LONG TERM REVIEW: CANFIELD’S TILT PRO OFFERS TIMELESS TRAIL EXCELLENCE

The Canfield renaissance and resurgence are something that any core mountain biker can appreciate, and the Tilt is a testament to their “fun over fast” ethos. Though it has been around for a few years, the Tilt’s progressive geometry and robust build kit make it a timeless platform for all types of all-mountain and trail riding. It’s light and agile enough for all-day epics getting lost in the alpine while being burly enough to take on days in the bike park and sessioning your local jump line.

FRAME

Like the rest of Canfield’s lineup, the Tilt is made from 7005-series aluminum, with the one-piece upper link being machined from a 7075 T6 alloy. It’s built to be durable, robust and simple to maintain, lacking any flip chips or geometry adjustments, though the rear travel can be shortened to 125mm through the use of a shorter-stroke shock. Shortening the rear travel will steepen the geometry numbers slightly. Cable routing is internal and enters the frame on the side of the head tube and exits just above the bottom bracket, and there are interchangeable machined cable ports to keep things quiet and tidy.

The head-tube angle for the Tilt sits at 65 degrees, while the seat tube angle is 77 degrees across all frame sizes. The reach ranges from 425mm to 500mm (in 25mm increments), with our size large sitting at 475mm with a 624mm stack height. Chainstays are not size-specific and are 425mm throughout the frame sizes, which is on the shorter side compared to other modern trail and all-mountain bikes. The fairly long and straight seat tube allows for longer dropper posts to be run without an issue.

SUSPENSION

Developed by and carrying the name of founders Chris and Lance Canfield, the Canfield Balance Formula (CBF) and its parallel-link design are once again integrated into the Tilt platform. Refined even further for the Tilt, they have increased the anti-squat so that it is more focused on staying in the ideal range throughout the entire suspension travel.

Canfield hasn’t published the kinematic charts for the Tilt, but they claim that the updated leverage curve creates more beginning and mid-stroke support to increase the platform’s pedaling efficiency without sacrificing grip, while a more progressive end-stroke ramp-up helps to handle big hits and increase the capability of the 138mm of rear travel. We initially settled on 25-percent sag on our test bike, though we experimented with going up to 30 percent, which helped on more technical climbs.

Our Pro build of the Tilt was spec’d with a 210mm x 55mm Fox Float X Factory shock that features the typical low-speed rebound and compression adjustments, along with a climb switch. Both the Base and Core builds are spec’d with a Cane Creek DB Kitsuma AIR shock.

Up front, there is a Fox 36 Float Factory fork with 150mm of travel, a bump up from the 140mm Cane Creek, or Fox 34 forks on the Base and Core builds. Like their other Factory-level forks, the Fox 36 has low- and high-speed compression adjustments, along with low- and high-speed rebound adjustments.

COMPONENTS

The Pro build that we tested is the top-of-the-line spec for the Tilt at $6300. Canfield specs their in-house 165mm AM cranks and bottom bracket with a 32t AbsoluteBlack chainring, which drive a mechanical SRAM X01 drivetrain.

Stopping this all-mountain beast is a set of powerful TRP Slate EVO brakes, a personal favorite of ours. Interestingly, the TRP calipers are paired with 180mm Magura rotors, which proved to be an effective combination out on the trail. The Tilt Pro rolls on a set of burly e*Thirteen LG1 enduro wheels wrapped in a Maxxis DHF/Dissector combo, which worked very well for this hard-hitting trail bike.

A 200mm SDG Tellis dropper post takes care of seatpost duties, and this is topped with a Canfield signature SDG saddle. For the cockpit, there is an e*Thirteen Base handlebar in a 20mm rise paired with a Canfield in-house 40mm stem.

The Base and Core builds of the Tilt, priced at $5800 and $5900 respectively, are built with TRP or SRAM GX drivetrains and have slightly lower-spec’d suspension and brakes.

CLIMBING

Though Canfield prioritizes descending performance in their platforms, the Tilt is a mountain goat when the trail points up. This is due to a refined version of the patented Canfield Balanced Formula (CBF) linkage that Canfield claims is more progressive and climbs more efficiently than previous iterations. We initially settled on 25-percent sag on our test bike, though we experimented with going up to 30 percent, which some test riders thought helped keep the rear tire planted and tracking better on more technical climbs.

When putting down power, there is a solid-feeling platform and lots of efficiency. We only felt the need to flip the climb switch on the shock on the smoothest and most mundane fire roads, and even then it is purely optional. Despite being made entirely of aluminum, it felt lighter than it actually was and didn’t hesitate to hop and pick its way up technical sections, even at 30-percent sag. The 77-degree seat tube angle paired with the 475mm reach put riders in a comfortable climbing position and balanced front- and rear-wheel traction.

