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.
Great review. I have had my cfsl8 2x in earl grey for 3 weeks now and have done 300km on it. Some of you might be tossing up if this is the bike for you. I wanted a bike with enough mounts and geo for 3 day bike pack adventures plus be good for just hitting up Forrest trails and a bit of single track for a few hours. It is a sensational bike. I have come off a focus mares that I have been using for gravel. For referances I also ride a Tarmac sl6 and Scott Spark. The canyons front end is stiff and tracks and brakes beautifully. Seat post works well (I wasn't sure about it) The grx 810 2x shifts great. gearing is just low enough when tackling 15+ degree gradiants with tired legs though. The standard bar is OK but I have changed it over to a Roval Terra 44cm which I love the shape of and smoother ride plus drops 100g off the standard bar. I have also changed the wheels to Roval Terra cl's. I was never keen on on a 1900g wheel set. At 1400g, these wheels drop 500g off the standard wheels and going tubless drops another 200g (supplied tubes were 360g, sealant 160g) This bike has everything that I wanted and even with upgrades comes in well under $ and better in my opinion, than other options I was looking at. And in the flesh the earl grey looks the business.
Hows the geometry of the bike? Upright? Or is it low and aggressive? Im looking at this bike also. Have you tried riding the bike with road wheels? Hows the ride?
@@PhiyackYuh opinion of geo depends a bit what else you ride. I would say it is fairly in the middle with enough adjustment to make it fairly aggressive or more relaxed. Haven't put road wheels on it yet. The wheels off my tarmac will swap straight over except for the rear disc size, so will be keen to try. I have done 1000km on it now and I love it. My Tarmac sl6 and Scott spark aren't getting much use. I run mid to high 20s psi (I'm 76kg) and it is a joy to ride. Fun playful ride feel. Stable but not slow feeling. The few upgrades helped no doubt too. Love the roval terra bars and wheels.
Thanks for the info. I see the chainstay is super long at 435mm and I was thinking it might make it a little sluggish on the climbs and corners but it sounds like you don't notice it? Shame the stock wheels are so heavy - those Rovals are a pricey upgrade!
Another nice review David - pre-chipped effect means you don't have to worry about your paintwork. It looks like a fantastic bike even though it's not quite as fast as the Holy Grail.
Just recently got my order in for the 2x GRX 810 groupset set to arrive in Early August 2022, I had canceled my CF SL 7 because I really wanted that little more extra gearing up front and I am excited to see how this new flexible seat post performs. Thanks for the in depth review David!
These bikes look amazing. I didn't know what gravel biking was until a few weeks ago but ripping through those trails was exactly what I was looking for.
I got the Grizl CF SL around 3 months ago. I was planning to use it for commuting and dong some gravel adventure, 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 - not exactly a bargain. For now, I will store the bike while I decide what to do with it. If you are planning to do some adventure riding or to commute, consider getting an aluminum frame, as it will be more reliable. My suggestion, get a bike from a reputable brand from a local bike store.
Nice review. I thought about ordering the CF SL8 2x as soon as it is available again but Canyon just increased the price of this model by 200 Euros. Perhaps the Giant Revolt is a better option after all. For 600 Euros more you get a similar specced bike with Carbon wheels.
I would go with the canyon (The 1By tho). The price of the Revolt is €1000 more then the Grizl. The 1 by is all you need if u use this for gravel. The grizl also has DTswiss alu wheels wich are basicaly industructable. The mounting points are also a big plus if u want to go bikepacking or go for an epic ride and for a 1000 Euro's you can buy a really nice carbon wheelset.
@@wouter4739 Thanks for your comment. I see what you mean and I do agree that the 1by Grizl is the best option between the the two SL8 options given the new price. I had the chance of ordering the 1by Grizl recently but hesitated because I also want to use it for bike packing and am not sure if the 1by set up is suitable for a fully loaded bike. I guess I have to see and try it out.
