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Canyon Grail CF SL 8.0 SL

9
£3,249.00

VERDICT:

9
10
The fastest and most fun gravel bike I've ridden by far with an adrenaline grin factor of 10/10!
Weight: 
8,450g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Canyon doesn't rush things. It studied the disc brake market before finally taking the plunge on its road bikes and now it has entered the gravel scene with the Grail, and boy was it worth the wait. The Grail CF SL 8.0 SL is light, nimble, fun… and that handlebar – laugh as much as you like, it's a clever design that brings a lot to the ride, especially if you want to go fast on a constantly shifting surface. What a machine!

  • Pros: Impeccable handling on and off-road, amazing comfort, precise handling...
  • Cons: Handlebar limits the fitting of lights, computer and gizmos

In the last 12 months I've ridden a fair few gravel/adventure bikes; in fact, I probably spend about fifty per cent of my riding time on the trails these days, and if Canyon's creation is what they are evolving into I'm not going to be stopping any time soon.

> Buy this online here

The weight is just 8.45kg (18.6lb), which is light for a machine that needs to be able to cope with the rigours of off-road abuse, and it feels even lighter out on the trails.

Ride

It's responsive to any acceleration and hard effort out of the saddle for those short, sharp climbs. And if there is no way to avoid that pothole/tree root/large rock, it bunnyhops like a pro.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_riding_4.jpg

Above all, though, it's the way it just deals with everything in its path that's so impressive. It's so planted, especially at speed, which, with some of the military tracks on Salisbury Plain having swooping descents where you can easily touch 45mph plus, is certainly something you need.

Canyon's CP01 cockpit handlebar is a big help when it comes to providing stability and a real feeling of confidence. When descending in the drops at warp speed, you can wrap your thumbs around the base bar to give you a good firm grip. No amount of vibration or whack from a pothole is going to see you lose contact with it, and I found it easy enough to pull the brakes on full from this position too.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_riding_drops.jpg

This medium model comes with a 46cm bar width from outside to outside (44cm c to c) at the hoods, but that flares out to around 51cm at the bottom of the drop, giving you a big wide stance to aid balance when you're swooping through the technical stuff.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_bars_2.jpg

The steering is beautifully direct too. Canyon has gone for a 72.5-degree head angle which is a good 1-1.5 degrees steeper than most gravel bikes to take some of the quickness out of the steering for riding on loose terrain. The 1,209mm wheelbase helps keep some stability and reassurance too.

The Grail just seems to float over the surface, though the handling never feels twitchy and it's so precise with loads of feedback from the entire bike. Even when you are going near sideways when the surface has broken away underneath you, you can just stick to your guns, aim for the line and keep the power on – it's an absolute blast!

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_riding_3.jpg

Canyon has chosen to spec the Grail with Schwalbe's 40mm G-One Bite tyres and that is a bit of a masterstroke because they are some of the best gravel tyres out there for performance. Pair that with such an excellent frameset and you've got a winning package.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_tyre_2.jpg

You don't need to be living the life of an adrenaline addict to enjoy riding the Grail, though. With excellent comfort levels coming from the S15 VCLS seatpost and the 'flex' top part of the handlebar, you can cruise on this thing for miles.

I did at least two rides of over 100km purely off-road during the test period, taking in loads of varying surfaces, and not once did I end up with pins and needles in my hands or any wrist, back or knee pain from the punishing terrain.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_riding_5.jpg

Another metric century ride which was on about 70 per cent tarmac and saw me hitting the chalk trails and rutted gravel with tyres pumped up to a road-friendly 55psi saw no issues either.

The frame is very stiff without ever feeling harsh, so it's a good base for the seatpost and cockpit to work with.

Canyon has specced a double chainset throughout the range, and that is something I like. I don't mind a 1x setup off-road but I often find the gears too gappy on the road for my pedalling style. With a 34x34 bottom gear I could get up most inclines in the saddle, which over the course of a long ride saves a huge amount of energy.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_crank.jpg

The fact that the bike feels so light and responsive actually made for some fun climbing.