DESCENDING

Though the leverage curve is more progressive compared to Canfield’s other bikes, the Tilt is still an incredible descender with loads of rear-wheel traction, even under braking. At both 25- and 30-percent sag, the rear shock felt plush and supple on small bumps and impacts, yet it smoothly ramped up into a progressive and supportive platform when pushing into corners and on larger hits.

The 475mm reach paired with the 624mm stack height on our large test bike worked well for most test riders, but some felt that it was a tad short and led to the bike feeling more nimble and eager to change directions at higher speeds. Nothing that was a deal-breaker, but those who want a more stable descending platform may consider going with a larger frame size.

The 65-degree head tube angle also felt a smidge too steep on fast and loose trails for some, but keep in mind that the Tilt isn’t designed for the gnarliest tracks out there. It felt right at home on flowy trails full of rollers, berms and small jumps where the progressive rear suspension can shine. It’s a bike that seeks outside hits and hidden trail gaps without feeling glued to the ground, yet it feels just as comfortable charging through technical sections and taking the straight line over the smooth line with some technique.

WHAT DID WE LOVE?

The CBF suspension system that Canfield incorporates immediately stood out on our first test ride for feeling efficient and progressive yet planted. Pedaling and climbing aboard the Tilt are potent and snappy despite its heavier-than-average weight, and the rear wheel hugged the ground through technical ascents.

It’s more than capable of taking on virtually any blue- to black-rated descent with poise, and it’s a bike that seeks out the side hits rather than the race line. The Tilt would be an excellent daily driver for the rider who prioritizes getting the most fun out of each ride.

WHAT DID WE HATE?

There wasn’t much to hate about the Canfield Tilt platform besides the water-bottle situation. There are bolts to mount a bottle cage on the underside of the downtube, but this is definitely a hindrance compared to a bottle mounted between the downtube and top tube. We ended up using a small USWE hydration pack and forgoing a bottle cage when taking this bike out, which wasn’t out of the norm for us, but it could be a bigger consideration for riders who are more passionate about their hydration placement.

BOTTOM LINE

The Tilt is a proper all-mountain bike that is just as capable on the climbs as it is on the descents. The Canfield Balanced Formula suspension platform paired with 138mm of Fox Factory-driven rear travel is a combination that makes the Tilt a snappy, efficient climber while also being a capable and versatile descender. We wouldn’t think twice about taking the Tilt out on an all-day epic with thousands of feet of climbing and hours in the saddle, yet we would also pick it for a day in the bike park.

It might not be a flat-out enduro racer, which Canfield’s Lithium fits the bill for, but it is a platform that prioritizes versatility and efficiency, making it very fun to ride. We feel that Canfield’s Tilt is the ideal bike for the rider who regularly rides flow and blue- to black-level technical trails, with the occasional bike-park day thrown in for good measure, and wants a true all-mountain machine.

CANFIELD TILT PRO

www.canfieldbikes.com

CATEGORY: All-mountain

WHEEL SIZE: 29″

SUSPENSION: 150mm (front), 138mm (rear)

Price: $6,299
Weight: 33.6 pounds (without pedals)
Sizes: S, M, L (tested), XL
Frame tested: 7005 aluminum, 138mm travel (travel and material)
Shock: Fox Float X Factory
Fork: Fox 36 Float Factory, 150mm
Wheelset: e*Thirteen LG1+
Tires: Maxxis DHF (29″x2.5″), Maxxis Dissector (29″x2.4″)
Seatpost: SDG Tellis Dropper Post
Saddle: Canfield SDG
Handlebar: e*Thirteen Base 800mm
Stem: Canfield Special Blend Stem
Grips: Canfield Lizard Skins Charger Evo
Headset: Cane Creek 40
Brakes: TRP Trail Evo
Rotors: Magura 180mm (f)/180mm (r)
Rear derailleur: SRAM X01 Eagle, 12-speed
Shifters: SRAM X01 Eagle 12-speed
Crankset: Canfield All-Mountain, 165mm
Bottom bracket: Canfield threaded 73mm
Cassette: SRAM X01 Eagle, 12-speed, 10-52T
Chain: SRAM X01
Chainrings: AbsoluteBlack 32-tooth

GEOMETRY SIZE LARGE

Head tube angle: 65°
Effective seat tube angle: 77°
Reach: 475mm (18.71″)
Stack: 624mm (24.57″)
Bottom bracket height: 343mm (13.5″)
Chainstay length: 425mm (16.73″)
Wheelbase: 1225mm (48.23″)