@@HybrisParExcellence Yeah! I also think that the grizl would be more comfortable to bikepack with considering its the "adventure bike" and not a gravel racing bike like the Revolt or a inflite. The one by would indeed be a change but i think that everyone should try it! Good luck on your search and hope you have a ton of sick rides!
@@wouter4739 having tried bikepacking for a week with 1by (11-40t, 11s with 40t chairing) across Italy (Milan to Rome) on the strade bianche roads I can say that 1by it's just "enough" you can do almost everything but I hit its limits, on steep long climbs I wished easier gears and smaller jumps, on flat paved roads I wished smaller jumps and higher gearing. For a general gravel use I'm all for 1by, it's fantastic and really all you need, but for bikepacking I think 2by is just better
How is it on the road for overall quiver killer, youre section mentioned just adding slicks? Want to have a 2 bike quiver of full suspension then all else, a lot of my rides (70% ish) of this bike would be looking at sh***y city roads where I often enjoy rough sections through parks/grass/etc - mounts make this very appealing like a lot of steel offerings (Ritchey Outback) - definitely on my list over the warbird Currently Im using an REI ADV 1.1 for reference - so there's a lot of performance gains anyway probably (I would go for the 2x option without the split seatpost)
David. Trying to decide between this or waiting for the new Revolt Advanced frameset. Which would you say was the most versatile for combining bikepacking, gravel and road?
Thanks for the great video! I want to get a bike like this. Thanks for letting me know that the Grizl is still fast enough to race my buddies and fast enough to enter a race (CAT 5 at best) basically have fun in a race or event. Might do an overnight too.
Great review, all your reviews seem totally unbiased, a rare thing ! I’d be really interested in your opinion on the cube 62 , I’ve a unrestricted 01 and a ruut cf1 but the cheaper cube just rides better and feels just right , maybe it just fits me a little better so because I’m more comfortable on it I like it more ?
For sure a beautiful and a capable bike. But since gravel bikes normaly do not have suspension I prefer those models wich are more comfortable too. At the back end we see the Grizl is comfy enough, but I would not like to have a bike too harsh on my hands off road. Great review as always, greetings from Brazil!
How does this compare to the giant Revolt Advanced pro 1? I was thinking of getting the Revolt for a road bike, figured it would be more comfortable for the bad roads I ride on. would it be overkill?
Great review. I’m curious, what size bike were you riding? How tall are you? How would you rate the sizing charts on the Canyon website? Canyon recommends a size small for me. But the cranks for that size are 170mm. I’m used to 172.5mm which would be size medium. 🤔
I am 178 and canyon recommended a small but I went with a medium, as I have a long torso and thought I might have been a bit cramped. It suits me but I wouldn't want it to be any longer. I would say you would defiantly be a small. Might have to change the cranks
Thanks for this review. At the moment I cannot choose between the Grail and the Grizle as they both have a drawback for me. The non standard stem of the Grail is a deal breaker as you cannot easily adapt the fitting of the bike. As I ride 80% road, the 45 cm tyres of the Grizl seems overkilled. What should I do? As the geometry of both bikes is similar, should I buy the Grizl with another pair of tyres (the 38 cm wide tyres from the Giant Revolt seemed rolling on the road)? Does it work? Thanks a lot for your insight! Cheers
That's exactly what I plan to do, ideally having 2 sets of wheels (stock alu with wide trires for rougher terrain and carbon with 35-38mm for the road)
This Vs the trek checkpoint SL5. Mostly for fun, def some gravel races but not competitively. Probably some bike packing eventually. WHICH ONE YOU TAKING?
I could've bought the Grizl when it came out And tought I wanted a Grail... now all reviews came and I want a grizl ... and couldve bought a Grail last week... I wonder what I'll end up with.. lol
@@francoisrainville ha! I finally got through and mine was delivered yesterday. They both look like great bikes. Seems like nowadays you really can't go wrong. Every bike is trick and Canyon has a great reputation
Hi David, what is your height and what size Grizl did you test ride? Thanks. I'm between sizes and trying to see if I should order a M or L. I'm 6'1" with a 34in inseam.
