Canyon’s Third-Generation Grail Boosts Tyre Clearance to 57mm While Refining Aerodynamics for Gravel Racing

Canyon has unveiled the third iteration of its Grail gravel race platform, dramatically expanding tyre clearance from 42mm up to 57mm. This jump means riders can now equip the bike with tyres as wide as 2.25 inches.

The German brand also reworked the frame’s aerodynamic profile to account for those larger tyres and the roughly 35km/h speeds typically seen in gravel competition.

Buyers can select from three carbon frame tiers: CFR, CF SLX and CF. The flagship CFR AXS build carries a claimed weight of 7.9kg and is priced at £7,600 / $8,999 / €8,000.

Pro and amateur priorities align

Canyon highlights how much gravel racing has evolved at the pointy end. Ted King’s victory at the 2018 Unbound 200 (known then as Dirty Kanza) took 10 hours and 44 minutes. By 2026, Mads Würtz Schmidt completed the same event in 9 hours 14 minutes, even with mud to contend with.

King raced a Cannondale SuperX cyclocross bike shod with 38mm rubber, while Schmidt piloted the updated Specialized Crux 5 on 50mm tyres.

According to Canyon, the gap between what professionals need and what everyday riders want is narrower in gravel than in road cycling. The company credits gravel pro Rosa Klöser with shaping the new Grail’s direction—she reportedly insisted on clearance beyond 50mm during conversations about joining Canyon’s athlete roster.

That requirement drove a 1x-only frame design, along with a solid driveside chainstay to free up space—a first for Canyon. The frame uses a PF86 bottom bracket, chosen for tyre clearance, stiffness, and because the brand’s previous bikes had few problems with this standard. Canyon also notes that bonding BSA threads into carbon frames brings its own complications, so it isn’t a universal fix despite growing industry adoption.

Aerodynamics tuned for race pace

Canyon optimised the Grail’s aerodynamics around a 35km/h gravel racing speed, employing its pedalling mannequin to simulate conditions across yaw angles reaching +/- 20 degrees. Testing took place at the GST wind tunnel, where the new Grail faced off against the now-outdated Factor Ostro Gravel, Cervélo Aspero-5 and Rose Backroad FF. With all bikes running identical 50mm-deep wheels and 45mm tyres, the Grail proved fastest.

Compared with the second-generation Grail on 40mm tyres, the new model gained up to 5 watts. It remained quicker even when equipped with 55mm tyres.

Like its predecessor, the generation 3 Grail comes in three carbon grades. Canyon quotes raw size-M frame weights of 989g for CFR, 1,095g for CF SLX and 1,128g for CF. These figures are higher than the previous generation, but Canyon argues the added clearance and revised aero profiles deliver real-world speed gains.

Every build ships with 45mm Schwalbe G-One tyres as a starting point, though riders can go wider. The CFR and CF SLX feature in-frame storage, while CF SLX and CF frames accept Canyon’s Defend mudguards.

Updated Pace cockpit

Because the gen 2 Grail’s geometry earned positive feedback, Canyon made only modest tweaks. The wheelbase grew by 10mm to accommodate wider rubber, but handling characteristics remain unchanged. Mid-sized frames retain a 71.5-degree head tube angle and 69mm trail. Canyon says this combination, paired with broader tyres, lets sponsored athletes attack technical terrain more aggressively.

Stack height dropped by 15mm, reach stayed the same, and stems are shorter. There’s no suspension fork option—Canyon maintains wider tyres make it unnecessary.

CFR and CF SLX frames come with Canyon’s Pace variable-width, adjustable-height cockpit. A new drop shape called Control Drops offers 17 degrees of flare and comes in 370mm, 395mm and 420mm widths at the drops.

Control Drops join the Classic, Race and Compact shapes already compatible with the Pace cockpit, letting riders swap drop profiles and adjust effective reach by 10mm. The Gear Groove remains, allowing bar extensions, lights or computers to be mounted.

Canyon carried over its VCLS Aero seatpost from the new Endurace CFR, claiming a 25% compliance improvement over a rigid post. The Race cockpit from the Endurace CFR also works with the Grail.

