This has been the best review of the Grail CF I've encountered thus far! Back when it came out and I had several Gravelbikes to choose from I really wanted to know how it feels in the hoods cause I agree that you want your hands on the hoods most of the time and this is where you need the additional comfort and nobody talked about that back then in their reviews. I'm on the Tops maybe 10% of the time and if I am I appreciate the backsweep of my Zipp Service Course 70 XPLR which isn't a thing on the grail. Also I ride the Redshift suspension stem so I have good compliance everywhere on the frontend and it harmonizes very well with the Rear Iso Speed decupler on my Trek Checkpoint SL.
Thanks! Nice setup you’ve got yourself there. I have those same handlebars on another bike and like the back sweep too. Need to get myself a Redshift stem to try out I think!!
Great review. Very balanced. If anyone is considering this bike for adventure, canyon have a bar bag and a frame bag specifically for the grail. It’s made by Topeak and is on their accessories pages along with Garmin and Wahoo mounts and mudguards...
Best bike reviewer on TH-cam. Interesting and engaging without being gimmicky or silly, and informative about the things that matter - ergonomics, ride feel, real-world performance.
I have a 2019 CF SLX 8 with the SRAM 1x and based on my experience, I would say your review is pretty much right on as far as things that can be compared, but like you, I prefer the 1x setup which combined with the SLX frame saves almost a Kilo. The 2019 SLX 8.0 is super light, very fast, and very simple. Anyway, I think your review on the cockpit is 100% spot on. Now I like the cockpit OK, but overall, I think having the option of a more traditional cockpit would be a good thing. I find the rear seat post to do most of the work on rough roads, and that component works particularly well. Like you, I find that I spend little time on the tops but there is a bit more compliance there, and I have learned that on some very slow washboard surfaces, it is better to get on to the tops because it does make a difference, and I prefer this to some heavier solution like a built in stem shock. I am happy that I went with SLX 8.1 1X but if budget were tight, I would say that the SL version is probably a great value if the rider is looking for a balance between road and trail. (Also, I noted that the SRAM 1X11 option is no longer available on the 2020 CF SLX 8.0. I guess it did not sell well, but I love mine. I just can't believe that electronic shifting would be needed on the SRAM 1X. It is a great groupset. I can see program shifting on 2X setups, but I just don't think it is worth the extra weight on a 1X.) A very accurate review though. Perhaps the best I have seen on the Grail.
I have the CF SL 7.0 2020 - love it, first serious drop handle bike after riding hardtail mountain bikes for years. In an XL the standard handlebar width is nearly up there with MTBs I've owned, doesn't feel super aero.. (this can be specced differently so ask). I love the hoverbar design, being able to hook your thumbs in the drops is great for stability and confidence (especially if you're new to drop bars). Also good for making new friends as people always come and comment. Overall the bike feels incredibly quick, especially on terrain that might be a bit of a grind on an MTB. But buy it for the sheer versatility - this bike can have you out of six inches of mud and rocks onto tarmac, and within a few seconds the ride is so smooth you feel like you are on an endurance bike. Props to Canyon and Shimano - the GRX hasn't dropped a shift all year and the brakes make you go much faster downhill..
Hi seth, thinking of getting the GPX version, what's it like on the road? I have a good hour to the woods? Is it hard work etc on the road? Comfortable?
@@jasonbull4759 it's a little bit slower on the road like 1-2/kph slower compared to my roadbike. In the woods it's great on gravel and smooth flow trails with lower pressure on the 40mm tyres. On trails with many big rocks, roots etc. it's not that much fun compared to a hardtail or fully. The saddle is ok but not the most comfy one in aero position at least for me. Overall it's a very nice bike for the price.
Great review thanks! Just noticed that the Grail SL 8 is still £3149 but is down graded to a mechanical group set. The di2 version SL 8 di2, is now £3799, big increase, not such good value anymore which is a shame; brexit and COVID no doubt..
I have this bike since the start of the year and for the bike itself and the build, it's superb! Geometry of the bike works really well for my liking and the build is the best bang for your buck easy. I will keep this bike until they released a version 2 of the Grail CF in the future.
Very comprehensive review! I just purchased a Canyon Inflite CF SLX 9.0 Team and am in awe of its all around performance. Might you at some point get to test ride it? Be nice to hear your feelings!
I've howned this bike since Aug 2018 (CF SL 8.0 mecanical ultegra) and I must say that your review is very accurate. The evolution to Shimano GRX is a very good one compared to the road group i had... Yes, I said HAD, because someone stole my bike few days ago... So I'm looking and comparing whether I should go for another grail or switch to another brand. I find you video to match exactly my feeling about this bike. And even after almost two years, i think I will go for it again. There are bikes that could offer the same finish and performance, but the price would be WAYYYY higher. I had absolutely ZERO issue with the bike and components. and for a "endurance geo", it is pretty amazing how capable it is offroad. Thanks for your review and feeling. The quality of the video and content is VERY good. Keep going.
Forgot one think i LOVE about the hoverbar. Once in the drop, you can wrap you thumbs around the lower bar. I personnaly love this position but it might be a very personnal feeling.
Gutted for your stolen bike! Will insurance cover it? Thanks for sharing tour feedback on the bike after owning it, good to hear you had no issues with it. I’ve not yet but only a couple of months of riding, doesn’t compare to your near two years
David, thanks for such a detailed review. I've been considering this among other gravel bikes. Between this and the GT Grade Carbon that you also reviewed, would you say the Canyon is a lighter, more race/road oriented bike and the Gt more comfortable with rougher trails than the Canyon. I like the aesthetics of the Canyon much more, but it doesn't seem as versatile as the Gt. I do wish the Gt was upgraded with GRX components though. Thanks again!
