Riverside 920 from Decathlon? How is it possible that he didn't make it to this list? Meets all requirements + has an integrated USB charger and dynamo hub...
This year I opted for the Canyon Grail (single decker). It is so fast and light that it replaces my road bike and flies over gravel and forest paths. With the right bags it is also suitable for bikepacking.
I was surprised to not see any of the big brands like trek and giant. Why did you choose to not include the checkpoint and revolt? Was it the price and popularity?
I'm a fan of 29" 50mm tires. I personally run Vittoria Barzo's up front and Mezcal's in the back. If, at 50mm tubless with inserts I feel like I should have a 27.5 or wider tire...well I probably should be riding an MTB
I like 45-55mm with less aggressive tread (like the Continental Terra Hardpack or double fighter) for everyday commuting and bikepacking. They handle every terrain except for Mtb stuff perfectly and are also not too slow on pavement, did a bikepacking trip with lots of bags on the rear rack recently, averaged 30km/h on a day with 65km of distance. At that width, you also don't need to worry about smaller potholes or curbs like you would with a sub-40mm one
I enjoy your videos. I will say in one category which is brakes. I have toured in many remote and a very long distance from services and I prefer cable disk brakes as you can repair in the field and is a simple system to maintain. I wish more bikepacking bikes came with this style or as an option.
In blind test you couldn't tell the difference between a Maxxis and a Panaracer. Nobody can... Anyone who says they can is full of shit. I've been riding for 45 years... 99% of riders in a blind test can't tell the difference between the frames and components they run.
Some interesting choices - thanks for not parroting the same old recommendations we get from the usual suspects. Thanks for this vid. Very interesting and quite useful
Hello, thanks for the video :). One thing, I am always surprised to see the canyon grizl in the list of bikes for bikepacking. I had a canyon grail which is similar except for the tyre clearance, and if for sure it was an efficient bike, it was not comfortable bike. I now ride a chiru vagus with a higher stack on which I put a 70 mm stem so the reach ends up shorter than the canyon and honestly it's day and night in terms of comfort. I feel like the canyon is more a road bike with big tyres rather than a regular gravel
I had a grizl for one day, I totally agree it's a race bike, stack is too low for leasure gravel and bikepacking, also tire clearance is not that great with 50 mm tires there is no room for mud
@@Jean-jk4zv Yes - weird choice. Criteria #1 is an Upright Frame Design - the Grizl Size Medium has a Stack-to-Reach of 1.45 which I would consider to be a fairly aggressive riding position.
Recently got the Merida Silex 7000 2 with a GRX 1x12 speed. I've been commuting on it (30min ride with large hills) and will be taking it on its first real long distance (125-140Km) next week.
Here in western Europe, it seems that gravel bikes are like SUV. They are mainly used on asphalt roads. Every time I see bikepackers on gravel bikes, their bikes are so clean that I doubt they often ride dirt roads.
I am always surprised that in such lists, Surlys are missing. But that is understandable though...they have been left behind so to speak and are no longer truly unique.
@@sorenludwig3978 True, true. And Surlys were never cheap anyway, so to speak and even less now. Their midnight special costs upwards of 2,000 dollars for mechanical disc brakes. Crazy indeed.
If you want something cheaper and more capable offroad get a used hardtail and then put a rigid fork, if you want to use a dropbar get a hardtail with a short top tube. I have 3 bikes right now, a hardtail, a rigid mtb, and a gravel bike. The rigid mtb is the best for gravel but if i have one bike to do it all i take my specialized diverge e5.
I had never heard of the brand propain, they ran a sale last week in north america and I bought a Terrel. They should give you a commission! Thanks for sharing.
Great video! I'd like to just comment on the first criterion of comfort. As far as I know, a more aggressive, sportive position doesn't invariably equal lower comfort. This is a highly individual parameter, dependent on our level of flexibility and core strength. Proper bike fitting also plays a role. On a bike of a size chosen right to our body proportions and set correctly, one can feel equally or even more comfortable than on the frame forcing a more upright position. Said all this, more upward geometry makes probably for a safer choice for most of us.
