The Takeaway—a fat bike that focuses on speed and lightness, not epic adventures.

  • Just one water bottle mount. No other cargo provisions
  • 26x4.8-inch tire clearance
  • Full carbon frame and fork for the price of many aluminum fat bikes.

Price: $2,799 (as tested)
Weight: 26.25 lb. (medium)

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As far as I can deduce, the Canyon Dude isn't an homage to Jeff Bridges's character in The Big Lebowski. And it's not named after the bike industry's Dude, alter ego of Wick Wickster—an iconic fixture in the PNW cycling scene.

"Dude" just doesn't fit with the rest of the German brand's model names, which are more intense sounding like Ultimate, Strive, Torque, and Exceed. Dude sounds laid back and mellow, which is out of character for a brand that focuses on racing and high-performance bikes.

But after a few rides, it is evident that this dude is more of a DUDE! This light, quick, and race-oriented fat bike is totally in keeping with Canyon's focus on speed.


—Dude Details—
Bicycle part, Water, Bicycle, Bicycle handlebar, Vehicle, Bicycle wheel, Bicycle drivetrain part, Brake, Bicycle frame, Hybrid bicycle,
Smash Guard

A stopper built into the the headset prevents the bars from crashing into the top tube.

Matt Phillips
Bicycle wheel, Bicycle part, Bicycle tire, Tire, Spoke, Bicycle, Bicycle drivetrain part, Vehicle, Wheel, Water,
Two-By-Bye

The Dude has a removable front derailleur mount.

Matt Phillips
Bicycle wheel, Bicycle part, Bicycle tire, Bicycle drivetrain part, Spoke, Bicycle, Vehicle, Tire, Groupset, Rim,
Out Back

The Dude's front-brake hose routing is unique, but it works.

Matt Phillips
Bicycle wheel, Bicycle part, Bicycle tire, Spoke, Tire, Bicycle, Wheel, Bicycle drivetrain part, Automotive tire, Rim,
Back 'n Forth

Chips in the dropouts alter the chainstay and wheelbase length.

Matt Phillips
Bicycle wheel, Bicycle tire, Bicycle, Bicycle part, Spoke, Tire, Wheel, Rim, Bicycle drivetrain part, Vehicle,
Rude Boy

The Dude's fork is Rude.

Matt Phillips


2019 vs. 2020 Dude

The bike reviewed here is a 2019 model. For 2020, Canyon is selling one model in the USA with a different build that my 2019 review bike. The 2020 Dude CF 8.0 model uses the same frameset—albeit in a fetching red and not the dull black of the review bike—with different parts.

The most significant parts change for 2020 is the 4.8-inch Schwalbe Jumbo Jim tires—2019 came with 4.0-inch—which will improve its floatation and traction. Other differences include Shimano MT420 brakes (SRAM Guide in 2019), DT-Swiss BR2300 (80 grams heavier than the 2019's wheelset), an aluminum seatpost on the 2020 model (2019's Dude got a carbon post), and a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain with 11-50 cassette instead of the 2019's GX Eagle with 10-50 cassette.

The differences will make the 2020 bike a bit heavier, but it's also $300 cheaper—$2,499 VS. $2,799 for the 2019 model—and comes with better (wider) tires.

Bicycle wheel, Bicycle part, Bicycle, Bicycle tire, Bicycle frame, Vehicle, Spoke, Mountain bike, Bicycle fork, Bicycle saddle,
Dude at rest.
Matt Phillips

Smaller Wheels

Larger-diameter tires have infiltrated fat bikes, just as they have every other category. Larger-diameter tires, in most cases, roll faster and more smoothly, but fat bikes are all about floatation and the widest tires—anything over 4.5-inches—are for 26-inch wheels.

The 2020 Dude rolls on 4.8-inch tires, which happens to be the maximum stated clearance. Canyon doesn't explicitly say so, but I suspect it might take 27.5 wheels wrapped in skinnier rubber if you felt like investing in another wheel and tire set.

Low Weight and High Value

It's not just the tires that are fat—fat bikes usually weigh a lot too. There's just a lot of big stuff on a fat bike—wider rims, big tires, wider thru-axles and hubs, wider crank spindle. But the 2019 Dude with its carbon frame and rigid carbon fork alighted on my scale at just 26.25 pounds (size medium). And that's with tubes—a tubeless conversion should drop a bit more weight.

