider who may want to switch back and forth, taking their lighter mountain bike out for shorter rides and then going on longer, faster rides with their eMTB, shrinking that weight gap between eMTBs and regular mountain bikes means less adjustment for the rider when switching back and forth.
We spoke with Canyon’s Vernon Felton at Sea Otter and what he says he found so remarkable was that most lightweight eMTBs give up that top-end power, so that on a ride with other eMTB riders, the lighter eMTB with the lower power motor gets dropped on climbs. He found the Neuron to be more maneuverable, easier to negotiate through a rock garden while maintaining an ability to climb with the most powerful eMTBs on the market.
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