The Grail isn't only a massive blast off the road, it's a very capable machine on it too. Canyon has stuck with geometry similar to that of its Endurace road range and with things like that steeper head angle and an aggressive seat angle of 73 degrees, makes for a spirited ride.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl.jpg

The Schwalbe tyres are grippy on the tarmac too, so you don't feel like you are trudging along the road on a set of knobblies crying out for a return to the fun stuff. Stick some wide slicks on the Grail and it'll be a very capable performer for a long distance tour or audax; after all there is loads of bar bag space on that cockpit.

Frame, fork and cockpit

It's certainly a frameset that'll get lots of attention mostly because of its front end, but personally I like the look of it.

The stem is integrated into the head tube/top tube junction for a clean and smooth look where it runs into the lowest bar section, which aids stiffness when you are in the drops.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_bars.jpg

The top part of the handlebar looks as though it sits high, but it's in exactly the same place as a traditional head tube/stem setup with a couple of spacers between the two.

Having the top part of the bar 'floating' allows for the narrow section to flex, something that is quite apparent when you are riding on the tops off-road. Hauling on the bar at the hoods for climbing isn't affected, though, so when you need to put the power down the bike never feels squidgy.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_bars_flex_area.jpg

It's a clever design and I really liked using it, my only criticism being that you can't fit light brackets and the like to the flat profile of the bar. And a lot of gravel/adventure rides can easily span from daylight into darkness.

The cockpit has full internal cable/hose routing to keep things clean and tidy, and this continues into the frame.

This obviously keeps the cables out of the elements and they pass through the frame until their exit points a few millimetres from where they are needed which should cut down on maintenance.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_cable_route.jpg

At the front the frame has a 1 1/4 to 1 1/2in tapered head tube to match that of the fork, providing that very direct and tight handling. This blends into the large down tube whose cross sectional area is a mix of radii and straight edges, which Canyon's designers have no doubt developed to create a tube that offers stiffness in certain areas with comfort in others.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_head_tube_badge.jpg

The bottom bracket junction is pretty meaty but nowhere near as excessive as we see on some carbon race bikes. Canyon has gone press-fit, which is at odds with the way a lot of the market is going with a return to threaded outboard cups, but fair play to the Grail, it hasn't creaked once after plenty of treks out in both the wet and the dusty dry.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_bottom_bracket.jpg

The chainstays have quite a large square profile for providing plenty of stability when really getting the power down. In contrast, the narrow seatstays have been designed to create a little bit of flex, a common feature and one that works here alongside the seatpost.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_seat_stays.jpg

The top tube narrows as it travels from the front to the rear, again for stiffness to start with before becoming more comfort biased. The shape of the tube with its flat section near the head tube and then the small gusset where it blends into the seatstays works perfectly with a frame bag; I was using the Topeak Midloader and it fitted a treat.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_seat_tube_junction.jpg

The integrated seat clamp, which you tighten with the hex key bolt inserted in what would normally be considered the rear brake bridge, holds the seatpost tight and again gives a smooth look to the finish of the frame.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_frame_detail_2.jpg

As you'd expect, the Grail comes with thru-axles, 12mm at both the rear and the fork, which benefits stiffness and resists the forces applied by the disc brakes. You also get flat mount calliper mounting plus two sets of bottle cage mounting points.

The fork has the same flat mount calliper mounts as the frame, and the brake hose runs down the inside of the fork leg to keep it out of harm's way.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_front_disc_brake.jpg

Maximum tyre clearance is 42mm for the fork and the frame, although it's only really the chainstays where things would get tight.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_fork_clearance.jpg

The fork is a full carbon fibre job with a claimed weight of 295g with 210mm of steerer (fitted, ours is about 70mm shorter than that), which is very impressive indeed, especially for a fork destined for off-road abuse. Canyon hasn't sacrificed stiffness to achieve it either.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_fork.jpg

The frame is available in seven sizes, from 2XS through to 2XL, with the smallest two sizes using 650B wheels to keep things in proportion. A claimed weight of just 1,045g for this medium size frame is also very good indeed.

Well specced

There are two frame models available at the moment, the CF SL and the lighter (830g in M) CF SLX, with an aluminium alloy option to arrive later in the year.

Sitting at the top of the table is the CF SLX 8.0 Di2 which gets the lighter frame and a full Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset plus Reynolds Assault ATR Disc Carbon wheels for £4,199. The CF SLX is available as a frameset-only option too for £2,349 – you get the frame, fork, seatpost, headset and cockpit.

