Thanks for posting this video. I agree with some of the points but there are issues to be considered. Here is my 500 mile review of the Canyon Grizl CF SL8. I’ll post this also on other videos about this bike. Positives: • The bike is responsive, essentially like a road bike. • The bike is light and climbs well even with the quite heavy wheel/45mm tire combo (DT Swiss/ Maxxis Rambler). • The tires roll well and give decent traction in gravel • The flex seat post provides some additional comfort, but there are some downsides to it (below). Negatives: • There is overlap of the front wheel and my shoes which can be disconcerting in a U-turn or in more technical trails. My shoe size is 45 and the bike has a large (L) frame. This should not happen. I have ridden and owned numerous bikes, and this is the only time this has ever occurred. Why not increase the distance between the bottom bracket and the wheel just a bit? • The geometry is essentially that of a race bike as evidenced by the specs and it feels that way. I would have preferred a slightly more raked fork (may also help with the shoe/wheel overlap) and longer trail for stability. • The spring mechanism of the seat post can be a pain. To adjust the seat angle, one has to take the seat post out, loosen a screw at the bottom of the seat post that holds the two leaves together and then slide the leaves against each other by a millimeter or two at the time, then tighten the screw, put the seat post back on the bike and try it out. Repeat this procedure until it fits. I think the flex design is overly complicated for what it achieves and can cause problems (see below). • The color looks nice at first, but a bright tone and matt finish makes every smudge and fingerprint visible. It is a bit of a pain to clean. • I have the version with two chain rings and am not a fan of the gearing. The way it is set up, at around 10 mph is the speed at which one needs to switch between chain rings to avoid crossing the chain too much and avoid rubbing. This is a speed often traveled on inclines or more technical sections. In hindsight I should have opted for the 1by. • There is a lot of lateral flex in the frame and the bottom bracket is quite narrow. Even when just pedaling hard, one notices some flex. I am 63 years old and not very strong. Not sure how the frame fares under a stronger rider. Quality issues: There were quite a few and more than I ever experienced on any bike. The new-bike joy was squashed almost instantly with quality problems. • On my first ride the rear brakes were dragging. Not really Canyon’s fault I thought, because during shipment things might get out of whack. I aligned the brakes and the dragging stopped, but they made a screeching noise to wake the dead (friends called it choking geese), which was not only aggravating but also embarrassing every time when coming to a stop. I cleaned and lightly sanded the pads, and cleaned rotors, which did not really help much. It took over 200 miles until the noise finally abated and the pads were bedded. • At about 150 miles or so, a crackling sound emerged from the frame. I feared that the frame might have a crack somewhere. It took me a while to figure out that the noise came from the seat post and saddle and projected through the frame. I re-tightened all the fasteners to exact torque specifications but to no avail. I then realized that the saddle was just loose. I could rattle it with two fingers up and down and sideways. The two hinges that hold the seat clamps in place were not of the same width, preventing the screws from getting the hinges snugly attached to the seat post. It took me a while to find some properly sized nylon washers that I could insert. That fixed that problem. • Another problem followed soon. On every downstroke of the right pedal there were some clicking noises but only when the chain was on the small chain ring and when pressing hard, like on a steep climb. Friends with whom I was riding noticed this too. It sounded like the bottom bracket. Again, it took me a while to figure out what was wrong. It turned out that noise came from the two chain rings which are attached to each other with Torx screws. Once I tightened all of them the noise went away. • Some of the internal cables rattled when riding over uneven terrain. I had to adjust the cables to correct that problem. Also, the rubber grommets that guide the cables into the frame were not placed properly in the factory. Lots of little signs of poor assembly. Summary: In the end after solving all the above problems, the bike rides well. But I am not sure I would buy it again. In hindsight I should have taken advantage of their 30 day return policy. But that period had elapsed when some of the problems occurred. Curious what the experience of other riders is.
@@henrivanryckeghem4922 funny thing is i have no problem with pronunciation in polish, german, english, russian, slovak, ukrainian, silesian but for example french is soooo weird
Thank you for the in-depth review. I've been lusting for one of the 2x ones since they were announced in the US a few months ago. Out of shape mtb'er and roadie trying to get back into it. Putting miles on fire roads used to be my thing.
I really like the look of them!! I've been considering the aluminium Focus Atlas 6.8 but the SL6 is about the same price(yes, some differences in components) so preferring a carbon frame the SL6 is very enticing. Like the colours of the SL6 too!
You are honest with the Grail and I have the same opinion as you: the cockpit of the Grail is probably a dealbreaker. Canyon should have done this one first…
This is a very good review, the small minute details within which are needed when a genuine consumer is in need of specific information to make the correct choice, this is covered in this video
Love the fact that canyon decided to ditch the double decker. Bike looks nice, groupset is groupset. What am worried about is the seat post endurance. After the aero bike handlebars and seat post problems, am reluctant to trust this manufacturer. Moreover, many in my cycling circle have suffered from cracks in the frame. Canyon was responsive I. Replacing those...I think that canyon owes us an explanation as clients
@@moritzaufenanger2537 But how is that a problem for this bike. What I mean is that this specific seat post is nothing new and therefore the chance of something happening to it is really low if you buy this specific bike.
