Just bought a new Grail, love it so far. I was aware of the tire clearance, but didn't feel it was an issue, as my Diverge had 38's which served my needs.
Same. I wanted a fast gravelbike, that can replace my roadbike and doesn't have to stop in front of gravel (cycle) paths and forrest paths. I will try the Hutchinson Caracal next.
@@trakki Just installed Caracal Hardskin in black color today. Crazy tire, in my opinion rolls faster than stock G One RS, but of course lack a bit of grip when cornering. Definitely recommend this tire.
I have the Grail for over half a year now and I love it. The 40 mm are a great choice for a fast gravelbike. If you want bigger tires and more comfort you can buy the Grizl.
Precisely! My only complaint about the Grizl range is that none of them have the exact drivetrain I want: Apex Eagle. I'm very close to buying the Marin Headlands 2.
@@gregsullivan7408 I think the point he is making is that other bikes in this category (fast gravel) also have the capacity for wider tyres so why would you choose this over a Specialized Crux for example.
Also, the Grail is more agile than the Grizl. By adding more tyre clearance, I'd guess that it would lose some agility. For me agility is the most fun. But then, if you really want agility CX bikes are even better (idk if you can tell that I'm an Inflite rider 😅)
Riding gen 1 Grail and it works great for winter bike/commute and I can keep up with friends on fast club rides on tarmac. Has a geometry between endurace and ultimate in terms of reach and stack ratio. I put some 35mm GP5000 AS TR on it recently and it is equipped with dedicated mud guards and frame bag. It is a truly all-road bike like Enve Fray. Even though it was marketed as gravel bike, if it was produced today, probably it would be called all road bike. It is truly jack of all trades master of none kind of bike. The gen 2 has much slacker geometry so I do not know if it would work as well on tarmac as the gen 1.
The Pro's are already running 29x2.2 tires. Zipp just released an internal width i32mm Gravel rim. Gravel bikes should come with clearance for 29x2.4 tires using up to i32 rims. Having clearance for 29x2.4 tires opens up an entire range of pre-existing XC tires which roll faster than most Gravel tires. The 2.2 Race King, 2.35 Thunder Burt, and 2.4 Peyote are some examples. Using these tires would allow sub 20psi pressures. Getting better performance and more comfort on rougher terrain without giving up rolling speed.
@@marksandoval5361 all course dependent. Rougher equals suspension and large tires. However, don't forget that 2022 gravel worlds were won on a canyon ultimate with 33mm tires. On a smooth gravel course 38-42 rigid and stiff and light will win everytime. Having ridden 2.35 slicks for years on a gravel bike I will tell you my gravel race bike is 3 mph faster on smooth terrain for the same watts. You simply can't have one bike that will excel at both. (Unless you are willing to change out wheelset, gearing, and suspension for every different course)
Very few pros and 100% not on every track. I rode MTB tires. They kinda suck on long climbs and feel draggy on the anything smooth. On gnar they are amazing. It’s a trade off. They are definitely not running MTBs in the mud
@@frienduro24Keegan Swenson won SBT gravel in Colorado with an average speed of like 35kph on MTB tires. Multiple guys in the top ten at unbound also with MTB tires. Another fast non technical race.
well, that's just braindead design choices by canyon (as they do with many other things such as steerer tube diameter), you can definitely have your cake and eat it too on grail (50mm clearance), but they just decided not to do so
@@adamlucina well they designed the Grail for racers, so they see the 42mm clearance as sufficient. I f you wanna more you can buy Grizl. If you don't like its geometry, well then you have to look elswhere
@@Funineq but even the racers want more than 42mm lol. Just have a look at what they're running for unbound, almost everyone is on +50mm. The real reason why it's 42mm is because the design was finalised before the big tire trend really caught on. I would bet any money that when the grail is refreshed it'll have 47mm at least
@@Majokou Well it is possible, or the gravel racers who uses Canyon bikes don't use so wide tires. I think we can say that the tire clearance was Canyon decision and they now have to live with it and if someone wants bigger tires he has to choose different brand, no one is forcing us to buy a Canyon
42mm Pathfinder Pro's will measure a 45mm on the Grail CRF. It's very close on the backend. I placed frame tape on either side of the chainstays to protect rubbing if I hit any mud.
I just bought a Canyon Grail. Its great. Tires it came with are totally fine. Ride on gravel, tarmac, mtb trails. All this sizing stuff is helpful if you race or something...It's a solid bike as-is no complaints. David Arthur has great vids tho!
The only reason I can possibly think on why Canyon has decided this strategy on the Grail is because they want to differentiate their Grizl from the Grail and have a different segmentation for these 2 type of Gravel bikes (performance/speed vs. adventure). I am definitely sure that they have received a lot of feedback for the tyre clearance on the Grail, but it’s all a matter of the purpose behind. Btw, I have the Grail with the double handlebar and I am so happy with it overall, I have never had second thoughts on tyre clearance etc. 👍🏼☺️
I have 45mm in the front on my Grail and it changed completely how it feels! I have put a 45 Schwalbe G-one Bite in the back and it worked but while it never hit the chainstays it was a bit close for comfort
@@cparker88 it did fit and I didn’t have any rub marks on the chainstays after riding with them. But wouldn’t do it when riding in wet conditions where mud might get stuck in the tire because the clearance is very tight and it voids the warranty if anything happens.
