Canyon's BEST Gravel Bike | NEW Canyon Grail Review

Jack Luke has been testing the third-tier Grail CFR Di2. It’s not exactly a storming bargain at £6,699 (US pricing TBC), but compared with similarly-priced bikes from its competitors, the build actually packs a punch.

This latest version of the Grail sees the demise of the infamous Hoverbar. Instead replaced by what Canyon is calling the Double Drop bar. This is a conventional one-piece bar/stem with some clever shaping that’s designed to improve comfort and compliance off-road.

Jack makes some bold claims when it comes to the performance of the Grail and believes it to be the best gravel bike they have ever made.

What do you think of the new Grail? Are you sad to see the Hoverbar go? Let us know what you think in the comments 👇

#canyongrail #hoverbar #gravelbike

Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:01 The Hoverbar Is Dead
02:30 Geometry
05:46 The New Double Drop Bar
08:21 Gear Groove
09:55 Mudguards and Mounts Galore
11:23 Internal Frame Storage
13:03 Tyres And Tyre Clearance
14:31 New D-shaped Seat Post
15:29 Choose This Option Instead

Image Credits:
Ross Land / Staff

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[bikeradar]

Did Canyon get it right with the new Grail? We want to know what YOU think 👇

[Jagefo]

Jack is one of the best presenters around. More content from Jack please!

[martin-samsoe]

I just bought a Grail CFR LTD partly because of this excellent review (and David Arthur, Ben Delaney and GCN). And I'm definitely not disappointed, I LOVE riding that bike😀

[JollyGiant]

I have one of the now 'Vintage' Grail's with the hover bar and I think it works really well and combined with the split seat post it makes going fast on gravel quite comfy. I have use the Grail for road use and just put the wheels in from my Aeroad makes its really comfy bike for a full day climbing in the mountains especially with the low gearing of the GRX groupset.

[buster.keaton]

The integrated mud guards and frame bag have my attention. I normally don't care about either, but both look very well thought-out and I'd rock 'em!

[mister_ray]

The Schwalbe G-One RS 40mm tubeless tires are my favorite. I do use them with the Vittoria Airliner inserts. Roll well on pavement, but handle chunky gravel fine.

[ilanpi]

Yet another defect of this integrated cockpit is that you cannot even modify the bar angle. It prevents you from having your preferred bar angle, e.g., at the drops.

[kidShibuya]

This is just a bike. The old one will forever be a grail.

[alanhill]

I am very pleased with my classic Grail with Sram red takes me to places where I want to go and also to places I never thought I could and I love the bar, also love the review can’t go wrong with Bikeradar

[sccxvelo]

No more hover for handlebar comfort as the grizel is now being made for that purpose and grail is the gravel race bike. When the grail came out grizel was not even being made for some years. Then overlap past couple years. So this change was coming. It was piece of art that made the grail standout.

[coops]

Looks and sounds like a good range of new bikes from Canyon. Big issues (2 other people in the room just watched the video and all said same thing) is having to come with standard bar length/width then having to get new if do not like the sizing. Canyon are missing a big game changer here...if you could spec what you wanted prior to buying it would make it much more appealing....The bars, the crankset length, seat, wheels should all be an optional changer when specing the build. That is probably the only issue and niggly thing with us stopping pressing the buy now button. I have not bought a standard set bike for many years due to this, much prefer the frameset and build what you want option.

[freeheel]

Great video in showcasing everything I'd want to know in a clear and balanced way. Thanks! 👍👍

[eoruois]

The hoverbar did work well and the old grail is still one of the best gravelbike I did ride. For the new they should fire the guy who thought the colours could be the same as the old “holly” grail.

[marekbabal]

I am not a fan of this bike, but I really like some features, the integrated mud guards (I had a hard time choosing them for my bike and customising them after to be able to actually mount them), that specific frame bag, the removable cargo mounts (no need to have holes all over the bike) and of course the in-frame storage. Every bike should have that!!!

[woutervanderdoes]

I agree on the integrated cockpit; I've got relatively short legs and a longer torso, and as a result I prefer a smaller frame for the lower stack combined with a longer stem. Having to buy a very expensive 70-420 integrated cockpit to then have to switch it out completely just sucks and puts me off buying a new canyon bike.

I took the risk and built up a completely custom bike based on a chinese frameset and wheelset. I would've also considered a western brand bike, but I don't like them making such expensive choices for me. Having full control over frame size and cockpit dimensions definitely is a big plus for the chinese bike brands in my books.

[ferinaf]

Shame they excluded internal storage and (even more confusing) gear groove on the basic models. If they had to do it ... why have a different integrated cockpit, why not just a regular stem and bar combo.
I was really happy until I saw that the SL models don't have these features.
BTW ... the gear groove mount for the computer and front light looks awesome.

[ggreloaded]

The old Grail was the real Grail. It grew on everyone that gave it a chance

[MrQuestful]

I like the overall design, but I wish that bike companies weren’t so OBSESSED with making race bikes and instead focused a bit more on utility. How many people are *actually* racing? They did add a bit of utility with the integrated fenders, but choices like removing the more compliant seatpost for a stiffer one that racers prefer feels like an optimization for racers that is likely a drawback for most riders.

[tomedward]

Seriously, when did these sorts of prices become the norm?

[matthiasc.hoffmann]

Hi Bikeradar, I went and bought the SLX version of this bike with Di2 last week, partially because of your glowing review. From my limited testing so far it seems a great bike for mixed pavement and light gravel use. HOWEVER I’m unhappy about the accessories situation. The heavily featured frame bag, in frame storage and computer mount are all optional features. Who doesn’t use a bike computer these days? Heck, it doesn’t even come with tubeless valve stems. Of course you may say I could just fork out the money and buy the accessories (despite this bring a$5000 bike). Except I can’t. All these items are unavailable. The computer mount has an estimated availability of February 2024. A regular Garmin mount doesn’t fit. Now what? Back to zip ties and a saddle bag?