Glad it was helpful! I'd agree with you, the Canyon feels much faster on the road and smoother tracks, the Grade is comfier and more fun in the woods. Hopefully there'll be a Grade GRX coming soon
@@davidarthur where you say "feels much faster", is the emphasis really on "feels"? These are the two bikes I'm considering at the moment and my heart likes the GT more. I grew up racing old school mountain bikes and do want to be off-road quite a lot, but at the same time I want a "one bike does it all" bike which will be ridden alongside friends on modern aero road bikes. I'm not looking to race, but ultimately, the on-road performance is probably the more important aspect of the two and it simply needs to cope with some off-road trails too. Is it the case that the format of the Grail makes it "feel" faster, but in reality, with the same tyres, both the GT and Grail would be equivalently quick (2 seconds in 40 miles doesn't matter to me), or do you feel there is an actual, tangible, road performance difference? I'd be planning on running two wheelsets, probably 28mm slicks for road and then an off-road wheelset with either bike anyway.
hi, I have a grail cf sl8 with ultegra. Well done on the review - I found it pretty much spot on! My thoughts are the seat post is responsible for a lot of the compliance on dirt at speed as I too ride on the hoods/drops when off road. I swapped out the tyres for panaracer gravel kings. I love the bike. Many thanks for a great review
I like the concept of the hover bars, but really wish it had more adjustment for reach and height. I just bought the Grail AL 7.0 with GRX 600 because of the standard bars (saving some coin was a bonus) and have been very pleased with it. But I did flip the step to get the bars higher. Not owning a drop bar bike for over 10 years, the fit and comfort was a concern, and the lack of bar adjustment in the CF models put me off a bit. If Canyon could engineer more adjustment into this hover bar concept...
Nice review. I think gravel bikes in general should really be looking at endurance bikes and offering something that would allow a ride to leave tarmac roads and get out onto dusty gravel roads rather than cross country mtb trails. If you have a dedicated race bike like a TCR or something then a gravel bike is a great second bike for winter, for more casual riding and for taking on trips to the countryside. It might definitely help to separate the classes between a race bike and endurance. It's a hard sell to buy an endurance bike when you already have a race bike or vice versa. It's not so hard to sell a gravel bike
I have had the bike for several months now and have road the hell out of it. I have a second set of wheels and use it like an endurance bike about as much as a gravel bike. I do want to point out that you can setup the cables better than you did. I put the stem in between the cables that route to the right and the ones that route to the left and it looks much cleaner.
How wide a slick tyre do you use? I haven’t tried that yet but think I will do now. And um sure you’re right about the cables, but I can’t see them when I’m riding so it’s all good :)
david arthur - I have a second set of wheels for mine which I have fitted with Continental GP5000 32c tyres and a 11-32 cassette. In this set up the bike runs as fast as my road bikes, although with the 48/31t up front it misses out on one more gear at speed, maxing out just a little bit. But I bought it primarily for off-road and also as a winter bike set-up so I’m not complaining at all. The split seatpost is an excelkent feature and really should be more of a talking point than the handlebars.
@@edlewis4603 Nice setup, I want to do exactly same thing with Grail to put 32c but Gravel King. I'm getting Grail CF SL 8.0 with GRX 8xx. Ordered my last month arriving in January 2021. BTW Canyon just increased price by €100 on this model and the SLX with Di2 by €200. I just wondered if they did that to reduce price for Black Friday?!🤔 Which size do you have I'm really between L and XL not sure if I should swap to XL size, I'm 189cm?
@@Matii81 Not sure about the price. Have not been watching it since getting mine last year. I have the size medium and I am 5' 11". It fits pretty perfect on me. They have a size finder on their site that seems to work well. I too fit some bikes large and some bikes medium. I would not want to have gone bigger on this bike. With the integrated handle bars, you don't want to be off on size.
The sizing predictor on the website suggested that I should be a medium, and I saw another review that said they run 'small.' I'm interested to know your inseam since I am 5'11" as well, and I normally ride a 58 cm or L mtb.
I am looking forward to the hover bars. Questions for everyone or anyone. 11/14/2020: I just noticed that Canyon in the US just released a new grail bike: Grail CF SL 8 Di2. Previously I was going to buying the Grail CF SLX 8 Di2, mainly because I wanted the Di2 setup. The Grail CF SL 8 Di2 is $3999 and the Grail CF SLX 8 Di2 is $5299. They are identical bikes except for the frame SLX frame at 8.44 kg and SL frame at 8.88 kg and the wheels for the SLX are Reynolds ATR carbons and the wheels for the SL are DT Swiss G1800 Spline db. The weight is not really a deciding factor for me. But combined with the Reynolds ATR carbons, do you think it is worth the $1300 difference with the frame? From what I can tell a set of Reyonds ATR carbons are about $1300-$1500 retail and a set of DT Swiss G1800 Spline db are $500. Note everyone I am novice when it comes to bike components.
You talk about the look of the handle bar but does it feel better than a regular one.... I. E as does it dampen the vibration better does it make the ride smoother is the handling better, worse or the same as regular handlebars
Have had This Bike, same model for two months. Had bought a medium frist but it was on the limit so I swiched it to a large but made Canyon put a medium handlebar on it (shorter stem). This fits perfect for me (184/88). Good service and help from Canyon DENMARK eventhough the swich took more than a month
Like the idea of it being at the fast end of the scale, i like the idea of a gravel race bike. Dont love all that spaghetti up front though, it needs shrink wrapping.