@@moritzaufenanger2537 hi. Thanks for the recommendation. The guy is good and seems to know the physics/mechanics of things. My concern though is that bike manufacturers are charging a lot for a tech that is either not worth that much or prematurely released. We, as riders, would want to push a bit towards a fair trade allowing us to upgrade at acceptable rate and price tag
Call me crazy, I was originally looking at the grizl but ended up with the grail - I just love the weird look of the thing, every other bike looks ancient next to it.
That's exactly my problem. Wanted a Grail CF 8 since it looks really cool and i wanted to try out the hoverbar but Canyon told me that it would be better to get a Grizl after they talked with me about my usual riding.
The Grail is a racing gravel bike. The grail is very stiff and unforgiving compared to more comfortable bikes like the Rose Backroad. Not good for long bikepacking trips.
@@andreteixeira5635 Grail. I wrote Grail. As the new Grizl is not available for many reviews yet. But as the Grail has the same geometry and materials as the new Grizl I expect it to be very similar. The Rose Backroad is a more compliant bikepacking bike than the Grail.
@@DilbertMuc Hello Dilbert, I have a Grail AL and about to shed 3000€ for a Rose Backroad (carbon). Do you ride the Backroad? Do you find it much more compliant compared to the Grail Al (aluminum)? Many tks
Thank you for this extensive review! Really cool to see. Just ordered my Grizl CF 6 and can't wait for it to arrive! Excited for the new videos I can put out with it.
I got the Grizl CF SL around 3 months ago. I was planning to use it for commuting, until after 3 weeks of use I had a minor crash with another bicycle and the frame broke. I contacted Canyon and asked about the Crash Replacement Program. Basically, Canyon offered me a new frame (fork not included) for US$ 1,600 + Tax. For now, I will store the bike and continue commuting in my old Trek mtb. If you are planning to do some adventure riding or commute, consider getting an aluminum frame, as it will be more reliable.
Oof. I keep watering at the mouth to try a carbon frame after eating up all the promises of carbon helping to relieve some road vibrations, but then hearing stories like this then make afraid to try them
Thanks for sharing that! I have wondered for quite some time if i should rather take the grizl cf or the grail al, that really helps deciding! Btw, amazing that canyon gave you a new frame, i'm sure there are many manufacturers who would have tried to sell the new frame!
This looks so fun! I’d take that thing full speed straight to the sand! Thanks for the review. I was under the impression this was some sort of e bike. I’m glad it’s not.
I have just moved to S Korea and the price in Korean won when changed to pounds Sterling seems lower than the prices you quoted. I am interested in getting a second set of wheels for purely road / distance riding. Any suggestions on gear cassette and tyre widths etc.for road riding?
Jacket looks rather like my old Goretex Walking Jacket I used in the 1980’s,before jackets became more ‘fitted‘ and comfortable!! Shorts like my old goretex walking trousers that I cut off at the knee ! Bike looks nice though. However always interesting to see how the Industry struggles to market its latest products..rigid to flex..long to short..wide to narrow. Do agree though with the thought that-If you need more from a gravel bike,then perhaps get a mountain bike... If you are a keen cyclist then you will have several bikes....no such thing as ‘one bike for everything’
Dropper posts belong on whatever bike you want them on. If I have something steep and technical to descend on my gravel bike (yes it happens), I damn sure want my dropper post available.
Very nice I’m definitely thinking of getting one is that a medium you’re riding how does it feel on their website they keep telling me I need a small but I’ve always written mediums and I know in the past you have said the sizing is a bit off what do you think
Have a look at the written review linked in the video description for more on fit and sizing. Canyon recommends I ride a small, but I much prefer the medium. -Matthew
Pro tip: for more vertical compliance on your mtb break the shims in your dropper post if you have them so your saddle can wiggle around and give you oodles if comfort 😉
My KS eten did that but then again it's basically an office chair. I'm hoping the side to side doesn't get worse as I can't see myself enjoying a new one
Sounds identical to what specialized already did with the diverge... long reach, slacker headtube, shorter stem, although specialized also adjusted the trail a bit to keep steering lively
"long reach, slacker headtube, shorter stem"... I loled. Grizl is the same Grail in terms of geometry. Canyon just reused time-proven geometry on this bike. It isn't something new for Canyon.
I know this is an sponsored review but between this one and the Grail which o e is better to be more time on tarmac? I would love to see a comparison between the 3T Exploro, Pinarello Grevil and maybe Cervelo Aspero (with comparable setup). Thanks.
He said the Grail is better for roads. I don't think he cannot say that if it's sponsored (and there's no indication this is paid product placement, just a review with the bike supplied by Canyon). At the end, he even said the Grizl is better and could kill off the Grail, so he definitely has editorial freedom.
The 3T Exploro has my eyes right now. I also would like to see the comparison among the bikes you mentioned and a few more. A bike review or sponsored, seems more like a bike review to me.