In CF SL 8.0 guise there are three models: the CF SL 8.0 SL model we've got here, which I'll go into more detail about in a second, a CF SL 8.0 Di2 which gets the Ultegra Di2 groupset and a DT Swiss C 1800 wheelset for £2,999, and the CF SL 8.0, which I reckon is the best value for money model in the range at £2,349, which swaps the Di2 for a mechanical Ultegra groupset but keeps the same DT Swiss wheels.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_frame_detail.jpg

There are then two CF SL 7.0 models which swap Ultegra for 105, with one of them being the WMN women-specific model. They are both £1,999.

It's great to see hydraulic braking right through the range.

Right then, on to our model…

We've basically got the same as the CF SL 8.0 model but with an upgrade to the Reynolds wheels found on the SLX model; that's what gets you the extra 'SL' for £3,249.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_front.jpg

The latest Ultegra groupset, R8000, is an absolute beauty and totally suits a bike like the Grail. The shifting is light, quick and very precise even when the chain and sprockets are covered in dust or mud.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_drivetrain.jpg

Shifts under load are never a good thing but with the way the chain skips up the cassette it doesn't make you wince as much as on Shimano's cheaper groupsets.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_rear_mech.jpg

As I mentioned, Canyon has specced a double chainset – a compact using 50/34 tooth chainrings – paired with an 11-speed 11-34 cassette at the rear. Yeah, there are a few gaps at the upper end of the cassette, but considering how light this bike is you very rarely need them; if you do, a change in cadence isn't going to be a massive issue.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_cassette.jpg

On the gravel and the road I spent most of my time in the big ring, so it shows you just how quick this thing is.

Terrain and riding style can make a difference to your gearing preference, and I know Dave Arthur would probably disagree with me on the ratios here, judging by his thoughts on the same setup on the (slightly heavier) Trek Checkpoint.

Dave and I have very different riding styles, and he lives in the Stroud area where things are a bit steeper than the flowing and fast gravel tracks near me, where even on the steepest climbs you can be carrying quite a lot of speed into them. That said, even on one real toughie, going from a road crossing straight up onto the ridge and easily 25%, I was out of the saddle and over the 'cockpit' to keep the front wheel on the ground but I could still climb it without a struggle. I certainly wouldn't want to sacrifice the higher gearing for lower ones.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_riding_2.jpg

Perhaps it would be nice if Canyon had a SRAM 1x offering, so you could choose your preferred option.

Shifting is taken care of by the new ST-8020 levers, which also incorporate the hydraulic reservoir for the braking. The hoods are a lovely place to spend a lot of time considering they barely feel any bigger than the mechanical version.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_bar_and_shifter.jpg

The braking consists of ST-8070 flat mount callipers and 160mm SM-RT800 rotors which use Shimano's ICE technology to reduce heat build-up. It's an awesome setup which offers loads of power but has massive amounts of feel for modulation, especially important when you are braking on a loose surface where you need to fettle to stop the rear wheel locking up.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_rear_disc_brake.jpg

Wheels and tyres

The Reynolds Assault ATR wheelset is very good indeed. They are light, which really aids acceleration and climbing, plus they are able to take a whack or two. I'm normally a little wary of carbon wheels off-road but these didn't creak or make that horrible cracking sound when you hit unavoidable rocks or potholes.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_rim_.jpg

Their 23mm external rim width works well with the 40mm-wide G-One Bite tyres, and like I said when talking about the ride, above, they are an awesome set of rubber for use both on the gravel and riding to get there. Ours were set up tubeless, which allows you to drop the pressures for a bit of extra grip and comfort without the risk of pinch punctures.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_tyre.jpg

The quality keeps coming too, with a Fizik Aliante R5 saddle as standard. The Aliante is one of my favourites, as I really get on with the shape. It has very minimal padding, but you don't need to worry as the Canyon seatpost with its leaf design suspension takes care of any bumps.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_saddle_and_post.jpg

Bang for buck

Like I said above, I think the model a couple below this one is better value for money – the CF SL 8.0 with the alloy DT Swiss wheels for £2,349. Compare it with, for example, Specialized's highly regarded Diverge Comp (we tested the S-Works model) at £2,600 for a 105 hydraulic groupset and Axis Elite wheelset.