I think that's the sweet spot. If you are going out on technical trails then surely a MTB would be the best choice with suspension and flat bars for control. I just don't see the point of taking a gravel bike on the MTB trails. For me it's for blasting down those dusty loose roads that you just wouldn't be able to take a fast roadie out on with 25mm tyres.
Super Review man. Substance and specifics love it. Have the same bike and think your video was the best in capturing where it lies on the gravel bike scale. Have the same model but in mechanical and looking into a second set of wheels to test the quiver /two bikes in one approach. Per your review as this wants to go fast I am looking fwd to seeing how she goes. Even with the stock wheelset I found it broke some strava prs on flat and slight downhill sections. Racy gravel bike indeed. 👍🏻😎🇩🇪
So since you are 5’11 and I’m like 5’10 should I also get a Medium? I was searching the sizes online and I thought it said something about my height going for a Large but I don’t know any better could you help me decide?
How does the grail handle bar compare to the Diverge future shock system? Does one trump the other? Is it worth just sticking a shockstop stem on your "regular" gravel/endurance bike?
What size would you suggest for someone 6'3"? Does anyone carry any insurance on their bikes? Theft or maybe damage if hit by a car while in transport.
Hi David, Ím thinking of buying a new bike. What would you recommend if I drive about a 60% road and 40% gravel/Forrest? Gravel bike or road bike? Thanks in advance
A gravel bike would be the better choice, just swap the wheels/tyres for road and off road, or just use a fast rolling gravel tyre all the time. Some endurance bikes like the Domane can take wide tyres which might be enough for your gravel, but it does depend on the conditions
@@davidarthur thanks. We have all kinds of gravel around here in south Germany. Driving most on moderate gravel. I was thinking of buying either the grail or endurace
Pretty sold on a Grail CF SL Di2 as a do it all bike that can be used as a winter road bike as well. The only other options would be a Titanium Reilly - 1k more or a S-Works Diverge a couple of years old. David do you have any comment on the latter option as I know you reviewed it?
In my opinion the Diverge offers a smoother and more comfortable ride due to the Future Shock. For doubling up as a road bike the Reilly titanium would be a fine choice. Depends how much comfort you want off-road versus on road speed I think. Also, while you can fit accessories to the Grail handlebar, it’s not quite as simple as a normal round handlebar when it comes to lights and other winter essentials
Thanks David, as much as Canyon are to be commended for their Hoverbar it is definitely polarising and maybe in the long term people will look back on it as just another wacky idea. You never know Canyon may dig their heels in and continue with it, we will see. Canyon can take a long while between bike updates so we may be waiting for a long time.
@@davidarthur This is great info David, thanks! To follow up on this, and on the 3.000 USD range, how do you think the Specialized Diverge Sport Carbon compares with the Grail CF SL 8 (the Canyon is about 300 USD more). More specifically, which one would you recommend if you're looking to have just one bike for a while that's good for most stuff (commuting included).
Hi David, loved the video, question could you easily ride say 30 miles on the road on this etc? I have a trek madone slr and want a kinda gravel bike, for a change of scenery, I don't want to put the bike in the boot and drive to the woods, is it hard work on the road? Cheers Jason
Yes you certainly could. The position is good on the road and the tyres roll fast so it's pretty rapid on the road, not all that much slower than an endurance bike really
Hi dave I've just purchased a grail thanks to your review, I found one on ebay, I had it all check out by canyon its the blue one you had but just the 7.0, i and man I can't keep of it it's bloody awesome 👌👌👌
Can you help me with one thing. Canyon grail AL 7.0 had Sram force 1 1x Sram presfit gxp 650b wheels in XS size, other Canyon grail cf sl 7.0 had shimano 2x grx Shimano presfit BB. I prefer carbon and 1x system. I bought my girl AL version. I would change complete driveterains, is that posible?
david arthur yes , I picked one up ,(watched your video “most aggressive gravel bike) wanted it as a kinda do a bit of everything commuting, lite bike touring and gravel . Interested to know if it would ride better on 700c v 650b . Really good videos 👍🏻 .
Hi Alan, I'd like to know more. 2nd wheel set I presume would reduce the weight. Do you think it would be worthy as a winter bike for riding with an inroad cycle club? I'd use gravel wheels for out with my kids.
@@BeardonaBike yes, the 2nd wheel set is lighter, but maybe just by 150 to 200 grams? I do think it's completely worthy as a winter or just road bike - it's basically a Canyon Endurace geometry with a funny handle bar, and much wider tire clearances. It's really a great all-rounder. Not any slower than you would be on a road-specific bike with the 2nd wheel set and slicks. I also put on XTR SPD pedals, as I use the bike for gravel quite a bit and use the same shoes for MTB. Also, love the 2-sided aspect of the XTR pedals, and I am just one of those guys that can't stand riding my bike without being clipped in - it's just been so long using SPD/Speedplay that I can't make myself ride a bike without at least SPD. When I ride with my 11yo daughter, I also put on the knobs wheel set that came with the bike. If I'm doing a mixed gravel and road ride, I'll just add some air to the tires to make them roll quicker, too.
I can't click the bell icon. It says it's content for children... On another note, it seems really tricky to pick the correct gravel/adventure bike. You very much have to look at what terrain you are likely able to ride on and pick your bike dependant on that.
Oh that is very good, I'll let into that asap. You're totally right, you need to be realistic about the riding and terrain because that does influence the sort of bike you can choose. There's so much choice which is great but also adds to confusion. Still, easier than choosing a mountain bike!!
