At first glance it may seem that all the best road bikes can cost a small fortune. But if you’re looking for a road bike that won’t break the bank, don’t despair. While it's true that WorldTour bikes, on the whole, are getting more and more expensive, there are plenty of brands who remain committed to offering models for beginners and those working on a tight budget.
We’ve ridden a wide range of keenly priced road bikes, testing them over a variety of distances and terrain to assess just how well they perform. We’ve selected some of our favorites budget models here, choosing them across a range of categories, such as best endurance model and best value, to help make it a little easy for you to find the right model for your riding.
While many bikes at this price offer 8-speed Shimano Claris, Decathlon's Triban 520 has an 11-speed Shimano 105 groupset along with semi-hydraulic disc brakes, offering impressive value.
Groupset: Shimano Sora shifting, Axis 1.0 rim brake
Weight: 9.3kg
Reasons to buy
+
Superb quality frame
+
Confident and stable handling
+
Full carbon fork
Reasons to avoid
-
Somewhat clunky shifting
-
Budget rim brakes don't stop well
-
Rather harsh ride
Designed with 'balanced' geometry, the Allez Sport delivers a comfortable riding position but with the option of slamming the stem for a more aggressive ride. In fact this is a bike that's versatile enough to handle a fast club run, a commute to work and plenty of winter miles too, although we found the ride a little harsh.
The aluminium frame features the brand's 'SmoothWeld' tech keeping the joins neat. The dropped stays and internal cable routing give it a contemporary 'race' look while the stack height and chainstay length point more towards comfort and stability - which makes a great deal of sense for any entry-level road bike. On review we found the Allez Sport inspired confidence thanks to its assured handling.
The carbon FACT fork helps to smooth out the ride while also helping to reduce weight - the Allez tips the scales at just over 9kg. The fork also features mudguard eyelets, helping further add to the bike's commuter and four-season credentials.
While our review bike featured Axis 1.0 rim brakes, the newest model have switched to discs and comes equipped with a 10-speed Shimano groupset.
The Optimo 4 is an entry level aluminum road bike that’s well suited to those who are buying their first drop bar road bike or for any cyclist operating on a tight budget.
It’s built around a frame that uses Cannondale’s SmartForm tech, which is designed to balance strength and weight, with the addition of a carbon fork to hopefully reduce some of the road chatter. There are dropped seat stays here too, again used to add some compliance. In reality, the ride quality was pretty firm, and you’re getting plenty of feedback on all but the smoothest surfaces.
As for the geometry, the stack and reach are a good match for newer road cyclists, being relatively high and short to allow for a more upright riding position. Tyre clearance is pretty tight, due in part to the use of rim brakes. The inability to fit tyres wider than about 25mm also impacts the level of comfort, as do the tyres themselves; Vittoria Zaffiros are good at preventing punctures but sit on some relatively heavy alloy rims and their lack of suppleness is apparent.
It’s the style of brake that’s likely to put many off the Optimo, especially as discs are now pretty much standard across all road bikes. Unsurprisingly we found the brakes here lacked the power of discs, but weren’t by any means squishy.
To help keep the price down, the Optimo 4 is equipped with an 8-speed groupset comprising Shimano Claris shifters, mechs and cassette with a 50/34 FSA Tempo crankset. We found that the shifting was crisp throughout our review period but there were significant jumps between the gears, which at times played havoc with our cadence. However this might not be such an issue for less-experienced cyclists, especially if the bulk of the riding is done on flatter roads.
Best with 105
The Triban 520 offers a great value package including Shimano 105 shifting and disc brakes
3. Triban 520 road bike
Best cheap road bike with a Shimano 105 groupset
Specifications
Frame: Aluminium
Fork: Carbon
Groupset: Shimano 105 shifting, TRP disc brakes
Weight: 10.4kg
Reasons to buy
+
Impressive spec for the price
+
Two time award winner
Reasons to avoid
-
Semi hydraulic brakes take more maintenance
Rebranded and redesigned, the aluminium frame now comes with a carbon bladed fork. The Triban 520 has also switched to disc brakes in the form of TRP's well regarded HY/RD mechanical offerings. And amazingly, for a bike of this price, you also get Shimano 105.
