Grizl

gravel1299–5499 EUR

Origin

Grizl — phonetic shortening of 'Grizzly'. Hints at the bike's bear-like ruggedness vs the road-flavoured Grail. Canyon also explicitly markets the 'long-distance, do-anything' character that comes with the name. Canyon's gravel hierarchy: Inflite (cyclocross, racy), Grail (gravel race / fast all-rounder), Grizl (gravel adventure / bikepacking). The Grail-Grizl pair was a deliberate split — Grail got the racy DNA, Grizl got the adventure-and-loaded DNA. 2021 Adventure-bikepacking gravel bike with rough-terrain bias and full cargo mounting. Filled the slot left by Grail when Grail was repositioned racier in 2021. high press_aggregated

Specifications

Frame: Two frames. Carbon: Canyon Grizl CF monocoque (1x-specific gen-2 layup, SRAM UDH dropout, dropped+kinked driveside chainstay, down-tube storage on top trims, flat-mount disc, 12x100/142 thru-axle; ~1,110-1,150 g size M). Aluminium: Canyon Grizl AL hydroformed double-butted 6066, tapered head tube, replaceable hanger, flat-mount disc.
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: 1x-specific across the gen-2 range. Entry alloy: Shimano CUES U6000 1x10. Mid alloy/carbon: Shimano GRX RX820 1x12 (40T, 10-45T). SRAM Apex XPLR 1x12 on Grizl CF 6. Escape trims run mullet (GRX lever + Shimano XT M8100 1x12, 10-51T). Top trims: SRAM Force / RED XPLR AXS wireless (1x12 / 1x13).
Brakes: Hydraulic disc throughout. Shimano GRX BR-RX820 (160/160 mm rotors) on GRX trims; Shimano CUES/MT-class on entry alloy; SRAM Apex / Force eTap AXS hydraulic (160/160 mm) on SRAM trims. Flat-mount caliper interface.
Wheels: 700c only, all sizes. Alloy trims: DT Swiss G540 / Gravel LN / Alex CXD7 on DT 350 or Shimano hubs, tubeless-ready, 12x100 front / 12x142 rear thru-axles. Top gen-2 carbon trims: Canyon GR30 CF carbon wheels (30 mm rim depth) — Canyon's first own-brand carbon gravel wheelset. Escape ECLIPS builds use a SON 28/29 dynamo front hub.

The verdict

+Strengths

Capable adventure geometry — slack head angle, taller stack, longer wheelbase combine into a confidence-inspiring rough-terrain bike Handling balanced and intuitive (GRAN FONDO)
54mm tyre clearance — meaningfully more than Grail's 42mm, opens the bike to near-MTB terrain 54mm clearance means you can run Grizl as a near-MTB on rough terrain (Cyclist)
ECLIPS dynamo integration on Escape trim — unique-in-class production solution for multi-day bikepacking power needs ECLIPS dynamo integration is genuinely the standout feature for multi-day riding (GRAN FONDO)
VCLS / RIFT seatpost + 45mm tyre combo = strong all-day comfort without going to suspension Comfort is the standout (road.cc)
Direct-to-consumer value — spec per euro typically beats dealer-network rivals Canyon has the direct-to-consumer model down to a science (bikepacking.com)
Bikepacker-native mount layout — Apidura and similar bag systems fit without hacks
Generation 2 (2025) refinements — down-tube storage, Canyon GR30 CF wheels, RIFT post, 1x-specific frame are real upgrades

−Weaknesses

1x-only on gen 2 carbon — loaded climbing on steep gradients punishes the missing climbing ring On steep inclines with heavy luggage you really miss having a climbing ring (GRAN FONDO)
Alloy entry trims (Grizl 5, Grizl 6) are heavy — around 11 kg — which is a lot for climbing-leaning riders Grizl 5 alloy is heavy at around 11 kg (Cyclist)
Slow on smooth tarmac vs Grail — adventure geometry makes road sections feel less rewarding Not the most exciting on smooth tarmac — sits firmly in the adventure camp (road.cc)
700c only — no factory 650b option for very small riders or extreme mud-clearance needs
Suspension fork variant adds ~700g — meaningful weight gain for the comfort benefit Adds about 700g over the rigid CF — there's a real cost to pay
Direct-to-consumer = no local dealer for warranty / first-service / fitting — Baltic riders take on more of that themselves