How is to climb long gravel uphills 6+ km and 6 to 10% with gravel bike. How would you compare climbing hills like this with gravel or with xc hardtail?
Interesting question. On a smoother climb I find a gravel bike better because of the position and the faster tyres. On a technical climb though the mountain bike has the advantage.
@@davidarthur thanks. So hard decision. Now I own canyon LUX amazing bike but not realy for to me beacause is oriented for realy hard terain. Now is realy hard to decide should I goo with hardtail exceed or gravel bike. If I want to make loops and connect few clims Canyon Gravel seems perfect bike for that because is it efficient and light on climbs lile you said plus there is quite some asphalt beetwen climbs. On the other hand I do loops like that now with my xc hardtail bike and with this bike I leave open the possibility to go down from the mouintan not only on road but on trails too.
@@KonigDasWeib It's definitely good for city riding. 1. The wider tires will allow you to survive small city potholes much better than the skinny racing tires. 2. The Shimano GRX gear ratio is well suited for steep hills (to a reasonable point). 3. The entire bike frame and wheels are sturdier than a light-weigh but fragile racing bike, which is a plus for city dwellers. This is definitely not a racing bike. 1. Wider tires are not aerodynamic; the aggressive thread pattern and lower pressure tires are too draggy; they are also heavy 2. GRX tallest gear isn't fast enough for racing; even if you spin at 100 rpm, you'd be going 25mph tops 3. Bike is just too heavy for racing
@@itsm3th3b33 25mph? That's no way possible..i run faster than that. Unless you're bike packing with a lot of gear. You think i can still race if i replace the tire? won't that work? Also can you replace the handle with a regular one ?
@@KonigDasWeib You can start your sprint at 25mph. I seriously doubt that you can maintain that speed for more than a few seconds. You can try to race it. But you will be at a disadvantage. You mentioned competitive racing. The others will be at least 3lb lighter than your bike. That's huge. Can't change the handle bar. Proprietary fitting.
The Topstone Carbon you mean? I've not ridden that bike long enough to answer that question - but based on a first ride the Topstone probably has a bit more rear-end smoothness thanks to the Kingpin suspension
I was struggling with the same decision whether to take M or L, i`m 186cm and after all decided to go with Canyon`s measurement and ordered L. After all if it doesn`t fits me I can always change it for another size within 30 days. Or at least that`s what they say ;)
Press Fit BB's allow all the tubes around it (downtube, chainstay etc) to be massively oversized and this contributes to increased stiffness which leads to a more responsive bike when putting the power down
This has been the best review of the Grail CF I've encountered thus far! Back when it came out and I had several Gravelbikes to choose from I really wanted to know how it feels in the hoods cause I agree that you want your hands on the hoods most of the time and this is where you need the additional comfort and nobody talked about that back then in their reviews. I'm on the Tops maybe 10% of the time and if I am I appreciate the backsweep of my Zipp Service Course 70 XPLR which isn't a thing on the grail. Also I ride the Redshift suspension stem so I have good compliance everywhere on the frontend and it harmonizes very well with the Rear Iso Speed decupler on my Trek Checkpoint SL.
Thanks! Nice setup you’ve got yourself there. I have those same handlebars on another bike and like the back sweep too. Need to get myself a Redshift stem to try out I think!!
@@davidarthur let me know your height and what a size was a Grail. Thx u
@@davidarthur what size were those rear brake rotors again? 😉😂
Good review David. I particularly liked the use of the banana as a pointer.
hahaha. I was just about to point out the same
When I first saw the hover bar I thought it looked terrible. But it's grown on me and I actually like it now.
Great review. Very balanced. If anyone is considering this bike for adventure, canyon have a bar bag and a frame bag specifically for the grail. It’s made by Topeak and is on their accessories pages along with Garmin and Wahoo mounts and mudguards...
I just got mine and went out for a ride (SLX). It's a fantastic bike, and a whole new world for me since i've only owned MTBs until now.
Best bike reviewer on TH-cam. Interesting and engaging without being gimmicky or silly, and informative about the things that matter - ergonomics, ride feel, real-world performance.
Wow thanks Don that means so much! :)
I have a 2019 CF SLX 8 with the SRAM 1x and based on my experience, I would say your review is pretty much right on as far as things that can be compared, but like you, I prefer the 1x setup which combined with the SLX frame saves almost a Kilo. The 2019 SLX 8.0 is super light, very fast, and very simple. Anyway, I think your review on the cockpit is 100% spot on. Now I like the cockpit OK, but overall, I think having the option of a more traditional cockpit would be a good thing. I find the rear seat post to do most of the work on rough roads, and that component works particularly well. Like you, I find that I spend little time on the tops but there is a bit more compliance there, and I have learned that on some very slow washboard surfaces, it is better to get on to the tops because it does make a difference, and I prefer this to some heavier solution like a built in stem shock. I am happy that I went with SLX 8.1 1X but if budget were tight, I would say that the SL version is probably a great value if the rider is looking for a balance between road and trail.
(Also, I noted that the SRAM 1X11 option is no longer available on the 2020 CF SLX 8.0. I guess it did not sell well, but I love mine. I just can't believe that electronic shifting would be needed on the SRAM 1X. It is a great groupset. I can see program shifting on 2X setups, but I just don't think it is worth the extra weight on a 1X.)
A very accurate review though. Perhaps the best I have seen on the Grail.
Ive done 3 rides on mine (SLX) so far and must say its pretty sick, i like the pointer when talking about the bars! Lol
I've got this bike and I love it Bro. Your review: RIGHT ON BRO!
