Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 1by review

Big volume comfort for bikepacking adventures

Grizl CF SL 8 1by
(Image credit: Future)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

Although the Grizl might not completely cash the cheques of burliness and bikepacking that it has been writing, it was still a lot of fun to ride and can be taken down technical trails or loaded up for bikepacking. In this exact configuration, it’s not the absolutely perfect tool for either job, but it’s certainly not far off the mark and you do get a great spec of quality components to go with it.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Large tyre clearance

  • +

    Good range of bikepacking mounts

  • +

    Quality wheels and groupset

  • +

    Front suspension ready

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Gearing is a little steep for carrying loads

  • -

    Long chainstays are at odds with its burly build

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

The Canyon Grizl was launched earlier this year to fill what Canyon saw as a gap in its gravel bike line up. The brand’s original gravel bike – the Grail – had notably narrow tyre clearances (maxing out at 42mm), which confined the bike to tamer terrain.

The German brand didn’t see this challenge so much as the Grail requiring an update, but rather a new bike needing to be introduced. Viewing gravel as a spectrum, Canyon felt that there was space for something a little more rugged than the existing Grail.

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