Price range: £2,399 - £6,199 | Model tested: £5,099 | Weight: 7.92kg Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 Di2
The Canyon Grail first launched back in 2018, and it’s hard to forget those crazy double decker handlebars – which are still resolutely part of the package. Out on the trails, the Grail was an absolute bundle of laughs. The platform uses the same head angle and BB drop as its burlier big brother, the Grizl, but the Grail’s wheelbase is a good 16mm shorter – the majority coming off the rear end.
The result is a composed front end with a reassuring degree of control, but with more than a dash of agile manoeuvrability at the rear. You particularly feel the difference when twisting through tight singletrack trails: with the rear axle tucked further underneath you, it’s easier to push the bike around the corners with your hips.
On wide and open doubletrack, the Grail remains stable, yet rapid – great for long-distance epics with double-digit hours in the saddle, as well as any tarmacked sections.
That said, the Grail’s tyre clearance does put a limit on the range of riding open to you.
Whereas some models on test can fit in tyres as wide as 53mm (2.1in), the Canyon Grail is limited to just 42mm, giving it a significant ‘all-road’ bent.
Then there’s the handlebar. The idea was to provide greater vibration dampening when your hands are resting on the tops. This strikes as a little odd, given that generally when you’re on rougher sections of trail, you’ll be holding the hoods or the drops for greater stability.
The ‘Hover Bars’ aren’t compatible with standard aero bars and you can’t swap in a different handlebar shape/flare. But the biggest downside is that the supporting strut gets in the way of your thumbs when transitioning to the drops, making it a faff every time...
So, despite the excellent handling, the very comfortable suspension seatpost and the accessibility of its pricing, it’s hard to recommend the Grail outright because of those handlebars. I can say, though, that it’s definitely worth a test ride.
“It remains stable yet rapid on doubletrack”