The Greatest Gravel Bikes of 2024

As trails change into extra crowded and telephones distract drivers on the highway, riders are turning the pedals towards distant stretches of backcountry gravel. It’s arguably safer, makes you a greater rider, and is undeniably enjoyable.

Whereas adventurous riders have been using all method of bikes on grime roads for a lot of many years, gravel biking has seen a latest explosion in recognition. The biking trade has taken discover, and there are actually a great deal of fashions available on the market made particularly for gravel using. However gravel using is considerably onerous to outline. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure form of sport that features every thing from tough pavement to singletrack and each kind of grime highway in between.

Gravel bikes have advanced from modified highway bikes and cyclocross bikes into the machines we’re extra acquainted with right now. Although they might look loads like beefed-up highway bikes, trendy gravel bikes have elevated clearance for bigger tires, relaxed geometries, and a few even include entrance suspension and dropper posts. As we speak’s gravel bikes are succesful, snug, and environment friendly throughout a variety of terrain and surfaces.

With so many manufacturers and fashions to select from, discovering the suitable gravel bike is usually a problem. Concern not, our group has been testing gravel bikes since 2021, and this checklist represents the most effective choices we’ve tried to date. Whether or not you’re a seasoned gravel aficionado or simply stepping into the game, we’ve obtained suggestions to fit your wants and meet your finances. To see all the fashions we examined at a look, try our comparability chart. Should you’re new to gravel bikes, our complete purchaser’s information can assist steer you in the suitable course and our FAQ part supplies solutions to frequent questions.

Editor’s be aware: We up to date this information on Could 16, 2024, with the addition of 5 new fashions, together with the value-packed Ari Shafer, the mountain bike-inspired YT Szepter Core 4, and the race-ready Ventum GS1. We additionally added data and images to our purchasing recommendation to assist readers when trying to find their subsequent gravel bike.

The Greatest Gravel Bikes of 2024

Better of the Relaxation

Gravel Bike Comparability Chart

Why You Ought to Belief Us

We began our gravel bike evaluation again in 2021 with a bunch take a look at of almost 20 fashions. Frequent GearJunkie contributor Steve Graepel led the testing at the moment, which passed off within the unforgiving panorama close to Saint George, Utah. Steve is an avid gravel rider who often goes on worldwide bikepacking adventures. Along with spending a number of time within the saddle, Steve has been testing, reviewing, and writing for GearJunkie for the previous decade. Gravel bikes have continued to evolve since then, and whereas lots of these bikes are nonetheless present fashions, our group continues to check and evaluation the newest and best as we get our fingers on them. Fortuitously, that’s fairly typically.

Gearjunkie editors Jeremy Benson and Seiji Ishii have added their expertise and experience to this information. Benson has been professionally testing and reviewing bikes, parts, and equipment for 8 years. In that point, he’s examined a variety of gravel bikes, from budget-friendly fashions to range-topping superbikes. Along with testing them, Benson rides gravel bikes for enjoyable, health, and coaching for quite a few long-distance gravel races that he competes in close to his residence within the mountains of California. With a whole lot of miles of gravel roads accessible close by, he has ample alternative to check gravel bikes all year long.

Ishii is GearJunkie’s biking editor. He has been using bikes for the previous 4 many years and has seen the start and evolution of gravel biking in that point. His place signifies that he has a continuing stream of recent gear coming his manner, and he’s at all times testing out new and attention-grabbing gravel bikes. Ishii lives in central Texas the place he has an countless provide of gravel using to check bikes and preserve his health. He additionally finally ends up touring fairly a bit for work and pleasure and has ridden gravel in all the most effective locations all through the U.S.

How We Examined Gravel Bikes

The one true take a look at of any bike is the way it performs whereas using, so trip them we did. After all, we assembled them when essential, weighed them, and did routine upkeep, however the bulk of our gravel bike testing passed off within the saddle on gravel roads throughout the western U.S.

Our skilled gravel riders examined these bikes for months, totally on gravel however dabbling with blended surfaces, together with pavement and singletrack. From brief loops to hundred-mile epics, bikepacking journeys to endurance races, we rode these bikes as in the event that they have been our personal and so they have really seen all of it. Whereas using, we thought-about vital elements, like geometry, consolation, pedaling effectivity, downhill efficiency, dealing with, parts, and finest use. Each time attainable, we rode these bikes again to again with different fashions for a direct comparability. When the mud settled, we seemed over our notes and zeroed in on our favorites to compile this checklist of suggestions.

Shopping for Information: How you can Select a Gravel Bike

The gravel bike market has grown exponentially lately, and there are actually extra fashions to select from than ever earlier than. With frames created from carbon, aluminum, metal, and titanium, 700c and 650b wheels, and bikes designed for racing, bikepacking, and every thing in between. The sheer variety of choices is sufficient to make your head spin. To assist reduce via the chatter, we’ve outlined lots of the vital elements to contemplate when trying to find your subsequent gravel bike.

The place and the way do you trip?

Earlier than you open up your pockets, replicate on the place and the way you trip. It’s the only most vital indicator to contemplate when selecting any bike. Are you a high-performance racer on the lookout for the quickest bike you could find or are you gravel-curious and interested by seeing what this entire gravel using factor is about? Possibly you’re someplace in between?

Some gravel bikes are impressively versatile and work nicely throughout the spectrum of gravel types. Bikes just like the Specialised Diverge and the Ari Shafer are glorious all-rounders that work fairly darn nicely in nearly any scenario, from weekend races to bikepacking adventures. Others are a bit extra particular of their design and intention. The Ventum GS1 is an efficient instance. This light-weight bike has a race-oriented geometry that prioritizes pace over consolation and flexibility. On the opposite finish of the spectrum, the Ritchey Outback is a steel-framed bike that’s lengthy, steady, and able to tackle probably the most adventurous bikepacking routes and excursions you could dream up.

Measurement

Shopping for the suitable measurement bike is an important first step within the course of, however deciphering the info on a geometry desk could be like studying the Mars Rover launch code. Should you already know your mountain bike or highway bike measurement, chances are high that you simply’ll most likely trip the same-sized gravel bike. To chop to the chase, most firms will embody rider top charts to steer you towards your body measurement.

Should you don’t know your measurement, discover your very best high tube size (the size between the middle of the top tube and the seat tube on the horizon — additionally known as the efficient high tube or ETT). Chances are you’ll have already got this quantity from one other bike you’ve ridden. There are just a few calculations on-line to assist discover this quantity, or you may get sized up at an area store. Due to gravel’s highway pedigree, lots of these measurements might be in metric. Many bike producers mean you can toggle between metric and imperial on their on-line geometry charts.

Most high tube measurements put you on the identical body measurement between completely different manufacturers, but it surely’s vital to double-check as a result of that isn’t at all times the case. If you’re between sizes, you’ll have the choice to measurement up or down. Smaller gives you a sportier trip, whereas bigger affords extra steady efficiency. Altering your seat and cleat place can dial in your match, and swapping stems is a cheap solution to modify the match of your cockpit.

Geometry

On the whole, a gravel bike’s geometry is just like a highway bike however with extra relaxed angles that assist to make it extra snug for using off-pavement. There are various variations, after all, that assist to outline the best way a motorcycle handles and performs when the rubber hits the grime. Dig a bit deeper, and you can begin to decipher how a motorcycle’s geometry impacts dealing with. Longer chainstays (or “rear to heart” measurements) can really feel extra flexy and steady on longer rides. Nonetheless, shorter chainstays sometimes really feel stiffer, snappier, and extra nimble.

Oversimplifying it, an extended wheelbase supplies higher stability at pace however might impression a motorcycle’s dealing with in tighter turns. A shorter wheelbase will really feel stiffer and might be extra responsive, however presumably at the price of slight discount in high-speed stability. These numbers aren’t the end-all. Elements and different geometry measurements may also play a big position in how the bike handles.

Linking the fork to the bike, the top tube size, and the angle may also have an effect on the trip and dealing with. Shorter head tubes usually put the rider in a extra aggressive (racing) stance, whereas longer head tubes push the rider extra upright and right into a relaxed place. A steeper head tube angle will proceed to make the bike really feel extra racy and responsive, whereas a “slacker” angle will present extra stability however might require extra effort to steer the bike. Riders frequenting steeper and rougher terrain will usually profit from a extra relaxed head tube angle.

On the entrance finish, a fork’s rake (or offset) measures the hub’s offset from the steering axis. An extended path (the tire’s footprint “trailing” behind the hub’s axis) implies extra stability, whereas a shorter path will make the bike really feel extra vigorous.

Body Materials

The body materials is likely one of the major differentiating elements in trendy gravel bikes. Carbon fiber and aluminum are by far the commonest supplies used within the development of gravel frames. Metal and Titanium are much less frequent, however there are fairly just a few choices for those who go searching.

Carbon fiber sometimes instructions the next value as a result of the fabric, molds, and course of are merely extra expensive. That stated, it’s usually the fabric of alternative for many performance-oriented riders. Carbon frames sometimes weigh much less, and the fabric could be manipulated in quite a lot of methods in the course of the layup course of to attain desired traits. The tiny interfaces within the carbon construction additionally work nicely to soak up high-frequency vibration, which can assist improve consolation.