Lightweight luggage collaboration

To keep the race-ready bike light, Canyon partnered with Cyclite on low-weight luggage for the new Grail.

While the gen 2 Grail’s bags were said to improve aerodynamics, the goal this time was avoiding any aero penalty. Quick attachment and removal were also priorities, so support crews can swap packs swiftly at feed stations to refresh nutrition.

The new Midloader frame bag reportedly weighs around 100g, versus 300g for the gen 2 version. It uses a push-to-release mechanism instead of the previous Fidlock system and includes internal organisers.

Each frame size gets its own bag size, plus a matching top tube bag for extras or lighter loads.

New carbon gravel wheels

Canyon also developed carbon gravel wheels to complement the new bike. The Canyon GR 50 CF wheelset has a claimed weight of 1,675g per pair and a 27mm internal/38.5mm external width hookless rim.

They use DT Swiss 350 hubs with Aerocomp II spokes, arriving with an HG11 freehub fitted plus an XDR freehub and valves in the box. Micro Spline setup is also possible.

These wheels come standard on the CF 7 AXS and CF SLX 7 Di2 builds and can be purchased separately for €999. Anyone who bought a Canyon gravel bike with alloy wheels in the past three years qualifies for 10% off the new wheels.

Pressure calculator app

Canyon notes that as tyre pressures drop, the impact of small pressure variations grows, making correct pressure more critical. The brand says 20% tyre sag is ideal for gravel, though riders struggle to assess this accurately.

Many riders still over-inflate, so Canyon worked with Pirelli on a customisable pressure calculator to help set optimal pressure and maximise bike performance.

Specs and pricing

The Grail comes in seven sizes, from 2XS to 2XL, fitting riders between 158cm and 204cm tall. Six builds are available. Beyond stock colours, EMEA customers can use MyCanyon to pick from four additional colourways, choose different wheels including Zipp 303 XPLR SW and Scope Artech 4G options, select alternate cockpit models and dimensions, and change saddle, crank length and chainring size, including aero choices. Canyon says MyCanyon customisation will expand to other regions later.

Grail CFR AXS: SRAM Red XPLR AXS with dual-sided power meter, DT Swiss GRC 1100 50mm wheels, Schwalbe G-One RS Pro 45mm tyres, Canyon Pace bar with Control drops, Fizik Vento Argo X1 saddle. Claimed weight 7.9kg. Price £7,600 / $8,999 / €8,000.

Grail CFR Di2: Shimano GRX RX825 Di2 with 4iiii single-sided power meter, DT Swiss GRC 1100 50mm wheels, Schwalbe G-One RS Pro 45mm tyres, Canyon Pace bar with Control drops, Fizik Vento Argo X1 saddle. Claimed weight 8.4kg. Price £6,200 / $7,999 / €6,500.

Grail CF SLX 8 AXS: SRAM Force XPLR AXS with single-sided power meter, DT Swiss GRC 1400 50mm wheels, Schwalbe G-One R 45mm tyres, Canyon Pace bar with Control drops, Fizik Vento Argo X3 saddle. Claimed weight 8.9kg. Price £4,799 / $5,999 / €4,999.

Grail CF SLX 7 Di2: Shimano GRX RX715 Di2, Canyon GR 50 CF 50mm wheels, Schwalbe G-One R 45mm tyres, Canyon Pace bar with Control drops, Fizik Vento Argo X3 saddle. Claimed weight 9.5kg. Price £3,899 / $4,999 / €3,999.

Grail CF 7 AXS: SRAM Rival XPLR AXS, Canyon GR 50 CF 50mm wheels, Schwalbe G-One R 45mm tyres, Canyon CP0039 cockpit, Selle Royal SRX saddle. Claimed weight 9.1kg. Price £3,499 / $4,299 / €3,499.

Grail CF 7: Shimano GRX RX610 mechanical, Newmen Advanced G.34 28″ CL wheels, Schwalbe G-One R 45mm tyres, Canyon CP0039 cockpit, Selle Royal SRX saddle. Claimed weight 9.2kg. Price £2,499 / $3,499 / €2,499.