I think a lot of people like my self use a gravel bike for a lot of road riding too, and a lot not so crazy gravel. I have a set of 35s mounted and they're actually a good balance for my riding. I'm also not riding at 22mph, more like 16, so I think that makes a difference too.
i've been riding 50mm g-one bite (front) paired with 42mm pathfinder pro (rear) for a few years now for the chunky stuff. smooth, center tread on rear and knobby bites + thicker rubber on the front is a nice ride both road, gravel, rocky. i almost broke the 50mph barrier with this setup bombing downhill. i highly recommend. good to see you're experimenting with mixed tires
I've been doing exactly this on my 2020 Cannondale Topstone Carbon RX. The tires measure 1+mm more on the rims, and the frame has some rear suspension. I have been considering selling it so that I can get something like a Revolt, with much larger clearance. I'm on the fence about it...
I have been doing the same on my 2016 Cannondale Slate for years - 45mm front and 42mm rear. Works great for me. MTB have been doing this for many years: traction in the front, speed and cornering slides in the rear. The Slate does have a 2x drive train (upgraded to GRX) which is more important to me than the tire width (in order to get good gear range especially on low end).
Funny i have doing this mixed tyre approach! I have a Sonder Colibri endurance bike with 36mm clearance. Currently running a 37mm Riddler and 38mm Panaracer and loving the speed and off-road ability! Great for my commute and dryer dirt riding. Mind you my full on gravel bike is a Fairlight Secan running 27.5 x 2.25 tyres so always pushing the clearance! 😂
I’ve noticed that gravel is on the rise lately. Is it actually the more suitable bike (than pure road race bike) for many enthusiasts? I mean, it seems to be more versatile for leisure riding, and not that much slower (if we have the legs & lungs) on the majority of road conditions?
I hace also moved to 45mm X1Gravel King's on my Basso palto. On this Sunday I will be riding the Borderland in Dales on my Revolt with 2.1 XC MTB tyres. To see how much difference its make to runing a Gravel Tyye. Also looks super cool.
Agree with tire clearance issues. Have a 2017 Raleigh rx2.0 takes 40 in rear depending tread. Front 42 - 45, need to test that. Mix flat/post mount with old derailleur hanger. But it is a solid CX, fast gravel, all road everyday bike. Done gravel events on it and getting around for errands. Maxed out to what it can built to with mechanical shift/brake. Next bike will likely be a full on modern gravel bike 50mm clearance , UDH, groupset while still easy to service that be better for rougher and longer gravel rides.
I bought the Canyon grizl for the tire clearance, regularly run 50c tires, absolute blast over rocky and rough terrain, perhaps a little bit slower uphill though.
Did my first race (technically a MTB race, but mostly gravel) this weekend and swapped out the front tyre for a 45mm and kept the original 40mm Happy with how it worked out
Hi David. An interesting video. What kind of conditions do you think would suit the X1s best? I live in London so lots of bad roads, canal paths and byways etc and was wondering if these would be suitable for winter all conditions tyres for my Revolt. Keep up the good work.
On my Grail with 303 XPLR i run Schwalbe G-one RS 40mm rear witch measures 44mm mounted in the rim and there is god tire clearance. Front i run G-one RS 45mm witch measures 47mm and there is also good space.
@@Circletakesthejake Yes Grail XPLR with sram red 13s and 303 SW. After i changed handlebar to smaller width i really like it! Its a fast and stable bike! Looks fast when stopping at the coffe shop to 😅
I mean two of the best pros in Gravel (Carolin Schiff & Niewadoma) are riding and winning with this tire clearance. It could be argued that this is sufficient tire clearance, especially when compared to CX bikes with 33mm tires. Still, you are right, the trend is more and more clearance and I imagine many people are put off by this (or buy the Grizl).
Dave...Can you/have you tried a 650b wheel with a 45 to see if that's an option? I want to know mainly as I just bought a Grail and hoped the max rated tyre size of 42 was just a typo! 😂 So wanted to know for myself
I wrote at length on that misjudged decision by Canyon already a while ago. Not only by todays but even by last years and the year before the Grail is just an all-road bike. Probably a nice one at that. But not a Gravel Bike I personally would recommend anyone to really ride Gravel or even race Gravel with.
Have you tried any suspension/sprung stems for bikes like these? I'm interested in one for my rough road going hybrid which is nearly 19 years old. A Marin Point Reyes 😂
Been running an Orro Terra C 2x with 45mm Pirelli M in front and 38(40mm really) gk sk in rear for two years as officially only 42mm clearance. It’s good but if I could I would have a 45mm in rear too for rough off road and bikepacking. No slower in reality for a most of us non racers. Any new gravel bike buyer needs to look at udh , the geometry and 50mm clearance as necessity unless riding smooth American gravel. In the UK that type of gravel is very rare in reality
I have the same bike and yes, the tyre clearance is an issue. 42mm Pathfinder S-Works was already too big, I had to swap for the original G-One RS. For someone who have a lot of road parts on their Gravel rides, this bike shine. For more rugged terrain, I really miss my old Grizl ! My rides are usually a 40% Gravel and 60% Road, so it's not a huge deal for me. Canyon tends to market weirdly their bikes nowadays. Between the Grail, Grizl, and Endurace... Hard to understand if their marketing choices are good regarding other brands and how proper Gravel rides ask for bigger clearance.