Good evening, I would like you to give me an opinion on the size I should order my Grizl , I am 178 cm tall and 83cm between legs, I am undecided between size S and M
Mate, what about the front suspension model? I’ve got a fused spine - would it be an advantage? I still can’t choose between grail and Grizl - I love fast but no yet on gravel - going to ride France and Tasmania - thoughts on which model?
The front suspension models look great, hoping to get one to review soon. It would be ideal for your situation as it's a much smoother ride and isolates you from big jarring impacts
I see this is a Medium frame. I was wondering what your thoughts are on the canyon sizing system and what your height and inseam measurements are. Cheers
Compare the stack and reach of your current bike with the Grizl geometry chart. As David said, the Grizl has a longer top tube and shorter stem with wide handlebars. If you're between sizes, it's it may be best to size down. That's what I did and the fit is good. I have the stem flipped to raise the bars a bit more. I find with gravel bikes I want the handlebars not too much below the saddle height to get the weight back for comfort and handling. The drop is a few cm higher than on my road bike.
Canyon will recommend the smaller size if you are in between, as I am (177cm, 85cm inseam). Currently I am riding the Inflite in size M with the saddle as far in the front as possible and with around 20mm of spacers. The ride feels pretty stable on the M. The Inflite has a very responsive - some might say „twitchy“ feeling and I wanted to decrease that slightly so I went for the M. However, the reach on the Grizl is even longer in comparison to the Inflite so i would rather get an S and adjust stem length what you can easily do with the Grizl bar. I hope this helps. Btw David is 180cm high but I don’t know his inseam. You might wanna check your arm length as well so you get a better picture of how your body fits to the geometry.
I’m 180cm and always find size medium Canyon bikes fit me well. A Marmot offers some solid advice. And personally, I like my gravel bikes having a shorter stem than my road bike for better handling in the woods
Another datapoint for you: I'm 190 and find Canyon L size fits me like a glove. This is for the 2021 Aeroad, which supposedly is similar geometry as the Ultimate. My inseam is 91. But be careful with going blindly with inseam, long legs sometimes means short torso and arms and you will be stretched like superman to reach the handlebar. Or vice versa.
David, I was interested in the Grail and the Grizl. I have opted for the Grizl with extra mounting points for storage for bikepacking. Could you recommend a second set of wheels and tyres for more road / touring riding that are narrower, a bit faster etc?
Hi, all - have just taken delivery of a Grizl and have not long finished building it. Lovely looking machine (in Earl Grey for me). However, I was VERY surprised to find on my test ride that I suffer from toe overlap due to the bike geometry - the first bike I have ever owned with this issue. I had not seen this raised in any forums or reviews and, whilst overlap is common on track and race bikes, it seems strange on this bike given the need to be able to steer around switchbacks, avoid rocks etc - whilst having to maintain pedal rotations for momentum / to avoid falling off due to terrain. Has anybody else had the same experience? Is it actually quite common for Gravel bikes? Note that I am 1,86 tall (with size 46 feet!) and chose the large after much checking of frame sizes. The next frame size up would prob be too big as I think my measurements were about in the middle of the acceptable range for a Grizl sized L. Not changed tyres etc. from stock as it’s just landed with me. Any helpful comments on your experiences greatly appreciated.
Hi RC. Great to see your expérience. I'm just thinking about order it. I'm 185 tall.. With 87 cm legs! What's your legs high? Cause I'm just between M and L, and if you look the bike geometry, it is very short.. Like a climbing road bike. Thx to you.
