“Adventure Calls” – Canyon Bikes
“Looking for a top-end gravel bike that’s ready to set KOMs, win races, and deliver the goods on your winter training rides? Then the Grizl CF SLX 8 eTap Suspension, designed and trimmed for all-out performance, just might be the ideal gravel bike for you.”
The variant of the Canyon Grizl seen in the review below is a media example and deviates a little from the Grizl CF SLX 8 eTap Suspension referred to above. Differences include the wheelsets featured in this video, the RockShox Reverb AXS XPLR Seatpost, and the SRAM Red XPLR groupset.
Canyon Grizl with RockShox Rudy Review
- Canyon Bikes – https://canyon.com
- SRAM – https://sram.com
- RockShox – https://rockshox.com
- Zipp – https://zipp.com
In this video, JOM of the Gravel Cyclist crew runs the Canyon Grizl with Rockshox Rudy Suspension Fork, and Reverb AXS XPLR Dropper Seatpost through its paces for almost three months. The bike was ridden extensively in Northern California at Mt Tamalpais and beyond, the 2021 Big Sugar Gravel in Bentonville, Arkansas, a pre-ride of the Mammoth Tuff event in Mammoth Lakes, California, and a lot more.
Continued from Above:
Bike / Fork Features
- 50mm of tire clearance for 700C wheels (45 mm with fenders. “For this, we had to push the boundaries in many areas, like with the dropped drive-side chainstay. It is extremely thin while still providing structural support and internal cable routing.”
- RockShox Rudy Ultimate Suspension Fork. “The latest RockShox Rudy Gravel Fork has 30mm of travel, 50mm of tire clearance with 700c wheels, and is compatible with full-length mudguards. The Ultimate version features a lightweight Charger Race Day cartridge, and has excellent sensitivity thanks to the Maxima Plus damping fluid, proven in the world of mountain biking.”
In-Depth Rudy Ultimate XPLR Features
- Purpose-built and laser-focused on gravel and e-gravel bikes.
- 30mm upper tubes are light and look the part.
- 30mm and 40mm travel options.
- Charger Race Day damper tuned for gravel needs with rock-solid lockout and a full range of rebound adjust.
- Solo Air™ spring perfectly tuned for shorter travel and efficiency over bumps.
- Short fender compatibility with a 3-bolt system.
- Full fender compatibility with custom stealth stay bosses.
- Lightweight machined and anodized crown offers a premium and durable finish.
- Maxima Plush damping fluid reduces friction and silences damper noise.
- Up to 700×50 tire clearance.
- Available in new Kwiqsand Signature colorway or Gloss Black.
- E-bike approved.
- Flat-Mount brake, maximum rotor size of 180mm.
Rockshox Reverb AXS XPLR Dropper Seatpost
“The new Reverb AXS XPLR dropper post delivers more control, confidence, and fun on gravel roads everywhere. Getting the saddle out of the way means more room to move, saving you from awkward maneuvering and sketchy descents. We created an all-new design complete with lightweight air-only internals featuring built-in compliance we call ActiveRide™. It’s like travel for your saddle. Enabled by SRAM AXS technology, Reverb AXS XPLR is part of the ultimate personalized cockpit.”
In-Depth Rockshox Reverb AXS XPLR Dropper Seatpost Features
- New 27.2mm Reverb AXS XPLR delivers more control, confidence, and fun for gravel.
- ActiveRide – Air-only internals provide a fully rigid top-out position. With the touch of your AXS controller, you’ve got built-in compliance to ensure comfort and control over the roughest sections of gravel.
- Two travel options to choose – 50mm or 75mm.
- Saddle clamp options are compatible with 7×10 oval carbon rails.
- Seat post length includes 400mm and 350mm (50mm drop only).
- AXS Technology allows rider customization via the AXS Mobile App.
- AXS handlebar controls (drop or flat bar).
- Shared battery with all other SRAM AXS enabled components.
- The system is completely waterproof and dustproof to IP69K – take it anywhere.
Additional Photos
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Links of Interest:
- SRAM/Zipp/Rockshox launch XPLR Collection (“Explore”)
- 2021 Big Sugar Gravel Ride Experience
- Mt. Tamalpais Ride Experience
- Occidental, California / Old Caz Ride Experience
- How to Descend on a Gravel Bike
- Mammoth Tuff Pre-Ride Experience
- Berd Spoke GVX 22 Wheelset Review
- Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M Tire Review
- IRC Boken Gravel Tire Review
- EVOC Road Bike Bag Pro Case Review
- Zipp 303 S Wheelset Review
- Dib Sports – https://dibsports.com
- The Gravel Ride Podcast – https://thegravelride.bike/
- Gravel Cyclist’s Route Library
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Re suspension stems and “brake dive”: FWIW, I used both the Girvin Flexstem and Softride Suspension Stem back in the 90s, and have a Redshift Shockstop stem now.
The Girvin was IMHO horrible, and suffered from excessive (and scary) dive/downward bar rotation on drop offs, plus the elastomers split sometimes and the main pivot bolt came loose on one occasion – definitely not recommended.
The SRS was completely different. The bars could not pivot due to the parallelogram design, there was a lot more travel, but shorter lengths than 120mm did not exist and the (many) pivot bushings could wear; our shop stocked a spares kit. They worked well in the longer lengths then current on MTBs.
The Shockstop stem is sort of like a massively better engineered, better looking, lighter and updated Girvin stem, but not. The only real similarities IME are the single pivot design and elastomers. The travel is less (~30mm, not IIRC 40-50mm), and there has been no discernible bar rotation for me, or any scary twisting, etc. The stem is unobtrusive most of the time, but can move slightly when out of the saddle. However, the difference in small bump absorption versus a rigid carbon fork is immediately noticeable, and IMO welcome. If you do want to be able to carry stuff on your rigid fork, it helps reduce shocks usefully, plus there’s basically no maintenance, and <100g of weight added.
Of course, all this stuff is "horses for courses" but *for me* the Shockstop stem is a good thing. YMMV.
The Di2 purple one just became available this morning. There were 2 left when I put it in my shopping cart. Then I remembered your comments about the geometry. You saved me $5K+
Thanks!
I really don’t need a second, ill-fitting copy of my bike, but it sure looks tempting.
Thank you for the detailed review!
I am wondering if you could spare a few words about how the RockShox Rudy compares with the Lefty Oliver?
I have both the Redshift Shockstop seatpost and stem (albeit on my touring bike), and am extremely impressed with both. In a direct comparison, I found the Redshift stem to be much more well-behaved and pleasant to ride with than a Lauf fork.
Anything but the Lauf fork, an abomination, and a pogo stick with no rebound control.