Don't assume wider tyres are slower. I have run a pair of Schwalbe G one R 40mm , and also Vittoria Mezcal+Barzo 2.1" on my Revolt. On tarmac, average speeds are comparable and this agrees with rolling resistances posted on a well known website, both setups coming in at about 48W per pair. Sure you can get lower RR gravel tyres by sacrificing grip, puncture protection etc. But it comes down to the particular tyre you're using - size isn't everything. Apparently.
I waited to buy a gravel bike until most manufacturers had frames which would accept 45mm tires. I personally want to have a wide choice of tires, and 45mm seems like a logical and practical cut-off. If I need or want to ride a 2.0"+ tire, I'll probably ride my hardtail.
45mm tyres are no problem in the new grail. This bike is superior when you are looking for a real performance gravelbike 👌. You have to ride it to experiance it.
We Have The Older Canyon Grail on the channel With Double Handle Bars, 3 Way Colour Coffee Cappuccino Colour, Much Better Looking Bike than the newer Version Takes Bigger Tyres than newer Version aswell.
When he asked: why we are having this issue on this bike? My brain: because you tried fitting a larger than spec tires on the bike. Things we do for views, likes and clicks.
Maybe it's just a UK. I want 45mm tyres. I won't want 2x. I really like the Canyon just the 42mm max tyres are off putting. The only thing that might save it would be the wide ZIPP 303 SW wheels found on the top end Grail CFR XPLR.
The grail can clear 46 width in the front. The Enve Mog is heavier and can only clear 42mm with 2x. The problem with bigger tire clearance creates heavier frames and forces the rider to run smaller group sets. Some can’t even run a 2x
Weight isn't everything. That's roadie mentality. Larger tires produce more positive interaction between the bike and ground, ensuring you're keeping a more steady power transfer to the ground. Smaller tires bounce you around due to higher necessary pressure. So wider tires can be faster due to this. Then there's flat resistance. Doesn't matter how fast you can pedal the bike if you DNF due to thrashing your tire/rim.
Who said weight is everything? With racing weight its vip. Ask any pro. More weight increases punctures…actually. Wider tires are not faster. We tested that shit even at low tire pressures. They are more comfortable and less likely to puncture. Faster on dry gnar yes. Anything fast or a big climb/sprint. You’ll get dropped vs light skinny tires
@@frienduro24 Your response is as nonsense as it is salty. Weight doesn't increase punctures because, if you ask any pro (or rather, their mechanic), they'll tell you to adjust your pressure accordingly. Never mind that punctures are irrelevant in gravel with everyone riding tubeless. Its flatting that matters, not punctures. YOU haven't tested anything. Keep your "we" out of it. And, no, you're wrong. There's ample testing data publicly viewable showing wider tires produce quicker times on rough terrain. Its true of the Belgian cobbles. Its true of the Hell of the North. Its true of gravel. And since you brought up climbing. Wider tires have a better footprint, producing more friction. Meaning you're less likely to break traction with the surface on steep climbs. Meaning you will often be faster, esp if it allows you to turn a taller gear without losing grip. So, there's another notch against your ridiculousness.
@@cjohnson3836ok….We tested 40 vs 50 and 40 was faster by a small margin. On all surface, but on larger rocks. The 50s were more comfortable and slightly faster. Anyone that says bigger tires are faster is bull shit. 100% depends on the surface
I really wanted to make Canyon Grail works for me. But 42mm was a big mistake. Even on fast gravel races the likes of Keegan and Dylan Johnson are using mountain bike tires!!!! And there are data to back it up. Now Canyon is stuck and I simply cannot invest all this money when the marketing is evolving in a different direction.
Some say "pro's now use ... at unbound" and bike brands want to sell every year new bikes. So i understand why canyon offers you 40mm tire clearance 6 month ago. 😅 If they offered you now 60mm clearance, what would canyon sell in 3 years? Nothing.
I'm sure the sponsored riders were happy with 40mm and 2x road when they were asked in the frame development in about 2020, the problem is more that it's probably not what they are looking for now - and even if you just throw away this model and restart designing, what do you set for your spec for the 2027 model that would reach production....... I guess you look for 1x13 and MTB tyres, but where does that take you for a frame design that fits in short chainstays, tyre clearance and road BB? 148mm rear wheel spacing?
Canyon's reasoning about not increasing the clearance doesn't really add up when you look what the gravel pros are using. It's all 45mm and up now, MTB 2.1" tyres if they can squeeze them in even
Grizl isn't as responsive or fast. The reality is canyon selected the tire clearance entirely to make people buy two different bikes. If the Grail had wider clearance, no one would buy the grizl. Pretty simple. So as is people with bigger wallets might buy one of each which would not be the case if it could take fatties.
You kinda have a point but to be fair the grizl also has more upright, adventure bike-ish geometry. I think the modern idea with gravel bikes is that there genuinely are differences between what makes a good race bike and a good adventure bike, but tire clearance isn't one of them.
@graemehill I have no intention to argue about it, but it's very obvious tire clearance is one of the things that changed drastically in recent years, even in race bikes, for both road and cx/gravel bikes.
The grail is not future proof because gravel tyres are getting bigger year after year. In 2025 50mm will be standard for gravel bike tyres, in 2026 for gravel race bikes.
Not everyone weighs 130lbs like Lachlan, manufacturers still don't get it, they need clearance for atleast 2.3" tires. Salsa figured it out with their cutthroat.
And even though he's so light and fast he still seemed limited by what his sponsor's bike would support when he won unbound. He used an mtb tire in the front but could only fit a 44mm gravel tire in the back. Everyone assumes the fast riders don't want big tires but it's not true anymore.
@@graemehillthe majority of pros still race on 38-42. This is what I heard in recent interviews. Yes there are a handful running 45+ and few MTBs, but it’s not on every race for damn sure
I just put on the GK X1 R in 45 mm. The actually inflate to 47 mm. I'm pretty happy with them after putting on my first 150 miles. Too bad they don't fit on the Grail; but then they are not supposed to fit. I would consider the Grail to be more of an all road bike while the Grizl is a true gravel bike.
Thanks, David, certainly does seem that this bike was on the drawing board before Dylan Johnson and friends started the 50+ trend? And it'd be interesting to see you slip a 650b in the rear with a tractor tire. :)
I never understood why people ride mountain bike tires on gravel bikes. if you want fat tires, why not just use an MTB? It handles like a tank anyway. I still ride 35mm cyclocross tires even on rough terrain and can see why you would want 40mm or even 42, but even wider? Ridiculous! Tried it and never liked it. If you absolutely must have them, there are enough Gravel bikes that allow for such nonesense. No need to blame canyon for your choice.
This is a problem with Canyon's production flow. All their input comes from their sponsored athlete stable which is predominately all former tour roadies. They need to get a more diverse input, esp since the people lighting up US gravel are mostly from the MTB side of things.
If you want wide, then get the Grizl.
Just bought a new Grail, love it so far. I was aware of the tire clearance, but didn't feel it was an issue, as my Diverge had 38's which served my needs.
Same, Im happy with 42mm max tyre clearance, and getting 2x chain rings. Is perfect for someone going from road bike to gravel bike.
Same. I wanted a fast gravelbike, that can replace my roadbike and doesn't have to stop in front of gravel (cycle) paths and forrest paths. I will try the Hutchinson Caracal next.
@@trakkihahah😂 just ordered mine today, rolling resistance web fallout. Its become hot tyre now, better buy now. Most shops are sold out.
@@trakki Just installed Caracal Hardskin in black color today. Crazy tire, in my opinion rolls faster than stock G One RS, but of course lack a bit of grip when cornering. Definitely recommend this tire.
I have the Grail for over half a year now and I love it. The 40 mm are a great choice for a fast gravelbike. If you want bigger tires and more comfort you can buy the Grizl.
Precisely! My only complaint about the Grizl range is that none of them have the exact drivetrain I want: Apex Eagle. I'm very close to buying the Marin Headlands 2.
@@gregsullivan7408 I think the point he is making is that other bikes in this category (fast gravel) also have the capacity for wider tyres so why would you choose this over a Specialized Crux for example.
Dylan Johnson would argue otherwise. Pro riders doing unbound etc are running 50mm+ tyres.
Also, the Grail is more agile than the Grizl. By adding more tyre clearance, I'd guess that it would lose some agility. For me agility is the most fun. But then, if you really want agility CX bikes are even better (idk if you can tell that I'm an Inflite rider 😅)
@@zoid88Well, one of them ride hardtail dropbar. Why not do that too?
Riding gen 1 Grail and it works great for winter bike/commute and I can keep up with friends on fast club rides on tarmac. Has a geometry between endurace and ultimate in terms of reach and stack ratio. I put some 35mm GP5000 AS TR on it recently and it is equipped with dedicated mud guards and frame bag. It is a truly all-road bike like Enve Fray. Even though it was marketed as gravel bike, if it was produced today, probably it would be called all road bike. It is truly jack of all trades master of none kind of bike. The gen 2 has much slacker geometry so I do not know if it would work as well on tarmac as the gen 1.
The Pro's are already running 29x2.2 tires. Zipp just released an internal width i32mm Gravel rim. Gravel bikes should come with clearance for 29x2.4 tires using up to i32 rims. Having clearance for 29x2.4 tires opens up an entire range of pre-existing XC tires which roll faster than most Gravel tires. The 2.2 Race King, 2.35 Thunder Burt, and 2.4 Peyote are some examples. Using these tires would allow sub 20psi pressures. Getting better performance and more comfort on rougher terrain without giving up rolling speed.
@@marksandoval5361 all course dependent. Rougher equals suspension and large tires. However, don't forget that 2022 gravel worlds were won on a canyon ultimate with 33mm tires. On a smooth gravel course 38-42 rigid and stiff and light will win everytime. Having ridden 2.35 slicks for years on a gravel bike I will tell you my gravel race bike is 3 mph faster on smooth terrain for the same watts. You simply can't have one bike that will excel at both. (Unless you are willing to change out wheelset, gearing, and suspension for every different course)
Very few pros and 100% not on every track. I rode MTB tires. They kinda suck on long climbs and feel draggy on the anything smooth. On gnar they are amazing. It’s a trade off. They are definitely not running MTBs in the mud
@@frienduro24Keegan Swenson won SBT gravel in Colorado with an average speed of like 35kph on MTB tires. Multiple guys in the top ten at unbound also with MTB tires. Another fast non technical race.
@@ervin7178like I said, it’s not every race and every pro. Look at Unbound 2023. No one used them to win
@@frienduro24 I think more Pro's would use wider tires if Gravel bikes had more tire clearance.
Wanna have more tire clearance? Buy Grizl
well, that's just braindead design choices by canyon (as they do with many other things such as steerer tube diameter), you can definitely have your cake and eat it too on grail (50mm clearance), but they just decided not to do so
@@adamlucina well they designed the Grail for racers, so they see the 42mm clearance as sufficient. I f you wanna more you can buy Grizl. If you don't like its geometry, well then you have to look elswhere
@@Funineq but even the racers want more than 42mm lol. Just have a look at what they're running for unbound, almost everyone is on +50mm. The real reason why it's 42mm is because the design was finalised before the big tire trend really caught on. I would bet any money that when the grail is refreshed it'll have 47mm at least
@@Majokou Well it is possible, or the gravel racers who uses Canyon bikes don't use so wide tires. I think we can say that the tire clearance was Canyon decision and they now have to live with it and if someone wants bigger tires he has to choose different brand, no one is forcing us to buy a Canyon
Different application.
42mm Pathfinder Pro's will measure a 45mm on the Grail CRF. It's very close on the backend. I placed frame tape on either side of the chainstays to protect rubbing if I hit any mud.
Bought the grail as a winter roadbike. Its ticking all boxes for that purpose. Especially the fenders will be my gamechanger :)
Tire clearance is definitely my #1 reason for not buying this bike.
Couldn’t agree more, 45mms are a minimum these days and Lachy won Unbound this year on 2.2’s. Bigger is truely better. 👍🏻
thats very sad
I just bought a Canyon Grail. Its great. Tires it came with are totally fine. Ride on gravel, tarmac, mtb trails. All this sizing stuff is helpful if you race or something...It's a solid bike as-is no complaints. David Arthur has great vids tho!
The only reason I can possibly think on why Canyon has decided this strategy on the Grail is because they want to differentiate their Grizl from the Grail and have a different segmentation for these 2 type of Gravel bikes (performance/speed vs. adventure). I am definitely sure that they have received a lot of feedback for the tyre clearance on the Grail, but it’s all a matter of the purpose behind.
Btw, I have the Grail with the double handlebar and I am so happy with it overall, I have never had second thoughts on tyre clearance etc.
👍🏼☺️
Best comment
Been riding a 47 m/m front & a 43 m/m rear for about 18 months now in order to get the best comfort from my gravel bike 😊
I have 45mm in the front on my Grail and it changed completely how it feels!
I have put a 45 Schwalbe G-one Bite in the back and it worked but while it never hit the chainstays it was a bit close for comfort
whats in the back?
@@Circletakesthejakei have a 40mm Schwalbe G-One R
Joe, to be clear, you did or did not successfully fit a 45mm in the rear? I've been wanting to try it.
@@cparker88 it did fit and I didn’t have any rub marks on the chainstays after riding with them. But wouldn’t do it when riding in wet conditions where mud might get stuck in the tire because the clearance is very tight and it voids the warranty if anything happens.
@@JoeOlafs Thanks my guy!
Great too meet you on weekend David! Good to see me and my mate Phil in your video! Cheers
Chris Rudall
You too!
I think a lot of people like my self use a gravel bike for a lot of road riding too, and a lot not so crazy gravel. I have a set of 35s mounted and they're actually a good balance for my riding. I'm also not riding at 22mph, more like 16, so I think that makes a difference too.
Agreed. Even 40mm is pretty wide. Not for the absolute roughest terrain but there's probably a different bike for that
i've been riding 50mm g-one bite (front) paired with 42mm pathfinder pro (rear) for a few years now for the chunky stuff. smooth, center tread on rear and knobby bites + thicker rubber on the front is a nice ride both road, gravel, rocky. i almost broke the 50mph barrier with this setup bombing downhill. i highly recommend.
good to see you're experimenting with mixed tires
I've been doing exactly this on my 2020 Cannondale Topstone Carbon RX. The tires measure 1+mm more on the rims, and the frame has some rear suspension. I have been considering selling it so that I can get something like a Revolt, with much larger clearance. I'm on the fence about it...
I have been doing the same on my 2016 Cannondale Slate for years - 45mm front and 42mm rear. Works great for me. MTB have been doing this for many years: traction in the front, speed and cornering slides in the rear. The Slate does have a 2x drive train (upgraded to GRX) which is more important to me than the tire width (in order to get good gear range especially on low end).
Could you drop down to a 650b tire to get a wider tire on the bike
Not really, it won't make a significant difference in the rear
Funny i have doing this mixed tyre approach!
I have a Sonder Colibri endurance bike with 36mm clearance.
