Best budget gravel bikes 2025: Gravel options that won't break the bank
The best budget gravel bikes are well-specced machines that offer solid performance for the price point
Budget gravel bikes are going to mean different things to different people, luckily your budget won't dictate the type of gravel bike you can get. Whether you're looking for a fast gravel experience or something more adventure-orientated, all types of gravel bikes are featured within this guide and represent solid value for money at a price point roughly between $2600 / £2000 up to $5200 / £4000.
Luckily for gravel riders on more modest budgets, technology from the best gravel bikes at the upper end of the pricing spectrum trickles down towards the best entry-level gravel bikes and all the ranges in between. The best budget gravel bikes hit a sweet spot between the two and offer the best value for money. That's what we're looking at here. Solid, well-equipped bikes, with durable components to handle a range of riding and serve as a platform to upgrade from.
There are bikes within this guide that were tested as part of our gravel bike group test. After thorough testing with the CN tech team, we have included our pick of the bunch from those bikes here too.
Quick list
The Boardman ADV took our best value award in our gravel bike group test. Pulling together a carbon frame, electronic AXS groupset and sensible component options.
Want to tackle the more challenging side of gravel and even a few MTB trails? The Szepter will handle it with its 40mm Rock Shox suspension fork. The spec is also solid with AXS shifting and a Zipp finishing kit.
The Fairlight Secan combines a quality steel frame with a range of custom spec options. Its well-chosen geometry rides brilliantly on gravel but also feels alive and responsive out on the road.
Interested in a titanium frame? The Ribble CGR Ti has a classy Ti frame and overall package. A carbon fibre fork and Shimano groupset complete the build.
The Grizl is Canyon's more all-round capable gravel bike and features a whole host of frame and luggage mount bags to handle all your adventuring needs.
Specialized fits its Future Shock 1.5 suspension system to the Diverge to add trail-smoothing capability with little additional weight.
Recent updates
Last updated on 14th of March 2025
Gravel tech continues to develop and many of the bikes here have had a spec upgrade since we first wrote this guide. Frequently, it's a groupset upgrade, with the latest gravel groupsets often offering 12 speeds and greater range. We reviewed this guide in March 2025 and ensured that all the bikes were still available and we ae showing the latest specs.
Best budget gravel bikes
Best value option
1. Boardman ADV 9.2
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want good value: Boardman packs a lot for bike for your cash.
✅ You want electronic shifting: The Boardman's SRAM groupset is a high quality choice.
❌ You want wider gearing: There's a sub-1:1 lowest ratio, but the 97 inch top gear is a little low.
❌ You want wider tyre clearance: 42mm is now quite conservative, with closer to 50mm now typical.
The Boardman ADV line is a solid option for the money and represents good value. If you're buying your first gravel bike or upgrading an existing one, there are a lot of plus points to consider here. There's a solid carbon frame, electronic 1x SRAM groupset and a capable enough build kit elsewhere. The OEM wheels are fairly basic, but tubeless-ready and wheels are pretty easy to upgrade further down the line.
It has a round, simple seatpost clamp which won't give you any trouble compared to the integrated wedge-style clamps that are more involved and can sometimes slip. A non-integrated front-end and standard stem and bars also mean maintenance costs should be lower and you can upgrade the cockpit more easily to get the perfect fit.
It won our best value award in our recent gravel bike field test, beating a lot of other more expensive machines. The ride itself is solid, if a little unremarkable and the 42mm tyre clearance is a little narrow, but for the price and kit, this bike will see you right.
Best for getting rowdy
2. YT Szepter - Core 3
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want to ride rough stuff: The suspension fork is a bonus.
✅ You want an MTB-style ride: YT mainly makes MTBs and the Szepter has MTB-style geometry.
❌ You want lower weight: YT quotes a weight close to 10kg for the Szepter.
❌ You want to try before you buy: YT only sells direct from Germany.
