Canyon and Kraftwerk announce collaboration bike
Canyon and Kraftwerk have teamed up to make the most German bike ever.
Words - James Raison
Here it is everyone, the collaboration you never knew you wanted to see. The magical intersection between electronic music nostalgia and modern high-end uber bikes.
Yes, German direct-sales leviathans Canyon are collaborating with electro-pioneers Kraftwerk to make a strictly limited run of 21 special editions of their Ultimate CF SLX. It’s a bike that promises to be as German as well-kept accounting records, excessively long words, litre beers, clean taxis, and eating a pig’s leg in a tent.
According to Canyon, the bike “technically-accomplished machines pays homage to Kraftwerk’s iconic aesthetic and harks to the pioneering sounds they produce.” Gotcha. The frame has “unique geometric pattern, originating from (Kraftwerk frontman) Ralf Hütter’s own design.” That sweet pattern is set against possibly the blackest bike ever made. It’s naturally been photographed against a black background.... with a black dummy… in the dark...
We do kind of love Canyon Founder & CEO, Roman Arnold’s personal connection to the source material: “My memories of partying in friends’ basements as a teenager are dominated by hearing Kraftwerk’s groundbreaking sounds. Kraftwerk and cycling have a special and unique connection – their music, and all that they do, has inspired our work at Canyon in so many ways across the years.”
Is anyone surprised that Canyon is loaded with Kraftwerk fans? Nope. Didn’t think so.
But wait, it gets even more German. Tony Martin will ride a Canyon/Kraftwerk painted Speedmax frame for Stage 1 of the Tour De France in Dusseldorf. It’s going to be Deutscheapalooza.
THE BUILD
Ok, so what do you get for your $14,299 AUD?
- Frame: Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
- Groupset: SRAM eTap
- Wheels: Zipp 303 Firecrest
That's all we know at this stage. We'd guess the rest of the finishing kit comes from Canyon and it looks like Continental are providing the rubber.
Want to know more? Hell yes, you do. Bikes go on sale Monday 3 July, Check it out on the Canyon Website.
But hey, before you go, let's remind ourselves of why this is such a beautiful collaboration:
