The most productive gravel bikes allow you to ride on unpaved surfaces, but in most cases they will also allow you to reach a smart speed on the road, so you can head to more places.
We tested a diversity of gravel machines in our Cyclingnews gravel motorcycle value box test. We looked for a diversity of gravel motorcycles worth less than £4,000 and learned a lot in the process.
If you’re not sure, we have a gravel motorcycle advisor who can explain more about this popular taste of motorcycle. Although many gravel bikes are generalist, the genre also includes fast gravel racing bikes, as well as bikes that will allow you to embark on multi-day adventures off the grid, loaded with motorcycle luggage bags.
As gravel has grown in popularity, gravel-specific parts have been added, such as groupsets, gravel wheels, tires, and a total collection of kits, such as gravel shoes.
After extensive testing, we’ve put together our pick of the most productive gravel motorcycles below, but we also get guides on the most productive gravel motorcycles for women, the most productive budget gravel motorcycles, and even electric gravel motorcycles if you’re into it. of more options.
Read on for our pick of the most productive gravel motorcycles, or scroll to the bottom of the page to ask our advisor about choosing the most productive gravel motorcycle for you, as well as the other types of gravel motorcycles and the latest gravel bikes. gear options.
The off-road gravel motorcycle for many challenges
The Specialized S-Works Diverge, or its more affordable non-S-Works siblings, are gravel motorcycles that do it all right. Contrary to what their call might suggest, they don’t specialize in one area, such as racing or adventure, but they offer a wonderful middle ground, with a touch of front suspension and decent tire clearance in a fast, comfortable, and precise frame.
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The Budget Gravel Bike for Total Versatility
The Gravel SL is a carbon-frame gravel motorcycle that, like the Diverge, sits in the middle of the gravel spectrum rather than focusing too much on racing or adventure. It’s well equipped for the price, has enough mounting issues to carry all the motorcycle bags you could need, and its geometry is balanced between going fast and going far.
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The gravel bike to laugh at on the trails
The YT Szepter Core four focuses on the most off-road finish on the gravel spectrum. With its Rockshox Rudy XPLR suspension and Reverb XPLR dropper post, it’s built to perform on the trails, making it a wonderful motorcycle to ride off-road. and just have a smart time. It’s also excellent value for money and its steep seat angle means it performs well when climbing too.
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The fast gravel motorcycle for those who prioritize racing functionality over comfort.
The Ostro is a race bike without compromises. With its aero chambers, built-in cockpit, competitive geometry and rigid chassis, it’s neither the one-bike solution that some Gravel bikes can be, nor a disguised mountain bike like the YT might be called. Instead, it is the best option for fast races. in moving gravel races, as a flexible dirt bike or even as a motorcycle that splits your on- and off-road duties.
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An incredibly flexible gravel motorcycle that also looks great
Unlike the Ostro Gravel Factor, this Canyon Grizl fits the other end of the spectrum. Instead of being fast, the focus is on distance, with numerous bike bag holders and comfort at the forefront. This is not far behind in itself, but it is adventure-oriented.
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As smooth as a gravel motorcycle can be
The SRAM-Red equipped S-Works Crux weighs 7. 25 kg. This is less than what most road bikes see in the pro peloton, which is fantastic for a gravel bike. This weight, combined with the premium specs and race-ready geometry, makes for a responsive motorcycle that’s easy to care for and ideal for going fast.
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Our opinion:
We’ve been big fans of Specialized Diverge and its ever-evolving capabilities. After testing all 3 versions since its inception in 2014, this edition took an already winning formula and transformed it into another exceptional offering.
The geometry is more innovative than before, with a lower headtube angle, longer front end and shorter stem. The fork has also received some adjustments and now benefits from a longer offset, while the track number ensures greater yaw reaction and greater agility at the front. The bottom bracket drop has been greater than 5mm for all frame sizes, while the chainstays are greater than 425mm.
The S-Works Diverge features a combination of SRAM electronics for road and mountain bikes. Often referred to as mullet construction, it combines eTap AXS road levers with an Eagle AXS rear derailleur and a 10-50T cassette, an arrangement that fully complements the Diverge’s multifaceted abilities and innovative attitude.
Other notable parts come with a Future with built-in Bar Fly PC mount and an S-Works Power saddle.
