One of the worst-kept secrets in gravel is finally out – the new Canyon Grail gravel race bike launches and it’s been completely overhauled with new geometry, internal storage, a snap-on bag, a Universal Derailleur Hanger, and a range of models at the very competitive pricing that the German consumer direct brand is known for. And yes, yes, the double decker bar is no longer a thing.
The integrated bar that replaces it has a number of benefits, and you aren’t as completely locked in as before, but it does have its own set of limitations.
I did a video on the bike back at Unbound Gravel in June, where it was piloted to the wins of both the 200 and the 100-mile women’s races. Since then, we’ve been seeing it with a jumbled paint scheme at races around the world – including gravel worlds where Kasia Niewiadoma won on it on Saturday.
I got this bike under an NDA a couple of weeks ago, and have done a few hundred miles on it.
In this video, tell you what’s new, what’s different, how it compares to other gravel race bikes. What I like about the bike, what I don’t like, and what you should consider if you are considering buying one.
CANYON GRAIL US PRICES & WEIGHTS
Grail CF 7 (GRX 620, DT Swiss Gravel LN) $2699 – 9.22kg / 20.3lb
Grail CF SL 8 (GRX 820, DT Swiss G1800) $2999 – 8.74kg / 19.3lb
Grail CF SL 7 AXS (Rival AXS, DT Swiss Gravel LN) $3499 – 9.82kg / 21.65lb
Grail CF SLX 8 Di2 (GRX Di2, DTD Swiss GRC 1400) $4999 – 8.5kg / 18.74lb
Grail CF SLX 8 AXS (Force AXS, Zipp 303) $5499 – 8.14kg / 17.9lb
Grail CFR AXS (Red w power meter, DT Swiss GRC 1100) $7999 – 8.04kg / 17.7lb
Grail CFR LTD (Red with power meter, DT Swiss GRC 1100) $8999 – 8.04kg / 17.7lb
CANYON GRAIL GEO
https://tinyurl.com/49fv2t9t
0:00 intro
1:30 what’s new
1:54 geo
4:24 seatpost
5:34 handlebar
11:29 ride feel
12:22 storage
15:21 loves and don’ts
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48 Comments
Thanks. I totally agree with cockpit limitations. I'd like to be able to get an uncut steerer and be able to pick bar and stem sizes. Also, don't like what looked like a proprietary seatpost shape.
bla bla, paid promo
Maybe you mentioned already, can a Rockshox Rudy be added? Like the Grizl.
Nice review. I like the idea of customising stem length and bar width at time of purchase, makes perfect sense. I really like the cockpit and aero Garmin mount. So cool. Gotta love Canyons constant innovation. I have the cheapest grail AL and it’s a great bike.
Finally a review of the grail I can agree with. Yes the integrated handlebars and stem is a big, I mean massive issue for me. Im staying well away from it until Canyon realizes that we costumers are not made of money. 44cm handlebars is massive. It a no no for me in my opnion.
Excellent review as always. I ended up buying a 2020 Trek Checkpoint SL6 because of your great review few years ago.
Now I'm looking a new gravel bike and this one is in my shortlist, and because of that, I'd like to ask you if this new Canyon "D shape" seatpost can be replaced by regular rounded one like it's doable in the Giant Advance Revolt and Canyon Grizl.
Do you like better this new Canyon Grail or the Giant Revolt Advance?
Thanks again for your great video and hope you can advise me in between the new Grail or the Giant Advance Revolt
2.6k is not for the AXS version tho? Or is it? That would be an insane bargain …
This seems to be a bike designed for pros competing in a limited series of races, who have a quiver of bikes to choose from. An aero seatpost is stupid and all gravel bikes should have a round seatpost that allows for the option of adding a dropper. The tire width, works for mad lads who are pushing at the front, but for the rest of us who will be riding this on various trails on the weekend, wider tires would have been nice. I just jumped on the site and nothing is in stock, which is pretty much always the case I look on their website.