We first rode the top-end Szepter Core 4, while the Core 3 model took our most fun award from our group test. If you're coming from mountain bikes to drop bar bikes or want to challenge yourself with your gravel riding and just have the most amount of fun possible, the Szepter is the bike for you.
It will cover regular gravel duties just fine, but if you want to really test it off-road, the RockShox Rudy fork and front-end position will let you tackle terrain other gravel bikes will struggle with. We found this ourselves when testing the bike off-road.
The spec is solid throughout the bike with no corners cut. There's Zipp aluminium finishing kit, external brake cables for hassle-free headset maintenance and SRAM AXS electronic shifting. The WTB wheels are a good choice and you also get some premium Peaty's tubeless valves included as standard.
If you want to set off from home on the road, linking some off-road sections into your ride, and hammer some descents and technical sections the Szepter will do it all without breaking a sweat.
Best for bikepacking
3. Fairlight Secan
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want great ride quality: The Secan is consistently praised for its ride feel.
✅ You want a durable steel frameset: The Secan is built to last from Reynolds steel tubing.
❌ You want more off-road grunt: More an all-road bike than a dedicated gravel bike.
❌ You don't want to wait: There's a significant waiting list for the Secan.
The Fairlight Secan won our best for bikepacking award during our recent gravel group test. The Secan is a steel-framed gravel bike that can do almost anything. Made from quality Reynolds 853 tubing, the geometry is road orientated so the bike feels nimble and quick on the road, but also feels right at home riding off-road on gravel. It's a really nice balance that makes the bike a lot of fun. There are plenty of frame bag mount points, full-length mudguard and pannier rack mount points and you can fit 650b or 700c wheels.
Our test bike came with GRX Di2 11-speed which we really love, but you can spec mechanical options as well as a range of other components on the Fairlight website. Check our in-depth review of the Fairlight Secan for a more detailed take.
Best titanium option
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want titanium without the price tag: Ribbles are among the most affordable titanium bikes.
✅ You want to choose your spec: Use Ribble's bike builder to choose your own components or opt for a stock build.
❌ You want more gravel grunt: The Ribble Gravel Ti is a more dedicated titanium gravel bike.
❌ You want a more budget option: Although inexpensive for titanium, the titanium Ribble is still quite pricey.
While there are cheaper ways of getting a versatile titanium bike, you'd be hard-pushed to find something that looks and feels this luxurious. With its triple-butted, multi-shaped pipework, Ribble's titanium gravel bike hits that sweet spot, offering all-around versatility and a lovely ride feel.
Despite being built from a classic material, there's plenty of contemporary flair to deliver the ride you want from a bike like this. From the dropped seat stays and CNC-machined 3D dropouts to the bolt-through rear axle that doubles as a mech mount to mitigate damage in the event of a crash.
Add to this clearance for 45mm tyres on 700c wheels, plus 650b compatibility, and you're in for a really good time. The CGR Ti rolls on a set of Mavic Allroad wheels shod with Schwalbe G-One tyres and up front are Ribble's own-brand Level handlebars.
Ribble now specs the CGR Ti in a more road-going Shimano 105 or 105 Di2 spec, with 700c tyres, but there's still the compatibility to set up for gravel, as in our four star Ribble CGR Ti review.
Best for adventure
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want a high spec for the price: Canyon bikes always give you a lot for your money.
✅ You want proper off-road grunt: With space for 50mm tyres, the Grizl is very capable off-road.
❌ You want better on-road riding: The off-road capability means a slightly ponderous ride on tarmac.
❌ You want a racier gravel bike: The Grail fills the fast gravel niche in Canyon's range.
The Canyon Grizl, is all about loading up and heading out into the wilderness. The Grizl adopts some very clever tube wall profiling and composite construction keeping the weight down, while also maintaining some chunkiness to certain parts of the frame which, in partnership with some big volume tyres from Schwalbe, delivers a comfortable and surefooted ride that still feels fun.
