Canyon Grizl CF 7 first ride review: a pure adventure gravel bike at a great price

Canyon’s latest Grizl takes the bike deeper into pure adventure gravel territory, with the ECLIPS system found on select models designed to take the off-road bikepacking genre to a new level.

Tyre clearance is upped to 54mm, or 2.1in, and the geometry has been tweaked for increased comfort and control when descending fully loaded off-road.

The raised top tube and seatstay junction is perhaps the most noticeable visual change to the new bike.

The reason behind this revision is practical as well creating a unique design. It increases the space inside the front triangle to eke out precious room for a frame bag and full-size bottles.

The Grizl CF 7 is priced at £2,499 / $2,899 / €2,699.

Canyon says the aluminium Grizl AL will remain in the line-up for another year, so you’ll need to wait if you’re looking for a more affordable Grizl.

• Read more: Canyon’s new Grizl features its wildest handlebar to date and 'unlimited lighting'

Canyon Grizl CF 7 frame and spec details

The frame comes with the same Fidlock LOAD mounting points seen on the latest Canyon Grail for a neat and quick way to fit a frame bag.

Frame protection can be found in all the most vulnerable places, protecting the Grizl from rock strikes and tighter tyre clearance areas. 

Many will also welcome more familiar standards; an external seat clamp, 27.2mm seatpost and even a 1 1/8in steerer tube.

Despite this, Canyon has built the frame around a press-fit bottom bracket. Canyon says this required a lot of research, testing and debating. Ultimately, the choice was made due to the increased stiffness and tyre clearance. 

The number of quality control checks to ensure the press-fit design meets Canyon's standards has been increased. Canyon also says Shimano bearings performed better in testing than the SRAM equivalent, so these will be specced where possible.

I rode the Canyon Grizl CF 7, which is described as the OG (Original Graveller) Grizl. This sits one level from the bottom of the CF range, but all bikes get the same R126 carbon frame. 

It comes with the 1x Shimano GRX 12-speed groupset. In fact, all the models in the CF Grizl range come with 1x groupsets. Canyon says this allows for the boosted 54mm or 2.1in tyre clearance, adding that 1x is “now dominant in gravel”.

I’ve recently ridden the Cannondale SuperX and Canyon Grail, which both have narrower handlebars. The SuperX has no flare to the drops either, so it feels even more narrow. 

I noticed right away that the Grizl's bar felt wider than those examples. Having got used to a narrower bar, it gave a sort of wafty, slow feeling to the bike. Halfway through the ride, though, it started to make more sense. 

This bike is about having fun, and staying comfortable and in control, so while a 440mm bar might not be the right fit for everyone, it suits this bike.

If you’re looking for outright speed, Canyon has the Grail for that. A wider bar also leaves more room between the drops for bikepacking bags, a bike computer and lights.

I really like that Canyon has specced all-season tyres. Many gravel bikes come with summer tyres to bring the weight down, but the CF 7 comes specced with the 45mm Schwalbe G-One RX. 

These tyres did a great job of dealing with the wet and muddy Girona trails I encountered and took on plenty of loose rocks on the descents.

45mm tyres aren’t a poor choice for this bike – after all, gravel bikes are supposed to be versatile, aren’t they? However, given the bike's intended purpose, I wanted to try it with the tyre clearance maxed out, even if it meant sacrificing some speed on the road.

Canyon GR30 CF wheels

Canyon has launched its own hookless carbon gravel wheels: the GR30 CF. The CF 7 Grizl I rode came equipped with them, but production models will ship with the DT Swiss Gravel LN wheelset. You'll need to upgrade to the Grizl CF 8 to get Canyon’s carbon wheels as standard.

Rim and construction

The GR30 CF rims have a 30mm depth and 27mm internal width. They're hookless, tubeless-ready, made for gravel and not rated for XC mountain biking. Canyon says the wheels are built to be simple, functional and dependable.

Weight and hub details

The wheels weigh 1,525g for the pair and Canyon has built them around the popular DT Swiss 350 hubs.

While they're not the cheapest option, the 350 hubs are known for their high quality and ease of servicing.

The use of flat DT Swiss spokes offers some aero benefits, while external nipples allow for easier adjustment.

Price and finish

The Canyon wheels took a few big hits when descending the Girona hills – one in particular sticks in my mind – and came away unscathed. Longer-term testing is needed to see how good a match they are for the Grizl’s capability.

They have typically subtle graphics and, of course, the technical specs are printed on the rim. The unidirectional carbon catches the light well and looks sharp in the sun.

The retail price of the wheelset is €1,350, but full pricing is still to come. 

Canyon Grizl CF 7 ride impressions

First impressions usually count for quite a lot, but with only one hour to ride the Grizl, it wasn't the fullest test of a bike designed for crossing continents.

However, I noticed the increased stack height and the slightly taller position, as well as the increased comfort when descending and moving the bike around in the drops. That’s not to say my lower back was pain-free throughout the whole ride, but it was noticeably less so compared to the lower, more race-focused Cannondale SuperX.

Descending

This bike is not afraid of steep, rocky descents – even if I might be. The combination of the very slightly slacker head tube (71 degrees), longer wheelbase and bar, plus all-season tyres, makes for a fun and stable bike when heading downhill.

The Canyon S15 VCLS 2.0 seatpost is a favourite among BikeRadar testers, and while it’s hard to feel the difference without back-to-back testing, it’s great to have it specced on all models in the CF range. It should take the sting out of the trail over longer distances.

Climbing

This model weighs 9.7kg without pedals or bottles, but with Canyon’s own carbon wheels. There are plenty of heavier gravel bikes out there, but if weight is more of a concern to you, the Grizl probably isn’t your best option.

The press-fit bottom bracket and carbon frame provide a stable climbing platform. It might take a little more time to conquer a hill, but knowing you have a bike that’ll eat up the descent makes it worth pushing on. 

I reached the 45-tooth rear sprocket regularly, though. I’d argue the ESCAPE models in the CF range would better suit riders who enjoy regular off-road bikepacking trips because those bikes get larger mountain bike cassettes.

Canyon Grizl CF 7 initial verdict

At £2,499 / $2,899 / €2,699, the Canyon Grizl CF 7 packs a lot of punch for the price. The practical improvements have been focused squarely at the adventure-driven cyclist, while maintaining versatility. The fact there's only a 1x option won’t suit every rider, though.

Rolling back to familiar standards such as an external seatpost clamp and a 1 1/18in steerer, plus the increased tyre clearance and more relaxed geometry, pushes the Grizl further away from Canyon’s other gravel bike, the Grail.

The in-frame Fidlock mounting system complements the semi-integrated cable routing well and creates a clean silhouette. 

The ECLIPS system found on the ESCAPE version of the Grizl is a deep dive into the specific requirements of ultra-distance riders. 

We’ve seen many gravel racers make use of the original Grizl’s tyre clearance over the Grail, but I think the relaxed geometry on the new model may mean we see it used less at the pointy end of gravel racing.