Narrowed down some local gravel bike listings to start riding again, and having trouble deciding between these two.
🚴 Canyon Grail CF SL 8 eTap 2021 (€2179)
- Frame & Fork: Carbon Grail CF SL
- Groupset: SRAM Force eTap AXS (2×12)
- Front derailleur: SRAM Force eTap AXS
- Rear derailleur: SRAM Force eTap AXS
- Crankset: SRAM Force AXS
- Cassette: SRAM Force (likely 10‑36 or 10‑50 depending on listing) Â
- Wheels: Reynolds ATR alloy wheels Â
🚴 BMC URS One 2023 (€1900)
- Frame & Fork:Â BMC URS One carbon with Micro Travel Technology
- Groupset: SRAM Rival 1×11
- Crankset: SRAM Rival
- Brakes: SRAM Rival hydraulic disc brakes Â
- Wheels: DT Swiss C1850 alloy wheels Â
Or do I just wait for a good deal on a Cervelo Aspero 🤔
by NotSoFlightless_Bird
5 Comments
I think getting an electric groupsets is one of the biggest and most noticeable upgrades one can make to a bike, so I would get that.
Pictures alone would go for canyon
Go for the one that actually fits you best
Neither.
Someone did a bar swap on the Grail. Originally it had those double-decker bars that looked goofy AF but apparently weren’t terrible to ride. Sex sells, and the new Grail has a more traditional bar and stem. But I digress.
Without the double stack handlebars the geometry is going to be super aggressive. It’ll be like riding in the drops all the time. Pass.
For the BMS URS, I didn’t realize 1×11 Rival was being sold in 2023. That is an old, mid-range groupset. The URS is a decent enough “comfort oriented” gravel bike but the heavy use of elastomers will make anyone who rode mountain bikes in the 90s cringe. The 2025 edition of the URS did away with squishy plastics and is more traditional — that should tell you something.
The Aspero is like the polar opposite from the URS so if you’re cross-shopping these I’d say, “Pick a direction.” The Aspero is a Cervelo S5/R5 that takes bigger tires. The URS is more of an endurance bike. And the Grail is somewhere in the middle.
Be very wary of that grail. The frame geometry is set up around the double decker handlebar but it’s been switched for a normal bar/stem. This basically means it’s been slammed by like 70mm+. It might fit you but it’s going to be an aggressive setup and you’d have to try it out first.