Bikes come in all shapes and sizes, and being on the right bike is vital to enjoying the cycling experience. Finding the right bike for you can be very challenging, and you might find multiple bikes to choose from depending on the riding you want to do and the terrain you want to be on.
We get asked some great questions here at gravel biking, and one that always comes up is, “What are the best bikes for gravel trails?”. Although you might think the obvious answer is a gravel bike, there are situations where you might pick another type.
In this article, we will be telling you about some of the best bikes for riding on gravel trails and some other bikes that can work on gravel you might not expect. We will also answer some questions that we get asked around the subject of bikes for riding gravel.
Table of contents
What Kind Of Bike Do I Need For Gravel?
There’s a common misconception that you need a gravel bike for gravel riding when there are many different types of bikes you can use, but the gravel bike, by far, will be the most efficient. Many riders choose to use other bikes when riding gravel.
Mountain bikes are a popular choice, either a full suspension, hardtail, or rigid because they offer an upright riding position and can take a lot of the bumps out of the road with their large tires and low pressures. Mountain biking doesn’t always have to be on mountains.
Some riders even use road bikes with a larger tire clearance or cyclocross bikes. This isn’t always the best way to go as the bike generally is not as durable, and the ride quality on gravel isn’t ideal, but it is possible.
It is also common to see hybrid bikes on a gravel bike trail. They offer enough comfort to ride on gravel and actually can perform despite being fairly heavy and typically coming with basic components.
Are Gravel Bikes Good For Trail Riding?
Gravel bikes are great for trail riding but are only really suited to light trails over heavy technical trails. Gravel bikes are still capable of heavy technical trails, but the experience isn’t a huge amount of fun, and it will rattle you around as the rider.
On light trails, gravel bikes are fantastic. On the right trails, they can prove themselves to be incredibly quick and easily outperform heavier hardtails and full-suspension bikes if the rider picks the right lines.
Related Reading: 5 Best Electric Gravel Bikes
What Road Bikes Make Good Gravel Bikes?
As we mentioned earlier, some road bikes are a choice of many riders who want to take on gravel riding, and providing they have a large tire clearance, why not. Many gravel bikes come directly from road riding. Here are a few we like:
Best For Tire Clearance: Trek Domane SL7
MSRP: $8000
Rating: 9/10
Key Features
- Carbon fiber frame and forks
- Carbon fiber wheelset
- Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic gearing
- Hydraulic disc brakes for strong stopping power
The Trek Domane is a legendary bike and a dream to own for many cyclists. The latest version is the best yet and is fully equipped for gravel racing and long-distance endurance riding. It is suitable for gravel because it comes with an incredible tire clearance of up to 38c. This is generally unheard of in the road bike world, and it’s even more than some gravel bikes.
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Pros
- Very lightweight
- It comes in many different component levels
- Looks great and comes in many colors
- Epic tire clearance for a road bike
Cons
- Cost isn’t cheap
Bottom Line
The Trek Domane is an amazing bike and can offer so much to the road rider, and with that tire clearance, it makes a fast gravel bike too.
Best For Value: Cannondale Synapse Carbon 4
MSRP: $3000
Rating: 7/10
Key Features
- Carbon fiber frame and forks
- Lightweight aluminum wheelset
- Shimano Tiagra gearing
- Hydraulic disc brakes
The Cannondale Synapse has been seen on many podiums in its time. It’s an amazing race bike known for its ability to climb mountains fast. The Synapse Carbon 4 is a mid-range option with excellent value for money. Coming in with tire clearance up to 35c, it’s got the ability to roll up its sleeves and get on the gravel and perform.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Looks epic and comes in many colors
- Carbon frame and forks are very lightweight
Cons
- Although Shimano components, they are basic
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a road bike that can withstand a bit of gravel, the Cannondale Synapse is a great way to go and is very good value for money.
Best Looking: Specialized Roubaix Comp
MSRP: $6500
Rating: 8/10
Key Features
- Carbon fiber frame and forks
- Lightweight DT Swiss wheelset
- SRAM Rival Etap Electronic Gearing
- Hydraulic disc brakes
The Roubaix Comp was designed for cobbles but, over the years, has turned into an excellent endurance road bike and, in some cases, a light gravel bike. It’s very equipped with light suspension on the front stem and electronic wireless gearing. With clearance for 33c tires, it gives you options for some loose terrain, and it’s not rare to see odd Roubaix on a light trail.
Pros
- Looks amazing
- Well equipped with wireless electronic gearing
- Hydraulic disc brakes
Cons
- Not the cheapest
- Not a huge tire clearance at 33c
Bottom Line
The Specialized Roubaix was made for the Roubaix cobbles, but in modern times has also proven itself on gravel.
Related Reading: Best Women’s Gravel Bikes
Best Bikes For Gravel Trails
Now what about the gravel race bikes you want to hear about? Here are our best gravel bikes!
