10 Top Gravel Bikes for Less Than 1000/1500$ – Reviewed for 2023

The 10 best budget gravel bikes for bikepacking
Reviews and comparison of the top cheap gravel bicycles for less than 1000/1500$

Gravel bikes are an explosive market, with so many new brands and redesigned old bicycle models from the big players like Giant and Specialized, finding the best gravel bike for your needs is not an easy task.

In this guide, we’ll review 10 (but we’ll add more) of the best and cheapest gravel bikes out there, bikepacking and adventure-ready bikes for less than 1000$/1,500$, the real bangs for the buck for those on a budget.

And don’t worry to be buying something affordable, you can always upgrade your components later, from transmission to the best gravel wheelsets.

The 5 Best and Cheapest Gravel Bikes Under 1,000$

At the bottom of this article, we’ll describe some of the common characteristics that are commonly found on gravel bikes, but there’s no standard for this type of bicycle yet.

Often, two bikes very dissimilar from each other will be referred to as gravel bikes because they’re not MTBs but can handle rougher terrain than road bikes. In this article, we’ll try to give you different options, suited for different styles, tastes, and purposes.

Are you ready? Let’s get started with the cheapest ones! Will you find the best gravel bike for you?

NB: bikes are numbered to help you navigate the article, they don’t represent a ranking.

Check also
> Gravel bike touring – the 6 best gravel bikes for bikepacking and long distance expeditions
> 11+1 Best Gravel Bikes for Women – Gravel Grinding for All Budgets

1. Pinnacle Arkose 2 Gravel Bike (2023) – 950$

Pinnacle Bikes is the in-house brand of British bicycle retailer Evans Cycles. Launched in 2006, Pinnacle is now a well-established urban, hybrid, and cyclocross bicycle brand.

The Pinnacle Arkose was a pioneer of adventure bikes, having originally been released as a cyclocross bike in 2010 before the term “gravel” became a trend.

The Arkose is a benchmark for the versatility this type of bike can offer. The frame has full compatibility for wheel size (650B x 50mm or 700C x 47mm), rear axle, and Di2/cable gearing options.

With such a tire clearance, this Pinnacle bike will perform well on long-distance rides along challenging roads. The geometry is close to a tourer or adventure bike, with a long wheelbase and chainstay for stability under loads and a position that’s more upright compared to competitors, making it an ideal gravel bike for bikepacking.

The Pinnacle Arkose is equipped with a 46-30 tooth chainset and a standard 11/34T cassette, a good range for most unloaded or light-loaded rides.

It features 3 bottle-cage mounts, mudguard, and rack eyelets, just like a serious touring bike – another characteristic moving this rig more towards the long-distance adventure cycling world, and a bit away from the race-performance market.

The Pinnacle Arkose is a great adventure/bikepacking gravel bike – comfortable, reliable, and pretty cheap

Pinnacle Arkose – Specifications:

Frame	Lega 6013-T6 trattata termicamente, con tubi superiori e obliqui a triplo spessore. 3 supporti per portaborraccia, passaggio cavi interno, supporti intercambiabili per forcellino e portapacchi/parafango.
Fork	Full carbon with dynamo routing and mudguard mounts. Flat mount disc brakes and 12mm thru-axles
Derailleurs	Shimano Sora R3000
Gears	18 – FSA Omega MegaEXO 48-32T / Shimano CS-HG400-9 11-34T
Shifters	Shimano Sora ST-R3000 2×9 Speed
Brakeset	TRP SPYRE MD-C610, 160MM flat mount, 160mm rotor mechanical disc
Handlebars	Pinnacle alloy 31.8mm, 124mm drop, 80mm reach. Width: 420MM (XS-M) 440 (L-XL)
Rims	WTB ST i21 TCS 2.0 29/700c 32H Disc
Hubs	(F) Novatec 12mm thru-axle 100mm, 32H, 6-BOLT (R) Novatec QR, 135mm 32H 6-BOLT
Tyres	WTB Riddler 700 x 45c Comp Tan Sidewalliddler Comp 700 x 45c Tan Sidewall
Weight	11.4 kg (M-Size)

2. Genesis Day One Gravel Bike (2023) – 1000$

Initially released as a single-speed tourer, the Genesis Day One has since been updated to a gravel bike with a Shimano Alfine internal gear hub. The simplicity and low maintenance of an internal hub make it a popular choice for all kinds of adventure cycling, as you needn’t worry about chain issues, gear maintenance, or greasy hands on the road.