The Specialized Diverge is the ultimate adventure bike. It can tackle everything from fast road rides to long-distance gravel adventures and CX-style trick racing with utmost ease. What’s more, the Diverge diversity, as a whole, suits each and every type of rider and every budget imaginable, making it one of the most available motorcycles of its kind on the market.
Read our industry review of S-Works Diverge for even more top points about why we love it.
Our opinion:
The Ribble Gravel SL manages to temporarily combine this with a dose of adventure for a motorcycle that you can configure according to your preferences. There is a wide variety of versions available and customization features beyond that. Unfortunately, you may not find any 2x features despite being able to mount a front derailleur.
Taking all the credit for the customization that Ribble is known for, our test bike was a mixed bag. The group was the SRAM Rival 1 AXS at the rear of the SRAM hierarchy, but the wheels were upgraded from the Zipp 303 to 700c. In an effort to further increase on-road usability, the bar and stem were also replaced with the one-piece aerodynamic option in the edition introduced via Ribble.
There are many brackets that are added to the fork legs, making the Gravel SL an all-gravel motorcycle rather than a gravel specialty racing motorcycle. It even works well for winter road use with mudguards.
Read our full Ribble Gravel SL review to learn more about the bike’s versatility.
If you’re coming from gravel mountain biking, or if you’re looking for a bike that’s better suited to trail laps than hundred miles, then the Szepter, from German mountain bike specialist YT, deserves to be on your list. It’s probably the most fun gravel bike on the market today, as we discovered when we first rode it.
Its main talking points have to be the Rockshox Rudy XPLR front suspension and, in the case of this Core four model, the Rockshox Reverb XPLR dropper post. They combine to create a motorcycle that, in our experience, can smoothly move over rough terrain and descend. Steep trails with confidence.
But it’s not just about going downhill, when we reached the end of the trail and had to climb back up, we found that the steep seat angle put you in a solid, sturdy position on the pedals, while the comfortable head angle helped . for grip and precision, even in sharp and sharp turns.
We used the slightly less expensive Core 3 Szepter style in our gravel motorcycle tests. We really enjoyed putting together this edition. However, the non-final edition of the Core 3’s Rudy fork doesn’t include lockout, so there would possibly be a little more cornering on the road or on groomed trails. The Szepter is a motorcycle for fun, there are possibly faster motorcycles on fast and flat terrain. If you need a smile on your face and a motorcycle that can pull through, this is the solution.
Our opinion:
The Factor Ostro Gravel is an unapologetic aerogravel racing motorcycle; in fact, the UCI would allow you to use it in your authorized road races alongside aerodynamic road motorcycles. It’s also lightweight, with a claimed frame weight of 900g and a total weight of 7. 9kg for the review bike with pedals and extras included.
We evaluated the Black Inc cab and built-in wheels, as well as the fast-rolling Goodyear Connector tires. While you can build the frame 2x, the full versions are only available 1x with SRAM XPLR.
Riding on softer gravel is sensationally fast, tense and responsive and encourages you to descend and pick up speed, while the Ostro Gravel even adapts well to the dust thanks to the side knobs on the tyres. Things are so wonderful when the going gets tough, with jarring handling that makes it difficult to apply force and makes landing on asphalt a relief.
Check out our Factor Ostro Gravel for more juicy details.
The Canyon Grizl is the brand’s direct-to-consumer concept of a do-it-all gravel motorcycle, designed to tackle everything from epic gravel rides to fast-moving explorations, covering a wide spectrum of terrain.
If you’re already familiar with the Canyon Grail, you might be wondering why the logo added some other gravel bike to its lineup, and the answer is to create something that looks more like a rugged explorer than a lightweight racing machine. If you prefer the latter, the Grail might suit your needs better, while the Grizl comes with a longer wheelbase that provides a more solid and comfortable ride feel for long periods of time.
There are plenty of mounts on the frame for accessories, adding any fork cage mount that can hold up to 3kg on the side. But be careful, the fender mounts are only compatible with Canyon fenders.
Canyon Grizl CF SL 1BY – First look at the gallery
Our opinion:
If you’re planning exciting off-road adventures that involve tackling rough terrain, the Polygon Bend R5 is a smart choice for cash. The ALX alloy frame is paired with a carbon fork and the angled tubes are hydroformed to produce a combination of stiffness and flex that go well together.
The Polypassn Bend R5 is popular with 650b wheels and 41mm WTB Venture tires; There is definitely more room if you need to increase the length slightly. We estimate that with 80mm between the fork bars, you can have compatibility with anything over 2 inches and still have room for mud.
