Canyon Grail CF SLX 8 AXS review: A gravel race bike that can do it all

The Grail is Canyon’s gravel race machine. It's a bike that received a major overhaul back in October 2023, an update that saw the bike undergo a few changes and crucially lose the Canyon Hoverbar, a double-decker-style bar which was polarising for many riders. At the time it was probably what most riders thought of when to came to the Grail.

The Canyon gravel bikes are split between adventure and performance and the V2 Grail sits in the latter category. Available in three tiers of models, the top-level CFR bikes are some of the best gravel race bikes and have been ridden to at least two world gravel titles, Unbound Gravel wins, and a host of other big race results. Mathieu van der Poel raced his Grail CFR to the world gravel title back in October last year. 

I’ve been testing the middle-tier Grail CF SLX 8 AXS model this winter, the CF SLX bikes use a slightly lower grade of carbon fibre than the CFR models, and cost a good chunk of cash less, but still get a very competitive spec.

The price for my CF SLX 8 AXS test model is £4,499 / $5,299 / €4,899, a competitive price point for the best gravel bikes. There are also two other slightly more expensive CF SLX options with 2x Shimano GRX Di2 and DT Swiss carbon wheels to choose from.  I've had a month to test the Grail and have logged plenty of test hours off-road and on it in the UK, where conditions are still largely cold, wet and muddy. 

Design and Aesthetics 

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My test bike arrived in the 'Rock Bliss' paint scheme you see in the pictures. It's a gloss/matte purple/black mix that looks good. The gloss and matte mix creates a contrast, but the matte paint will need care if the bike regularly gets mucky or needs cleaning. Overall, with the integrated handlebar and deep-section Zipp wheels, the Grail looks racey and inviting to ride. I was keen to get it set up and get out on it. 

The SLX 8 AXS comes with a pretty big spec for the money, the carbon fibre SLX frame, which stands for ‘super light extreme’ is mechanical or electronic groupset friendly and is fitted with a Canyon finishing kit. Specifically, the integrated Canyon CP0039 handlebar which has a 16-degree flare at the drops, and a five-degree back sweep, and the SPOO72 seatpost. The handlebars also allow brake hoses to be run externally and route in via the headset-bearing top cap which makes things a bit more easy to live with. If you purchased a bike and really wanted to run a different bar, you could swap it out for something different. 

Groupset-wise, the clue is in the model name, there’s an SRAM Force AXS 1x groupset, specced with a 12-speed 10-44 cassette and 42T chainring and 160mm disc rotors front and rear. 

Wheels are the Zipp 303 Firecrest hookless models with a 25mm internal width. They are fitted with Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RC tyres in a 40mm size, though frame clearance is 42mm with a double chainset, you could probably fit bigger rubber than this depending on the tyres, though make sure you check the Zipp compatible list when it comes to tyres. 

Things are finished off with grippy Canyon handlebar tape, a Fizik Vento Argo X3 saddle, and there’s also built-in downtube frame storage, a door just above the down tube bottle cages gives access and the bike comes with a small Canyon FIX mini-tool which clips neatly into the back of the door, there's also a clip to fit a minipump to the rear of the door.  

Like all Canyon bikes, the bike ships with a small amount of assembly paste and a basic torque wrench to aid home assembly. 

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A Fidlock magnetic frame storage bag can also be fitted to the frame's front triangle, just behind the head tube. Canyon claims it improves aerodynamics by 1.5 watts, but I don't have the specifics beyond that. A similar option is available on the Ridley Astra RS gravel race bike. I've been riding with an ass saver to keep the major spray off at the rear, but Canyon also designed the Defend fenders for the Grail, an attractive proposition for winter riding on the road or off it. It's heartening to know you can fit decent-length fenders if you wish.

Geometry-wise, my size small bike (I'm 176cm for reference) has a stack number of 573mm and a reach number of 385mm. The wheelbase is 1034mm and the seat tube angle is 73.5 degrees.

