For many years, the phrase ‘Made in China’ was a sign that something had been manufactured quickly, efficiently and to a budget. In truth, it didn’t always conjure positive connotations. But now, things are changing.
With some of the world’s most hi-tech and desirable devices being made in the country, the term ‘Made in China’ is increasingly an assurance that a product has been manufactured in a quality-controlled factory by people with a proven record of mass market success.
That is very much true of the bike industry, where Chinese cycling companies are finally receiving the kind of respect they deserve.
Leading the way, and actually part of the reason for this change in public perception, is premium Chinese brand Yoeleo.
With 18 years of experience producing carbon-fibre products for other bike manufacturers, and now 14 years as its own company, Yoeleo is both highly regarded and well established. The brand takes influences from Canada, UK, Germany, and Italy, and combines them with Chinese manufacturing technology and expertise to offer truly world-quality products with high-end features at accessible prices.
The product we’ll be looking at today – the Yoeleo Altera G21 – is a perfect case in point. Honed from five years of continuous development, the Altera G21 took Daria Pravilova to the gold medal in the women’s 35-39 age category at the 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships, and helped secure the bronze medal for Jasper Verkuijl in the men’s 35-39 group.
Race proven
“Our road and gravel bikes are UCI approved and, now, UCI race-winning,” Rio Banyubiru, Yoeleo’s general manager and project leader for Altera G21, says.
“While we may still seem like a relatively young company, we know how to produce bikes for elite riders at the very top of the sport.”
The knowledge encapsulated in the Altera G21 (frameset $1,420) stems back to Yoeleo’s original G21 project, which was launched in 2021.
“At that time, few brands focused on dedicated gravel platforms – most options were endurance road frames on 38mm tyres, or gravel frames capped around 45mm. Our goal was to create a gravel‑specific chassis that rides on‑road like a road bike and off‑road like a cross‑country bike,” Rio says.
The first generation G21 frame utilised endurance-leaning geometry – with a steeper head tube angle and shorter front‑centre – alongside a press-fit 386 EVO bottom bracket.
“With that original G21 frame design we were able to have a successful global launch and also create a vital feedback loop using our own in-house riders, customers, athletes and influencers,” Rio says.
“By taking those opinions on board, in 2023 we released the gen-two G21. With that, we switched to an inboard T47 threaded bottom bracket, a slacker head angle and refined carbon lay‑up for extra stability and comfort.”
All change for the Altera
Then, in 2025, Rio and the team at Yoeleo released the most exciting upgrade to the G21 frameset since its inception, renaming the resulting model the Altera G21.
“The Altera G21 features a host of improvements which we think will enhance the riding and owning experience even further,” Rio says.
“For example, we have the replaced our previous D-shaped seatpost with a 27.2mm Yoeleo Pro-Flex Seatpost, which provides more comfort and now introduces the option of fitting a dropper post. We’ve also introduced a universal derailleur hanger, to make it easier to fix and provide better derailleur alignment after impacts.”
“We have also revised the T47 bottom bracket shell revised with mould‑integrated alloy sleeves for long‑term thread accuracy. And the Altera G21 also now provides integrated, in‑frame storage using the top‑tube and down‑tube, making the pack weight nicely centred and rattle‑free.”
There are a couple of non-negotiables that Rio and the team has retained, though.
“We’ve made sure to kept the 53mm tyre clearance, and the stable, speed‑friendly gravel handling that defined the original G21. At its heart, this is still that great bike; we’ve just made it a little more perfect.”
Yoeleo Altera G21 – key design features
Refined gravel-optimised geometry providing:
- Greater stability and control on rough terrain;
- Smooth handling with no toe overlap issues;
- More confidence and balance on challenging rides.
Integrated storage solution:
- Extra storage space for longer rides;
- Convenient access to gear – such as mini-tools and energy gels – without extra packs.
Generous tyre clearance:
- Compatible with up to 700x53mm or 650Bx2.1in tyres;
- Flexibility to switch between terrains and riding styles where tyre set-up matters.
UDH compatibility and optimisation:
- Universal derailleur hanger adds extra protection and flexibility;
- Keeps the derailleur and frame safe during impacts;
- Compatible with any groupset for easier setup and replacement.
Re-engineered bottom bracket shell:
- Bonded aluminium threaded bottom bracket moulded into the frame for smooth and consistent crank rotation;
- Perfect alignment and improved durability;
- Lighter overall build for a smoother ride.
New Yoeleo Pro-Flex seatpost:
- 27.2mm round-shaped seatpost helps absorb road buzz for better comfort;
- Easy to switch to third-party seatposts;
- Supports upgrades, including a dropper seatpost, for more riding options.
Flared cockpit system:
- 15.2-degree flare gives more leverage and stability on rough terrain, making steering easier and more controlled;
- Handlebar widths from 400 to 440mm add comfort and support for long rides.
Premium detailing and quality control:
- Carefully checked quality control and paint finishing;
- Specially-designed packaging keeps all components neat and safe during shipment.
Yoeleo: easy to buy, reassuring to own
A Chinese-based company supplying bikes to elite racers might sound a world away from ‘normal’ cyclists in Europe, but nothing could be further from the truth.
“We ship ready-stock products within 48 hours and have a warehouse in Europe, making shipments to European countries faster,” Rio says.
And that’s important to know for more than just first-time purchases. In addition to the six years warranty on Yoeleo carbon frames, Yoeleo also has a crash replacement policy on for its bikes.
If your Yoeleo frame is less than three years old, you can claim 30% off a replacement; if it is more than three years old, you can have a 20% discount.
For more details and full terms and conditions, see Yoeleo’s crash replacement policy here.
The Yoeleo loyalty programme
As well as its crash replacement policy, Yoeleo also runs a very active loyalty programme.
Complete certain actions – starting with signing up, buying a Yoeleo product, or following the brand on social media – and you’ll get points which can be redeemed for gift or discounts. In fact, enter your birthdate and you’ll get an instant early birthday present: 15% off. Find out more about the Yoeleo loyalty programme here.
For more information about the Altera G21, and anything else Yoeleo, head to the Yoeleo website.
3 thoughts on “The all new Yoeleo Altera G21 may be the ultimate carbon gravel bike”
Good luck claiming against
Good luck claiming against their merchant liability insurance in the event that a product failure causes a serious injury.
As with the recent Planet X case, when a product fails during use (I think the fork snapped in that case and a Doctor was paralysed as result) if there is no UK retailer / registered company involved there is little if any come back.
In the Planet X case, because the UK retailer was required by law to hold liability insurance the Doctor ultimately recovered around £4m in compensation from the insurer even though Planet X was in administration at the time.
A very valid point. I would
A very valid point. I would point out that it is becoming increasingly common for Chinese brands that have risen to prominence through direct-to-customer sales to now be establishing distribution/dealer networks. Yoeleo themselves list several European dealers (https://www.yoeleobike.com/pages/testing-globe-dealer), and buying from one of them might give you a bit more legal certainty than buying direct from Yoeleo. Although I also imagine that as a UK customer, buying D2C from Yoeleo in China is actually far easier than trying to order from an European retailer.
Yoeleo aren’t Planet X though. Planet X really lean into that budget branding.
Yoeleo seem to care a bit more about their brand.