Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 Di2
£4,799 Simplified and speedy race machine
Weight 8.5kg (L) Frame Carbon Fork Carbon Gears Shimano GRX Di2 RX815 2x11 (48/31t, 11-34t) Brakes Shimano GRX RX815 Gravel, 160mm rotors Wheels DT Swiss GRC1400 Spline Finishing kit Canyon SP0072 carbon seatpost, Fizik Vento Argo X3 saddle, Canyon Cockpit CP0039 bar/stem, Schwalbe G-One RS Evo 40mm tyres, Canyon FIX Minitool 6+1
Canyon’s original Grail was quite a divisive design with its low head-tube paired with the double-decker shape of the ‘Hover’ handlebar. The new Grail cuts out the extraneous flourishes and simplifies the design, loses a little weight, and pays more than just lip service to improved aerodynamics. The frame, fork and cockpit offer fully integrated cable routing, with the brake hoses routing through the dedicated ‘Double Drop’ cockpit, while this latest Grail has a new D-shaped seatpost that’s lighter and more aerodynamic.
The CF SLX frameset here is the second-tier model, below the CFR. At 933g (claimed, size Medium) it’s a very light frame (the CFR is 855g) and comes with twin bottle bosses, top-tube mounts plus under down-tube bottle bosses. It lacks standard mudguard mounts, though, but you can buy Canyon’s dedicated quickrelease fenders. Canyon also sells ‘fork sleeves’, for attaching cages to the legs. Another nifty storage solution is the FidLock frame bag that locks into place via magnets inside the frame. Included for free is down-tube storage (and mini-tool), big enough for tools, tube and mini pump. The one-piece bar/stem follows this integrated approach with a slotted channel for mounting a GPS, phone, lights or even aero bars, via inserts.
Optimised geometry
The Grail is a proven gravel race bike, but Canyon sees this version as a versatile bike with progressive geometry. The head angle is a degree slacker at 71.5° while the seat angle’s still a steep 73.5°. My Large test bike had a sporty 613mm stack and a very long 427mm reach that’s countered by the effective 70mm stem length. The added tyre clearance (42mm) extends the wheelbase to 1,080mm, though the 425mm chainstays mean the back end can still respond swiftly.