With 8-gears and a range of 307%, the Day One is a great gravel bike that could be used for short-distance touring and lightweight bikepacking. The steel frame and fork are high-quality Genesis stuff, with ample room for full-length mudguards so year-round, dry commuting and off-road rides are easy.

Finishing it off are nice, fat WTB All Terrain tires paired with Promax DSK-300 disc brakes, which can be noisy at times but provide adequate stopping power.

The Genesis Day One 10 is a great buy for those looking for a low-maintenance gravel bike that could double as a light touring bike.

Genesis Day One 10 – Specs

Frame	Alloy
Fork	Chromoly
Drivetrain	Samox AF13 – 42T / Shimano SM-GEAR 20T / Microshift BS-N08 Shifters
Tire Clearance	Max 700x42c
Brakes	Promax DSK-300 disc brake w/ 160mm rotor
Handlebars	Genesis alloy / compact drop / XS, 400mm / S-M, 420mm / L-XL, 440mm
Rims	Shining DB-31 32H
Hubs	Front: KT-K88F / Rear: Shimano SG-C6001 8-Speed Internal
Tyres	WTB All Terrain 700 x 37c

3. Specialized Diverge E5 Gravel Bike (2023)- 1,000$

Available in the UK and Europe from Tredz

Back to the real stuff with one of the most popular gravel bikes around, the Specialized Diverge. Yes, you can get it for just about 1,000$ if you go for the E5, mounting a Shimano Claris 8-speed groupset and Axis Elite Disc wheelset.

The Diverge by Specialized is a very sporty bike with a geometry slightly more compact than most competitors. It’s a responsive and agile bike that goes fast on the tarmac and grinds the gravel pretty smoothly, with a max tire clearance of 47mm, improved for 2023 from 42mm.

You can think of the Diverge’s geometry as a road version of a modern trail bike. It cuts the corners and skids on dirt quite playfully but keeps stiffness up enough to satisfy your inner racer.

To achieve this, Specialized lowered the bottom bracket (over a half-centimeter lower than the previous Diverge), slacked out the head tube angle, and shortened the chainstays and the overall wheelbase.

The aluminum frameset and carbon fiber fork are high quality, but for its geometry and general building, the Diverge is certainly not a bike meant to carry heavy loads.

One of the best gravel bikes for long day adventures on mixed surface or ultralight bikepacking trips

> Read our full review of the Specialized Diverge E5

Specialized Diverge E5 Specs:

Frame	Specialized E5 Premium Aluminum, Open Road Geometry, threaded BB, 12x142mm thru-axle, flat-mount disc
Fork	Specialized FACT carbon, flat-mount disc, 12x100mm thru-axle
Bars	Specialized Shallow Drop, 6061, 70x125mm, 31.8mm clamp
Brakes	Tektro Mira, flat-mount, mechanical disc
Speeds	16 – Shimano Claris R200 46/34T / SunRace, 8-speed, 11-34t
Derailleurs	Shimano Claris, 8-speed
Shifters	Shimano Claris 2000, 8-speed
Rims	Axis Elite Disc
Tyres	Specialized Pathfinder Sport, 700x38c
Tyre Clearance	Max 700x47mm / 650B x 2.1″
Weight	9.3kg (M-Size)

4. GT Grade Elite Gravel Bike (2023) – 1300$

Now, this is a real bikepacking-ready gravel bike, introducing the new Grade Elite Gravel Bike from GT.

Although a glance at the specs might give you the impression of a pretty standard all-road/gravel bike, the GT Grade Elite 2023 is more than that. Yes, the choice of components (Shimano Claris, 2×8 32/48-11/34) and materials (alloy frame, carbon fork) is definitely in the norm but there are some details that make a difference.