I just bought a Grail CF SL 7.0. Very excited for her to arrive!
Good choice! 👍
I have the CF SL 7.0 2020 - love it, first serious drop handle bike after riding hardtail mountain bikes for years. In an XL the standard handlebar width is nearly up there with MTBs I've owned, doesn't feel super aero.. (this can be specced differently so ask). I love the hoverbar design, being able to hook your thumbs in the drops is great for stability and confidence (especially if you're new to drop bars). Also good for making new friends as people always come and comment. Overall the bike feels incredibly quick, especially on terrain that might be a bit of a grind on an MTB. But buy it for the sheer versatility - this bike can have you out of six inches of mud and rocks onto tarmac, and within a few seconds the ride is so smooth you feel like you are on an endurance bike. Props to Canyon and Shimano - the GRX hasn't dropped a shift all year and the brakes make you go much faster downhill..
I‘m riding the Grail for couple of months now and i really love it. Great on the road and awesome on the trails. The hoverbar is nice on gravel
Hi seth, thinking of getting the GPX version, what's it like on the road? I have a good hour to the woods? Is it hard work etc on the road? Comfortable?
@@jasonbull4759 it's a little bit slower on the road like 1-2/kph slower compared to my roadbike. In the woods it's great on gravel and smooth flow trails with lower pressure on the 40mm tyres. On trails with many big rocks, roots etc. it's not that much fun compared to a hardtail or fully. The saddle is ok but not the most comfy one in aero position at least for me. Overall it's a very nice bike for the price.
1.20 - clever use of a stick as your mark for the camera! Enjoying all of your videos, Dave.
👍
Great review thanks! Just noticed that the Grail SL 8 is still £3149 but is down graded to a mechanical group set. The di2 version SL 8 di2, is now £3799, big increase, not such good value anymore which is a shame; brexit and COVID no doubt..
I have this bike since the start of the year and for the bike itself and the build, it's superb! Geometry of the bike works really well for my liking and the build is the best bang for your buck easy. I will keep this bike until they released a version 2 of the Grail CF in the future.
Ryan Docena have mine since 2018, got some Chinese light wheels and dropped 600gr of wheel/disc weight and now use the grail as road bike!
Very comprehensive review! I just purchased a Canyon Inflite CF SLX 9.0 Team and am in awe of its all around performance. Might you at some point get to test ride it? Be nice to hear your feelings!
Really nice review. Helped me a lot. Just ordered the Grail CF 2021. Excited!
I've howned this bike since Aug 2018 (CF SL 8.0 mecanical ultegra) and I must say that your review is very accurate.
The evolution to Shimano GRX is a very good one compared to the road group i had...
Yes, I said HAD, because someone stole my bike few days ago...
So I'm looking and comparing whether I should go for another grail or switch to another brand.
I find you video to match exactly my feeling about this bike. And even after almost two years, i think I will go for it again.
There are bikes that could offer the same finish and performance, but the price would be WAYYYY higher.
I had absolutely ZERO issue with the bike and components. and for a "endurance geo", it is pretty amazing how capable it is offroad.
Thanks for your review and feeling.
The quality of the video and content is VERY good.
Keep going.
Forgot one think i LOVE about the hoverbar.
Once in the drop, you can wrap you thumbs around the lower bar. I personnaly love this position but it might be a very personnal feeling.
Gutted for your stolen bike! Will insurance cover it? Thanks for sharing tour feedback on the bike after owning it, good to hear you had no issues with it. I’ve not yet but only a couple of months of riding, doesn’t compare to your near two years
Totally agree! Really like this position too
sorry to hear it
David, thanks for such a detailed review. I've been considering this among other gravel bikes. Between this and the GT Grade Carbon that you also reviewed, would you say the Canyon is a lighter, more race/road oriented bike and the Gt more comfortable with rougher trails than the Canyon. I like the aesthetics of the Canyon much more, but it doesn't seem as versatile as the Gt. I do wish the Gt was upgraded with GRX components though. Thanks again!
Glad it was helpful! I'd agree with you, the Canyon feels much faster on the road and smoother tracks, the Grade is comfier and more fun in the woods. Hopefully there'll be a Grade GRX coming soon
@@davidarthur where you say "feels much faster", is the emphasis really on "feels"? These are the two bikes I'm considering at the moment and my heart likes the GT more. I grew up racing old school mountain bikes and do want to be off-road quite a lot, but at the same time I want a "one bike does it all" bike which will be ridden alongside friends on modern aero road bikes. I'm not looking to race, but ultimately, the on-road performance is probably the more important aspect of the two and it simply needs to cope with some off-road trails too.
Is it the case that the format of the Grail makes it "feel" faster, but in reality, with the same tyres, both the GT and Grail would be equivalently quick (2 seconds in 40 miles doesn't matter to me), or do you feel there is an actual, tangible, road performance difference?
I'd be planning on running two wheelsets, probably 28mm slicks for road and then an off-road wheelset with either bike anyway.
This is the best review on this bike by a mile , nice work 👍🏼
Thanks 😃
hi, I have a grail cf sl8 with ultegra. Well done on the review - I found it pretty much spot on!
My thoughts are the seat post is responsible for a lot of the compliance on dirt at speed as I too ride on the hoods/drops when off road. I swapped out the tyres for panaracer gravel kings. I love the bike. Many thanks for a great review
Thanks for sharing!
Fantastic, balanced review. Most reviews gloss over the major down falls of the handlebar.
