If you’re looking for a list of the best gravel bikes on sale in 2022 then you’ve come to the right place. All of the bikes in this article have been ridden and rated by BikeRadar’s expert testers.
Gravel and all-road are terms used for this rapidly growing segment of the drop-bar bike market. These bikes have generous tyre clearances and geometry that is more stable and forgiving than traditional road bikes.
Modern gravel bikes were born out of the American Midwest, where racing on gravel roads took hold a decade ago and has steadily gained popularity.
In the early days, riders tackled these endurance events on cyclocross bikes with the largest tyres that would fit between the stays.
Today, there are numerous purpose-built machines that gravel-curious riders can choose from, with options ranging from bikes that rival the very best road bikes to more affordable, cheap gravel bikes.
There are also many ‘gravel-specific’ versions of common cycling accessories and clothes, including shoes for gravel riding.
The best gravel bike frames come in the same variety of materials as the best road bikes, with bikes available in carbon, aluminium, titanium and steel.
All these materials have their advantages and different riders will find that a certain one might make particular sense for them – whether that’s the low weight of carbon, the reliability of aluminium, the classic feel of steel or the desirability of titanium.
We have split our list of top-performing gravel bikes into each different frame material and you can skip to each section here:
You can find even more gravel bikes on our page of gravel bike reviews.
Best gravel bikes in 2022
These are the best gravel bikes available to buy in 2022, as rated and reviewed by BikeRadar’s expert testers.
Best carbon gravel bikes
- Boardman ADV 9.0: £1,800
- Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 1by: £2,949 / $2,849 / AU$4,249 / €2,699
- Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty 1: £7,500 / $8,500 / €8,399
- Cannondale Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX: £3,500 / $4,200 / €3,799
- Devinci Hatchet Carbon GRX LTD: $3,299 / CAD$3,999 / €3,499
- GT Grade Carbon Pro: £3,500 / €3,799 / $3,900
- Liv Devote Advanced Pro: £4,699 / €5,000 / $5,500 / AU$7,299
- Orbea Terra M20-D1x GRX: £2,599 / €2,929 / $3,299
- Vitus Energie EVO CRS eTap Force: £3,499 / €3,999 / $4,299
- 3T Exploro RaceMax: £3,849
- Bianchi Arcadex: £3,250
- Canyon Grail CF SL 7.0: £2,649 / $2,699
- Giant Revolt Advanced 0: £3,249 / $3,650 / AU$4,699 / €3,599
- Juliana Quincy CC Rival: £3,699 / €3,899 / $3,699
- Lauf Anywhere: $2,690+
- On-One Free Ranger SRAM Force 1: £1,800 / $2,556 / €2,178
- Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon: £4,000 / $3,900 / AU$6,000 / €4,499
- Vitus Substance CRX: £2,300 / $3,000 / AU$4,000 / €2,700
Best alloy gravel bikes
- Canyon Grail 6: £1,649 / $1,699 / AU$2,349 / €1,499
- Focus Atlas 6.8: £1,899 / €1,999 / AU$3,099
- Kinesis Tripster AT: £1,850
- Fuji Jari 1.3 Adventure: £1,400
- Merida Silex 400: £1,400 / AU$2,199 / €1,499
- Pinnacle Arkose D2: £1,205
Best titanium gravel bikes
- Enigma Escape: £3,888 / €4,666 / $5,063
- Mason Bokeh Ti GRX Di2: £6,195
- Reilly Gradient: £3,249
- Ribble CGR Ti 650b: £2,099
- Moots Routt 45: £5,600 / $4,999
Best steel gravel bikes
- Marin Nicasio +: £845 / $899 / €899
- BiVi Bunker Malvern: £1,399
- Ragley Trig: £1,700
- Ribble CGR 725 Steel: £1,199 / $1,257 / AU$1,965
Best carbon gravel bikes
Carbon fibre bikes are lightweight, stiff and can be designed to effectively absorb vibrations. This has made it the go-to material for many road cyclists but also makes it a good choice for performance gravel bikes.
Its pliancy will do a lot of work to minimise any chatter from the surface beneath while still letting you put a lot of power through the cranks.
Boardman ADV 9.0
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/05/Boardman-ADV-9.0-07-00a2b22.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Boardman")
- £1,800 as tested
- Excellent value
- Great ride quality
- Low weight is impressive for the price
- 700×38mm tyre clearance
The Boardman ADV 9.0 was the winner of BikeRadar’s Bike of the Year Best Value award in 2021.
That’s because this gravel bike is an impressively light machine for the price and really is a go-anywhere machine.
It achieves its low weight through the use of a C10 carbon fibre frame, which is also stiff and highly responsive, with our testers finding it gave the bike a thrilling feel off-road and fast acceleration on the tarmac.
Boardman has specced the bike with a clever mix of Shimano GRX components and a generous range from the 46/30 crankset and 11-32t schlepping you up the toughest climbs.
Panaracer GravelKing SK tyres provide grip off-road but are fast-rolling too.