The Merida Silex 9000 is a similar beast to the Grail in a lot of ways: a gravel machine that focuses on speed. It costs £3,500 and comes with alloy Fulcrum wheels, a SRAM Force groupset, 42mm tyre clearance, and a very close frame weight even though the whole bike comes in a little lighter at 7.98kg.

> Buyer's Guide: 19 of the best gravel and adventure bikes

With that in mind, I'd say the Grail range offers great value for money, but I think this SL CF 8.0 SL comes down to whether you want a very good, lightweight wheelset and are willing to pay the extra for it.

Overall

If I was ever to do something like the Dirty Reiver again then this is the bike I'd want to be riding. It's a product of great engineering, not just the frameset but the Canyon components too. It's been designed as a complete package – you can call them gimmicks if you like, but wow, they all add up to an awesome ride.

canyon_grail_cf_sl_8.0_sl_-_riding_top_bars.jpg

The Grail is fast, smooth, comfortable, light and has great handling, but above all else it's masses and masses of fun.

Verdict

The fastest and most fun gravel bike I've ridden by far with an adrenaline grin factor of 10/10!

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Canyon Grail CF SL 8.0 SL

Size tested: Medium

About the bike

State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.

From Canyon:

FRAME:INNOVATIVE CARBON GRAVEL FRAME - SUPERLIGHT CONSTRUCTION, LONG WHEELBASE WITH SUPREME AGILITY

SPORT GEOMETRY

SIZE 2XS IN 650B

5TH GEN. MAXIMUS SEAT TUBE

12 X 142 MM THROUGH AXLES

INTEGRATED SEAT CLAMP CANYON GRAIL CF SL DISC

FORK:CANYON ONE ONE FOUR SLX

OUTSTANDING HANDLING ACCURACY GUARANTEED THROUGH HIGH TORSIONAL STIFFNESS

TAPERED CARBON FORK SHAFT: 1 1/2" - 1 1/4"

TUBE PROFILES OPTIMISED FOR AERO EFFICIENCY

HEADSET CANYON | ACROS

REAR DERAILLEUR SHIMANO ULTEGRA, 11S

DERAILLEUR HANGER DERAILLEUR HANGER FOR ROAD DISCBRAKE MODELS/INFLITE CF SLX

FRONT DERAILLEUR SHIMANO ULTEGRA, 11S

BRAKE/SHIFT LEVERS SHIMANO ULTEGRA DISC, 11S

BRAKES SHIMANO ULTEGRA DISC

CASSETTE SHIMANO CS-HG800, 11S

WHEELSET REYNOLDS ASSAULT ATR DISC CARBON

TYRES SCHWALBE G-ONE BITE

CRANKS SHIMANO ULTEGRA, 11S

CHAINRINGS 50 | 34

CHAIN SHIMANO CN-HG600-11

BOTTOM BRACKET SHIMANO PRESSFIT

COCKPIT CANYON CP01 COCKPIT CF

HANDLEBAR TAPE CANYON ERGOSPEED GEL

SADDLE FIZIK ALIANTE R5

SEAT POST CANYON S15 VCLS 2.0 CF (25 / 13 MM SETBACK)

SADDLE CLAMP CANYON INTEGRATED SEAT CLAMP

Tell us what the bike is for

Canyon says, "When designing the Grail CF SL 8.0 SL, we wanted to do more than just join the gravel gravy train, we wanted to develop a fast gravel oriented bike that would answer a lot of the uncomfortable questions about riding road bikes on gravel or unpaved roads for long periods of time. As more of a long distance, endurance answer to gravel riding, as opposed to the Inflite cyclocross racer, the lightweight (1040 g) Grail CF SL carbon frame offers the snappy ride of an Endurace with a similar Sport Geometry, so that you can feel fast and comfortable at the same time. The handling needs to be spot on, so we have made sure the frame remains rigid and responsive while designing the 2XS and XS size to fit 650b wheels, to ensure there are no untoward compromises with the geometry and handling in the smallest size. For the wheels, we have spec'd the Reynolds Assault ATR Disc Carbon as the ideal aero gravel wheelset with their wind cheating profile and 23 mm wide rims to accommodate the 40 mm wide Schwalbe G-ONE Bite Gravel tires for fantastic traction. But the most notable, and recognizable innovation of this gravel bike is the special cockpit that has been designed to be comfortable by offering a degree of shock absorption as well as ergonomically optimized so that you will feel in complete control in multiple hand positions. And for the rear end, our Canyon S15 VCLS 2.0 with the integrated seat clamp offers additional micro bump absorption, ensuring all touch points will be spared that post-ride hand buzz that leaves you feeling fatigued and wrung out. And eyelets for fender mounts will give you the option to keep your bottom free from grim. Kitted out with the latest Shimano Ultegra groupset with powerful disc brakes, the Grail CF SL 8.0 SL will be the perfect bike to buy so you can line up for a gravel Gran Fondo or take on a long weekend of bikepacking."

Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork
 
9/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

It's a beauty. Well made with a great finish.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

Both the frame and fork use a variety of carbon fibre grades in their construction.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

It's racier than a lot of gravel bikes, with a steeper head angle, closer to that of a road endurance bike.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

Going by the sizing charts it's difficult to tell, as Canyon has measured stack and reach at different points to most. From riding it, I'd say the position is exactly as I'd expect for a bike of this size.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Very comfortable indeed. The frame isn't harsh but the handlebar and seatpost really take the sting out of things.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

Yes, hard efforts are easily repaid.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Very much so, the way it just absorbs the gravel vibrations means that you can just blast it across any terrain.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so

No.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively Lively enough to be exciting without being twitchy.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

Canyon has made the steering perfectly balanced and exciting off-road without sacrificing it on the road.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

Definitely the Canyon seatpost, it really takes the sting out.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

The cockpit is a stroke of genius, stiff where you need it and flexible where you don't.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

Schwalbe's G-One Bite tyres work so well off and on road that they help make the bike very quick indeed.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
10/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for flat cornering:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
10/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
9/10

The drivetrain

Rate the drivetrain for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the drivetrain for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the drivetrain for value:
 
7/10

Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?

Shimano Ultegra is great and Canyon has chosen a really good range of gearing here for the type of riding the Grail will see.

Wheels and tyres

Rate the wheels for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the wheels for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the wheels for value:
 
6/10

Tell us some more about the wheels.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels? If so

The wheels are very good indeed with no worrying noises from plenty of abuse. I'd be happy to sacrifice a bit of weight for an alloy option, though, to save a bit of money.

Rate the tyres for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the tyres for durability:
 
6/10
Rate the tyres for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the tyres for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the tyres for value:
 
4/10

Tell us some more about the tyres. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the tyres? If so

I'm a big fan of the G-One Bites for use on road and off so it's great to see them specced here as standard.

Controls

Rate the controls for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the controls for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the controls for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the controls for value:
 
6/10

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?

Canyon's own finishing kit, like the seatpost and cockpit, are works of true engineering and it's a shame more manufacturers aren't taking this route. Both components provide comfort to the ride without taking anything away from stiffness and performance – exactly what I want.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? In a heartbeat.

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
10/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
8/10

Use this box to explain your overall score

There are a lot of good bikes out there but the Grail is one of the greats. There are some really clever touches here which don't just stop with a well-designed frame, it's the complete package – and by far the best gravel bike I've ridden to date.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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18 comments

Avatar
Cyclegirl2020 | 4 years ago
0 likes

I have been riding my Grail nearly a year, mostly on the road, but also on trails. It's a great bike, comfortable, agile, versatile, fast. The bars really work. You can load it for bike packing and it still rides really well. However, it really does eat parts. I'm changing brake pads more than once a month, changing wheel bearings every 3000km or less, have gone through a couple of bottom brackets, and basically every wearable component bar the head in the last 4 months. I do a lot of miles on some crappy winter roads but still, it is costing a lot more time and money changing parts than the road bike I rode last winter. Considering it's a gravel bike, it seems a little fragile

Avatar
Xenophon2 | 5 years ago
0 likes

I have about 1k km on this  model with SRAM Force X1.  I ride about 75% of the time on tarmac in reasonable shape, 25% on roads in bad shape, cobbles and on paths and double track.

I like the bike a lot, whether you will depends on the style of riding you prefer.

