Best gravel bikes 2023: our pick of the top models

Our pick of the best gravel bikes includes value options as well as outstanding bikes from our gravel bike of the year face-off

Male cyclist riding the Giant Revolt which is one of the best gravel bikes
(Image credit: Future)
Best Gravel Bikes 2023: Jump Menu

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The Giant Revolt Advanced Pro won our Gravel Bike of the Year award 2023, but in reality, there's not one best gravel bike for all as it is such a broad category - what works best for you will depend on the type of riding you want to do, as well as how much you want to spend.

Here, we've covered some great all-rounder gravel bikes as well as some more specialist picks that will serve for gravel racing and bikes that are good for multi-day bikepacking trips. We've also got options from among the best budget gravel bikes.

Our picks come from our extensive testing and reviews of the best gravel bikes available, from the sub-$1,000 / £1,000 category up to premium gravel bikes with price tags above $10,000 / £10,000. We've also taken our top picks from our gravel bike of the year face-off between nine gravel bikes, all ridden and rated by multiple reviewers before we picked the winners.

We've more on how to pick the best gravel bike for your needs lower down on this page, but first here are six quick picks, then our selection of the best value gravel bikes, followed by the best high-performance machines, with links out to our comprehensive full reviews for each.

The Quick List

Best value

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High-performance

Best value gravel bikes 2023: Our picks

Best for adventure

Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon which is one of the best gravel bikes

The Diverge is a do-it-all machine that can handle on and off road adventures

(Image credit: Future)
Best gravel bike for big rides

Specifications

Frame : E5 alloy
Fork: Specialized Future Shock 1.5
Groupset: SRAM Apex 1x11
Wheels: AXIS Elite Disc
Tires: Specialized Pathfinder Sport 38c (Max clearance: 700x47c or 650b x 53 (2.1”))
Weight: 10.1kg

Reasons to buy

+
Adaptability across gravel genres
+
Future Shock for front end comfort and compliance

Reasons to avoid

-
Tires compromise off-road capability
-
Geometry might not be aggressive enough for some

If your riding leans towards the more adventurous end of the spectrum, exploring new trails, all-day epics and occasional multi-day bikepacking trips, then the Specialized Diverge Comp E5 is well suited to you.

It comes with a relaxed geometry and a high front end for a more comfortable riding position - with the caveat that we found it a little more difficult to weight the front tire sufficiently when really pinning the corners. 

There's a full complement of mounts, with pairs under the down tube and on top of the top tube, as well as triple bosses on the fork legs. Full fenders and a pannier rack are also catered for if you prefer a more traditional luggage carrying and splash defending setup.

However, the most significant feature of the Diverge Comp E5 is the Future Shock 1.5, which is usually only found on carbon models. This does a good job of damping out some of the trail chatter and high-frequency bumps, but we found that it's not sufficient to replace front suspension, if you were considering this as an alternative.

Read more: Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon full review

Most versatile

Vitus Venon Evo Force AXS gravel bike on a pink background

The Vitus Venon Evo Force AXS is light and versatile

(Image credit: Future)
Best gravel bike for versatility

Specifications

Frame : Venon Evo carbon
Fork: Venon Evo carbon
Groupset: SRAM Force AXS XPLR 1x
Wheels: Prime Primavera 44 carbon
Tires : Michelin Power Gravel 40mm
Weight: 7.9kg

Reasons to buy

+
Good looks
+
Low weight
+
Plenty of clearance
+
Gravel and road specs available

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited mounting area on the aero bars

The Vitus Venon Evo combines a fast gravel bike and an endurance road bike in one all-road package, with Vitus selling GR specs geared towards gravel and RS specs for road use. We found the riding position is a good compromise between the upright and the aggressive.

This Force AXS XPLR 1x build is gravelly, with 40mm wide Michelin Power Gravel tires mounted on Prime Primavera 44 carbon wheels and clearance for 45s if wanted. Even so, the bike weighed just 7.9kg, making for lively progress even on trickier off-road. Swap in 28mm tires and you're good for endurance road rides too.

