The Best Gravel Bikes of 2024

In a sea of familiar geometry, the Diverge Pro Carbon ($8,200) is a standout. Specialized clearly put some thought into how fit translates to feel. The wheelbase is long, but the short chainstays put your weight over the rear tire. The fork’s offset and trail strike a balance of stability and nimbleness. The stem angles up, and the reach is longer. The bottom bracket is among the lowest of the bunch we tested.

By the numbers, this gives the bike a longer wheelbase. In the saddle, it gives you a clear feeling you are riding inside the bike, rather than on it. The result is a bike that rips on roads and singletrack but feels most confident on variable terrain.

While fit is king, the accolades don’t end there. The bike is stacked with components that elevate the Diverge to the top of our list. Specialized integrated its latest Future Shock 2.0 inside the head tube. The dial on the headset allows you to unleash the hydraulic damper for up to 20 mm of travel in the front — or you can lock it out entirely for stiff handling on climbs or smoother roads. The damper is immediately responsive and easy to dial on the fly.

The Diverge is brandished with mounts on the top tube, down tube, fork, and traditional water bottle mounts. You want to bring it on that 400-mile bikepacking race? It can do that. Scratch that — it encourages it.

Our Diverge came with Specialized’s aftermarket accessory mount kit on the stem and a bag of mount accessories. It’s well-positioned off the front of the stem and allows you to easily pair with your Garmin, Wahoo, Karoo, etc. Inside the down tube hides the uniquely Specialized SWAT storage port.

Ours came loaded with gummy worms (which is the quickest way to a gear tester’s heart). While we can’t promise the sugar pantry will be stocked, it’s a great place to stash extra food, your tool kit, a tube, or even a wind jacket.

Trimmed with Specialized’s own 700 x 38c tires off the floor, the Diverge is a truly robust gravel machine. If you want to go beefier, the clearance supports up to 700 x 47c or 650b x 2.1 inches. It’s plenty of traction for most obstacles you’ll encounter.

Looking at the Diverge, all of this greatness is hidden behind its inconspicuous silhouette. It’s not showy, there’s no funky geometry, and the lines are well within the bounds of normal. It’s the nuance of ride, feel, and cleanly integrated design that culminates in a truly fantastic bike.

The Diverge Pro Carbon we tested will set you back $8,200. While not the most expensive bike in the Diverge stable (that award goes to the top-shelf S-Works model), it’s a hunk of change that prices the Pro out of reach for many. However, the same geometry and designs trickle down to less-expensive Diverge models. There’s something available for everyone’s budget.

Check out our full review of the Specialized Diverge Pro Carbon for more info.

The Utah-based consumer-direct bike brand Fezzari recently rebranded to a shorter and simpler name — Ari. Fortunately, the only thing that changed about its Shafer Carbon gravel bike ($3,299 for the Elite build we tested) was the logo and the paint job. This is easily one of the most versatile bikes we’ve ever tried, and Ari’s direct-to-consumer sales model makes it one of the best values you can find.

Now, we know there are less expensive options out there, but none that we’ve found that come with a full carbon frame, a stellar build, modern gravel geometry, and are capable of tackling long-distance races one day and heading out for week-long bikepacking tours the next. Bikes with comparable builds and performance from mainstream brands will easily cost you $1,000 to $2,000 more. Seriously.

Ari Bikes sells direct, so unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to take the Shafer out for a test ride. Thankfully, the ordering process is as simple as choosing the build you want — there are currently 5 complete builds to choose from ranging in price from $2,599 to $4,999 — and following the prompts on their Custom Fit configurator.

This ensures you get the correct size based on your height, weight, inseam, other measurements, and position preference. You’re also given wheel upgrade options and can add pedals, tubeless setup, frame protection, and a number of other accessory kits to dial it in how you like. The bike gets shipped straight to your home with minimal setup required to get out and ride.

On the road, one of the first things that stands out about the Shafer is its progressive gravel geometry. The current version of this bike came out a couple of years ago, but they nailed its geometry and we’re glad it hasn’t changed.

This is most obvious in its slacker-than-most head tube angle, which, at 68.9 degrees, helps provide stability and subdued confidence at speed and when things get rough. At the same time, the moderate-length wheelbase and reach combine with the short chainstays to keep the Shafer easily maneuverable and downright fun to ride.

The Shafer’s carbon frame helps to keep things light with our Elite build test bike weighing in at a respectable 20 pounds and 2 ounces. It’s no featherweight, but it easily could be with a few component upgrades. Speaking of components, the SRAM Rival AXS drivetrain, carbon cranks, Fulcrum wheels, and 45c Maxxis Rambler tires are all great, especially for the price. Those plump tires combine with the carbon fork, thin carbon seat stays, and carbon seatpost to help smooth chatter and provide a comfortable ride.

A wealth of bosses in the front triangle, on the top tube, and on the fork mean that the Shafer can easily be setup with all your bikepacking gear for any adventure you can dream up. Clearance for tires up to 700 x 50c makes it possible to strap on huge rubber, or you can throw on some road tires and make it a pavement-pounding machine. The Ari Shafer is like a chameleon, and it can transform into just about any bike you want it to be.

While it may not have the brand recognition of the mainstream competition, trust us when we say, the Ari Shafer is one of the best gravel bikes we’ve tested in recent years. Its versatility, all-around performance, and reasonable price make it a great value, whether you’re operating on a budget or not.

Gravel curious? Want one bike that can toggle between road and gravel? State Bicycle Co. makes it easy to get into a bike with a no-haggle price that won’t leave you asking if you got a deal. Every 6061 All-Road is offered starting at $1,400.

To keep the price down, State uses its in-house brand drivetrain and cockpit (stem, flared bars, and seat post). The brakes are mechanical, and the frame is tried-and-true 6061 aluminum. State also gives you the option to upgrade the shifting to SRAM’s electronic Apex XPLR for a $1,000 upcharge. We tried it, and it’s pretty sweet.

More road-friendly than upright, the geometry isn’t revolutionary. It’s a comfortable bike that doesn’t break the bank. So, what does a $1,400 bike get you? Quite a lot, actually. In the saddle, the road-ish geometry feels snappy and capable, shifting through hills with ease. The mechanical brakes were comfortably secure on steep, sandy singletrack. The geometry puts you over the bars and feels less upright than other 1x’s on the list, but it doesn’t feel particularly racy.

The company has managed to route all the cables internally to the mechanical brakes and drivetrain. This is a win for those who prize a clean-looking bike or want to strap bike bags to the frame. The All-Road ships with a carbon fork, buffing out the clatter on gravel roads. If you’re looking to mix it up for overnight adventures, you can upgrade the All-Road with State’s Monster Fork. It’s a more robust carbon fork with three mounting points to carry water bottles or mount gear cages.

There’s clearance for either 700c or 650b wheels that come from State wrapped in Vittoria rubber. The wheels are secured to the bike with 12mm thru-axles. Not sure which wheel to buy? You can purchase both at once for an extra $350 — laced with inflated tires, rotors, and a matching cassette that swaps out with ease. To make getting out on the bike easy, you can purchase pedals, a water bottle cage, and a lock, or upgrade the saddle with a variety of drop-down options through State’s site.

If you are on the fence about dabbling with gravel or are in the market for an affordable road bike that can transform into a capable gravel bike or commuter, the State 6061 All-Road is an easy way to cross over into the sport. Is $1,400 still too much? State offers a steel All-Road for $899.

You can find out more in our full review of the State 6061 All-Road.

YT is well known for its mountain bikes, and the Szepter is the brand’s first foray into the gravel market. Launched in late 2022, the Szepter Core 4 ($4,499) incorporates a bit of mountain bike DNA in its design, looks, features, and performance.

If you’re the type of rider who can’t resist singletrack detours, you ride on rough roads, or simply want the enhanced comfort and control that front suspension and a dropper post can give you, the Szepter should be on your radar.

Given YT’s mountain bike focus, it isn’t too surprising that the Szepter is one of the most mountain bike-esque gravel models on the market. They didn’t go too wild with the geometry, but it’s certainly modern and on the slacker side of the spectrum.