This review has a *kit* sponsor in the form of Freewheel. It is not sponsored in any way by Canyon and the opinions expressed are not influenced by the brand. I haven't had the chance to ride the Grail and Grizl back-to-back but with the stock tyres, the Grail will be faster on tarmac. If you put more road friendly tyres on both they will be similar, but I'd hazard a guess that the Grail will be slightly comfier at the front thanks to the bar. Saying that, you should be able to compensate with tyre pressure. In handling terms, they're basically the same. Thanks for watching! -Matthew
I think for most people it isn’t. Bikes are stoopid money now. People are spending TDF money on bikes for weekend rides it’s a nonsense. I have the grail al @ £1600 it’s more bike than anyone could possibly need. Canyons are great vfm tho. Look at Santa Cruz their prices are a complete joke only stupid rich muppets ride them!
Hi, this is a nice bike that I am considering to buy. I only have two worries. I ride long tours, and take about 20-25 kilograms of luggage in the winter and about 10-12 in the summer. And I'm afraid that the carbon frame won't be able to withstand it. And then I stand there and cannot repair it in a workshop. Otherwise a very good bike it seems. And that 50 tires can be installed is very good. But this specific model is no longer on site, onley with suspension. I don´t like that.
Love the review spot on for myself! Love the bikes, colours and specs etc etc. I definitely looks like it'll handle the gnarliest pot hole in the U.K If I had a Siberian husky......? I'll definitely take the grail! It has a more stable cockpit. GO-RIDE 😘😍❤️
Yeah we get it, it has a normal handlebar. Man, for years i keep hearing the hideous hoverbar was a great feature and now a normal handlebar is the holy grail lol
Matthew, if you wanted to buy the Grizl and put narrower road tyres on to have a road [only] option temporarily- what wheels and tyres would you recommend? Had there been more frame / fork mounts for bike packing on the Grail I would have chosen that over the Grizl. That option is not available.
I'll buy it for the tagline that you coined … "GRIZL. The holey GRAIL." But puns aside, I love what they did here! Especially the top of the line model. Ekar + DT Swiss 1400 Spline + Canyon S14 VCLS 2.0 CF Seatpost for €4500? Bargain! If I didn't have a lot of bikes already, this would be the next I buy! Also, by the time I'm able to test ride it the delivery dates will have slipped to the launch date of the Enterprise NCC 1701-E. 🙄
i dont know if it's really a bargain, but i love it too. My only doubt is if the Grizl is quite good for the tarmac as well. I heve to ride long paved roads before too reach gravel rods.
@@stefanobolgiani358 The 1400 Spline wheel set is around €1.5k if you buy it alone, similar price for the Ekar group set. The S14 VCLS seat post is €250 … and on it goes. This is a very good package. I haven’t ridden the bike yet, but I t has a very similar geometry to the Grail. Which is pretty sporty. So it might not be competitive with a race bike, but I think it’s still holding up okay against most gravellers. But in the end, only a test ride will tell … 😉
Nice bike, it remains me of the Felt Breed 20 shape of frame ? I have to get a gravel bike and this one, Trek, Cannondale Topsstone carbon 6 and the Jammis Renegade are on my radar .. the Cannondale is an awesome bike as well !! Decisions decisions ..
This looks right up my street and more available than the Giant Revolt Advanced 1. Any ideas if this would do the job for summer road ring as well with another set of wheels. I’m not speedster but ride off of an ave of bout 18-19 on an aluminium Cube before selling it last year.
With skinnier road tyres, it'll do just fine on the road. I suspect the front end may feel a little firm but stick with tubeless and you can adjust pressure to compensate. Thanks for watching! -Matthew
Bummer, no balcony handle bar for the Grizzl! There I always have 2 flower pots installed with fresh herbs for a nice jambon & fromage baguette on a gravel trip break. Canyon is speccing down their top bikes... bummer! :D))))
Due to my height I would need an XL size and I noticed that the XL comes with a 46cm wide handlebar. That seems very wide compared to the 44cm at most bars I've seen listed on other company's gravel bikes. Do they measure the width of the widest drop bar section? Thinking of getting this bike but would be a bummer if I need to swap out the bar for a more narrow one.
For that size tire, you’re about 10psi high! IMHO… Did you say the top of the steerer tube is 1-1/4” or is it tapered 1-1/4” bottom to 1-1/8” top? The reason I ask is that Giant SLR bikes are tapered 1-1/2” to 1-1/4” and stem options in 1-1/4” are very limited…
Looking for some feedback on how this would rate against my current bike which is a Santa Cruz Stigmata with the higher end CC frame. Running sram apex 1x and can squeeze a Schwalbe 40 on it. Wanting more climbing capability than the 40x42 can offer.
Total downers: 1) Classification 1 only. That's not what it's intended for in my mind. 2) 120kg max systemweight is weird, as the wheels take 130kg and have classification 2. Makes no sense to me. Bike Radar, speak up about that
I checked their specs here in the US and the 2x only provides a 34/34 low gear so there is no sub 1:1 climbing gears and the 1x 40/42 is the lowest you can go. Because they are showing the rear cassette is the 11/34 ultegra instead of giving the 11/42 grx cassette. Makes no sense aside from saving money. Hopefully they upgrade the cassette to grx. I own a Endurace and the Strive and would love to add this to my line up once the climbing gears get more friendly for us mortals.
GRX doesn't actually allow for an 11-42 cassette with the RX810 RD, it maxes out officially at 11-34, while the RX400 RD maxes at 11-36. There is usually some leeway with these things and there are aftermarket solutions to get you lower gears, however. Thanks for watching!