@@krewsberg9003 - my measured leg length was 88.5. I have not been able to try any other frame size (i.e. I have a Large, but could not try and M or XL before buying); but overall the bike feels 'right' other than the toe overlap issue I outlined in my original post. I would have loved to have tried a xlarge frame to see if that fixed the overlap issue and to check if I felt too stretched out... but unfortunately could not! Overall though - very happy with the bike :-)
Well not really, it depends how comfortable you are with that geometry and many people will be just fine. If you need it more upright there might be better options, but there are ways to raise the bars if you're worried they're too low, if that's what you're worried about?
Paint job looks awful to me. It doesnt have artistic pattern just a bizarre random dark shapes. Germans might be good engineers but for aestetic erm....
Hideously ugly and grotesque chainstays. God awful paint job. Fork design that lacks any design whatsoever (hey lets just flare the top for bigger tires). Idiotic seatpost that will accumulate dirt and be impossible to clean. No suspension element of any kind (i.e. FutureShock or BMC’s decoupling rear). A bike for 2018. Giant Revolt any day of the week. Diverge leads the gravel class by far. Even BMC is a solid gravel option. And the new Scott Addict looks great. At least the above are great looking bikes, this thing is just typical German ugliness. Especially that paint job, just hideous. But great review from David as always.
Here you have something like 11-42 on the back and 42t on the front, with 2by you will have something like 11-34 on the back and 48-31 on the front, 48-11 is a harder gear and 31-34 is an easier gear than what you get on the 1by
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.
Great review. I have had my cfsl8 2x in earl grey for 3 weeks now and have done 300km on it.
Some of you might be tossing up if this is the bike for you. I wanted a bike with enough mounts and geo for 3 day bike pack adventures plus be good for just hitting up Forrest trails and a bit of single track for a few hours. It is a sensational bike. I have come off a focus mares that I have been using for gravel. For referances I also ride a Tarmac sl6 and Scott Spark. The canyons front end is stiff and tracks and brakes beautifully. Seat post works well (I wasn't sure about it) The grx 810 2x shifts great. gearing is just low enough when tackling 15+ degree gradiants with tired legs though. The standard bar is OK but I have changed it over to a Roval Terra 44cm which I love the shape of and smoother ride plus drops 100g off the standard bar. I have also changed the wheels to Roval Terra cl's. I was never keen on on a 1900g wheel set. At 1400g, these wheels drop 500g off the standard wheels and going tubless drops another 200g (supplied tubes were 360g, sealant 160g)
This bike has everything that I wanted and even with upgrades comes in well under $ and better in my opinion, than other options I was looking at.
And in the flesh the earl grey looks the business.
Hows the geometry of the bike? Upright? Or is it low and aggressive? Im looking at this bike also. Have you tried riding the bike with road wheels? Hows the ride?
@@PhiyackYuh opinion of geo depends a bit what else you ride. I would say it is fairly in the middle with enough adjustment to make it fairly aggressive or more relaxed. Haven't put road wheels on it yet. The wheels off my tarmac will swap straight over except for the rear disc size, so will be keen to try. I have done 1000km on it now and I love it. My Tarmac sl6 and Scott spark aren't getting much use. I run mid to high 20s psi (I'm 76kg) and it is a joy to ride. Fun playful ride feel. Stable but not slow feeling. The few upgrades helped no doubt too. Love the roval terra bars and wheels.
Thanks for the info.
I see the chainstay is super long at 435mm and I was thinking it might make it a little sluggish on the climbs and corners but it sounds like you don't notice it?
Shame the stock wheels are so heavy - those Rovals are a pricey upgrade!
Another nice review David - pre-chipped effect means you don't have to worry about your paintwork. It looks like a fantastic bike even though it's not quite as fast as the Holy Grail.
Great review - Impressed with your a top-to-bottom, deep clean of your bike!
Great review and pretty detailed as well. I got my Grizl CF SL 7 two weeks ago. I love it so much. It performs well on my local gravel & mtb trails.
how? they've been out of stock on the site since this friggen thing dropped!
@@cwr8618 I guess I'm lucky enough to grab it while it still available.