Unlike its sibling, the Grail, the Grizl comes with a lot more frame mounts (including three mounts on each side of the fork), custom bikepacking bags and a conventional handlebar, spelling out its purpose very clearly. This is an excellent steed for bikepacking and one that not only rides confidently over rough ground but also offers great value for money.
The specced components are not to be sniffed at, with a full Shimano GRX RX822 12-speed groupset, tubeless-ready DT Swiss G1800 wheels, and a Fizik Argo Terra X5 saddle.
Sizing, meanwhile, is incredibly inclusive, ranging from XXS to XXL, making the Grizl an option that will fit most people's needs. If you want to know more, check out our Canyon Grizl CF SL 8 1by review.
Best for front-end comfort
6. Specialized Diverge Comp E5
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want extra ride comfort: There's good tyre clearance and the Future Shock headset helps iron out bumps.
✅ You want stable off-road handling: Specialized's geometry is reassuring.
❌ You want better value: The Diverge E5 is pricey for a bike with an alloy frame.
❌ You want better wheels: The Axis Disc wheels are fairly basic.
Specialized's gravel machine comes in a range of models, with the Comp E5 sitting third from the bottom. This makes it lower-mid-range, meaning it doesn't have all the cheapest parts but is definitely very affordable.
The Diverge Comp E5 is designed to be versatile enough to offer an escape onto gravel back roads away from urban traffic, as well as a place on the start line of a gravel race.
It features Future Shock 1.5 - the brand's proprietary built-in front suspension, to smooth over the bumps and provide a comfortable ride no matter how rough the terrain gets. The FACT carbon fork is paired with an aluminium frame, delivering a light and lively ride. Specialized equips the Diverge with what it claims to be its most progressive geometry, meaning a relatively slack head angle and long reach to help you feel planted and confident.
It comes specced with 700c Axis Elite Disc wheels but is also compatible with 650b if you wish to add on some wider rubber (up to 2.1in to be precise), and is driven by SRAM's Apex Eagle 12-speed mechanical groupset, delivering smooth gravel-specific shifting, wide range gearing and powerful hydraulic braking.
Best on/off road
7. Orro TERRA C GRX610
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want an adaptable gravel bike: The Orro would make a good commuter during the week.
✅ You want ride comfort: The Terra does a good job of smoothing rough surfaces.
❌ You want more tyre clearance: The 42mm max tyre width is a little narrow by current standards.
❌ You want wide size and spec choice: Orro has limited stock of the Terra at present.
While the name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, this model of the Orro Terra C offers excellent value for money and, despite its race DNA, would make an ideal 'do it all' bike for those who have limited storage space at home.
It's constructed around a stiff carbon fibre frame that allows the rider to put down sufficient power to accelerate quickly and maintain momentum. Within the carbon layup, high-modulus fibres are interwoven to provide enhanced strength and protect the frame from impact damage, which results in the light, fast and durable beast most gravel racers rely upon.
However, if racing isn't the only reason you're looking at this bike, you'll be pleased to know that it comes with the potential to make an excellent commuter and road bike as well. It's powered by the reliable 12-speed Shimano GRX 1x groupset, and zippy Fulcrum wheels, offering smooth shifting capabilities, a wide range of gears and the longevity required from a bike that's going to be seeing a lot of use.
Best alloy option
8. Cannondale Topstone 2
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ You want versatility: The alloy Topstone is a good on/off-road option.
✅ You want planted handling: Cannondale's Out Front geometry adds stability.
❌ You want more speeds: Ten speed gearing leads to wider jumps.
❌ You want fully enclosed cables: The bare cable run may degrade shifting.
The Topstone 2 makes this list as a versatile bike that is good both on the road and off it. The 700 x 45mm tyre clearance isn't breaking any ground, and the design won't be winning any awards - despite the nice paint schemes. But with mounting points for bottles, bags, racks and mudguards, it's a bike that can see you through a week of commutes and be loaded up for a weekend in the wilderness. Stripped back to basics it's a road bike that will happily tap out the miles on the tarmac too. If you're looking for a one-bike solution, this might just be it.