“Good news” for Grail owners…the 45mm Schwalbe G-One also fits the existing Grail as it’s actually size is around 42.3mm giving still sufficient tire clearance. The difference in ride quality between the 40mm is negligible though…it’s more of a marketing exercise. Before I would like to fit 50mm I’d rather have a “real” MTB.🙄
Canyon says the Grizl has 6mm clearance even with 50s fitted, so it's got quite a bit more room than the Grail. The risk of pushing the limits is mainly mucking up your paint, but we've all done it. Thanks for watching! -Matthew
I'd say it depends if you'll benefit from the bigger tyres (and tyre clearance), and the mounts. The Grizl is a bit more comfortable by the Grail AL is a fantastic bike in its own right. -Matthew
why no 650b - 27,5" compatibility to ride "normal" MTB Tyers? 50mm 700c? There are very few Tyres on the Market but there would be a lot if you go 27,5" and 2,1" wide.
Thanks for posting this video. I agree with some of the points but there are issues to be considered.
Here is my 500 mile review of the Canyon Grizl CF SL8. I’ll post this also on other videos about this bike.
Positives:
• The bike is responsive, essentially like a road bike.
• The bike is light and climbs well even with the quite heavy wheel/45mm tire combo (DT Swiss/ Maxxis Rambler).
• The tires roll well and give decent traction in gravel
• The flex seat post provides some additional comfort, but there are some downsides to it (below).
Negatives:
• There is overlap of the front wheel and my shoes which can be disconcerting in a U-turn or in more technical trails. My shoe size is 45 and the bike has a large (L) frame. This should not happen. I have ridden and owned numerous bikes, and this is the only time this has ever occurred. Why not increase the distance between the bottom bracket and the wheel just a bit?
• The geometry is essentially that of a race bike as evidenced by the specs and it feels that way. I would have preferred a slightly more raked fork (may also help with the shoe/wheel overlap) and longer trail for stability.
• The spring mechanism of the seat post can be a pain. To adjust the seat angle, one has to take the seat post out, loosen a screw at the bottom of the seat post that holds the two leaves together and then slide the leaves against each other by a millimeter or two at the time, then tighten the screw, put the seat post back on the bike and try it out. Repeat this procedure until it fits. I think the flex design is overly complicated for what it achieves and can cause problems (see below).
• The color looks nice at first, but a bright tone and matt finish makes every smudge and fingerprint visible. It is a bit of a pain to clean.
• I have the version with two chain rings and am not a fan of the gearing. The way it is set up, at around 10 mph is the speed at which one needs to switch between chain rings to avoid crossing the chain too much and avoid rubbing. This is a speed often traveled on inclines or more technical sections. In hindsight I should have opted for the 1by.
• There is a lot of lateral flex in the frame and the bottom bracket is quite narrow. Even when just pedaling hard, one notices some flex. I am 63 years old and not very strong. Not sure how the frame fares under a stronger rider.
Quality issues:
There were quite a few and more than I ever experienced on any bike. The new-bike joy was squashed almost instantly with quality problems.
• On my first ride the rear brakes were dragging. Not really Canyon’s fault I thought, because during shipment things might get out of whack. I aligned the brakes and the dragging stopped, but they made a screeching noise to wake the dead (friends called it choking geese), which was not only aggravating but also embarrassing every time when coming to a stop. I cleaned and lightly sanded the pads, and cleaned rotors, which did not really help much. It took over 200 miles until the noise finally abated and the pads were bedded.
• At about 150 miles or so, a crackling sound emerged from the frame. I feared that the frame might have a crack somewhere. It took me a while to figure out that the noise came from the seat post and saddle and projected through the frame. I re-tightened all the fasteners to exact torque specifications but to no avail. I then realized that the saddle was just loose. I could rattle it with two fingers up and down and sideways. The two hinges that hold the seat clamps in place were not of the same width, preventing the screws from getting the hinges snugly attached to the seat post. It took me a while to find some properly sized nylon washers that I could insert. That fixed that problem.
• Another problem followed soon. On every downstroke of the right pedal there were some clicking noises but only when the chain was on the small chain ring and when pressing hard, like on a steep climb. Friends with whom I was riding noticed this too. It sounded like the bottom bracket. Again, it took me a while to figure out what was wrong. It turned out that noise came from the two chain rings which are attached to each other with Torx screws. Once I tightened all of them the noise went away.
• Some of the internal cables rattled when riding over uneven terrain. I had to adjust the cables to correct that problem. Also, the rubber grommets that guide the cables into the frame were not placed properly in the factory. Lots of little signs of poor assembly.
Summary:
In the end after solving all the above problems, the bike rides well. But I am not sure I would buy it again. In hindsight I should have taken advantage of their 30 day return policy. But that period had elapsed when some of the problems occurred.
Curious what the experience of other riders is.
Impressive pronunciation of Schwalbe! Greetings from Germany.
Grüße, willkommen Kumpel. 🙂
You should hear how the Vegan Cyclist pronounces it: "Schwallabi"
There should be tires called Schmetterlingen.
Or Weltschmerz Schmetterlingen 35 mm gravel tires.
