If you are looking for adventures on the roads less traveled, gravel bikes would be the best choice. Gravel Bikes? Somewhat familiar, right? But people who are not so familiar with this term are still pondering upon the question, “What Gravel Bikes are?” So, let me clear out their confusion about what they are. Gravel bikes are drop-bar bikes that allow you to travel on paved roads and even on the most exciting terrain. When you plan for a road adventure, the best gravel bikes will always be ready to cope with the exciting terrains and longer off-road day trips of your journey. But safety plays a very important role when you are not cycling indoors. Therefore we recommend you to get the best helmets. To know more click here.
The most significant thing to keep in mind while looking for gravel or all-terrain bikes are
- Their performances,
- Design-specific endurance capabilities,
- Frame, and
- Body material.
Because you don’t want to drag your adventure bike throughout your adventure. The type of disc brakes and hydraulic action support, the traction endurance of the wheels and their clearance, and the suspension are other important features not to miss. Add to the comfort of your ride with the best saddles available in the market. Click here to know more.
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9 Best Gravel Bikes to Get in 2023
Aluminum gravel bikes are the most popular and common choice for most hikers these days, but steel gravel bikes are also gaining steady popularity. But there are infinite options to confuse even the most knowledgeable customers. Below we have curated the ten best options you can go for if you’re in a fix about gravel bikes.
For getting the best experience while riding the gravel bikes, we need to pick or choose anyone among the top models of gravel bikes. So, let us see the ten top gravel bikes worldwide to get in 2023.
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Cannondale Topstone Lefty
In the list, we first have Cannondale Topstone Lefty, the best-selling among gravel bikes for sale. It is a full suspension gravel bike with an all-new lefty Oliver fork. If you squint hard enough, you will understand that it is no less than a mountain bike. The biggest feature of this gravel bike is the one-sided lefty Oliver fork. The Oliver features 30 mm of travel and is combined with Cannondale’s kingpin Softail design at the back. The new lefty equipped models will come with 650b wheels out of the box. The 650 b wheels will be the biggest tires to match the suspension created by the Oliver forks.
Those who are not so interested in this particular model of Cannondale can always opt for the e-bike version of the bike called the Top stone Carbon neo. Cannondale always comes up with something different and never fails to make the world of cycling a much better and exciting one.
Basso Tera
Then we have the Italian brand Basso Tera which is famous for making incredibly stylish road bikes. This brand makes a true off-road-oriented bike called the Terror. This is Basso’s second gravel bike as they have the more roadie sequel ‘Palter’ as the first one, but the Terror seems to be more geared towards the extreme side of the gravelister spectrum.
It has a carbon rear triangle and a front aluminum triangle. Basso claims that this will keep the front side nice and steady while maintaining compliance and balance at the backside. The Terror’s pivot design is somewhat similar to Cannondale’s Top Stone with eight mm of flex on order.
Basso has tried its best to keep the Terror a versatile one with room for one by and two by drive trains, a dropper post mudguards, and four-bottle cages. They also contain flat bars that give the essence of what mountain bikes are.
Specialized Diverge
Then comes the Specialised Diverge. There is quite a stir on the internet about the release of the Diverge in 2021 as it is one of the best gravel bikes. The other companies also input the flat bar in the models, but when Specialised does that, then people tend to sit up and listen to it carefully. A flat piece of aluminum adds itself to the gravel bike. Can anybody guess what else is coming up on the new Diverge? Let me tell you this. The biggest fact is that the top-spec models come up with the same 2.0 future shock found on the ruby model. This allows the cockpit to move up and down and up by 20 mm over the top of the frame.
The geometry has been updated with Specialised taking inspiration from their epic hardtail model. This means that you can get a longer reach fork offset, a slacker head angle, and a longer wheelbase, thus giving the Diverge a contemporary feel. Modern-day gravel bikes need huge clearances. Specialized also offers their striking larger Eva model, which comes with longer lower geometry and a flat handlebar.