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Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 1by
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/05/Canyon-Grizl-3-2fb6747.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £2,949 / $2,849 / AU$4,249 / €2,699 as tested
- Versatile carbon frameset
- Great spec
- Well thought out geometry
- 700×50mm (S-XL)/ 650×50mm (2XS-XS) tyre clearance
The Canyon Grizl is a burlier version of the Canyon Grail, which is also one of the best gravel bikes. The Grizl has clearance for 5omm tyres, mounts for fenders and bags, and a long geometry all working together to make it an ultra-versatile bike.
The bike is well specced with a Shimano GRX groupset, DT Swiss wheels, a Canyon VCLS leaf-spring seatpost and a Fizik Terra Argo saddle. What makes this bike so good is that the price for this spec is really competitive – a rarity these days in the bike market.
The Grizl is happy on tarmac but really shines off-road, on the kind of mixed dirt and gravel singletrack that make up a lot of gravel riding in the UK.
The 1x gear setup might not be the desired choice for all, but there are 2x Grizls in Canyon’s range, and the 1x setup faired very well for general riding.
Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty 1
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/05/Cannondale-Topstone-Carbon-Lefty-1-01-3b48408.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £7,500 / $8,500 / €8,399 as tested
- Handling, control and speed are top-notch
- Comfortable on terrain suited to mountain bikes
- 700×45mm / 650×47mm tyre clearance
The Cannondale Topstone Carbon Lefty 1 gravel bike will help you tackle terrain that is beyond the reach of many gravel bikes and let you fly along more conventional gravel trails much faster than many competitors too.
It has class-leading control across different surfaces thanks to the Lefty front fork, which provides 30mm of travel to help smooth out any bumps, and geometry that leads to a quick but stable ride.
The wheels have carbon rims and the front wheel has a sensor developed in conjunction with Garmin that will measure speed, time and distance. Combine all of that with wireless SRAM gears and you begin to get an idea of what sort of bike this is.
Overall, this Topstone is one of the most capable gravel bikes BikeRadar has ever tested. It does, however, cost a small fortune.
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Cannondale Topstone Carbon Ultegra RX
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/03/Cannondale-Topstone-Carbon-Ultegra-RX-01-4fbf16d.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £3,500 / $4,200 / €3,799 as tested
- Fast and racy machine with great wheels
- Effective rear suspension
- 700×40mm tyre clearance
The Topstone is a racy gravel bike with a firm, fast-handling front end and a clever rear suspension unit that provides up to 30mm of travel.
You also get a nice smart set of Cannondale’s own Hollowgram carbon wheels, which are tubeless-ready and weigh around 1.5kg, which helps keep the overall weight of the bike down to 9kg in a size large.
With stack and reach figures similar to Cannondale’s Synapse endurance road bike, the Topstone makes a compelling option as a do-it-all bike (if you’re looking to break the n+1 cycle). A simple swap of tyres is all it takes to make this a bike that shines both off-road and on.
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Devinci Hatchet Carbon GRX LTD
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/04/Devinci-Hatchet-Carbon-GRX-LTD-01-1e8cc3a.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- $3,299 / CAD$3,999 / €3,499 as tested
- Superbly stable yet fun handling
- Something a little different
- 700×50mm / 650×53mm tyre clearance
Devinci’s Hatchet is a fun, fast and versatile gravel bike. There’s clearance for 700c × 45mm tyres with mudguards, but 700c × 50mm tyres fit too, and officially it’ll take 650b wheels with tyres up to 53mm wide.
We loved the ride of the Hatchet and found the factory-fit dropper post really helped us exploit the impressive stability from its long, slack geometry.
Whether you’re passing through technical singletrack, rocks, gravel and tarmac, deep sand or slick mud, the Hatchet has immense composure.
For a headline bike, the spec is pretty modest, but the value it represents is competitive.
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GT Grade Carbon Pro
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/03/GT-Grade-Carbon-Pro-15-6bba159.jpg?quality=90&crop=156px%2C95px%2C1249px%2C832px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Best")
- £3,500 / €3,799 / $3,900 as tested
- Trail adjusting flip chip on fork improves handling between wheel sizes
- Nimble, yet super-comfortable ride
- 700×42mm tyre clearance
GT’s Grade was one of the first adventure/all-road/gravel bikes, and at the time it was well ahead of the curve in terms of versatility, but after four years, it had become a bit of a dinosaur. Newly revamped, the Grade has matured into a fully fledged gravel grinder.
The bike still has GT’s signature ‘triple triangle’ at the back, but the seat tube is now entirely free-floating and the seatstays have lost some girth allowing for heaps of compliance.
GT has also added a rear thru-axle and employed a flip chip in the fork to allow the trail figure to be adjusted by 15mm for changeable handling characteristics.
Tyre clearance has also been upped to 700c×42 mm, and the brand has added mounts galore with the carbon versions capable of carrying five bottles and the alloy version eight.