First, the braze-on mounts on the frame – no gravel bike has more than the GT Grade Elite. Besides the bosses for mudguards and racks on the front and rear, this rig has 4 bottle cage mounting points, plus bosses on the seat stay and the top tube! Also, the carbon fork is “anything cage”-ready, meaning that the options for bikepacking set-ups are almost unlimited.

A key feature that makes the Grade Elite a killer offroad adventure bike is GT’s iconic Triple Triangle. This unique design has been around for 24 years and is a popular way to reduce lateral flex and stiffness while improving durability, vertical compliance, and response.

However, there is a difference here; the long, low-dropped seat stays are no longer welded to the seat tube. They are Floating Stays, made of an alloy league that dampens vibrations, instead of sending the vibrations to the seat post they are delivered to the top tube.

This results in an impressive reduction of trail noise and, more importantly, an improved comfort on any terrain. Together with the long wheelbase they really make the GT Grade Elite a cushioned bike that can ignore most surface imperfections.

For the rest, tire clearance is standard for gravel bikes (comes with 37c tires but can accommodate up to 42mm) the fender bridge is removable and the frame is compatible with Di2 and a Stealth Dropper post (a height-adjustable Seatpost that allows a rider to lower the seat height while riding).

The GT Grade Elite is, in my humble opinion, one of the best gravel bikes for serious bikepacking trips

GT Grade Elite 2023 Specs:

Frame	Alloy 700c/650b Frame, EnduRoad Triple Triangle Design feat. Floating Seatstays, 12×142 Thru Axle, Flat Mount Disc (160mm), Tapered Headtube, External Dropper Compatible, BSA 73mm
Fork	Carbon fork with tapered carbon steerer, 12×100 Thru Axle, Flat Mount Disc (160mm), pannier and fender compatible
Rims	WTB ST i23 TCS, 28h, tubeless ready
Speeds	20 (FSA Tempo Adventure, 48/32 – Sunrace, 11-34, 8-speed)
Derailleurs	Shimano Claris, braze-on
Shifters	Shimano Claris, 2×8
Handlebar	GT DropTune RS, alloy, 10° flare
Brakes	Tektro mechanical disc, 160/160mm rotors – Shimano Claris Levers
Sizes	48, 51, 55, 58, 61
Tires	WTB Riddler Comp, 700 x 37c, tan sidewall

5 Best Gravel Bikes Under 1500

5. Cube Cross Race Pro CX (2023) – $1350

From renowned German bike brand Cube, here is a rapid and rampant budget gravel bike for tackling rough routes. The Cross Race Pro by Cube performs well with its 2×11 Shimano drive train with a mix of GRX and 105 components. With a 50-34T crank in the front and an 11-24T cassette at the back, this is more of a road range than what you expect on cyclocross bikes.

This Superlite aluminum frame mounts 700cc wheels up to 622 x 35, giving you a confident grip on most dirt surfaces. However, it’s certainly not a rig for the harshest terrains and weather conditions, and some might find the gears lacking range on extreme climbs.

The frame finishings are clean and neat, as usual for Cube, with internal cable routing, eyelets for fenders, and rear racks for added versatility. The carbon front fork with a tapered head tube saves some grams and responds with speed and agility in tight corners. With enough ground clearance to avoid pedal strikes, the bike is reasonably comfortable on rough terrain.

The Cube Cross Race Pro CX is a quick and versatile cyclocross bike, that could double as a fast commuter

Frame	Aluminium Superlite, Double Butted, Advanced Mechanical Forming, Smooth Welded, Internal Cable Routing, Flat Mount Disc, 12x142mm, AXH
Fork	Cube Cross Race Disc, Carbon, 1 1/8″ – 1 1/2″ Tapered, Flat Mount
Headset	FSA Orbit Z-t ECO, Top Zero-Stack 1 1/8″ (OD 44mm), Bottom Integrated 1 1/2″
Stem	Cube Performance Stem Pro, 31.8mm
Rear Derailleurs	Shimano 105 RD-R7000-DGS, 11-Speed
Brakes	Shimano 105 BR-R7070, Hydraulic Disc Brake, Flat Mount (160/160)
Crankset	Shimano FC-RS510, 50x34T, 170mm (50/53cm), 172.5mm (56cm), 175mm (58/61cm)
Cassette	Shimano 105 CS-HG700, 11-34T
Wheelset	Cube RA 0.8 CX
Tyres	Schwalbe X-One Allround, Kevlar, 33-622
Weight	9.9kg