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Ridley Kanzo Fast
Next on the list is the Ridley Kanzo Fast. Do you expect it to look like a gravel bike from the Belgium brand? Then let me answer you that you are correct. This is uncompromisingly aero and racing.
But some unique features make it one of the top releases. In its top-spec, the Kanzo Fast uses standard one by group det components combined with a two-speed wirelessly controlled gear hub from a Belgium-based brand. If you are a gravel racer looking for those 200-mile events, then the classified hub could be a lifesaver for your legs and knee.
The Kenzo is well fast, with Ridley claiming to save 17 watts over an ordinary gravel bike at an unspecified speed.
So finally we have the mountain bikes. In this type of bike, they have a particular point. Modern-day gravel bikes are seeking closer and closer to mountain bikes. Lots of suspensions and relatively slack geometry can get you down through pretty technical terrain. They are not so fast and quick on the really fast roads but are only capable on the descents. The gravel bike reviews are quite good. Definitely check out this one.
Cannondale Topstone 1
The most versatile option on our list, this bike has all the features for your never-ending adventures. The Topstone’s design is for comfort handling and traction control. It is super lightweight with an alloy gravel bike frame.
Shimano GRX 600/800 11 makes acceleration and speed shifting convenient, while Shimano Hydraulic GRX 400 disc brakes allow smooth stoppage in the most turbulent road conditions. The full carbon fork and dropper-ready design with OutFront Steering Geometry showcase some great expertise in aluminum framing. The removable fender bridge provides added convenience.
Kona Rove AL650
With an aluminum body, two-disc fork, and Hayes CX Comp brakes, the Rove AL650 is a close competitor to the top sports model. This bike manages to keep you going on all terrains. If a good performing gravel bike that is budget-friendly is what you’re looking for, this might be the one for you.
The AL360 is the most suitable entry-level bike, with a 2x Shimano 8-speed drivetrain and 47c WTB Venture Comp. It is a smaller all-terrain bike with all the features of its bigger counterparts.
Giant Revolt Advanced 2
This bike is designed for crushing gravel on any road you choose to tread on. Not just gravel, the bike is suitable for variable surfaces with a lightweight and endurance-friendly design, offering you the smoothest riding experiences of all time. Thereby placing it among the list of the best gravel bikes.
The tire clearance is sufficient for perfect road grip with a composite fork and the D-Fuse Seatpost absorbing all the shocks and bumps for you. The disc brakes are integrated into the frame itself. With versatile geometry and tuned compliance, this bike might be one of your best adventure picks.
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Canyon Grail AL 6
The list of the best gravel bikes is incomplete without this entry. With the Shimano GRX RX400 shift-brake system, DT Swiss C 1850 Spline DB wheel, and Schwalbe G-One Bike 40 mm tire, the Canyon Grail Al 6 is the best of the rest. This gravel-specific bike is an excellent choice.
Reliable and powerful performance with the best stiffness and durability for tougher road terrains. And an incredible traction control for offering you the smoothest riding experiences. With a Selle Italia saddle, this aluminum gravel bike is beyond entry-level and might be your perfect outdoor companion.
Cannondale Synapse Neo Electric Bike
The electric alternative to all your road adventures. This bike is equipped with the Bosch Active Line Plus drive system and Class 1 Pedal Assist. It helps to reduce your work and offers a seamless performance all the way through without much dragging or noise.
An insulating Save suspension absorbs bumps and vibrations to keep the riding experience smooth. The Endurance Race Geometry makes the bike suitable for the toughest terrains with the SRAM Apex drivetrain and a removable seat stay bridge.
We saw several spectacular, delightfully innovative and the best gravel bikes that you can use for mountain riding in the above list. It is such a new discipline that nobody knows what the best tool for the job is.
Travis is a bike aficionado. Since he was a little boy, he has been riding bikes all day! And this passion led him to start this blog! His passion reflects in his words and detailed reviews!