The Bend R5 is a flexible horse that can serve as a daily commuter mule during the week and a gravel adventure mule on the weekends. It comes with two build options: Shimano GRX 2x or 1x drivetrain, the latter of which also includes a Tranz-X dropper. post. The entire complete kit is provided through Entity, Polygon’s in-house component brand.
Our Polygon Bend R5 review will address all of those issues in more detail and much more.
Our opinion:
The call says it all. With clearance for 57mm tires on 700c wheels, this is a capable gravel motorcycle if your riding takes you to places where you are not allowed to see any flip-bar motorcycle. At the same time, it still features a streamlined design based on the original 3T Exploro and you can install a 2x or 1x groupset.
We felt that its great looks were more reminiscent of a mountain bike than a road bike and made it a complete motorcycle that, in all its specifications, weighs more than 10kg. The handling was also much more off-road than on the road. 3T can take care of almost everything a mountain bike can do, which led us to ask the question: why opt for the 3T Extrema Italy instead of a hardtail?
You can read more about our take on 3T’s monstrous gravel bike in our full review of the 3T Extrema Italia.
Our opinion:
Trek is at the bottom of the pack when it comes to comfort technology, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise to find the brand’s IsoSpeed decoupler built into the seating arrangement; We’re surprised we don’t have it at all. the front too.
The frame is made from Trek’s premium OCLV carbon fiber and the rear features the brand’s Stranglehold slider tab; allowing the Checkpoint to run at a single speed and the chainstays to be adjusted by 15mm to make slight adjustments to wheelbase and handling characteristics.
The Checkpoint also features plenty of supports and protectors on the downtube and chainstays. The driveside chainstay has also been shortened to allow for greater tire clearance, as well as room for wider front chainrings.
We have a review of the Trek Checkpoint SL 6 for you if you want more information.
Our opinion:
Another versatile gravel bike, the traditional Fairlight Secan 2. 5 with Reynolds metal tube, has the narrow appearance of metal motorcycles and main points as a third set of frame overhangs on larger frames and traditional dropouts.
Thanks to the small production volume, you can customize your own geometry and specifications for the Secan. We rode the bike in almost every gravel situation and came away inspired by its flexible nature. Add some big tires and you can tackle mountain bike territory; loads and is a motopacker; thinner tires and it’s a very smart cyclocross bike; the smoothest and is smart for that 300 km ride with Audax.
The Secan was also featured in our gravel motorcycle groupset review and won the Best Backpacker award due to its customizable nature and metal frame. It’s a strong, fast, and agile all-rounder on the flat, but it can also handle an unexpected amount of rough terrain.
Want to know how we use and abuse the Fairlight Secan 2. 5? Read our long-term review.
Our opinion:
A titanium frame gives this gravel adventure bike absolute luxury, with a gliding feel that makes it ideal for on- and off-road use. The Ribble CGR Ti is a wonderful motorcycle for exploring dirt terrain without a barge driver on back roads.
Ribble offers several build features for the CGR Ti, ranging from their “SUV” versions of the 700 x 40mm Schwalbe G-One tire in Shimano 105, Ultegra and Ultegra Di2, to their SRAM Red eTap AXS “hero” spec, as well as this great 650b x 47mm rubber gravel option with Shimano’s GRX RX810 mechanical groupset.
While less expensive titanium frames use the same materials, Ribble’s consist of expensive, multi-faceted, triple-layer tubes that provide the kind of spring-loaded resilience that titanium is due to in the first place. The result is a strong, flexible frame that glides over tricky terrain.
Check out our Ribble CGR Ti gravel bike review for more information on how the titanium frame works.
Our opinion:
The Enve MOG is a gravel motorcycle that is fast enough for racing, but comes with all the mounts and other features to make it much more flexible than most productive gravel racing motorcycles. It’s stiff like a racing motorcycle and lively, but not so scary to ride.
Despite its racing bent, the MOG comes with all the mounts a bikepacker might want, including on the fork legs. There’s a storage cubby in the down tube and you can fit a dropper post. Although it’s aero-optimised for 42mm tyres, you can fit 50mm rubber if you want more squish.
You can buy the MOG as a “rolling chassis” by adding an Enve bar and seatpost and Enve is now promoting an Ekar edition, with Enve Foundation AG25 wheels, of course.
