Need a new e-gravel ride? Canyon has just launched the Grizl:ON. It’s not the brand’s first electric gravel bike, but it is their first with suspension forks and a whole load of other tech, all of which makes it a pretty cool looking option. Does it have enough to compete with the best electric gravel bikes on the market at the moment? From what we've seen, it’s looking pretty promising.

Bosch SX

Mid-drive motors are often the preferred choice on electric gravel bikes, for the same reasons as they are on electric mountain bikes: they typically offer more power at slower speeds. And the choice of the Bosch SX motor is undoubtedly a careful one – as it is lightweight (just 2kg) without compromising too much on overall power.

Canyon’s Grail:ON e-gravel bike used a ‘full-fat’ mid-drive motor in the Bosch Performance Line range. So while the SX may compromise a little bit of top-end torque (55Nm for the SX) and power, its lower weight and smaller size means the brand can afford to use slightly heavier components (like suspension forks) elsewhere without affecting the bike's handling or agility. The Grizl:ON also uses a 400Wh battery with the option of adding a 250Wh range extender.
 

Components

New tech for the Grizl:ON includes the lighting system, the rear of which sits in the seat stays. The idea is you can still run rear lights and have some visibility even if you’ve got rear panniers.

On the front, the Grizl:ON sports a Lupine Nano SL headlight – these lights are all powered by the battery and apparently will run for “two hours even after the motor runs out of juice.”

There are a few different models of the Grizl:ON, each sort of tailored to the desired application. By this we mean the ‘CF Trail’ is best suited for trail, as it comes with a dropper post, whereas the ‘Daily’ comes with mudguards and is more suited to commuting or “micro-touring” - which we assume means ‘a rather long ride’.

All CF (carbon fibre) models run RockShox Rudy forks, the integrated lights, DT Swiss Wheels with Schwalbe tyres, and Fizik Argo Terra X5 saddles. The actual specification of groupsets and accessories like mudguards etc depends on the model.

Five sizes are available, from XS to XL, which Canyon says caters to riders 166cm to 194cm, which doesn’t bode well for the shorter riders. Prices start from £4,799 for the Grizl:ON CF 7, and rise to £7,649 for the Grizl:ON CF Trail.

The Grizl:ON is available to order from the Canyon website now.