There are no proprietary standards to trip you up. The Topstone 2 has a round seatpost and standard seatpost clamp, external cable routing from the bottom bracket shell to the rear derailleur and a regular stem and round handlebar to make maintenance work simpler.
How to choose the best budget gravel bike for you
There are a lot of considerations when looking for the best budget gravel bike.
Read on for our guide to help you to choose the the best budget gravel bike for you.
Budget
The first question is how much you plan to spend. Although we've billed the bikes above as 'budget' they're not inexpensive. There may be lower specs of the same bike that will save you some money, or you may be able to get a spec upgrade by spending a little more.
Frame material
We discuss frame material in more detail below, but most of our picks above are carbon framed, with a few alloy options.
Groupset and gear ratios
In general, a gravel-specific groupset will offer lower ratios than a road groupset, but look out for a lowest gear that's below 1:1 if you plan to spend much time on hillier off-road.
This may result in quite a low highest gear though, which on road may cause you to spin out, so check the high-end ratios will meet your needs too, if you plan on/off-road use.
Tyre clearance
Gravel bike tyre clearance is getting ever-wider, with many gravel bikes now accommodating 50mm rubber. That's useful for extra mud clearance, even if you don't plan to make use of such wide tyres and will also allow you to add grip.
Big tyre clearance isn't so necessary if you plan to spend more time on tarmac, and the widest tyres may also slow you down a little
Tyres
Don't expect one tyre to do it all. If you're riding on muddy trails, you'll probably need extra grip, but on road a mud-loving tyre will probably slow you down.
Similarly, a fast-rolling tyre may be fine for dry summer gravel riders, but you'll slip around on the trails once wet weather returns.
Expect to need multiple tyres and to swap them out between seasons and possibly even between rides.
Wheels
Almost all gravel bikes will be equipped with tubeless-ready wheels, but do check that they and your tyres can be run tubeless, as it will save you a lot of grief and add comfort.
Brakes
All the bikes above have hydraulic disc brakes, but lower specs may swap to cable-operated mechanical disc brakes. Mechanical brakes in general work fine, but aren't as responsive or effective as hydraulic brakes. They may need more maintenance too.
FAQs
What material should I choose for my budget gravel bike?
The answer to this will depend on how you define 'budget'. If you can stretch to a carbon fibre frame from a reputable brand with good components, then you'll undoubtedly be happy with your choice, but the answer to this question lies in your response to the next question.
When it comes to the best budget gravel bikes, foregoing carbon fibre in favour of lower-cost steel or aluminium is a good way to save a good amount of money. Carbon options may be available, but at lower price points may be best avoided as manufacturers will need to make compromises to keep the costs down. That will probably mean the spec is worse, and it will also usually be made with a lower quality of carbon fibre and in our opinion good alloy trumps bad carbon.
The majority of the lower-priced gravel bikes will be made from aluminium. Aluminium technology is constantly evolving, and despite being a stiffer material, frame designers are able to now build aluminium frames with increasing levels of compliance and comfort. Meanwhile, steel is well-established as a forgiving yet durable material. It is generally a little heavier than alloy, but the ride quality it delivers garners a dedicated following. If you are touring you will also generally stand a better chance of getting steel repaired in remote locations.
On which components should I prioritise my spend?
There will undoubtedly be compromises that you are forced to make to ensure you get the best budget gravel bike without spending more than you can afford, but exactly where those compromises should take place depends on your desires.
Generally, a top-tier frame will ride worse with base-level components than a mid-tier frame with mid-tier components, so unless you plan on aggressively upgrading components in the near future, you shouldn't sacrifice a good quality groupset and wheels in favour of a carbon fibre frame.
As for the rest of the bike, think of it in a cost + complexity = priority calculation. Groupsets are both expensive and complex to upgrade, so make this a higher priority. Wheels are also expensive, but they are much easier to upgrade, so these can be slightly lower on the list.
