Gravel bike choices in the $1300 range
03-28-23, 09:44 AM
#26
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IMO...Your initial choice of the Grizl seems like it checks all the boxes you're looking for, including hydraulic brakes, which (to me) are an important factor for a gravel bike. The Grizl looks like a very versatile platform that can be whatever kind of gravel bike you want it to be, depending on how you set up fit and tires.
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03-28-23, 09:45 AM
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Downtube shifters are more suitable for road bikes and would be awkward on that type of bike. Besides, he probably wants indexed shifting so there's nothing that would work anyway. Rim brakes would be fine but those are almost non-existent in this space, so you're going to be forced into disc brakes whether you want them or not. It's the hydraulic part that is a big ask for this price point.
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03-28-23, 09:47 AM
#28
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not even the grizl with a <gasp> suspension fork? https://www.canyon.com/en-us/gravel-...rahmenfarbe=GN
From Canyon's website:
So yeah, there are a couple other minor differences that make one more the backwoods-bikepacker than the other: 45mm tires on the Grizl vs 40 on the Grail; the Grail has fewer mounting points for racks and stuff; the (minor) geometry tweaks. So, going off of one sentence (heck, just a portion of a sentence at that), I thought I'd poke the discussion
From Canyon's website:
So yeah, there are a couple other minor differences that make one more the backwoods-bikepacker than the other: 45mm tires on the Grizl vs 40 on the Grail; the Grail has fewer mounting points for racks and stuff; the (minor) geometry tweaks. So, going off of one sentence (heck, just a portion of a sentence at that), I thought I'd poke the discussion
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03-28-23, 11:08 AM
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...and bigfoot riding a bike is the same for me --meaning I totally associate the pic to your posts, I only need to scan for the avatar.... 
Last edited by superdex; 03-28-23 at 11:12 AM.
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03-29-23, 06:50 AM
#30
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Well, I got a little worried about the fit of the Grizl 6 and I’ve decided to scrap that mission. I’m going to do what I have wanted to do along, and that is to build a gravel bike form the frame up. Last night I ordered a Tiagra groupset (with hydraulic brakes, of course), a DT Swiss 1800 Wheelset, a set of Continental Tierra 700cx40mm tires and I got a pretty good deal on a Chinese aluminum frame and steel fork, it should be good and it’s just to get me started. Ritchey bars also ordered and I will hold off on the neck and try a few of mine first. Brooks B17 seat ordered. The real end goal of this adventure was to braze a very light steel lugged frame and that will be in the forefront once I get this bike built. I just needed something in the meantime to get me by, but have all of parts and the groupset I wanted when the time came. I will start another thread soon. Thanks to everyone for the replies, you have been very helpful. And amusing. Cool site.
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03-29-23, 08:34 AM
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lightweight steel / lugged gravel bike sounds like a plan ... awesome plan
04-02-23, 05:51 PM
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Well, I got a little worried about the fit of the Grizl 6 and I’ve decided to scrap that mission. I’m going to do what I have wanted to do along, and that is to build a gravel bike form the frame up. Last night I ordered a Tiagra groupset (with hydraulic brakes, of course), a DT Swiss 1800 Wheelset, a set of Continental Tierra 700cx40mm tires and I got a pretty good deal on a Chinese aluminum frame and steel fork, it should be good and it’s just to get me started. Ritchey bars also ordered and I will hold off on the neck and try a few of mine first. Brooks B17 seat ordered. The real end goal of this adventure was to braze a very light steel lugged frame and that will be in the forefront once I get this bike built. I just needed something in the meantime to get me by, but have all of parts and the groupset I wanted when the time came. I will start another thread soon. Thanks to everyone for the replies, you have been very helpful. And amusing. Cool site.
04-03-23, 05:52 AM
#33
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I was really leaning that way but I could not get the the GRX crankset (it was a Tiagra) with the GRX groupset at the time of purchase so I went with Tiagra all the way around. Of course, I read from from some of these larger websites that said they were identical, so at the time of purchase, I had no worries. I've read a little more on it now and see that there are some differences but I won't lose any sleep over the Tiagra vs GRX 400. My gravel riding is pretty cushy compared to most others gravel riding. I live in Fla and everything is pretty much flat where I bike. I'm 57 and I don't for see doing any serious technical stuff. I just like flat gravel roads and leaf covered roads that meander through the woods. Hell, I'm riding a R300 (Tiagra/Sora) with 30mm tires right now and everything seems to do fine.
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04-03-23, 05:58 AM
#34
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I like Tiagra. I have it on my 2009 Windsor Tourist, which is used mostly for gravel touring (rail trail paths) and inclement weather training. It has thousands of miles on it and still works as new.
04-03-23, 08:34 AM
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I thought I read or was told the lower level GRX calipers and Tiagra were very similar if possibly identical except for the branding - ? - but I have not compared them
the upper GRX 800 series caliper uses ceramic piston (similar to 105 / Ultegra) - the lower level GRX uses resin piston (same as Tiagra) ... ?
GRX calipers might use different hose attachment (banjo vs straight ?) - again not sure / can’t recall
Tiagra calipers are flat mount and accept the finned pads ... ‘narrow track’ ... (same as GRX ?)
currently in the final steps of Sora 9 to Tiagra / GRX / etc conversion ... GRX FD is definitely different compared to other Shimano FD’s ... additional setup steps and adjustments ... cable routing is even unique (after it exits the securing pinch bolt) - loops and passes through a small plastic top cover that snaps into place
the upper GRX 800 series caliper uses ceramic piston (similar to 105 / Ultegra) - the lower level GRX uses resin piston (same as Tiagra) ... ?
GRX calipers might use different hose attachment (banjo vs straight ?) - again not sure / can’t recall
Tiagra calipers are flat mount and accept the finned pads ... ‘narrow track’ ... (same as GRX ?)
currently in the final steps of Sora 9 to Tiagra / GRX / etc conversion ... GRX FD is definitely different compared to other Shimano FD’s ... additional setup steps and adjustments ... cable routing is even unique (after it exits the securing pinch bolt) - loops and passes through a small plastic top cover that snaps into place
Last edited by t2p; 04-03-23 at 08:42 AM.
