Best gravel bikes under $2,000 / £2,000
The best gravel bikes under $2,000 / £2,000 to get the best performance without the top-tier prices
Best gravel bikes under $2,000 / £2,000: our picks
1. Giant Revolt 0
2. Cannondale Topstone 2
3. Cotic Escapade Gold 1X
4. Liv Devote 1
5. Canyon Grizl 7 1by
6. Kona Rove DL
7. GT Grade Elite
8. Ribble CGR AL
9. Marin Gestalt 2
10. Nukeproof Digger Comp
11. Trek Checkpoint ALR 4
How to choose the best gravel bike under $2000 / £2000
The best gravel bikes under $2,000 / £2,000 will provide an engaging off-road ride at a reasonable price.
At this price, you will typically find an alloy frameset with a carbon fork, although there are steel alternatives if you like the idea of the potentially more robust frame material.
In all cases, you'll get a decent amount of tyre clearance, allowing you to fit some of the best gravel bike tyres to suit the conditions where you ride. You're also likely to find a gravel bike groupset, rather than a repurposed road bike groupset, although as we explain in below, brands will sometimes fit road groupsets to hit a price point.
There's enough variety in gravel bikes under $2000 / £2000 for you to find one that suits your ride style. Are you looking for a fast gravel bike, one for on/off-road weekend rides or a gravel bike that you can load up for bikepacking? You can find all these gravel bike types in this price range, and we've selected our picks of the best gravel bikes under $2000 / £2000 below.
Alternatively, read our pick of the best budget gravel bikes or head to the bottom of this page for advice on how to choose the best gravel bike that hits the $2000 / £2000 price point.
Best gravel bikes under $2,000 / £2,000: our picks
Best for day rides
The Cannondale Topstone 2 provides a stable ride that's still fast, while Cannondale's alloy fabrication expertise gives you a comfortable frame.
Best women's gravel bike under $2000 / £2000
Sharing Giant's bike building know-how and many of Giant's components as well, the Liv Devote provides women's-specific geometry and smaller sizing.
Best for bikepackers
With a good supply of mounting points both on the frame and the fork, the Grizl 7 1by provides a quality spec and wide tyre clearance for adventurers.
Best steel gravel bike under $2000 / £2000
The Kona Rove DL has a steel frame and a simple spec, providing reliability for extended off-road rides, whether loaded up or a day trip.
Best for gravel blasts
The GT Grade's double triangle frame provides some extra compliance and is paired with a carbon fork and wide gear range for shorter gravel rides.
Best for technical terrain
Nukeproof specialises in MTBs and it's used that knowledge to craft the Digger for more technical off-road drop bar action, with great traction from the 650b tyres.
Best gravel bikes under $2,000 / £2,000 available today
Giant Revolt 0
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Giant's ALUXX alloy frames are made totally in house by the Taiwanese bike production powerhouse. That level of control gives it a deservedly excellent reputation for strength and ride quality that plays perfectly with gravel bike priorities.
The sloping top tube ‘Compact’ frame style pioneered by Giant gives an agile feel with plenty of standover and the unique D-Fuse seatpost design also gets extra extension to smooth out life in the saddle. Flattened seat tube and top tube plus D-Fuse bar increase comfort but the large downtube and extra-wide PowerCore bottom bracket mean it can still crank out a race-winning performance. Giant’s Smart Mount system gives lots of cargo options too and there’s space for 45mm tyres even in muddy conditions.
There's a good mix of Shimano GRX components with 11-speed RX600 levers and RX810 derailleurs paired to a Praxis Alba 48/32 tooth chainset for decent range, paired with an 11-34 cassette.
Cannondale Topstone 2
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Cannondale Topstone alloy gravel bikes don't have the Kingpin suspension system of the higher priced Topstone Carbon, but they still boast plenty of versatility. Cannondale is one of the best alloy frame fabricators in the business and its Out Front geometry provides stability for off-road riding without sacrificing performance.
The Topstone 2 is equipped with a 2x Shimano GRX RX400 10-speed groupset, so you get a proper gravel spec, complete with hydraulic disc brakes and low gearing thanks to the FSA Omega 46/30-tooth crankset.