Aluminum is extra inexpensive as a uncooked materials and the manufacturing prices are comparatively decrease, so aluminum frames are usually less expensive than carbon. Aluminum additionally occurs to be lighter than metal. It may well’t be manipulated in fairly the identical methods as carbon fiber, so it typically has a bit stiffer of a trip high quality. To fight this, many aluminum frames include carbon forks. Lately, many manufacturers produce aluminum variations of their carbon bikes, that are sometimes offered at a lower cost level for extra budget-minded customers.

Metal is a bit heavier than aluminum or carbon, but it surely has a particular trip high quality that many purists respect. Metal additionally occurs to be pretty cheap, though some boutique metal frames can nonetheless command a reasonably penny. Titanium is lighter than metal and has an much more forgiving trip really feel. Titanium additionally occurs to be fairly a bit dearer.

Wheel Measurement

Gravel bikes draw affect from each the highway and the mountain. Nowhere is that this extra clear than with wheels. Out there in each highway (700c) and mountain (650b) diameters, these numbers point out the edges’ exterior diameter (measured in mm). Plus, 650b can also be synonymous with 27.5 inches, a typical tire diameter used on mountain bikes. Many trendy gravel bikes can work with both wheel measurement, and a few even give the choice to decide on between the 2 on the time of buy or you’ll be able to change someplace down the road.

Typically talking, 700c wheels roll over issues a bit extra simply and carry pace a bit higher. They will additionally run a narrower tire, giving the bike a smaller footprint on the bottom. This reduces floor friction and supplied the geometry helps it, you’ll be able to convert your gravel bike right into a succesful highway bike. Most trendy gravel bikes have elevated their tire clearance lately, so it’s attainable to run tires as much as 45 to 50 mm broad or as slender as 30 mm. This provides you the choice to decide on the suitable tires to fit your preferences or the situations.

700c wheels and tires are nice if you wish to go quick, however they attain some extent of diminishing returns if you want extra traction (and extra forgiveness within the tough). And that is the true advantage of the 650b. It offers you the choice to wrap the wheel with a succesful, grippy 27.5 mountain bike tire for extra grip and higher air quantity and cushioning over chunky surfaces.

Tire diameters are marked clearly on the tire’s sidewall, adopted by a second quantity measuring the tire’s width. So 700 x 45c (a superb alternative and our most popular diameter for 700c wheels) implies the tire measures 700 mm in diameter with 45 mm in width. Equally, a 27.5 x 2.1 measures a 27.5-inch diameter with a 2.1-inch tire width.

Tires

Let the situations you trip be your north star. Choose a tire with traction that matches your terrain. Exterior a motorcycle’s geometry and match, tires are the most effective and most inexpensive manner to enhance your trip. Identical to gravel bikes, there are actually a whole lot of gravel bike tires to select from so you’ll be able to optimize your trip for the situations you encounter most frequently. Tread designs fluctuate from tremendous low-profile choices optimized for pace on easy hardpack to knobbier patterns for traction in unfastened or muddy situations. We’re massive followers of all-around tires that roll quick and work nicely in most situations.

Together with tread designs, gravel tires are available in an enormous vary of widths as nicely. This manner, you’ll be able to select the width that works finest for the situations you’ll be using or optimize your trip for pace or consolation. When selecting tires, nevertheless, you’ll want to contemplate your body and fork’s clearance. Clearance is the quantity of house between the fork, stays, and tubes on the bike’s body. In some instances, the stays present sufficient room to run both wheel measurement. You at all times wish to go away room between the tire and body, particularly for those who trip in muddy situations, the place muck can acquire and cement between the wheel and body.

Tires should match the wheel measurement, after all. You’ll be able to’t merely wrap a 650b tire on a 700c wheel. Fortuitously, tires can be found in quite a lot of widths and treads for each wheel sizes, offering nice choices for each bike. Should you determine to run wider tires, it’s a good suggestion to make use of a rim that may handle your tire’s girth.

No matter tire measurement, if there’s one factor we realized whereas testing bikes, it’s that tire stress really issues. Most trendy gravel tires are designed and meant to be run at decrease pressures which take up impression extra readily, enhance the tire’s contact patch, and enhance traction and luxury.

To that finish, working tires as tubeless is safer and lighter assuming your tires and rims are able to doing so. Tubes pop extra simply than the casings of tires and the tubeless sealant will sometimes shut tiny punctures from goat heads or highway particles. All the time convey a restore equipment with a tire plug and a brand new spare tube (rubber ages and may deteriorate over a yr). And don’t neglect a CO2 inflation equipment or a hand-held bike pump.

