Canyon Grizl CF 7 ESC vs Trek Checkpoint SL 5 AXS Gen 3
Both are gravel bikes at a similar price. Here is what actually separates them.
The short answer
For a typical all-round rider the Trek Checkpoint SL 5 AXS Gen 3 comes out ahead (77% against 67%). That is not a universal verdict — change the terrain or the priority and the order can flip.
What actually separates them
- Price
- The Canyon Grizl CF 7 ESC is £101 cheaper — £2,649 against £2,750.
- Weight
- The Trek Checkpoint SL 5 AXS Gen 3 is 0.4kg lighter, which you notice on long climbs more than anywhere else.
- Riding position
- The Trek Checkpoint SL 5 AXS Gen 3 sits you more upright (1.51 stack-to-reach against 1.48). The Canyon Grizl CF 7 ESC is the more aggressive of the two — quicker if you can hold it, harder work if you cannot.
- Tyre clearance
- The Canyon Grizl CF 7 ESC takes 54mm tyres against 50mm — the single most common thing buyers wish they had more of.
- Climbing gear
- The Canyon Grizl CF 7 ESC has the easier bottom gear (21 gear inches against 25), which matters more than weight on anything genuinely steep.
- Shifting
- Only the Trek Checkpoint SL 5 AXS Gen 3 has electronic shifting. Crisper and lower maintenance, but it needs charging and costs more to replace.
- Mudguards
- Only the Trek Checkpoint SL 5 AXS Gen 3 takes mudguards, which decides whether it can be your winter bike.
Side by side
| Spec | Grizl CF 7 ESC | Checkpoint SL 5 AXS Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,649 | £2,750 |
| Weight | 9.9 kg | 9.5 kg |
| Frame | carbon | carbon |
| Groupset | Shimano GRX RX822 1x12 mechanical | SRAM Apex XPLR AXS 1x12 electronic |
| Stack / reach | 1.48 | 1.51 |
| Tyre clearance | 54 mm | 50 mm |
| Lowest gear | 21 in | 25 in |
| Mudguard mounts | No | Yes |
| Comfort | 70 | 76 |
| Speed | 29 | 30 |
| Climbing | 59 | 59 |
| Value | 16 | 35 |
Neither might be the right answer
This page assumes an average rider. Tell us how you actually ride and we will rank these two against everything else at the price.
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