Redesigned Canyon Grail waves goodbye to hover bar

Canyon has launched the new Grail, nominally a gravel race bike but with features to make it more versatile for everyday use.

The bike has undergone a ground-up redesign, dropping the Hover bar found on the original Grail and switching to a new integrated Double Drop bar.

The new Grail incorporates downtube storage and comes with Fork Sleeves, which help you mount extra cargo on the fork.

Canyon says it has made these changes because the gravel scene has significantly evolved since the original Grail launched back in 2018.

The Grail was the brand’s debut gravel bike and it encompassed all types of gravel riding.

The more adventure-oriented Grizl was introduced in 2021, and now the Grail has been refined to target the gravel race bike market.

We first spotted the Canyon Grail when it was ridden to Unbound 2023 victory by Carolin Schiff, with Tiffany Cromwell, Peter Stetina and Jasper Ockeloen also aboard the new bike.

There will be three tiers of Grail available: the Grail CFR; CF SLX; and CF SL. This is the first time Canyon’s premier CFR tier has been an option for the Grail.

Pricing starts at £2,599 / $2,699 / €2,699 / AU$4,199 for the Grail CF SL 7 and rises to £9,500 / $8,999 / €10,000 / AU$15,100 for the limited-edition Grail CFR LTD.

How does it ride? Deputy editor Jack Luke has delivered a full review of the Canyon Grail CFR Di2.

Canyon Grail frame details

Canyon says the new Grail optimises aerodynamics and claims it saves 9.1 watts over its predecessor when tested with identical specifications at 45kph.

The brand says some of the tube shapes have been influenced by Canyon’s climbing bike, the Ultimate.

The Grail CFR frame weighs a claimed 855g in an unspecified size. Canyon says the CF SLX frame weighs 933g and the CF SL frame weighs 953g.

The CFR frame is said to be 10 per cent stiffer than the CF SLX when it comes to power transfer measured at the bottom bracket and head tube.

The fork's lateral and frontal stiffness is claimed to have a 4.5 per cent improvement over the CF SLX.

The bike is now fully integrated, with the cables briefly exiting the one-piece Double Drop Bar towards its centre and then heading through the proprietary headset cover into the frame.

Tyre clearance is said to be 700x42mm, but all Grail models will come with 700x40mm tyres. The tyre clearance is rather limited compared to other gravel race bikes which tend to fit gravel tyres upwards of 45mm or even 50mm. Canyon says it settled on 42mm because it believes that’s generally the maximum tyre width used by gravel racers.

According to Canyon, the tyre clearance enables riders to use up to a 52/36t crankset without the frame having to use a dropped or longer chainstay.

Like its other road models, the Grail continues to use the BB86 press-fit bottom bracket standard.

The frame has mounting points on the top tube and underneath the down tube.

Canyon is including its custom ‘Defend Fast Fenders’ on the Grail, which are effectively quick-release alloy mudguards. The brand says the mudguards will work when running the bike at its maximum-width 42mm tyres.

Auf Wiedersehen to the Hover bar

Canyon has removed the previous Grail’s defining feature, the Hover bar.

The brand says the double-decker bar has been banished because it was less aerodynamic than a conventional drop handlebar.

Canyon has replaced it with the new CP0039 Double Drop Bar, a one-piece cockpit designed specifically for off-road riding.

Unlike Canyon’s other handlebars, such as the CP0018 found on the brand’s latest Endurace, the cockpit does not split to allow you to adjust handlebar widths. This means you’re set with whatever width your bike comes with.

The new bar features a 5-degree backsweep on the tops and a subtle drop from the stem. Canyon says this is a natural position for your hands to fall into to reduce pressure on your wrists and keep your elbows tighter to the body. The 5-degree flare at the hoods widens to 16 degrees at the drops.

Canyon is also offering a ‘pro’ fit aftermarket CP0047 handlebar that is 40cm wide at the hoods with 15mm more drop to replicate a negative-angled stem, but these will have to be purchased separately.

The new bar's standard 1 ⅛ steerer and (simpler) cable routing means you could also swap to a wide variety of aftermarket handlebar options.

The Double Drop Bar will be available in 42cm to 46cm widths and 60 to 80mm stem lengths. If you want a stem length longer than 80mm, you’ll have to buy an aftermarket CP0047 bar where you have stem options up to 110mm.

Gear Groove

The cockpit features what Canyon calls a Gear Groove, which is an indented slot moulded into the cockpit’s centre.

This is where accessories can be mounted to the Grail, such as a bike computer, phone, lights or even aero extensions.

Only the Double Drop bar on the Grail CFR and Grail CF SLX features the Gear Groove – it is absent on the cheaper Grail CF SL CP0045 cockpit.

The aero extensions for the Grail are borrowed directly from the brand’s Speedmax time trial bike, with the base wings broadened to better suit gravel riding.

Frame storage

The new Grail comes with Canyon’s Aero LOAD System, which is a compartment you can access via a hatch in the down tube.

The system includes a LOAD Tool Pack, which can accept riding spares. The downtube has been specifically designed to accept a Topeak Micro Rocket mini pump.

The Grail also has Canyon’s new LOAD FidLock QuickLoader, which is effectively a strapless frame bag that mounts via three FidLock magnets at the back of the head tube.

Canyon claims the pack has an aero benefit thanks to its aero fairing shaping, making the Grail 1.5 watts faster than its predecessor. If you’re running a Shimano electronic groupset, the compartment also provides access to the Di2 battery.