Periodically examine your tires for put on and tear. Gravel and sand act like sandpaper on tires, dulling the sharp edges of the tread. When a tire exhibits put on, it’s time to improve. Slicing corners by swapping your rear and entrance tires gained’t reduce it. The truth is, your entrance tire ought to at all times have higher traction. It supplies confidence as you provoke corners and turns.

Elements

Like every other style of biking, we’ve obtained lots of selections in the case of the parts we select for gravel using. Whereas many early gravel bikes relied on highway bike drivetrains and brakes — and lots of nonetheless do — each SRAM and Shimano have developed gravel-specific parts to fulfill the rising and completely different calls for of gravel using. Some manufacturers additionally supply mountain bike drivetrain parts on their gravel bikes, as the 2 varieties of using have comparable calls for.

When buying a brand new bike, you’re typically given a alternative of full builds with element groupings correlating to cost. As with each highway and mountain biking, there are efficiency/value tiers for componentry, with higher-performance parts commanding the next value and vice versa. For instance, the Ari Shafer is obtainable in 5 full builds starting from $2,599 as much as $4,999. In addition they present improve choices for issues like wheels, so you’ll be able to increase the efficiency of your bike proper out of the field.

Finally, it’s as much as you to determine if paying extra for a desired construct is price it. For extra skilled riders who demand a excessive degree of efficiency everyday, it might make sense to spend extra. Riders simply stepping into the game or are extra informal might not discover or care in regards to the slight weight or efficiency variations. Even then, you’ve obtained the choice to improve down the road ought to your wants or preferences change.

It’s additionally essential to contemplate issues just like the handlebar, handlebar tape, and saddle within the equation. These are locations the place our our bodies make contact with the bike and may play a big position in our consolation and dealing with. Handlebars for gravel are usually a bit wider and are sometimes flared within the drops to supply extra consolation and steering leverage for navigating tough terrain. Likewise, handlebar tape for gravel using is commonly barely thicker to supply extra cushion and damping. Saddles can also have extra cushioning or shapes particularly geared in the direction of using on tough roads. Like the rest, all of it comes all the way down to choice and what works finest for you. These elements are additionally cheaper to swap out when in quest of the proper setup.

Suspension and Dropper Posts

For really tough situations, just a few manufacturers supply bikes with 20-30 mm of suspension within the fork. Don’t count on to huck jumps on the native bike park. Slightly, it’s simply sufficient suspension to take the sting off of the chatter and add a bit extra consolation and management over rougher surfaces. It may well assist your fingers keep more energizing and cut back fatigue in your arms, shoulders, and higher physique whereas serving to your entrance tire preserve higher traction.

Specialised has a suspension system built-in inside the top tube that locks out (for climbs) and opens up 20 mm of suspension for tough descents. RockShox, Fox, and Cane Creek all make gravel-specific suspension forks that may be bought individually and used on many trendy gravel frames. The YT Szepter Core 4 comes outfitted with a RockShox Rudy XPLR fork that gives 40mm of journey. Canyon, Santa Cruz, and different manufacturers additionally promote full bikes that include suspension forks.

Whereas many gravel bikes supply narrow-diameter seat posts that permit a contact of additional flex, just a few, like YT, Kona, and others, include dropper posts. Is it well worth the added weight? It very nicely could be if you end up descending steep, rocky roads, or you’ll be able to’t assist your self from using on singletrack trails. A dropper can elevate your gravel sport to superhero standing, permitting you to sort out routes together with your mountain bike buddies. That stated, dropper posts on gravel bikes are overkill for many riders and the situations you’ll encounter most often.

Equipment and Mounts

Gravel using doesn’t require any uniquely particular gear. You’ll want the identical instruments and using gear you may have already got for highway or mountain biking. These instruments embody a conveyable instrument equipment with fittings that match the bike’s bolts, a pump or inflation equipment, a spare tube, a seat or high tube bag to place all of it in, and the information of the way to change a tire. Mount a water bottle cage (or two), convey a map or machine to search out your manner residence, and get rolling. Lately, many shoe manufacturers have begun to develop gravel-specific footwear, although they’re similar to cross-country mountain bike footwear. After all, you’ll additionally wish to put on some well-fitting biking shorts, a protecting helmet to maintain your head protected, and correct eyewear so you’ll be able to see the highway, or path, forward clearly.

Since gravel bikes are tremendous versatile, many individuals select to make use of them for bikepacking and touring. Manufacturers acknowledge this, and lots of add a wealth of braze-ons, or threaded mounts, to the body to make it simpler for people to connect baggage, racks, and bottles for prolonged adventures. Whereas braze-ons make it simpler to connect issues like rear racks or equipment on the fork, most gravel bikes have comparatively conventional body designs with open entrance triangles. This makes it simple to strap a body pack inside, and handlebar baggage and seat packs strap on as nicely.

FAQ