Thanks 👍
I like the concept of the hover bars, but really wish it had more adjustment for reach and height. I just bought the Grail AL 7.0 with GRX 600 because of the standard bars (saving some coin was a bonus) and have been very pleased with it. But I did flip the step to get the bars higher. Not owning a drop bar bike for over 10 years, the fit and comfort was a concern, and the lack of bar adjustment in the CF models put me off a bit. If Canyon could engineer more adjustment into this hover bar concept...
Nice review. I think gravel bikes in general should really be looking at endurance bikes and offering something that would allow a ride to leave tarmac roads and get out onto dusty gravel roads rather than cross country mtb trails.
If you have a dedicated race bike like a TCR or something then a gravel bike is a great second bike for winter, for more casual riding and for taking on trips to the countryside. It might definitely help to separate the classes between a race bike and endurance. It's a hard sell to buy an endurance bike when you already have a race bike or vice versa. It's not so hard to sell a gravel bike
Some endurance bikes are going that way. The new Trek Domane SLR for example has enough space for narrow gravel tyres so could be taken off road
I have had the bike for several months now and have road the hell out of it. I have a second set of wheels and use it like an endurance bike about as much as a gravel bike. I do want to point out that you can setup the cables better than you did. I put the stem in between the cables that route to the right and the ones that route to the left and it looks much cleaner.
How wide a slick tyre do you use? I haven’t tried that yet but think I will do now. And um sure you’re right about the cables, but I can’t see them when I’m riding so it’s all good :)
@@davidarthur I run a 32C WTB Exposure tire. I have it in tan wall so it looks just as nice on the bike. It rides great on the road and paved trails.
david arthur - I have a second set of wheels for mine which I have fitted with Continental GP5000 32c tyres and a 11-32 cassette. In this set up the bike runs as fast as my road bikes, although with the 48/31t up front it misses out on one more gear at speed, maxing out just a little bit. But I bought it primarily for off-road and also as a winter bike set-up so I’m not complaining at all. The split seatpost is an excelkent feature and really should be more of a talking point than the handlebars.
@@edlewis4603 Nice setup, I want to do exactly same thing with Grail to put 32c but Gravel King. I'm getting Grail CF SL 8.0 with GRX 8xx. Ordered my last month arriving in January 2021. BTW Canyon just increased price by €100 on this model and the SLX with Di2 by €200. I just wondered if they did that to reduce price for Black Friday?!🤔 Which size do you have I'm really between L and XL not sure if I should swap to XL size, I'm 189cm?
@@Matii81 Not sure about the price. Have not been watching it since getting mine last year. I have the size medium and I am 5' 11". It fits pretty perfect on me. They have a size finder on their site that seems to work well. I too fit some bikes large and some bikes medium. I would not want to have gone bigger on this bike. With the integrated handle bars, you don't want to be off on size.
absolutely stunning bike!! the most beautiful IMO
The sizing predictor on the website suggested that I should be a medium, and I saw another review that said they run 'small.' I'm interested to know your inseam since I am 5'11" as well, and I normally ride a 58 cm or L mtb.
I am looking forward to the hover bars. Questions for everyone or anyone. 11/14/2020: I just noticed that Canyon in the US just released a new grail bike: Grail CF SL 8 Di2. Previously I was going to buying the Grail CF SLX 8 Di2, mainly because I wanted the Di2 setup. The Grail CF SL 8 Di2 is $3999 and the Grail CF SLX 8 Di2 is $5299. They are identical bikes except for the frame SLX frame at 8.44 kg and SL frame at 8.88 kg and the wheels for the SLX are Reynolds ATR carbons and the wheels for the SL are DT Swiss G1800 Spline db. The weight is not really a deciding factor for me. But combined with the Reynolds ATR carbons, do you think it is worth the $1300 difference with the frame? From what I can tell a set of Reyonds ATR carbons are about $1300-$1500 retail and a set of DT Swiss G1800 Spline db are $500. Note everyone I am novice when it comes to bike components.
I am considering it and Trek Domane, will Domane be much better perfomance and faster on asphalt ?
You talk about the look of the handle bar but does it feel better than a regular one.... I. E as does it dampen the vibration better does it make the ride smoother is the handling better, worse or the same as regular handlebars
Have had This Bike, same model for two months. Had bought a medium frist but it was on the limit so I swiched it to a large but made Canyon put a medium handlebar on it (shorter stem). This fits perfect for me (184/88). Good service and help from Canyon DENMARK eventhough the swich took more than a month
Thanks for the info!
Oh that was the info I was seraching for. Was struggling with the size between M and L. I`m 186/89, will definitely go large then. Thanks hotnip.
Like the idea of it being at the fast end of the scale, i like the idea of a gravel race bike. Dont love all that spaghetti up front though, it needs shrink wrapping.
Agree the cabling could be a bit tidier
I think that's the sweet spot. If you are going out on technical trails then surely a MTB would be the best choice with suspension and flat bars for control. I just don't see the point of taking a gravel bike on the MTB trails. For me it's for blasting down those dusty loose roads that you just wouldn't be able to take a fast roadie out on with 25mm tyres.
Great review man! Thank you! 👊🏽
Super Review man. Substance and specifics love it. Have the same bike and think your video was the best in capturing where it lies on the gravel bike scale. Have the same model but in mechanical and looking into a second set of wheels to test the quiver /two bikes in one approach. Per your review as this wants to go fast I am looking fwd to seeing how she goes. Even with the stock wheelset I found it broke some strava prs on flat and slight downhill sections. Racy gravel bike indeed. 👍🏻😎🇩🇪
Wow thanks 😊 🙏
grizl or the grail? which is better all around David?
