With the Canyon Grail AL 7.0, the direct to consumer brand offer and attractive aluminium model to round out their gravel portfolio. Does the Grail AL grab attention only because of its low € 1,499 price, or does its performance also shine?
Click here for an overview of the best gravel bike 2020 group test.
After our first test of the Canyon Grail AL, which also cuts a good figure in bikepacking – go here for our detailed Bikepacking 101 – our testers were so enthralled by its performance that we decided it had to appear in direct comparison with other gravel bikes in our “who’s who” group test. The clean 6061 aluminium frame is adorned with numerous mounting points and matched to a carbon fork. Examine the frame more closely and you’ll likely notice some differences in welding. While the seams at the headtube and seat cluster are smoothed and rounded out, the remaining welds are a little more ‘rustic’. That’s a compromise you have to accept at this price-point and while functionally there is no difference, many would no doubt prefer the look of the more labour-intensive smoothed out seams. For this gravel bike, Canyon rely on a standard cockpit instead of the highly polarising Hover Bar concept of the high-end Grail CF. Here, you’ll get an 80 mm Canyon V13 stem and 440 mm Canyon Gravel HB50 bars. Along with DT Swiss C1850 SPLINE DB wheels, Canyons specs a complete Shimano 105 R7000 groupset with a 50/34 t compact crankset and 11-34 t cassette. At 9.46 kg in size M, the Grail AL sits ahead of the Specialized Turbo Crea and Kona Libre AL, but is still one of the heavier bikes in our test. That said, it also only costs € 1,499. Canyon offers sizes from XXS to XXL, with individual models ranging in price from € 1,199 to € 1,599. We feel it’s worth highlighting both the complete 105 groupset and that the XXS and XS are specced with 650B wheels to maintain consistent performance and handling for shorter gravel fans.
The Canyon Grail AL 7 in detail
Drivetrain Shimano 105 R7000
Gearing 50/34 t and 11-34 t, 2×11
Brakes Shimano 105 R7000 hydraulic, 160/160 mm
Handlebar Canyon Gravel HB50, 440 mm
Stem Canyon V13, 80 mm
Seatpost Canyon SP 43, 20 mm offset
Wheels DT Swiss C 1850 SPLINE DB
Tires Schwalbe G-One Bite TLE 700 x 40C
Size | 2XS | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seat tube | 432 mm | 462 mm | 492 mm | 522 mm | 552 mm | 582 mm | 612 mm |
Top tube | 516 mm | 531 mm | 555 mm | 577 mm | 591 mm | 613 mm | 631 mm |
Head tube | 117 mm | 133 mm | 124 mm | 143 mm | 169 mm | 190 mm | 209 mm |
Head angle | 70.0° | 71.0° | 70.3° | 72.3° | 72.5° | 73.5° | 71.5° |
Seat angle | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.5° | 73.5° |
Chainstays | 415 mm | 415 mm | 430 mm | 430 mm | 430 mm | 430 mm | 430 mm |
Wheelbase | 984 mm | 990 mm | 1,027 mm | 1,035 mm | 1,047 mm | 1,070 mm | 1,085 mm |
Reach | 384 mm | 373 mm | 390 mm | 405 mm | 412 mm | 431 mm | 440 mm |
Stack | 514 mm | 533 mm | 556 mm | 579 mm | 605 mm | 626 mm | 644 mm |
The Canyon Grail AL 7 in review
While accelerating the Canyon reacts quickly but can’t quite keep up with the spritely nature of many other bikes in the group test. Once up to speed, its high rotational inertia means you can maintain your momentum easily on the flats. However, going uphill the comparatively high weight and large chainrings become more of a drawback, with a lot of power needed to keep the cranks turning. The compact and relaxed riding position is great for longer rides, while the compliance of the carbon seatpost, carbon fork and Schwalbe G-One Bite TLE tires provide most of the comfort of the ride.
If you have enough strength to keep the cranks spinning on steep ascents, you’ll find everything you need for gravel adventures right here.
While the carbon fork offers compliance up front, the rear is a little stiffer. That said, with a bit of seatpost exposed, the overall level of comfort is more than acceptable. In contrast, the handling of the Grail AL fully convinced us with its stable and well-balanced agility on all terrains. It reacts in a lively manner to direction changes and offers a confidence inspiring ride at all speeds. Thanks to the plethora of mounting points, you’ll be able to fit three bottle cages, mudguards and a rear rack.
Conclusion
The Grail AL is a versatile gravel bike that scores highly thanks to its balanced handling and very stable ride. The comparatively sedate acceleration is more than made up for by the versatility of the frameset and the comfortable, long-distance riding position. For gravel beginners, this reliable package offers excellent value for money and a ride that will be just as fun on the occasional gravel excursion as a multi-day bikepacking tour. Our Best Value tip for 2020!
Tops
- balanced handling
- calm and stable ride
- numerous mounting points for accessories
Flops
- compact cranks require a lot of power on steep ramps
- comparatively sluggish acceleration
Riding Characteristics
4Agility
- cumbersome
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- confident
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Fun factor
- boring
- lively
Value for money
- terrible
- very good
For more info: canyon.com
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article:
Alle Bikes im Test: Argon 18 Dark Matter | Cannondale Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX | Canyon Grail AL 7.0 | Cervélo Áspero | Giant Revolt Advanced Pro Force | Kona Libre AL | Liteville 4-ONE MK1 | OPEN WI.DE. | Pivot Vault Team Force | ROSE BACKROAD GRX RX810 Di2 | Santa Cruz Stigmata CC | Specialized Turbo Creo SL Expert EVO | Standert Pfadfinder | Trek Domane SLR 9 eTap
No, it’s not about perfect race tracks, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along high-speed passages need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret “Smooth tarmac” bikes as follows: Hard efforts at high speeds with a maximum efficient bike on a consistently well-paved road. Effort-joy ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
… also known as bike riding. Broken-up roads in the hinterland, deadlocked gravel roads, loose surfaces – sometimes muddy, sometimes bone-dry. For this, it takes bikes with super all-round, handling and wearing qualities uphill and downhill. Effort-joy ratio: 50:50↩
If you want to use your bike almost every day, you usually do not need an extremely tuned racing machine. Solid components, which are able to cope with the rigours of continuous usage in any kind of weather, are part of the basic equipment. At the same time, the bike should have practicable details: integrated fenders/assembly options, luggage racks/attachment points and a light system or at least the option of installing bike lights. The position on the bike should be rather relaxed, the overall comfort high, so that the Afterwork Ride becomes a cure and not a curse. Effort-joy ratio: 30:70↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩
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Words: Photos: GRAN FONDO-Team