Very nice review. You tested the Giant Revolt Advanced 0, too. How would you compare both?
This bike launched the week I’d already bought my Grail 😂 hate the paint design but it’s awesome
Just recently got my order in for the 2x GRX 810 groupset set to arrive in Early August 2022, I had canceled my CF SL 7 because I really wanted that little more extra gearing up front and I am excited to see how this new flexible seat post performs. Thanks for the in depth review David!
These bikes look amazing. I didn't know what gravel biking was until a few weeks ago but ripping through those trails was exactly what I was looking for.
I got the Grizl CF SL around 3 months ago. I was planning to use it for commuting and dong some gravel adventure, 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 - not exactly a bargain. For now, I will store the bike while I decide what to do with it. If you are planning to do some adventure riding or to commute, consider getting an aluminum frame, as it will be more reliable. My suggestion, get a bike from a reputable brand from a local bike store.
Great review David!
I'm looking forward to the Addict Gravel review.
Can you get your hand on Addict Gravel 20, please?
As soon as it’s available yes 👍
Great review. How does it compare to your Fairlight? I have the same Fairlight Secan frame and curious how they compare.
Nice review. I thought about ordering the CF SL8 2x as soon as it is available again but Canyon just increased the price of this model by 200 Euros. Perhaps the Giant Revolt is a better option after all. For 600 Euros more you get a similar specced bike with Carbon wheels.
I would go with the canyon (The 1By tho). The price of the Revolt is €1000 more then the Grizl. The 1 by is all you need if u use this for gravel. The grizl also has DTswiss alu wheels wich are basicaly industructable. The mounting points are also a big plus if u want to go bikepacking or go for an epic ride and for a 1000 Euro's you can buy a really nice carbon wheelset.
@@wouter4739 Thanks for your comment. I see what you mean and I do agree that the 1by Grizl is the best option between the the two SL8 options given the new price. I had the chance of ordering the 1by Grizl recently but hesitated because I also want to use it for bike packing and am not sure if the 1by set up is suitable for a fully loaded bike. I guess I have to see and try it out.
@@HybrisParExcellence Yeah! I also think that the grizl would be more comfortable to bikepack with considering its the "adventure bike" and not a gravel racing bike like the Revolt or a inflite. The one by would indeed be a change but i think that everyone should try it! Good luck on your search and hope you have a ton of sick rides!
@@wouter4739 having tried bikepacking for a week with 1by (11-40t, 11s with 40t chairing) across Italy (Milan to Rome) on the strade bianche roads I can say that 1by it's just "enough" you can do almost everything but I hit its limits, on steep long climbs I wished easier gears and smaller jumps, on flat paved roads I wished smaller jumps and higher gearing. For a general gravel use I'm all for 1by, it's fantastic and really all you need, but for bikepacking I think 2by is just better
I’m thinking this Grizl checks almost all my boxes. mostly mixed rides, maybe a 1 or 2 night adventure, enter some races (CAT 5) just for fun. 🤷🏼♂️
How is it on the road for overall quiver killer, youre section mentioned just adding slicks? Want to have a 2 bike quiver of full suspension then all else, a lot of my rides (70% ish) of this bike would be looking at sh***y city roads where I often enjoy rough sections through parks/grass/etc - mounts make this very appealing like a lot of steel offerings (Ritchey Outback) - definitely on my list over the warbird
Currently Im using an REI ADV 1.1 for reference - so there's a lot of performance gains anyway probably (I would go for the 2x option without the split seatpost)
David. Trying to decide between this or waiting for the new Revolt Advanced frameset. Which would you say was the most versatile for combining bikepacking, gravel and road?
Thanks for the great video! I want to get a bike like this. Thanks for letting me know that the Grizl is still fast enough to race my buddies and fast enough to enter a race (CAT 5 at best) basically have fun in a race or event. Might do an overnight too.
Great review, all your reviews seem totally unbiased, a rare thing !
