On a spectrum from road to mountain bikes, gravel bikes sit somewhere in the middle. They are fast and efficient on the pavement thanks to their drop bar body positioning, yet comfortable and capable on the dirt as a result of their wider tyres and more stable frame geometry.
In this article, I’ll examine the best gravel bikes currently available.
I’ve selected these bikes based on many factors, including outstanding overall design, high attention to detail, well-selected components, and excellent value for performance.
I’ll be picking bikes from different sub-categories, and I should note I’ve made these choices through a bikepacking lens.
If you aren’t sure what bikepacking is, it’s essentially a single or multi-night, self-sufficient bike trip with a minimalist setup. The tent, sleeping bag, and cooking pots are all put in bags and strapped to the bike.
The cool thing is that my criteria unearths great commuter and recreational bikes too.
If you want to cover rougher and more technical terrain, you’ll find a better bike in my off-road bike article HERE.
Narrowing Down The Best Gravel Bikes
The four criteria I’ve used to pick the best gravel bikes include:
- An upright frame design with stable handling
- Low climbing gear ratios
- Clearance for wide tyres
- Ample mounts for luggage and fenders
I’ve used my Bikepacking Bike Buyer’s Guide to find the models that best match this criteria.
If you haven’t seen my guide yet, it teaches you what to look out for in a gravel bike, as well as how to properly compare over 150 different gravel bikes found at the back of the book. The best bit is that my guides are updated yearly, for free, so you’ll always have the latest copy.
Frame Geometry and Sizing
A gravel bike needs to be comfortable over long distances and for multiple days in a row. That’s why the first thing I look out for on the frame geometry charts is a notably upright riding position.
Unfortunately, many gravel frames are inspired by the world of racing, and that means you’re forced into lower and more aggressive ride positions. This is great for going fast, but it also compromises your ride comfort.
With a taller handlebar, expect less hand numbness, and reduced strain on your neck and back.
I’m looking for size large frames (sometimes marked 56 or 57cm) with a stack height of more than 600 mm. In comparison, race-oriented gravel bikes in these sizes usually have a stack height of ~575 mm.
Upright gravel bikes also allow you to comfortably use the drop section of the handlebar. This position is the best place to access the brakes, better in headwinds, and a nice change from the hoods.
Some might argue that an upright ride position is too slow. But if speed is your aim, make sure to fit some aero bars to your gravel bike. They are undoubtedly the best way to improve your aerodynamics AND take the strain off your hands and wrists.
Low Climbing Gear Ratios
When a bikepacking bike is loaded with gear, food, and water – it’s heavy. To combat the extra weight, a bike should use lower gear ratios than usual. Adequately low gears allow you to repeatedly ride up hills without overexerting yourself.
I use a unit of measurement called ‘gear inches’ to compare the low climbing gear ratios of different bikes. This is the front chainring size minus the rear cog size, and multiplied by the wheel diameter.
Don’t worry, we never have to convert gear inches into anything – the two-digit numbers are just nice to work with, and you can calculate them on Gear-Calculator.
I’m looking for anything under 25 gear inches for gravel, but ideally, it’s at the 22-gear-inch mark.
Tyre Clearance
There are almost no downsides to using gravel bikes with clearance for wide tyres, so I’ve prioritised bikes that can clear 50 mm or 2.0” wide tyres.
Wide tyres handle rougher terrain, offer more traction, and are extra forgiving to ride.
You might think wide tyres are slow, but interestingly, it’s the rubber compound and sidewall design that largely determine how fast they roll. That’s why some road bike tyres (Schwalbe Pro One TLE Performance at 80 psi) have the same rolling resistance as mountain bike tyres (Continental Race King at 25 psi).
If you still prefer narrower tyres, you can fit them to any of these bikes.
Mounts and Accessories
Most of the bikes here have mounts for all occasions. This is simply to give you every luggage-carrying option possible.
I’ve prioritised bikes that can fit fenders, which keep the water, dirt, and grit on the road, rather than on your bike and body. Fenders allow you to stay dryer when the roads are damp, and your bike will experience less drivetrain wear too. The penalty is just 500 grams or less than one bottle of water.
Value for Performance
I’ve made sure to pick bikes that offer great value. This doesn’t mean the prices are low across the board, but rather – the more expensive choices I’ve made will offer something that improves your ride experience.
If these bikes are still too expensive for you, I’d recommend using the knowledge from this article and purchasing a similar bike second-hand.
Right, it’s time to look at the cheapest bike on this list, the Salsa Journeyer.
Salsa Journeyer Advent
US $999 — 11.8kg — 26” Climbing Gear — 50 mm Tyre Clearance — 598 mm Stack
People often think you need to spend thousands on a well-designed gravel bike with a smart component selection, but the Salsa Journeyer proves that’s not the case. The Journeyer ticks so many boxes, and scored 19/20 in my recent article about the best budget gravel bikes (under $1000).
It has a perfectly upright frame geometry for long days, clearance for wide tyres, tubeless compatibility (which is quite uncommon at this price), all the mounts, and reliable and user-serviceable components.
It gets better though; you can choose your wheel size! One model has larger 700C wheels that are faster on the pavement, and another has smaller 27.5” wheels that trade some speed for better comfort, grip, and control.
The Journeyer has a notably low standover height, giving you more confidence if you need to stop quickly. The low top tube also helps get smaller riders onto gravel bikes (142cm / 4ft8), who are highly underserved in the bike industry.
The only downside to the Journeyer is the climbing gear ratio that’s not particularly low, however, this is an easy mod. You can either reduce the front chainring size to 36 teeth or increase the size of the rear cassette up to 46 teeth.
If you’d like to learn more about the Journeyer, check out my best budget gravel bikes article HERE.
Canyon Grizl 7
US $1999 — 10.7kg — 25” Climbing Gear — 50 mm Tyre Clearance — 605 mm Stack
If you’re after something a bit more refined, it’s hard to go past the Canyon Grizl 7. This aluminium bike comes with a lightweight carbon fork and a carbon seatpost that’s been tuned to flex 5-10 mm vertically, providing a silky-smooth ride.
Canyon offers some of the broadest size ranges of any bike company, so you’ll find eight sizes to suit people of all heights (although the Grizl doesn’t quite get as small as the Journeyer).
The Grizl 7 has been specced with the latest 2X12 drivetrain that will work very well over rolling terrain, it has a decent climbing gear ratio, and the brakes are hydraulic, which is a big upgrade over almost anything cheaper.
Canyon also includes some nice DT Swiss wheels wrapped in 45 mm tubeless tyres. If you’re seeking more comfort, make sure to fit 50 mm tyres down the line.
Fairlight Faran 2.5
£1999 — 11.0kg — 23” Climbing Gear — 50 mm Tyre Clearance — 610 mm Stack
If you have a preference for steel bikes, the Fairlight Faran from the UK is my top pick, and you’ll quickly realise why.
The attention to detail of these frames is unparalleled for the price. For example, the top and down tubes have been ovalized just for Fairlight, providing the equivalent lateral stiffness of a bigger tube but without the added weight. The cable guides are interchangeable depending on your derailleur and brake setup, the rear dropouts are modular, and there are stainless washer plates up the back so your rack bolts don’t scuff your paint.
The Faran is not only available in five frame sizes, but each size is offered in a ‘regular’ or ‘tall’, which is the next best thing to a tailor-made frame. This sizing distinction essentially determines the height of your handlebars in relation to the saddle, and can be useful for riders who have long torsos and short legs (where a regular frame is best), or short torsos and long legs (where a tall frame is best).
The Faran will fit 700C x 50 mm or 27.5 x 2.35” tyres, which is the widest of any bike on this list. It can also be configured around your needs – choose between 1X and 2X drivetrains, and 700C or 27.5” wheels, or go wild with the myriad of component upgrades.
GT Grade Carbon Pro
US $2900 — 9.5kg — 24” Climbing Gear — 50 mm Tyre Clearance — 603 mm Stack
The 9.5kg GT Grade Carbon Pro is not only light and capable, but it’s incredibly comfortable too.
The signature design feature on this bike is the seatstays that extend from the top tube to the rear dropouts without attaching to the seat tube at all. This allows the frame and seatpost to flex up to 30 mm vertically, absorbing bumps and impacts while you ride along.
Our vibration tests (on the previous version) show that GT’s floating seat stay design can damp more vibration than an Ergon leaf-spring seatpost on fast gravel roads, which is quite a feat.
The innovation doesn’t stop there. GT employs what’s known as a ‘progressive’ frame geometry.
The frame reach is longer than most gravel bikes, which puts the front wheel further in front of the rider providing more stability at speed, and making it harder to pitch over the handlebars. To compensate for the long reach, the stem is short (60 mm), resulting in a more direct steering feel.