@@andredo4880 schwalbratwurst
@@henrivanryckeghem4922 funny thing is i have no problem with pronunciation in polish, german, english, russian, slovak, ukrainian, silesian but for example french is soooo weird
I’m a detail snob and I would say not a single detail was missed. Nice work!
Like all the latest bs, grx, carbon, 1x, etc what is new
And I have a 2014 Canyon Inflite that will do just about everything this one will.
Bars are too narrow and they went with a press fit BB.
You missed the seatpost clamp bolt is bathing in mud all the time...
Thank you for the in-depth review. I've been lusting for one of the 2x ones since they were announced in the US a few months ago. Out of shape mtb'er and roadie trying to get back into it. Putting miles on fire roads used to be my thing.
Matthew Loveridge, The best presenter in the bike world. Thank you very much again for your excellent review.
7:40 Yeah! Now you got the right pronunciation of Schwalbe! Congrats
That’s exactly what I thought. Cheers from Germany
I try 🙏. . Thanks for watching! -Matthew
Brilliant review. So thorough and professional. Give this man a promotion! :)
Hench AF SL 8.0, I want that name to be official 😁
There needs to be an option to get the leaf spring seat post on the lower spec models. It’s really the most important thing on the higher trim
Holey Grail. Best joke I've heard this month
omg. same. i couldn't stop laughing. lol
We hope you enjoyed the premiere! What do you think about Canyon's new Grizl gravel bike? Let the gravel bike discussion begin!
I'd rather have a grail, I like the Doppeldecker handlebar.
It looks like my endurace with gravelking 32c
I really like the look of them!! I've been considering the aluminium Focus Atlas 6.8 but the SL6 is about the same price(yes, some differences in components) so preferring a carbon frame the SL6 is very enticing. Like the colours of the SL6 too!
What's the name of the frame bag in the video?
@@V.Philly Apidura collaboration with Canyon. You can buy it on their site.
You are honest with the Grail and I have the same opinion as you: the cockpit of the Grail is probably a dealbreaker. Canyon should have done this one first…
This is a very good review, the small minute details within which are needed when a genuine consumer is in need of specific information to make the correct choice, this is covered in this video
Great review! How does it ride on the road with road tyres?
Love the fact that canyon decided to ditch the double decker. Bike looks nice, groupset is groupset. What am worried about is the seat post endurance. After the aero bike handlebars and seat post problems, am reluctant to trust this manufacturer. Moreover, many in my cycling circle have suffered from cracks in the frame. Canyon was responsive I. Replacing those...I think that canyon owes us an explanation as clients
check out Peak Torques Videos on it, explains it pretty well
You can find the VCLS 2.0 on Endurace versions since 2013 iirc. No problem there if you ask me.
@@majorw1546 Well yesnt, Canyon & ergon both stopped selling the post, so i think there were problems, especially with the Flip Head Clamp Cracking
@@moritzaufenanger2537 But how is that a problem for this bike. What I mean is that this specific seat post is nothing new and therefore the chance of something happening to it is really low if you buy this specific bike.
@@moritzaufenanger2537 hi. Thanks for the recommendation. The guy is good and seems to know the physics/mechanics of things. My concern though is that bike manufacturers are charging a lot for a tech that is either not worth that much or prematurely released. We, as riders, would want to push a bit towards a fair trade allowing us to upgrade at acceptable rate and price tag
This looks like a contender for a one bike garage for me, with another set of wheels for the road. Great review, as always, Matthew.
same
One of the best videos on this bike I've seen.
Call me crazy, I was originally looking at the grizl but ended up with the grail - I just love the weird look of the thing, every other bike looks ancient next to it.
That's exactly my problem. Wanted a Grail CF 8 since it looks really cool and i wanted to try out the hoverbar but Canyon told me that it would be better to get a Grizl after they talked with me about my usual riding.
A can't believe no word was given in this review about the comfort of the bike. Except for the seatpost. Greetings from Brazil!
The Grail is a racing gravel bike. The grail is very stiff and unforgiving compared to more comfortable bikes like the Rose Backroad. Not good for long bikepacking trips.
@@DilbertMuc you mean the Grail or the new Grizl?
@@andreteixeira5635 Grail. I wrote Grail. As the new Grizl is not available for many reviews yet. But as the Grail has the same geometry and materials as the new Grizl I expect it to be very similar. The Rose Backroad is a more compliant bikepacking bike than the Grail.
@@DilbertMuc Hello Dilbert, I have a Grail AL and about to shed 3000€ for a Rose Backroad (carbon). Do you ride the Backroad? Do you find it much more compliant compared to the Grail Al (aluminum)? Many tks
@@federicoorsolini7645 Check the Video "Felix testet Bikes". 🤓👆
Thank you for this extensive review! Really cool to see. Just ordered my Grizl CF 6 and can't wait for it to arrive! Excited for the new videos I can put out with it.
Looks great. Love my outlandish grail though!
I got the Grizl CF SL around 3 months ago. I was planning to use it for commuting, until after 3 weeks of use I had a minor crash with another bicycle and the frame broke. I contacted Canyon and asked about the Crash Replacement Program. Basically, Canyon offered me a new frame (fork not included) for US$ 1,600 + Tax. For now, I will store the bike and continue commuting in my old Trek mtb. If you are planning to do some adventure riding or commute, consider getting an aluminum frame, as it will be more reliable.
