Canyon produce limited-edition bike to pay tribute to Kraftwerk

Canyon have announced that they are releasing a limited-edition bike to pay tribute to the legendary German electronic band Kraftwerk. The Ultimate CF SLX Kraftwerk will be limited to a production run of just 21 bikes.

According to Canyon, the bike “pays homage to Kraftwerk’s iconic aesthetic and harks to the pioneering sounds they produced, music that has paved the way for so many others to follow.”

The Ultimate CF SLX Kraftwerk frameset is combined with SRAM’s wireless eTap groupset and Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels.

The geometric pattern of the frame is from Kraftwerk founder Ralf Hütter’s own design and the application of the design is particularly complex.

Each reflective strip is cut-to-measure and then hand-laid, a process that takes over seven hours per frameset. Once complete, a clear coat is added to help with the longevity and durability of the design.

In 1983, Krafwerk released the single ‘Tour de France’ which featured on their 1983 album ‘Tour de France Soundtracks’ and band members Ralf Hütter and Fritz Hilpert are big fans of cycling. ‘Tour de France’ peaked at number 22 in the UK singles chart. The music has often featured in TV coverage of the race.

“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. It is an unbelievable honour for us to pay respect to everything that Kraftwerk stands for and has achieved in such a fitting way with these stunning bikes.” said Roman Arnold, Canyon Founder & CEO