First, the handlebar and the obvious question:  does this 'hover bar' concept work?  Imo yes, to a point, but whether you'll be able to make much use of it is a different matter.  Essentially, you only really feel a difference when riding on the tops.  Then it really does make a difference.  Problem is, -at least for me- that I rarely ride the tops.  Imo it's only really useful when riding uphill or on long, straight stretches where you're unlikely to have to quickly brake or don't risk losing control.  I had high hopes for riding on cobblestones and indeed, it makes a difference.  The trouble is, where I am in Belgium, the cobbles have huge gaps between them and are often off-camber, it also rains a lot.  Too risky on the tops, even with wide tyres at low pressure.  In the drops you can hook a thumb around the horizontal part of the handlebar where it connects to the drops.  Extremely stiff, which can be either a very good or a very bad thing (bad when riding down a track at speed when you'll feel every bump and shock and in combination with rather sluggish handling, see below).

Sizing wise the Canyon business model requires a leap of faith, especially because the cockpit is what it is and esentially can't be customized.  But Canyon do seem to know what they're doing with their sizing tool.  I ride a size M, which is perfect for my 182 cm and what I guess is a normal build (182 cm, 75 kg, arms and legs totally average in length).  

About the mounting of lights on the handlebars:  I had agonised over this but at the end of the day it was a non-issue.  I ride with a NiteRider Lumina OLED 1200 and the stock mount fits perfectly.  Frustratingly, Canyon customer service were totally unable to give useful advice in this respect.

Talking about shocks and the way the bike deals with those, I'd say that the seatpost is really brilliant, it absorbs a lot.  Combined with 40 mm tyres at low pressure the ride becomes positively plush.  A shame that the practical use of the hover bar is more limited than its theoretical benefits.

Handling wise the Grail is rather oriented toward stability/endurance, it rides like if you're on tracks even (and especially) at speed and it does accelerate really well, beyond what I expected.  Very good for long distance riding, you can really munch down the miles without getting tired.  Less so on more technical tracks that require lots of steering inputs, there I could do with some more livelyness and vigour.  Can't have it all, I suppose.  In this respect the Grail's neither fish nor fowl.  I had been hesitating between the Inflite and the Grail.  The former would have been more to my liking in terms of responsiveness but I guess that then I'd have been here, moaning about the necessity for continuous attention and inputs which makes long distance riding tiring.  [I had the possibility to try a Scott addict 10 gravelbike which by comparison is extremely responsive but also extremely harsh and situated at the other end of the handling spectrum imo].

 

In conclusion:  I think the Grail is a good bike but for my circumstances, the added value of the hover bar doesn't outweigh its drawbacks in terms of limitations.  And I could do with behaviour that's a bit more lively when cornering and changing direction quickly are concerned.  Other than that, no complaints and I'm sure I'll be riding it with peasure over the next couple of years.

 

 

 

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roadmanshaq | 5 years ago
0 likes

Torn by this product.

 

On one hand the frameset, wheelset, and all the hard bits look fantastic.

 

However I think it's a real shame there isn't an option for a 1x with an easier gearing.

 

The reason I'd want a 1x is this - a lot of "gravel riding" (read; cycling on crap roads and off road) is done with touring in mind, carring upwards of 15kg of luggage and food/water. With that kind of mass for the likes of an audaxer or bikepacker doing e.g. the Highlands Xduro, a big front chainring is way OTT and just something else that needs caring for. But then to be fair if you're doing really gnarly rough rides, would you want a carbon frameset?

 

In love with so much of what this bike offers though.... Arrrgh! Hopefully Canyon's next gravel ride is something more geared for bikepacking.

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cdamian | 5 years ago
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This certainly seems to be the most positive review of the Grail so far.
Others asked for the same bike with a sensible handlebar.

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Alb | 5 years ago
1 like

"...my only criticism being that you can't fit light brackets and the like to the flat profile of the bar."

Erm, it appears to also be wholly nonadjustable.

Also, on what scale is a 73deg seat angle considered "agreesive"? 
 

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dansiviter | 5 years ago
1 like
Quote:

Why, why, why do manufacturers eschew mudguard/rack mounts and light fittings?

It appears it has them if a previous post and BikeRadar is to be believed including matching guards. I do think the it's an under sight by the reviewer and should have mentioned this including some pictures. I'm holding out for an aluminium 105 R7020 version as that would be a great daily commuter and no ugly shifters.