Best Titanium: Curve Big Kev
MSRP: $6500
Rating: 9/10
Key Features
- Titanium frame paired with carbon fiber forks
- SRAM Gearing Rival Or Force AXS
- 2.1” tires as standard clearance for 2.35”
- Zipp finishing kit
Curve is an Australian brand who have been making incredible bikes for many years. Some of the best bikes they make are gravel bikes, and the Big Kev is a great example of this. It’s quick and strong with a lightweight and durable titanium frame and carbon fork. It’s also paired with an SRAM groupset and Zipp finishing kit, which are all great high-quality stuff. The 2.1” MTB tires mean you can hit any rough terrain and have fun and never feel too far out of your depth.
Pros
- Titanium frame with a carbon fork
- Great components and accessories
- Good value
Cons
- Not the cheapest
- Tires are very big for roads and light gravel
Bottom Line
The Big Kev is a great gravel bike, and with those 2.1” tires, it’s ready to tackle any gravel, no matter how rugged.
Best All Rounder: Bombtrack Hook EXT
MSRP: $3500
Rating: 8/10
Key Features
- Carbon fiber frame and forks
- SRAM Rival groupset
- Hunt Wheelset
- Hydraulic disc brakes
Bombtrack is an international brand but has roots in Australia. The Hook is one of their most popular bikes, and with its clear style and rugged off-road looks, we can see why so many gravel riders choose it. Oversized carbon tubing, solid components, and Hunt wheels prepare this bike for any gravel road. It also comes in many variations, and even titanium versions are available.
Pros
- Carbon frame and forks with dropped chainstay
- Good SRAM components
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Hunt wheelset
- Lots of rack mounts
Cons
- Basic components
- The green isn’t for everyone
Bottom Line
The Bombtrack bike is made for gravel adventures and epic rides on trails. Not only does it look the part it can ride it too.
Best For Unique Features: Canyon Grail SLX Di2
MSRP: $6200
Rating: 10/10
Key Features
- Carbon fiber frame and forks
- Shimano GRX electronic groupset
- DT Swiss carbon wheels
- Unique drop bar double
We can’t speak about amazing gravel bikes without including the legendary Canyon Grail. The Grail was a big release when it first hit the gravel trails, and nobody could really work out if it was amazing or a complete gimmick. The carbon frame, electric Shimano gearing, and DT Swiss carbon wheels told us the Grail could perform. The double handlebars also gave it control and light suspension elements that other gravel bikes lacked for riding off road fast.
Pros
- Double handlebars feel great to use
- Shimano electronic gearing is incredible
- It rides great, and it’s a very lightweight setup
- You get a lot for your money
Cons
- It’s not very customizable
- Double handlebars are not for everyone
Bottom Line
The Grail is an amazing bike that eats gravel for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s very unique, and we appreciate it’s not for everyone, but there’s no faulting the performance.
Best For Forks: Lauf Seigla Race Wireless
MSRP: $4500
Rating: 9/10
Key Features
- Carbon fiber frame and Lauf suspension forks
- Wire SRAM Groupset
- Carbon XCX race wheels
- SRAM Force hydraulic disc brakes
Lauf originally came into the gravel cycling industry with a unique fork they made. Unlike any other fork on the market, it used carbon fiber blades to flex and take the edge off the road instead of using air. It also looked incredible. The bike followed that same pattern. It’s lightweight, equipped with great components, great forks, and hydraulic disc brakes. There’s very little not to like.
Pros
- The Lauf fork is a great feature
- Excellent components, including carbon wheels and electronic gearing
- Looks great and is priced well
Cons
- Limited color options
Bottom Line
When Lauf made a bike around their forks, we weren’t sure what to make of it, but they have done an incredible job, and it’s a highly respected gravel bike in our eyes.
Best for Frame Design: Lynskey Helix GR
MSRP: $4300
Rating: 8/10
Key Features
- Twisted titanium frame with carbon forks
- SRAM Force groupset
- Team Vision aluminum wheelset
- Hydraulic disc brakes
Lynskey has been making titanium gravel bikes for a fair amount of time, the GR300 being the most popular model. Not many people know about the Helix, a frame with a twisted tube down the center, giving it incredible stiffness and a very responsive feel. Alongside this, you get good components and disc brakes for great stopping power, making this an all-round excellent gravel bike.
Pros
- A unique twisted frame gives extra stiffness
- The price is excellent for a full titanium bike
- Lots of customizable options
Cons
- It does look quite plain
- Not the lightest frame
Bottom Line
The Helix is a very unique gravel bike and offers a great feature that we really like. It is definitely made for performance, but you can expect a forgiving ride too.
Why Choose Gravel Bike Over Road Bike?
If you’re planning on riding gravel, you will get a much better experience from a gravel bike over a road bike. It’s not just the bigger tires but the relaxed geometry, better brakes, and extra durability. We hope you enjoyed this article and have found the best gravel bike for you and your riding style.
Read More: Best Budget Gravel Bike