Find out how we fared with the Enve MOG in our review.
Argonaut’s build bias means that if it doesn’t have a mold for a frame that fits you, it will build a new one. It also adapts the carbon composition to your power, weight and riding style. The point is that its load is competitive with commercially available gravel bikes from the big brands.
Argonaut has achieved very short chainstays of 415 mm for greater agility, while maintaining 50 mm of tire clearance. He used tight spaces to do this, although that means crankshaft force meter modules are an option. The GR3 is also light at 7. 6 kg.
The head tube angle is exceptionally comfortable at 68. 5 degrees, which leads to downhill stability, meaning you won’t want to focus too much to quickly get to the rear. With everything customized, you can create your own version.
You can read more about our launch exit through Bend, Oregon, in our first Argonaut GR3.
Our opinion:
Moots and its titanium stands have achieved an almost mythical status. The RSL is the brand’s sportiest gravel motorcycle option, with its premium traditional tubes and 3D-printed dropouts. While completely traditional, Moots frames can be tailored to your needs.
Beyond the box itself, the structure is also customizable. The 50mm tire clearance means its features are limited and you can install anything that takes you into difficult terrain.
We’re very happy with the ride feel, which is stiff on the head tube and rear support, but disperses vibrations and harder bumps for wonderful comfort. Although the frame and fork are the lightest, the comfort beats it.
You can read more about our 320km staying power race on the Routt RSL Moots here.
Our opinion:
The new generation of S-Works Crux has turned its attention to gravel. However, it is still smooth: it weighs 7. 25 kg, which, according to Specialized, makes it the smoothest gravel motorcycle in the world.
The Crux inherits much of the lightweight generation of the S-Works Aethos and applies it to a gravel bike. The Crux’s 700c x 47mm/650b x 2. 1″ tyre clearance means you can have compatible wide tyres, as well as use the Crux as a racing platform, and Spesh has tweaked the geometry for stability. The front trim still features external tubes, which is integrated and yet there is a bar and a two-piece stem.
We felt a little under the bike, even on non-aggressive terrain, where less responsive geometry or wider tires would have helped; The Crux’s gravel racing (and cyclocross) credentials are impeccable.
You can read more about our cycling experience in our first specialist review of the S-Work Crux.
The Boardman ADV 9. 4 came out of our tests with the award for value for money. For the price, the Boardman comes with a carbon fiber frame and a Sram Rival AXS groupset that inspired us.
All factors can be repositioned without problems and in fact, there are unique parts or hardware that can cause you headaches at home. The wheels, which come with smart Panaracer tires, are probably what owners might be looking to upgrade in the long term. and we concluded that a set of wheels is less difficult to reposition and upgrade than a groupset. Electronic shifting is here for you.
In terms of ride, we found the Boardman to be solid, if a little boring, but it’s a smart bike for the price and a smart choice. An improved wheelset later on would likely improve the feel and riding experience.
Our opinion:
Before joining the Ineos team, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won the first UCI Gravel World Championship on the BMC Kaius. It’s that kind of bike.
Everything is aerodynamic. The one-piece handlebar/stem, for example, is only available in one width: 36 cm wide at most – even narrower than the Trek Madone – and when bringing the arms closer together in combination for more aerodynamic riding. Larger up to 42 cm and BMC countered any tendency to nervousness with a giant trail and a drop in the cranks.
The One spec includes a SRAM Red AXS XPLR groupset and Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels, the two rear specs are 2x and have a separate bar and stem.
Despite its racing credentials, the Kaius handles like a gravel motorcycle over rough terrain and is comfortable enough for long days of riding. It is expensive, but it is not out of date with the most productive gravel racing bikes from other brands.
Read our review of our racing experience with the BMC Kaius 01 One.
The Canyon Grail was refreshed in 2023, evolving from the original all-rounder to a motorcycle much more designed for gravel racing, which is 9. 1 watts faster up to forty-five km/h than the original.
The new Grail has the same aerodynamic tube profiles as the Ultimate road motorcycle and the two-stage handlebars have been repositioned with a new, more traditional design. The bars pass from the rod to the hood, to position you lower. It also increased, and it is imaginable to install bar extensions.
The Grail frame now has an internal garage and magnetic Fidlock mounts for a frame bag and the more practical tube bag. Tire clearance is up at 42mm, and Canyon says it hasn’t been made wider to allow the courses to be compatible with a 52/36t crankset for faster gravel racing.