Currently running a 37mm Riddler and 38mm Panaracer and loving the speed and off-road ability!
Great for my commute and dryer dirt riding.
Mind you my full on gravel bike is a Fairlight Secan running 27.5 x 2.25 tyres so always pushing the clearance! 😂
I’ve noticed that gravel is on the rise lately. Is it actually the more suitable bike (than pure road race bike) for many enthusiasts? I mean, it seems to be more versatile for leisure riding, and not that much slower (if we have the legs & lungs) on the majority of road conditions?
I hace also moved to 45mm X1Gravel King's on my Basso palto. On this Sunday I will be riding the Borderland in Dales on my Revolt with 2.1 XC MTB tyres. To see how much difference its make to runing a Gravel Tyye. Also looks super cool.
This is why I opted for the Giant Revolt
I’m using the same combo of tyres but with 50 on the front and 45 on the back of my Ceepo Rindō. Works a treat
Agree with tire clearance issues. Have a 2017 Raleigh rx2.0 takes 40 in rear depending tread. Front 42 - 45, need to test that. Mix flat/post mount with old derailleur hanger. But it is a solid CX, fast gravel, all road everyday bike. Done gravel events on it and getting around for errands. Maxed out to what it can built to with mechanical shift/brake. Next bike will likely be a full on modern gravel bike 50mm clearance , UDH, groupset while still easy to service that be better for rougher and longer gravel rides.
I bought the Canyon grizl for the tire clearance, regularly run 50c tires, absolute blast over rocky and rough terrain, perhaps a little bit slower uphill though.
Did my first race (technically a MTB race, but mostly gravel) this weekend and swapped out the front tyre for a 45mm and kept the original 40mm
Happy with how it worked out
Hi David. An interesting video. What kind of conditions do you think would suit the X1s best? I live in London so lots of bad roads, canal paths and byways etc and was wondering if these would be suitable for winter all conditions tyres for my Revolt. Keep up the good work.
On my Grail with 303 XPLR i run Schwalbe G-one RS 40mm rear witch measures 44mm mounted in the rim and there is god tire clearance. Front i run G-one RS 45mm witch measures 47mm and there is also good space.
is it the xplr sw witht the sram red? I'm close to pulling the trigger on it... do you like it? any complaints?
@@Circletakesthejake Yes Grail XPLR with sram red 13s and 303 SW. After i changed handlebar to smaller width i really like it! Its a fast and stable bike! Looks fast when stopping at the coffe shop to 😅
I mean two of the best pros in Gravel (Carolin Schiff & Niewadoma) are riding and winning with this tire clearance. It could be argued that this is sufficient tire clearance, especially when compared to CX bikes with 33mm tires.
Still, you are right, the trend is more and more clearance and I imagine many people are put off by this (or buy the Grizl).
Gotta love my new cube nuroad with 50mm clearance 😏🤓
Wouldn't the Scott Addict Gravel be a good alternative with it's 45mm tires? Or is it way more aggressive and harsh than the Grail?
Great tip! But what is de brand of the bike at 2 minutes? It locks very cool.
You should do a review on the pnw dropper seat post with built-in suspension
Dave...Can you/have you tried a 650b wheel with a 45 to see if that's an option? I want to know mainly as I just bought a Grail and hoped the max rated tyre size of 42 was just a typo! 😂 So wanted to know for myself
This year i am not buying this bike because of tyre clearance, usually I wouldn't buy because of its price . 😂
I run 45c G-One RS's no problem. I run them on the Zipp's that it came with as well as the Hunt Limitless Gravel. Maybe it's the wheels you used.
@alexgonzalezMI You've fit 45mm's on the Grail 2?
I wrote at length on that misjudged decision by Canyon already a while ago. Not only by todays but even by last years and the year before the Grail is just an all-road bike. Probably a nice one at that. But not a Gravel Bike I personally would recommend anyone to really ride Gravel or even race Gravel with.
Have you tried any suspension/sprung stems for bikes like these? I'm interested in one for my rough road going hybrid which is nearly 19 years old. A Marin Point Reyes 😂
I'm waiting for the new generation hoping they offer better clearance.
Now, with the new Zipps wouldn't it open space for narrow tires?
Been running an Orro Terra C 2x with 45mm Pirelli M in front and 38(40mm really) gk sk in rear for two years as officially only 42mm clearance. It’s good but if I could I would have a 45mm in rear too for rough off road and bikepacking. No slower in reality for a most of us non racers. Any new gravel bike buyer needs to look at udh , the geometry and 50mm clearance as necessity unless riding smooth American gravel. In the UK that type of gravel is very rare in reality
I have the same bike and yes, the tyre clearance is an issue. 42mm Pathfinder S-Works was already too big, I had to swap for the original G-One RS.
For someone who have a lot of road parts on their Gravel rides, this bike shine. For more rugged terrain, I really miss my old Grizl ! My rides are usually a 40% Gravel and 60% Road, so it's not a huge deal for me.
Canyon tends to market weirdly their bikes nowadays. Between the Grail, Grizl, and Endurace... Hard to understand if their marketing choices are good regarding other brands and how proper Gravel rides ask for bigger clearance.
Scott Addict Gravel (45mm out of the box), which you already reviewed.
