2022 Canfield Jedi 29 Bike

In the world of mountain biking, few brands have built a hardcore cult following in downhill and freeride like Canfield Bikes. With a legacy dating back to the late '90s and the inception ofRed Bull Rampage, Canfield's downhill pedigree was built on hard-charging bikes with a reputation for having a smooth and capable suspension design, industrial aesthetic, and bombproof durability.

With a lot to live up to, the new Jedi 29 carries the torch for its predecessors, boasting a raw and rugged look that makes it uniquely a Canfield, plus an updated suspension layout paired with modern geometry and 29-inch wheels. Tested during our 2022 Downhill Bike Test Sessions, we were eager to smash some rocks and huck some drops to see how the latest Jedi blended its downhill and freeride roots. 

Canfield Jedi 29 Highlights

• 7000 series aluminum with one-piece CNC upper and lower links
• 203mm (7.9-inches) rear travel // 203mm (7.9-inches) fork travel
• 29-inch wheels
• 62.5-degree head tube angle
• Manitou Dorado Expert fork
• EXT Arma MX coil shock
• TRP DH7 7-speed drivetrain 
• Canfield cranks (150-170mm length options) 
• TRP DH EVO brakes with 203mm rotors
• 29x2.5-inch Maxxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip tires
• e*thirteen LG1 Plus DH aluminum wheels
• 12 x 157mm rear hub spacing
• Threaded bottom bracket
• External cable routing
• Tapered head tube
• ISCG05 chain guide mounts
• Sizes: medium, large (tested), X-large
• MSRP: $6,699 USD (as tested)

Overview

Canfield produced their Jedi 27.5 up until 2017 and since then have lacked an up-to-date downhill bike in their lineup. When the time came to develop the Jedi 29, Lance Canfield leaned on his years of knowledge from refining the Jedi platform to create a new iteration that would meet the demands of modern downhill riding. 

The latest Jedi continues to be constructed from 7000-series aluminum but features an updated layout of Canfield's signature Formula 1 suspension design. The high-pivot multi-link design pre-dates the Jedi, and the latest configuration places the shock lower in the frame, while the one-piece CNC links have been tweaked to fine-tune suspension kinematics. The leverage curve has been updated, with a higher leverage rate at the beginning of the stroke for improved small bump sensitivity and a more progressive ending stroke for better bottom-out support. The mid-stroke support was also tweaked to create a poppy and responsive ride to counteract the increased wheelbase of the Jedi 29. Finally, Canfield lowered anti-rise to improve balance and predictability under braking. 

The standout characteristic of the Formula 1 design is the rearward axle path that grows by 19mm as the suspension moves through its travel, allowing the rear wheel to move back, up, and out of the way of compressions. This motion helps the Jedi 29 maintain speed through square-edge impacts where other designs can feel like the rear wheel is hanging up. A pulley wheel keeps chain growth to less than 1mm, and suspension feedback is essentially untraceable at the pedals, creating that buttery smooth suspension movement through rough sections that high-pivot bikes are renowned for. The placement of the pulley wheel can also be adjusted to optimize chain management for various cassette sizes. Other frame details include external cable routing, custom chain stay protector (unavailable at the time of our test), custom removable rear fender, and custom MRP G5 chain guide.

Unsurprisingly, the Jedi 29 towers over its 27.5-inch predecessor. Every size has grown substantially, and Canfield aimed for each size to provide similar balance and composure at speed or in the air so that riders receive the same ride experience regardless of their height. We tested a large Jedi 29 with a 475mm reach, 644mm stack height, and 62.5-degree head tube angle. Due to the rearward axle path of the Formula 1 design, the chain stay length is constantly changing, but at sag sits around 443mm. Compared to the other bikes in the test, the Jedi 29 had the tallest stack height, the second longest reach behind the Nukeproof Dissent 290, and was the only bike without any geometry adjustments. 

Canfield offers the Jedi 29 as a frame and shock-only or as a complete build with options to upgrade the suspension. Builds start at $6,299 USD and go up depending on the fork and shock chosen. Our Jedi 29 retailed for $6,699 USD and was highlighted by a Manitou Dorado Expert fork, EXT Arma MX coil shock, TRP DH7 7-speed drivetrain with Canfield cranks, TRP DH EVO brakes with 203mm rotors, and e*thirteen LG1 Plus DH aluminum wheels with 29x2.5-inch Maxxis Asssegai 3C MaxxGrip tires. The Jedi 29 had the most eclectic assortment of components out of the four bikes tested, sharing only the same e*thirteen wheels as the Mondraker Summum. 