We decided on the lower CF SL frame, but the Grail is also available as a CF SLX frame and the new CFR frame which saves 118g compared to the SLX and is also stiffer.
Curious to know more? Then, our story of the release of Canyon Grail V2.
Although the gravel suspension is new, it turns out to be making its mark, with other interpretations of the theme depending on the manufacturer. Eschewing classic telescopic suspension forks, the BMC URS One has a fork vaguely reminiscent of an original Cannondale Headshok. It’s not the easiest suspension fork to mount, requiring replacement of preload spacers and stiffer/softer springs, but it’s incredibly responsive on rough terrain.
The tyre clearance, at 45mm, may be higher, especially considering the “Gravel Plus” moniker, but despite that, our first impression of the URS One is that it’s incredibly capable.
In addition to the suspension, the frame geometry allows for an incredibly solid ride. Unlike the Basso Palta II, the BMC URS One, with its long wheelbase and slack head angle, definitely encourages you to bite off more than you might otherwise chew.
Are you more of the gravel side, the loudest?Then the BMC URS One gravel motorcycle review will be on your reading list.
Our opinion:
The Merida Silex 700 is an easy-to-ride alloy gravel motorcycle with geometry that is encouraged more on the brand’s mountain bikes than its road bikes. This for a more upright driving position and greater stability and control, as well as greater traction on the rear wheels. .
You get a clever set of brackets, which are added to the fork legs, for motorcycle packing tasks, but exclude those found at the most sensitive mounting points of the tube and rear rack. The organization on the test bike was the GRX R810 2×11-speed (since it was upgraded to the GRX 1×12-speed), which behaved well and remained stylish over the winter.
We were inspired by the carbon seatpost and Merida components, but not so much by the heavy alloy wheels, which were also hard to find tubeless compatible.
If you want to know more about how it works, be sure to read our Merida Silex 700 review.
Our opinion:
Focus was behind schedule for the gravel party when it unveiled its Atlas gravel bike, but being behind schedule can be trendy, right?
We were among the first to test the Focus Atlas 6. 8 gravel bike before its launch and found it to be robust, versatile and adaptable. These are all wonderful qualities if you need to refuel and escape life for a while. The Atlas is definitely on the lower end of the easy-to-drive cruiser spectrum, meaning it’s not as smooth as some of its competitors, but it’s tough enough to carry luggage and go on a long exploring trip. .
The alloy frame features a giant oblong down tube with 3 brackets for adjustable bottle cage position, while the seat tube features a plugged in access point for a dropper post, if you want to install one.
The Atlas 6. 8 is supplied with 700c wheels but is also 650b compatible and has room for tyres up to 45mm. One of the wonderful additional features is the most practical camera bag that is popular on each and every bike.
As a current model, the 6. 8 is supplied with a combination of Shimano GRX 6800 drivetrain components as well as tubeless Novatec wheels and WTB Riddler tires.
Read our Focus Atlas 6. 8 review if you’re curious to learn more.
Our opinion:
The Cannondale Topstone Carbon has had a facelift since our last review, adding extra tire clearance and its symmetrical Ai domed rear wheel, so the frame is now compatible with some of the most popular gravel motorcycle wheels. productive.
However, it has retained its Kingpin rear suspension, giving it 30mm of rear clearance in a design that doesn’t add much weight compared to an unsprung rear triangle.
The Topstone Carbon 3 is supplied with a Shimano GRX810/600 combined drivetrain and 40mm wide WTB tires on WTB rims. If you need more front suspension, the Topstone Carbon is supplied with the Lefty Oliver carbon single-leg fork for 30mm of front travel.
Check out our Cannondale Topstone review to learn more.
We also reviewed Colnago C68 Gravel, Eddy Merckx Strasbourg, Specialized Diverge STR, Basso Palta II, Revel Rover, and Liv Devote if you want to read our review of some options.
Gravel cycling is an incredible branch of the cycling tree, and most brands offer at least one gravel model.
It’s hard to know which gravel motorcycle will be ideal for you when there is such a dizzying diversity of features on the market. So we have some answers to key questions, as well as some questions you want to answer honestly. get the most out of your new purchase.
To start, make a decision on a budget. In the end, as always, it dictates everything. It’s probably also a smart idea to know what type of off-road riding you think you’re best suited for and look for motorcycles that have such popular compatibility in your search.