The Specialized Crux is a popular gravel bike, and we have seen it a lot at various races lately. I rode one last year to test the SRAM Red XPLR groupset. For some context, a size 54 Crux has a 13mm lower stack than the Grail and a 6mm longer reach. The seat tube angle is also half a degree slacker on the Grail which has a 70mm stem / 42 width bar fitted as stock to the size small bike.  

I've been comfortable on both bikes, but these Canyon numbers reinforce my opinion that Canyon geometry tends to be pretty user-friendly and easy to get on with. The Grail strikes a balance between racey when you need it, but relaxed enough that you can chuck it down some descents or tackle more testing technical terrain with confidence. You will of course need to do your homework if you are considering buying but if you want to do a bit of everything, you'll be well pleased. Racers, you may need to check the geometry and stock bar/stem numbers work for you. 

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Performance 

I’ve been impressed with the Grail’s performance from the off. As the headline of this review suggests, it’s a very quick bike that is adept across the board. It strikes an excellent balance between comfort, speed and versatility. 

I’ve got stuck into a range of riding on the bike, from pure road rides, lighter, fine and dry gravel (as much as you can find in the UK in January) to rocky, muddy technical descents and the bike hasn’t missed a beat, it’s tackled everything without breaking a sweat and also serving as a timely reminder of just how good gravel bikes are now. 

This is a performance gravel machine and the bike does indeed feel fast on nearly all terrains. It's nimble and exciting to ride, I've found it easy to change direction when doing things like climbing out of the saddle and the Grail responds instantly to increases in power and effort. On the road or on quicker sections, it doesn't feel a million miles away from a road bike, (I suppose it's not) and the quicker wheels play their part in this.

The bike is well-specced, and I don’t see any chinks in the armour componentry wise. The inclusion of the 303 Firecrest wheels is great and I don't think the bike would feel as fast without them, I’m glad Canyon could spec them and not an alloy pair.

Mounted to the wheels are a Pirelli Cinturato RC tyres and I have really taken to them. I’ve done road rides on the Grail on my usual one-hour test loop and they roll well on the tarmac, but the side knobs however provide fantastic grip and traction, especially on muddy off-camber turns and technical sections, aiding off-road cornering in general. 

I’ve really felt them dig in and grip in places and they have given me confidence. For the UK, especially winter in the UK where a lot of gravel sections are often covered in leaves and mud, they are a great all-around option for doing everything and a good choice by Canyon in my opinion. They gave me far more grip off-road than the Vittoria Terreno Dry models I was riding this time last year on the Eddy Merckx Strasbourg. If this was my own bike, for riding at home, I think I would run them year-round.

What is perhaps worth bearing in mind is that, by current standards, a 42c max tyre clearance is a little skinny. Our own lab testing has proved that wider gravel tyres are faster, at least in terms of rolling resistance, and provide more comfort and grip. I didn't really find it limiting, but with the way the industry is heading, with gravel racers now frequently running tyres over 2" wide, it may hold you back in the future. 

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I've tackled plenty of rough, rocky and rutted descents on the Grail, there’s plenty of feedback on rougher terrain through the one-piece carbon handlebar, and if you prioritise comfort from your off-road and gravel riding and bikes this is the point where an alternate option or more comfortable setup might be more attractive long term. 

I’m coming at things from a road perspective mainly and can live with a good bit of feedback and chatter on rougher stuff, it’s just part of off-road riding for me. I don’t consider this a harsh bike, and it hasn’t beaten me up. I’m just trying to help if you are considering making a purchase and are possibly looking at the Grail and or Grizl which can be purchased with a suspension fork and separate stem and bar combo which would dampen the front-end chatter.  

Talking of rough descents, the Canyon Sideloader bottle cages work well and grip bottles tightly if you're shopping for cages. I've used them to ride the Paris Roubaix Challenge and had no issues with bottles rattling free, they also provide good security for gravel riding. 

Performance from the Force AXS groupset has been strong and dependable and the 160mm discs have provided me with ample stopping power. The 42 tooth chainring has worked well for me, but if you're doing lots of longer, steep climbs you may wish for a smaller front ring, something that's easy to swap out. I found myself grinding a bit on longer, steep gravel climbs. 