The Topstone 2 has WTB ST i23 TCS wheel rims complete with WTB Riddler Comp 37mm tyres fitted, a combo which should provide grip and versatility for off-road riding along with a decent speed on tarmac.
Cotic Escapade Gold 1X
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Cotic Escapade had been sitting quietly in the corner of its range as ‘the other bike’ for years before gravel became a fashion statement. The MTB-style sloping top tube layout using its custom Fe tube set with Ovalform top tube gets a full set of bottle, rack and mudguard mounts and decent tyre clearances (700x45 or 650x50).
The latest version gets a thru-axle rear end to match the carbon fork, dropper post routing and ‘inside out’ cable management so there are no redundant bosses spoiling the slim steel looks. The result is as rugged and resilient as it is sweetly sprung and lively to ride on the roughest terrain. Or stick on skinny slicks and road tyres and line up in the grid of the commuting Grand Prix.
While Cotic has a range of different default build options (starting at £1,299) as all the bikes are built to order in the Peak District workshop you can personalise your Escapade build to get exactly the bike you want to be delivered to your doorstep. Or you can just buy the frame and switch your existing parts across.
The Gold 1x spec has a nice combo of SRAM Apex with a Rival chainset, although you'll want to swap out the standard, non-tubeless Conti Sport Contact tyres for anything but the dryest, lightest gravel use.
Liv Devote 1
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Liv Devote is the first-ever women's specific gravel bike built from the ground up with geometry, components and materials fine-tuned for women's bodies. Available in two models - the alloy Devote and the carbon Devote Advanced - those looking to spend under £2,000 can get the top-tier alloy model and come away with £500 change.
For this, you get a gravel bike that can handle most types of rides, from everyday adventures to multi-day backcountry bikepacking. It comes equipped with Shimano's gravel-specific GRX 400-series hydraulic groupset and is kitted out with Giant finishing kit, including S-X2 Disc wheels set up tubeless with 38mm CrossCut tyres.
The brand's own D-Fuse seatpost and handlebars offer excellent support, comfort and stability when riding off-road, thanks to their vibration absorption, and in particular the ergonomic shape of the tops of the bars.
We've got a review of the carbon Liv Devote Advanced Pro on site.
Canyon Grizl 7 1by
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Canyon Grizl is the direct sales brand's lowest priced gravel bike, but as with Canyon bikes in general, gives you a high quality spec for its price.
It's equipped with a Shimano GRX RX600 11-speed single ring groupset with an 11-32t cassette, while the wheels are from DT Swiss and equipeed with Schwalbe tubeless-ready 45mm tyres. There's space in the alloy frame and carbon fork for 50mm tyres.
There are plenty of mounting points if you want to load up, including on the top tube and on the fork legs, while the Selle Italia Model X saddle sits on a Canyon VCLS carbon seatpost, although not the split shaft model.
At present, Canyon is only showing availability of the Grizl 7 1by in sizes XL and 2XL, while the Grape colourway is a love/hate finish.
Kona Rove DL
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Kona Rove comes in a variety of flavours in both alloy and steel and this DL model is the latter, complete with a steel fork. It's kitted out with a SRAM Rival 11-speed single chainring rear mech and SRAM Apex crankset, while its 650b wheels have WTB rims and 47mm Maxxis or WTB tyres. The bike is stopped by TRP hybrid mechanical/hydraulic disc brakes.
The frame and riser stem provide an upright ride position and you get all the mounts for bottles, luggage and mudguards, setting you up for extended off-road or on-road adventures. The mechanical simplicity should help avoid problems, while the 650b wheels add some extra traction and ride comfort.
GT Grade Elite
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The lowest priced GT Grade has an alloy frame and carbon fork. It has the distinctive Grade triple triangle design, aimed at increasing compliance by lengthening the seatstays, with their skinny cross-section.
The groupset is Shimano Claris, so you get eight speeds, but it's not clutched, although the FSA Tempo Adventure 48/32t crankset and Sunrace 11-34t cassette provide plenty of lower gearing of progress off-road.
The WTB ST i23 rims and 37mm WTB Riddler tyres provide a decent off-road spec though and stopping power comes from Tektro mechanical disc brakes, so you're well set up for less demanding off-road adventures.
Ribble CGR AL
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you've been searching for your dream build but just haven't found something that ticks every box, perhaps having a customisable build from Ribble will scratch that itch. The CGR AL gravel bike is really versatile and offers incredible value for money.
The standard gravel build is solid and reliable, with an 11-speed Shimano GRX groupset that offers precision shifting performance and powerful hydraulic braking at great value. For the same price you can get a SRAM Rival 1 build.
Meanwhile the Schwalbe G-One tyres rolling on Mavic Aksium wheels promise long-term reliability, durability and confidence-inspiring traction on a variety of surfaces. The build is topped off with Ribble's proprietary LEVEL finishing kit that includes a lightweight alloy seatpost, and Prologo Kappa RS saddle.
You can choose between two standard paint jobs, or use the bike builder to go rogue and find something that suits your personal style.
Marin Gestalt 2
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Marin Gestalt is another example of a jack-of-all-trades gravel bike that can take up the mantle of commuter, cargo-carrier and adventure bike, regardless of what you throw at it. The Gestalt 2 is an entry-level model that promises to be a versatile daily workhorse as well a weekend warrior on gravel and hardpack trails.
It combines some of the best elements of road and mountain bike design. The latter shines through its short-stem-wide-bar configuration up front to offer agile handling and confident descending, while the neat internal cable routing and 35mm maximum tyre clearance hark back to the former.
At this price point, the Gestalt comes with good quality mid-range components, and has plenty of room for upgrades, which you could use your £600-plus change for. Or, if you're willing to go just over budget, you could level up to the Marin Gestalt X11, which is a far superior build. It comes with an 11-speed Shimano GRX groupset with hydraulic disc brakes, a TranzX dropper post, and WTB Riddler TCS Light tubeless tyres.
Nukeproof Digger Comp
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you're looking for something that can take on some serious trails, then the Nukeproof Digger Comp is a strong contender. This aluminium adventure bike comes with 650b Road Plus wheels wrapped in 47mm wide WTB Sendero tan wall tyres, meaning they offer excellent traction over loose and rough surfaces, and they're bang-on-trend as well.
The Digger is powered by a Shimano GRX 600-series hydraulic groupset with 800 series flourishes, offering precision shifting and smooth braking, giving you full control no matter how rough things get.
Trek Checkpoint ALR 4
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Trek sells its Checkpoint ALR 4 as the value option in terms of the amount of adventure you get for your money, along with the versatility to tackle commutes and road riding.
The all-Shimano GRX400 gears on the Checkpoint ALR 4 are the obvious spec list highlight but the Alpha alloy frame is an excellent host. Classically conventional good looks allow extra room around the standard-fit 40mm Bontrager tyres, with room for up to 45mm.
Stranglehold dropouts let you adjust wheelbase and stability or even set it up single speed if your gears get ripped off in the middle of nowhere. Multiple bottle and fork mounts make carrying the stuff you need to get out to the middle of nowhere easy. Carbon fork and Bontrager tubeless wheels mean it’s a comfortable journey too, although you'll want to upgrade the standard wire bead tyres to go tubeless. Handling angles are nearly road-bike steep though, which won’t suit more radical riders.
How to choose the best gravel bike under $2,000 / £2000
What should I look for in a gravel bike frame?
The frame is the heart of any bike and there are loads of options for materials, handling and added extras in the mid-price gravel bike market.
Frame material is obviously a big defining part of a bike’s character but don’t assume a bike will always ride a certain way because of what it’s made of. For example, good carbon can give a weight advantage and be formed to either be stiff or super smooth. Cheap carbon can feel really dull though and crush/crack damage is more likely if you’re chucking it over fences or hitting rocks in the back of beyond.
Top-end alloy comes close to carbon in weight terms and can give a really bright ride feel without being too bruising. It’ll dent without being a write off too and alloy bikes are generally the best value in terms of kit you’ll get as well.
Steel is the heaviest option but when done right it gives an amazingly smooth, warm ride feel for a lifetime of adventures as long as you don’t let it rust too badly. You can also get some top value titanium options at this price which give a similar sprung ride feel to steel but with better raw material strength at a lower weight with no worries about corrosion or chipped paint.
