With the optically striking Grail Canyon has already had a gravel bike in its portfolio since 2018 - and yet it is the first brand in Germany to develop a second gravel bike. With 45-millimetre-wide tyres (the Grail is fitted with 40-millimetre tyres as standard), the Grizl should be able to cope better on trails than the faster Grail models. The bike even allows for 50 millimetre wide tyres - welcome to the world of mountain bikes.
More control, more bikepacking options
In addition to traction, a second focus of the new development is the numerous mounting options for bikepackers. While the Grail was rather rudimentary in this respect, the Canyon Grizl has three mounting eyelets on each side of the fork, which can be loaded with bags weighing up to three kilograms. The attachment points on the top tube or an additional water bottle on the down tube (not on the Grizl SLX models) also contribute to the bikepacking character of the bike. Bag specialist Apidura offers a customised, albeit somewhat small, bikepacking set consisting of a frame bag, top tube bag and saddle bag for the Grizl. However, those planning long journeys should opt for other, larger sets.
Canyon Grizl: The first ride impression
Thanks to the very wide tyres that come as standard and the patented comfort seatpost, the Canyon Grizl irons out rough terrain better than most other gravel bikes. The bike also feels very secure on loose ground and in mud because the tread pattern of the tyres offers enormous grip and the tubeless tyres can be ridden with low pressure. Disadvantage: The Grizl feels less comfortable on tarmac and you inevitably have to compromise on air pressure in these dimensions. The heavy tyres also feel a little sluggish when pedalling on the road. The bike remains sporty, as is typical for Canyon - the riding position and steering behaviour are close to that of a road bike. A detailed individual test of the Canyon Grizl can be found in the 7/2021 issue of TOUR.
Equipment and prices
It starts with the Grizl CF SL 6 with simple GRX400 equipment for € 1,999. The top-of-the-range CF SLX 8 comes with either the electric GRX Di2 (€4,599) or Campagnolo's mechanical 1x13 Ekar drivetrain (€4,499). The size range includes seven gradations from 2XS to 2XL, with the two smallest being equipped with smaller 650B wheels. All variants in the picture gallery:
