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This is a gear review about the best gravel bikes for 2024.
With Gravel Bikes, you get a more upright riding position, which lets you shift your weight to tackle any obstacles and those tricky off-road descents. The wheels are tires are better suited to off-road riding and the frame and forks do a much better job at absorbing bumps.
Let’s take a look at the best gravel bikes for 2024.
How We Tested
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Best Gravel Bikes 2024
The Best Gravel Bikes are:
Best Gravel Bike – Overall
Santa Cruz Stigmata
Pros:
> 12 speeds available with the SRAM Groupsets
> Good Maxis 700 x 45c tires for any terrain
> Good braking and stopping power
> Very good carbon frame and forks to absorb bumps
> The SRAM Apex groupset is reasonably priced
Cons:
> The top-of-the-range SRAM AXS groupset is not cheap
With a carbon frame and carbon forks, the Santa Cruz Stigmata is a great combination between lightweight, strength and the ability to absorb small bumps.
There are many different configurations of the Santa Cruz Stigmata from the top-of-the-range components such as the 12-speed SRAM Force AXS groupset to the more budget-friendly 12-speed SRAM Apex 1x groupset.
Overall, the Santa Cruz Stigmata is the best carbon-framed gravel bike. The SRAM Apex 1 x groupset represents great value for money and for many people will be the preferred choice. If you have more to spend the SRAM Force AXS groupset is the top-of-the-range option.
Best Gravel Bike – Runner Up
Trek Checkpoint SL7
Pros:
> 12-speed electric wireless SRAM gear shifting
> Tires clearance up to 50mm
> Good hydraulic brakes and stopping power
> Carbon frame, forks, and seatpost
> Reasonably priced
Cons:
> No pedals, buy them separately
Like many of the gravel bikes on this list, the Trek Checkpoint comes in many build styles but it is the Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3 that represents the best compromise between price and quality without it being a compromise at all.
The Trek Checkpoint frame is carbon along with the seatport, forks, and wheels. This keeps the weight under 20 lb / 9 kg. The frame and forks also have sufficient mounts for bikepacking gear and water bottle holders to be mounted onto the frame.
The Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3 comes with SRAM Force AXS groupset components which are high-spec. From wireless gear changes to hydraulic disc brakes, there is a lot to like about this bike.
Overall, the Trek Checkpoint represents a good balance between very high quality and price.
Best Budget Gravel Bike
Schwinn Sporterra Adventure
Pros:
> 14 speeds available with the Shimano shifter
> Schwinn’s own 700 x 38c tires for any terrain
> Good braking and stopping power
> Quick-release seat post to adjust the seat height
> Reasonably priced
Cons:
> A little bit heavy
Schwinn is the original American bike brand and has been around for over a century.
And their Schwinn Sporterra Adventure gravel bike is a great budget gravel bike option. The bike’s aluminum frame, complete with a rigid fork gives a good ride on all surfaces.
While riding, you can choose between 14 different speeds, thanks to the Shimano / brake lever combo. It has 700c wheels, complete with Schwinn’s own 700 x 38c tires, designed to take on any terrain.
There’s also a quick-release seat post, which comes in handy for anyone borrowing your bike. What’s more, Schwinn is so confident in the quality of this bike that they back it up with a lifetime limited warranty. The only downside of this bike is the weight, 30.6 lb / 13.9 kg, which is quite a bit heavier than all the other bikes in this review. And the quality of the components is not as good as the others in this review.
Overall, the Schwinn Sporterra Adventure gravel bike is a good budget gravel bike for someone looking for their first gravel bike.
More Gravel Bikes
Cannondale Topstone 2
Pros:
> Good Aluminum Alloy frame
> Refined geometry for a more stable & composed rider position
> Lightweight at 22.6 lb / 10.3 kg
> Budget price
> Has lots of mounts for storage and a removable fender bridge
Cons:
> Not with high-quality components as other bikes on the list
The Cannondale Topstone 2 almost took out the award as the best budget gravel bike despite being twice the price of the Schwinn. This is due to the quality components and lightweight alloy frame which will make it a better budget-priced gravel bike for many riders..