The position on the bike has been lowered and lengthened a touch, and the handling is confident even when the road or trail gets treacherous — the bike has become more cable overall than its predecessor.
Our Gravel Bike of the Year winner for 2020, the GT Grade Carbon Pro ticks a lot of boxes. It combines excellent compliance with fast handling and great kit that provokes a feeling of childlike exuberance.
Kit wise, there’s very little we’d change, but it’s definitely worth converting the tyres to tubeless if you can.
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Liv Devote Advanced Pro
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/08/Liv-Devote-Advanced-Pro-01-e1a99eb.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £4,699 / €5,000 / $5,500 / AU$7,299 as tested
- Women’s-specific geometry
- Dropper seatpost compatibility
- 700×45mm / 650×50mm tyre clearance
Liv’s first gravel bike is a true do-it-all bike for women seeking on- and off-road adventures.
As with the rest of the Liv range, the frame’s geometry/sizing and carbon layup have been chosen specifically with female riders in mind.
Giant’s shock-absorbing seatpost is very effective at reducing trail buzz, although the 30.9mm hole it sits in will willingly accept a dropper post should you want to maximise the bike’s handling on descents.
It’s a bike that is supremely comfortable over long distances and has mounts for mudguards, luggage, bottles and accessories, so it’s ready for as much adventure as you can take on.
We thoroughly enjoyed the huge gear range, slick shifts and easy setup of SRAM’s eTap AXS groupset, and its AXS brakes were not short of power or feel.
This flagship Devote model is big bucks but there are two cheaper carbon bikes and an aluminium frame starting from £1,400 / $1,150 / €1,100 / AU$1,699.
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Orbea Terra M20-D1x GRX
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/06/Orbea-Terra-M20-D1x-GRX-01-ba72e9a.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £2,599 / €2,929 / $3,299 as tested
- Lively, well-priced bike with a bold paint job
- 1x gearing is very off-road focused
- 700×40mm tyre clearance
As well as being one of the best gravel bikes, the Orbea Terra M20-D1x is excellent for all kinds of adventures, on- and off-road.
It absorbs rough terrain with ease, but doesn’t feel like a wet noodle on the road. It also has integrated mounts for racks and mudguards, so a simple swap of tyres or wheels could easily turn this into a ‘one-bike-for-all’ option.
If we’re really nitpicking, the only thing to be aware of is that the 1x gearing is quite off-road focused, so you could find yourself slightly undergeared for group riding on the road.
Orbea also offers a host of customisation options, meaning you can upgrade the spec to suit, if your budget allows. Plus, if the rowdy stock paint job isn’t for you, customising that is also an option.
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Vitus Energie EVO CRS eTap Force
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/08/Vitus-Energie-EVOS-CRS-cyclocross-bike-review-1-d238b43-scaled.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £3,499 / €3,999 / $4,299 as tested
- Wildcard choice due to cyclocross race origins
- Supremely versatile
- Great value for money
- 700×40mm tyre clearance
The Energie is Vitus’s cyclocross race bike, but don’t discard it as just that. Providing you aren’t discouraged by geometry that’s on the racier side, this makes a top gravel or even winter road bike thanks to heaps of clearance, well-chosen components and mudguard mounts.
Vitus’s big-name buying power (its parent company is Chain Reaction Cycles/Wiggle) means the spec is great for the money and includes a full SRAM Force eTap AXS groupset, a Prime Black Edition 38 Disc carbon wheelset and mostly carbon finishing kit, again from Prime.
We loved the subtle yet classy finish, including those lovely tan-wall tyres.
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3T Exploro RaceMax
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/01/RussellBurton_20200615_2DX7240-5ac28b7.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Best")
- £3,849 as tested
- Tons of versatility
- Aero design
- Clever all-rounder
- 700×35mm / 650×47mm tyre clearance
The Exploro Max builds on what 3T’s original Exploro gravel bike offered, yet does so in a package that is more versatile thanks to bigger tyre clearances and an aerodynamic design.
Our tester praised the Exploro RaceMax for its superbly balanced handling and supreme versatility.
Different builds provide either 700c wheels with 35mm tyres or a 650b wheelset with 57mm tyres, plus the choice of either a 1x or 2x drivetrain.
The out and out stiffness of its chassis means it can’t match a dedicated gravel bike off-road but what it loses here it more than makes up for in road credentials.
It doesn’t offer the greatest value out there, but many will be prepared to pay a premium for its exclusivity.
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Bianchi Arcadex
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/03/Bianchi-Arcadex-7bec610.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £3,250 as tested
- A unique-looking bike
- Road bike feel with gravel capabilities
- Firmer ride than some gravel bikes
- 700×42mm / 650×47mm tyre clearance
Bianchi’s first gravel bike, the Arcadex, is an unconventional looking bike that has a comfortable armchair-like riding position.
It is angled more towards the road end of the gravel spectrum rather than pure off-road performance, lending it a ride quality that’s more akin to a tall endurance bike on tarmac.
Off-road, it retains its road bike feel but the geometry and flared bar help navigate rougher terrain.