Do the rear wheel hub make too much noise? I know some people love this noise, but for me, it's the other way around.
So since you are 5’11 and I’m like 5’10 should I also get a Medium? I was searching the sizes online and I thought it said something about my height going for a Large but I don’t know any better could you help me decide?
How does the grail handle bar compare to the Diverge future shock system? Does one trump the other? Is it worth just sticking a shockstop stem on your "regular" gravel/endurance bike?
The Diverge Future Shock is much more comfortable than the Grail’s handlebar imo
Great job! Well done and thanks for sharing your thoughts!
.. being built now🎯🙌🏼
Hi, can you please share your body dimensions? It seems folks are recommending one size up for this particular brand because of the hover handle.
What size would you suggest for someone 6'3"?
Does anyone carry any insurance on their bikes? Theft or maybe damage if hit by a car while in transport.
Hi David, Ím thinking of buying a new bike. What would you recommend if I drive about a 60% road and 40% gravel/Forrest? Gravel bike or road bike? Thanks in advance
A gravel bike would be the better choice, just swap the wheels/tyres for road and off road, or just use a fast rolling gravel tyre all the time. Some endurance bikes like the Domane can take wide tyres which might be enough for your gravel, but it does depend on the conditions
@@davidarthur thanks. We have all kinds of gravel around here in south Germany. Driving most on moderate gravel. I was thinking of buying either the grail or endurace
The Grail would be the more versatile choice and give you more tyre options for tackling geometry
Nice review. Thank you. Just a quick question can you fit 650b wheels on this bike? Thank you.
It hasn’t been designed with 650b in mind
david arthur thank you for getting back.
@@davidarthur though I note the smaller sizes come with 650/27.5" stock so if you went for a 1x build, I suspect you could without nasty geo effects?
Pretty sold on a Grail CF SL Di2 as a do it all bike that can be used as a winter road bike as well. The only other options would be a Titanium Reilly - 1k more or a S-Works Diverge a couple of years old. David do you have any comment on the latter option as I know you reviewed it?
In my opinion the Diverge offers a smoother and more comfortable ride due to the Future Shock. For doubling up as a road bike the Reilly titanium would be a fine choice. Depends how much comfort you want off-road versus on road speed I think. Also, while you can fit accessories to the Grail handlebar, it’s not quite as simple as a normal round handlebar when it comes to lights and other winter essentials
Thanks David, as much as Canyon are to be commended for their Hoverbar it is definitely polarising and maybe in the long term people will look back on it as just another wacky idea. You never know Canyon may dig their heels in and continue with it, we will see. Canyon can take a long while between bike updates so we may be waiting for a long time.
@@davidarthur This is great info David, thanks! To follow up on this, and on the 3.000 USD range, how do you think the Specialized Diverge Sport Carbon compares with the Grail CF SL 8 (the Canyon is about 300 USD more). More specifically, which one would you recommend if you're looking to have just one bike for a while that's good for most stuff (commuting included).
Hi David, loved the video, question could you easily ride say 30 miles on the road on this etc? I have a trek madone slr and want a kinda gravel bike, for a change of scenery, I don't want to put the bike in the boot and drive to the woods, is it hard work on the road? Cheers Jason
Yes you certainly could. The position is good on the road and the tyres roll fast so it's pretty rapid on the road, not all that much slower than an endurance bike really
@@davidarthur that's fantastic, the bike looked awesome, many thanks for your reply, keep churning 🚴♂️👍👍
Hi dave I've just purchased a grail thanks to your review, I found one on ebay, I had it all check out by canyon its the blue one you had but just the 7.0, i and man I can't keep of it it's bloody awesome 👌👌👌
I’m on a budget but bought the Canyon Grail AL7 & loving it
the frame should take other cockpits too, saw even norrmal stems on it
Can you help me with one thing. Canyon grail AL 7.0 had Sram force 1 1x Sram presfit gxp 650b wheels in XS size, other Canyon grail cf sl 7.0 had shimano 2x grx Shimano presfit BB. I prefer carbon and 1x system. I bought my girl AL version. I would change complete driveterains, is that posible?
Do you reckon this could easily double up as a winter road bike if I swapped out the wheelset?
Yes totally. You can even fit mudguards. Fitting front lights is a bit more challenging but there are ways around the handlebar
*Works great, comfortable too*
Great review. Thanks!
Excellent.
Which area of UK are you trying this?
I’m in the south. Suits my local trails well
what's the standard tire size in width on the grail buying it straight from the shop?
Really like the look of this bike, but I’m guessing Canyon don’t run a demo fleet?
They do run demo events here in the UK but not right now with the virus, not sure when things like that will get going again?
Hammerhead Handlebars!
Can’t get pass the hover handlebars 🙈 , Any plans to do a test ride on the nukeproof digger ???
They’re better when you’re riding the bike, trust me. No plans on the Digger yet, is that a review you’d like to see?
david arthur yes , I picked one up ,(watched your video “most aggressive gravel bike) wanted it as a kinda do a bit of everything commuting, lite bike touring and gravel . Interested to know if it would ride better on 700c v 650b .
Really good videos 👍🏻 .
Thanks! I like 650b for comfort but I find 700 with 40mm tyres is a really fast combo
Yeah, I’ve got a 2nd wheelset with 28m GP5000s - it really is two bikes in one
Sounds like a great setup
Hi Alan, I'd like to know more. 2nd wheel set I presume would reduce the weight. Do you think it would be worthy as a winter bike for riding with an inroad cycle club? I'd use gravel wheels for out with my kids.
