We’re guessing this isn’t an entirely new bike, but hey, we’re starstruck nonetheless.
(Photo: Instagram/@kingjames & @canyon)
Published December 10, 2025 10:18AM
LeBron James is no stranger to collaborations, from pizza to Beats by Dre headphones, aluminum Rimowa luggage, and more. His latest collaboration? A special edition Canyon gravel bike, at least if we were to guess.
As a global NBA superstar with 159 million Instagram followers and an investor in the German bike brand, LeBron can generate more hype with a single Instagram post than any media rollout. That’s exactly what happened this week when he posted a cryptic reel captioned: “Canyon always keeping my bikes looking and feeling good! They got another one on the way, I can’t wait to show y’all.”
The cycling internet is now doing what it does best: speculating wildly. Here’s what we think is going on here.
What is LeBron teasing?
The Grizl seat tube details, with LeBron’s teaser from his Instagram on the right. (Photo: Instagram/@kingjames & @canyon)
The video starts with old footage of James riding what appears to be a Canyon Neuron e-mountain bike, a bike that LeBron’s ridden in the past.
The video glitches to a darkened silhouette of what looks like a road or gravel bike. A close-up reveals a white Canyon downtube with knobby tires, followed by a rapid cut to a custom basketball-themed Bear logo and the nomenclature “R126”, the same designation code found on the seat tube of the current Grizl gravel bike.
That R126 designation is the smoking gun. Canyon uses that specific code for the Grizl, making it the most likely candidate for whatever James is teasing.
The big questions: What kind of Canyon Grizl is this? An Eclips-lit model with integrated lighting? Just a special colorway with basketball-themed graphics? The silhouette doesn’t clearly show a motor, but based on our time with the recently-launched Canyon Endurace On:Fly, we’d expect to see a slightly bigger down tube to house a battery than what is teased here.
Some parts of the internet think this might be a 32-inch wheeled Canyon Grizl. That would undoubtedly make sense for the 6’8″ (2.03 m) LeBron James, as the larger wheels would be more proportional to his height. Frankly, however, we’d be surprised to see Canyon develop a new frame specifically for LeBron, regardless of how much money it pays for a partnership.
(Photo: Instagram/@kingjames & @canyon)
There’s also a tantalizing long-shot possibility: could Canyon be developing a rear-suspended, drop-bar bike that merges gravel and mountain bike capabilities? The combination of Neuron footage (which features suspension) and the gravel bike silhouette could hint at exactly that kind of hybrid. Or we’re just reading way too much into a marketing video. Probably that.
The custom basketball-themed logo suggests Canyon and LeBron are collaborating on design elements that reflect James’s brand. Whether that extends to component choices or geometry tweaks beyond paint and graphics remains to be seen, though based on the silhouette, we predict the bike will have a SRAM Rival, Force, or RED XPLR AXS drivetrain. The wheel and tire combination is impossible to identify, but the deeper profile, to us, indicates the use of carbon wheels.
That electronic drivetrain is paired with what appears to be a rigid carbon fork (no suspension!) and a short-nose saddle. We’d also guess that this bike – likely a special edition Canyon Grizl – lacks the Full Mounty one-piece gravel handlebar and stem combo found on top-end Grizl bikes.
LeBron James is “A Big Bike Guy”
Late last year, GQ published a story called “Lebron James is a Big Bike Guy.” That statement isn’t entirely wrong, as his height does require him to ride a bigger bike than most. However, there’s more to LeBron James, which indicates he is into cycling.
James has been vocal about using cycling for cross-training and recovery, often posting photos and videos of himself riding. For professional athletes, cycling offers low-impact cardiovascular training without the joint pounding of running or contact of basketball—ideal for maintaining fitness during the off-season or as active recovery between games.
But LeBron’s involvement goes beyond being a sponsored athlete. He’s an investor in Canyon, giving him a financial stake in the brand’s success and input on product development and marketing strategy. He launched the “Find Your Freedom” campaign alongside Canyon last summer, largely to emphasize cycling as accessible exercise that anyone can enjoy.
Whether this translates to actual sales remains to be seen, but Canyon’s partnership with LeBron has undeniably raised the brand’s profile in mainstream sports and culture. So, is this a limited edition of the Canyon Grizl? A wild one-off bike for extra-tall riders of LeBron’s stature? Who knows, but LeBron has us curious.