Trail testing Canyon K.I.S. at Crankworx

During Crankworx, I had the chance to try out a version of Canyon’s new K.I.S. steering stabilizer system. It’s been a few days since Crankworx wrapped up but it took a few days to get some perspective on the test ride. Because K.I.S. is not really what I expected going into the ride, to be honest. It is different. It might be a bit weird, but it is definitely more interesting than I was expecting.

What is K.I.S.?

Canyon launched its K.I.S. (Keep It Stable) steering stabilizer (the Germans are not calling it a steering damper) earlier this year on select Spectral models. The production version is tucked away neatly in the top tube. Canyon had a very not-production version mounted to several Strive:ON eMTBs in a similar fashion to how Troy Brosnan was testing the system at the Lenzerheide World Cup. While not pretty, it did a better job of showing exactly what was happening in the K.I.S. system.

While less high-tech than the cycling industry’s current push towards electronic and wireless parts, K.I.S.’s system of straps and springs is actually more nuanced than it looks. Each component of the K.I.S. system opens an opportunity to fine-tune the system and how it changes how bike handles. The length of the straps, the angle they connect to the springs, the length of the springs and where the system is placed in/on the top tube, all have an impact on how the system feels. Canyon CLLCTV team manager Fabien Barrel is reportedly really into the project and is deep into experimenting with how you can tune different ride qualities of the bike by making small changes to the system.

How K.I.S. works is remarkably simple. As you turn the bars, the rotation of the steering tube causes the straps to pull against the springs. As the spring stretches, it resists more. So, after an initial range where there is little resistance, the system slows your steering slightly more. Crucially, for Canyon, K.I.S. is also pulling your bars back to center. This feature, constantly pulling back to center, is what Canyon says separates K.I.S. as a stabilizer instead of a simple steering damper (which would just slow steering input).

Why add K.I.S.?

Canyon cites a few reasons to add K.I.S. to a bike, instead of sticking with the K.I.S.S. design principle. There are two main reasons.

First, as head angles get slacker and wheelbases get longer, the…