The frame's geometry places the 520 clearly in the endurance/commuter/light tourer camp. Think generous stack height and shorter top tube. If you're looking to get 'long and low' then this probably isn't the bike for you. However, if you favour comfort and stability over speed and need a bike that can handle the trifecta mentioned above then the 520 is well worth further consideration.
Its credentials as a solid all-rounder are deepened by both the tire clearance and the rack and mudguard mounts. The bike comes equipped with 28mm tires. However there's room for up to 36mm of rubber should you want to hit the bridleways or dirt roads or fancy attempting an audax ride or two when comfort is paramount. Add guards (fenders) and a pannier rack and the 520 is ready for daily commute duties or some multi-day touring. Versatile indeed.
As mentioned earlier the bike's greatest asset might just be that 105 groupset. However it's worth noting that this isn't a full 105 set-up. To help keep costs down Decathlon has opted for a Shimano RS510 chainset and a Microshift cassette. While they'll add a little weight they shouldn't adversely affect performance. As for the gearing you get a compact 50/34t chainset paired with an 11-32t cassette. The result is a decently low gear that helps negate some of the bike's weight when climbing the steep stuff.
It’s safe to say that the Undefeated Disc offers plenty of value for money. Despite the price tag, you get disc brakes and 1x11 gears, with a stylish looking aluminum frame and carbon fork.
Unsurprisingly there are a few caveats here; most of the components are simple, in-house offerings, including the groupset. Its gearing, matching a 46t single chainring to an 11-32 cassette means the Undefeated is better suited to shorter, flatter rides and commuting than it is to long days in the saddle, especially if any significant hills are involved. On the former we enjoyed that the larger chainring meant we rarely found ourselves spinning out and or being forced to coast.
Changing gears is done via a double-tap system that resembles SRAM’s system; a single click inwards on the lever and the chain moves down, two clicks and it shifts up. In practice we found that it could be a little troublesome, although some of this may have been down to user error.
As for the ride quality, the carbon forks seemed to do their job, with the Undefeated Disc delivering a smooth and comfortable ride. While the aluminium frame is pretty stiff, it made it feel quick and agile rather than harsh.
A recommendation from one of our trusted US testers, the Diamondback Haanjo offers something a little different when compared with the pure road bikes in this list.
Being a gravel/adventure bike, the Haanjo will roll smoothly on the road but also comes with 38c tires which will cushion out the bumps for off-road gravel rides.
In fact versatility is a constant theme with the Haanjo. The frameset, made from fully butted 6061 aluminium, features front and rear rack mounts as well as mudguard, (or fender) eyelets. This makes it well suited for light touring, commuting and winter training rides. This versatility is reflected in the generous stack height, the slack-ish headtube angle and the long chainstays, all of which point to a stable and comfortable ride.
The wide tires and more rugged frame - with a steel fork - do naturally boost the weight but the Haanjo comes with a sub-compact 46/34t chainset and an 8-speed 11-32t cassette to help you get up the steeper climbs. Shifting comes courtesy of Shimano Claris while stopping is left to Tektro and its flat-mount mechanical disc brakes. By using the newer flat mount standard Diamondback has made it straightforward to upgrade the brakes if required.
Best endurance
The alloy Domane frame shares the geometry of Trek's pricier carbon fibre Domane models
(Image credit: Trek)
6. Trek Domane AL 3 Disc
Best endurance
Specifications
Frame: Aluminium
Fork: Carbon
Groupset: Shimano Sora shifting, Tektro disc brakes
Weight: 10.45kg
Reasons to buy
+
Same frame as 4.5/5 scoring Domane SL6
+
Beautiful smooth welding
+
Space for 35c tires
+
Rack and mudguard mounts
Reasons to avoid
-
There are lighter options
The Domane has long been Trek's endurance model - and it performed well last time we reviewed the SL6 model, gaining a 4.5/5 score.
