The big brand gravel bike battle! Canyon vs Cannondale! Which gravel bike is best? We are going to compare these two iconic gravel bikes side by side and see what the difference is between each.
Introducing the Canyon Grail
Cover huge distances at speed and in comfort (as stated by Canyon but when compared to the Cannondale simply due to the much lower stack/reach comfort would be sacrificed over the long haul). However, that is the promise by Canyon with their Grail gravel bike.
It is the ultimate all-rounder, offering road bike speed, all-terrain control, and grip with stable but also agile handling. The CF SLX model is designed to win races, while they also offer other more accessible models if you just want to ride fast and save some coin.
The Grail is more focused on speed and performance on gravel terrain compared to the more all-rounder/adventure cargo-carrying-friendly Topstone. The Grail has been used in some long-distance endurance events. Featuring a spot amongst some of the fastest gravel bikes. The Grail comes in 12 different build options including women’s gravel bikes.
Introducing the Cannondale Topstone
Just looking at this bike it is clearly the better option if you want something that you can take on adventures. Yes, it is the more expensive bike out of the two. You do get the choice to buy much more affordable models. This model though boasts some interesting features, that are definitely worth considering.
The main feature worth mentioning is the bike’s Kingpin suspension system. Delivering a smooth ride without the added weight and complexity of a shock and links. Whether you need more comfort to go long, or more traction to push beyond. This intuitive suspension design has you covered, offering that little extra comfort for those grueling gravel-grinding adventures.
You also get the SmartSense’s system of intelligent lights (and optional rear-facing radar) which increases your visibility out on the open road and makes it easy to ride smart.
Dropper compatible, and you get all the mounting options you could need for your next bikepacking trip. This bike is a no-brainer if you want your next all-rounder adventure gravel bike.
Price – Grail Vs Topstone
When it comes to price the Grail ranges from $2,299 to $9,549 while the Topstone has a plethora of options ranging from $1,375 to $7,850. But what really is the difference and which one is best for you and your riding goals?
There are so many different models to choose from for each bike. For this article, we have taken their mid-range (best bang for buck option as a main comparison. Instead of comparing all models together.)
The Canyon Grail was built to be a bike that maintains similar performance and speed to a road bike on asphalt while also offering the comfort and control, a road bike may lack, on gravel. While the Cannondale Topstone and particularly the suspension, road dampening model we are comparing in this article. Is one of the best gravel bikes for anything from dirt roads to singletrack trails. With the grip and comfort of the Kingpin suspension, they say nothing is off-limits!
Weight – Grail Vs Topstone
When comparing the Canyon Grail CF SL 8 model ($3,199) to the Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 model ($3,325) the Canyon Grail weighs 19.8 pounds / 8.98 kg while the Cannondale Topstone weighs around 23.3 pounds / 10.57 kg. All different build options and models weigh differently. But from the numbers above we can see the Grail is more suited to riding fast and performance-based riding, thanks to its lightweight construction.
Meaning the Checkpoint is more comfortable the longer you stay in the saddle, thanks to a more upright stack/reach ratio. The Trek also seems to offer more mounting options to carry all the necessary gear you may need for a minimal bikepacking trip.
Tire Clearance – Grail Vs Topstone
When it comes to tire clearance the Grail can fit up to 42 mm while the Topstone fits up to 700c x 45mm or 27.5 x 2.1″, with 6mm of mud-shedding clearance. As the Cannondale has slightly wider clearance, it lends itself to be the superior bike when it comes to all-around adventure. And adding to its already comfort and road-dampening-focused build.
The Cannondale comes stock with either WTB Riddler 700 x 45c or Vittoria Terreno Dry 700 x 38c tires. While the Grail comes with the Schwalbe G-One R 40mm tires.
Gearing – Grail Vs Topstone
Both are similar when it comes to gearing (both with 2×11 GRX 800 drivetrains) and hydraulic disc brakes.
When taking a look at these particular bikes’ gearing we found that the Cannondale has a 46-30T crank vs the Grails 48-31T crank and both bikes have 11-34T cassettes in the rear. With the 700c x 45 mm (Cannondale) and 700c x 40mm (Grail) tires.
