In the Grizl:ON CF 9 German brand Canyon has a high-end gravel e-bike that’s great fun for exploring the paths less travelled.
Over the last few years, Canyon has become one of the biggest and most reliable names in the cycling world. One of the reasons it’s grown into such a biking behemoth is that it responds to the market, filling niches before other companies even realise they exists. One case in point is the Canyon Grizl:ON CF 9, a high-spec, hard-wearing, versatile gravel e-bike.
Men’s Fitness verdict
Boasting great handling and stability, as well as a decent multi-day range, the Canyon Grizl:ON CF 9 is an ideal e-bike for touring or adventuring off-road.- Stable on downhill rides
- Great speed off-road
- Plenty of storage
- Fiddly assistance controls
- A little lacklustre on the road
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Thanks to its compact Bosch SX mid-drive motor you’ll power up those steep accents like Pogi. On longer rides the 400Wh battery (with optional 250Wh extender) means there is every chance you might run out of juice before it does. The DT Swiss carbon wheels ensure both a smooth ride on the road with the confidence that they’ll cope with the rigours of gravel biking when taken off road.
Canyon Grizl:ON CF 9 design
There is a futuristic, Knight Rider-like appeal to the Canyon Grizl:ON. I half expected it to talk to me and call me Michael. The semi-internal cabling helps with both the overall look and aerodynamics of the bike. But the decision to keep one external brake cable is slightly baffling.
Despite using third-party Bosch, SRAM, Rockshox and DT Swiss components, the bike has a unified, consistent design. Nothing feels out of place or added on (well, apart from that brake cable).
The battery and motor weigh in at just 4kg. Together with the carbon fibre frame and high-end components, it contributes to an overall weight of 15.54kg.
Canyon Grizl:ON CF 9 performance
On the road the bike performed perfectly well, with minimal rolling resistance and noise. It would make a great alternative to a second car on a regular commute. As you’d expect with a Bosch motor, it gives you that extra push from a standing start. Its 55Nm peak torque was more than adequate to get me up the steep city streets of Bath.
With a central motor and geometry that leans more towards a mountain bike than a road bike, it felt very stable weaving through standing traffic. A bonus of riding a gravel bike rather than a road bike came into play when dealing with badly maintained roads. The RockShox Rudy Ultimate suspension fork absorbed any pothole or puddle without so much as a pause in my pedalling.
As a gravel bike the road handling was fine and would make for a speedier ride to work than a good city e-bike like the Raleigh Trace. However, it lacked a little power on longer distances and couldn’t compare with a higher end road-focused e-bike such as a Specialized Turbo Creo.
Off-road handling
It may be unfair to compare the Canyon Grizl:ON to a high-end road e-bike. It’s designed as an all-rounder, performing well on and off road. And any lacklustre performance on road was really made up for when leaving the tarmac behind.
The flared drop bars gave a mix of stable handling and a lower riding position for speed. And the Rockshox Rudy Ultimate suspension, specifically designed for gravel bikes, has 40mm of travel and a quick rebound. It may not seem like much travel, but it kept me moving no matter what I threw at it.
It will take steep forest fire roads and tracks with relative ease. And it’s sure to turn the heads of mountain bikers on the rougher sections that are normally their sole domain.
User experience with the Canyon Grizl:ON CF 9
I took the bike onto gravel paths, grass cut-throughs, muddy bridleways and technical woodland trails. The Canyon excelled on every surface. It felt sure-footed, confident and stable on gnarly, rocky trails and technical sections. And it cut through muddy sections without so much as a pause for breath.
So while you’re unlikely (or perhaps unwise) taking it to Bike Park Wales it will cope surprisingly well on terrain that you wouldn’t dream of riding on a lesser bike. As it’s more than capable on the road but excels on muddy, winding natural trails – such as those in the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales or the Brecon Beacons – it really is the ideal e-bike for bikepacking adventures. Bumpy, long-distance off-road routes on chalky ground or sticky clay become a pleasurable challenge rather than an endless grind.
Canyon Grizl:ON CF 9 features
Both the front and rear lights are integrated into the frame. And as they require little power, they can remain on for 2 hours after the battery has exhausted for the assistance mode. Made by reliable German company Lupine, they’re StVZO-approved, which means they conform to German traffic regulations and shouldn’t dazzle on-coming cars. Riding through tunnels I found myself dropping from the 1,000-lumen main beam to the dipped 700-lumen light without losing visibility. The main light is controllable while the rear light remains on whenever the bike is powered. I found that a nice safety feature which saved me stopping and reaching round when it got dark.
The double bottle holder, which doubles as a port for the range extender, is useful given the bike’s long-distance capabilities. The crossbar bag was handy for carrying food or tools. Fastened onto the bike using magnetic grips, it was quick and easy to remove should you want to shed weight.
SRAM gearing
I found the e-tap SRAM Force XPLR customable AXS, 12-speed wireless gearing system a joy to use. Shifting up through the gears with the push of a button on one side and down through the other, the bike was responsive and allowed for rapid changing even off-road. As the wireless SRAM Force AXS derailleur is powered by the main integrated battery, it’s one less thing to maintain. On the downside, if you find yourself out of juice, far from home, you’ll have to head back on what is essentially as single-speed bike. For those looking to max-out the mileage on this bike, you may be relieved to hear there is the option to fit the standard SRAM AXS battery.
Interface, battery and range
One of the things that let this bike down was the top-tube-mounted interface. It was sluggish and unresponsive at times, making for a shaky change through the assistance modes. Although not a deal-breaker, it would have been better to have the controls on the handlebar alongside the one for the lights.
The integrated Bosch Compact Tube 400WH battery added to the sleek design. However, for me this felt like a regressive step as so many e-bikes now feature removable batteries, allowing for more versatile charging and added security.
There are four colour-coded power-assist modes. The first, Eco, which appropriately is green, gives you a noticeable extra bit of help without draining the battery. The second mode, Tour, is coloured blue and is perhaps the most useful for commutes as well as touring or bikepacking. Sprint (purple) was great for getting up long, dragging hills whilst Turbo mode helped with those steep killer climbs.
In all but Turbo mode, which absolutely ate through the battery life, the range was pretty good. I managed three days of riding at least 20km in mixed modes without any need to charge the battery.
Should you buy the Canyon Grizl:ON CF 9
Although the bike isn’t without its slight issues, it is a really great ride. The road performance may be a little under par when compared to other road bikes in its class, but it easily competes with, if not outshines, comparable gravel e-bikes or commuter e-bikes. For those looking for a great backpacking e-bike or something which is caters both for the daily commute and a bit of weekend fun, the Canyon Grizl:ON CF 9 might just be the bike for you.
