Gravel bikes are unlike any other category; the term encompasses a vast array of bikes that can be ridden in wildly different ways. We have tested everything from fast aerodynamically optimised gravel bikes to rugged steel frame bikes with knobbly mountain bike tyres and suspension. That is the beauty of gravel bikes, you can tailor your bike to your bias of on and off-road riding. This versatility lends them to much more than just racing or weekend adventures though, they can be fantastic for commuting, bikepacking and touring, cyclocross racing or even just road riding.
So, what are the best gravel bikes? Whether you are looking to take on the King Alfred Way, or race the red dirt roads of Kansas, we can recommend a bike for you. Every gravel bike that appears below has been tested by our expert reviewers.
If you are just entering the world of cycling or gravel riding and the bikes on this page are on the pricey side, why not check out our guide to the best budget gravel bikes?
Gravel Bike of the Year 2023, the Revolt has proved itself a highly capable choice. A flexy seat post and comfortable carbon frame ensure plenty of vibration damping and the 2-position rear dropout allows for the geometry to be fine-tuned to suit terrain or rider.
The plethora of luggage mounts and the relaxed geometry found on the Specialized Diverge E5 will appeal to long-distance gravel riders. The Future Shock front end adds further comfort and provides effective isolation from trail chatter although some might find the ride a little too upright.
Well specced for multi-day epics, the Checkpoint SL7 features plenty of luggage mounts and even has a space in the frame for spares. Trek's IsoSpeed decoupler allows the seat tube to flex for extra comfort on big days off-road and the long wheelbase ensures predictable handling.
Available with either 700c or 650b wheels, the Ribble Gravel AL Sport makes an excellent bike for tougher trails. The slack head tube angle coupled with long, low geometry gives it plenty of stability and capability off-road whilst the relatively basic GRX 400 groupset performed very well.
The Kaius from BMC is unashamedly racy, with an aero frame and low riding position. Mounting points are limited, but there is clearance for 44mm tyres and the short wheelbase keeps the handling suitably quick and engaging.
The 'OG' of gravel bikes, the Salsa Warbird C remains committed to simplicity and devoid of gimmicks. This results in levels of comfort and efficiency still unrivalled in today's market as long as things don't get too rough.
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Best overall gravel bike
Giant Revolt won the Gravel Bike of the Year award 2023
The Giant Revolt won our Gravel Bike of the Year title in 2023. It's a gravel bike that covers the broad spectrum of gravel riding really well. Its saddle comfort is augmented by a D-shaped seatpost with a claimed 12mm of flex, but it fits in a standard 30.9mm round seat tube, so you can fit a dropper if you ride more technical terrain.
The rear dropouts feature two-position adjustable geometry, which lets you choose between a more agile ride for racing or wider clearance with increased stability. You also have mounting points for bikepacking kit, including on the fork legs.
The frame soaks up bumps well too, both front and rear, although we'd have preferred a shorter head tube for more versatility in the bike's set-up.
We were impressed with the value offered as well, with the spec tested including Shimano GRX RX815 Di2 electronic shifting and Giant carbon wheels.
Tyres: Specialized Pathfinder Sport 38c (Max clearance: 700x47c or 650b x 53 (2.1”))
Weight: 10.1kg
Reasons to buy
+
Adaptability across gravel genres
+
Future Shock for front end comfort and compliance
Reasons to avoid
-
Tyres compromise off-road capability
-
Geometry might not be aggressive enough for some
If your riding leans towards the more adventurous end of the spectrum, exploring new trails, all-day epics and occasional multi-day bikepacking trips, then the Specialized Diverge Comp E5 is well suited to you.
It comes with a relaxed geometry and a high front end for a more comfortable riding position - with the caveat that we found it a little more difficult to weight the front tire sufficiently when really pinning the corners.
There's a full complement of mounts, with pairs under the down tube and on top of the top tube, as well as triple bosses on the fork legs. Full fenders and a pannier rack are also catered for if you prefer a more traditional luggage-carrying and splash-defending setup.
However, the most significant feature of the Diverge Comp E5 is the Future Shock 1.5, which is usually only found on carbon models. This does a good job of damping out some of the trail chatter and high-frequency bumps, but we found that it's not sufficient to replace front suspension, if you were considering this as an alternative.
More expensive range than other gravel bikes reviewed
The Checkpoint majors on mounts, including on the fork legs, as well as storage in Trek's down tube cubbyhole for tools and a tube. The frame allows you to fit 2.1" 650bs and the IsoSpeed seat tube decoupler provides added comfort when in the saddle.
We thought that the Checkpoint's long wheelbase and high fork trail provided great stability for longer rides, without going overboard. It's still quick enough though, despite its carrying capacity, and remained good to ride whether fully laden for bikepacking or stripped down for a shorter blast.
Our long-term test concluded that the Checkpoint is best suited for crushing long-distance rides with its reassuring handling, comfy ride characteristics and considered componentry.
The Ribble Gravel AL Sport has 47mm tyres on 650b wheels, although you can also spec 700c wheels. The 650b option makes it a highly capable go-anywhere option that doesn't break the bank.
The alloy frame is long and low, with a slack headtube. longish reach and short stem. There are loads of mounting points, although oddly not those needed for a rack. The 2x10-speed Shimano GRX 400 build is the bottom of the range, but still offers excellent performance and ratios down to 30x34t to tackle the rough stuff.
Although not light, we discovered that the bike still felt quick and that it coped well with both degraded tarmac and rough tracks, although the grip tended to wane when we ventured on to muddier passages.
At the other end of the gravel spectrum from the Trek Checkpoint, the BMC Kaius is an out-and-out gravel race bike, with a low ride position and aero frame that borrows from the BMC Teammachine road race bike.
The ride feels similar to BMC's road bikes as well and you get a pared-down road bike-style set of mounting points that doesn't even include fender / mudguard bosses. There is room for 44mm tyres though, which might help mitigate the lack of comfort in the stiff, race-tuned frame.
When we tested it we enjoyed the novel combination of a short wheelbase and low bottom bracket, which gave the bike snappy, precise handling and prodigious speed.
This lower-spec model is more affordable than the top level of the BMC Kaius, but is still more expensive than the highest spec available for the Giant Revolt though.
Frame : Class 5™ VRS-equipped high-modulus carbon fiber
Fork: Salsa Waxwing Deluxe
Groupset: Sram Force eTap AXS
Wheels: WTB CZR i23 carbon rim on DT Swiss 370 hubs
Tyres: Teravail Cannonball 700c x 42mm, Durable casing, tubeless-ready
Weight: 9.1
Reasons to buy
+
Comfortable over long distances
+
Compatible with 700c & 605b
+
Plenty of luggage mounting points
+
Frame only option
Reasons to avoid
-
Stock spec pricing is on the high side
-
Press-fit bottom bracket standard
-
42mm tyre clearance is on the narrow side by modern standards
Salsa is one the founding brands of the modern gravel bike, a story that starts with the launch of the Warbird in 2012, a bike inspired by the adoption of disc brakes in cyclocross a year or so before. The Warbird, now in its 4th generation, has always set the tone for where the next generation of gravel bikes might go.
However, last updated in 2019, the Warbird is starting to look a little long in the tooth. Nevertheless, in a world now seemingly obsessed with aerodynamic performance and complicated compliance aids, the Warbird retains a refreshing simplicity and lets its frame do the talking. As we found, the Warbird is no slouch, transitioning from the tarmac to gravel seamlessly, gliding over the rougher sections with ease, provided they don’t get too taxing.
The Warbird frame-only option represents exceptional value at $2199 allowing you to spend money on the components that better increase the bike's performance. When we reviewed the Warbird last year, we equipped it with Sram Apex AXS, an excellent budget wireless groupset, alongside Hunt 40 CGR Carbon wheels and an Ergon Allroad Carbon Post for extra speed and comfort.