Whatever material you choose, check your gravel bike geometry too. Steeper angles and shorter wheelbases make for a more agile, lively bike for gravel racing or road use. Slack angles and long wheelbase will be more stable and predictable for goofing around in the woods or bombing down mountain passes when bikepacking.
Make sure you get all the accessory mounts you need too. Going epic? Then three bottle cages and as many places as possible to bolt bags and racks on are a good idea. Racing? Then a couple of bottle bosses is maybe all you need. Weekday workhorse and weekend warrior? You’d best have mudguard mounts. Borderline MTB usage? Dropper post routing could be handy, and so on.
Tyre clearance is a key concern too. You should have space for at least 40mm tyres but 50mm of clearance means you can choose from the full range of conventional gravel rubber and have mud room to spare. If you’re really pushing the terrain limits though a bike that can take 2.2-2.4in 29er tyres will really smooth out your ride and add impact insurance, too.
What's the best groupset for a $2,000 / £2,000 gravel bike?
In terms of brand, your basic choice is between SRAM Apex, Rival or Force 11-speed mechanical groupsets or Shimano GRX options depending on the price and value of the bike.
They all work fine and the biggest difference between the two brands is the feel of the hoods, shifters and brakes rather than any significant mechanical gain.
Lower priced gravel bikes may be fitted with a road bike groupset, or a mix of road and gravel components, to hit a price point. You can find gravel bikes equipped with Shimano Sora 9-speed or Claris 8-speed components. In series, these won't offer gearing as low as 1:1, which will help you when riding off road, although they'll often be paired with a sub-compact crankset to reduce the overall gearing.
Neither Sora nor Claris rear derailleurs have a clutch, so they're more prone to chain slap on the chainstay when riding over rough ground.
Don't discount Microshift gearing - its Sword groupset is a dedicated gravel option with good gear range at a keen price.
While single-ring simplicity and cleanliness is deservedly very popular for primarily off-road use, going with a double ring set up can still make sense if you’ll still be riding on the road a lot. It can give you more mid-range gearing options and often more overall range, although at the expense of another piece of equipment to go wrong. Front mechs are prone to clogging in sticky mud.
Also check out our guides to the best gravel bike pedals, best gravel bike shoes and gravel bike clothing to make sure that you're fully kitted out.
What wheels and tyres should I look for in a $2,000 / £2,000 gravel bike?
Wheels can get hammered on gravel bikes so you want a decent quality set of rims and hubs at least. The best gravel bike wheels will have wide rims (23-25mm internal) and will support broader tyres better while tubeless compatibility is essential. Fortunately, it's rare now to find a gravel bike without tubeless compatible wheels, but it's still worth checking.
We wouldn’t worry too much about tyres as you can always change them to the best gravel bike tyre to suit the conditions you ride in, but if you get a good set that’s obviously a bonus. You'll sometimes find mid-priced gravel bikes specced with non-tubeless tyres on tubeless rims. If so you might want to budget for an upgrade.
At the $2,000 / £2,000 mark, the wheels are often something that gets scrimped on to keep the overall bike price down. Although you can spend a fortune on carbon gravel hoops, there are alloy options that won't break the bank but may be lighter and better built than those that the bike comes with and can really up the gravel bike's ride feel.
How do I keep my gravel bike well maintained and safe?
Once you've taken the plunge and invested in a new gravel bike, your journey is only just beginning. Riding on gravel is rarely a clean affair, so it'll be imperative that you keep your bike clean and well maintained. If cleaning it after every muddy ride seems like a daunting chore, then at the very least ensure you keep the chain lubricated with the best bike chain lubes.
Expect to have to replace components like worn chains and cassettes more frequently than on a road bike and keep an eye on the sealant in your tyres monthly to make sure that it's still liquid. Expect to need to keep it topped up regularly. It's also worth having a spare set of disc brake pads to hand, as they can wear through quickly, especially in dirty conditions.
Also, the last thing you want to happen is for it to be stolen so ensure you take steps to reduce this risk. We have an article dedicated to advising how to prevent bike theft, but the key takeaways are to ensure you choose the best bike lock, know how to lock a bike correctly, and shop around to compare bicycle insurance to ensure you are covered by the best bike insurance policy for your needs.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!