At the same time, it’s quite comfortable and not too stretched out the way some racier bikes can feel, due in large part to the taller stack and specification of shorter stems that help keep the rider in a more neutral body position.

The frame itself is crafted from carbon fiber and has clean lines and an almost industrial look. The thick downtube, beefed-up head tube, and burly chainstays add rigidity where it’s needed, and the Szepter carries an ASTM 3 certification — meaning it’s rated for rougher riding than most. The thin seat stays provide a little rear wheel compliance.

YT sculpted the seat tube around the rear wheel, which looks pretty cool and acts like an extended fender. Speaking of which, a custom mudguard for the rear bolts on, and the fork comes with one too. Two bottle mounts in the front triangle provide plenty of space for bottles, and two sets of mounts on the underside of the top tube provide options to attach other bags or accessories.

The RockShox Rudy XPLR Ultimate fork provides 40 mm of front suspension while the Reverb AXS XPLR dropper has 50 mm of drop (on a size large). While both of these components undoubtedly add some weight, they do wonders to add comfort and control on descents and rougher — maybe I shouldn’t ride my gravel bike here — type trails.

Both components are likely overkill for super smooth, champagne gravel, but it can’t be overstated how beneficial it is on chunkier surfaces, washboards, or rocky singletracks. And, at less than 22 pounds for our large test bike, the weight penalty isn’t that significant and is a welcome tradeoff in the right conditions or terrain.

For the price, the rest of the build is also stellar, thanks mostly to YT’s consumer-direct sales model. The SRAM Force AXS drivetrain and brakes work super well, and the cockpit is well-appointed with Zipp Service Course bars and handlebar tape. The same build from a mainstream brand would cost a lot more. YT also offers the Core 3 build with lower-tier components and no dropper for $3,299.

For riders who prioritize downhill performance, comfort, and control over weight, the mountain bike-inspired YT Szepter gravel bike is worth a serious look. Rough gravel and singletrack side trips are well within its wheelhouse, and although it may not be the raciest bike out there, it’s arguably one of the most fun.

While many gravel bikes these days are less specific in their intended use, the Ventum GS1 ($2,999 and up) is an unapologetic race bike. Ventum is a direct-to-consumer brand that specializes in road and gravel bikes that are aimed squarely at performance-oriented riders and racers. Of all the models we’ve tried, it feels the most like a road-racing bike, just one that’s been modified for use and speed on gravel roads.

Our cycling editor, Seiji Ishii, spent four months riding a custom build of the GS1 on a range of surfaces near his home in Central Texas. He found his experience getting the bike from Ventum to be easy and annoyance-free, and once he got it built up, he set about testing it out on long gravel and mixed-surface rides.

With a mix of high-end components, it weighed in at 19 pounds and 2 ounces, which is pretty darn light. Ventum offers the GS1 as a frame and fork only for $2,599, or you can build it up using its custom configurator for $2,999 and up. It comes in five frame color options and a whopping six frame sizes.

On gravel surfaces, he found it to feel a bit like an aero road race bike gone gravel. It was stable and responsive and only seemed to feel better as speeds increased. To that end, it’s a bike that seems like it urges you to stay on the gas, especially on smoother surfaces where its stiffness and racy geometry excel.

In those firmer and smoother conditions, the GS1 frame has just the right amount of compliance to take the edge off high-frequency chatter. The more aggressive, racy geometry puts the rider in a more forward-biased body position that’s ideal for pushing big watts and maintaining speed.

On paved roads, the Ventum GS1 handles and feels more like a road bike than most other gravel bikes we’ve tried lately. So, it could easily play double duty as a road and gravel bike for those willing to swap tires or own two wheelsets. A flip chip in the fork also allows you to adjust the fork offset for different types of riding or preferences, which can be handy for those going back and forth between gravel and road rides.

Not surprisingly, the GS1, with its stiff frame and racy geometry, felt a bit less forgiving over rougher gravel than some of the all-rounders. This bike’s focus is more on going fast than providing comfort, and it goes fast very well. Still, it has clearance for tires up to 48c, so those seeking added comfort and grip can find it with plumper tires.