I’d be really interested in your opinion on the cube 62 , I’ve a unrestricted 01 and a ruut cf1 but the cheaper cube just rides better and feels just right , maybe it just fits me a little better so because I’m more comfortable on it I like it more ?
Really a. nice and useful review for someone like me, who is thinking of buying a new gravel bike. Thanks a lot for sharing :)
For sure a beautiful and a capable bike. But since gravel bikes normaly do not have suspension I prefer those models wich are more comfortable too. At the back end we see the Grizl is comfy enough, but I would not like to have a bike too harsh on my hands off road. Great review as always, greetings from Brazil!
How does this compare to the giant Revolt Advanced pro 1? I was thinking of getting the Revolt for a road bike, figured it would be more comfortable for the bad roads I ride on. would it be overkill?
Great review. I’m curious, what size bike were you riding? How tall are you? How would you rate the sizing charts on the Canyon website? Canyon recommends a size small for me. But the cranks for that size are 170mm. I’m used to 172.5mm which would be size medium. 🤔
I am 178 and canyon recommended a small but I went with a medium, as I have a long torso and thought I might have been a bit cramped. It suits me but I wouldn't want it to be any longer. I would say you would defiantly be a small. Might have to change the cranks
Definitely the N=1 bike of the Canyon brand
Thanks for this review. At the moment I cannot choose between the Grail and the Grizle as they both have a drawback for me. The non standard stem of the Grail is a deal breaker as you cannot easily adapt the fitting of the bike. As I ride 80% road, the 45 cm tyres of the Grizl seems overkilled. What should I do? As the geometry of both bikes is similar, should I buy the Grizl with another pair of tyres (the 38 cm wide tyres from the Giant Revolt seemed rolling on the road)? Does it work? Thanks a lot for your insight! Cheers
That's exactly what I plan to do, ideally having 2 sets of wheels (stock alu with wide trires for rougher terrain and carbon with 35-38mm for the road)
This Vs the trek checkpoint SL5. Mostly for fun, def some gravel races but not competitively. Probably some bike packing eventually. WHICH ONE YOU TAKING?
9:15 fit some fat slick tyres for winter commuting. David, can you recommend any such tyres?
Would it be ok for small jumps? Just like 3 foot gaps or similar. Or would it crack or something
Be nice if Canyon, and everyone else, could sort out their stock!!! Been reclicking the 'notify me' button for like way too long...
I could've bought the Grizl when it came out And tought I wanted a Grail... now all reviews came and I want a grizl ... and couldve bought a Grail last week... I wonder what I'll end up with.. lol
@@francoisrainville ha! I finally got through and mine was delivered yesterday. They both look like great bikes. Seems like nowadays you really can't go wrong. Every bike is trick and Canyon has a great reputation
Good review what is your opion on Scott Gravel Speedster 20
Hi David, what is your height and what size Grizl did you test ride? Thanks. I'm between sizes and trying to see if I should order a M or L. I'm 6'1" with a 34in inseam.
Did you ever get an answer on this? I’m in the same situation.
David, which would you choice the Canyon Grizl CF SL or the Giant Revolt Advanced 0?
Great review, looking forward to get my soon! Quick question right sifter moves gears up and left sifter moves gears down? Thanks
SRAM AXS does that. Shimano has 2 shifters together on one lever.
The shifting is all on the right lever, the left doesn’t do any shifting
Could you please measure the frame triangle, because I would like to check if my bags fit and can't find any information online.
Thanks!
Thx for the video. Do you have a bike stand or was it just a stick? Because I am looking for a bike stand for my grizl al.
a stick does the job well, but the trick is finding the right grade of stick...
May I ask what your inseam (as Canyon asks for it?) On the fence on sizing and we are the same height. THanks!