Did you know

01Grizl is short for 'Grizzly' — Canyon picked the name to signal a more rugged adventure character vs the road-leaning Grail. Grail vs Grizl — gravel race vs grizzly. Same brand, different beasts.
02Canyon explicitly rejects 650b on the Grizl. Their position: bigger wheels with wider tyres roll faster over chatter than smaller wheels. The 54mm 700c clearance is engineered to make 650b unnecessary.
03Grizl uses a dropped + kinked driveside chainstay to clear 54mm tyres + 1x chainring while keeping wheelbase short. Non-driveside is bulked up to recover stiffness lost in the kinked side.
04ECLIPS = Endless Charge & Lighting Integrated Power System. SON 28/29 dynamo front hub feeds an internal battery in the down-tube compartment. USB-C output charges devices while you ride, plus integrated lights. Canyon's first production dynamo-integrated bike. Crashed your Garmin? On Grizl Escape ECLIPS, you're charging it from your front wheel.
05The Full Mounty Cockpit on Grizl Escape trims is Canyon's expedition-grade drop bar with a dense pattern of mounting points for lights, computers, top-tube bag straps and bar bags. Matches the Apidura ecosystem natively.
062nd generation Grizl CF (July 2025) is 1x-specific — frame has no front derailleur mount, period. Reflects Canyon's read of the market: 1x has won on gravel.
07Top-trim Grizl CF has a down-tube storage compartment — same idea as Specialized SWAT, holding tube/multi-tool/snacks inside the frame.
08Canyon's direct-to-consumer model puts Grizl ~10-15% cheaper than dealer-network rivals (Trek Checkpoint, Specialized Diverge) at equivalent spec. Tradeoff: no local dealer to handle warranty or first-service.

Who it’s for

adventure_cyclistbikepackergravel_explorerlong_distance_tourertrm_participantmixed_surface_commuterexpedition_rider

Buyer’s notes

№ 01

Grail vs Grizl — the canonical decision. Grail = gravel race / fast all-rounder, Grizl = adventure / bikepacking / rough terrain. If you're racing — Grail. If you're loading bags — Grizl. Don't try to make one bike do both jobs anymore; Canyon split them on purpose in 2021.

№ 02

AL vs CF decision. Alloy Grizl (5/6/7 AL) saves €500-1000 vs entry CF, but pays in ~1 kg of weight. For loaded bikepacking the kilo barely matters; for climbing-leaning gravel it does. Rule of thumb: alloy if mostly flat / loaded; CF if you live with hills.

№ 03

Grizl 7 AL (€1,799) is the sweet spot of the alloy range — Shimano GRX 12-speed, comfort seatpost, 45mm tyres, 10.68 kg. Below it the spec drops to Shimano CUES; above it you're paying for carbon.

№ 04

Grizl CF 7 OG (€2,499) is the sweet spot of the carbon range — GRX 1x12, VCLS post, 9.3 kg. Excellent value before pricing climbs to AXS.

№ 05

Escape vs OG decision: Escape adds Full Mounty cockpit, mullet drivetrain (gravel chainring + MTB cassette for loaded climbing), and 50mm Overlander tyres. Worth +€300-500 only if you actually do multi-day bikepacking. For day rides, OG is the same bike for less money.

№ 06

ECLIPS dynamo system is genuinely useful for multi-day bikepacking — but adds ~600-800g and pushes the bike to ~10.5+ kg. Skip if you mostly do day rides.

№ 07

Suspension fork (Grizl 6 Suspension or CF SL 8 Suspension) adds 30mm of travel via RockShox Rudy XPLR — costs ~700g of weight. Only worth it if you regularly ride sustained chunky terrain that beats up your hands.

№ 08

Used gen-1 Grizl CF SL 8 1BY (2021-2022) at €1,800-2,400 is a strong value buy. You give up 1x-only / UDH / down-tube storage but the geometry and ride quality are identical to gen-2. GRX 800 11-speed is reliable and serviceable.

№ 09

Stock saddle is Fizik Argo Tempo on most CF trims and Selle Italia X on some AL trims — neither suits every anatomy. Budget €60-120 for a saddle swap if first rides feel wrong.

№ 10

Canyon DTC means no local dealer in EE/LV/LT for warranty / first-service / fit. If you've never assembled a bike from a Canyon box, factor in the time to do it right or pay a local shop €50-100 for assembly + check.

