Canyon released the second generation of the Grizl platform back in July 2025, placing a special focus on its adventure gravel credentials and ability to bag big miles in the saddle. With the new model, Canyon has divided the range into two distinct lines: the Grizl OG (or Original Graveller) and the more adventurous, bikepacking-focused Grizl Escape models. Pictured here is the Canyon Grizl CF 7, which forms part of the OG line but still promises utility at a reasonably high level.
- Is Canyon working on an all new gravel fork? Getting up close and personal with Freddy Ovett’s mysterious DT Swiss-equipped Canyon Grail
- Cinelli Zydeco Mud Apex gravel bike review
- Unbound Gravel 2025: intriguing new tech, solo victories, and what’s next for the world’s biggest gravel race
It also boasts impressive tyre clearance and a tweaked geometry for improved comfort and control during fully-loaded descending situations, the results of which are claimed to make it one of the most capable gravel machines currently available.
To test these claims, I took the Canyon Grizl CF 7 on some of the gnarliest trails I could find in an attempt to unsettle it and test its capabilities to the fullest.
Canyon Grizl CF 7 gravel bike – Technical details
While the new Grizl OG is designed around what Canyon calls “adventurous gravel”, the bike still has a racy-looking facade and fits in well with Canyon’s off-road drop-bar range. It’s available in two rather interesting pastel colourways: pineapple gummy (yellow) or lavender gelato (purple) as pictured here. It’s very different from the darker, bolder frame colours and designs currently employed in the segment, and this might see it appeal to a broader demographic thanks to these more affable hues.
The brake and gear cables are primarily internal, partially visible above the bearing top cover and routed internally through the headset. While this creates a cleaner front end and is easier for mounting bags, it also means changing the headset bearings will be more of a chore, not to mention a costly exercise. That said, Canyon has specced it with more durable headset bearings.
The raised top tube and seatstay junction is the most noticeable visual tweak over the previous generation, with the change coming as a result of improving its practical merits – increasing the space inside the main triangle for the inclusion of bigger storage options (frame bags and bottles). There is a surplus of frame mounting bosses throughout the frame and fork, as well as interfaces for front and rear racks. The frame also utilises magnetic mounting points in the main triangle that secure the Canyon Load FidLock MidLoader bag. It’s a very clever and novel idea that will appeal to riders who prefer a clean aesthetic and don’t want to damage their frames from straps and the like.
Speaking of frame damage, the Grizl comes with frame protection in hotspot areas such as the chainstays and the underside of the downtube to protect it from errant rocks, tyre rub and general scuffs that happen over time.
In a strange move, the Grizl uses a press-fit bottom bracket and not a threaded version like many gravel bikes are now employing. Canyon says it has retained this layout after conducting myriad tests that proved press fit was the best option due to the tyre clearance and increased stiffness of the frame.
The geometry has changed over its predecessor but not radically so – the Grizl is now more relaxed with a 71-degree head angle (0.5 degrees slacker than before), with reach and stack numbers also longer and taller at 404mm and 596mm, respectively. While the chainstays (440mm vs 435mm) and wheelbase (1,045mm vs 1,076mm) have also grown, these numbers are par for the course in this category – the result of which helps foster better handling and overall comfort. Tyre clearance has also grown to allow riders to fit tyres of up to 54mm, and all Grizl bikes are 1x only.
Canyon Grizl CF 7 gravel bike – Componentry
Despite its £2,499 asking price, the Grizl CF 7 is a decently appointed bike. For starters, it utilises a full carbon-fibre frame and fork – granted, the entire three-bike Grizl OF range uses the same frame. Interestingly, there’s no range-topping CFR model. Spec-wise, the Grizl is built around a mechanical Shimano GRX 12-speed hydraulic groupset complete with 40T, 10-45T gearing – a hardy bit of kit, known for its durability and performance in all conditions.
Apart from the “shock-absorbing” carbon S15 VCLS 2.0 CF seatpost, the rest of the components comprise aluminium bits and pieces, which drive the total weight up quite significantly. The balance of the build consists of DT Swiss Gravel LN wrapped in Schwalbe G-One RX Performance 45mm, 160mm front/rear rotors, an alloy Canyon-branded stem and bar with integrated cables and a Selle Royal SRX Saddle.