A Canyon owner x4 now, 3 MTBs and the Grizl. I have not had any real problems with the bikes out of the box or long term at this point. The value is phenomenal, bike shops can't compete. If you plan to ride long miles on their bikes, know your bike fit well, as you may have to size up or down depending on your body type if you fall between sizes. They have a 30 day return policy if you blow the size, so that is a peace of mind. Go Ben :). Western slope old guy
Great as always Ben. So stoked to see you got in the new Grail. Been waiting daily for this thing to drop! Finally! Definitely looking forward to the long term review. Not meaning to open up a can of worms at all but hmmmm, wondering what a different wheel set would do here. For use on pavement and trail (Los Angeles).
Cheers!
I'd like to see you review the Scott Addict if you already havent.
More from Barry please!
42mm tire clearance in 2023? That number looks a little crazy now and in 3-4 years I think it will age poorly.
Regarding the complaint of not being able to select handlebar/stem sizes, I brought this up to a Canton employee at SBT. He assured me that it’s in the works to be implemented, but is a bit down the road. So hopefully that comes to fruition.
Now for a wall of text
The number one thing I’m stuck on is the bike’s wheelbase/reach. My 2XL Grizl is smaller in both departments than the new XL Grail, and that blows me away. Ben, if you have any experience with singletrack or something like a CX course with the bike, I would love to know your thoughts on how it handles aggressive turning. I was planning to buy this bike in a size down from my Grizl due to a better overall position for me being with an 80mm stem. The problem that creates for me, however, is the bike handling in a way that even the slightest turn of the bars causes me to nearly dump the bike. So seeing the geometry much larger with the cockpit being smaller has me scratching my head on what to do. I love everything else the bike has to offer, but man that 2XL is a long boi
Whats this like compared to the aspero?
When adjusting the headset stack, do you have to cut the steerer or is it like the new aeroad?
Customer service with Canyon is still lacking. If they ever get that in order, they will really be a force to be reckoned with. Until then, I think many will move on to others after multiple failed attempts to buy a bike.
Hi Ben, once again an amazing review, in your style, love it.
Question, how would you compare this bike to the BMC Kaius, in terms of riding stiffness and comfort?
Would you prefer the Canyon Grail or the new Santa Cruz Stigmata with the rigid fork?
Thanks, Ben, I really appreciate your taking us into your garage for a look-see at new bikes and new components and what not. And with wins in Kansas and the Worlds, Canyon has already proven that bike is good and what's the new sales adage, Win in Kansas, ship yours anywhere. Something like that. And it is nice that bike can accept other bars and stems, stock ones seem too wide and better to have the option to swap. Please tell us more about the ride. 😀
Does it come with the clamp for carbon rail saddle?
For a 1 bike solution, revolt, aspero or the new grail? No intention of bikepacking.
Great review! Ive been waiting for this one for awhile now. Im with you on the bar issue, let me pick my width when i buy it. A few years ago they had this option on the aeroad or ultimate si hopefully they bring that back. Geometry is very Stigmata-esque which i think is a good thing and love the tuxedo and the bronze paint jobs 👌
Imagine spending that much money on a bike and needing to move the bars just 10mm either way and finding out just how expensive it will be to do that. Not to mention the labour costs 😂
I received my Giant Revolt Advanced O 2023 in the lovely plum colour the same day this bike was released… For a few hours I was having a little bit of FOMO but quickly realised that the Revolt wins imho because of cables, tyre clearence, cockpit and overall comfort. At least I hope so.
How does this compare to the Orbea Terra with a similar spec?
I hated the look of that frame bag, but you made me re-think about. The colour schemes available are a bit of a let down, the top end being the only one I like. I'm sold on the bars though, that "Corsair" wing I really dig. Congrats on your renewed partnerships, looking forward to more episodes of accurate content.
This is the best introduction I have seen so far! Well done 🙂 Keep it up Ben … Greets from Germany … Ride on 😉 However you mentioned the wrong price for your CFR model ! Check that at 15:40…
How much does. A. Bike like this cost
I use a Ritchey Venture Max XL 50cm, better forget gravel racing. Also like the 45c tires on my Revolt. Off the back is ok .