Meet The Testers

Piloting our Canfield Jedi 29 was Vital’s own Jason Schroeder and first-time testers Willem Cooper and Alf Garcia. With a few years between them and differences in riding style, setup preference, and body dimensions, the one similarity they all share is that it has been years since they lined up at a US National. 

On The Trail

For our 2022 Downhill Bike Test Sessions, we headed east and set up camp at Mountain Creek Bike Park in Vernon, New Jersey. Situated only an hour from New York City, Mountain Creek has hosted multiple national and regional events over the years, including the infamous US Open of Mountain Biking. 

Best known for its impressive variety of trails and short gondola ride, the mountain offers a mix of rough, technical rock gardens, high-speed chunder, steep rock rolls, and flowy jump trails with ripping berms. With the ability to knock out multiple laps per hour, and accommodations conveniently located at the base, Mountain Creek served as the perfect testing ground to find out where each bike excelled or fell short.  

Setup

During our four-day testing period, conditions ranged from dry and loose over hard-packed to soaking wet and greasy on top. Luckily, the dirt at Mountain Creek can handle some serious moisture, and the few afternoon thunderstorms we endured provided a window of hero dirt before summer conditions took over again. To quickly adjust spring weight between our three testers, we used Sprindex springs to fine-tune shock setup. Unfortunately, due to frame tolerances, we could not fit a Sprindex Spring on the Jedi 29. Instead, Canfield kindly provided us with multiple EXT springs to easily adjust spring weight.

With a tight timeline to shakedown four downhill bikes, our goal was to find out where each excelled or under-performed, what nuances set each apart, and ultimately help riders understand which bike would be best for them. Below are on trail impressions from all three testers that offer a well-rounded and diverse impression of Jedi 29, along with standout and least favorite components from the build we tested.

Jason's Impressions

When we were planning this Test session, I was the most stoked to have the Jedi 29 included because of its lineage and cult following. Over the years, I never had the opportunity to ride a Jedi, but anyone I’d ever talked to who had one was passionate about the performance and quality of the frame. Even still, I was the most hesitant to ride the Jedi simply because its eclectic component spec and archaic looks made it difficult to wrap my head around how it would ride. Compared to the Mondraker Summum, which had clean, smooth lines and almost looked fast standing still, the Jedi looked like a prototype bike with raw tubing and external cables. Not to say I didn’t love the heavy-metal vibe of the frame, but I had no idea what I was in for on my first run. 

On the first day of testing, when we rode each bike to decide which we would race, I chose the Jedi 29 as my race steed for the weekend because the size large fit my body geometry perfectly. The cockpit was spacious, with ample room to shift my weight over the bike. The Jedi had the most bottom bracket drop combined with short but growing chainstays (thanks to the rearward axle path), creating a bike with exceptional plowing ability blended with responsive handling and maneuverability. 

After multiple days of testing, the standout characteristic of Jedi was its ability to provide a smooth, controlled ride down the roughest trail without making me feel like a passenger in the process. Where the Mondraker Summum or Nukeproof Dissent provided excellent stability and confidence during gnarly, rough sections, the Jedi provided the same level of safety combined with the ability to change lines quickly or preload the suspension to pop over holes and compressions. When I wanted to lean back and let the bike handle the trail ahead, I could do so carefree, but when I wanted to push harder and get creative with line choice, I loved how responsive the Jedi was to rider input. The rear suspension remained active and never got hung up or overwhelmed. Bottom-out support was comfortable when landing flat off drops or pushing into deep berms, and unlike Willem, I had no issues maintaining or generating speed on flow trails. Even though the bike grows as you compress through turns or off lips, I enjoyed how the bike would push back as the suspension rebounded and continued to move forward unphased.

The only trouble I had with the suspension was understanding how to tune the Manitou Durado Expert fork and EXT Arma MX rear shock. I had never ridden either component, and each lap was a learning experience attempting to feel where the suspension was struggling and then making the correct adjustment. This is not a knock on either component, as both performed well and complimented the abilities of the Jedi. But, with only four days to test, I know there was room to improve my setup, and I believe many consumers would end up in the same situation, requiring more time to dial in their Jedi than other bikes.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the Jedi 29. The bike rode with the no-gimmick, hard-charging mentality I expected but surprised me with its eagerness to change direction and respond to rider input. On top of that, I loved the balanced frame compliance that never felt harsh or rigid, matched with linkage pivots that remained tight and rattle-free. Grabbing the rear end of the Jedi and yanking side to side resulted in no lateral movement, and dropping the bike on the ground produced a muddled thud. My favorite final detail was the external cable routing. Every new bike toots internal cable routing, but I don’t mind seeing cables and appreciate the ease of maintenance external routing provides. 

