Whether it's racing or getting lost in the hills for a few nights, the humble gravel bike stands for one thing – adventure. No other bike is capable of road-like speeds over off-road terrain. The best gravel bikes come in all shapes, sizes and frame materials to ensure everyone gets a turn. Below is a list of the best gravel bikes we've tested to make buying your next gravel bike simple.
While early gravel bikes were basically cyclo-cross bikes with slightly thicker tyres, as the discipline has developed so have the geometry and frame specifics, the latter of which isn't too dissimilar from mountain bikes. But one thing's for sure, gravel bikes are built to go fast over long distances. Still, a cyclo-cross bike and gravel bike are staggeringly similar in terms of geometry and function.
However, there are differences between a gravel bike vs a mountain bike. Gravel bikes are typically equipped with tyres from 38mm to 45mm, or sometimes even 50mm. This combines low rolling resistance with added comfort, which comes into its own while rattling over corrugated fire roads at speed.
The next sign is a gravel bike's handlebar. The majority of gravel bikes are equipped with drop handlebars, most often found on road bikes but gravel has adapted them for the discipline's specific needs. Drop handlebars designed for gravel are wider and come with more exaggerated flares which widen the hand position when riding in the drops. Both of these are formed in the pursuit of stability. Some gravel bikes come with flat handlebars which pose a range of benefits.
Gravel bikes also have many features built into their frames and often come equipped with several mounting points for luggage, and even compliance-inducing carbon layups and frame shapes to further boost comfort. Most of the best gravel bikes have a specific gravel bike geometry, where head angles are slacker than their road bike brethren and the wheelbases are a little longer for stability.
Best gravel bikes 2024
- YT Industries Szepter Core 4
- Vaast A/1 allroad
- Mason Bokeh 3 GRX
- Specialized Diverge STR Expert
- Marin Gestalt XR
- Windover Bostal
- Vitus Venon Evo-GR Rival AXS
- Ribble Gravel SL Pro
- Surly Grappler
- Lauf Seigla Weekend Warrior Wireless
- Cotic Cascade
- Fearless Warlock
- Salsa Cutthroat GRX 810
YT Industries Szepter Core 4
£4,500
As a brand with its roots deep in the world of mountain biking, it comes as no surprise that the YT Szepter gravel bike is as mountain bikey as gravel bikes get. Its geometry is gravity-orientated with a long reach and slack head angle, and it gets a suspension fork along with a dropper post.
During testing, the Szepter's frame proved to be comfortable and compliant but not lacking stiffness. Importantly, it's ridiculously fun to ride, confidence-inspiring and can hold its own on gnarly trails where other gravel bikes shake in their boots.
Keen to learn more about this gnarly rig? Then head over to the YT Industries Szepter Core 4 gravel bike review.
Vaast A/1 allroad
£2,600
Frame materials don't get as exotic as magnesium (it won't explode, we promise). Vaast's A/1 Allroad promises enhanced capability on anything but asphalt while offering a ride character that's unlike anything else.
The benefits of a magnesium frame are simple: it's lighter, stronger and well – better. With a weight that rivals that of carbon, magnesium can offer a similar ride to steel or titanium by absorbing buzz and boosting comfort. Although it's certainly a compliant ride, it doesn't slack on the efficiency front, while balancing excellent handling with predictability in the corners.
Want to know more about this magnesium-framed bike? Check out the Vaast A/1 Allroad review.
Mason Bokeh 3 GRX
£3,280
The Bokeh 3 is Mason's third crack at what seems to be a winning formula. This time around, the brand has tweaked and refined the bike to make it more versatile than before but without compromising its lightweight and fun ride.
Against the previous bike, it gets more mounts and new top tube mounts. It can fit full mudguards, too. The cable routing has had a bit of a shift around and the bike uses Mason's ThruBB bottom bracket which is larger than standard sizes and runs a threaded BSA bottom bracket. The dropouts have been redesigned too to increase durability and stiffness.
We liked the Bokeh 3 because of its responsive and versatile ride. It's finished to a high quality, too, so it's a real exhibit of form and function.
For a more in-depth look, read the Mason Bokeh 3 review.
Specialized Diverge STR Expert
£6,250
Suspension on a gravel bike is a contentious topic but the Diverge STR Expert from Specialized does it in a way that may calm complaints from gravel purists. The latest Future Shock system applies to both the front and rear of the bike, and both allow you to tweak the level of squish based on your weight and preferences.
The Diverge STR is built around Specialized's Fact 11r carbon fibre and it's complete with the brand's Swat door found on the downtube that allows for handy storage. There's also a threaded bottom bracket, 12mm thru-axles at both ends. In terms of shifting, you get a mullet wireless setup, with the road/gravel Rival eTap AXS shifters paired with MTB-oriented GX AXS rear mech and cassette.