For example, if you’re looking for a competitive and rugged off-road motorcycle to tackle rough terrain, a fast race bike that can handle soft gravel tasks may not be the most productive option.
It’s quite the opposite: if you like to ride fast on less difficult gravel and also want to be able to reach a smart speed on asphalt, you may want to look for a gravel motorcycle with narrower tires, a higher ratio and in all likelihood aerodynamics. Features.
If you need to laugh on your motorcycle and enjoy a new kind of motorcycle, try a gravel motorcycle. It’s just another way to laugh on your motorcycle and explore new terrain alone or with friends than a road bike. It wouldn’t necessarily be to take you.
The main advantage of a gravel motorcycle over an on-road one is the ability to move away from traffic and take unpaved roads, which opens up many more riding options. It also means that you can find new tactics to join paths and design new routes. If you find that your road trip is a little bit the same, a gravel motorcycle can spice things up, without wasting a lot of skill on the road.
Do you collect QOM on buttery smooth gravel roads, or on rocks and roots while taking beautiful photographs?
Being fair to yourself about the type of riding you plan to do is essential. Buying a racing motorcycle when you need to get ahead of an expedition can be a costly and uncomfortable mistake.
If you’re into speed stuff and interested in gravel racing and events, then a natural gravel racing bike is probably what you’re looking for. By avoiding any unnecessary additions, they will prioritize speed and have a geometry more adapted to less technical driving. They will probably have some aerodynamic improvements as well, although you can’t necessarily expect to be able to have compatible fenders or luggage.
If you need to go far, for days, or explore more technical trails at your own pace, look for something quieter, that inspires confidence when the slopes get steep, and that can carry luggage.
Gravel-specific suspension systems and dropper posts seem to be here to stay and limited to either end of the gravel motorcycle universe, so it’s up to you if you need some oomph in your approach.
The commitment to wider compounds for road bikes has opened a new debate
We think most people would agree that once the road starts to have rocks, a road bike is rarely a sensible choice, either from a fun and safety standpoint.
However, in recent years there has been a trend towards wider tyres in almost all cycling disciplines, and road motorcycles with sports tyres over 30mm can now be observed. Since cyclocross motorcycles are limited to a maximum of 33mm for racing, you may be wondering if you can use your road motorcycle off-road.
If you only occasionally venture off-road and don’t ride well-built trails yet, it’s perfectly conceivable that your road bike will be fine. That said, even the most productive road motorcycle tires are not designed to ride on dirt, gravel, or mud, so don’t forget to use a little common sense. Many road motorcycles now have room to be compatible with the best gravel tires in narrower widths, adding off-road grip.
Conversely, many of the gravel motorcycles on this list, on the sporty aspect of the spectrum, will perform admirably on asphalt with a set of slippery road motorcycle tires or even a set of interchangeable road wheels.
Off-road driving is slower than on asphalt and the hills can be steeper. On the road you can force them out of the saddle, but on loose surfaces you have to sit down and turn regularly to prevent the wheels from spinning.
This has led to many newer gravel motorcycles being equipped with subcompact groupsets. Instead of the 50/34t chainrings typically found on road bikes with higher power and power, a subcompact groupset typically offers ratios of 48/32t or 46/30t, or even less.
Smaller chainrings are often combined with larger diversity cassettes, up to 34 or 36 teeth. This in turn results in a lower gear ratio of less than 1:1, which can help on steep climbs while seated.
The aspect of turns is that the top ratios are lower, so it’s less difficult to turn on faster roads or downhill gravel sections.
Many gravel bikes come with single chainring (i. e. 1x) groupsets. These reduce complexity and weight compared to a double crankset. There is less chance of making a mistake or getting clogged with dust and the unique chainring is designed for chain retention.
A 1x groupset is usually paired with a wide-range cassette, with 40 or more teeth on the largest sprocket. This provides a similar gear diversity to a double chainring setup, the jumps between gears would possibly be a little larger. It requires a rear derailleur specially designed to work with the cassette, and which usually includes a clutch.
The taller 1x configurations combine a set of road cranks and shifters with an MTB rear derailleur in the so-called mullet construction. This can provide a very wide gear range, including very low ratios, which can be for cycling or riding on the roughest terrain.
Newer 1x 12-speed groupsets from SRAM and Shimano come with 50-tooth or more features, for very wide muleless gear spacing.
