We’d all love to ride pro-level superbikes, but budget tends to dictate otherwise. Don’t despair though, the best road bikes under £2,000 or $3,000 are seriously good.
We’ve rounded up the best sportive bikes, best endurance road bikes and racers for your delectation. If this sounds too specific, our best bike guide explores what type of bike you should buy.
The bikes listed below all scored at least four stars out of five when our team of experienced riders put them to the test. Read on for comprehensive buying advice and our complete list of high-scoring bikes.
If up to £2,000, or $3,000 is still too heavy on your wallet, take a look at our best road bikes under £1,000. Or, if you can stretch your budget a little further, there are some fantastic options in our round-up of bikes under £3,000.
The best £2,000 / $3,000 road bike for you and your riding
If you need some help with what to look for in a road bike, read our comprehensive guide here and watch our video primer below.
Plenty of great bikes fall into the £1,000 to £2,000 price range. So many, in fact, that picking one can be quite a headache – so you need to have a clear idea of what you want.
The main thing to bear in mind is that while all the road bikes in this price bracket are suitable for any type of tarmac-related riding, they start to become more tailored to specific purposes – branching off down either the sportive/endurance or racing route.
Generally speaking, at this price, weights will drop and you may start to see features that have trickled down from the bikes ridden by the pros.
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Aero optimisation, for instance, whether it be the shape of the frame’s tubes, the choice of cockpit or the depth of the rims, is likely to be present. You can also expect a higher grade of materials and components, and disc brakes are taking over from rim brakes.
Carbon starts to appear, but aluminium frames are more typical at these sorts of prices. In fact, the best aluminium frames are considerably better than some of the entry-level carbon options.
Many, though not all, of the best steel road bikes cost more than £2,000, while the best titanium bikes fall into a higher price category.
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Whatever you go for, it can be worth prioritising the frame over the components at this price. Doing so will give you a great platform that can be upgraded with better parts when the ones supplied wear out.
The best road bikes under £2,000 or $3,000 in 2022, as rated and reviewed by our expert testers
Giant TCR Advanced 2
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- £1,999 / $1,900 as reviewed, now £1,999 / $2,450
- An amazing performer and great value for money
- Rim-brake model gets full 105 groupset and weighs 7.9kg in medium
The Giant TCR has been around seemingly forever and each successive generation has impressed us. A previous iteration of the bike took top honours in our 2018 Bike of the Year mega-test.
The Advanced 2 model gets a really nice carbon frame – only one tier below the range-topping Advanced SL – and a full Shimano 105 groupset.
The TCR is a wonderfully lively ride that manages to be quite comfortable too. As a bonus, its wheels are set up tubeless out of the box and have 28mm maximum tyre clearance.
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BMC Teammachine ALR Disc Two
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- £1,999 / $1,999.00 as reviewed, now £2,399 / $2,299
- Performance-oriented alloy frame doesn’t lack comfort
- Fast acceleration and predictable handling
- 105 hydraulic disc brakes give assured stopping
With BMC’s top-spec alloy build and smart looks from its manipulated tubes, the Teammachine ALR rides like a performance bike, with fast acceleration and predictable handling.
You get BMC’s D-shaped carbon seatpost, as featured on its pricier bikes, to add comfort to a ride that’s compliant even on 25mm tyres.
The groupset is Shimano 105 Hydraulic, for smooth shifting, loads of range and effective stopping power.
Kinesis Tripster AT
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- £1,850 as reviewed / £800 RRP frameset only
- 38mm tyres with excellent mudguards
- Lively performance belies the 11kg weight and robust build
- Tuneable geometry
With the AT part of its name signifying All Terrain, you’d expect big clearance from the Kinesis Tripster AT – up to 45mm. But this build only goes up to 38mm with its Schwalbe G-One tyres, adding extra-wide mudguards for a more road-going spec that will also cope with light gravel excursions.
Kinesis’ alloy frame and carbon fork offer the option to alter the steering geometry to suit your riding style. You can load up with bags and bottles for longer excursions and the SRAM Apex 1x groupset gives you lots of range too.
At 11kg, the Tripster AT isn’t light, but it feels livelier than that weight would suggest, with a stiff frame and quality wheelset.
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Rose Pro SL Disc 105
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- £1,451.20 / €1,599 as reviewed, now £1,414 / €1,699 (US pricing unavailable)
- Alloy frame has a quality look and features
- Plenty of tyre clearance
- Smooth and composed ride
With its smooth welds, you could mistake the Rose Pro SL’s alloy frameset for carbon, while the updated model gets a new lighter, more comfortable fork. There’s close to full internal cabling from the cockpit to complete the classy look.
The Rose has clearance for tyres up to 32mm, with wheels running on thru-axles. You don’t get mudguard mounts though. Ride quality is smooth and composed, even on fast, bumpy descents.
Spec is good, with a wide range Shimano 105 hydraulic groupset, DT Swiss wheels and 28mm Conti tyres. Smaller sizes come with 650b wheels for consistent handling across the size range.