The AL3 carries a lower RRP, being made of aluminium rather than carbon fibre; Trek's 100 Series Alpha Aluminium to be precise. It's paired with carbon fork and features modern standards such as thru-axles and flat mount disc brakes.
While the frame material helps keep the price down in comparison to the carbon models, such as the SL6, the geometry stays the same. The numbers make for a comfortable and stable ride, making the AL3 well-suited for long days in the saddle as well as for less than perfect road surfaces.
In fact, this is where the Domane excels. With room for 35mm tires it's suitably equipped to smooth out the cracks and reduce the chatter. Perhaps no surprise then that Lizzie Deignan chose a Domane for her victory at the inaugural Paris-Roubaix Femmes in 2021.
Shifting and braking come courtesy of Shimano and Tektro. The 9-speed Sora groupset features trickle-down tech from Shimano's more expensive offerings. This equates to reliable shifting and a comfy brake hood design. Gearing wise Trek has opted for the sensible combination of a compact chainset and an 11-32t cassette, which should provide ample range for most conditions. That said the Sora rear mech can handle a 34t cassette should you fancy lower gearing.
Interestingly, the AL 3 Disc also has both mudguard (fender) and rear rack mounts. This means that's it ready to serve as your commute bike as well as handle light touring duties too. If you're looking to buy a road bike for the first time, or don't have the space to have more than bike in your home, then these humble mounts can make a real difference to a bike's versatility. Certainly your winter riding companions will thank you for the installation of mudguards, as will your bike's drivechain.
Quality finishing kit, including tubeless-ready wheels
Reasons to avoid
-
Rim brakes lack bite
-
A little harsh over uneven roads
The Boardman SLR 8.6 is the brand's base model, but despite this its alloy frame has smoothed welds on the main tubes, almost giving it the look of carbon. The fork really is carbon.
Like the Pinnacle, there's a Shimano Claris groupset with the same gear ratios and Tektro rim brakes. Both have their deficiencies relative to more expensive options: the large jumps in gear ratios and the indifferent braking respectively.
But we were impressed by the frame's efficiency and the quite racy geometry, although there's a bit of road buzz on less smooth surfaces. The Boardman own-brand components work well and are comfortable. Boardman's wheels are tubeless ready if you want to upgrade the tires.
The Ribble Endurance 725 is made from Reynolds steel tubing and comes with rim brakes rather than discs, limiting it to 28mm tires maximum or just 25mm with fenders / mudguards.
The Tiagra groupset gives a good spread of gears and the Mavic Aksium wheels should be durable, although the wire bead Continental tires would benefit from an upgrade. We found the ride to be steady rather than racy, but the robust frame coped well with pockmarked roads in our testing period.
Although the price of the Triban RC500 puts it squarely in the budget category, and great value at that, Decathlon talks more about going further and we rated it a great all-rounder, with the rack and guard mounts enhancing its versatility. With space for 40mm tires, it's a bike that could be set up for gravel duties as well, with a simple change of rubber.
The semi-compact aluminium frame is paired with a carbon blade fork and the geometry is relaxed, with a great handlebar shape to add to the bike's comfort. That's enhanced by the 28mm own-brand tires and tubeless-ready wheels.
In the US, the same bike is specced with 9-speed Shimano Sora rather than Microshift components.
What frame materials are the best cheap road bikes made from?
Cheaper road bikes are almost invariably made of aluminium alloy. You might occasionally find a steel frame, while pushing the price tag up further may introduce carbon fibre.
Don't assume that alloy is an inferior choice though, as a well-made alloy frame can ride better than a budget carbon frame and may weigh less as well.
At the lowest prices, the bike's fork may be made of steel or aluminium alloy. Here, there are benefits from a carbon fork, as it will usually be more compliant and so more comfortable to ride.