Oof. I keep watering at the mouth to try a carbon frame after eating up all the promises of carbon helping to relieve some road vibrations, but then hearing stories like this then make afraid to try them
Ai all the way. The weight difference is hardly noticeable (unless you're racing flats)
Thanks for sharing that! I have wondered for quite some time if i should rather take the grizl cf or the grail al, that really helps deciding!
Btw, amazing that canyon gave you a new frame, i'm sure there are many manufacturers who would have tried to sell the new frame!
This is the best review of a bike maybe ever.
Thanks bikeradar! Looks like I found my gravel bike!! (When it is finally available to order) :)
Love it, especially the pink colour way. I do agree with you that Canyon may have inadvertently killed of the grail.
Not if they reduced the price of the regular Grail be let's say 30%! (not gonna happen...)
great review! What is the framebag?
This bike can be a good endurance bike as well. Wow a bike to rule it all?
Is that the Boy Scout riding apparel?
I remember the Focus rigid XC bike review with you guys saying how terrified you guys got lol
This looks so fun! I’d take that thing full speed straight to the sand! Thanks for the review. I was under the impression this was some sort of e bike. I’m glad it’s not.
Rocking the blue shoes! Good vid.
First time I’ve heard of bike pricing numbers being lower in USD than GBP. Is that an effect of the Brexit?
Sadly, yes. -Matthew
i know thats ridiculous! i thought it was a mistake and the wrong way round!
I have just moved to S Korea and the price in Korean won when changed to pounds Sterling seems lower than the prices you quoted. I am interested in getting a second set of wheels for purely road / distance riding. Any suggestions on gear cassette and tyre widths etc.for road riding?
Brexit......The UKs answer to Trumps america...and working just as poorly.
As an american, i feel your pain...also my condolences.
Cool review. Can you add bookmarks to the videos? E.g. ride quality, components etc. :)
Awesome review! Where's your Go Pro mounted and with what? Thank you!
I used a chest mount and bar mount to get the shots in this video. Thanks for watching! -Matthew
Jacket looks rather like my old Goretex Walking Jacket I used in the 1980’s,before jackets became more ‘fitted‘ and comfortable!! Shorts like my old goretex walking trousers that I cut off at the knee ! Bike looks nice though. However always interesting to see how the Industry struggles to market its latest products..rigid to flex..long to short..wide to narrow. Do agree though with the thought that-If you need more from a gravel bike,then perhaps get a mountain bike... If you are a keen cyclist then you will have several bikes....no such thing as ‘one bike for everything’
20 minutes comprehensive presentation/ test of a gravel bike? Oh yeah!
Dropper posts belong on whatever bike you want them on. If I have something steep and technical to descend on my gravel bike (yes it happens), I damn sure want my dropper post available.
Love the Grizl, extremely versatile
Lol: 'mountain bike adjacent'.
I prefer 'road bike asymptotic'.😉
Great detailed review. Keep it coming.
SEND IT👍👍👍👍👍🤘🤘👍🤘👍
I have to wait till autumn before I cam get a canyon aeroad...wondering if anything from canyon doesn't come with a three month lead time right now
Does is brake? Slip? or something else that happen to canyon bikes these days?
The video and the test is great as usual! GJ Bike Radar
Great review - very comprehensive.
Very nice I’m definitely thinking of getting one is that a medium you’re riding how does it feel on their website they keep telling me I need a small but I’ve always written mediums and I know in the past you have said the sizing is a bit off what do you think
same as for me its saying small too
ive always ridden med im 5foot 9
Canyon sizing is different, go with a Small.
Have a look at the written review linked in the video description for more on fit and sizing. Canyon recommends I ride a small, but I much prefer the medium. -Matthew
@@bikeradar thank you I to think that The sizing is a bit odd plus the bigger bike will be more stable I will go for medium
Ticks a lot of boxes for sure! Looks good for some mellow single track. Wish the HA was a hair slacker
Love the MTB-adjacent category 10:15
Pro tip: for more vertical compliance on your mtb break the shims in your dropper post if you have them so your saddle can wiggle around and give you oodles if comfort 😉
My KS eten did that but then again it's basically an office chair. I'm hoping the side to side doesn't get worse as I can't see myself enjoying a new one
Great review!!!
Amazing review!
Sounds identical to what specialized already did with the diverge... long reach, slacker headtube, shorter stem, although specialized also adjusted the trail a bit to keep steering lively
"long reach, slacker headtube, shorter stem"... I loled. Grizl is the same Grail in terms of geometry. Canyon just reused time-proven geometry on this bike. It isn't something new for Canyon.
GREAT looking bike, great review!
I know this is an sponsored review but between this one and the Grail which o e is better to be more time on tarmac?
I would love to see a comparison between the 3T Exploro, Pinarello Grevil and maybe Cervelo Aspero (with comparable setup). Thanks.
He said the Grail is better for roads. I don't think he cannot say that if it's sponsored (and there's no indication this is paid product placement, just a review with the bike supplied by Canyon). At the end, he even said the Grizl is better and could kill off the Grail, so he definitely has editorial freedom.
The 3T Exploro has my eyes right now. I also would like to see the comparison among the bikes you mentioned and a few more. A bike review or sponsored, seems more like a bike review to me.