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Chas58 replied to dansiviter | 5 years ago
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dansiviter wrote:
Quote:

Why, why, why do manufacturers eschew mudguard/rack mounts and light fittings?

It appears it has them if a previous post and BikeRadar is to be believed including matching guards. I do think the it's an under sight by the reviewer and should have mentioned this including some pictures. I'm holding out for an aluminium 105 R7020 version as that would be a great daily commuter and no ugly shifters.

 

I don't know Canyon's product plans, but the Aluminum Inflite appears to be their answer to your question.  The commuter version can purchased kitted out as you describe.

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kil0ran | 5 years ago
2 likes

Odd bike. Not an out and out gravel racer, not practical enough for multi-day tours. Shame, because I like so much about the bike and applaud the innovation. Why, why, why do manufacturers eschew mudguard/rack mounts and light fittings? There are carbon forks out there rated for low-riders these days so there are no issues with durability or engineering challenges to solve. If designers are worried about ruining the lines hide them away on the inside of the forks/seat stays and provide a clip-on bridge so we at least have the option.

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MrManners | 5 years ago
0 likes

Not about the bike (which looks fine if you have money to burn), but I really don't get lace-up shoes.

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grOg replied to MrManners | 5 years ago
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MrManners wrote:

Not about the bike (which looks fine if you have money to burn), but I really don't get lace-up shoes.

I didn't notice the shoes but Stu puts his 180 cm weight @ 76 kg which going by those tree trunk legs must be out by 20 kgs..

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shufflingb | 5 years ago
0 likes

Interesting cutting edge handlebar and seat post with out of fashion 2x setup and tyres that are now a little on the skinny side for this category.

Bit of an odd combination.

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Tom_in_MN | 5 years ago
2 likes

If the bars used a regular stem, I'd be much more interested. I buy bikes to last decades and can see getting stuck needing unavailable parts in much shorter time than that. If your fit changes as you get older, adjusting the stem length is basically not an option.

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Fluffed | 5 years ago
1 like

A solution looking for a problem, hard pass.

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Bendurance | 5 years ago
2 likes

Yeah sounds amazing for Long distance touring or audax. Who needs lights, aerobar, handlebar bag and accessory mounts. 

 

 

 

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RoubaixCube | 5 years ago
1 like

I think a lot of people have been turned away by Canyons poor customer support when it comes to handing issues regarding broken frames. 

Even if it was £100 for a bike of theirs. Its £100 too much to be left out of pocket when something that is marketed/advertised as 'durable' breaks when you do something as simple as leaning it against a wall

 

I'd consider other optionns and alternatives

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rosscado replied to RoubaixCube | 5 years ago
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RoubaixCube wrote:

I think a lot of people have been turned away by Canyons poor customer support when it comes to handing issues regarding broken frames. 

Even if it was £100 for a bike of theirs. Its £100 too much to be left out of pocket when something that is marketed/advertised as 'durable' breaks when you do something as simple as leaning it against a wall

 

I'd consider other optionns and alternatives

Sounds like you had a bad experience? My only complaint is it can take Canyon longer than promised to build/ship their bikes during which time they are less than communicative. But that's a problem soon forgotten once the bike arrives. The quality and value of Canyon's bikes is hard to beat.

 

As an owner I have found Canyon's customer support excellent. They are responsive to requests and when I discovered a manufacturing defect with my carbon frame they replaced it without charge or quibble.
 

My Canyon Grail arrives tomorrow and I can't wait to see if it's as good as their road bikes.

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Huckfinn replied to rosscado | 4 years ago
0 likes
rosscado wrote:

My Canyon Grail arrives tomorrow and I can't wait to see if it's as good as their road bikes.

 

So what is your experience concerning the Grail.

Can you give some feedback...?

I'm considering the SRAM 1x one.

Anyone else would like to tell me how they're going with their Grail...?

 

Thanks!

P.S.: my shortlist is : either the Grail or the Giant Revolt Advanced 0 (which I could buy for around 300euros more than the Canyon and has a lifetime frame warranty...) 

What do you guys think about the two? 

 

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Cyclegirl2020 replied to Huckfinn | 4 years ago
0 likes

See my review above, fab bike, love it, but consumes wearable parts for a pastime

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