Best gravel bikes 2024 — adventure-ready rides for leaving the tarmac behind

Fairlight's Strael has impressed us over all of its three versions; in fact it's one of only three road bikes to ever score top marks in the 15 years that we have been reviewing them. The Secan 2.5 is no different, offering everything you could want or need from a gravel bike – as long as your main concern isn't the light weight that can be achieved by going carbon fibre.

Fairlight's Secan 2.5 is a stunning looking steel gravel bike, finished to an exceptionally high level and the Reynolds steel tubing provides all of the stiffness you need, while also having a smooth, rough-road-defying ride quality.

The Secan 2.5 can comfortably accept a 60mm tyres in a 650B size, or 50mm if you are using 700C and a 1x chainset. If you are running 2x with 700C, that drops slightly to 47mm.

The Specialized S-Works Crux is an exceptional gravel bike for fast riding that can still excel in cyclocross races. The lightweight package is combined with brilliant low-speed stability that makes the S-Works Crux insanely good at climbing, be it fast or technical, and it's a blast to ride on the lanes too. This machine is one that will best suit racers and roadies who want a fast bike for mixed surfaces. Oh yes, and as you've probably noticed it's outstandingly expensive although there are less pricey models available in the Crux lineup.

Tester Liam writes: “The Crux was long Specialized’s pure cyclocross bike, but when I first saw the redesigned model I wondered what the Aethos was doing wearing a set of gravel tyres. It's a bit more nuanced than that, but in essence, that is what you're getting here. Its low weight makes the Crux an excellent climber and it is a joy to ride on faster gravel as well as on the road. Okay, it might not be the best for loading up with luggage, but for going fast it is fantastic". 

The Liv Devote is one of the few women-specific gravel bikes available and the newest iteration has been made racier and more performance-oriented. Liv has introduced internal storage to the Devote, nestled in the downtube and the flip-chip dropouts allow for tailoring the wheelbase and tyre clearance to suit more riding preferences. 

There are seven models in the Liv Devote range: three aluminium-framed Devotes and another three carbon-framed Devote Advanced models. Our test bike sits in the middle of this range complete with a Shimano GRX 2x groupset, pairing a 48-31T chainset with an 11-36T cassette. The bottom bracket is of the press-fit variety. 

The Devote Advanced Pro and Devote Advanced models also boast the new Contact AeroLight Stem, which routes cables from the handlebars below the stem and down through the frame for a more streamlined and aerodynamic cockpit.

This bike seriously impressed our friends at off-road.cc and is well worthy of our title of best gravel bike for mountain bikers or anyone looking to transition to drop bars from flat bars. 

It's fast, dynamic and properly capable on technical trails and whilst the geometry is less racy than some of the other best gravel bikes, the stability and predictability of this set-up make it incredibly enjoyable to manoeuvre on the trails. The bike was designed around the idea of a 40mm fork to ensure the front end played nicely with the front suspension and the numbers of the YT Szpeter take on very much a hardtail mountain bike-like facade. 

The Szepter comes out of the box with 42mm rubber but can accommodate a maximum tyre width of 45mm, and despite not being designed for touring or bikepacking, it features multiple bottle cage mounting positions and built-in rear and front mudguards.

If you are more of a gravel racer than a gravel adventurer, the Scott Addict Gravel 10 is a bike that will interest you. Reviewer Stu says, "It’s light, nimble and an absolute blast to ride". The frame and fork are constructed from high-modulus carbon fibre and feature fully integrated cable and hose routing for a clean look.

A tapered steerer on the fork and a head tube to match means a stiff front end under heavy steering and braking loads while a press-fit (PF86) bottom bracket and the resulting oversized tube junctions make for plenty of stiffness on the lower half of the frame, too. From a geometry point of view, the Addict Gravel is available in five sizes ranging from XS/49 to XL/58. The M/54 we have here sits in the middle of the lineup and comes with a 554.5mm top tube. The head tube is 140mm and sits at an angle of 71 degrees while the seat tube is a steeper 73.5 degrees. 

The bike we reviewed is the 2023 model with the 2024 model now on sale with a few different component choices. Both come with a SRAM Force AXS groupset and everything is completely wireless so there are no wires to snag on anything. 

The Gestalt XR takes the formula that Marin concocted for the standard Gestalt and gives it a serious shake up. Donning a super aggressive geometry and equipped with a very solid built kit for the cash, it proves that gravel can learn a thing or two from mountain bike design. To put that into numbers, this medium frame on test gets a 440mm reach, a 67.5-degree head tube angle, and a 74-degree seat tube. With its 425mm chainstay, all of that results in a 1092.8mm wheelbase. 

The Gestalt XR is built around Marin’s Series 3 Beyond Road 6061 aluminium frame that’s paired with the brand’s full carbon fork with triple cage mounts at either side and it's also internally cable routed. The seat tube has been formed to allow clearance for up to 54x650b or 50x700c wheel and tyre combinations while retaining that short chainstay.

Tester Liam writes: "This bike’s mountain bike-esque geometry really opens up what gravel can be as it’s certainly not shy of steeper gradients, or the odd bit of singletrack. The Gestalt XR’s heft of stability turns into calm, considered, and very well-mannered cornering". 

If you're after a steel frame, Ribble's Gravel 725 brings a classy, comfortable and fun-to-ride steel frame to the mix, paired to a full-carbon fork. Reviewer Stu says, "It has a forgiving ride that flatters any style of riding, and thanks to a multitude of mounting points it can be loaded up for adventure as well as used for a blast on the rough stuff."

This Gravel model has the geometry to really exploit the aggregate-based trails, giving a confidence-inspiring ride quality and behaviour, regardless of how technical or loose the terrain is. The geometry creates a long and low stance, with this medium getting a wheelbase of 1,052.5mm, a lengthy top tube of 570mm, and a shortish head tube height of 150mm.

Tyre clearance is probably one of the most crucial things on a gravel bike, and while the Ribble isn't groundbreaking it's capable of accepting 45mm rubber on 700C wheels or 47mm when wearing 650B wheels.