6. Orro Terra Gravel 7000 R900 (2023) – $1300+

Available on Wiggle for the US

Orro is a young bike brand from Sussex (Southern England), which is producing an increasingly varied range of cool bikes. The Terra Gravel range comes with chic components such as a 3T cockpit and seatpost, a Prologo saddle, and Fulcrum wheels – all a rare sight in this price range.

With tire clearance that only goes up to 32mm wide, the Terra 7000 is best suited to fast riding on smooth gravel and singletrack – rather than offroad bikepacking. The road-style frame angles (73-degree head, 72.6-degree seat) complement this speedy design, putting the rider in a low, aerodynamic position.

However, the strong and lightweight OSD 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum frame is extremely comfortable, with a long 105cm wheelbase that provides greater stability when compared to a road bike. The finishings are a work of art and the overall look very attractive, with the carbon fork design providing an aesthetic touch.

Powered by an 11-speed Shimano 105 drivetrain, riders will have no difficulty soaring up the steepest climbs, across daring terrains and down speedy descents. Plus, it’s fitted with Tektro MD-C550 Mechanical Disc brakes for confidence-inspiring stopping power and exceptional control in all weather conditions.

These components clearly define the Terra 7000 as an endurance-focused gravel racer rather than a rig suited for extreme, long-distance touring. However, for lightly-packed weekends away or credit-card touring over mild terrain, it’s a great choice!

The Orro Terra Gravel is a great value bike, able to bring you way out of your comfort zone with just a few upgrades

Frame	ORRO Terra Gravel
Fork	ORRO Terra Gravel Superlight 2.0
Shifters:	Shimano 105 7000 Mechanical
Handlebar:	Deda Zero 1
Seatpost:	ORRO Alloy Setback
Brake Calipers:	Tektro MD-C550 Mechanical Disc
Wheelset	Fulcrum Racing Sport DB
Tyres	Vittoria Zaffiro 28c
Derailleurs	Shimano 105 7000
Cassette	Shimano 105 7000 11-30
Chainset	Shimano 105 7000 50-34

7. Cannondale Topstone 3 Alloy Gravel Bike (2023) – $1400

Cannondale’s Topstone range is a highly versatile selection of bicycles that sit firmly in the gravel category.

Their svelte lines make an impression of elegance seasoned with a pinch of adventure and are clearly meant to convey tremendously enjoyable riding in all kinds of road and weather conditions.

Designed to be the ultimate combination of road racing and cyclocross bicycles, Topstone bikes can be used equally well as gravel racers, mixed-surface tourers, and all-season commuters. At any time, with only a few adjustments, you can set up your rig for a camping bike trip, or join a group of roadie friends for an urban cycle.

The big tire clearance allows plenty of room for tires up to 42mm wide, providing sufficient grip and adventurous capability on rough terrain.

Although the front fork does not support any eyelets for cages on either side, it is a beautiful piece of carbon fiber, with a longer-than-usual rake (55mm) for stability and hidden full-fender mounts. It’s a lightweight, high-performance fork – rare on a bike at this price range.

With several frame mounts for convenient water bottle positioning around big frame bags, plus mounts for top tube storage, the Topstone 3 is ready to go for multi-day trips.

