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My original plan was to use the Canyon DJR 6500 for 3-4 months as I usually do, then post a full review of it side by side with M&W Ocean Wolf 12000 beginning by demonstrating how every single part in the Canyon is identical to its twin in the M&W, putting each part on a scale to show you how they are the same part to the fraction of a gram. But over the past 4 days I have been receiving emails from confused or distressed people who bought the Canyon before they saw my notes quoted along with some pathetic "responses" to them by the Canyon clan. That made me realise that waiting for 3-4 months would mean that more people would fall for the rubbish claims and buy something that isn't what they thought, so I decided to make this quick thread which is not at all a review. It's just a quick note, and in due time the reel will be reviewed after proper testing as I've been doing since you got to know my work 13 years ago.
First of, they claimed that the reels are different because of a difference in the rear portion of the body. They posted this pictorial "evidence", showing the Canyon with a body that has a plastic bumper vs the one piece angled frame of the M&W
Well, they forgot that they have already posted a photo of the Canyon with that same one piece angled frame back in September last year. Here it is on their Australian site CLICK and a screenshot in case they take it down CLICK.
Let me tell you how it works: The OEM manufacturer offers a set of options for the retailer who wants a reel with their own brand on it. Usually different handles, spool cosmetics, drag knobs, and in this case a choice between two types of frames. The photo from Canyon's blog shows their reels in the one piece frame, but obviously they later opted for the other frame with a plastic guard.
You already know about the M&W Ocean Wolf 12000, and here is the reel being sold under two other names by two other retailers, and I promise you they will appear bearing more names very soon.
Bulldog Razor CLICK
Trabucco Exceed CLICK (compare this closeup of the Exceed CLICK to my own Canyon CLICK)
If you read the specifications on those two reels, you will see that the alloy of the frame and rotor is Al-Si-Cu-Mg and the oscillation gear is Manganese Bronze, exactly what is printed on the box of the Canyon DJR 6500! Canyon claimed in their laughable responses that their reel has superior internal parts and a frame made in Japan by a "secret" frame maker. You tell me what you think of that now
Here is an importer of the same reel in white (no markings on it) and painted black as "SP60" CLICK (screenshots saved). The bottom of the page reads "OEM MOQ is available(Minimum order of 100 pcs with your company logo". This means that anyone can get them with any name printed on them. The 1 less bearing is because it uses a different optional handle. In this photo from the same website CLICK you see an optional spool shape in the little box. Demonstrating the catalogue options explained earlier. Canyon claim that their reels have super internal parts made by secret companies. Well, look at those two photos from the site of the importer of the internals CLICK & CLICK. Now compare the internals to my own Canyon DJR 6500 CLICK & CLICK. Compare the close ups of the drive gear in my reel and the reel from the importer, and see how identical they are to the exact distance the screws stop before the surface of the gear!!
Here you have it people. Canyon made claims on some web forum that yours truly has "fallen for temptation", and I had my lawyer print and properly document that garbage for possible future reference. But for now I'll just give them the sincere advice to cut the rubbish and be respectful to their customers. I have nothing personal against them and they aren't the first -nor will be the last- people to make those bogus claims about reels then go after me when I say something contrary. Putting Carbontex washers in reels and lubing them does not make them "Assembled in the USA", and certainly there are no Japanese frames nor superior parts from secret suppliers in their reel. Let the reel speak for itself on the waters and I will be testing mine in the meantime others will be testing theirs, and eventually I wish that it will get a thumbs up from everyone because that would be a wonderful thing for the entire community of fishermen whom for more than a decade have been a virtual family to me and I got to meet and be good friends with many people in all corners of the world.
Alan Hawk
Glad you found the thread useful. Thanks and have a great day in sunny Italy!
