Canyon’s radical Grail design, with its angular body and distinctive bi-aircraft model cockpit, was divisive when it launched as a gravel bike. The electrified Grail:ON model, nevertheless, seems to be like a way more full machine.
The sculpted body and built-in cockpit stability effectively with the outsized down tube, which hides the 500Wh PowerTube battery, whereas the outsized backside bracket with its Gen 4 Bosch motor makes for a muscular, futuristic electrical gravel bike.
Canyon Grail:ON CF 7 specs and particulars
This CF 7 construct could be very effectively thought out. Aside from the vastly highly effective motor, you get Fizik’s wonderful Argo saddle sitting atop the cushioning consolation of the leaf-sprung VCLS seatpost.
The bike rolls on DT Swiss’ hardy HG1800 alloy gravel bike wheels. Smartly, Canyon makes use of smaller 650b wheels on the additional-small and small sizes, shifting as much as 700c wheels on the medium-sized bike and above.
Up-front is maybe probably the most contentious a part of the Grail design: the Biplane CP07 cockpit. This setup has a decrease bar feeding into the built-in stem, anchoring mid-approach on the hook of the drops, whereas the upper wing is designed to flex within the centre.
I fairly just like the aesthetics of the bar on the Grail:ON, way more than I did on the non-assisted Canyon Grail CF SL 8.0 eTap.
However, I do have some points with the bar’s usability.
The offset wings make it exhausting to suit a bar bag simply and mounting a motorcycle laptop is slightly awkward too.
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Yes, the bar does supply flex within the centre of the highest wing, which is okay for once you’re cruising alongside spinning. However, it feels similar to another bar when driving on the hoods or the drops, solely slightly extra awkward.
Initially, I assumed Canyon’s use of the easy Purion head unit was a little bit of a value-chopping measure when it might have used Bosch’s good Kiox head unit and distant management, as on Cannnodale’s Topstone Neo Lefty. However, that may have been a problem to suit to this bar setup.
The Purion, with its left-sided buttons, mounted on the far left of the decrease bar, is inside simple attain of your thumb when driving on the hoods or drops.
The show affords easy data, displaying present energy mode and battery stage. On the underside edge is a Walk+ button. Activate this once you’re wheeling the bike and it’ll give slightly help – helpful in the event you’re pushing up a steep slope.
Canyon Grail:ON CF 7 trip impressions
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Putting apart the Grail:ON’s opinion-dividing seems to be, what I completely love in regards to the CF 7 is simply how nice it rides when the going will get tough. The 50mm Schwalbe G-One Bites roll surprisingly briskly on tarmac and excel on filth and shale.
I used to be additionally impressed with the bolder tread sample that provides actual cornering confidence in damper situations too.
The bike’s consolation ranges are nice, particularly on the again finish, the place the good form of the Argo saddle and compliant put up mix to remove vibrations, jolts and jarring.
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It is, nevertheless, once you mix these components with the punch of the Bosch motor that issues get actually spectacular and satisfying.
Through the 4 easy settings: Eco, Tour, Sport and Turbo, the motor injects help from a delicate push within the again by means of to a brutal punch that provides you the potential to ascend steep off-street climbs that merely wouldn’t be potential on a normal non-assisted gravel bike.
The Eco setting gives the bottom help stage however the highest potential vary (based on Bosch’s personal vary calculator, round 88 miles).
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At the opposite finish of the size, Turbo mode serves up energy far past its nominal 250w ranking, however this shortens vary to beneath 30 miles.
If you’re trying to get as a lot vary as potential, Turbo ought to solely be used sparingly… irrespective of how a lot enjoyable it’s.
As with all the greatest electrical bikes, the electrical motor solely engages once you pedal and – extra importantly – it can cease aiding at 15.5mph based on the present legislation for ebikes (although the EU legislation permits for a ten per cent margin, in order that might be as excessive as 17.5mph).
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Ultimately, the Grail:ON’s energy supply is spectacular and it integrates the Bosch system in addition to any ebike I’ve ridden. The vary actually impressed too: I maxed out the CF 7 at greatest with 88.25m/142km, taking in 3,018.3ft/920m on a check trip that included fewer than 5 miles/8km of tarmac.
The Grail:ON is one more shining instance of why electrical gravel bikes make a lot sense. The support to grip afforded by the addition of energy means you may keep seated on steep low-traction climbs, and makes for the potential to tackle a gravel bike route you’d should bypass on a non-powered bike.
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Canyon Grail:ON CF 7 geometry
Canyon Grail:ON CF 7 backside line
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The greatest motive for selecting the CF 7 is that it’s simply an enormous quantity of enjoyable to trip.
Any bike that places a smile in your face the second you get on board and has the potential to maintain you smiling all day is a winner in my ebook, and I wholeheartedly suggest the Grail:ON.