700c, 650b or even 26″?
Beyond the initial debate over what constitutes a gravel bike, the appropriate maximum wheel length is perhaps the most debatable issue. Initially the 700c offered all of that, but now the resurgence of the 650b, an old travel standard, has shaken up the apple basket. a bit.
650b rims have a smaller diameter than 700c rims and can therefore be compatible with larger volume tires with the same diameter (according to theory). Simply put, a 650b rim and a larger tire are necessarily the same diameter as a 700c rim with a smaller tire. You’re usually more likely to find 700c on motorcycles designed for racing, while 650b tends to be on motorcycles meant to tackle tough things and pack bikes. However, there is a significant crossover, with many cadres able to take one or the other.
Fortunately, some brands also take into account the wishes of smaller riders. The limitations of the frame geometry mean that very small frames can be fitted with 650b or even 26-inch wheels, unlike the rest of the length range, to maintain consistent handling characteristics between motorcycle lengths.
Beyond the menu frame, wheels, and groupset, there are a number of additional features you should pay attention to.
Are you a thirsty person? Maybe an additional set of bottle bosses on the down tube will work for you. Is it necessary to carry everything with you? Rack mounts or triple high-capacity shipping cage mounts on the fork legs will suffice.
Gravel racing is a new genre, and as such, there has been a giant proliferation of new technologies, new inventions, and other design philosophies in a short period of time. Whether you’re looking for suspension, internal gear hubs, huge tires, or anything that can double as a commuter motorcycle, chances are there’s a motorcycle for you.
Dropper posts are a feature making their way onto gravel bikes and can be specified on some versions. A dropper post allows you to lower the saddle, so it’s out of the way if you’re facing steep terrain, making it less difficult to push your weight back and lower your center of mass for greater stability.
They look similar, but what makes them different?
A staple of any decent commentary segment is angrily insisting that a gravel motorcycle is exactly the same as a cyclocross motorcycle. Sure, they share some similarities, but now, especially after the recent evolution of gravel motorcycles, they are definitely other beasts.
While the conundrum between cyclocross and gravel motorcycles is sure to draw positive reviews from some, it simply comes down to differences in use cases. A CX motorcycle is designed to ride up to an hour on incredibly technical routes. Comfort is rarely that high in the category. A very wide gear diversity is rarely too mandatory because, beyond a safe slope, riders ride their motorcycles and race. The geometry is designed for exact handling for challenging rides rather than stability for all-day riding.
Gravel bikes, on the other hand, are designed for longer days in the saddle. Epic multi-day bikes are no exception, so the frame design and possible component options are tailored for greater stability and to account for tired legs, long climbs and moderate loads.
While a CX motorcycle can be used for gravel riding, in the same way that a trail bike can be used on an enduro track, it is not the most productive tool for the job. If you want something for a dirty hour on the ankle With plenty of dust on a freezing Sunday, our selection of the best cyclocross motorcycles will have you traversing the slope with ease.
Here at Cyclingnews we all ride with other definitions of “gravel”, and our technical team will have at least one gravel bike to test.
Our daily gravel tour is done aboard the test bike we have at the time, but we will also put the bike through a series of semi-repeatable tests. For example, we’ve set up routes where all motorcycles will be checked, incorporating all types of gravel terrain, from the road to the most commonly mountain motorcycle trails, steep climbs and descents on the other side, a matrix with rocks, roots, and more. Array It is about subjecting the motorcycle to an exhaustive control of all the terrain that potential buyers may face.
We can’t control the weather, which is why I say “semi-repeatable,” because you have to be careful when comparing used bikes months apart, but with enough bikes in each we can get to the bottom of the differences. , the pros and cons, and in the end whether a motorcycle is among the most productive gravel bikes and therefore deserves to be on this list.
In addition, it is possible, we will bring the team in combination to ride similar motorcycles in combination, review them consecutively, take percentage notes and review gravel motorcycles as an organization when we deem it useful.
Paul has been on two wheels since he was a teenager and has since spent most of his time writing about motorcycles and similar technology. He’s a road rider at heart, but his adventurous interest means Paul rides on gravel long before he cools down, adapting his cyclocross bike to ride all day in epic off-roading and putting his road gear to the test along the way. Paul contributed to Cyclingnews’ technology policy for a few years, helping to keep the content of our shopping guides and offers up to date, as well as writing several of our coupon code pages.
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