What frame material should I expect in a budget gravel bike?

Inexpensive frames are sometimes steel but almost always expect aluminium. Metal frames are robust, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture. Alloy frames tend to be a little lighter than budget steel frames but steel is easy to repair if you find yourself in a remote region of the world. Even at this price point you will often find a carbon fork, which along with the wide tyres will help take some of the road buzz out of your ride. Whatever material you end up with be sure to protect it for use with bags. Use a strong, clear, adhesive material anywhere that a bag will come in contact with the frame. Even the best bags will wear through the paint.

What groupset and shifting should I expect on a budget gravel bike?

At this price point, there are a few different options on the market, from SRAM's Apex 1X groupset to double chainrings or even triples. Budget Shimano Sora or Claris options help to keep cost down, and simplify shifting with 9 or 8 speed set ups. These are road groupsets, rather than specifically gravel ones, so they don't have a clutch to help keep the chain in place on bumpy terrain. A gravel-specific groupset like Shimano GRX or SRAM Apex 1 will give you a better set-up for gravel riding than a road groupset, but is not often specced on lower priced gravel bikes, as it's more expensive than 8 or 9-speed options. Often gravel bikes will come with a single chainring set-up with a wide range cassette to give you the range you need. It's a good option, but better with an 11- or 12-speed set-up; with the cheaper groupsets with a smaller number of ratios, you may find the jumps between gears a bit wide. The other option to give you lower gear ratios is a subcompact two chainring groupset. Subcompact usually means either a 48/32t or 46/30t chainset, rather than the 50/34t that's typical on road bikes. The advantage of a two chainring groupset is that you get more gear ratios, and so smaller jumps as you move up the cassette.

What brakes should I expect on a budget gravel bike?

Mechanical disc brake set ups are almost always specced at the sub-£1000/$1500 mark. These are less costly than hydraulic disc brakes but still yield benefits over rim braking systems, particularly for gravel bikes. Disc brakes make it possible to fit big tyres and wide wheels without any decrease in braking power. Even cable actuated disc brakes offer greater power and modulation than cantilever brakes. Disc brakes will also save your wheelsets from wearing out in mucky conditions, unlike rim brakes. Although not as powerful as hydraulic disc brakes, cable-operated brakes can be easier to maintain. Future upgrades are also always possible.

What wheels and tires should I expect on a budget gravel bike?

Even at this cheaper end of the gravel bike market, you can now choose between standard 700c wheels or smaller 650b wheels . A lot of these bikes will be compatible with both sizes too, so you can change as you like or even have a pair of each with different tires fitted. For easier terrain or longer rides where efficiency is key 700c wheels are a good choice. Choose 650b wheels to run wider, chunkier tires for more technical terrain. The larger volume tires add extra comfort over rooty and rocky trails. Tires make a huge difference to the quality of your ride, and are also an easy element to switch out when you buy a bike. Having said that, it's great to see so many great tires fitted as standard, even at a budget level. For mud and loose gravel look for more aggressive tread on the centre line and shoulders. Slick, or file tread, tires will be faster for road, dry conditions and less technical terrain. It's worth bearing in mind that entry-level wheels can come at the cost of greater weight. Heavier wheels take more energy to get moving and can feel sluggish. When you're convinced that gravel riding is for you, wheels are a good first upgrade.

What finishing kit should I expect on a budget gravel bike?

Many budget gravel bikes come from brands that offer their own in-house finishing kit, for example Triban's seatpost, stem, handlebars , bar tape and saddle . This helps to keep costs low, and although not the flashiest, these parts tend to be well made and robust. Finishing kit is easy to swap out if you fancy an update at any point in the future too. Handlebars are the one piece of the finishing kit you might want to really pay attention to. Flared bars of around 12 degrees can give a more stable position in the drops for rough descents. They also accommodate bikepacking bags more easily.

What are the best upgrades for my budget gravel bike?

Once you're happy that your new gravel bike is the best steed you've ever owned, you might want to consider a few upgrades to make the ride even more enjoyable. If you've got a little over $1,500/£1,000 to spend initially, you might consider these features for your first bike too.

What extras do I need for gravel riding?