The Arcadex has a Shimano GRX 1x drivetrain and aluminium wheels.
For the price, it would be nice to see a carbon seatpost – which would also improve comfort on rough terrain – but this doesn’t get in the way of the Arcadex being thoroughly enjoyable to ride.
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Canyon Grail CF SL 7.0
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/02/Canyon-Grail-CF-SL-7-pack-aac95e9-scaled.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £2,649 / $2,699 as tested
- A real head turner
- Superb kit for the cash
- Unique cockpit
- 700×40mm tyre clearance
Despite being the most affordable carbon fibre Canyon Grail, this model still arrives with a great spec. It’s a composed off-roader that manages to feel fast and relatively uncompromised on the road too.
The distinctive double deck ‘Hover bar’ is the bike’s most defining feature, though it’s one that brings its own fit and compatibility complications.
Shimano’s GRX groupset has a huge range of gearing, a secure, clutch-equipped rear derailleur and hydraulic disc braking.
If the fit works for you and the handlebar is to your preference then this is a great choice for those riding on mixed terrain.
If you can’t live with the compromises of this bike’s divisive cockpit then we’d encourage you to try out the cheaper aluminium version of the Grail (shown below in this list), which foregoes the biplane setup.
This GRX equipped version is the cheapest way to get your hands on a carbon Grail, but if you’ve got a bit more money to spend we also got on very well with the SRAM Force eTap build.
Giant Revolt Advanced 0
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/03/Giant-Revolt-Advanced-0-01-24bd7be.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £3,249 / $3,650 / AU$4,699 / €3,599 as tested
- Amazing spec for the cash
- Highly versatile frameset
- 700×45mm tyre clearance
With a racy geometry, similar to Giant’s Defy endurance road bike, the Revolt Advanced is a quick-handling machine that’s also smooth to ride over rough terrain.
That smoothness is down to the slim back-end, but also some smart component choices. The D-Fuse seatpost and handlebar both allow for flex in the directions you want it, without impacting stiffness in those that you don’t.
Tyre clearance is excellent, with space for 700×45mm or up to 50mm tyres on 650b wheels. Kudos to Giant for setting the wheels up tubeless out of the box, and the 32/34t bottom gear should be low enough for practically everything, even if the bike’s loaded up.
The versatility of this bike is really something too, it’s easily adaptable for commuting, road training, gravel racing or adventuring with luggage attached.
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Juliana Quincy CC Rival
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/07/Juliana-Quincy-CC-Rival-01-8d6c45e.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £3,699 / €3,899 / $3,699 as tested
- Multi-discipline capability
- Heaps of tyre clearance and mudguard mounts
- Stunning looks
- 700×45mm / 650×53mm tyre clearance
The Juliana Quincy is the women’s version of the Santa Cruz Stigmata. Like the Stigmata, it started out as a cyclocross bike but naturally makes a great gravel or adventure option.
Whether you like long road miles, bikepacking, gravel grinding or tame off-roading, the Quincy can take on all of those – meaning some riders could feasibly consolidate their bike collection into just one.
The carbon frame and fork are particularly comfortable and sport mudguard mounts as well as room for three bottles.
There’s a huge amount of clearance, with room for 45mm tyres if you’re on 700c wheels or a full 2.1in with 650b wheels in place.
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Lauf Anywhere
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/lauf-anywhere-1-1550507889026-qelorx4vlkf4-07dc656-e1565621574925.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Best")
- $2,690+ as tested
- Same great race-ready frame as the True Grit
- Regular fork opens up options for mounting luggage
- 700×45mm tyre clearance
When you think of Lauf, the first thing that comes to mind is its wild-looking leaf spring fork, which allows for 30mm of front travel. However, the brand’s Anywhere gravel grinder doesn’t get one and instead comes with what Lauf calls a JAF or ‘Just a Fork.’
The frame features its Long-4-Speed geometry, which entails a short head tube, lengthy top tube and short chainstays, paired with a short stem and a slack (for a road bike) head angle. The idea is that it’s stable at speed but lets you get tucked up in an aero position when the need arises.
Lauf has also opted for a threaded bottom bracket shell, full-length internal cable guides and mounts galore, but the bike has no provision for mudguards/fenders.
As the name implies, the Anywhere rides well on both tarmac and ‘F-Roads’ as they’re known in Iceland (gravel roads) as well as smooth singletrack but is somewhat limited by the 40mm slick tyres that come stock.
On-One Free Ranger SRAM Force 1
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/10/ON-One-free-ranger-SRAM-Force-1-01-af04821.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £1,800 / $2,556 / €2,178 as tested
- Great value for money
- Tidy handling
- Rack and mudguard mounts
- 700×43mm tyre clearance
With a carbon frame and fork, and SRAM Force hydraulic disc groupset, the £1,800 On-One Free Ranger is in a league of its own when it comes to value.
Compared to many of the other best gravel bikes, its geometry is on the racier side, making it perfect for singletrack blasts. It’s impressively light too, with our extra-large test bike weighing just 9.87kg / 21.76lbs.