The Scott Addict 10 Gravel bike offers good value and great performance
(Image credit: Future)
7. Scott Addict Gravel 10
A great all-round performance gravel bike
Specifications
Frame : Addict Gravel Disc HMF Carbon
Fork: Addict Gravel HMF Carbon
Groupset: SRAM Force AXS 2x
Wheels: DT Swiss GRC1400 Disc
Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Bite Performance 45mm
Weight: 8.7kg
Reasons to buy
+
Middle-of-the-road ride position
+
Good value for the spec offered
+
Superb paint job
Reasons to avoid
-
No fork mounts
The Addict Gravel is designed for speed rather than off-road load-lugging, but still with a longer wheelbase and higher stack than other gravel race bikes like the BMC Kaius. This results in a well-balanced ride that's as good for fast, technical riding as it is for multi-day bikepacking, despite the absence of fork leg mounts.
We loved Scott's paint job on the Addict Gravel and the bike is good value, with the lower spec SRAM Rival AXS-equipped bike as reasonably priced as bikes from brands that are normally more value-oriented than Scott.
The Cannondale Topstone Carbon has a geometry that, on paper, looks aggressive, but is more forgiving than you'd expect. It also includes Cannondale's now-simplified and lower-weight Kingpin rear suspension. This provides 30mm of travel from a pivotless design which improves rear-end traction over rougher ground, although it doesn't aid front-end comfort. For that, you'll need the Topstone Carbon Lefty with its suspension fork.
There's the option to spec Cannondale's Smart Sense lighting system, with its rearview radar. Cannondale's prices are competitive too, despite the high-tech frame features.
Our test of the Topstone 3 concluded that it is “a sublime blend of exuberance, speed and comfort” that gives a poised and playful ride, but it is also perfectly at home carrying overnight gear on multi-day epics thanks to multiple mounting points.
More reasonably priced than the S-Works Crux, the Crux Pro is still very light and has the same responsive geometry as the top-spec bike. That results in lightning-fast acceleration, although the 38mm tyres result in a jittery ride over rougher surfaces.
You could plump things up to 2.1" 650b rubber though, which should help add a touch more comfort and extra traction whilst the round seatpost allows you to fit a dropper or suspension seatpost.
We reckon that the Crux fits the bill for riders who want agile performance on gravel, but with the ability to put down the power for outright speed.
Frame Kit Includes: Frame, fork, handlebar, stem, headset and seatpost
Reasons to buy
+
Well balanced geometry
+
Lightweight without compromising durability
+
Tons of mounts & downtube storage
+
Thread BB & a round seat tube
+
Big tyre clearance
Reasons to avoid
-
Chassis only option, no full builds
-
Engineered around 700c only might not suit everyone
-
Would be nice to see some geometry adjustment
Enve has developed a reputation for incredible quality and high-performance components, with many of them made in the USA. The MOG is the second bike to come out of Enve in as many years, the first being the gorgeous Melee road bike that launched to great acclaim back in 2022.
The MOG has all the tick-list features of modern gravel bikes such as big tyre clearance, frame storage and mounts galore. At £5500/$5500 it seems odd to suggest the MOG offers good value, but for a brand with such a reputation for design, engineering and quality, it does. The kit includes a frame, fork, headset, stem, handlebar, and seatpost, which is in line with brands like Trek and Specialized who can call on much larger economies of scale.
The MOG’s headline act is when it hits the dirt. We found it offered a great balance between stiffness and comfort. It's not outsprinting anyone but it's keeping up, and at the same time not beating you up. The slack geometry inspired us to push on the descents with a surprising amount of confidence, a trait that would most definitely appeal to those looking to load up and go bikepacking.