№ 11

700c only — confirmed for the long term. If you're under 162 cm or want true 650b mud-clearance, Grizl is not for you. Look at Cervelo Aspero or Salsa Journeyer SL with 650b option instead.

№ 12

Check serial number on bottom-bracket shell. Canyon serial format: 'CY' + 4-letter factory code + 6 digits + 2-digit year code. Frame production date is in the last 4 characters.

№ 13

TRM (Tallinna Rattamaraton) and Pirita-Aegviidu-Pärnu gravel terrain reward the Grizl exactly — slack geometry, 45mm tyres, cargo mounts. If you do these regularly, this is the bike Canyon designed for that exact use case.

Versions & builds

Every official build side by side — differences highlighted.

Versions & builds
Spec	Grizl 5 (AL, Shimano CUES 1x10)	Grizl 6 AL (alloy, mid-tier)	Grizl 6 Suspension (AL, RockShox Rudy XPLR fork)	Grizl 7 AL (Shimano GRX 12-speed)	Grizl CF 6 (carbon, SRAM Apex XPLR 1x12)	Grizl CF 7 OG (Shimano GRX 820 1x12)	Grizl CF 7 Escape (Full Mounty cockpit, mullet)	Grizl CF 8 1by (SRAM Rival 1x12 / GRX 1x)	Grizl CF 8 Escape ECLIPS (dynamo lighting integration)	Grizl CF 9 SL (top-tier, AXS / Force XPLR)	Grizl CF 9 ESC RIFT (Escape + RIFT seatpost suspension)	Grizl 5	Grizl 6 Suspension	Grizl 7 AL	Grizl CF 6	Grizl CF 7 OG	Grizl CF 7 Escape	Grizl CF 8 1by	Grizl CF 8 Escape ECLIPS	Grizl CF 9 SL	Grizl CF 9 ESC RIFT
Frame	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Canyon Grizl AL hydroformed double-butted aluminium	Canyon Grizl AL hydroformed double-butted aluminium	Canyon Grizl AL hydroformed double-butted aluminium	Canyon Grizl CF carbon (1x-specific, UDH)	Canyon Grizl CF carbon (1x-specific, UDH, down-tube storage)	Canyon Grizl CF carbon (1x-specific, UDH, down-tube storage)	Canyon Grizl CF carbon (1x-specific from 2025; pre-2025 frames had front derailleur mount)	Canyon Grizl CF carbon (1x-specific, UDH, down-tube storage)	Canyon Grizl CF SL carbon (top-tier layup, 1x-specific, UDH, down-tube storage)	Canyon Grizl CF SL carbon (1x-specific, UDH, down-tube storage)
Drivetrain	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shimano CUES U6000 1x10 (linkglide)	Shimano GRX RX610 2x12 or SRAM Apex XPLR 1x12 (year-dependent)	Shimano GRX RX820 12-speed (mechanical)	SRAM Apex XPLR 1x12 (mechanical Eagle)	Shimano GRX RX820 1x12 mechanical	Mullet: Shimano GRX RX820 lever + Shimano XT M8100 1x12 derailleur and cassette (10-51T)	Shimano GRX RX810 / RX820 1x11 or 1x12 (year-dependent)	Mullet GRX 820 + XT M8100 1x12 (10-51T)	SRAM Force XPLR AXS / SRAM Force AXS XPLR D2 1x13 wireless	SRAM Force XPLR AXS or X0 Eagle AXS mullet
Brakes	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Shimano BR-MT201 / GRX-class hydraulic disc, 160/160mm rotors	Shimano GRX-class hydraulic disc, 160/160mm rotors	Shimano GRX BR-RX820 hydraulic disc, 160/160mm rotors	SRAM Apex hydraulic disc, 160/160mm rotors	Shimano GRX BR-RX820 hydraulic disc, 160/160mm rotors	Shimano GRX BR-RX820 hydraulic disc, 160/160mm	Shimano GRX BR-RX820 hydraulic disc, 160/160mm rotors	Shimano GRX BR-RX820 hydraulic, 160/160mm	SRAM Force eTap AXS hydraulic, 160/160mm rotors	SRAM Force eTap AXS hydraulic 160/160mm
MSRP	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	€1,299	€1,599	€1,799	€2,299	€2,499	€2,799	€2,999	€3,699	€4,299	€5,499
Purpose												Value	Value	Flagship	Value	Balanced	Balanced	Performance	Performance	Flagship	Flagship