Don't assume wider tyres are slower. I have run a pair of Schwalbe G one R 40mm , and also Vittoria Mezcal+Barzo 2.1" on my Revolt. On tarmac, average speeds are comparable and this agrees with rolling resistances posted on a well known website, both setups coming in at about 48W per pair. Sure you can get lower RR gravel tyres by sacrificing grip, puncture protection etc. But it comes down to the particular tyre you're using - size isn't everything. Apparently.
I have a Niner RLT 9.... Fits a 50/36t chainring and can clear a 50mm or 1.95" knobby.
I waited to buy a gravel bike until most manufacturers had frames which would accept 45mm tires. I personally want to have a wide choice of tires, and 45mm seems like a logical and practical cut-off. If I need or want to ride a 2.0"+ tire, I'll probably ride my hardtail.
The XPLR fork would of give you a big edge going down that decent David.
Fast gravel riders are running 2.1 +. I run 2" on the new gt grade. Hell Of The North ultra was great fun
+1 wide is the new fast... Love the Grail but not buying it because of the limited clearance !
45mm tyres are no problem in the new grail. This bike is superior when you are looking for a real performance gravelbike 👌. You have to ride it to experiance it.
Canyon certainly has some obvious opportunities going forward with the Grizl and Grail
We Have The Older Canyon Grail on the channel With Double Handle Bars, 3 Way Colour Coffee Cappuccino Colour, Much Better Looking Bike than the newer Version Takes Bigger Tyres than newer Version aswell.
This is why i bought Orbea Terra. I put 45mm tires and have lot of space.
@trailhead75 I ran a 2" 29er on the front and 45 on the rear.
When he asked: why we are having this issue on this bike? My brain: because you tried fitting a larger than spec tires on the bike. Things we do for views, likes and clicks.
Maybe it's just a UK. I want 45mm tyres. I won't want 2x. I really like the Canyon just the 42mm max tyres are off putting. The only thing that might save it would be the wide ZIPP 303 SW wheels found on the top end Grail CFR XPLR.
Wow, that’s ridiculous. My Devinci Hatchet can handle some pretty big tires with double rings 🤷♂️
Man even with a 40mm rear tyre that looks tighter that I'd feel comfortable with on a carbon gravel bike.
Seems like a good endurance road bike.
That’s why you’d buy the grizl
Agreed!
The grail can clear 46 width in the front. The Enve Mog is heavier and can only clear 42mm with 2x. The problem with bigger tire clearance creates heavier frames and forces the rider to run smaller group sets. Some can’t even run a 2x
Weight isn't everything. That's roadie mentality. Larger tires produce more positive interaction between the bike and ground, ensuring you're keeping a more steady power transfer to the ground. Smaller tires bounce you around due to higher necessary pressure. So wider tires can be faster due to this. Then there's flat resistance. Doesn't matter how fast you can pedal the bike if you DNF due to thrashing your tire/rim.
Who said weight is everything? With racing weight its vip. Ask any pro. More weight increases punctures…actually.
Wider tires are not faster. We tested that shit even at low tire pressures. They are more comfortable and less likely to puncture. Faster on dry gnar yes.
Anything fast or a big climb/sprint. You’ll get dropped vs light skinny tires
@@frienduro24 Your response is as nonsense as it is salty. Weight doesn't increase punctures because, if you ask any pro (or rather, their mechanic), they'll tell you to adjust your pressure accordingly. Never mind that punctures are irrelevant in gravel with everyone riding tubeless. Its flatting that matters, not punctures.
YOU haven't tested anything. Keep your "we" out of it. And, no, you're wrong. There's ample testing data publicly viewable showing wider tires produce quicker times on rough terrain. Its true of the Belgian cobbles. Its true of the Hell of the North. Its true of gravel.
And since you brought up climbing. Wider tires have a better footprint, producing more friction. Meaning you're less likely to break traction with the surface on steep climbs. Meaning you will often be faster, esp if it allows you to turn a taller gear without losing grip. So, there's another notch against your ridiculousness.
@@cjohnson3836ok….We tested 40 vs 50 and 40 was faster by a small margin. On all surface, but on larger rocks.
The 50s were more comfortable and slightly faster. Anyone that says bigger tires are faster is bull shit. 100% depends on the surface
I really wanted to make Canyon Grail works for me. But 42mm was a big mistake. Even on fast gravel races the likes of Keegan and Dylan Johnson are using mountain bike tires!!!! And there are data to back it up. Now Canyon is stuck and I simply cannot invest all this money when the marketing is evolving in a different direction.
Some say "pro's now use ... at unbound" and bike brands want to sell every year new bikes. So i understand why canyon offers you 40mm tire clearance 6 month ago. 😅
If they offered you now 60mm clearance, what would canyon sell in 3 years? Nothing.
The "newness" of the bike is not correlated to maximum tire size. If you want more than 40mm then buy the Grizl.
I've had 38 mm on the back and 45 in the front, the biggest that would like on my Xride Cross bike from 2016
42 suits me OK but understand your tyre clearance issues
+1 to the cameraman!
👍
Dylan Thomas - wider is faster?