All the fittings are present for full-length mudguards and a pannier rack, too.
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Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/11/Specialized-Diverge-Comp-Carbon-review-30-2020-8a0cd7a.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £4,000 / $3,900 / AU$6,000 / €4,499 as tested
- Future Shock 2.0 suspension
- SWAT storage box
- Fun yet composed ride character
- 700×47mm / 650×54mm tyre clearance
The Diverge is a supremely versatile bike that could successfully do everything from fully loaded touring to ultra-light gravel racing.
The Diverge Comp Carbon, with its Shimano GRX 810-level groupset, sensible alloy wheels and decent finishing kit represents the best balance of performance and value from the 2021 Diverge range.
Its party piece is the Future Shock 2.0 suspension system, which is remarkably effective yet delightfully simple.
This bike is a real hoot to ride on rough terrain, with a notably composed ride manner at high speeds and on steep trails.
It’s so good out of the box that there’s little beyond the tyres that we’d look to change in the future.
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Vitus Substance CRX
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/08/vitus_substance_russburton_russburton001-8b3d1f2.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Best")
- £2,300 / $3,000 / AU$4,000 / €2,700 as tested
- Lightweight carbon wheelset
- True mountain bike character
- Exceptional value
- 650×47mm tyre clearance
The Substance CRX may have been Vitus’s first foray into the world of gravel bikes but you’d never know it. Make no mistake, this is a bike that has been specced to really excel at gravel riding with geometry, gearing and component choices that work best in the rough.
Vitus really makes this bike’s retail price stretch a long way. There’s a SRAM Rival groupset, lightweight 650b carbon fibre wheels from Prime with a relatively generous 24.5mm internal width and WTB’s Venture 650bx47mm TCS tubeless tyres.
Our sub-9kg XL test bike is impressive for a gravel bike at this price, particularly when you consider the aforementioned 47mm tyres. It’s a real hoot off-road with true mountain-bike character while mudguard bosses, fork-mounted bags and a third bottle boss at the down tube make it a viable option for adventuring or even tough commutes.
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Best alloy gravel bikes
Aluminium alloy frames are light, robust and have a relatively low manufacturing cost. This makes aluminium gravel bikes a great choice if you’re looking to dip your toe in the world of gravel because they deliver big performance for their relatively low price.
Many of the best gravel bikes have aluminium frames and can compete with carbon or titanium bikes, so it’s not to be overlooked even for the more performance orientated.
Canyon Grail 6
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/12/2021-Canyon-Grail-6-4c7f358.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Best")
- £1,649 / $1,699 / AU$2,349 / €1,499 as tested
- Top components for the cash
- Amazing performance for the money
- Gravel-specific gear ratios
- 700×40mm tyre clearance
The Canyon Grail 6 is a versatile aluminium gravel bike that’s a direct replacement for the hugely successful Grail AL.
Despite being the cheapest aluminium frame Canyon Grail build, it’s still a very well equipped bike with no obvious holes in its spec sheet.
The Shimano GRX 2×10 transmission and matching hydraulic disc brakes can be thought of as Tiagra equivalents while the RX600 crank is nominally Shimano’s 105-level.
Trusty DT Swiss C 1850 db alloy wheels are another spec highlight, particularly when shod in 40mm Schwalbe G-One Bite tubeless-ready tyres.
The Grail is a confidence-inspiring bike to ride, and one that beats its predecessor off-road thanks to gravel-specific gearing. It’s a comfortable enough bike as is, but run the tyres tubeless and you can further take the edge off. It’s also a competent ride on the road but a tyre swap would really get the most from this bike on the tarmac.
It’s a real shame that Canyon dropped the rack mounts for 2021 but thankfully mudguard mounts are still present.
The bike is also available in a women’s-specific version, the Canyon Grail 6 WMN.
Focus Atlas 6.8
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/01/23_Focus_Atlas_6.8_gravel_bike-cover-f29262b.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £1,899 / €1,999 / AU$3,099 as tested
- Touring and bikepacking-friendly
- Progressive geometry
- Excellent-value package
- 700×45mm tyre clearance
The Atlas 6.8 is a very capable bike straight out of the box.
It’s a particularly talented off-roader thanks to progressive geometry that keeps things notably calm even when the going gets steep or rough.
The entertaining ride of the Atlas means it’s a fun way to scale singletrack, cruise along bike paths or even take on a mixed commute.
It’s great to see a mix of Shimano’s excellent GRX RX600 and RX800 groupset components at this price.
The stock wheels are tough and form a great foundation for WTB’s 45mm wide Riddler tyres, though the Boost axle spacing could make potential upgrades more complicated.
Focus has included plenty of mounts and provisions for luggage and accessories, making the Atlas ideal for bikepackers.
