Canyon has put its Spectral:ON and Torque:ON electric mountain bikes back on sale, confirming that both full-power eMTBs now ship with a new 800Wh battery. For UK eMTB riders, this is meaningful news for two reasons. First, it closes the loop on a period where battery safety concerns pulled attention away from what were, on paper, some of the most aggressively priced full-suspension electric mountain bikes around. Second, it drops a fresh, very practical talking point into 2026 eMTB buying: battery construction, sealing and real-world durability matter just as much as capacity and claimed range.
Canyon’s message is straightforward: the bikes remain the same core platforms, but the battery is new. The company says the new 800Wh unit is built with a reinforced aluminium housing and aluminium end caps, and that it’s been designed to deal more confidently with wet weather and hard use. That matters in the UK, where winter riding, hose-downs, and persistent mud can expose weaknesses in seals, charging ports and any interface between battery and frame. Even if you never ride through standing water, an eMTB battery system still lives in the splash zone for months of the year.
If you’re shopping right now, this also lands at a time when many riders are actively comparing full-power trail eMTBs and long-travel eMTBs in the same shortlist — especially if you’re weighing up a “do-it-all” bike against something that’s closer to a mini-downhill bike with a motor. If you want a broader benchmark before you dive into the Canyon specifics, you can cross-check the wider market in our guides to the best full suspension eMTBs.
What’s changed: the new 800Wh Darfon battery
The headline is capacity — 800Wh is firmly in full-power territory — but the more interesting detail is how Canyon says the battery is built and protected. The brand says every interface point on the battery housing is now double-sealed, and that there are additional internal membranes intended to reduce moisture build-up and guard against water ingress. Canyon also states the battery carries an IP57 dust and water protection rating. In plain terms, that is an explicit attempt to address the kind of wet-weather vulnerability that can worry riders who use an electric mountain bike week-in, week-out, rather than only in dry trail-park conditions.
Canyon also claims the move to an 800Wh aluminium-housed battery saves weight versus its previous 900Wh unit, quoting a reduction of 150g, and notes the new battery uses 5.6Ah cells rather than 5.0Ah cells. Whether that translates into noticeably different ride feel will depend on your frame size, setup and how you carry speed, but Canyon’s intent is obvious: keep range high while improving packaging and reliability.
Charging is another consumer-facing detail Canyon has chosen to highlight. The company says the charger now uses a “smart” approach that gets to 80% in around two hours, with a full charge quoted at around five hours. That sort of information matters because it changes how easy it is to keep a full-power eMTB topped up between rides, and whether an 800Wh battery feels practical if you ride frequently in winter.
If you want the broader context behind battery tech, charging behaviour, and why battery sealing matters (especially in UK riding conditions), our explainer on batteries, motors and what to look out for.
What stays the same: Shimano EP801 power, and two distinct eMTB briefs
Canyon says both bikes continue to use Shimano’s EP801 motor, quoted at 85 Nm and up to 600W peak. In other words: this is still a full-power eMTB setup aimed at riders who want proper climbing support and the ability to repeat climbs all day, not a lightweight “assist” bike.
The Spectral:ON remains pitched as the more balanced trail eMTB — the kind of electric mountain bike you can ride on UK trail centres, natural singletrack, and long mixed days without feeling like you’ve chosen a dedicated jump or bike-park rig. Canyon’s own description leans on a mullet wheel setup and mid-150mm travel territory, which aligns with what most riders would call a modern full-power trail eMTB.
The Torque:ON is the more gravity-focused option. It’s the one that makes more sense if your riding skews towards steep tracks, bigger compressions, repeated uplift-style laps (without the uplift), and a general preference for stability over agility. If you want a Canyon eMTB that feels closer to an enduro platform with a motor, the Torque:ON remains the obvious pick.
What it means for UK eMTB buyers and owners
If you’ve been on the fence because of earlier battery headlines, this relaunch is Canyon’s attempt to reset the conversation around these two electric mountain bikes. From a buyer perspective, there are three practical takeaways.
First, if you’re buying new, the key question is simple: does your chosen model ship with the new 800Wh battery. Canyon says availability starts from 13 January 2026, and UK pricing listed for the relaunch includes models starting at £3,749, with higher-spec builds moving through £4,199 and £4,649, and a top-end Spectral:ON CFR listed at £5,599.
Second, if you already own an earlier Spectral:ON or Torque:ON, the sensible move is to treat the battery update as a reminder to stay on top of manufacturer guidance and servicing. Battery systems are not an area where “wait and see” is worth the risk. Follow official instructions for use, charging and storage, and if anything feels off — unusual heat, swelling, poor fit, intermittent power — stop riding and get it checked.
Third, for riders shopping the January market, it’s worth comparing these bikes against what else is being discounted and what else is launching. If you’re browsing deals, our eMTBs in the January sales are designed to keep your shortlist practical and UK-focused.