Things like saddles, seatposts, stems and handlebars are much lower in cost and easier to upgrade, and you might find you need to upgrade them anyway in order to make the bike more comfortable, so these can be further down the list.
Consumables like tyres, chains and bar tape will probably not come into the equation, but if they do, remember that you will be forced to upgrade them at some point in the future when they wear out, so keep these near the bottom of the list.
Which components should I look for?
There are some components that will categorically improve the performance of a gravel bike that, outside of really niche use cases, should be a prerequisite on your budget gravel bike.
All the bikes in this guide have hydraulic disc brakes and they are something of a must. They not only give you more power but also offer improved modulation and control. They generally require little to no maintenance either, although if you do snag a hydraulic hose on a tree, it's probably going to need a trip to the bike shop to be fixed, so bear this in mind if you're going off into the wilderness for days on end.
Tubeless tyres are the other key component. Punctures, sadly, go hand-in-hand with riding off-road, so choose a bike with rims and tyres that require no additional spending (except valves and sealant) to allow you to ditch the inner tube.
Thirdly, consider your chainset. The gravel bikes in our guide use either 1x, or 2x drivetrains, and the number here denotes the number of chainrings connected to your cranks. A 1x drivetrain uses a single chainring with a wide-range mountain bike-style cassette to simplify the drivetrain and save weight. A 2x chainset offers two chainrings, and thus offers twice as many gears, however, the spread of gears is usually similar.
Should I choose 650b or 700c wheels and tyres?
The advantages and disadvantages of 700c vs 650b-sized wheels have been long debated and will continue to be discussed for a long time. Riders who are looking for on- and off-road versatility will be best served by the lower weight and better obstacle rollover of 700c wheels. Those riding rougher terrain will find that the increased tyre size and volume of 650b wheels offer a significant advantage in grip and comfort.
Many gravel bikes will be able to accommodate both wheel sizes, giving riders who invest in a spare set of wheels the option of 'two bikes in one': a 700c wheelset set-up with fast-rolling tyres for the road and a 650b wheelset with large, knobbly tyres for more adventurous riding. However, we think manufacturers are moving away from 650b generally with more bikes being specced with 700c wheels now.
Is a gravel bike much slower on the road?
It can be easy to have a preconceived idea that gravel bikes are slow on the road. Capable gravel bikes these days are surprisingly nippy on the road too. If you are riding just on the tarmac, pumping the larger volume tyres up a little more can result in a comfortable and zippy ride that will put a smile on your face, plus you can dart off-road whenever you want.
How we test
Cyclingnews' team of expert testers has been riding for years, including a whole range of gravel bikes. We ride bikes in a variety of conditions and over a range of routes year-round, so we get a true picture of how each individual gravel bike performs. Our detailed testing notes keep a tally of the factors that have gone into our overall evaluation. Several of these bikes were also tested in a head-to-head group test giving a direct comparison between the bikes.
You can read more on how we test via this link.
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Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as a tech writer. Despite having a degree in English Literature he has spent his entire working life in the cycling industry in one form or another. He has over 10 years of experience as a qualified mechanic, with the last five years before joining Cyclingnews being spent running an independent workshop. This means he is just as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike, and he isn’t afraid to pull a bike apart or get hands-on with it when testing to really see what it’s made of.
He has ridden and raced bikes from an early age up to a national level on the road and track, and has ridden and competed in most disciplines. He has a keen eye for pro-team tech and enjoys spotting new or interesting components in the wild. During his time at Cyclingnews, Tom has already interviewed some of the sport's biggest names including Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Alberto Contador. He's also covered various launches from brands such as Pinarello, Ridley, Specialized and more, tackled the Roubaix Challenge sportive aboard his own rim-brake Cannondale SuperSix Evo, tested over 20 aero helmets in the wind tunnel, and has created helpful in-depth buying advice relating to countless categories from torque wrenches to winter clothing.