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Kinesis Tripster AT
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/02/Kinesis-Tripster-AT-01-131d26d.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £1,850 (mudguards extra £60) as tested
- Wonderfully thought-out frame
- Great handling and lots of fun
- Good mudguards
- 700×45mm / 650×52 tyre clearance
The Kinesis Tripster AT is a winter-cum-gravel bike that has practicality and comfort at its core, but this doesn’t mean it’s boring by any means. In fact, it is incredibly fun to ride.
The great-value frame is well-considered with mounts and room for huge 52mm tyres, but its stiffness is also confidence-inspiring and responsive to full-on sprints.
The 1x drivetrain and brakes are made by SRAM. The 40-tooth front chainring and 11-42 cassette mean you can get up most climbs and spin along at a decent speed too. The brakes are powerful and make the bike easy to control.
The mudguards are an extra £60 but are completely worth it, providing excellent coverage, and the rest of the build is solid thanks to alloy components.
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Fuji Jari 1.3 Adventure
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/10/Fuji-Jari-1.3-Adventure-01-ccda62b.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £1,400 as tested
- A great package for the price
- Decent ride characteristics on- and off-road
- Full set of fittings for accessories
- 700×38mm tyres
The Jari 1.3 is a very well kitted out gravel machine for the money, and it’s a bike that impresses both on and off the road.
The slender aluminium frame and carbon fork include plenty of fittings for touring or bikepacking accessories, as well as the usual mudguard mounts.
It’s great to see WTB’s excellent and hardy STi23 tubeless-compatible gravel rims, and equally impressive to find them paired with 38mm GravelKing SK tyres from Panaracer.
The SRAM 1× drivetrain starts out with a really low crawler gear that will become your very best friend when climbing or riding off-road. It’s a shame that Fuji couldn’t stretch the budget to hydraulic discs, although the performance of the Tektro mechanical discs was a pleasant surprise.
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Merida Silex 400
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/10/Merida-Silex-400-01-78a221d.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £1,400 / AU$2,199 / €1,499 as tested
- Unusual MTB-inspired geometry
- Quality hydraulic disc groupset
- Good overall value
- 700×42mm / 650×42mm tyre clearance
There’s a lot of mountain bike influence in Merida’s Silex 400 and that’s a very good thing. By combining a long reach figure with a short stem, the Silex 400 positions its rider perfectly to make the most of its brilliant off-road handling.
The frame features mudguard mounts, rack mounts, two cages and double bosses on the fork legs, meaning getting accessorised for touring, bikepacking or adventure riding will not be an issue.
Shimano’s GRX transmission and braking components are mixed with a lot of own-brand parts for a spec sheet that amounts to decent value.
To get even more from the Silex chassis, we think this bike could do with tyres a little wider than the 38mm Maxxis Rambler parts that come as standard. Unfortunately, the narrow internal width of Merida’s Comp SL wheelset means you’d benefit from plumping for a wheel upgrade at the same time.
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Pinnacle Arkose D2
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/11/Pinnacle-Arkose-D2-01-ff1a1e8.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £1,205 as tested
- Fabulously capable off-road
- Decent componentry
- Commuter versatility
- 700×45mm tyre clearance
Evans’ own-brand Pinnacle refers to its Arkose as being an adventure road bike rather than an out and out gravel machine.
For the price, you get a lot of equipment, including 2×10 shifting and hydraulic braking components that are mostly from Shimano’s latest Tiagra line.
In truth, it’s only really a flared handlebar away from being a proper gravel bike, but it’s a perfectly usable drop handlebar road bike too. There are mounts for mudguards and racks for those who want this bike as a rugged commuter.
The standard 45mm tan-wall WTB tyres excel off-road with huge amounts of comfort and grip but you’ll likely want to swap them if you’re using this bike mostly for commuting. Similarly, you’d be best going for skinnier rubber should you want to make the most of the mudguard mounts.
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Best titanium gravel bikes
Titanium has become a popular material amongst the best gravel bikes thanks to its inherent properties.
The metal is more resistant to fatigue than aluminium alloy, roughly half the weight of steel and more flexible than carbon fibre, making it a good choice for riders who value performance but want a sleek-looking forever bike that can stand up to the demands of riding off-road.
Enigma Escape
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/02/Enigma-Escape-titanium-1-desticked-f61ada8-scaled.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £3,888 / €4,666 / $5,063 as tested
- Seriously versatile
- Timeless looks
- On- and off-road versatility
- 700×45mm / 650×50mm tyre clearance
If versatility and practicality are what you’re after and you’ve got a taste for titanium then this is a fine option.
We love the timeless look of this bike and its ride delivers a pleasantly damped feel that’s devoid of fatiguing buzz.
The Escape’s versatility means it can competently serve as everything from a posh commuter to a long-distance adventure bike.
Some will find the fact it commands a significant premium over comparable steel bikes hard to swallow, and it’s heavier than similarly priced carbon options too.
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Mason Bokeh Ti GRX Di2
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/05/Mason-Bokeh-Ti-01-209dbb3.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £6,195 as tested
- Sublime frame with lovely ride quality and great kit
- The chunky tyres make it a little pedestrian on the road and it’s pretty expensive
- 700×45mm tyre clearance
We’ve long been big fans of Mason’s aluminium gravel bike, the Bokeh, so we were pleased to see much of what we loved about that bike has translated across to the titanium version.