The Grade is light enough to be a decent road bike with narrow slick tyres, but capable enough for bumpy forest roads with grippy 50 mm tyres. There are Shimano hydraulic brakes to pull you up on a dime, a 2X drivetrain that’s great for rolling hills, and plenty of mounts for bikepacking accessories. The bike has been designed to accommodate a suspension fork too.
Unlike many carbon bikes in this category, the gear cables do not route through the headset, which is ideal for adventure riding as it makes for less gear cable friction and easier cable changes.
Propain Terrel CF
US $4999 — 8.0kg — 25” Climbing Gear — 50 mm Tyre Clearance — 608 mm Stack
If you want an ultralight gravel bike without breaking the bank, you won’t do better than the Propain Terrel CF. This bike is shockingly good value when compared to all other bikes at the 8 kg (17 lbs) or below mark.
This carbon gravel bike comes with a SRAM 1X wireless drivetrain, DT Swiss carbon wheels, lots of carbon components, and some fast-rolling Continental Terra Speed tyres.
Just because it’s light doesn’t mean it’s less capable. Like the GT, it employs a progressive frame geometry, it has clearance for 50 mm tyres, and it’s compatible with a suspension fork.
In terms of features, the Terrel is thoroughly modern. It features a UDH hanger for SRAM Transmission drivetrains, an oversized T47 bottom bracket, frame storage, a direct mount frame pack, and lots of eyelets for luggage and fenders.
The cables do route through the headset, but as the derailleur is wireless, shift performance isn’t compromised. Thankfully, the cables also run underneath the stem, so you can still change the stem length without needing to re-route the cables.
You can configure the Terrel how you like, with a choice of colours, decals, and bar and stem widths. There are lots of part upgrades available too, including a suspension fork.
YT Szepter Core 2
US $2499 — 10.8kg — 22” Climbing Gear — 45 mm Tyre Clearance — 611 mm Stack
My front suspension gravel bike pick is the YT Szepter Core 2.
The topic of suspension on gravel bikes is quite polarising. Every time I discuss it some people are like “Get a mountain bike”, and others are like “This works awesome”.
For gravel riders who split their time between the pavement, smooth dirt roads, and rugged 4×4 tracks, a bit of suspension keeps your front tyre patch glued to the ground, and it allows you to carry more speed over bumps. It also removes some of the fatigue from riding over rough terrain.
The Szepter is designed by mountain bikers and it shows. It has a progressive frame geometry, a big front rotor for maximum stopping power, a Shimano 1X wide-range drivetrain, and a 40 mm travel Suntour suspension fork. There are even two built-in fenders to minimise the debris on your face and backside, and the direct frame pack mounts are a very neat touch.
Even with all these features, the bike is under 11 kg, has one of the lowest climbing gear ratios here, is cheaper than a GT Grade, and comes in a broad range of frame sizes.
BMC URS LT TWO
€6499 — 9.5kg — 20” Climbing Gear — 45mm Tyre Clearance — 603 mm Stack
The BMC URS LT is a unique full-suspension gravel bike with hidden suspension elements in the carbon fork and rear frame triangle. This makes it the most expensive bike on this list, however, when you consider the riding experience on offer – the price is somewhat justified.
The suspension fork features 20 mm of damped travel that can both remove unwanted shock and vibration coming up from the road and keep your front tyre planted to the ground. Compared to a gravel bike with a rigid fork (Open Wide), we’ve tested the URS front end to reduce vibration by 39% after a big hit, which is huge.
At the rear seat stays are two elastomer springs that generate 10 mm of vertical travel to save your lower back from harsh impacts, and this is combined with a carbon seatpost that provides a further 10 mm of travel. In our vibration test, this combination achieved the same level of vibration damping as the best-performing suspension seatpost (Redshift ShockStop Pro Race), which is seriously impressive.
The amazing thing is that the URS LT is light, stiff, and fast enough to keep up with more pavement-focused gravel bikes, and it has a super low climbing gear ratio too. It’s quite the package; make sure to read our full review HERE.
If you’ve read some of my articles and decided that a gearbox and belt drivetrain is right for you, here are my picks.
Priority Gemini
US $3499 — 12.0 kg — 17” Climbing Gear — 50 mm Tyre Clearance — 600 mm Stack
The Priority Gemini is a tough, low-maintenance, and easy-to-use gravel bike that will conquer the steepest roads.