Gravel bikes aren't defined by just the shape of their handlebar. Although they typically come with a drop bars, some brands have started introducing flat bar versions. In a sentence, they are bikes that allow you to veer off paved roads and onto more exciting terrain whenever you feel like it.
Born with the spirit of adventure, the best gravel bikes sit somewhere between the best endurance and sportive bikes and the best cyclocross bikes, with a blend of the best hardtail mountain bikes thrown in. They're nimble on paved sections of road compared to fat-tired MTB steeds, but more confidence-inspiring when it comes to tackling rough surfaces when compared to their slick-tired road-going siblings.
The best gravel bikes typically feature wider tyres, with room for extra mud clearance, and disc brakes as standard. Expect anything from 35c up to 50c or more on either 700c or 650b wheels.
Mounts for bottle cages, pannier racks and extra storage will often feature on the best gravel bikes, as will the option for fitting fender/mudguards.
As with all bikes, it's vital that you get the best bike to fit you, and it doesn't need to be gender specified. But if you are after a women's specific model, which often includes smaller sizes and different touchpoints like a wider saddle and narrower bars, you might want to check out our best women's gravel bikes for off-road adventures page.
If you're juggling a tighter budget, but still want the best, our page dedicated to the best budget gravel bikes: gravel bikes under £1,000/$1500 are ideal for getting the best value for money adventures on two wheels. These bikes typically come with similar handling characteristics to the more expensive bikes but feature more economical componentry.
This crossover discipline can add a slight confusion in the cycling gear department too, i.e. to Lycra or not to Lycra. Thankfully our guide on the best gravel bike clothing: cycling kit for your gravel ride should sort out any kit quandries.
Are gravel bikes any good on the road?
Compared to road bikes, you will find wider and lower gear ratios on the best gravel bikes, which will help you ride over loose or hilly terrain especially when carrying bikepacking bags if you're gearing up for multi-day expeditions.
In general, the best gravel bikes will also have a lower bottom bracket than a cyclocross bike, helping to provide enhanced stability on rocky, rooty and rough terrain. For more details on exactly what the differences are, you might find our gravel vs cyclocross bikes: what is the difference page really helpful.
For those wanting to head off the beaten track, but worried about keeping up, you might want to consider an electric version. Electric gravel bikes give you all-terrain capability and confidence-inspiring stability but with some additional assistance.
Why are gravel and adventure bikes so popular?
If you’ve ever gone out on a ride on your best road bike and noticed unpaved roads, fire trails or alluring singletrack as you passed, wondering where they lead but hesitating to head off the tarmac, then a gravel bike or adventure road bike may be for you.
These bikes aim to meld on-road efficiency with off-road capability, so you'll find overlaps in design features with both road and cyclocross bikes, as well as incorporating elements from mountain bike technology. When you're shopping for your first gravel bike, as standard you should expect disc brakes and clearance for wider tyres.
Whereas cyclocross bikes are designed with short, muddy races in mind, gravel and adventure bikes take longer unpaved rides into account. You'll still find race-orientated builds in the gravel category for gravel racing, alongside adventure bikes that feature additional clearance and mounts to accommodate luggage and often even wider tyres for more remote journeys.
Does the frame and fork material matter on a gravel bike?
As with road bikes, gravel bikes can be made from carbon, aluminum, titanium or steel.
Carbon and aluminum are the two most commonly used frame materials, and all the bikes in this guide are made from one or other of these two options. Carbon tends to be more expensive and lighter whilst aluminum frames are heavier but cheaper. This means that for a similar price, you can expect better components on an aluminum-framed bike than on one with a carbon frame so you might have to decide where your priorities lie when choosing between the two.
The big advantage of using carbon as a frame material is that it can be added exactly where it is needed for strength and stiffness or removed where it is not needed to lower weight and fine-tune compliance.
Titanium gravel bikes are less widely available, with aficionados often describing the ride quality as being more ‘lively’ than carbon or aluminum whilst also offering low weight and high strength among its qualities.