There are smart details galore, from the numerous mounts for bottles, racks and mudguards, to the MultiPort cabling system that ensures compatibility with all kinds of drivetrains.
As you’d expect, the ride quality is also excellent. The frameset, custom Mason/Hunt wheels and chunky tyres make for a wonderfully composed ride off-road.
The only issue is that it comes at a relatively high price, but if you’re willing to part with this much cash, we think you’re unlikely to be disappointed.
Reilly Gradient
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/01/Reilly-Gradient-01-0eb26e3.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £3,249 as tested
- Well priced for titanium
- Clever build kit
- Comfortable and quick
- 700×43mm tyre clearance
The titanium Reilly Gradient frame is not only a thing of beauty, the ride it delivers also manages to hit the sweet spot between comfort and speed.
The well-considered build puts Hunt’s 1,629g 4Season tubeless-ready alloy gravel wheelset at either axle and it’s driven and stopped by Shimano’s excellent gravel-specific GRX groupset.
It all adds up to a ride that feels road-bike precise on tarmac, yet controllable off it. It’s reasonably priced too, particularly for a titanium bike that’s built in the UK.
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Ribble CGR Ti 650b
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/04/ribble-cgr-ti-650b-02-ef0acf4.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Best")
- £2,099 as tested
- Great value-for-money build
- Classic ti looks are hard to beat
- 700×47mm tyre clearance
Ribble’s CGR Ti presents exceptional value for money and buckets of versatility but, let’s get real here, it’s the classic brushed titanium finish that really got us excited.
The frame isn’t just a pretty face, though. At 1,700g it’s not too heavy for a non-carbon frame and, with generous clearances alongside mudguard mounts, it’s super versatile to boot.
The CGR Ti has recently been updated with dropped seatstays, a stouter head tube and more road-friendly gearing, but we’ve not had a chance to test whether any of those changes make a significant difference to the ride quality.
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Moots Routt 45
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/03/Moots-Routt-45-12d1e24.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Best")
- £5,600 / $4,999 (frameset only) as tested
- Super-smooth ride and stunning finish
- Huge tyre clearance
- That price tag
- 700×50mm tyre clearance
Straight away, you can tell the Moots Routt 45 is a cut above mass-market titanium frames. Handmade in America, the welds are super-neat and the finish looks expensive. Subtle logos and a Moots head badge complete the frame.
We’re talking about the frame because, despite being available as complete builds in the USA, in the UK Moots bikes are currently only available as framesets. And yes, the £5,600 price tag is only for the frameset alone.
Riding the Routt 45 with SRAM Force eTap AXS, a Chris King headset and an Enve bar, this bike was everything you’d hope one of the best gravel bikes would be, proving super-smooth to ride on- and off-road with plenty of stiffness when pedalling.
The price puts it in the territory of the very best carbon road bikes, and while the Moots is light, it is not the lightest. But a bike like this will often be heart over head, and with the right finishing kit, it won’t leave you disappointed.
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Best steel gravel bikes
Steel is strong and relatively flexible, making it a good choice for gravel bikes because it will do a lot of work to absorb the vibrations of the surface beneath you.
Paired with wide gravel tyres, it creates a smooth and comfortable ride. It isn’t the lightest material, but when comfort and durability are the most important factors you can’t go far wrong with steel.
Marin Nicasio +
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/11/MY20-Nicasio-P-Final-PATHLESSPEDALED-be45e05.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C402" "\"Best")
- £845 / $899 / €899 as tested
- Amazing value
- Ideal for bikepacking
- Seriously fun to ride
- 700×35mm / 650x47mm tyre clearance
The Nicasio + proves that simplicity is key when you’re working on a budget.
It would be easy to discard this bike based on its simple steel frame and fork, and relatively high weight, but that would be a real mistake.
Yes, you’ll feel the weight on steeper climbs, but the cleverly chosen spec and excellent geometry make this bike a treat as soon as the going gets rough.
This is one of the most fun bikes to ride of its kind and yet it retails for less than the frameset of many of the best gravel bikes.
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BiVi Bunker Malvern
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/08/FLF-Aug-2019-4-8a8d0d6.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Best")
- £1,399 as tested
- Charming retro appeal
- Mountain bike-derived drivetrain
- Something a little different
This one’s a bit of a wildcard – you can either see it as an on-trend flat-bar gravel adventure bike or a retro mountain bike with a few modern touches.
Either way, the Bunker is an appealing, versatile choice and something a little different to the rest of the best gravel bikes.
We really enjoyed the way this bike combines a retro ride experience with some modern niceties. The 1×11 SRAM GX drivetrain is a good example of this, offering dependable and smooth shifts that are endlessly more appealing than the loose triple setup a nineties MTB would wear.