The 2020 with its down-spec build will weigh more, but should still be one of the lighter fat bikes in its price range. That's because Canyon's value story is at work here—it is one of the least expensive full-carbon fat bikes you can buy. However, don't forget to add Canyon's shipping charges—$89 when I checked—when comparing prices to other bikes.

Blue, Winter, Bicycle part, Freezing, Snow, Bicycle accessory, Bicycle tire, Synthetic rubber, Ice, Bicycle frame,
Shown here with 4.0-inch tires, there’s room for 4.8s.
Matt Phillips

—Dude Details (As Tested)—

Frame: carbon fiber composite
Fork:
carbon fiber composite, 1.125-1.5 taper
Wheels:
DT-Swiss BR2250
Tires:
Schwalbe Jumbo Jim, 26x4.0
Favorite Drink:
white Russian
Shifter:
SRAM GX Eagle
Derailleur:
SRAM GX Eagle
Cassette:
SRAM XG-1175, 10-50
Crank:
SRAM GX Eagle, 30 tooth ring
Bar:
Canyon H15 riser
Stem:
Canyon V12
Seatpost:
Canyon S29 carbon
Saddle:
Fizik Tundra
Sizes:
small, medium, large

Compact Frame

The Dude has an aggressively sloping top tube, which makes for a smaller front triangle. This has its tradeoffs. On the positive, more standover clearance is extremely welcome when you have to put a foot down in deep, soft snow. Negatives include less room for frame packs and room for only one water bottle inside the triangle.

Bicycle wheel, Bicycle, Spoke, Wheel, Vehicle, Bicycle part, Mountain bike, Sky, Tire, Bicycle tire,
Dryland testing.
Michael Hurst

Frame details of note include a removable front derailleur mount, routing provision for a dropper-post remote, and 197/150mm (rear/front) hub spacing. The rear dropouts feature a chip that lets you shorten the stays, but the short position is only compatible with narrower tires. A stop built into the headset protects the top tube from damage caused by the bars colliding with the frame.

Ride Impressions

The Dude came in just as fall was transitioning to winter, so was put to the test on dirt and snow by a crew of experienced fat bike riders.

Land vehicle, Bicycle wheel, Vehicle, Bicycle part, Bicycle tire, Bicycle frame, Bicycle, Tire, Spoke, Snow,
The Dude’s testers rode it before and after the snow flew.
Michael Hurst

Of the Dude on dirt, one tester said, "What really stood out was how well the bike performed as a mountain bike. The Dude rails singletrack too," adding that the bike was crisp and responsive.

That responsiveness is despite a slightly slack head angle (68.5 degrees), and long-ish wheelbase. That is, relative to other fat bikes. The low/long/slack trend hasn't come for fat bikes the way it has other categories, so in spite of comparatively tame numbers, the Dude's geometry is progressive for the class.

Still, testers commented that the Dude bike has a sporty edge and felt it best appeals to performance-oriented riders and racers. And with little room for a front triangle pack and just one bottle cage mount—there are no other bottle, rack, cage, or bag mounts on the Dude—it would seem that this is a bike designed for short and fast rides and not epic adventures.

Bicycle wheel, Bicycle, Bicycle part, Bicycle tire, Bicycle frame, Vehicle, Spoke, Tire, Bicycle drivetrain part, Hybrid bicycle,
Just one bottle mount on the Dude and nothing else.
Matt Phillips

On groomed and hardpack snow, the Dude maintains the feel of a performance-oriented bike. But on softer ground, the 2019 model's 4.0-inch tires don't offer the desirable floatation of wider tires. The 2020 model might be a bit heavier (but also cheaper) than the 2019 Dude, but the 2020's stock 4.8-inch tires are a significant upgrade where it counts most.

Light, quick, and stripped of cargo essentials, the Dude is a race-oriented fat bike for speedy thrills in any soft terrain.


Dude CF 8.0

Dude CF 8.0

Dude CF 8.0

$2,499 at Canyon
Credit: Canyon
Pros
  • Light
  • Good Value
Cons
  • Only three sizes
  • No cargo mounts
Headshot of Matt Phillips
Matt Phillips
Senior Test Editor, Bicycling

A gear editor for his entire career, Matt’s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he’s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling, Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you’re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn’t race often, but he’s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race.