Grifn Gravel Shimano Ultegra Di2 - 2x12

The current Ridley Grifn Gravel generation is an all-road platform built to bridge endurance road riding and fast gravel use rather than chase the increasingly off-road end of the gravel category. Introduced in late 2022, the standard Grifn frame has remained unchanged as Ridley expanded the broader Grifn family, and its defining character is clear: this is a road-first gravel bike for riders who split time between pavement, rough backroads, and lighter gravel. It sits between Ridley’s endurance road bikes and the more gravel-race-oriented Kanzo, with geometry and tire clearances chosen to preserve responsiveness rather than maximize off-road capability.

What distinguishes the Grifn is how deliberately it combines clean integration with practical versatility. Ridley’s F-Steerer cable routing gives the bike a modern, integrated front end, while the frame and fork add a wide range of utility features including mounts for bottles and bags, fender compatibility, and internal routing for lighting systems with dynamo routing in the fork. The tire envelope is telling: up to 40 mm with a 1x drivetrain, 38 mm with 2x, and 32 mm with fenders. Along with the use of a UDH rear hanger, those choices position the Grifn as a fast, efficient mixed-surface bike for endurance riding, commuting, and light adventure use, not a deep-clearance gravel bike intended for rougher terrain or oversized tires.

Price TBD

Image pending

Build

Size

Stack	563mm
Reach	383mm
Top tube	545mm
Headtube length	140mm
Standover height	790mm
Seat tube length	500mm

Fit and geometry

The Grifn’s geometry reinforces its all-road brief. In the core sizes, Ridley uses a 72-degree head tube angle, 420 mm chainstays, and a relatively low bottom bracket, with the M size listed at 73 mm of BB drop. Those are moderate numbers by current standards: the front end is not as steep and quick as a pure endurance road bike, but it is also not as slack or stretched as a more aggressive gravel race bike. The result should be stable, predictable steering on rough roads and light gravel while retaining a responsive feel on pavement. Wheelbase numbers stay controlled as well, from 1005 mm in S to 1043 mm in L, which supports that balanced handling character.

Fit is also conservative and road-oriented. Reach figures are moderate, at 391 mm in M and 403 mm in L, paired with stack heights of 587 mm and 614 mm respectively, suggesting a position that can be sporty without being especially low or demanding. Smaller sizes get slightly steeper seat angles and slacker head angles as needed for fit and front-end behavior, with the XXS using a 71-degree head angle and 75-degree seat angle. Across the size range, the fixed 420 mm chainstay length helps preserve a consistent ride feel, while the relatively generous stack numbers point to a bike intended for long mixed-surface days rather than an ultra-low race posture.

Full specs

Frameset

Frame

Ridley GRIFN Essential Series carbon frame, F-Steerer headtube, TA 12x142mm, integrated dynamo routing

Fork

4ZA AllRoad full-carbon fork, TA 12x100mm, integrated dynamo routing, fender mounts

Groupset

Shift levers

Shimano GRX600 2x12-speed

Front derailleur

Shimano GRX 800, braze-on

Rear derailleur

Shimano GRX 800, 12-speed, medium cage (max 36T)

Cassette

Shimano 105 12-speed, 11-36T

Chain

Shimano 12-speed chain

Crankset

Shimano GRX 610, 46/30T, 172.5mm

Bottom bracket

Shimano GRX / Hollowtech II compatible bottom bracket

Front brake

Shimano GRX600 hydraulic disc brake, flat-mount

Rear brake

Shimano GRX600 hydraulic disc brake, flat-mount

Front rotor

Shimano centerlock disc rotor

Rear rotor

Shimano centerlock disc rotor

Wheelset

Front wheel

DT Swiss G1800 Classic, TA 12x100mm, tubeless ready, 25mm deep, 24mm internal, DT Swiss 370 hub

Rear wheel

DT Swiss G1800 Classic, TA 12x142mm, tubeless ready, 25mm deep, 24mm internal, DT Swiss 370 hub

Front tire

Vittoria Terreno Dry, 700x35c, TNT

Rear tire

Vittoria Terreno Dry, 700x35c, TNT

Cockpit

Stem

Deda Super Box, 100mm, Polish On Black

Handlebars

4ZA Stratos Gravel, 420/480

Saddle

Selle Italia Model X, Black

Seatpost

Forza Cirrus, carbon-alloy, 10mm offset, 27.2mm x 350mm

Builds

Ridley offers the Grifn Gravel in a notably broad range of builds, reflecting the frame’s mixed-surface versatility. The lineup spans electronic and mechanical options, 1x and 2x drivetrains, and both road-leaning and gravel-specific groupsets. On the gravel side, there are SRAM Apex XPLR AXS 1x12 and Rival XPLR builds, plus Shimano GRX600, GRX800, and GRX Di2 options. For riders using the Grifn more as an all-road bike, Ridley also offers Shimano Ultegra Di2, 105 Di2 Disc, SRAM Rival AXS 2x12, and a SRAM Force AXS 2x12 build that includes a power meter.

That spread is consistent with the bike’s positioning. The XPLR and GRX builds suit riders who want lower gearing and a more gravel-specific setup, while the Ultegra Di2, 105 Di2, and 2x AXS options make sense for riders prioritizing pavement speed and endurance-road use with occasional dirt. The availability of both 1x and 2x builds is especially important on this frame because its tire clearance changes with drivetrain choice: 40 mm with 1x and 38 mm with 2x. Even without detailed pricing, the spec range makes it clear that Ridley is targeting everyone from practical mixed-surface riders to higher-end buyers looking for electronic shifting and premium finishing kits.