This review has a *kit* sponsor in the form of Freewheel. It is not sponsored in any way by Canyon and the opinions expressed are not influenced by the brand. I haven't had the chance to ride the Grail and Grizl back-to-back but with the stock tyres, the Grail will be faster on tarmac. If you put more road friendly tyres on both they will be similar, but I'd hazard a guess that the Grail will be slightly comfier at the front thanks to the bar. Saying that, you should be able to compensate with tyre pressure. In handling terms, they're basically the same. Thanks for watching! -Matthew
Balls! I just bought a Grail days ago
Oh dear bet that’s annoying as hell
Can’t you withdraw the contract as a costumer in e commerce?
You can ship any canyon back in the first 40 days
When did 3 grand become so little money, bike manufacturers are absolutely laughing at us
I think for most people it isn’t. Bikes are stoopid money now. People are spending TDF money on bikes for weekend rides it’s a nonsense. I have the grail al @ £1600 it’s more bike than anyone could possibly need. Canyons are great vfm tho. Look at Santa Cruz their prices are a complete joke only stupid rich muppets ride them!
When people began thinking spending £50K+ on a car was okay.
@@n00blyf At least we stay fit and safe money :)
Yup, and the price of this bike is now significantly higher than what he quoted here.
Hello. Good video.
Size M do you feel is right for you? How tall are you? I am thinking of changing my Diverge for this Canyon.
Check the written review linked in the video description for more on fit and sizing. Cheers! -Matthew
Hi, how tall are you and what size of bike is the one you tested in the video? Cheers
Im a fan…really nice review dont need to watch somewhere else to know about the grizl!!
Hi, this is a nice bike that I am considering to buy. I only have two worries. I ride long tours, and take about 20-25 kilograms of luggage in the winter and about 10-12 in the summer. And I'm afraid that the carbon frame won't be able to withstand it. And then I stand there and cannot repair it in a workshop. Otherwise a very good bike it seems. And that 50 tires can be installed is very good. But this specific model is no longer on site, onley with suspension. I don´t like that.
Love the review spot on for myself!
Love the bikes, colours and specs etc etc.
I definitely looks like it'll handle the gnarliest pot hole in the U.K
If I had a Siberian husky......?
I'll definitely take the grail!
It has a more stable cockpit.
GO-RIDE 😘😍❤️
All those braze-ons are...boss 🤣
Yeah we get it, it has a normal handlebar. Man, for years i keep hearing the hideous hoverbar was a great feature and now a normal handlebar is the holy grail lol
Matthew, if you wanted to buy the Grizl and put narrower road tyres on to have a road [only] option temporarily- what wheels and tyres would you recommend?
Had there been more frame / fork mounts for bike packing on the Grail I would have chosen that over the Grizl. That option is not available.
Having a Grizl cf sl 7 with the dt swiss 1800 I would say the smallest mountable wheel would be a 32c.
Already ordered mine
How...nothing is in stock.
I'll buy it for the tagline that you coined … "GRIZL. The holey GRAIL."
But puns aside, I love what they did here! Especially the top of the line model. Ekar + DT Swiss 1400 Spline + Canyon S14 VCLS 2.0 CF Seatpost for €4500? Bargain!
If I didn't have a lot of bikes already, this would be the next I buy!
Also, by the time I'm able to test ride it the delivery dates will have slipped to the launch date of the Enterprise NCC 1701-E. 🙄
i dont know if it's really a bargain, but i love it too. My only doubt is if the Grizl is quite good for the tarmac as well. I heve to ride long paved roads before too reach gravel rods.
@@stefanobolgiani358 The 1400 Spline wheel set is around €1.5k if you buy it alone, similar price for the Ekar group set. The S14 VCLS seat post is €250 … and on it goes. This is a very good package.
I haven’t ridden the bike yet, but I t has a very similar geometry to the Grail. Which is pretty sporty. So it might not be competitive with a race bike, but I think it’s still holding up okay against most gravellers. But in the end, only a test ride will tell … 😉
Terrific review!
Also, your shoes are awesome. What are they?
Respect for properly pronouncing "Schwalbe". Ride safely.
Curious how Grizl compares to the well-established models from Specialized, Trek, Giant and Cannondale.
Same, same but... half price. ;)
Very interesting video. How tall are you?
174cm. For more on fit and sizing, check the written review linked in the video description. Cheers! -Matthew
I'm really interested in this bike on issue is the color of the suspension version plus the higher end models don't have the option for a bike rack.
Nice bike, it remains me of the Felt Breed 20 shape of frame ? I have to get a gravel bike and this one, Trek, Cannondale Topsstone carbon 6 and the Jammis Renegade are on my radar .. the Cannondale is an awesome bike as well !! Decisions decisions ..
Great review !
Best Bang for your buck CF SL 6 and buy the Flex seatpost VLCS 2.0 ?
Arguably!
This looks right up my street and more available than the Giant Revolt Advanced 1. Any ideas if this would do the job for summer road ring as well with another set of wheels. I’m not speedster but ride off of an ave of bout 18-19 on an aluminium Cube before selling it last year.