We can calculate that the Topstone has a better climbing gear of 24.67″ while the Grail has 25.15″. Meaning that the Cannondale is slightly more capable when it comes to climbing especially if you plan to use the bike for bikepacking with gear. However, this climbing gear isn’t the most ideal for solely bikepacking. You want something more like an MTB at 18″ to 20″.
When it comes to the largest gear is often attributed to riding fast on the flats or riding downhill. The Grail offers a 120.50″ vs the Topstone’s 117.17″, meaning the Grail offers more gearing for those fast sections.
Geometry – Grail Vs Topstone
Geometry can play a big part in the difference between how a bike rides and feels. It is definitely something to consider when buying a bike. At first impressions, I was expecting the Grail to be more of a racing and performance-focused gravel bike while the Topstone is more well-rounded for adventure as well as speed. Mainly due to the difference in stack/reach ratio measurements. But all the measurements below are in mm and are for both medium-sized bikes.
Want to learn more about understanding bike geometry? Read this article which goes through all the jargon and what it means for a comfortable ride!
The main difference is in the bike’s geometries. The Grail has a more aggressive stack/reach ratio (1.27 vs 1.50), and the chainstay is 5 mm longer on the Grail. Both chainstay lengths are in the short range (with jumpy and quick characteristics in the rear). While the wheelbase is identical for both bikes.
The trail is 4mm longer on the Grail. 66 mm for the Grail which is on the high end giving the front a stable ride feel. The Topstone has a 62 mm trail which is mid-range seeming predictable in the steering.
The standover height is 49 mm higher on the Grail.
Based on the above information we can conclude that both bikes have rather similar geometry characteristics. The Grail seems better suited as a gravel racing bike to ride nothing but fast. Thanks to its aggressive stack/reach ratio. The more upright riding position of the Topstone suggests it’s better suited for adventure cycling offering more comfort for the long haul.
However, as the Topstones chainstay is shorter than the Grails this suggests the Topstone is still a contender for a fast-paced gravel grinder. Concluding that the Topstone is a more well-rounded gravel bike, that offers more adaptability to different riding uses, compared to the Grail.
| Bike | Grail | Topstone |
| Stack | 536 | 574 |
| Reach | 421 | 383 |
| Stack/Reach Ratio | 1.27 | 1.50 |
| Top Tube Length | 569 | 532 |
| Seat Tube Length | 522 | 505 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73.5 | 73.1 |
| Head Tube Length | 97 | 150 |
| Head Tube Angle | 72.5 | 71.2 |
| BB Drop | 75 | 67 |
| Front Center | 615 | 617 |
| Chainstay Length | 425 | 420 |
| Wheelbase | 1029 | 1029 |
| Rake | 42 | 55 |
| Trail | 66 | 62 |
| Standover Height | 834 | 785 |
If you plan to mostly go on adventures with gear the Cannondale Topstone is a no-brainer. But if you are looking for a speedy gravel bike that will keep up with your roadie mates the Grail is slightly more preferred.
People still use the Grail for bikepacking too. However mostly pavement bikepacking with some light gravel. You just benefit a little more with the Topstone for bikepacking thanks to its more adventure-focused upright geometry for stability and comfort. Along with eyelet mounts galore, the Kingpin suspension and slightly wider tire clearance. It’s simply a more versatile bike. The geometry of the Topstone however still makes for a fun and fast gravel bike.
It seems if you are coming from a roadie background and are looking for a bike with larger tire clearance the Grail is your go-to. Allowing you to maintain the performance of a road bike but have the ability to ride gravel more comfortably and efficiently, compared to a road bike.
But if you want a gravel bike that can ride road just as well as gravel but also take you on bikepacking trips with reasonable comfortability. The Cannondale Topstone is the do-it-all solution out of the two bikes.
However, both bikes are amazing in their own right. And at times it can be difficult to recommend one bike over the other when they are both great bikes and offer something special. But I hope this article clears up some questions you might have had.
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