Read our Cannondale Topstone Sora Full Review

Cannondale Topstone 3 Specs

Frame	Lightweight Smartform C2 alloy, 12×142 thru-axle, tapered headtube, BSA threaded BBM, flat mount disc, straightshot internal cable routing, multiple gear/bottle mounts
Fork	Full Carbon, 1-1/8″ to 1-1/4″ steerer, 55mm OutFront offset, flat mount disc, internal routing, 12×100 thru axle
Front Derailleur	Shimano Sora GS
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Sora GS
Number of Gears	18
Shifters	Shimano Sora disc, 2×9
Bottom Bracket	Cartridge, square taper
Cassette	Sunrace, 11-34, 9-speed
Chain	KMC X9, 9-speed
Pedals	Resin platform
Brakeset	Promax Decoder R mechanical disc, 160/160mm rotors
Handlebars	Cannondale 3, butted 6061 alloy, 16 deg flare drop
Rims	Cannondale GXD 1.0, 28h
Hubs	Full Carbon, 1-1/8″ to 1-1/4″ steerer, 55mm OutFront offset, flat mount disc, internal routing, 12×100 thru-axle
Spokes	Stainless steel, 14g
Tyres	Vittoria Terreno Dry, 700 x 37c
Saddle	Fizik Aliante Delta, S-Alloy rails
Seatpost	Cannondale 4, 6061 alloy, 27.2 x 350mm
Weight	10kg (approx.)

8. Octane One Gridd Flat Adventure Bike (2022) – $1,300

Available also in Europe on Chain Reaction Cycles

This exciting and good-looking gravel bike comes from the designers at Octane One, a relatively young (since 2015) brand from Poland. Lightweight, responsive, and dependable, this flat-bar adventure/gravel bike is built with compact and aggressive geometry, while still providing optimal comfort on longer rides.

The choice of components on the Gridd Flat deviates towards the MTB world, featuring a 10-speed MicroSHIFT Advent X drivetrain utilizing an 11-48T rear cassette paired with a single 38T crank. This low-maintenance gearing setup is more than sufficient for most hills – only the most heavily packed rigs will struggle on extremely steep trails. The Tektro HD275 mechanical disc brakes are an industry standard of decent quality, commonly used on gravel bikes in this price range.

Octane One chose a 6061 aluminum frame for the Gridd Flat and adorned it with sufficient mounts for pannier racks and mudguards – ideal for touring. You also get excellent tire clearance up to 700x43c, leaving you with a powerfully equipped adventure machine ready to go off the beaten track.

This outstanding ride may fall into the entry-level class due to its extraordinarily cheap price, but it’s engineered and equipped to perform way above your expectations of what a gravel bike in this range can achieve.

One of our favorite gravel bikes on this list. Low-priced, well-designed, and with a cool set of components

Frame	Custom formed and butted 6061 Aluminium frame, 135x10mm dropouts
Fork	Alloy, 15×100, tapered 1-1/8”-1.5”
Shifters	microShift Advent 10-speed
Crankset	FSA VERO PRO 1x, 38T
Derailleur	microShift Advent
Cassette	microShift Advent, 11-48T 10-Speed
Brakes	Tektro HD275 mechanical disc
Rims	Octane One by Shining 700c 32h, Tubeless Ready
Tyres	WTB Riddler 37c

9. Giant Revolt 2 2023 – for less than 1200$

Available on Tredz for UK and Europe

Giant Revolt 2 is an entry-level gravel bike optimized to enjoy back roads and uneven pavements

Among Giant Revolt range, no less than five Revolt Advanced series is made of Advanced-Grade carbon fiber, while only one model, the Revolt 2, is made of ALUXX Grade Aluminum with a carbon fork.

All Revolt bikes look similar, except for the joints, the seat-tube, and, most relevantly, the wheelbase, which is a bit longer in the aluminum version.

Any Giant carbon components (whenever the bike is purchased in the USA) are covered by a two years manufacturer warranty – previously unheard of in the whole bicycle industry.

Giant Revolt 2 is the ideal bike for beginners or for everyone approaching the gravel world. For a bike so rigid, it turns out exceptionally smooth over rough gravel roads.

It’s a forgiving and cushioned gravel bike without suspension. Supporting fenders and racks mounts, it is also suitable for commuting and short touring.

Most casual, recreational riders will find it can definitely serve as the only bike they need. It’s modern, beautiful, and optimized to motivate first-time cyclists to ride more, allowing them to enjoy all kinds of roads, to forget about handling, and to focus instead of pedaling.

No worries about the bike being twitchy: the Revolt 2 is super stable and is certainly going to convey a sense of satisfaction to inexperienced riders.