Standout Components

Manitou Dorado Expert Fork - I had a lot of skepticism about Manitou’s Durado fork before testing, and oh boy, was I wrong. Manitou has evolved the Durado platform over the years, and the latest Expert version we tested blew me away. I probably didn’t do a good enough job giving my praise in the video, but the Durado was one of the smoothest feeling forks I’ve ridden in recent years. The small bump sensitivity was exceptional and helped smoothen braking bump chatter, making it easy to maintain front wheel grip and control. On big impacts, such as landing off drops or hitting holes in rock gardens, the Durado had substantially more damping support than the RockShox Boxxer, and FOX 40 tested on the other bikes. This kept the Jedi from diving and helped maintain a level ride height through rough sections. 

I never felt any negative deflection or flex, squashing my preconceived doubts. I made no clicker adjustments during testing and just rode the fork with pressure set to my weight and rebound/compression set neutral, which only makes me wonder how well I could make the fork perform with more testing and knowledge of the adjustments. 

Least Favorite Components

e*thirteen Cassette - I’ll let Willem and Alf explain why we disliked the TRP drivetrain, but on top of poor shifting, I did not like the tall and tight gear ratio of the e*thirteen integrated cassette. The 9-21 spread caused me to ride the Jedi in the easiest two pedaling gears for the majority of testing. I hardly ever went fast enough to match the top end of the cassette, and pedaling around the base of the mountain or sprinting into trails took more energy on the Jedi. 

Alf's Impressions

Canfield is a legendary boutique US brand, and their Jedi is a cult classic in downhill and freeride built on a Rampage pedigree. I was super excited to test the latest 29-inch version that appeared to have infused some modern geometry into an old-school-looking frame. Before taking my first run, I did slide the Durado fork down in the crowns to raise the front end height because the Jedi had the lowest front in the group.

The Jedi 29 is marketed as a race bike and did live up to that title. Being the first and last bike I rode during testing gave me the cool opportunity to compare my initial impressions with my final thoughts after riding the other bikes and becoming more familiar with Mountain Creek. On the first day of testing, when we only got two runs on each bike, I was initially surprised to find the Jedi was more maneuverable and poppy than its industrial looks and heavier component spec would make you think. Much of this can be chalked up to the short chain stays that keep the Jedi lively and responsive in tight sections or down flow trails. But, since the chainstays grow as the suspension cycles through its travel, the Jedi did not lack any stability or confidence at higher speeds.  

While the lively demeanor of the Jedi was surprising, its true strength was smashing and plowing through rocks. No matter how deep the compression or sharp the square edge hit, the Jedi was unaffected and held a line better than the other bikes in gnarly sections. The rear suspension was super sensitive off the top, allowing the Jedi to track the ground and remain planted and stable with little feedback felt over trail chatter. On big hits, the suspension did a fantastic job absorbing impacts without causing the bike to squirm or react unpredictably. 

The only weakness of the Jedi 29 was how heavy the bike rode. The build we tested wasn’t ridiculously heavy, but compared to the other bikes, the Jedi was hard to hold onto, especially by the last day of testing when I was worn out. Compared to the first day of testing, when my body was fresh, and I could place the Jedi where I wanted, the final day was a battle to get the bike to react how I wanted. It was a weird contradicting feeling, where the geometry of the Jedi 29 was capable of feeling responsive and maneuverable but also stable and planted. But as my energy faded, the Jedi’s weight made the bike ride lifeless, and I was along for the ride. Luckily, even when I was tired, the Jedi remained composed, and I could hold on and trust the bike would handle whatever I hit. 

Standout Components

e*thirteen LG1 Plus DH Wheels - Funny enough, the LG1 Plus wheels gave us trouble on the Mondraker Summum with spokes coming loose after the first day. On the Jedi 29, the LG1 wheels held up flawlessly and required no maintenance. We didn’t acquire any dents or flat spots after smashing countless rocks over four days, and the ride quality of the wheels complimented the aluminum frame of the Jedi. 