You do miss out on some mounting points typically found on the best gravel bikes, although no more so than many gravel race bikes, and the aero front end and fast ride make the Vitus Venon Evo a good option for gravel racing.

Read more: Vitus Venon Evo-GR Force AXS full review

Best Value

Ribble Gravel AL Sport which is one of the best gravel bikes

Ribble's Gravel AL Sport comes equipped with a reliable Shimano GRX drivechain

(Image credit: Future)
Best value gravel bike

Specifications

Frame : Ribble Gravel AL
Fork: Gravel AL carbon
Groupset: Shimano GRX RX400 2x
Wheels: Mavic Allroad
Tires : WTB Sendero 650b x 47mm
Weight: 10.9kg

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable ride on wide tires
+
Plenty of grip except in the muddiest conditions
+
Excellent value

Reasons to avoid

-
No rack mounts
-
Quite long reach

The Ribble Gravel AL Sport has 47mm tires on 650b wheels, although you can also spec 700c wheels. The 650b option makes it a highly capable go-anywhere option that doesn't break the bank. 

The alloy frame is long and low, with a slack headtube. longish reach and short stem. There are loads of mounting points, although oddly not those needed for a rack. The 2x10-speed Shimano GRX 400 build is the bottom of the range, but still offers excellent performance and ratios down to 30x34t to tackle the rough stuff. 

Although not light, we found that the bike still felt quick and it coped well with both degraded tarmac and rough tracks, although the grip tended to wane when we ventured on to muddier passages. 

Read more: Ribble Gravel AL Sport full review

Best performance gravel bikes 2023: Our picks

Best overall gravel bike

Giant Revolt gravel bike on a blue studio background shot in three quarter view

Giant Revolt won the Gravel Bike of the Year award 2023

(Image credit: Future)
Overall winner of our Gravel Bike of the Year award 2023

Specifications

Frame : Advanced SL-Grade Composite carbon frame
Fork: Advanced-Grade Composite carbon
Groupset: Shimano GRX RX815 Di2 2x
Wheels: Giant CXR 1 Carbon
Tires: Maxxis Receptor, 700x40c
Weight: 8.3kg

Reasons to buy

+
Superb front and rear comfort
+
Flippable geometry
+
53mm max tire clearance

Reasons to avoid

-
High front end limits ride position adjustability
-
Tires are best suited to dry use

The Giant Revolt won our Gravel Bike of the Year title in 2023. It's a gravel bike that covers the broad spectrum of gravel riding really well. Its saddle comfort is augmented by a D-shaped seatpost with a claimed 12mm of flex, but it fits in a standard 30.9mm round seat tube, so you can fit a dropper if you ride more technical terrain.

The rear dropouts feature two-position adjustable geometry, which lets you choose between a more agile ride for racing or wider clearance with increased stability. You also have mounting points for bikepacking, including on the fork legs. 

The frame soaks up bumps really well too both front and rear, although we'd have preferred a shorter head tube for more versatility in the bike's set-up.

We were impressed with the value offered as well, with the spec tested including Shimano GRX RX815 Di2 electronic shifting and Giant carbon wheels.

Read more: Giant Revolt Advanced Pro 0 gravel bike full review

Trek Checkpoint SL7 gravel bike on a blue background

Trek's Checkpoint SL7 is ideal for long rides and bikepacking

(Image credit: Future)

Best for bikepacking

Best expedition gravel bike

Specifications

Frame : 500 Series OCLV Carbon
Fork: Checkpoint Carbon
Groupset: Shimano GRX 2x
Wheels: WTB ST i23 TCS
Tires: Vittoria Terreno Dry 700x38c
Weight: 9.2kg

Reasons to buy

+
Large number of mounts and carrying capacity
+
Wide clearance and long wheelbase
+
IsoSpeed seatpost decoupler for comfort

Reasons to avoid

-
More expensive range than other gravel bikes reviewed

The Checkpoint majors on mounts, including on the fork legs, as well as storage in Trek's down tube cubbyhole for tools and a tube. The frame allows you to fit 2.1 inch 650bs and the IsoSpeed seat tube decoupler provides added comfort when in the saddle.