High-end steel frames offer an almost titanium-like ride, albeit with a bit of a weight penalty whilst at the lower end some manufacturers offer steel bikes as a potentially more durable and repairable option to aluminum.
Regardless of frame material, most gravel bikes have carbon forks as the carbon layup can be tuned to provide some degree of protection against trail vibrations which is important at the front end of an off-road bike.
How does gravel bike geometry differ from road bikes?
Stability and handling are key when it comes to riding off-road. Expect to see a lengthened wheelbase, slack headtube angle and lower bottom bracket compared to road bikes, all of which aid with technical terrain and steeper descents.
The rider position is typically more upright than on road bikes, both for comfort over long rides and to allow the rider to move their weight around more easily when negotiating off-road obstacles.
12mm thru-axle and hydraulic discs on a gravel bike
(Image credit: Future)
Do gravel bikes have other specialised features?
Thru-axles and disc brakes have quickly become standard on gravel (and many road) bikes, technologies borrowed from mountain biking. You can also find front and rear suspension, although these aren't commonplace yet.
The norm is 12mm thru-axles, which make for easier disc brake alignment and rigidity. Rear-axle spacing for disc brake wheels is typically 142mm (thru-axle), or occasionally 148mm Boost spacing for stronger wheelsets.
More adventure or utility-centric frames will come with mounts for racks and fenders so that the bike can be used as a sturdy commuter or year-round road bike. At the most extreme end of the adventure bike market, fork leg mounts and extra frame mounts are becoming increasingly common for even more luggage carrying options.
Gravel bike and adventure bike components
There is a wide range of specialist gravel bike components which add extra features for gravel rides that are different from those you'd find on road bikes. Below are a few things to consider when looking for the best gravel bike for your needs.
What are the best tyres for gravel and adventure bikes?
You can find adventure road and gravel bikes shod with tyres of pretty much any width between a 28c and 47c, plus tyres measured in inches on 650b wheel builds!
The best gravel bike tyres can dramatically improve your ride. There's a real range of tread patterns available, which can add extra grip for muddy conditions or lower rolling resistance if you're mixing in more tarmac and cater for everything in between.
We think changing your tyres is one of the best gravel bike upgrades you can make. Going tubeless is also a great option to improve comfort and reliability.
In the UK, you're likely to come across patches of wet mud or loose dirt year-round, so a more aggressive tread can be useful in those situations to help you maintain grip, albeit at the expense of on-road speed.
But in the US, gravel roads can range from well-graded packed dirt that almost resembles tarmac, to the crushed and graded limestone you find in the Flint Hills of Kansas.
Finding the right tyres for your riding terrain may take some experimentation, and don't be afraid to try something with more or less tread than you're used to. You might also want to change your tyres between summer and winter to get the best width and tread pattern for the conditions.
Most gravel and adventure bikes are specced with tubeless or tubeless-ready tyres and rims, ready for conversion to a tubeless set-up. Rather than having to replace an inner tube every time you flat, the sealant in the system will (in theory) plug any punctures from sharp objects like thorns, which is a real advantage when it comes to riding off-road.
You may need to re-inflate the tyre a little if you have a puncture. Tubeless tyre plugs can get you riding quickly, but make sure you're equipped with a spare tube and full tubeless repair kit for more serious tyre damage.
What are the best gearing options for gravel and adventure bikes?
Adventure road bikes and gravel bikes are designed to be ridden on the road as well as off, so you'll typically find a wide gear range to allow both efficiency and speed on the road, as well as enough gears to cope with loose and steep terrain off-road.
The choice between a double or single chainring up front is usually down to rider preference. A 1x (one-by) set-up gives ultimate simplicity and can allow for greater tire clearance, but sometimes at the cost of wider jumps between ratios, although the latest 12 and 13-speed groupsets go some way to avoiding this.
Double chainrings offer more options for riders who prefer to spend more time on smoother terrain or on the road and may give you a greater overall range with smaller jumps between ratios.
