Gravel bikes, and the gravel movement in general, represent one of the fastest-growing sectors within cycling, at present. In the last few years, we’ve seen more and more gravel events pop up throughout the UK (and abroad), and with greater interest comes wider choice of bikes and kit.
Electric gravel bikes are gaining in popularity too. More and more brands are getting involved, and with the development of lighter weight mid-drive motors, it makes more sense than ever to manufacture an e-gravel bike.
But why go for an electric gravel bike? And are they really the do-it-all e-bikes they claim to be?
- Ribble CGR AL e
- Boardman ADV-E 8.9
- Canyon Grizl:ONfly
- Kinesis Range Adventure
- Ebco Adventure 3R
- Specialized Turbo Creo 2
Why choose an electric gravel bike?
Just like their acoustic counterparts, electric gravel bikes offer great versatility. For those wanting to dabble in off-road riding without the gnar factor mountain biking may bring, gravel bikes offer a great segue into that aspect of cycling. And with their wide tyre clearances and generally more endurance-focused geometry (although there are some racier options to choose from), they make great commuter bikes too.
Many come with mounting options for bike bags, racks and mudguards, so you can really build a gravel bike into whatever you need it for.
> Hub motor v mid motor? What’s the difference? (+ video)
What to look for when buying an electric gravel bike
Like any e-bike category, you can spend thousands upon thousands on a new e-gravel bike – but you don’t necessarily have to, to get something decent.
E-gravel bikes are powered by either hub or mid-drive motors. If you’re looking at a slightly smaller budget, you’re more likely to see hub-motor offerings. They don’t generally offer quite as much torque as mid-drives at low speeds, but should still pack enough of a punch for most gravel-esque riding in the UK.
Brands like Mahle are popular for hub-powered e-gravel machines, whereas for mid-drives you’ll see motors like the Bosch SX, Shimano EP6, TQ HP50 and Fazua Ride 50.
> Lightweight mid-motor shootout: Bosch SX v Fazua Ride 60 v Specialized SL 1.2 v TQ HPR-50
Many e-gravel bikes use similar frame geometries to their acoustic counterparts, so once you’ve decided what might fit/suit you, look for wide tyre clearances, perhaps slightly bigger disc brake rotors to account for the extra weight going through the frame, plus mounting points for useful additions like mudguards and bags.
If you’re looking for specific recommendations, here are some of the best electric gravel bikes we’ve tested.
Ribble CGR AL e – £2,399
Subtle and sleek, the Ribble CGR AL e is an electric gravel bike that you might not even notice is electric at first glance. Like all of Ribble’s electric range, it uses the MAHLE Smartbike Systems X35+ hub-driven motor and comes with a 250Wh internal battery to power it. Combined with the discreet top tube iWoc button which controls the assistance, it’s a very nice looking e-bike, but it’s capable as well.
It’s perhaps more oriented to commuting, bikepacking and all-road riding rather than just gravel, but the frame design makes it stable and comfortable enough to tackle almost anything. There are various configurations of the CGR AL e available. Our review bike came with the SRAM Apex 1x groupset and more road-oriented drop bars but gearing-wise you can now only get hold of Shimano Tiagra or 105 setups.
For more detail, read off-road.cc’s review of the Ribble CGR AL e (SRAM Apex 1x 650b).
Boardman ADV-E 8.9 – £2,200
> Buy for £2,200 from Halfords
Offering mid-drive performance at reasonable value, the Boardman ADV8.9E is a great choice for allroad riding. It’s marketed as an ‘adventure bike’, which we’re taking to mean it’s suited to tarmac as well as light off-roading. That said, the geometry has been tweaked a little from its e-road bike siblings to provide more stability on off-road terrain.
It’s powered by the Fazua Evation system, which is a mid-drive 250W motor with stated torque of 60Nm and peak power of 400W. Our reviewer found it had plenty of oomph to tackle steep climbs on loose surfaces in ‘rocket mode’ (the highest assist setting), and the G-One tyres can handle technical terrain in the dry.
For more detail, read our review of the Boardman ADV8.9E
Canyon Grizl:ON – from £4,649
The Canyon Grail:ON was initially made famous by its conspicuous dual height handlebars, but these are sadly no longer used on the newer Grizl:ONfly models which have replaced the Grail. It also uses a RockShox Rudy suspension fork for better comfort.
The Grizl:ON uses the Bosch SX mid-drive unit, which is lighter and more compact than the Performance Line CX the Grail:ON used – although not quite as punchy at low speeds. There are several build options in the newer Grizl:ONfly range to suit your riding style and budget.
For more details, read off-road.cc’s review of the Canyon Grizl:ON CF9 e-gravel bike.
Kinesis Range Adventure – £3,900
When you go long distance gravelling or bikepacking, you’ll want your bike to have lots of mounting points, wide tyre clearance (if you’re heading off-road) and a decent battery range. The Range Adventure from Kinesis ticks these boxes and more. It’s one of the most versatile electric gravel bikes on the market. Its price has risen by £400 since off.road.cc reviewed it in 2020, but it still uses the Fazua Evation mid-drive motor system that’s loved by many off-road riders.
This particular model comes with a top tube button rather than handlebar mounted controls for you to choose your power assistance level, which adds to the overall subtlety of the electric system. It’s ideal for gravel, bikepacking or commuting and the removable battery means you can ride it unassisted without much drag.
For more detail, read off-road.cc’s review of the Kinesis Range Adventure.
Ebco Adventure 3R – £1,399
While it’s not strictly a gravel bike and more of an ‘adventure’ bike, the Ebco Adventure 3R is excellent value for money as a flat bar option that will provide a good starting point for those looking to dip their toes into gravel riding. It’s mid-drive, too, with a Bafang M200 motor and a 417Wh battery.
Our reviewer, Tony, took his first ride 35 hilly miles across Dartmoor, and still had 30% battery left at the end. The 2.2” Kenda tyres add confidence and Tony found the bike handled the bridleways with ease.
For more detail, read our review of the Ebco Adventure 3R.
Specialized Turbo Creo 2 – from £4,000
> Buy for £4,000 from Specialized Concept Stores
The Specialized Turbo Creo 2 represents a move from road to gravel for the Creo, which was once one of the most expensive e-road bikes you could buy. The Creo 2 is a fully fledged gravel machine, with 2.2in tyre clearance and a dropper post as standard.
It comes with an updated, more gravel focused geometry than the previous Creo, and uses Specialized’s SL 1.2 mid-motor which is employed on some of Specialized’s e-mountain bikes.
For more detail, read off-road.cc’s first ride review of the Specialized Creo 2
Advanced Offroad Pro Gravel Apex AXS – £5,199
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> Buy for £5,199 from Advanced Bikes
While Advanced has been around since 2011, they’ve only recently begun developing e-bikes and selling into the UK. The Pro Gravel was also one of the first bikes to make an appearance with the Bosch SX motor when it came out a few years ago.
You can spend a little less for the mechanical shifting option, or £5,199 for the entry-level electronic drivetrain from SRAM. The full bike weighs 14.3kg and Richard found it to be “fast and agile off and on road.”
For more detail, read our review of the Advanced Offroad Pro Gravel Apex AXS.
