The Canyon Grizl Escape ECLIPS is a bold evolution in integrated gravel bikepacking design.
While I admire Canyon’s drive to innovate, I believe you can build a smarter, more versatile bike by starting with the base model Grizl and saving money in the process.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how I’d build the ultimate Canyon Grizl, featuring a high-performance dynamo power system and a fully adjustable cockpit.
Let’s dive in.
The Award-Winning Canyon Grizl Gravel Bike
The Canyon Grizl is one of my favourite gravel bikes – fun to ride, versatile, and consistently well spec’d for the price. It’s earned a place on my Top 10 Bikepacking Gravel Bikes list for good reason.
Here’s why the Grizl consistently rises to the top:
It’s offered in one of the widest size ranges of any brand
It comes with well-chosen components
Many models include comfort-enhancing flex seatposts
Tyre clearance is generous
Pricing is very competitive
Canyon deserves credit for always pushing boundaries and innovating, and I love that about them. But when it comes to the new Escape ECLIPS edition, I don’t think it’s a bad bike… I just think there’s room to make it even better, for a lower price.
Before we dive into how to kit it out, let’s first take a look at what’s new with this updated Grizl model.
What is the Canyon Grizl Escape ECLIPS?
The latest update to the Canyon Grizl brings increased tyre clearance, now accommodating 700C x 54 mm tyres both front and rear – up from the original model’s generous 50 mm. The frame geometry has also been overhauled for greater stability and a more relaxed fit, featuring a slacker head tube angle, higher stack height, longer chainstays, and an extended wheelbase overall.
Previously, the two smallest Grizl sizes ran 650B wheels, which limited tyre choice. The updated range now uses 700C wheels across all sizes, making it easier to find top-tier tyres and giving you more long-term flexibility.
Canyon has also committed to 1X drivetrains only, eliminating front derailleur compatibility. This change is part of what enabled the bump in tyre clearance.
A new Canyon-designed frame bag complements the Grizl, attaching via dedicated mounts using Fidlock’s magnetic quick-release hardware. The result is a sleek, strap-free fit. Impressively, even on the smaller frame sizes, there’s still room for both a large and a small water bottle with the frame bag in place.
The new Grizl frame features an impressive 23 mounting points, including spots for three bottles, a top tube bag, full fenders (with clearance for 50 mm tyres), and front/rear cargo racks. With standard bottle cage spacing on most mounts, you can carry up to eight bottles if needed.
Canyon has also taken an integrated approach to the cockpit with its new carbon “Full Mounty” system. This combines flared drop bars with a mini aero-loop and integrated stem.
The focus isn’t on weight savings; rather, the Full Mounty adds functionality, offering mounts for aero bar extensions, a dedicated handlebar bag, and additional accessories. The forward portion maintains a standard 31.8 mm round clamp area for lights and gadgets.
Canyon Grizl Escape ECLIPS with Endless Power
Canyon’s new ECLIPS system (Endless Charge and Lighting Integrated Power System) is a fully integrated lighting and charging setup. It includes a 900-lumen Lupine SL Nano headlight mounted to the handlebars and a custom Lupine C14 rear LED neatly built into the Grizl’s aluminium seatpost collar.
Power comes from a custom SON 29 S dynamo hub, which reportedly requires just 3.2 watts of rider input when generating power, or only 0.2 watts when not actively charging. The fork features specially designed dropouts with built-in electrical contacts, eliminating the need to manually connect wires when fitting or removing the front wheel.
To prevent flickering or dimming when stationary, Canyon has integrated a 3500 mAh Lupine Smartcore buffer battery inside the downtube. This battery ensures consistent light output, doubles as a power bank, and is managed by Canyon’s proprietary BlackBox Battery Management System.
At just 15 km/h (9.3 mph), the system can sustain the lights indefinitely on a low setting, while riding at 20 km/h (12.4 mph) can recharge the buffer battery at a rate of 12% per hour. A USB-C port embedded in the headset cap enables on-the-go charging of devices, and it also allows you to tap into the battery while stationary – ideal for overnight camping.
Canyon estimates the full ECLIPS setup adds around 600 grams to the bike.
How To Make A Better Canyon Grizl
The Canyon Grizl is already sounding like a solid choice, but I’m going to show you how to make it even better, and for less money.
With this custom build, you’ll gain greater cockpit adjustability, more handlebar width options, brighter lights, stronger charging capabilities, and a more optimal rear light placement.
Let’s start by looking at the base bike we’ll be upgrading. This will serve as our comparison point to the Grizl CF 8 ESC w/ ECLIPS, which is €4349.
Step One: Choosing The Bike
The Canyon Grizl CF 7 is mechanically very similar to the Grizl CF 8 ESC. It shares the same frame, shifters, brakes, wheels, seatpost, and other core components.
What it doesn’t include is the integrated dynamo lighting and charging system, or the Full Mounty cockpit. But that’s exactly where our custom build comes in; we’ll be adding those features (and improving on them) in the next steps.
Bike: Canyon Grizl CF 7
Price: €2749
Total so far: €2749
Step Two: Upgrade The Cockpit
The Full Mounty cockpit locks you into a fixed stem length. But what if you have a long torso and short legs, or the opposite? Getting the correct saddle-to-bar reach becomes a challenge, and that lack of adjustability is simply too restrictive.
Integrated handlebars also limit your options to a single bar width. That means you can’t choose a narrower setup for better aerodynamics, or a wider one for increased control, especially useful when hauling gear up front. Again, far too limiting for a bike that’s supposed to be versatile.