A 1X drivetrain keeps it simple and can allow for greater rear tire clearance
Gravel bikes often feature a drivetrain that goes below 1:1 for off-road climbing and load carrying. That might be via a 1x set-up like SRAM XPLR with a cassette that goes to 42 teeth or greater or a two-ring supercompact chainset with 48/32 or 46/30 chainrings paired with an 11-32 or 11-34 cassette. You'll even find "mullet builds" that mix a road chainset with an MTB cassette and rear derailleur for ultra-low gearing, as low as 38x52t.
What pedals are best suited to gravel and adventure bikes?
Pedal choice is a matter of personal taste and will be dependent on your riding style, but check out our guide to the best gravel bike pedals for advice. If you ride predominantly on roads and well-maintained paths where you rarely need to put a foot down, then road cycling shoes, clipless pedals and cleats may be a good choice.
On the other hand, more demanding off-road riding may mean that you need to dismount and walk with the bike or put a foot down for stability. In this case, gravel bike shoes and two-sided gravel bike pedals with grippy treaded soles and recessed cleats derived from mountain bike systems may be a better choice for their ease of walking and easier foot engagement with the pedal.
Mountain bike style pedals make walking, mounting and dismounting easier
What components should I expect to find on the best gravel bikes?
Adventure and gravel bikes use disc brakes for their better modulation and more consistent stopping in dry, wet and muddy conditions. This also has a really positive impact on wheel rim longevity compared to rim brakes for off-road riding.
On higher-value models, the brakes will be hydraulic, while budget bikes typically have mechanical callipers. With Shimano's GRX and SRAM's gravel-specific groupsets available with hydraulic discs only, this tends to be the preference. You'll occasionally find mechanical disc brakes on adventure bike builds, where long-distance riders find them easier to maintain and repair in more remote situations.
Different types of handlebars are also worth considering on adventure bikes. Again, we've got a guide to the best gravel bike handlebars for more info.
Flared bars are generally accepted as a good upgrade to give greater stability in the wider drops for rough terrain and descending off-road. The wider the flare, the easier it is to fit a handlebar bag on the front of the bike and still be able to fit your hands on the drops and brakes at the same time. Raised bars such as the Specialized Hover Bar also help to give more clearance over the front wheel for smaller riders, as well as providing a more upright riding position.
Giant Revolt X comes equipped with a dropper post and suspension fork
We have a dedicated team of testers here at Cycling Weekly, whose job is to review a whole range of cycling products and to write objective reviews of their experience of using them day in, day out in a whole range of conditions.
With huge experience, they're well-placed to compare products, identify their strengths and weaknesses and bring you an honest, unbiased assessment of how they perform.
Testing gravel bikes calls for the logging of plenty of miles - and our testers do just that. Depending on the bike, routes range from technical mountain bike-style trails to multi-day bikepacking adventures and plenty in between. We also make sure that we test the bikes on paved roads, given that many riders will use gravel bikes for commuting and winter riding and many gravel rides will involve some tarmac as well.
While out riding we asses the bikes across a range of factors, including comfort and handling, suitability for a variety of gravel terrain and bikepacking, as well as the quality and durability of components and the bike's overall value for money.
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Like so many, Matt got his start in the bicycle industry wheedling allen keys and the occasional hammer at his local bike shop. Matt grew up mountain biking in the flint-strewn hills of the North Downs, but was convinced during his time with Evans Cycles' in-house brands Pinnacle and Hoy Bikes to take up gravel cycling and bikepacking. Spotting the changing industry, Matt jumped at the opportunity to become an E-bike designer, and won several awards with Cairn Cycles and their range of gravel E-bikes.
These days, Matt will more than likely have a toddler sat shotgun and a balance bike lassoed to his back somewhere on the South Downs. What time he does get to ride for himself, he chooses to take his Sonder Camino to just about anywhere that's quiet, off the beaten track or with some historical point of interest.
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