Grail:ON CF 8 AXS

When the riding is smooth, speed comes down to resistance and weight, and that's what this rating emphasizes. Relative to performance-oriented builds, this build is shaped by a heavier build, very wide tires that create extra drag, and a solid drivetrain that supports efficient riding. That's why it's better suited to relaxed riding than pushing fast splits.

How it climbs: 7.8/10. Within e-road bikes, it lands above average. On climbs, the lowest gear feels easy. That lowest gear comes out around 18.4 gear inches. For the low gear, it’s right at the easy end — easier than about ~96% of similar bikes. Think of “gear inches” like a difficulty score for your easiest gear: lower = more spin-friendly on climbs. With roughly 16.3 kg under you, you’ll feel the weight on longer climbs even with a decent low gear. The motor support helps you keep rolling when the slope kicks up. You’ll be able to keep a steady spin even when it gets steep. Build kits can differ by size and spec level, and not every detail is published by every brand, so use this as a practical guideline.

At 4.5/10 for aerodynamics, it’s a practical middle ground so it won’t hold you back on normal fast riding. The short version is: it’s a balanced middle ground: some streamlining, but not an extreme aero setup. This setup supports a more race-leaning posture, helping you present less of your body to the wind. That tyre width leans toward grip and stability first, with a small aero penalty at speed. That typically means solid everyday speed without forcing an aggressive position or race-only parts.

Balanced fit - a middle ground between comfort and speed. That's driven by the cockpit sits 95 mm below the saddle (a large drop), and the cockpit stretches you forward by ~580 mm (very long). You'll likely be near 38 degrees of lean.

In E-bikeRoad, This bike's adjustability comes down to cockpit, routing, and seat setup: Standard cockpit parts make it simpler to fine-tune your position over time, Routing is relatively straightforward, which helps when you change cockpit parts, Seatpost details do not strongly point to a very locked-in or very flexible system; Multiple offset or setback options help you dial in your saddle position. Overall, it falls into Adjustable.

Ride comfort is 6.7/10 — on a real ride it feels easygoing over rough patches. So it’s tagged Balanced overall. It’s running about 50 mm tires on 700c wheels, and wider tires let you drop pressure a touch, which smooths out rough pavement on rough lanes and gravel patches. The posture is race-leaning (posture 7/10, torso ~38°), which puts more weight forward, so you notice more feedback through the hands and saddle.

For what you get, the price looks very hard to beat. The value score is 1–10. Higher means better value for money; lower means the price is high for what you get. Uses MSRP as a baseline; real-world prices can be lower (discounts can change the value). Based on the spec estimate, it comes in about 18% under the typical level for similar builds. Against similar bikes of the same type and age, it’s usually on the cheaper side, beating about 85% of listings. Quick reference: €6.499 listed versus about €7.898 for a comparable build. Overall, it looks like a great-value pick in its category.

This bike is aimed at exploring off the main roads on tougher mixed terrain. The tire size is around 50 mm, which supports comfort and control on rougher ground. Even though it’s tagged Gravel, the spec pushes it toward Adventure.