Our tester generally isn't a fan of suspension of gravel bikes but was turned to the dark side thanks to Future Shock's ability to fly under the radar, offering a new level of comfort without feeling alien. Future Shock aside, we found that the Diverge kept a hold of the ride and performance that was appreciated by previous models with its racy nature and responsive handling.
To learn a little more about this bike, here's the Specialized Diverge STR Expert review.
Marin Gestalt XR
£2,195
The Marin Gestalt XR is where gravel begins to step into mountain bike territory. With a geometry that's more commonly found on modern cross-country mountain bikes, this bike seriously straddles the line between the two genres, resulting in a bike that's fast and efficient over flat fire roads but becomes a force to be reckoned with when pointed down descents.
It's built around an alloy frame with a carbon fork and gets plenty of mounts, so it's well-equipped for long days out in the saddle. But what's impressive about the Gestalt XR is its geometry. On the medium frame tested, there's a mega slack 67.5-degree head tube angle and a reasonably steep (for a gravel bike) 74-degree seat tube angle.
This, combined with its compliant rear end, results in a super-confident ride, especially downhill. The stability that's summoned by its progressive geometry translates well as the bike is hauled through a flat and smooth fire road, where the 42T chainring and 11-42T cassette make for a speedy machine. However, the tough ratio is more than noticeable once the climbs get fierce.
For more details, check out the Marin Gestalt XR gravel bike review.
Windover Bostal
£2,950
If hand-made steel is more your thing, look no further as that's exactly what the Windover Bostal is. It's built around a Reynolds 853 steel frame that's designed in-house, tested in Sussex and made in the EU and it gets everything expected of a UK-focussed gravel bike.
Our tester found that the Bostal was a fun bike to ride. It carries that legendary steel feel that provides an exciting and engaging ride. Pat says that there's a controlled enthusiasm to the frame that feels as if it's up for any task you ask of it.
The guys over at Windover have plenty of frame-building experience under their belts and it shows as that Bostal offers communication in spades. However, it's not particularly cheap and there are only four sizes available.
Read the Windover Bostal gravel bike review.
Vitus Venon Evo-GR Rival AXS
£3,500
The Vitus Venon Evo-GR is an aero-focused gravel bike that can be just as happy on a road with only a swap of its wheels. It's a racier bike that's a hoot on flowy trails and singletrack but it also represents awesome value for money.
The heart of the bike is an SL UD carbon-fibre frame which Vitus claims weighs just 1,000g in a medium size. But, while it's technically an all-road bike, it's able to accommodate up to 45mm tyres, which gives it full gravel capabilities.
Its more aggressive front end and short wheelbase make it a bike that's best suited to fire roads and smoother surfaces. Its frame is communicative without sacrificing compliance.
If racier gravel is more your thing and you would like a bike that can double up for road use, check out our Vitus Venon Evo-GR gravel bike review for more.
Ribble Gravel SL Pro
£4,500
Ribble's Gravel SL Pro is a race-ready gravel rig that's all about efficiency and speed. However, it's versatile too, thanks to a comprehensive range of luggage mounts on the frame.
It comes with clearance for up to 47mm tyres (700c wheels) with modern geometry comprising a long wheelbase, slack head angle and steep seat tube.
Our tester found it stable on rough gravel descents where the fat tyres and long geometry add good stability, although it can get a little twitchy when the trail gets extra technical. However, it's a bike that performs at its best on open gravel roads where its dropped seat stays and D-shaped carbon seatpost add comfort without compromising stiffness.
For a deeper look into how this bike rides, head over to the Ribble Gravel SL Pro review.
Surly Grappler
£2,200
The Surly Grappler's steel frame comes with huge tyre clearance and plenty of mounting points – it's ideal for gravel adventures. It may not be your traditional gravel bike but it can hold its own and even surpass others when it comes to technical descents.
At 13kg, it's a heavy bike but its large-volume tyres work to absorb bumps and chatter. It's stable, too, thanks to a lengthy wheelbase, however, when it comes to the descents our tester found that the small chainring means that you'll freewheel down the fastest of downhills.
There are a few spec compromises, such as the cable-operated disc brakes but it's a comfortable and reliable workhorse.
Check out the Surly Grappler gravel bike review for more.
Lauf Seigla Weekend Warrior Wireless
£4,180
Lauf is best known as the brand behind those crazy leaf-sprung suspension forks and that's exactly what takes pride of place on its gravel bike, the Seigla. Like many of the best gravel bikes, this one gets three bottle mounts and a bento box mount on the top tube. However, the brand has made this a gravel racer, rather than a tourer which is evident in its lack of mudguard or rack mounts.
This said, it's a fast and comfortable bike that's keen to take on big distances quickly and it's fun to ride, too. Although it takes over from the Truegrit, the brand has kept geometry tweaks to a minimum, instead gracing it with greater tyre clearance making it able to fit fat 50mm rubber.
The Seigla benefits from a long top tube and short stem combo which results in snappy and fast handling with its short 425mm adding to the cause. Although its lengthy wheelbase claws back vital stability, keeping it straight and true on the descents.
Check out the Lauf Seigla gravel bike review to learn more about this racy machine.
Cotic Cascade
£2,100
Cotic is a brand that's renowned for its excellent steel mountain bike frames and the Cascade is its first step into the world of gravel. That step hasn't gone unnoticed as it's proven to be one versatile machine thanks to the ability to equip fat tyres and its mountain bike heritage which makes it super capable over challenging trails.
Our tester says that the first thing you notice when you swing a leg over the Cascade is how stable it is thanks to its slack 69-degree head angle, long wheelbase and short stem. Like other gravel bikes listed here, the Cascade gets a Reynolds 853 steel frame but with a 4130 CroMo rear end and external cable routing. It also gets loads of mounting points and can even run a 100mm suspension fork without affecting its geometry.
To see what the fuss is all about, read the Cotic Cascade gravel bike review.
Fearless Warlock frameset
£720
The Fearless Warlock gets a custom-butted steel tube build that's made using a careful choice of tubing that's usually reserved for either road or mountain bikes and it gets a seat tube that's picked to accommodate dropper seatposts. It's a bike that's dedicated to 1x drivetrains and there's a solid selection of bosses, allowing for plenty of storage options.
This bike's geometry is a clear nod towards mountain bikes of the 90s and it's quite the performer whether it's ridden with 700c or 650b wheels. It carries an immediate ride feel and it remains confidence-inspiring without getting too twitchy on the downs.
To learn more about this bike, here's the Fearless Warlock frameset review.
Salsa Cutthroat GRX 810
£4,700
Salsa's Cutthroat is an incredibly capable rig that's reminiscent of a hardtail mountain bike. It's built around a carbon-fibre frame but is designed to run 29-inch mountain bike wheels. Running 700c, thinner tyres or 650b hoops would negatively affect its handling. It gets a long carbon fork as standard but the Cutthroat can run a 100m travel suspension fork should you desire.
The spec on the model tested combines gravel and mountain bike kit with a Race Face Aeffect R crank and Shimano GRX 810 shifting.
For more on this bike, here's the Salsa Cutthroat gravel bike review.
How to choose the best gravel bike
There are many attributes to consider when looking to buy your first gravel bike and, most of the time, this will come down to the type of riding you plan on tackling. Will you be riding long distances, over technical terrain or a mixture of tarmac and dirt? Geometry is another thing to take into account as gravel bikes can take on varying degrees of shapes and sizes – some have very relaxed head angles while others are quite steep and designed for racing. A good gravel bike needs to be comfortable, regardless of the riding you intend to do and this will come down to tyre choice (clearance dependent), frame material and even suspension choice.
Are gravel bikes good for long distances?
Absolutely. Some gravel bikes are better for long distances than others owing to certain geometry and luggage mount choices but a gravel bike is the best machine for going long distances off-road.
That's because their tyres aren't as fat or as knobbly as mountain bike tyres, so there's less drag. This makes them faster when travelling over flatter and less technical terrain. The plethora of mounts that a gravel bike comes with allows the rider to extend their rides over multiple days and hundreds of kilometres, with plenty of provisions.
Others are built just to go fast thanks to the road-bike heritage and aero frame styles that further reduce drag.
Are gravel bikes good for road riding?
There's nothing wrong with using a gravel bike for road riding. From the outset, a gravel bike won't be as fast on the road due to its thicker tyres and its off-road focussed gear range but gravel bikes make excellent commuters thanks to their more forgiving nature.
A lot of riders use one bike with two different wheelsets. One with narrower or even deeper section rims for their road requirements, the other with a gravel-specific wheelset kitting with fatter rubber for when the gravel roads call. It could be said that the humble gravel bike is the most versatile bike on the planet.
Is a gravel bike as fast as a road bike?
On the road, no. A gravel bike's wider tyres increase rolling resistance while the frame might not be as stiff which negatively impacts power transfer during pedalling. When in an off-road environment, however, a gravel bike will come into its own as they're more comfortable and its wider tyres will offer a lot more grip. A gravel bike's geometry is also purpose-built to take on the rougher tracks that off-road riding poses, so a gravel bike will offer better stability, making it faster off-road.
[Prices and specifications are subject to change]