The Cannondale Topstone 2 offers a refined geometry, such as the front wheel being positioned further forward, to give you a more stable and composed rider position that allows you to ride harder over dirt tracks.
There are plenty of places to store gear and water on and around the bike, which is handy for longer-distance bikepacking trips.
There’s also a removable fender bridge if you wish to install a fender to prevent muddy puddle splashes.
It’s available in 5 different sizes, starting at extra small and going all the way up to extra large. And there’s a handy guide on the product page to help you choose the right size for you.
Overall, the Cannondale Topstone 2 gravel bike has impressive capability both off-road and on-road in a package that is reasonably priced.
More Gravel Bikes to Consider
- Trek Domane
- Salsa Warroad
- Ibis Hakka
- Cervelo Aspero
Gravel Bike Comparison Tabel
Size
Make sure you buy the right size bike for your body. If you were to get the wrong size, your riding could become uncomfortable.
Most bike manufacturers and bike retailers have handy size guides you can use to gauge which size is right for you. You only need to know how tall you are.
Wheels And Tires
The size and quality of the tires are pivotal to a bike’s ability to handle rough terrain such as dirt roads, particularly when there’s thick, loose gravel.
As a general rule, tough tires, as well as thick and wide, tend to perform better over more difficult terrain such as dirt roads and gravel.
Suspension System
Road bikes and suspension don’t go together at all but a good suspension system on a gravel bike helps to reduce any impacts you may feel as you ride over any hard, uneven terrain.
Unlike mountain bikes, the amount of suspension travel on gravel bikes is limited to around 20-50mm with 40mm being the sweet spot. It just serves to reduce the harshness of the ride and make it more comfortable for you. In most cases a quality carbon front fork will absorb minor bumps on gravel roads in is the best option for most riders.
Dual suspension systems can be great for mountain bikes but not for gravel bikes.
Bike Frame Geometry, Stability, And Control
The geometry of the bike frame can affect both the bike’s stability and the rider’s position.
The lower the bottom bracket of a bike, the better its stability will be, which can be crucial in making you feel more confident, and giving you more control when on rough terrain.
While the rider position can either help you to ride harder when you want to, or help you to feel more comfortable for longer journeys and periods.
Aesthetics
Aesthetic preferences are personal ones, and I don’t feel like I can advise you on what color option is best, for example. But I do know that many people like to go for darker color options when they go off-road so that any dirt on the bike doesn’t show up as well.
Value For Money
You could convert a road bike to a gravel bike, a gravel bike is a better option for many people. You can ride them anywhere you like, not just on sealed roads.
Gravel bikes can vary in price. You can get some for under $1000; at the other end of the spectrum, you can expect to pay over $10,000.
There are factors to consider that will influence the price: frame materials such as Carbon can be expensive but strong and lightweight; the weight and quality of the wheels and tires; and the quality of the components such as brakes and gear components.
Other Things To Consider
You might want to consider the bike’s speed, for example, or what mounts it might have for storing your water bottle and other gear.
Conclusion
Overall here are the best gravel bikes 2024:
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Gravel Bike In The World?
Are Gravel Bikes As Fast As Road Bikes?
While dedicated road bikes are specially designed for out-and-out speed, the same cannot be said for gravel bikes, which are deliberately designed to be neither extremely fast nor too slow. Going too fast on a trail or dirt road, especially a descending one can be dangerous.
Can A Gravel Bike Also Be A Road Bike?
You can always use your gravel bike on the road if you wish. They’re super versatile. It may not be as fast as a dedicated road bike, but it’s more reliable than one.
BikeHikeSafari Gear Review Process
The author, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small independent adventurer and outdoor gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari is not part of a large blog network and is proudly independent. All reviews on this site are independent and honest gear reviews of outdoor products by the author.
The author, Brad McCartney is a very experienced triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Read more). He was a manager of an outdoor retail store and is very experienced in what is important when using and testing gear for reviews like this.
BikeHikeSafari will never receive any money for reviews and they do not accept sponsored reviews on this website. All the comments about the gear reviews are from the author based on his years of experience. Hope this independent review was helpful for you.