Read our full review of the Giant Revolt 2

Giant Revolt 2 Specs

Frame	ALUXX-Grade Aluminum, disc, flip chip dropout
Fork	Full composite, OverDrive steerer
Stem	Giant Contact, 8-degree
Brakeset	Tektro MD-C550 mechanical
Derailleurs and Shifters	Shimano Sora 9-speed
Speed	18
Rims	Giant S-X2 Disc wheelset
Tyres	Giant Crosscut AT 2, 700×38
Chainset	FSA Omega Adventure, 32/48
Cassette	Shimano HG500, 11×34

10. Trek Domane AL 3 Gen 3 – $1,450

The Trek Domane AL serves as an excellent gateway into the world of gravel riding for those accustomed to road cycling but curious about exploring unpaved routes. In this review, we’ll delve into the various 2022 models of the Trek Domane AL.

Building upon the well-loved road bike blueprint of the Domane AL, Trek has implemented significant enhancements to ensure its competence across a variety of terrains.

Thanks to Trek’s meticulously engineered Endurance riding position and the capacity for wider tires compared to typical road bikes, the Domane AL ensures you remain in complete control, even when tackling challenging paths. Although it accommodates tires with a 35c width, which is considered relatively narrow in the realm of gravel biking, these tires offer reliable grip on less demanding trails.

The carbon forks collaborate with you to minimize vibrations from the terrain, allowing you to relish the scenery as you venture through natural landscapes. This essentially transforms the Domane AL into a road bike tailored for enduring comfort, a remarkable choice for those seeking a dependable gravel bike.

Notably, the Domane AL Disc includes all the necessary mounts for fenders and racks, both at the front and rear, despite its sleek and streamlined design. This makes it an ideal transition for road cyclists eager to embark on more adventurous rides.

Compare more models here:
> Trek Domane AL Review – Domane AL 2 VS AL 3 Disc VS AL 4

What is a Gravel Bike?

In between the frenzy and performance-driven worlds of road cycling and cyclocross, sits the more leisurely and versatile category of gravel bikes.

Some say gravel bikes are a mix between the two, but they are actually something more. Happy both on tarmac and on mud, gravel bikes are adventure machines that give up a bit of performance in exchange for comfort and durability.

Disc brakes, fatter tires, eyelets and mounting points which you won’t find on a road bike make most gravel bicycles ideal machines for the increasingly trendy discipline of bikepacking.

The geometry is more relaxed compared to a race bike. The head tube is often taller and the head angle is slicker for more relaxed steering (less twitchy than a racing bike, less responsive on technical off-road sections than a cyclocross), somehow similar to that of an aggressive touring bike, a world from which gravel designers drew a lot of inspiration.

Another characteristic of many gravel bikes is the longer wheelbase, to make them more stable both on asphalt and dirt, to provide extra comfort over long distances, and to handle medium-heavy loads for multi-day bikepacking trips.

The bottom bracket will usually be a little lower than a cyclo-cross bike, most have drop-bars but flat bars and alternative handlebars like Jones Loop H are becoming a common sight on gravels, giving more space for MTB computers, phone mounts, or GPS navigators.

A sloping top tube offers more stand-over height, which is useful in a get-off, while taller head tubes than what you’d expect to see on a ‘cross’ or race bike allow for greater comfort in a more upright rider position.

The gearing is also pretty unique, while cyclocross requires a narrower gear range (short circuit can’t have big long climbs), gravel riding is done on more varied terrain: steep mountains, flat and smooth tarmac, farm roads, single track… this calls for a much wider choice of gear. The choice is usually towards 2×11 or 1×10, often with the bigger sprocket going up to 36 or even 42T.

Although the initial purpose of gravel bikes is to compete in a cycling discipline called gravel grinding (long races on varied terrain, mostly off the sealed road), their versatility makes them indeed a great solution for multiple cycling pursuits.

They are suitable for all but the fastest of road riding, while the wider tires and wider-range gearing make off-road trails, gravel and single tracks manageable. When you buy a gravel you get a commuter, a racer, a tourer, and a cross-country all in one – of course with the due compromises.

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