Why do these Canyon Aeroad bikes feel so different?

Over the last year, Si Richardson has been lucky enough to ride two versions of Canyon’s Aeroad. One is the top-tier CFR, while the second is the model below, the CFR SLX.

They’re both the same size and have similar geometries but, despite only being one model apart in Canyon’s hierarchy, they feel completely different to ride. We’re lucky enough to get our hands on lots of bikes, and it’s something we’ve noticed many times before. Bikes have personalities, and they can be wildly different.

What causes these differences? Is it purely down to the frame? Do the components fundamentally alter the feel of a bike? Or is it a mixture of the two?

Si wanted to find out, so he swapped components between the two Canyon Aeroad bikes to see if it affected their feel or character.

Now, we know what you’re thinking: ‘not another pointless test’. Don’t give up on this one just yet, though, as the experiment is more important than you may think.

Most bikes are available in multiple different set-ups, and a test like this will determine just how important frame and component choices are. More specifically, we can work out which individual components have the greatest impact on ride feel, which is useful when it comes to deciding on the next upgrades for your bike.

So, what did Si find out? Watch on to find out.