Hi there,
my beloved gravel bike was stolen last week. I am now checking out which bike will be my next. I was riding a no name (Serious) alu bike with nice components before (GRX610, hydraulic disc brake). But after the first three years I am really into gravelling. I love riding through forrests and fields – much more than the streets. But sometimes I just wanna BE fast, too. So I am looking in a better catergory now.
Here in Germany we have two offers that got my attention:
- Specialized Diverge Sport Carbon 2025 for just 2200 Euro (listed as 3500)
- Canyon Grail 7 CF either with 2*12 GRX 810 or 1by (2200 and 2500 Euro)
The Specialized comes in carbon dark grey or doppio (dark brown, which I prefer because IT looked better in a Store) and I can get it now.
For the Grail I have to wait 2 month because I need a very small size.
What would you recommend? I know that the Specialized is a little heavier but therefore really good offer compared to the original price. It also looks more elegant and Clean.
The Grail looks a little more like a racing machine.
Thank you so much!
by Pappnasi
10 Comments
You prefer to ride a bike that you think is prettier, so go with the one you like better
Can’t go wrong with either. Personally I’d go with the diverge but I ride a diverge carbon sport so I am biased
I personally would pick Canyon for integrated carbon handlebar.
Internal cable routing looks so much cleaner to me and Specialized does not have that.
Wheels are similar, tire clearance is similar, but Specialized has 2mm bigger clearance which may be useful if you would plan to upgrade to wide carbon wheels in the future.
And I’m not sure about Specialized suspension system. I would not want it, because I would prefer more performance for racing. But I would prefer Specialized color haha.
But if you prefer comfort and no internal cable routing doesnt bother you, buy Specialized.
If you prefer max performance and less weight for racing, chose Canyon.
Price for the Specialized is really good, I paid almost 2,700 in end of August.
Specialized from a shop. Canyon (at least in the US) can be a headache if something goes wrong. Having a relationship with a shop is incredibly valuable
Diverge
Topstone carbon 3
Specialized will be much easier to replace parts and make adjustments if you ever need. Think about buying a Toyota vs Saab. Mechanics know less about Saabs and have limited availability to parts.
I have the grail and I love it so much. I always call it the perfect bike. But I’ve never ridden the specialized. I have the 1by
I have no complaints about mine other than maybe the max tire width. I wish that were slightly wider.
But maybe not because i’d be riding 40’s most of the time anyways
I am biased because I ride Specialized, but I would go for the Diverge. One thing to consider is service down the road. Many shops complain about dealing with Canyon, while Specialized is pretty common and much easier to deal with.