Need the bigger tyre for 'British' gravel (aka edges of fields, bogs, slop, rocky paths and occasional bits of gravel)
Have you heard of HT MTB that’s thr bike for most British gravel/chunky and muddy terrains Gravel bike is more American 😊
@@thewanderer5269 a hardtail is the gravel bike I use most often 😃 the true British gravel bike
running 48 front 44 rear on the grail without issues for a year now
What tires are you running? I've been wanting to try a 45mm on the rear of my Grail 2.
@@cparker88 tufo thundero best gravel tyres (speed on road/ terrain capability)
@@cparker88 tufo thundero, sorry for late response
@@benreisenauer9781 thanks man!!
I'm sure the sponsored riders were happy with 40mm and 2x road when they were asked in the frame development in about 2020, the problem is more that it's probably not what they are looking for now - and even if you just throw away this model and restart designing, what do you set for your spec for the 2027 model that would reach production....... I guess you look for 1x13 and MTB tyres, but where does that take you for a frame design that fits in short chainstays, tyre clearance and road BB? 148mm rear wheel spacing?
Actually the Sponsored Canyon pros who were previously racing the Grizl ran 38-42 tires
Canyon's reasoning about not increasing the clearance doesn't really add up when you look what the gravel pros are using. It's all 45mm and up now, MTB 2.1" tyres if they can squeeze them in even
So you tried to make a Grizl out of Grail. Question is - why?
Grizl isn't as responsive or fast. The reality is canyon selected the tire clearance entirely to make people buy two different bikes. If the Grail had wider clearance, no one would buy the grizl. Pretty simple. So as is people with bigger wallets might buy one of each which would not be the case if it could take fatties.
He prefers the Grail geometry I suppose but wants the additional tire clearance of the Grizl
You kinda have a point but to be fair the grizl also has more upright, adventure bike-ish geometry. I think the modern idea with gravel bikes is that there genuinely are differences between what makes a good race bike and a good adventure bike, but tire clearance isn't one of them.
@graemehill I have no intention to argue about it, but it's very obvious tire clearance is one of the things that changed drastically in recent years, even in race bikes, for both road and cx/gravel bikes.
Gravel Kings are great tires.
The new Grail should replace the Endurace. Fight me over it
Unbound was 20 plus mph on mtb tires… grail is already an antique.
Agree 100%. I have this bike and tire clearance is my only gripe.
The grail is not future proof because gravel tyres are getting bigger year after year. In 2025 50mm will be standard for gravel bike tyres, in 2026 for gravel race bikes.
I would just get a Ribble Gravel bike and save a few grand personally.
Not everyone weighs 130lbs like Lachlan, manufacturers still don't get it, they need clearance for atleast 2.3" tires. Salsa figured it out with their cutthroat.
And even though he's so light and fast he still seemed limited by what his sponsor's bike would support when he won unbound. He used an mtb tire in the front but could only fit a 44mm gravel tire in the back. Everyone assumes the fast riders don't want big tires but it's not true anymore.
@@graemehillthe majority of pros still race on 38-42. This is what I heard in recent interviews. Yes there are a handful running 45+ and few MTBs, but it’s not on every race for damn sure
Wouldn‘t buy any new gravel bike that won‘t fit 2.2
Get a hardtail MTB.
42 tires are fine ... for more i use mtb
You could have fit a 42 rear maybe
I could but don't have any 42s, most of my tyres are 40 and 45 for some reason
It is their narrow fast model. They offer the grizl if you want extra wide? It's that simple :)
Why did you do this?
I just put on the GK X1 R in 45 mm. The actually inflate to 47 mm. I'm pretty happy with them after putting on my first 150 miles. Too bad they don't fit on the Grail; but then they are not supposed to fit. I would consider the Grail to be more of an all road bike while the Grizl is a true gravel bike.
Need 50c clearance at a minimum.
Thanks, David, certainly does seem that this bike was on the drawing board before Dylan Johnson and friends started the 50+ trend? And it'd be interesting to see you slip a 650b in the rear with a tractor tire. :)
Its a race gravel bike specific for going fast….thus no need for huge tire clearence.
Buy a Open Wide if you want Lots of space for mtb tires😊
Is anyone going to tell him?
@@Peregrino.51 Dylan doesn't approve his comment :D Just watch the current Lifetime races... most are going wide !
I never understood why people ride mountain bike tires on gravel bikes. if you want fat tires, why not just use an MTB? It handles like a tank anyway. I still ride 35mm cyclocross tires even on rough terrain and can see why you would want 40mm or even 42, but even wider? Ridiculous! Tried it and never liked it.
If you absolutely must have them, there are enough Gravel bikes that allow for such nonesense. No need to blame canyon for your choice.
… and no way to mount a suspension stem or say a Lauf fork … 👎😩
Gravel is ging wider within the next years. Until you buy a new bike every year, canyon is a dont-buy.
How much wider you can go, you will reach XC territory soon, and the we will start see MTB XC with gravel handlebars. Then you don’t need gravel.
I loved cycling b4 all this social media bllx
KQañion
This is a problem with Canyon's production flow. All their input comes from their sponsored athlete stable which is predominately all former tour roadies. They need to get a more diverse input, esp since the people lighting up US gravel are mostly from the MTB side of things.
Yep. Will be the only reason I am not gonna be on one..