Another drawback: you can’t run a suspension stem with the Full Mounty system. In our testing with accelerometers, we’ve seen approximately 20% fewer vibrations when using a suspension stem compared to a rigid one – a significant improvement in comfort over long distances.
The Canyon CP0050 aero bar extensions, designed for the Full Mounty, also offer just 30 mm of height adjustment. While that may suit most riders, many other aero bar systems offer up to 70 mm of adjustability. Greater adjustability means better ergonomics, especially for endurance events where a taller aero position allows riders to stay tucked longer without fatigue.
For the Grizl CF 7, I recommend the Redshift Kitchen Sink gravel handlebar instead. It comes in widths from 410 to 530 mm, with two flare options (10° or 25°) in each size. These bars feature the same “Endurance Loop” as Canyon’s, and there’s even a purpose-built bag that fits neatly into the loop, with zippered access for convenience.
It’s worth noting that there’s a Kitchen Sink model without the loop as well.
When it comes to aero bars, any standard clip-on set will work with the Kitchen Sink (find my aero bar recommendations HERE). You’ll also be free to choose your stem length, and even run a suspension stem (recommendations HERE).
With this setup, your entire cockpit becomes fully customisable, letting you tailor the fit and comfort to your exact needs.
Handlebar: Redshift Kitchen Sink
Price: €92
Total so far: €2841
Step Three: Pick The Right Dynamo Hub
With the cockpit now sorted, let’s move on to the dynamo power system.
The SON 29 S dynamo hub that comes with the Grizl Escape ECLIPS is truly top-tier. It delivers 10 to 30% more output than most other dynamo hubs (performance analysis HERE). As a complete wheel, it’ll cost you around €549, or €439 for just the hub.
That said, there are more affordable SON options. The SON 28 12 hub is available for around €320, with a complete wheel costing about €60 more. While it’s slightly less powerful than the 29 S (due to fewer magnets), performance at higher speeds is quite close. Unless you’re consistently riding at slower speeds (5–15 km/h), I’d recommend saving the €170 and opting for this hub instead. You can still achieve excellent light output and charging performance by carefully selecting your lighting and USB charging components.
Another budget-friendly option is the SP PD-7 dynamo hub, which comes in at about half the price of a SON. However, SP hubs are known to occasionally develop bearing play relatively early in their life. Replacing the bearings can end up costing nearly as much as buying a new hub, making SON a more reliable long-term investment.
Dynamo Wheel: SON 28 12 + DT Swiss
Price: €379 (or €549 with SON 28 12 hub)
Total so far: €3220
Step Four: Front Light and USB Charger Options
With the dynamo hub selected, it’s time to look at the lighting and charging setup.
If Canyon’s press claims are accurate, the integrated charging system in the Grizl ESC leaves a lot to be desired. It reportedly charges the buffer battery at just 12% per hour, equivalent to only 2.1 watts of USB output at 20 km/h. That’s less than half of what a quality dynamo USB charger can deliver. For comparison, simply keeping a smartphone charged while running turn-by-turn navigation typically requires around 4 watts of input power.
There are plenty of dynamo chargers capable of meeting that demand, but the nicest solution is a light with an integrated USB charger. That’s why my top pick is the SON Ladelux.
This light is at least as bright as the Lupine SL, and likely brighter. Independent tests show that it produces around 800 lumens at 20 km/h, placing it among the most powerful dynamo lights available. It also features a well-designed, layered beam pattern with a sharp cutoff and zero flicker. It can be flicker-free thanks to a built-in buffer battery that kicks in at low speeds.
There’s both high and low beam functionality, controlled by a handlebar switch that also discreetly houses the USB charging port. At 20 km/h, the Ladelux delivers 5 watts of USB power (2.5 times more than Canyon’s system), making it significantly more effective for real-world charging needs.
While there are certainly more budget-friendly lights and chargers out there, this setup is arguably the best available. I’ve compiled a list of top dynamo lights HERE and high-output USB chargers HERE if you’re looking for alternatives.
Light & Charger: SON Ladelux
Price: €479
Total so far: €3699
Step Five: Rear Light Options
Finally, let’s finish the build with a smarter rear light setup.
One issue I have with Canyon’s integrated seat clamp light is that the beam ends up hidden when you mount rear panniers or strap a dry bag to your rack. In fact, Canyon’s promotional photos demonstrate the panniers obstructing the rear light!
A much better solution is to position the light higher, near the saddle, where it remains clearly visible to other road users.
SON dynamo rear lights are a great option here. They’re available with a GoPro-style mount, making it easy to attach them under the saddle and adjust the angle for optimal visibility. SON also offers a variety of other mounting options, including a seat clamp similar to Canyon’s (ideal if you’re not carrying rear luggage), as well as seatpost and rear rack mounts, giving you full flexibility depending on your setup.
Light: SON Rear Light
Price: €83
Total so far: €3792
Summary
As much as I appreciate the smart integration of the Canyon Grizl Escape ECLIPS, I believe upgrading the standard model is the better move.
This custom build offers superior cockpit adjustability, more handlebar width options, brighter lights, more powerful charging, and improved rear light positioning – all while saving you €557.
I’ve intentionally selected top-tier components to prove that even with the best of the best, the total cost is still lower than the ECLIPS model. That said, you can easily create an excellent dynamo setup for much less.
If you want to learn it all, it could be worth digging into my full series on dynamo setups:
Dynamo Lights
Dynamo Hubs
Dynamo USB Chargers
Dynamo Wiring
Buffer Batteries
Rim Dynamos