The Grail CF SL frames do not come with Aero LOAD storage but Canyon says the LOAD Fidlock Quickloader is still compatible.

Fork Sleeves

The new Grail comes with Fork Sleeves, which will be of interest to ultra-distance cyclists and bikepackers.

The sleeves slide over the fork and clamp in place, providing up to 3kg of carrying capacity on each fork leg.

Canyon says it designed this as incorporating mounts into the fork itself adds weight due to the additional material required around the inserts to reinforce them.

New SP0072 Comfortpost

Canyon is using a new D-shaped post called the SP0072 Comfortpost, in place of the well-established VCLS leaf-spring design.

Canyon says it adapted the seatpost from the Ultimate but optimised the carbon layup properties for gravel riding. The brand says the seatpost is more aerodynamic and is 42g lighter than the VCLS 2.0.

At 204g, it is, however, heavier than the SP0055 seatpost found on the Ultimate which is 166g.

The seatpost can be adjusted by a Torx bolt accessed from the underside of the top tube and seat tube junction.

Canyon Grail geometry

Canyon has overhauled the Grail’s geometry and says the bike “truly carves”. This is thanks to a 1-degree slackened head tube angle (71.5 degrees on Small to Large) and a 27mm longer wheelbase.

The brand says it wanted to maintain a trail value of 69mm across most sizes to keep the steering consistent.

The bike will be offered in seven sizes from 2XS to 2XL.

Canyon Grail models and availability

Canyon Grail CFR LTD

• Frame: Canyon Grail CFR
• Groupset: SRAM Red XPLR eTap AXS with Quarq Spider power meter
• Wheelset: DT Swiss GRC 1100
• Tyres: Schwalbe G-One RS, 700x40mm
• Cockpit: Canyon CP0039 Double Drop Bar with Gear Groove
• Claimed weight: 8.04kg (Medium)
• Colour: GRVL DZZL
• Price: £9,500 / $8,999 / €10,000 / AU$15,100

Canyon Grail CFR AXS

• Frame: Canyon Grail CFR
• Groupset: SRAM Red XPLR eTap AXS with Quarq Spider power meter
• Wheelset: DT Swiss GRC 1100
• Tyres: Schwalbe G-One RS, 700x40mm
• Cockpit: Canyon CP0039 Double Drop Bar with Gear Groove
• Claimed weight: 8.04kg (Medium)
• Colours: Hale Bopp, Mars Attack
• Price: £7,649 / $7,999 / €7,999 / AU$12,099

Canyon Grail CFR Di2

• Frame: Canyon Grail CFR
• Groupset: Shimano GRX Di2
• Wheelset: DT Swiss GRC 1100
• Tyres: Schwalbe G-One RS, 700x40mm
• Cockpit: Canyon CP0039 Double Drop Bar with Gear Groove
• Claimed weight: 8.3kg (Medium)
• Colours: Hale Bopp, Mars Attack
• Price: £6,699 / €6,999 / AU$10,599 (no US pricing)

Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 AXS

• Frame: Canyon Grail CF SLX
• Groupset: SRAM Force AXS
• Wheelset: Zipp 303 Firecrest
• Tyres: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC, 700x40mm
• Cockpit: Canyon CP0039 Double Drop Bar with Gear Groove
• Claimed weight: 8.14kg (Medium)
• Colour: Metal Grind, Sand Grain
• Price: £5,099 / $5,499 / €5,299 / AU$8,099

Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 Di2

• Frame: Canyon Grail CF SLX
• Groupset: Shimano GRX Di2
• Wheelset: DT Swiss GRC 1400
• Tyres: Schwalbe G-One RS, 700x40mm
• Cockpit: Canyon CP0039 Double Drop Bar with Gear Groove
• Claimed weight: 8.5kg (Medium)
• Colour: Metal Grind, Sand Grain
• Price: £4,799 / $4,999 / €4,999 / AU$7,649

Canyon Grail CF SL 8

• Frame: Canyon Grail CF SL
• Groupset: Shimano GRX 820
• Wheelset: DT Swiss G1800
• Tyres: Schwalbe G-One R, 700x40mm
• Cockpit: Canyon CP0045 Double Drop Bar
• Claimed weight: 8.74kg (Medium)
• Colour: Stone Grind, Quicksand
• Price: £2,899 / $2,999 / €2,699 / AU$4,649

Canyon Grail CF SL 7 AXS

• Frame: Canyon Grail CF SL
• Groupset: SRAM Rival XPLR eTap AXS
• Wheelset: DT Swiss Gravel LN
• Tyres: Schwalbe G-One R, 700x40mm
• Cockpit: Canyon CP0045 Double Drop Bar
• Claimed weight: 9.82kg (Medium)
• Colour: Stone Grind, Quicksand
• Price: £3,349 / $3,499 / €3,499 / AU$5,399

Canyon Grail CF SL 7

• Frame: Canyon Grail CF SL
• Groupset: Shimano GRX-620
• Wheelset: DT Swiss Gravel LN
• Tyres: Schwalbe G-One R, 700x40mm
• Cockpit: Canyon CP0045 Double Drop Bar
• Claimed weight: 9.22kg (Medium)
• Colour: Stone Grind, Quicksand
• Price: £2,599 / $2,699 / €2,699 / AU$4,199