Speculation about a suspension fork from Koblenz is not entirely new. Last year, MTB pro Peter Schermann combined his Grail CFR with the same fork at the German Gravel Championships, which has now been used again by some Canyon team riders at the Traka. There is no official information yet, but the first details can be seen in the first pictures.
Canyon enlisted the expertise of DT Swiss for the development, as the lettering "Engineered by DT Swiss" above the dropouts reveals. Although the Swiss component specialist is primarily known to road cyclists for its large portfolio of wheels, it also develops its own suspension forks. The range currently includes three models that are optimised for use on mountain bikes and 29-inch wheels.
New Canyon gravel fork: 40 millimetres of travel like the competition?
Ovett combined the previously unreleased suspension fork from Canyon/DT Swiss with classic 28-inch wheels. The Australian fitted 52 millimetre wide Goodyear tyres to the carbon rim on the front wheel. The suspension travel should be between 30 and 40 millimetres, as you can see from the pictures, and thus reach a typical level for gravel bikes. For comparison: The Rudy Ultimate from Rockshox, which Canyon has fitted to the Grizl Trail and other bikes, offers 30 millimetres of travel. The new Rudy Ultimate XPLR from SRAM's subsidiary brand is available with a travel of 30 or 40 millimetres.
An exciting detail on Ovett's Grail can be found in the left handlebar arch: apparently, the lockout function of the suspension fork can be operated via a small remote lever. DT Swiss has so far offered comparable solutions for mountain bikes.
It is not known when Canyon/DT Swiss will officially launch the new suspension fork. The Koblenz-based company currently only offers the Grail, which sees itself as a competitive all-rounder and impressed us in our test with its high level of suspension comfort, with a rigid fork. The Grizl, nominally the adventure bikepacking model in the mail order company's range, is currently only available in one version with a suspension fork.
Julian Schultz
Editor