TRP DH EVO Brakes - I typically run Shimano brakes and found the TRP brakes provided a more familiar and powerful feel than the SRAM brakes on the other bikes. The lever had a solid, confident bite that never felt spongy but still allowed for enough modulation to limit arm pump.   

Least Favorite Components

TRP DH7 Drivetrain - The TRP Drivetrain was the lowest performing component of the bike. The shifter required much more effort to shift in both directions than other brands. The shifting was not precise, and even after replacing the shifter cable and multiple adjustments and retentions, the shifting never performed well. 

Willem's Impressions

Out of all the bikes, the Canfield Jedi 29 sparked the most conversations riding around Mountain Creek. With a long history in downhill and freeride, most riders are familiar with the brand, but they are not the most popular bikes on the hill. Seeing a Jedi in person felt like a novelty, and I’m stoked we tested the raw aluminum colorway because it really matched the medieval aesthetic of the bike. And if one bike felt right at home being tested on the East Coast, it was the Jedi. 

Looking at the Jedi in the parking lot, I expected it to feel the heaviest and most bogged down on the trail. The aluminum frame appears to have a lot going on, with plenty of pivots and links that foster curiosity. I assumed the bike would require some serious momentum and rough terrain to maximize its abilities, and I didn’t get the impression the Jedi would be terribly eager to leave the ground.  

On the trail, the Jedi supported my preconceived assumptions with its ability to remain unphased down the gnarliest trails but surprised me with its unexpected responsiveness. The Jedi is undoubtedly an incredibly capable and confidence-inspiring bike through rough terrain. Rock gardens, G-outs, braking bumps, you name it. The Jedi had no trouble remaining composed, and the rearward axle path gave the bike a smooth, consistent feel across sections filled with holes and harsh compressions. At the same time, I found it relatively easy to move the Jedi around. The steering handling was direct, and I found a nice balance between holding on and smashing through sections and preloading the bike to pop over rocks and pump holes. 

The only time the Jedi felt sluggish was on flow trails. When pumping through berms and over rollers, I could feel the bike grow as the suspension compressed, creating an accordion effect that made maintaining speed laborious. I still had plenty of fun on the Jedi, and it never responded unpredictably off jumps or in the air. But compared to the Mondraker Summum or Propain Rage tested, the Jedi required a few extra pedal strokes to keep up and took more energy to sustain the same speed throughout an entire run. 

Overall, the Jedi 29 is an excellent option for racers or day-day riders alike who want a bike with a lot of heritage, built around a highly capable suspension design that will allow them to drop their heels and let the bike go to work. And even though the build we tested was the second most expensive in the group, the Jedi also fared our abuse with the least amount of wear and tear to show. The frame maintained that tight, new bike feel, none of the linkage bolts came loose, and all the components performed at a level that enhanced the ride quality of the Jedi. (well, except for the TRP drivetrain). Canfield offers other suspension options at a lower price for those who want to get on a Jedi for less money, too.

Standout Components

TRP DH EVO Brakes - I’ve only ridden Shimano brakes for years, and the TRP brakes had a similar feel that I preferred over the SRAM brakes used on the other bikes. The lever feel and bite were much more direct, with infinite power when needed, and I could adjust the lever to have minimal throw without losing modulation. 

Least Favorite Component

TRP DH7 Drivetrain - While I loved the TRP brakes on the Jedi, the TRP drivetrain was a huge letdown. Engaging the shifter was incredibly difficult, and the derailleur struggled to hold tension or maintain consistent shifting. Compared to the SRAM drivetrains on the other bikes, the TRP drivetrain simply underperformed.

What's The Bottom Line?

The latest iteration of Canfield’s Jedi platform continues to be a hard-charging, hardcore downhill machine that is incredibly capable in various settings. The updated geometry, suspension kinematics, and the jump to 29-inch wheels all create a downhill bike that is stable and maneuverable. Its natural habitat will always be gnarly, chunky trails, but don’t let its raw and rugged looks fool you; the Jedi 29 is surprisingly agile and responsive to rider input. From bike park flow trails to sketchy pirate tracks, the Jedi can mold to your riding style. Confidence inspiring and planted in rough, daunting sections, or agile and poppy through jumps and berms - your choice. An ideal bike for weekend warriors, racers, or freerides, the Jedi 29 boasts a bulletproof frame and solid components capable of handling seasons of downhill thrashing. 

For more downhill bike content, check out our three-episode Test Sessions series: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3. And make sure to add Mountain Creek to your list of must-visit bike parks. You won’t be disappointed!