@@BeardonaBike yes, the 2nd wheel set is lighter, but maybe just by 150 to 200 grams? I do think it's completely worthy as a winter or just road bike - it's basically a Canyon Endurace geometry with a funny handle bar, and much wider tire clearances. It's really a great all-rounder. Not any slower than you would be on a road-specific bike with the 2nd wheel set and slicks. I also put on XTR SPD pedals, as I use the bike for gravel quite a bit and use the same shoes for MTB. Also, love the 2-sided aspect of the XTR pedals, and I am just one of those guys that can't stand riding my bike without being clipped in - it's just been so long using SPD/Speedplay that I can't make myself ride a bike without at least SPD. When I ride with my 11yo daughter, I also put on the knobs wheel set that came with the bike. If I'm doing a mixed gravel and road ride, I'll just add some air to the tires to make them roll quicker, too.
I can't click the bell icon. It says it's content for children...
On another note, it seems really tricky to pick the correct gravel/adventure bike. You very much have to look at what terrain you are likely able to ride on and pick your bike dependant on that.
Oh that is very good, I'll let into that asap. You're totally right, you need to be realistic about the riding and terrain because that does influence the sort of bike you can choose. There's so much choice which is great but also adds to confusion. Still, easier than choosing a mountain bike!!
The Open Wi.de frame is the same price as this entire bike, basically.
How is to climb long gravel uphills 6+ km and 6 to 10% with gravel bike. How would you compare climbing hills like this with gravel or with xc hardtail?
Interesting question. On a smoother climb I find a gravel bike better because of the position and the faster tyres. On a technical climb though the mountain bike has the advantage.
@@davidarthur thanks. So hard decision. Now I own canyon LUX amazing bike but not realy for to me beacause is oriented for realy hard terain. Now is realy hard to decide should I goo with hardtail exceed or gravel bike.
If I want to make loops and connect few clims Canyon Gravel seems perfect bike for that because is it efficient and light on climbs lile you said plus there is quite some asphalt beetwen climbs. On the other hand I do loops like that now with my xc hardtail bike and with this bike I leave open the possibility to go down from the mouintan not only on road but on trails too.
Really nice review, chuckled couple of times. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
I just got this bike. Everything is as the reviewer said. The only negative is that Fisik saddle sucks.
do you think its good for city riding (road only) ? what about racing competitions?
@@KonigDasWeib
It's definitely good for city riding.
1. The wider tires will allow you to survive small city potholes much better than the skinny racing tires.
2. The Shimano GRX gear ratio is well suited for steep hills (to a reasonable point).
3. The entire bike frame and wheels are sturdier than a light-weigh but fragile racing bike, which is a plus for city dwellers.
This is definitely not a racing bike.
1. Wider tires are not aerodynamic; the aggressive thread pattern and lower pressure tires are too draggy; they are also heavy
2. GRX tallest gear isn't fast enough for racing; even if you spin at 100 rpm, you'd be going 25mph tops
3. Bike is just too heavy for racing
@@itsm3th3b33 25mph? That's no way possible..i run faster than that.
Unless you're bike packing with a lot of gear.
You think i can still race if i replace the tire? won't that work?
Also can you replace the handle with a regular one ?
@@KonigDasWeib
You can start your sprint at 25mph. I seriously doubt that you can maintain that speed for more than a few seconds.
You can try to race it. But you will be at a disadvantage. You mentioned competitive racing. The others will be at least 3lb lighter than your bike. That's huge.
Can't change the handle bar. Proprietary fitting.
@@itsm3th3b33 thx for the reply 🙏
Can you give examples of those more mountain bikey gravel bikes pls?
How does it compare to the Cannondale?
The Topstone Carbon you mean? I've not ridden that bike long enough to answer that question - but based on a first ride the Topstone probably has a bit more rear-end smoothness thanks to the Kingpin suspension
Wish I could afford one
Hi Chief, nice Video! Thanks a lot... What's your body size / measurement where you drive the grail in size M. Thx. and nice regards, Roger
Hey thanks! I’m 5’11” and the medium suits me perfectly, hope that helps you out?
@@davidarthur in mrts please. 😉
Ummm, 1.8m or thereabouts I think 😃
@@davidarthur o.k. Thanks... so i will order in size "S"
I was struggling with the same decision whether to take M or L, i`m 186cm and after all decided to go with Canyon`s measurement and ordered L. After all if it doesn`t fits me I can always change it for another size within 30 days. Or at least that`s what they say ;)
Why does a press fit bb ensure speed? I don’t get why you said that
Press Fit BB's allow all the tubes around it (downtube, chainstay etc) to be massively oversized and this contributes to increased stiffness which leads to a more responsive bike when putting the power down
david arthur thanks a a lot. I thought they were just cheaper than threaded bb. Now I know better
What size is the bike?
This was a size medium tested and I’m 5’11”. The fit is perfect. Hope this helps?
The flipping bikes now retailing at 3799!
What framesize did you get and what is your height? Thanks.
This is a medium and I’m 5’11” and the fit is perfect
I would buy it but I'm broke
160 on the back and 140 on the back😃😄😀
Is that a banana in your hand or are you just glad to see ... eh, great review, sweet bike.
£3800 now (20% increase in a year)
great review but I found the banana very distracting...
Can you just eat that banana already.
😂
The lines are incredibly ugly to me. They just don't get it but you can give them credit for being different
Horrendous bars from every angle! No thanks. They should provide people with a choice.
I’d love to see that choice too