On our Park Took scale, the Grizl CF 7 weighed in at 9.95kg without pedals, almost bang on the claimed 10.04kg weight. While you could trim off some lard by installing lightweight wheels, a carbon handlebar and saddle – part of the Grizl’s appeal is its bulletproof, go-anywhere nature, so apart from swapping out some parts and maybe upgrading the wheels to the company’s Canyon-branded carbon hoops, I’d leave the bike as is.
Canyon Grizl CF 7 gravel bike – Performance
Despite the Grizl being able to clear 54mm (2.1in) tyres, the bike comes standard with 45mm Schwalbe G-One RX Performance tubeless tyres. The DT Swiss Gravel LN wheels, complete with an internal width of 24mm, make for a decent footprint and are ideally suited to the trails I used for my testing. Taking the bike’s mass and my 62kg weight into account, I set the tyre pressures a little harder than what I’d usually use on lighter gravel bikes – around 30/40psi vs the 22/24psi front/rear.
I kept the 45mm tyres for the duration of the test as this has become the standard width in the category and they did a surprisingly impressive job considering the terrain at hand: deep sand, rocky descents and loose, washed out switchback climbs. I can’t recommend playing with tyre pressure enough, as once you find the pressure that works for you (and I guarantee it will be way lower than you think), it unlocks so much grip and speed that your cornering confidence dial will shoot up to 11.
Straightline performance isn’t bad considering the bike’s mass and 44cm handlebars. They are significantly wide and feature a notable flare that goes against the aerodynamic philosophy underscoring the gravel discipline at the moment. While the bar arrangement does provide impressive leverage and comfort through corrugations and technical terrain, it is not suited to out-and-out speed. The bike is more about mile munching and steam-rolling its way across terrain. The carbon frame and fork are sublime, as is the seatpost, which is claimed to provide 20mm of vertical travel.
As a result, you don’t feel the choppy nature of more rugged terrain like you would on a racier platform, such as the Cannondale SuperX and even the Canyon Grail. This means you can pretty much hurtle through anything, within reason, of course. While I wasn’t a fan of the wide, flared bar at first, the more I rode the Grizl, the more it made sense, allowing me to place my hands further apart over the front axle, which improved grip and confidence while descending.
While I didn’t test any of its bikepacking credentials, it’s evident that the Grizl will handle a full load with confidence. The only issue I think might arise pertains to its climbing efficiency if you were to take it bikepacking. See, with pedals, bottle cages and full water bottles in tow, the Grizl pushes past 11kg – this will swell to well over 13kg depending on what bike bag/pannier configuration you end up fitting. Unladen, the 10-11kg weight is manageable on most terrain thanks to the 40T, 10-45T gearing ratios. You’ll need to work the pedals to get over super-steep features, but over rolling hills, you don’t notice its heft thanks to momentum and impressive top speeds it can reach without crazy cadences.
Canyon Grizl CF 7 gravel bike – Verdict
Yes, at nearly 10kg without pedals, it’s pretty heavy for a gravel bike – especially against some of the racier options around, its Grail sibling included, but the Grizl CF 7 gravel bike is not about out-and-out racing. It’s about utility and capability, and in these respects, it rewards the rider with pure enjoyment.
In terms of rivals, the Grizl goes up against the £3,000 Specialized Diverge Sport Carbon. It’s £500 dearer but gets a 2x Shimano GRX groupset and a plusher front end thanks to the Future Shock 1.5. It’s also got pretty decent tyre clearance – 47mm with a 700c wheel and 2.1in with a 650b wheel, and it weighs around 9.9kg.
The 10kg Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 is probably more comparable, considering it utilises a similar 1×12 Shimano GRX groupset, but it comes in around £450 more at £2,950. It does, however, get the company’s fabled Kingpin rear suspension that provides 30mm of rear travel. Like the Grizl and Diverge, alloy components comprise the bulk of the build, but this is par for the course at this price point.
The practical improvements and tweaked geometry numbers over its predecessor will appeal to riders outside the traditional gravel racing norm, but that’s not to say it won’t perform in a point-to-point racing setting. It’s an appreciably versatile bike and can be used for commuting and adventure riding, to racing – the choice is yours. While the 1x only option and pressfit bottom bracket won’t appeal to all, at £2,499, it offers a lot of value in a space where bikes are quickly becoming out of reach for the general rider.
You might also like:
- Gravel bike suspension and dropper posts – do you need them?
- Best gravel bikes 2025 — drop-bar bikes for off-road riding
- Gravel bike racing – everything you need to know
All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click here.