The aero bar option is awesome. Opens the grail to the adventure ultra distance types 👍✌️✌️
Those trials look 👀 familiar ;). What’s the weight!
This wide bar width is meauserud in the drops, on the hoods it should be 38-40cm. If not, they are crazy at Canyon.
So the Grail is now longer/slacker than their supposedly more offroad oriented Grizl. Makes me think the Grizl is in need of a refresh. Also, I get keeping that low tire clearance differentiates it from the Grizl but it just seems unnecessarily limiting. They could have boosted it to 45mm and then bumped up the Grizl in its next refresh to something like 29×2.25 to make it more versatile for truly rough offroad adventuring.
I've been experimenting with a mullet setup and it is making me wish more and more companies made all their bikes with UDH compatibility. Looking forward when road/gravel groupsets can utilize the performance benefits of the direct mount derailleurs 🙂
Great review. Agree on your comment to Canyon about ordering different size bars/cranks. I just bought an Endurace CF SLX Red AXS eTap. I needed a large but ride 172.5 cranks. It only comes with 175's. So, I knew when ordering I was going to change them Funny thing, when I assembled the bike, it actually had 172.5's. So, their mistake saved me time and money. Get bike, wholly support Canyon and their consumer direct business model. Th days of 14,750.00 S-Works Roubaix are behind me.
PF86 bottom bracket 😢
Was leaning towards an SLX 8 AXS in "metal grind" but Canyon have pulled the variant… Now rooting for a Grizl upgrade; UDH, maybe same geo as Grail and keep the 50mm tyre clearance.
44cm bar so you can do push ups while riding…
I’ve just had a test ride on this at Canyons HQ in Koblenz. I’m 188cm tall, 91.5cm inside leg,and although the geometry chart on the Canyon website suggests that I need a large the staff there told me that they recommend a medium as it’s a long bike. All of the staff said I spoke to said that in their experience everyone needs to go down a size. The medium felt like my Endurace large, both in position and handling. I tried a large and it felt enormous was not comfortable. I normally ride a 58 Specialized Diverge, and this felt so much more nimble and fast. The lighter weight probably makes most of the difference, but it felt good. I’m tempted, but I really want a mullet gearing with a 10-52 and 42 chainring. I love climbing and technical surfaces but I only have an FTP of 215, and at 66 I’m not going to get any fitter. The Crux may be an option but I’d like downtube storage and top tube mounts. The Enve Mog is another one I’ve looked at but haven’t ridden.
Ben, you’ve ridden them all, how would you compare the Mog to the Grail?
I’m looking for a fast gravel bike that can handle the rougher stuff and be comfortable on long rides (100km+),but I don’t want to go bikepacking .
weird that the SL's are missing the integrated storage
I only have money for the cheap version, why am I not worthy of a vault?
are you shure the cockpit is 1 1/8 and not the oversized 1 1/4?
Grail or Stigmata?
This bike came out right after I purchased the the Grail CF SLX9 etap with the doble decker bars 😭
Nice straightforward review. What a relief! Thanks Ben. …The new Grail is definitely a contender in the gravel race / all-road category now. However, the limitation on reach adjustment with those stock bars with only a 70mm! stem is too short for me. It’s not a mountain bike! My Cervelo Aspero in size 56 is 10mm shorter in the frame than a size M Grail, but I need a 100mm stem on the Aspero, leaving the stock Grail stem 20mm short. Big problem Canyon …as if it’s only human beings' leg length that differs and not torso or arms! LOL. So much for being environmentally friendly, just throw away those fancy stock bars if they don't happen to fit!? Hmmm…
Does the higher stiffness of the CRF carbon frame noticeably reduce the riding comfort? I'd be interested in whether the CRF and CF SLX feel different, and whether the CF SLX might actually be a better choice for an amateur who only rides for fun.
I don't see the aero bars available on the US website, but I see it when I change to other countries (including Canada). Do you know if the aero bars are coming to the US?
Ben, Can you compare new grail and Giant revolt? Thanks.