With skinnier road tyres, it'll do just fine on the road. I suspect the front end may feel a little firm but stick with tubeless and you can adjust pressure to compensate. Thanks for watching! -Matthew
Those clothes are hilarious 🤣
Not available in Matthew’s size I’m guessing...
The actual star of this video
even for a mountain biker that's taking baggy to the extreme hahah
You try weighing 53kg. 😘 -Matthew
Bummer, no balcony handle bar for the Grizzl! There I always have 2 flower pots installed with fresh herbs for a nice jambon & fromage baguette on a gravel trip break. Canyon is speccing down their top bikes... bummer! :D))))
Sun umbrella is also nice on a sunny day. ..you do have sunny days in GB, right? Nice bike, mate.
The worst part about this bike is it's name. This bike checks every box for me. That name though...
You can whisper Grail into her ears, She wont be mad at Ya!
... its* name (it's = it is)
Isn't that seatpost clamp a variation on the problematic one used on their aero bike? I wonder if it will cause problems.
That's a really nice bike
Due to my height I would need an XL size and I noticed that the XL comes with a 46cm wide handlebar. That seems very wide compared to the 44cm at most bars I've seen listed on other company's gravel bikes. Do they measure the width of the widest drop bar section? Thinking of getting this bike but would be a bummer if I need to swap out the bar for a more narrow one.
It's far more comfortable, trust me. I have a medium grizl and I love it
I hope the seat post doesn’t have similar issues as the new Aeroad, given that the clamp is in a similar position.
If it wasn't for my Ti bike. My order would be in! This looks like ideal gravel bike. Should have come out before the Grail imo
What is your Ti bike? I'm done with carbon and want lighter than my steel bike.
How does this bike compare with the Pinarello Gevil or Colnago G3x? I’m looking at these 3 bikes for 4 season road with some gravel riding.
That one good looking gravel machine
For that size tire, you’re about 10psi high! IMHO… Did you say the top of the steerer tube is 1-1/4” or is it tapered 1-1/4” bottom to 1-1/8” top? The reason I ask is that Giant SLR bikes are tapered 1-1/2” to 1-1/4” and stem options in 1-1/4” are very limited…
Looks great .. better with out the hover bars like the grail ..
Just bought a Focus Atlas farrk!!
Awesome bike gonna buy this.
Looking for some feedback on how this would rate against my current bike which is a Santa Cruz Stigmata with the higher end CC frame. Running sram apex 1x and can squeeze a Schwalbe 40 on it. Wanting more climbing capability than the 40x42 can offer.
Total downers: 1) Classification 1 only. That's not what it's intended for in my mind. 2) 120kg max systemweight is weird, as the wheels take 130kg and have classification 2. Makes no sense to me. Bike Radar, speak up about that
It's a cover their ass classification. You brake it on class 2 or have more weight than quoted, and they don't have to warranty it.
Good shout Dee Ric
@@feluacc same rules apply for your Canyon Inflite as well. Class 1, 120kg :)
I ride a Specialized Diverge nowadays
I checked their specs here in the US and the 2x only provides a 34/34 low gear so there is no sub 1:1 climbing gears and the 1x 40/42 is the lowest you can go. Because they are showing the rear cassette is the 11/34 ultegra instead of giving the 11/42 grx cassette. Makes no sense aside from saving money. Hopefully they upgrade the cassette to grx.
I own a Endurace and the Strive and would love to add this to my line up once the climbing gears get more friendly for us mortals.
GRX doesn't actually allow for an 11-42 cassette with the RX810 RD, it maxes out officially at 11-34, while the RX400 RD maxes at 11-36. There is usually some leeway with these things and there are aftermarket solutions to get you lower gears, however. Thanks for watching!
Very good review
Great review. Thanks a lot
Is the Grizl suitable for a second wheelset for road bike matters?
No, you can try to pedal with road tires but the bike won't move an inch.
Yes! I suspect the burly fork may feel a bit firm, but I haven't tried that yet. -Matthew
“Good news” for Grail owners…the 45mm Schwalbe G-One also fits the existing Grail as it’s actually size is around 42.3mm giving still sufficient tire clearance. The difference in ride quality between the 40mm is negligible though…it’s more of a marketing exercise. Before I would like to fit 50mm I’d rather have a “real” MTB.🙄
Canyon says the Grizl has 6mm clearance even with 50s fitted, so it's got quite a bit more room than the Grail. The risk of pushing the limits is mainly mucking up your paint, but we've all done it. Thanks for watching! -Matthew
For the SLX is the frame fixed only for electronic and no possible way for mechanical? Thank you
Ekar, which is offered with the SLX frame, is a mechanical groupset :)
Cool vid
I've got a Grail Al 1by, worth the upgrade to the 1by Grizl?
They're different bikes made for a different purpose - it will depend on what you want to do with your bike.
How do you like 1by?
I'd say it depends if you'll benefit from the bigger tyres (and tyre clearance), and the mounts. The Grizl is a bit more comfortable by the Grail AL is a fantastic bike in its own right. -Matthew
I love the double decker 👍
Why don't you review the budget AL models instead of the top of the range carbon models
why no 650b - 27,5" compatibility to ride "normal" MTB Tyers? 50mm 700c? There are very few Tyres on the Market but there would be a lot if you go 27,5" and 2,1" wide.