The Ventum GS1 also happens to look fantastic and complete builds are relatively reasonably priced. If your gravel rides are more about speed and racing than far-flung adventures, this bike has you covered and then some.

Find out more in our full review of the Ventum GS1.

It’s safe to say cycling would not be what it is today without Tom Ritchey. Back in the ’70s, Ritchey helped pioneer the “ballooner” revolution, fabricating some of the very first 26-inch mountain bikes in the Bay Area.

Many of his innovations — including hub spacing standards, mountain bike tread, and the 120tpi tire — have become the industry standard on today’s bikes.

The Ritchey Outback ($1,599 for the frame and fork) has classic mountain bike lines with modern upgrades. The slack angles are framed with TIG-welded steel tubing. The head tube angle is slacker, the reach is a touch shorter, the wheelbase is longer, and the stack is low.

At slow speeds on curvy trails, the Outback can feel a little twitchy. This is due to the longer wheelbase. It wants to go all day on long, drawn-out roads. Fitted for fenders and ample bottle cages, it’s very capable of doing so.

Ritchey ships the Outback as a frame only. With flat bars, this Outback could be mistaken as a retro mountain bike. But you’d lose experiencing Ritchie’s stellar WCS Beacon Handlebars, which our bike came fitted with. They were among the best handlebars we rode with all week, shining with every descent and providing supreme confidence in the drops at speed.

The Ritchey Outback has the classic mountain bike geometry we’d expect from Tom Ritchey with ample bosses to mount bottle cages, panniers, or bikepacking bags. The number of mounts, laidback geometry, and comfortable steel frame make the Outback a cult favorite among bikepackers and tourers.

Colorado-based Revel Bikes is much better known for its carbon fiber mountain bikes, but the brand produces a number of titanium frames (formerly under the Why Cycles name) and the slick Rover gravel bike. Revel is a relatively small brand, but it has gained a reputation for producing quality, albeit somewhat expensive, bikes that rival the performance of the mainstream competition.

Our cycling editor, Seiji Ishii, put together a custom build of the Rover. Revel sells it as a frame and fork only for $2,400, and they offer three well-appointed complete builds ranging in price from $4,599 to $6,999. Unboxing the Rover frame, our tester was initially a little concerned that the stout tubes and beefy-looking construction would result in a harsh ride. After building it up and hitting the road, however, those concerns faded away like the chatter under his wheels.

Beyond the sturdy looks of the frame, Revel gave it a somewhat more traditional geometry, particularly in terms of the 71.5-degree head tube angle and longer reach measurement. The 75-degree seat tube angle is a bit steeper than most, however, so this compensates for the reach and prevents making the rider feel too stretched out. Short chainstays and a moderate-length wheelbase help to keep it feeling very maneuverable.

Despite the Rover’s stiff-looking frame, we found it to feel surprisingly damped and forgiving over chattery gravel. This provided comfort for the rider and helped to enhance traction and stability. It’s worth noting that we tested it with Revel’s own R23 wheels. These wheels are made with FusionFiber composite that has been touted for its forgiveness and comfort, so that was likely a contributing factor in this bike’s calm and steady handling feel.

On the climbs, the Rover feels plenty quick and efficient. The frame is laterally stiff and it doesn’t feel like there’s any energy being wasted. At the same time, that forgiving ride quality comes through, and we didn’t get bounced around while piloting it through rougher sections of road. The 19-pound, 5-ounce weight (size large, custom build) certainly didn’t slow us down either.

Our primary gripe with the Rover is the lack of threaded bosses outside of the bottle cage mounts. For day-to-day riding, this isn’t much of an issue, but those wishing to mount all kinds of bikepacking bags will be limited to the handlebar, seat, and strap-on frame bags. Regardless, the Revel Rover is a capable and comfortable all-arounder for anyone looking to try a different brand.

You can learn more in our full review of the Revel Rover gravel bike.

Another bike developed with Vroomen Engineering, the OPEN WI.DE.’s geometry ($4,999 and up) is nearly identical to 3T’s Exploro, down to the dual dropping chainstays (and, coincidentally, price).

