A tough gravel bike that is ready for rough work as well as adventure. With a sturdy aluminium frame, the Canyon Grizl is an all-rounder.
By now I have quite a few Canyons at home. The only one actually missing was a gravel bike. I always used my Canyon Inflite, the cyclocrosser, for that. But now my collection has finally been completed with a tough Canyon Grizl. The great thing is that this bike is not only totally in its element on gravel trails, but you can also fit luggage racks and bags on it. So I use it for commuting, and for cycling holidays. Because this aluminium adventurer can handle quite rough terrain.
The first ride
3 days after I order the bike online, there is already a bike box in the living room. Not much later, the Grizl is assembled. Inserting wheels, tightening the thru-axles, mounting the handlebars and bidop holders, and adjusting the saddle to the right height. It's a piece of cake. The mudguards I ordered along take a bit more effort to install; so I want them to sit perfectly, and that takes some fiddling. But within an hour, the bike is ready to hit the road.
Thanks to a couple of rainy days, the gravel bike remains indoors for a while, but then when a weather grade 9 arrives, it's time for the first ride on the Grizl. I opt for the Let de Stigerpad, cycling from Utrecht to Maarn, Amerongen and Rhenen, with the idea of taking the train back here. 50 kilometres is a nice first ride right? But the Grizl cycles so wonderfully through the curves and over the gravel paths that I decide to cycle back to Utrecht as well. The result: the first ride has 100 kilometres on the counter and the bike feels like I've had it for years.
The Let de Stigterpad is perhaps the most famous gravel path of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. Between Driebergen and Rhenen, the beautifully hilly cycle path strings together the best of the Heuvelrug. Forests, heathlands, burial mounds, sand drifts, fens and finally floodplains.
My experience
Now the bike is also very similar in geometry to the Inflite I already have, so the fact that it feels right away is not surprising. But it is enjoyable. I feel the bike is slightly heavier than its cyclocross brother, especially when going uphill. But because this bike does have a climbing gear, I can climb in a relaxed manner. (That was also the idea: with a larger 11-42 cassette, I can hopefully cycle a lot abroad with this bike.
And with the wide 45mm tyres fitted to the bike, it is wonderfully comfortable rolling. The included Schwalbe G-one bite 45mm gravel tyre is a good all-round option. Potholes, tree roots, no problem. For some sand, the Grizl doesn't turn its hand away. Racing through a deep mud puddle almost up to the axles, no problem either. This bike can handle a lot. When a twisty section comes up and I push a bit extra, the bike steers wonderfully tight and I really get the hang of it. What a great bike. Fast, agile, but tough enough when you take on a mtb segment. Now I am totally ready for adventure. Not surprisingly, this bike is still racking up quite a few kilometres after today!
A gravel bike that is at home on rough terrain and ready for adventure.
Ready for adventure
One of the big advantages of the Canyon Grizl as a holiday or bikepacking bike is the presence of quite a few attachment points. Via the attachment points on the top tube, you can easily mount a top tube box, for the stuff you need most often. On the front fork, you can mount extra bottle cages with 3 screws on each side if the weather is warm, or small dry bags. Handy for small sleeping bags, clothing or a lightweight bikepacking tent. The rear fork also has attachment points for a luggage carrier. There are also attachment points for mounting mudguards securely on the bike.
Why this setup?
And why exactly did I choose this setup? A carbon Grizl would have been a bit lighter, but for me it became a robust aluminium model this time. I regularly hit the road with luggage and a bike trailer with a child in it. Those are quite a few extra kilos. Although a bike trailer can easily be placed behind a carbon frame, I like the feeling of having a sturdy aluminium bike. Furthermore, the Shimano GRX is a fine shifting group, and this cassette is sufficient for me for hilly or mountainous terrain. The 1by is my choice because of its simplicity, low weight and less maintenance,
Furthermore, with the Grizl I could have opted for a suspension fork, which should offer extra comfort. But to be honest, I don't miss a suspension fork now, and it costs extra maintenance and more weight. So for me it was unnecessary.
Finally, I had some doubts about the Grizl 8, but this bike had 44cm handlebars, and I think 42mm is actually more than enough for me. And this Grizl 8 has a Canyon S15 VCLS 2.0 shock-absorbing seatpost. I have a similar seatpost on my Canyon Endurace, and it's hard to adjust it precisely so that it doesn't creak. That didn't seem like a good idea on a gravel bike. So it became the Canyon Grizl AL 7 1by.
And the colour? This stylish grey colour is the shade Earl Grey. The Grizl is also available in Sencha and Hazy IPA, but they were not readily available in my size (S).
My verdict?
I am impressed with the Grizl. For me, it is the perfect bike for gravel rides and bikepacking. All in all, it's a perfect all-rounder. With thinner tyres, it is wonderfully comfortable for long road trips - even if it is a bit heavier than a road bike. It is totally in its element on gravel paths or mtb tracks. And with all the options to mount bikepacking bags, it is especially ready for tough tours in the countryside. A robust frame and comfortable setup, and at a fair price (€1,799).
Canyon Grizl AL 7 specifications
- Canyon Grizl AL frame (1.82 kg)
- Canyon FK0087 CF Disc carbon fork with mounting points
- Shimano GRX RX812 GS long-cage rear derailleur
- Shimano Deore XT M8000 11-42 11s cassette
- Shimano GRX RX600 40T 1by crankset
- Token Ninja Lite BB4124 Bottom bracket standard: PF 86.5
- Shimano CN-HG601 11s chain
- Shimano GRX RX600 11s brake levers
- Shimano RT70 brake discs
- Shimano RT70 wheels
- Schwalbe G-One Bite Performance, 45mm tyres
- Canyon ST0035 stem
- Canyon HB0064 Ergo handlebars
- Canyon Ergospeed Gel handlebar tape
- Selle Italia Model X saddle
- Canyon SP0057 VCLS seat post
EN 
NL 
DE 