Update: This test center has been suspended until further notice. For events organised by Canyon Singapore, pleased refer to the Events segment of their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Canyon.SG/.

Have you ever hesitated when it came to buying an expensive new bike… because you weren’t completely sure whether it was the correct fit or the right model to meet your needs?

Now, you don’t need to harbour such doubts any longer… with the brand new Canyon Test Centre in Singapore.

First Of Its Kind In The Region

The first such test center of its kind in this region, the newly opened Canyon Test Centre allows potential buyers to try out the brand’s bikes before then making a more informed decision at whether the new bike is comfortable for them, and if it meets their needs.

Customers Can Try Out The Bikes, With No Obligations

Explained Alan Soh, 31, Market Manager of Canyon Singapore & Malaysia, “Canyon does not work through a middleman; we sell directly to our consumers through an online business model. So with this newly opened test center in Singapore, customers can now drop by at lunch time and request to try out bikes in the sizes that they want, and they can then proceed to purchase the bikes from Canyon in the evening after work.”

He continued, “This is important for customers who may be in between sizes, for example, they may not know if they should go for a Small or a Medium frame. So this means they will need to ride the actual bike and try it out, to see if it is suited to their riding style. We are offering that platform here.”

However if potential customers choose not to purchase a bike in the end after testing them out, then that is perfectly all right too, according to Soh.

Located At A Quiet Neighbourhood

Canyon Singapore’s new test center is located at Westbourne Road, which is a quiet neighbourhood. According to Soh, the location was chosen specifically because of the quietness. Said Soh, “The roads are quaint and quiet, and this means that any time of the day, customers can drop by to test out the bikes.”

However if you do not own a car, though, the service center may be a little out of the way to locate, though, as it is not particularly nearby any of the MRT stations.

Invited To The Test Centre

I had been invited to visit the Canyon Test Centre and have a look around at the premises. It is a very cosy space, and currently there are about 25 bikes altogether that are available for testing.

These range from Canyon’s low-end, entry-level fitness commuter bikes that have a price tag of about S$600, to the top of the range ones meant for triathletes and competitive cyclists, that are priced at around S$9,800.

Soh added that there are definitely plans to add a greater variety of bikes for testing, though.

World Champion Bikes On Display

As well, I got the chance to see with my own eyes, Alejandro Valverde’s Road World Champion bike as well as Patrick Lange’s Kona World Championship’s triathlon winning bike, both of which had been flown in for the launch of the new Singapore test center.

While I had been admiring the two professional bikes and taking photos of these, Soh took me through their key features.

In summary, Valverde’s bike is a white Canyon Ultimate CF SLX that is adorned with custom rainbow strips on the tubing and forks as well as rainbow accents on the rim and saddle. The wheels are Campagnolo Bora Ultra 50. Due to the colour scheme, it is a bike that can be seen from a distance.

And for Lange’s bike, these had included custom-built aero-bar with Ergon handlebars and arm pads, an aero water bottle on the down tube and an additional bottle behind the saddle, a small compartment at the top tube for tools and replacement tubes and the Grand Prix TT 111 Continental tires, amongst other extremely cool and interesting features.

At the same time, I also got to meet Jonas Fischer from the Rad-Pack and his beautiful red V-RAD bike. This bike model was also Canyon’s first foray into fixed gear Crit bikes.

With only 25 of such bikes in the world, the V-RAD bike is modelled on the award winning Canyon Aeroad and it offers a perfect platform for participation in fast Criterium races.

I also chatted to Fischer, who had just flown in from Germany, and he is an energetic and enthusiastic personality who is extremely passionate about the sport.

Test Center Caters To Everyone

However, despite that, Soh also added that the test center is not targeting just the competitive cyclists and the serious triathletes; in fact, absolutely anyone who is interested to get a bike can come down, even hobbyist cyclists and those who see cycling as a form of commuting.

Said Soh, “We hope to target anyone who likes to ride a bike, from leisure to hobby cyclists and even beginners. The Singapore cycling community is very diverse, after all. For instance, if you are a runner but you are out of action with an injury, you can speak to us and we can recommend a fitness level bike or an urban bicycle from Canyon to get the blood pumping into your legs. That will cost you about S$1,000.”

Trying Out A Bike For Myself

At the same time, I also had a go at trying out one of their road bikes – during my visit there. What is my verdict on the Canyon bikes?

For starters, I can say that compared to some of the other bikes that I have used in the past, the Canyon bike that I had used was light, responsive, easy to manoeuvre and fuss-free to ride. It was the first time that I had been riding a Canyon bike, and I would say that I was pretty impressed, to be honest.

And also, when I climbed a short slope near the test center, too, I found that the gears were also simple to use and responded easily to my touch without much clanking or effort required on my part. I would say that it was definitely an enjoyable few minutes of testing that was over all too soon.

Competitive Price Point

Besides the opportunity for customers to test out the bikes for themselves, Soh also pointed out that Canyon’s price point is another factor that is going for them.

Said Soh, “Riders can see the value in Canyon because we are priced 30 per cent cheaper than competitors’ brands but we offer the same amount of high carbon fibre spec bikes such as Renault or DC Swiss, so we are value for money.”

Good Reception From Singaporeans

As such, so far, Soh is happy with the reception that Singaporeans have towards the new test centre.

Said Soh, “From here-say, everyone is excited. We did a social media post with our recently signed ambassador, Elaine Young, who is a prominent figure in the running and triathlon community in Singapore, and the response was phenomenal. We got over 200 Likes and comments for our post, which was not boosted. That is purely organic traffic, so we think that we are on the right path to engaging the Singapore cycling community.”

And with what I saw at the test centre, I, too, would say that that Soh is definitely heading in the correct direction.

Set To Become A Complete Service Centre

In the long term, Soh hopes that the Canyon Test Centre can morph into a complete service center for the brand rather than simply being a place to try out their bikes. 

He said “About six to eight months later, we hope to be able to take care of warranty and riders’ care; in the event that a rider has a crash and some parts such as the rear light hanger is broken, you would just pay S$35 for an off-the-shelf replacement rather than having to spend €19.90 for the hanger and another €70 for shipping costs.”

Continued Soh, “While this will take time, it will instil more confidence in our consumer base in the long term. So if you are not already on a Canyon bicycle, get on one over here, and let me know how you feel about it. Ultimately we hope to serve the community and we love to hear feedback from all riders, too.”