Best road bikes under £2000 2025 — our pick of the best road bikes that won't completely break the bank

The Boardman SLR 8.9 Carbon offers an excellent carbon-fibre frameset, an equally impressive Shimano 105 11-speed groupset, and it’s ripe for long-term upgrades.

At the heart of this bike, Boardman’s C7 frame offers a relatively stretched aero position along with plenty of smoothness and comfort. The tube profiles have been dictated by CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and subsequent wind tunnel testing.

This is a quick and efficient bike. You can take technical descents at speed, not only because of the planted feel but also thanks to the stiff fork and rigid, tapered head tube and steerer.

Tyre clearance is limited by the brake callipers but the Boardman still takes 28mm tyres. If you want to use the (discreet) mounts for mudguards, you can still get away with 25s, too – the 8.9 is pretty versatile.

This is a bike that works very well as a fast winter trainer or for year-round quick commuting and/or club runs.

The Boardman SLR 8.9 Carbon remains a top-level contender for bikes at this price, but if you don't mind spending a little bit more you can grab a bargain on the SLR 8.9 Disc model, which comes with a Shimano 11-speed 105 groupset and hydraulic disc brakes for just £1,400.

If your riding plans veer toward long, leisurely, multi-day trips rather than high-speed blats around the lanes, then the Spa Cycles Wayfarer touring bike should be on your 'must consider' list.

Tester Neil was initially deeply unimpressed. Then he changed the tyres. He writes: “The transformation was incredible. Now, when I put in some extra effort, the bike responded by going quicker! I found myself riding in the middle ring where I had been in the small ring, and the large where I'd been in the middle. Not only that, but the tooth-rattling, jarring ride over rough tracks was tamed.

“The Wayfarer went from being a bike I couldn't wait to see the back of, to one that I’d certainly recommend for serious touring duties, though the overall weight means there are better places to look in Spa’s range for more versatile all-rounders.”

The Kinesis R2 is a no-nonsense aluminium road bike that'll take fairly large tyres and comes with eyelets for fitting mudguards and a rack, so it's a practical choice as an all-rounder for typical UK conditions.

The R2 offers a quick yet comfortable ride. That comfort comes courtesy of a geometry that's fairly relaxed by road bike standards, a slim 27.2mm seatpost, and 32mm Continental Grand Sport Race tyres that actually measure 34mm on Alex Draw 1.9 rims. Run the tyres with a bit of squishiness left in and you get quite a cosseted ride here, especially by traditional skinny-tyred road bike standards. It's the sort of bike you can ride for hours without feeling you need to book a visit to the chiropractor.

Ribble's CGR AL Shimano 105 is a massively versatile bike for everything from gravel bashing to cyclocross and commuting on the road, and it’s superb value too.

Cross, Gravel, Road, that's what the CGR initials stand for on Ribble's all-rounder. A disc brake-equipped, mudguard-shod 'do a bit of everything' machine that makes a lot of sense for the rider who doesn't always want to stick to the tarmac. Thankfully, this jack of all trades is no master of none.

The aluminium frame is well made with flattened welds, there are 12mm through axles at either end with flat mount disc brakes, loads of guard, cage and rack mounts and the paint job is smooth and smart. This bike gives off the vibe of being a much more expensive machine than it is. 

£1,599 gets you a Shimano 105 12-speed groupset and Mavic Aksium wheels. 

If you plan to mix a bit of gravel or a 'cross race in alongside regular commuting, then this Shimano 105 build is superb – and if you plan to vary it more towards one aspect than another, then Ribble has you covered with so many custom build options it's quite possible to lose a lot of time speccing up the bike exactly as you want it.

Giant has two families of endurance bikes: the Defy series with carbon-fibre frames and disc brakes throughout the range, and the Contend bikes with aluminium frames and a choice of discs or rim brakes. This is the top model in the Contend road family (although there's a more expensive Contend AR 1 designed for all-road riding). It has Shimano's excellent-value 105 11-speed transmission – with mechanical rather than electronic shifting – and Shimano 105 hydraulic disc brakes. It's a high-quality aluminium road bike that's relatively light, comfortable and well priced. It's not really a racer, but offers a lively, positive ride, with crisp handling.

Tester Rob concluded: “It has the feel of a quick bike, and decent performance potential, with even more composed handling and versatility, which makes perfect sense in today's market. For the price, the Contend SL 1 Disc is a great buy, with a thoroughly sound package that isn't crying out for immediate upgrades. It's a bike you could happily enjoy as it comes, but a future handlebar and wheel swap would make a brilliant bike really sing.”

How does Cube manage to make a carbon-fibre endurance bike with 105 equipment for this price? Well, they've swapped out the hollow 105 chainset for the non-series FC-RS510, which is a Tiagra crank configured for 11-speed instead of 10. It's a bit heavier, but works just fine, saving a bunch on the price tag without substantial detriment to performance.

The Attain GTC Race is very much a mile-eating all-rounder, with clearance for mudguards so you can keep going through winter without getting drenched.

When he reviewed the Cube Attain GTC SL, which uses the frameset, Stu Kerton said he was surprised at how racy and fast the bike felt.

“A kick on the pedals away from the lights or when launching into a bit of a sprint sees the Attain respond well,” he said. There is plenty of stiffness around the lower section of the frame, especially around the bottom bracket area, and you feel like you are getting a decent return for your effort.

“It can maintain speed over a long period, the relaxed position being ever so slightly easier on your lower back but still allowing for a stretched-out position on the hoods or in the drops for faster sections.”

If you want to spend even less, however, the newly released Cube Attain C:62 Race 105 might be more of a tempting option. 

Featuring a Reynolds 631 steel frame and plenty of mounting points, the Sonder Santiago Rival 22 Grand Tourer is an excellent touring bike for those on a budget. 

To make sure it fits neatly in that category, it comes with mudguards, a rear rack and a Brooks saddle for the ultimate comfortable perch. 

It's paired with mechanical disc brakes and SRAM's 11-speed mechanical Rival groupset, but the geometry is pretty modern and the handling is relatively lively. 

And at an RRP of £1,849 it's hard to pass up if you're after a reliable yet comfortable endurance steel bike.