There have been no problems with the bike during my testing. Everything is easy to adjust and most bolts are clearly marked with a torque rating. I set and torqued the bike's headset assembly out of the box but the Grail's headset fork expander isn't the biggest or burliest on the market and my headset did develop some play during testing, it's easy to adjust out but I would check this area regularly if it were my own bike. 

Maintenance and servicing 

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As an ex-mechanic, I'm well placed to give you an idea of potential servicing costs, things to look out for and stay on top of and any other little foibles a bike may have. 

First off, replacement drivetrain parts for the Grail shouldn't be too expensive if you look after it. The Sram Force XPLR cassette is the priciest drivetrain component so stay on top of chain wear and cleaning, like any bike. 

Most of my rides on the Grail have involved me hosing the mud off it after, and at times I haven't held back. Gravel bikes are subject to more dust and mud compared to other bikes, making the ease of servicing more relevant. 

In the wheel department, you can pull off the wheel's hub end caps by hand and at the least dry and clean any moisture and mud present to protect the bearings. The freehub body also pulls off by hand without tools if you want to go further to clean and lubricate the freehub pawls and dry off any moisture, spot the water droplets in my picture after washing. 

You can access the headset assembly and bearings easily enough and the semi-integrated cable setup helps this, at the least, you will be able to dry, clean and regrease headset bearings easily or if you're taking it to a shop, the mechanics won't have a hard time doing the job.

This bike also comes with a rubber grommet on the rear of the bottom bracket shell which would allow for mechanical gear cable routing, make sure this stays put. I left it off for a ride or two and a lot of mud entered through this hole, covering the chainset axle. You can order it as a spare along with all other spare parts from Canyon, however.  

I would also suggest being mindful of the mixed gloss and matte paint on the frame, be as gentle as you can when cleaning the matte parts especially if they need some extra cleaning. Scrubbing away at matte paint will turn it shiny over time and it won't look as good. Let soap and water do a lot of the work for you and dry with a microfibre cloth and or matte-specific detailer.

Value 

Overall, this bike represents a good value buy, as is often the case with Canyon bikes. There isn't a concession anywhere in the specs; it's pretty rock solid. You could also use the Zipp wheels on a road bike, and they would be at home there with the right tyres, should you wish. 

It's cheaper by a good few hundred euros than the Eddy Merckx Strasbourg carbon model I reviewed around a year ago. Although you can mix and match specs with the Ridley custom configurator. 

As mentioned the Specialized Crux is another popular gravel race bike, the Expert model comes in at $4,999 and gets an SRAM Rival groupset to the Grail's higher spec Force but does have Roval Terra carbon wheels. Giant has a similarly specced bike in the Revolt Advanced Pro that comes in at $5,500 but again it has a Rival groupset to the Grail's Force. 

At checkout, there is scope to order plenty of extra accessories for the bike like fenders, and frame bags, and there’s a storage bundle you can order with a 10% discount. The only accessory the bike comes with the bike is the FIX multi-tool in the storage compartment door. I'm willing to bet most riders will have some spares to carry already in a saddle bag or jersey pockets so it's not the end of the world. 

That’s ok by me, plenty of bikes don’t come with a load of included accessories. What I’m not so keen on is the failure to include the Canyon Gear Groove handlebar computer mount which is $40. It’s the only computer mount that will fit the integrated bar neatly. Short of mounting your computer with rubber O rings there isn’t much other choice for a clean system, so it would be a lot better if Canyon included this proprietary mount with the bike. 

Verdict 

I really like the Canyon Grail. It's a fast bike, and if you're looking at one for gravel racing or performance riding, it's going to fit the bill. There's even a bit more to be squeezed out of it: You could fit quicker tyres, a 1x aero chainring, etc. 

It's also been excellent everywhere else for me. It's stable and adept in technical terrain, confidence-inspiring, and just downright fun. Short of actual mountain biking, I could do everything on it, turn up at the occasional race, or even road ride with road tyres fitted. I also like the fact it's easy enough to live with and maintain, an important point for an off-road bike. 

Canyon says 'Rapid where you want it, rugged where you need it' and I completely agree with that tagline for the bike. It's put a grin on my face whenever I've ridden it.