We thought that the Checkpoint's long wheelbase and high fork trail provided great stability for longer rides, without going overboard. It's still quick enough though, despite its carrying capacity and remained good to ride whether fully laden for bikepacking or stripped down for a short blast.

Our long-term test concluded that the Checkpoint is best suited for crushing long-distance rides with its reassuring handling, comfy ride characteristics and considered componentry.

Read more: Trek Checkpoint SL 7 gravel bike full review

BMC Kaius 01 gravel bike on a grey background

BMC Kaius 01 gravel is perfect for racing

(Image credit: Future)

Best for gravel racing

3. BMC Kaius

Best gravel bike for speed

Specifications

Frame : Kaius 01 Premium Carbon
Fork: Kaius 01 Premium Carbon
Groupset: SRAM Rival AXS Wide 2x
Wheels: BMC CRD-400 carbon
Tires: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H - 40mm
Weight: 8.9kg

Reasons to buy

+
Very fast handling
+
Road bike-like ride

Reasons to avoid

-
Not as comfortable as rivals
-
No fender / mudguard mounts

At the other end of the gravel spectrum from the Trek Checkpoint, the BMC Kaius is an out-and-out gravel race bike, with a low ride position and aero frame that borrows from the BMC Teammachine road race bike. 

The ride feels similar to BMC's road bikes as well and you get a pared-down road bike-style set of mounting points that doesn't even include fender / mudguard bosses. There is room for 44mm tires though, which might help mitigate the lack of comfort in the stiff, race-tuned frame.

When we tested it we enjoyed the novel combination of a short wheelbase and low bottom bracket, which gave the bike snappy, precise handling and prodigious speed.

This lower spec model is more affordable than the top level of the BMC Kaius, but is still more expensive than the highest spec available for the Giant Revolt though.

Read our review of the BMC Kaius in our Gravel Bike of the Year coverage.

Scott Addict Gravel bike on a blue background

The Scott Addict 10 Gravel bike offers good value and great performance

(Image credit: Future)

4. Scott Addict Gravel 10

Best value performance gravel bike

Specifications

Frame : Addict Gravel Disc HMF Carbon
Fork: Addict Gravel HMF Carbon
Groupset: SRAM Force AXS 2x
Wheels: DT Swiss GRC1400 Disc
Tires: Schwalbe G-One Bite Performance 45mm
Weight: 8.7kg

Reasons to buy

+
Middle-of-the-road ride position
+
Good value for the spec offered
+
Superb paint job

Reasons to avoid

-
No fork mounts

The Addict Gravel is designed for speed rather than off-road load lugging, but still with a longer wheelbase and higher stack than other gravel race bikes like the BMC Kaius. This results in a well-balanced ride that's as good for fast, technical riding as for multi-day bikepacking, despite the absence of fork leg mounts.

We loved Scott's paint job on the Addict Gravel and the bike is good value, with the lower spec SRAM Rival AXS-equipped bike as reasonably priced as bikes from brands that are normally more value-oriented than Scott.

Read our review of the Scott Addict Gravel 10 in our Gravel Bike of the Year coverage.

Cannondale Topstone carbon three on pink background

The Topstone features Cannondale's Kingpin suspension system

(Image credit: Richard Butcher)
Best gravel bike for rear end grip

Specifications

Frame : BallisTec Carbon Frame
Fork: BallisTec Carbon
Groupset: Shimano GRX 2x
Wheels: WTB ST i23 TCS 650
Tires: Vittoria Terreno Dry 38mm
Weight: 9.2kg

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent frame with 30mm of travel
+
Good traction on rough, loose terrain
+
Option to add or spec Smart Sense lights/radar

Reasons to avoid