Canyon Grizl:ON: A Lightweight Carbon E-Gravel Bike With Range and Integrated Lights

Introduction

Canyon’s Grizl:ON is the German brand’s second-generation e-gravel bike, following the Grail:ON that arrived in 2020 with a hover handlebar. This time the design is built around a conventional drop bar and a carbon frame, with a new Bosch SX motor low in the belly of the bike and the battery tucked into the down tube.

The complete bike weighs a little over 15 kg, around 15.3 kg. In a category where assisted bikes often sit at 20 kg or more, that is a notable figure. Against a regular carbon gravel bike it is still roughly twice the weight, since a Canyon Grail CFR comes in near 8 kg, but the extra mass buys a motor, a large down-tube battery and the range that comes with them.

Canyon has not treated the Grizl:ON as a purely recreational machine. Tire clearance runs up to 50 mm, the bikes ship with 45 mm tires, there are mudguard mounts, and one model in the range comes with mudguards and Canyon’s own rear rack, which opens the door to commuting and everyday utility use.

Who the Canyon Grizl:ON Is For

This is a bike for riders who want the drop-bar gravel experience with some help behind them. That includes people who live somewhere hilly, riders who want to remove the fitness barrier a regular bike can present, and anyone who wants to explore further and faster with fewer limitations. Lightweight motors such as the Bosch SX are designed to keep the assisted ride closer to a normal gravel bike rather than turning it into something heavy and detached.

The second audience is the practical one. A lot of riders buy gravel bikes less for gravel riding and more for commuting, touring and coping with rough roads. Fast-rolling tires, mudguard mounts and a rack option make the Grizl:ON a genuinely useful transport and utility bike rather than a weekend-only machine.

Main Strengths

The headline strength is weight. Keeping the frame and the motor as light as possible was central to the design, and the payoff is longer range from a down-tube battery, around 100 km depending on terrain and rider fitness, plus an optional range extender for those who need more. Low weight combined with low motor torque also produces a more natural pedalling feel.

Lighting is the second standout. Canyon fits Lupine lights front and rear. Lupine is a German brand, the units are replaceable, and everything runs from the main battery with very little draw. The rear lights come on as soon as the bike is powered and stay on, while the front light can be switched off and cycled through different modes. If the main battery runs flat, the lights still offer about two hours of run time to get you home.

Canyon has also carried over the Fidlock quick-loader removable frame storage bag introduced with the Grail, which is a tidy place to carry food, clothing and tools.

Motor, Battery, and Range

The Bosch SX belongs to a newer generation of lightweight, lower-powered motors rather than the full-power systems found on heavier e-bikes. It sits low in the frame, with the battery housed in the down tube and a control unit on the top tube for switching the system on and off and choosing the level of assistance you want.

Range sits at roughly 100 km, although terrain and rider fitness will shift that figure considerably. Riders who want more can add a range extender at additional cost. Because the motor delivers low torque and the bike is comparatively light, the assistance is intended to feel natural rather than dominant.

Frame, Geometry, and Ride Feel

The geometry is Canyon’s slackest drop-bar setup to date, with a 69.5 degree head angle. That is slacker than the Grizl and the Grail, and slacker than many mountain bikes from a few years ago. The remaining angles are chosen to deliver a very stable, planted feel, which matters when the bike carries more weight than an unassisted machine and can reach higher speeds under motor power.

Up front there is a short stem and a wide flared handlebar. Canyon opted for a two-piece bar and stem rather than a one-piece cockpit, which gives more flexibility for changing those components later, and some cables and brake hoses are routed internally to keep the front end and frame clean.

Suspension comes from a RockShox Rudy fork with 40 mm of travel. With more weight and more speed behind it, the bike hits rocks and roots harder than a regular gravel bike, so the extra cushioning makes sense, and the weight penalty is marginal on a bike that already has a motor. A VCLS split seatpost adds comfort at the saddle, and a conventional external seat bolt means a dropper post can be fitted if you prefer; the top model in the range comes with a dropper as standard.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Weight is the obvious trade-off. At around 15.3 kg, the Grizl:ON is about twice the weight of a comparable unassisted carbon gravel bike such as the Grail CFR, which sits near 8 kg. The suspension fork accounts for a good chunk of that difference, and it is a deliberate exchange for comfort and control on rougher ground.

Price is the second consideration. In Europe the range spans roughly 5,000 to 8,000 euros, with the model shown here second from the top at around 7,000 euros. That build pairs a carbon frame and DT Swiss carbon wheels with a largely SRAM Force AXS groupset, hydraulic disc brakes and a carbon FSA crank set, with the shifter battery replaced by a wire running into the main frame; aluminium handlebar and stem keep some cost and complexity out of the package. It is worth weighing the alternatives before committing: a Specialized Turbo Creo 2 Expert also uses a carbon frame and carbon wheels and weighs just under 14 kg, about a kilogram less, but costs around 8,500 euros with a lower-tier SRAM Rival specification, while the same money as the Grizl:ON buys a Canyon Grail CFR with GRX Di2 at roughly half the weight.

Assistance limits are the third factor. In the UK and Europe the motor cuts out at 25 km/h, which shapes how the bike feels in daily use, whereas the limit in the US is considerably higher.

Buying Advice

Four models make up the European range, spanning roughly 5,000 to 8,000 euros. Choose based on how much of your riding is utility and how much is adventure. If commuting, touring or riding in poor weather is part of the plan, the model with mudguards and Canyon’s rear rack is the one that turns the bike into a genuine transport option, and the 45 mm tires fitted as standard roll fast enough for tarmac while still handling rougher surfaces.

If trail comfort matters more, the suspension fork is worth having, and the top model’s dropper post adds another layer of control on steep ground. Riders who need more than the roughly 100 km available from the main battery should budget for the range extender, and anyone who mainly wants the lightest possible gravel bike without assistance should look at an unassisted carbon option instead.

Above all, match the bike to the riding you actually do. The Grizl:ON makes most sense for riders who will use the motor regularly, whether that is for hills, distance, commuting or simply keeping pace on longer group rides.

Conclusion

The Grizl:ON represents a clear option rather than a compromise: a carbon gravel bike with a lightweight motor, a large integrated battery, roughly 100 km of range, a full lighting setup and the mounts to be genuinely practical. It is not for everyone, and it is noticeably heavier and more expensive than an unassisted carbon gravel bike of similar intent.

For riders who want assistance to extend their range, flatten their local hills or make everyday trips easier, the combination of low weight, natural-feeling power delivery and integrated lighting makes a persuasive case. Match the model to your riding, check whether you need the range extender, and the Grizl:ON is a straightforward choice to feel confident about.