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Condor Fratello Disc
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- £849.99 frameset only when reviewed (now £899.99 / $1,300) / £1,825 as tested, now £2,500 / $3,265
- Versatile steel machine ideal for commuting, training and more
- Sold as a frameset, so build it to suit your riding
Condor has added discs to its versatile all-weather Fratello, a bike that’s ideal for long winter miles, commuting or a bit of light touring, thanks to its full mounts for mudguards and a rack.
Sold as a frameset rather than a complete bike, the Fratello uses Columbus Spirit steel and comes with a carbon-legged fork.
We tested the bike with Shimano 105 and TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes, but you can build it however you like.
It’s a ride that provides plenty of feedback without being harsh or aggressive.
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Condor Italia
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- £749.99 frameset / £1,966 as tested, now £899.99 / $1,300 frameset only
- Traditional winter bike or commuter with rim brakes
- Available as a frameset or complete bike
The classic formula of an affordable aluminium bike that accepts full mudguards has endured for good reason. The Italia is available however you want it, whether that’s ready-built or as a frameset alone.
It rides well and, while it lacks disc brakes, it’s a solid choice for year-round training, commuting or even light touring.
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Genesis Equilibrium
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- £1,399.99 when tested, now £1,749.99 / $2,285
- Classic Reynolds 725 steel frame
- Shimano 105 R7000 components, plus mediocre Promax brakes
- Mounts for mudguards and a rack
In a world of fancy carbon and deep-section wheels, the Genesis Equilibrium is a pleasing throwback with its slender steel frame and classic styling.
It’s a super-smooth ride that’s ideal for commuting or long leisurely rides. The only letdown is the sub-par Promax brakes, which Genesis persists in fitting.
We are yet to review the latest rim-brake version of the Genesis Equilibrium.
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Giant Contend SL 2 Disc
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- £1,000 as reviewed, now £1,499 (unavailable in United States)
- Comfy alloy from the world’s biggest bike maker
- Shimano Tiagra shifting
- Unique hybrid disc brake setup offers most of the advantages of proper hydraulics
If you’ve got some more cash to spend and value all-weather braking, this could be a better choice than the Giant Contend.
The Giant Contend SL 2 is middle-of-the-road on spec and weight, but it’s a solid performer that’s very beginner-friendly thanks to relaxed geometry and great ride quality.
The unusual disc-brake setup isn’t the most elegant or the easiest to adjust, but it works well and offers an experience pretty close to that of full hydraulics.
We have not reviewed the 2021 Giant Contend SL 2 Disc. Our latest review is of the Contend AR3.
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Kinesis Racelight 4S Disc
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- £1,850 (as tested) / £850 frameset only (US pricing unavailable)
- Versatile all-season road frame takes disc or rim brakes
- Sold as a frameset, so build is up to you
Kinesis is well known for its cheerfully versatile, UK-friendly bikes and the Racelight 4S Disc continues in that vein.
It’s sold as a frameset, so the build is up to you, but our reviewer enjoyed the 1× SRAM Apex build he tested.
The 4S is a racy, do-everything machine and it takes full mudguards too, making it ideal for winter training.
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Kinesis R2
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- £1,680 as reviewed / £650 frameset only
- Now 2x drivetrain
- Capable all-rounder
In line with the Kinesis 4S Disc, the R2 is a jack of all trades. Its cyclocross-specific wheels and 32mm-wide tyres cushion rough surfaces on- and off-road. Fittings and clearance for full-length mudguards cover commuting requirements.
But the R2 is far from lumpen on tarmac – its alloy frame is sporty and handling agile. The 10-speed Tiagra groupset shifts and brakes just as well as Shimano’s pricier offerings, while the prudent gearing helps on the climbs.
The fork is full carbon and the R2’s zippy ride belies its 10.4kg weight in size XL. Kinesis’ own narrow handlebar wrapped in thin tape, which may prove uncomfortable, and the disappointing Selle Italia saddle are our only gripes.
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Ribble R872 Disc
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- £1,504 as tested, now £1,699 / $1,842 for standard 105 spec
- Full-carbon disc frameset with mudguard mounts
- Great ride and a choice of alternative specs
Ribble gives you a lot for your money and the R872 is available in three specs starting at £1,099.
It’s a fast, fun bike and, unusually for a carbon one, it accepts mudguards.
The R872 isn’t the smoothest ride – you’ll feel the road beneath you – but it’s composed overall and not harsh.
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Sonder Santiago Rival 1
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- £1,299 as reviewed, now £1,049
- Versatile steel tourer and all-roader with discs
- SRAM Rival and mounts for everything
It’s debatable whether a bike such as this belongs in this list, but if you’re more interested in hauling camping gear than earning KOMs/QOMs, the Santiago may appeal.
It’s a capable steel all-rounder with big clearances and mounts to accept all manner of accessories and luggage.
We tested a SRAM Rival-equipped bike, but the Santiago is available in various other builds, or as a frameset if you prefer.