It’s built around a weather-sealed 12-speed Pinion gearbox that can electronically shift your gears in just 0.2 of a second. The gearbox will change your gears under load, while coasting, and even while stationary at the traffic lights.
Compared to derailleurs, gearbox drivetrains are less susceptible to damage, don’t require any tuning or adjustment, reduce bicycle maintenance significantly, and are unlikely ever to wear out. The only maintenance is the 6,000-mile oil change.
The Gemini comes with a belt drive too, which is cleaner, quieter, and longer lasting than a chain. Through my real-world tests, I’ve ridden belt drivetrains over 30,000 km before my sprockets have worn out, which is 3-4X longer than I expect from a chain.
To round out the Gemini, it features hydraulic brakes, a stable geometry, and an unbelievably low climbing gear ratio. It’s available with a titanium or aluminium frame and it will clear 700C x 50 mm tyres.
If you’d like to know more, check out my in-depth article on the Priority Gemini HERE.
Avaghon Grave
€4499 — 12.5 kg — 20″ Climbing Gear — 50 mm Tyre Clearance — 628 mm Stack
If you’ve read my articles about Rohloff hubs and decided these ultra-reliable, weather-sealed, and surprisingly efficient 14-speed gear systems are for you, you might like the Avaghon Grave.
Avaghon is a company based out of a tiny bicycle shop in the Netherlands. But despite their size, they have come up with a steel bikepacking bike with a tall bar height, and 50 mm tyre clearance, which is designed around a low-maintenance Rohloff hub and belt drivetrain.
This gear hub is lighter than a Pinion gearbox, with smaller gear steps, and a higher drive efficiency. If you’d like the fastest possible gearbox bike – a Rohloff hub is undoubtedly the way to go.
The only downside is that the lever throw is quite long, and the shift speed is quite slow compared to the Pinion electronic shifters. Unfortunately, you can’t have it all.
It’s worth noting Avaghon also builds the Grave with flat bars and a regular twist shifter.
Hudski Doggler
US $1600 — 11.0kg — 20” Climbing Gear — 50 mm Tyre Clearance — 606 mm Stack
Speaking of flat bars, the Hudski Doggler is a gravel bike that’s virtually impossible to find flaws in.
It’s well priced, under 11kg, and has a 20″ climbing gear ratio, full carbon fork, 12-speed drivetrain, and a bigger-than-usual front rotor for quick deceleration.
The Doggler leans heavily into mountain bike design principles. The long wheelbase and slack head tube angle create a super stable ride, and the steep seat tube angle puts your weight further forward for cycling up steep roads.
The Doggler comes standard with a tall handlebar with large grip angle (27 degrees) and less reach than a typical flat bar. This results in a relaxed, upright pedaling position for all-day rides.
Summary
| Bike | Category | Price | Weight | Climbing Gear | Stack (Large) |
| Salsa Journeyer Advent | Budget | US $999 | 11.8 kg | 26 Inches | 598 mm |
| Canyon Grail 7 | Aluminium | US $1999 | 10.7 kg | 25 Inches | 605 mm |
| Fairlight Faran 2.5 | Steel | US $2550 | 11.0 kg | 23 Inches | 610 mm |
| GT Grade Carbon Pro | Carbon | US $2900 | 9.5 kg | 24 Inches | 603 mm |
| Propain Terrel CF | Ultralight | US $4999 | 8.0 kg | 25 Inches | 608 mm |
| YT Szepter Core 2 | Suspension | US $2499 | 10.8 kg | 24 Inches | 611 mm |
| BMC URS LT TWO | Suspension | € 6499 | 9.5 kg | 20 Inches | 603 mm |
| Priority Gemini | Gearbox | US $3499 | 12.0 kg | 17 Inches | 600 mm |
| Avaghon Grave | Gear Hub | € 4499 | 12.0 kg | 20 Inches | 628 mm |
| Hudski Doggler | Flat Bar | US $1600 | 11.0 kg | 20 Inches | 606 mm |
That concludes the best gravel bikes for this year! I hope you can appreciate some of the excellent designs and details that have gone into each of these bikes.
This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what’s available, in fact, for each sub-category here, there are multiple bikes in my buyer’s guide that could’ve won.
I’d recommend checking out the Bikepacking Bike Buyer’s Guide if you’d like to see and compare all the bikes available.