Both allow massive 2.4-inch tire clearance, and both have that snug-cockpit type fit and spritely handling from the shorter wheelbase. No surprise — the ride is very similar.

The OPEN WI.DE (Winding Detours) addresses some sacrifices for speed we saw when we tested the 3T. Without tucking the rear tire into the frame, the OPEN has more tire clearance, and the internal cable routing ports pair more cleanly with top tube bags.

Maybe the most significant difference is what’s not there. The OPEN doesn’t have a mount for a front derailleur. Instead of 42 teeth, the front chainring has slightly lower gearing at 40t. This falls in line with the added clearance making the OPEN simply feel more at home on rougher and steeper terrain.

Still, at a svelte 18 pounds and 6 ounces, the OPEN WI.DE. is pretty darn lightweight. It’s easily capable of being a gravel race bike, and it certainly won’t weigh you down on those epic multiday adventures.

Kona cemented its roots in the Pacific Northwest mountain biking scene in the late ’80s with an iconic sloping top tube design. Sporting a familiar sloping top tube, it’s no surprise that Kona’s Libre ($3,799) has a mountain bike-esque feel.

It was also among the most comfortable gravel bikes we tested. The Libre feels playful and begs to be ridden hard. A lot of this can be attributed to the tall head tube and longer reach, paired with a shorter stem. The geometry and handling feel cozy in the rough.

Kona also added wider handlebars that help stabilize the ride when the going gets rough. For truly mountainous conditions, the Libre has a dropper post. When engaged, it puts your weight low over the rear wheel, giving the bike superhero powers. The Libre was able to navigate terrain many other bikes that we tested couldn’t touch.

The Libre is finished with loads of mounts and internal cable routing, allowing it to transition from daylong rides to overnight jaunts.

Potential buyers should examine Kona’s size chart carefully before making a purchase. The frames run a size or two smaller than typical frame sizes.

Recent developments indicate that Kona’s future as a brand is somewhat uncertain. The bikes are still available for now, but we’ll update this review if anything changes.

In an industry where prices seem to be ever-increasing and pose a significant barrier to entry for many riders, State Bicycle Company bucks that trend across its whole line, especially with the 4130 All-Road ($899). It’s rare that we find a sub-$1,000 bike that we actually enjoy enough to recommend to people, but this bike is an exception. It’s not perfect, but it’s about as close as you can get for the price and is a great option for casual gravel riders that won’t break the bank.

State keeps the price low by using 4130 chromoly steel for the frame. This material adds a bit of weight but also provides a somewhat more forgiving ride quality compared to aluminum. The base build we tested goes for an easy-on-the-wallet $899, and it comes in several color options with flat or drop handlebars to choose from.

State also gives the option to upgrade a variety of components, including the brakes, drivetrain, wheels, pedals, and more, to set it up how you like. We tested it with 650b wheels and tires, but it can also run 700c if you prefer or switch between the two.

Overall, it’s a good-looking bike and the base build is functional without being flashy. State’s house-branded drivetrain works surprisingly well, and the brakes are okay but possibly a bit underpowered. The frame has mounting bosses for a rear rack, two water bottles in the front triangle, and three-pack mounts on the fork to load up a variety of accessories if you choose.

We found the geometry to be pleasantly neutral and quite comfortable. That comfort was enhanced further by the compliant steel frame and girthy 2.1-inch-wide 650b tires that helped smooth rough surfaces and eat up bigger impacts.

On the climbs, the added weight is a bit noticeable compared to much lighter bikes, but it still does well if you aren’t racing yourself or anyone else to the top. Conversely, on the descents, the weight adds a damp, stable feel that helps enhance grip and provide confidence at speed and when cornering.

If you’re looking to dip your toes in the gravel pool but aren’t quite ready to dive in, State provides a few great options with the super affordable 4130 All-Road or the slightly more expensive 6061 All-Road described above. Both are great options that will allow you to scratch your gravel itch without completely draining your bank account.

For more info, check out our full review of the State 4130 All-Road.