If you're looking to keep your spending on your new gravel bike under control, don't forget to budget for the extras you'll need. Although you can ride on a set of the best flat pedals , it's easiest to ride off-road on clipless pedals, but you need an MTB-style two-bolt system rather than a road-going three bolt one. The best pedals for off-road riding are two sided for easier engagement, clear mud well and are robust. You'll need a matching pair of two bolt shoes for gravel riding , as the recessed cleats and grippy soles are essential for when you need to walk your bike. Don't forget to factor in a helmet , summer gloves in case you take a tumble and winter gloves to keep your hands from freezing. If you don't want to ride in road gear, there's also a good selection of gravel bike clothing for more versatility or a more relaxed look. Finally don't forget sunglasses to help keep dirt and bugs out of your eyes. If you're planning to use your gravel bike for bikepacking or even for commuting, there's a whole range of bikepacking bags to make packing and carrying easier. We've got a comprehensive list of everything you need to go bikepacking - there's quite a lot of it. You'll also run through consumables quicker off-road than on, so you'll need spare inner tubes and a puncture repair kit or, if you've swapped to tubeless, tubeless sealant and tubeless repair tools . You'll also need to clean your bike and drivetrain more often and you'll need plenty of chain lube .

Best budget gravel bikes 2023: get off the beaten track without spending the earth

Male cyclist riding a budget gravel bike.

(Image credit: Future)

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Sub $1,500
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Buyer's guide to budget gravel bikes

By Katherine Moore

last updated 11 July 2023

The best budget gravel bikes open up the opportunity for more of us to go on a different kind of riding adventure, without a massive outlay.

Trying out a new discipline can be daunting, and buying a bike can be quite a gamble if it's something you haven't tried before. Thankfully, there are a number of great bikes on the market that offer cracking value, making the perfect starting point for rides with a little more spice!

Spanning the gap between road and mountain bikes, gravel and adventure bikes have surged in popularity over the last few years. Arguably the most versatile of bike categories, these steeds not only excel on bridleways, byways, dirt roads and singletrack, but can also make great commuter or winter road bikes too.

Bike prices in general have gone up significantly over the last few years and it's now quite hard to find performance models which come in below $1,500 – other than if you're looking for a hybrid.

So we've selected a variety of bikes at differing price points and divided this guide up into budget gravel bikes that cost below $1,500 and those costing between that and $2,000 to help you find a gravel bike to suit the amount you're willing to spend.

Of course, if your budget exceeds this, then check out our complete gravel and adventure bikes guide. Spend a bit more and if you get the gravel bug, you'll not find yourself needing so many upgrades or hankering after a higher-end model after a few months riding!

Don't forget the extras you'll need either - we've run through these and other things to look out for at the bottom of this page.

Best budget gravel bikes under $1,500

Below is our pick of the best budget adventure road bikes and gravel bikes we've tested. Read on for more tips on what to look for when shopping for a budget gravel bike to help you venture off the beaten track. If you're considering your first gravel bike we've also created a dedicated guide on what to look out for.

Triban 120 gravel bike on a red background — Triban's 120 uses a 1x drivechain for simple shifting

1. Triban 120 Gravel Bike

Best low priced option

Specifications

Brakes: Microshift XLT levers w/ Promax DSK calipers

Gearing: 38t chainring w/ 11–42t 10-speed cassette

Wheels: Triban Tubeless Ready

Max tire clearance: 700c x 38mm

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL

Weight: 11.21 kg

Reasons to buy

Fantastic value

Wide range of gears

Carbon fork helps lower weight

Plenty of mounts

Reasons to avoid

Rather upright geometry

Not quite a do-it-all gravel bike

Designed for mechanical simplicity, if you're just looking to dip a toe into gravel riding without spending too much cash, the Triban 120 gravel bike might hit the mark. The ride position is upright and there's a fork with carbon legs and an alloy steerer.

Despite the low price, you still get a 10-speed single chainring groupset with plenty of range and a clutched derailleur. The bike also comes specced with tubeless ready wheels with Hutchinson 38mm tubeless ready tires. The 38mm max clearance is quite narrow and we found that the Triban is better suited to both moderate trails and moderate distances rather than more demanding terrain. However, at this price, the Triban RC 120 is hard to beat.

Read more: Triban 120 Gravel Bike full review

Cannondale Topstone 4 on a yellow background