Good evening, I would like you to give me an opinion on the size I should order my Grizl , I am 178 cm tall and 83cm between legs, I am undecided between size S and M
I really love this bike, the problem is finding one to buy 😫
Mate, what about the front suspension model? I’ve got a fused spine - would it be an advantage? I still can’t choose between grail and Grizl - I love fast but no yet on gravel - going to ride France and Tasmania - thoughts on which model?
The front suspension models look great, hoping to get one to review soon. It would be ideal for your situation as it's a much smoother ride and isolates you from big jarring impacts
Regarding the frontend stiffness, do you have any experience with the Lauf Smoothie handlebar?
spoke to the guys at Redshift and there will be 1.25 inch stem on the way
That would be cool!
How is this against the Secan? :)
I see this is a Medium frame. I was wondering what your thoughts are on the canyon sizing system and what your height and inseam measurements are. Cheers
I'm really curious too! Especially becouse in the canyon size guide I'm right in between two sizes and I'm really worried about it
Compare the stack and reach of your current bike with the Grizl geometry chart. As David said, the Grizl has a longer top tube and shorter stem with wide handlebars. If you're between sizes, it's it may be best to size down. That's what I did and the fit is good. I have the stem flipped to raise the bars a bit more.
I find with gravel bikes I want the handlebars not too much below the saddle height to get the weight back for comfort and handling. The drop is a few cm higher than on my road bike.
Canyon will recommend the smaller size if you are in between, as I am (177cm, 85cm inseam). Currently I am riding the Inflite in size M with the saddle as far in the front as possible and with around 20mm of spacers. The ride feels pretty stable on the M. The Inflite has a very responsive - some might say „twitchy“ feeling and I wanted to decrease that slightly so I went for the M. However, the reach on the Grizl is even longer in comparison to the Inflite so i would rather get an S and adjust stem length what you can easily do with the Grizl bar. I hope this helps. Btw David is 180cm high but I don’t know his inseam. You might wanna check your arm length as well so you get a better picture of how your body fits to the geometry.
I’m 180cm and always find size medium Canyon bikes fit me well. A Marmot offers some solid advice. And personally, I like my gravel bikes having a shorter stem than my road bike for better handling in the woods
Another datapoint for you: I'm 190 and find Canyon L size fits me like a glove. This is for the 2021 Aeroad, which supposedly is similar geometry as the Ultimate.
My inseam is 91. But be careful with going blindly with inseam, long legs sometimes means short torso and arms and you will be stretched like superman to reach the handlebar. Or vice versa.
How is the bike? Looking at buying the red one
Hi David, what’s your height and what size did you use?
Dave can you let me know what bar bag you are using please? Thanks simon
How tall are you David? Trying to compare the Medium to the Large frame.
He’s 5 11”
David, I was interested in the Grail and the Grizl. I have opted for the Grizl with extra mounting points for storage for bikepacking. Could you recommend a second set of wheels and tyres for more road / touring riding that are narrower, a bit faster etc?
PERFECT!!
Any news of a Grizl:ON on the Canyon roadmap?
Hi Arthur, I did not decide yet between a Grizl CFL7 and a Giant Revolt Advance 2. What is your opinion?
They’re both great options very little to separate between the two
@@davidarthur the warranty probably
How does the Giant revolt compare to the grizl?
Hi All, what about to make the Paris - Roubiax in this kind of bike?
Great review, what is the size of this one?
Thanks. It was a medium and I'm 180cm
Hi, all - have just taken delivery of a Grizl and have not long finished building it. Lovely looking machine (in Earl Grey for me).
However, I was VERY surprised to find on my test ride that I suffer from toe overlap due to the bike geometry - the first bike I have ever owned with this issue.
I had not seen this raised in any forums or reviews and, whilst overlap is common on track and race bikes, it seems strange on this bike given the need to be able to steer around switchbacks, avoid rocks etc - whilst having to maintain pedal rotations for momentum / to avoid falling off due to terrain.
Has anybody else had the same experience? Is it actually quite common for Gravel bikes?