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Ragley Trig
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/02/ragley_trig_russ_b_001_1-1164ef9.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Best")
- £1,700 as tested
- Great handling
- Shimano GRX drivetrain
- 650b wheels
- 700x40mm / 650x47mm tyre clearance
The Ragley Trig is a low-slung steel gravel bike built around 650b wheels and with 2.1 inches of tyre clearance. This adds up to create a bike that promises loads of potential for British gravel riding.
The geometry takes inspiration from classic mountain bike geometry with a slack head-tube angle and long wheelbase, giving plenty of stability on rough terrain.
This does mean that when it comes to riding on the road, the Trig isn’t the fastest, but the low long position does let you push the pace and the chromoly frame is full of springy life.
Ragley has kitted the bike out with a mix of Shimano GRX 400 and 600 parts, with aluminium wheels and WTB Sendero tyres – a good choice for the kind of riding the Trig is suited to.
This steel gravel bike has all the braze-ons you need for bikepacking or commuting.
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Ribble CGR 725 Steel
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2019/07/Ribble-CGR-725-steel-01-d7349d3.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Best")
- £1,199 / $1,257 / AU$1,965 as tested
- Immensely versatile
- A touch on the heavy side
- Classy steel frame
- 47mm tyre clearance
The CGR 725 Steel gets its name from the slender Reynolds 725 steel tubes it’s constructed with. The frame offers not only a classy look but a cossetting ride that is more about comfort than smashing personal bests.
You can fit 700c, 29er or 650b wheels, making this is a chassis you can really tailor to your preferences. Rear rack mounts, clearance for up to 47mm tyres and bosses at the top tube add further versatility.
The CGR could happily clock commuting, fitness, adventure or even training miles.
At a smidge over 11kg, it’s a little weighty though, and the TRP mechanical discs are good rather than great.
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You may also want to consider…
These bikes didn’t score highly enough to be featured in the list above, but you may still want to consider them.
- Scott Addict Gravel 10 review
- Focus Paralane AL 105 review
- Raleigh Mustang Elite review
- Open Cycle U.P. first ride review
- Mason Bokeh Force review
- Orro Terra Gravel Road review
- Pinarello Grevil review
- Reid Cycles Granite review
- Van Rysel EDR CF Carbon Gravel review
- BiviBikes Graveller review
What is a gravel bike?
A gravel bike is a drop-bar bike designed to be ridden on a wide variety of surfaces and not just gravel – even if this is where gravel riding did originate.
The best gravel bikes look a lot like traditional road bikes, but there are four key features that usually distinguish them.
Wider tyres
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First and foremost, gravel bikes have wider tyres. Since these bicycles are designed to traverse miles of unpaved roads, their tyres are substantially larger. Likewise, mud clearance is also a concern in these conditions.
Tyre widths range anywhere from 30mm to 48mm. In addition to 700c wheels, it is also common to see smaller diameter 650b wheels used with higher volume tyres.
Many of the best gravel bike tyres feature a fast-rolling centre tread with knurling or side knobs to improve cornering ability on mixed surfaces.
Tubeless tyres are also commonly found on gravel bikes because the latex sealant provides a degree of insurance against punctures.
In addition to wider tyres, gravel bikes have geometry that favours stability and comfort.
Geometry
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The best gravel bikes have a longer wheelbase than most road bikes thanks to longer chainstays and slacker head-tube angles.
Head tubes are generally taller as well, placing the rider in a more relaxed, upright position. Bottom brackets are often lower, which gives the rider the sensation of riding in, rather than on the bicycle.
The end result of these geometry differences is a more comfortable, confidence-inspiring and forgiving ride than you would find in a typical road bike.
Gearing
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Gearing is another area where the best gravel bikes diverge from the pack. Given the terrain, many gravel bikes feature compact or smaller gearing and wide-range cassettes.
Cranksets with 50/34 or 48/32t are common. Likewise, many gravel bikes come with 1x gearing and wide-range cassettes.
Suspension
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In addition to wide tyres, relaxed geometry and low gearing, many gravel bikes have active or passive suspension systems built into them.
Much like bikes in the endurance road category, these features could take the form of slender chainstays, a bowed top tube, or a skinny seatpost, all of which are designed to flex in order to absorb road chatter.
Some of the best gravel bikes take things one step further by using short-travel suspension forks such as the Lefty Oliver or aesthetically odd but very effective Lauf Grit fork.
How much do I have to spend on a gravel bike?
Well, that depends on what you define as a gravel bike. A used cyclocross bike, for example, could work perfectly well as a gravel bike and cost you a fraction of the cost of even the most basic ‘true’ gravel machine.
If you’re looking at a purpose-built gravel / all-road bike, expect to pay around £800 / $1,200 for an alloy frame with entry-level components.
A mid-range build from a major brand will likely cost in excess of £2,000 / $2,800 but should feature a carbon frame and hydraulic disc brakes.
As is normally the case in the cycling world, it’s possible to spend a small (or not so small) fortune on a custom-built bike should you wish.