What groupset should I expect?
Your groupset is the gears and shifters for your bike. Most road bikes have a double chainset and so include both a front and rear derailleur.
Shimano dominates the groupset market and on lower priced bikes you can expect 8-speed Shimano Claris to be fitted (giving 16 speeds with a double chainring). More expensive bikes may include 9-speed Sora or 10-speed Tiagra.
The lowest price bikes may use 7-speed Shimano Tourney or derailleurs from Microshift. Some may do without the front derailleur.
Often, you'll not get a full Shimano groupset, with the chainset swapped out for one from FSA or another brand. that's not necessarily a bad thing, but something to be aware of.
What gear ratios do I need?
Most cheap road bikes will be fitted with a "compact" 50/34 tooth chainset. Most cassettes at the rear start with an 11-tooth sprocket, giving you a usefully high top gear.
It's now increasingly likely that you'll have a cassette with a largest sprocket with 30 or more teeth. Paired with the 34 tooth smaller chainring, that will give you a usefully low bottom gear to tackle most climbs. You may get a 34 tooth lowest gear, that will give you a 1:1 lowest ratio, which is great for steeper uphills.
Some cheap road bikes will stop at 28 teeth or even 25 teeth in their largest sprocket. Fitter riders or those who only use their bike somewhere flat may be fine with that, but it may make climbs hard work if you're a beginner.
On the other hand, with the smaller jumps between gears, you may be more comfortable with a closer ratio cassette, as it will better allow you to choose an appropriate gear for the terrain. There can be quite large jumps on a wider ratio cassette and lower spec groupsets may give you clunky shifting between them.
It's worth checking, but most modern rear derailleurs will let you fit wide range cassettes, so even if your bike comes with an 11-28t cassette it might be possible to swap it for an 11-32t cassette if you do want more gear range.
What brakes are fitted to cheap road bikes?
Disc brakes are increasingly taking over on road bikes. They offer more consistent braking in wet weather than rim brakes, are usually more effective and they reduce wear on your wheel rims.
Higher priced bikes include hydraulic disc brakes, but cheap road bikes will usually have mechanical disc brakes fitted. These give less efficient overall braking than hydraulics, but retain the all-weather abilities of disc brakes. They're also easier to maintain than hydraulic disc brakes.
Lower priced bikes may still be fitted with rim brakes. These offer less bite than disc brakes and are less effective in wet weather. Often, the brake pads are the weakest link though. It's inexpensive to swap to better quality brake pads and this may significantly improve braking performance.
What tire width should I expect?
With rim brakes, there's a limit to how wide a tire will fit in the brake caliper. That means that rim brake bikes are often fitted with 25mm wide tires, although you may see a 28mm tire.
One result of the shift to disc brakes is that there's much more room for wider tires. Many disc brake bikes can fit 32mm tires or even wider. That lets you drop your tire pressure and gives you a more comfortable ride. It may even be faster. A cheap disc brake bike will usually be fitted with 28mm tires.
How we test
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 really well placed to compare products, identify their strengths and weaknesses and bring you an honest, unbiased assessment of how they perform.
To test road bikes, we undertake rides of varying lengths and conditions. Typically these will include a variety of flat, rolling and hilly terrain, along with a mix of road surfaces: from smooth(ish) tarmac to more broken and pitted roads. Our testers assess the performance each bike across a number of factors, including comfort and handling and the bike's suitability for long-distance riding or shorter duration racing. The durability of the components and the bike's overall value for money are also considered - in this case, particularly the latter.
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Luke Friend has worked as a writer, editor and copywriter for twenty five years. Across books, magazines and websites, he's covered a broad range of topics for a range of clients including Major League Baseball, the National Trust and the NHS. He has an MA in Professional Writing from Falmouth University and is a qualified bicycle mechanic. He has been a cycling enthusiast from an early age, partly due to watching the Tour de France on TV. He's a keen follower of bike racing to this day as well as a regular road and gravel rider.
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