Note that I am 1,86 tall (with size 46 feet!) and chose the large after much checking of frame sizes. The next frame size up would prob be too big as I think my measurements were about in the middle of the acceptable range for a Grizl sized L. Not changed tyres etc. from stock as it’s just landed with me.
Any helpful comments on your experiences greatly appreciated.
Hi RC.
Great to see your expérience.
I'm just thinking about order it.
I'm 185 tall.. With 87 cm legs!
What's your legs high?
Cause I'm just between M and L, and if you look the bike geometry, it is very short.. Like a climbing road bike.
Thx to you.
@@krewsberg9003 - my measured leg length was 88.5. I have not been able to try any other frame size (i.e. I have a Large, but could not try and M or XL before buying); but overall the bike feels 'right' other than the toe overlap issue I outlined in my original post.
I would have loved to have tried a xlarge frame to see if that fixed the overlap issue and to check if I felt too stretched out... but unfortunately could not! Overall though - very happy with the bike :-)
Does Canyon not sell the splash guards anymore?
thank you!!
Good stuff thanks.
Im looking for a one bike do it all but on their website, 9.81kg for the CF SL 6? Isnt it heavy? Its more heavier than the Grail AL 6 at 9.50kg.
300 grams heavier!
How does this bike compare to th Wi.DE?
but its not suitable for really long distances, right? I mean with that racing bike ergonomy youll be killed when you drive 1000+km
Well not really, it depends how comfortable you are with that geometry and many people will be just fine. If you need it more upright there might be better options, but there are ways to raise the bars if you're worried they're too low, if that's what you're worried about?
Really? Why? It's very light and could easily be fit with lighter wheels and faster tires.
*A bit challenging to clean.*
I wonder if u fall 20 times wot will happen with the frame? I would trust a Ritchey more…
Any frame material is at risk if you drop it 20 time though
@@davidarthur steel is really stronger
@@marinusholland is this really a grizl question or a carbon vs other materials question tho?
I don’t get why these things have drop bars. They look ridiculous on trails and if you hook a branch you are going endo.
grizl sounds like a dated snoop dogg joke
Gravel riders love tacky paint jobs. Good call Canyon.
Paint job looks awful to me. It doesnt have artistic pattern just a bizarre random dark shapes. Germans might be good engineers but for aestetic erm....
Germans and design. Two things that couldn’t be further apart. Haha. Even the Swiss (BMC) are ahead in terms of design. Atrocious paint scheme.
I agree. Totally crap. When all other bikes are sweet
Saw nice gray one from german youtuber. But color not offered worldwide?
Disagree! Personally, I think this is one of the best looking new bikes available in this bracket.
Mint chocolate chip
Too bad they only offer it in these hideous colors.
No matter what they do canyon bikes looks nasty and just not good.
Hideously ugly and grotesque chainstays. God awful paint job. Fork design that lacks any design whatsoever (hey lets just flare the top for bigger tires). Idiotic seatpost that will accumulate dirt and be impossible to clean. No suspension element of any kind (i.e. FutureShock or BMC’s decoupling rear). A bike for 2018.
Giant Revolt any day of the week.
Diverge leads the gravel class by far.
Even BMC is a solid gravel option.
And the new Scott Addict looks great.
At least the above are great looking bikes, this thing is just typical German ugliness. Especially that paint job, just hideous.
But great review from David as always.
Ugliest paint scheme ever!
With the 2x you get more gear range as opposite to the 1x?
Here you have something like 11-42 on the back and 42t on the front, with 2by you will have something like 11-34 on the back and 48-31 on the front, 48-11 is a harder gear and 31-34 is an easier gear than what you get on the 1by
@@8paolo96 thanks 🙏🏻
@@CyclingWithDan I run the GRX 2x and like it lots. Very versatile set up.
@@julianhawker7672 how'd you get one? i've seen zero in stock on their site
@@cwr8618 Mine came on the bike, had it a while.....