Isn't gear-inches wheel circumference, not diameter? How many inches the bike moves forward with each pedal revolution: large chain ring teeth divided by rear cog teeth multiplied by the tire's circumference.
Just bought that priority gravel bike, sadly its only in black but on the positive side virtually zero maintenance and less fragility for the win. Their mountainbikes are too heavy.
The Grizl 8 1by would be my pick over the 7. Costs only a little bit more and you can just change the mech cage to make it compatible with a 10-51 cassette. Admittedly the 2x mech should be able to fit a bigger cassette but I'll admit I'm biased to 1x. To be honest though I feel like even the tire clearance of 700c X 50mm is outdated and not optimal. Given that wider xc tires are generally proven to be faster, more comfortable and less likely to puncture than gravel tires there's just no excuse not to be trending towards fitting them. If I got any of these bikes I would probably try to shove in a 29 X 2.1 mezcal right away but mud clearance would of course suffer. Bikes like the Lauf Seigla or Curve Big Kev are showing what tire clearances can be while still being able to fit a gravel crankset. Hopefully that kind of design thinking shows up in more affordable bikes. I know I'll probably get hit with "just get a mtb bro" but I do think gravel bikes have their place and if xc mtb tires truly are optimal for "gravel" then gravel bikes should be able to fit them. I'm annoyed that wider tires are still largely seen as just for adventure and not speed/racing. Even the recently released new version of the Canyon Grail can only fit 42mm tires, what a joke. Watch Dylan Johnson if you need convincing that mtb tires are the best choice for speed on gravel terrain. Most of the current gravel bikes should be put in the category of allroad bikes and the next generation of gravel bikes(both adventure and racing ones) should be made to comfortably fit 29 x 2.25 tires IMO.
Nice round-up video. I personally wouldn't call 17 gear inches very low gearing, but I guess my legs are noodly and my bags too heavy. :) I'm looking forward to your video on bike packing bikes for more rugged terrain. I'm looking to buy a Tout terrain outback xplore but definitely open to other suggestions.
Some great bikes there and a really well thought out vid. Well worth checking out Ritchey frames though. Not complete bikes, but very well considered, versatile frames of high quality and reasonable price: the Outback for all around gravel (casual race - bike packing) and the Ascent (bike packing - expedition). My only criticism is a lack of sizes suitable for small riders; but as you say, this is a really common issue.
I'm a big Ritchey fan! They are undoubtedly a step-up in terms of tube selection and engineering on most steel frames, and build up into really nice bikes. I think they are especially great for lighter and more recreation riders, as they offer a bit less lateral stiffness than usual (lab tests suggest ~20% less than average).
The thin design of GT Grade's top tube and seat stays would make me less confident in vibration-prone/rocky areas. I am sure it is tested, but I wonder how it holds up long term compared to aluminium or steel touring/bikepacking bikes. I get that they are meant for different purposes, but I would prefer a slightly more robust looking design.
Hey this video is great! The only trouble I'm having is that I can't actually find the fairlight faran available or for sale anywhere, at all. There's only listings for the preorder of the 2.5 which is double the price, and still isn't available. If anyone knows where I can find a listing for this or if it can still be bought anywhere please let me know! OR if you know another bike that would be a good fit in the steel catagory. Trying to find a commuter/bikepacking bike, in steel that I can keep and work on for a long time and it's been a lot since this is my first time getting into buying a bike. Lot's of research just to find out a lot of what I want isn't available, or is way outside my price range, or isn't really what I wanted. Tough times indeed. Thanks for the help!
I would love to see you cover recumbents. I am trying to find a front-wheel-drive recumbent (like the Cruzbike S40) with a Rohloff and belt drive. That would be a super low maintenance, all weather, with great aerodynamics touring bike. (Not for the crazy stuff you ride over, but for pavement and dirt/gravel roads.) You could put all your touring kit behind your body and seat in an aerodynamic shape. I want to cross the US from coast to coast on such a bike next year when I turn 70. Any ideas or helpful information?
Curious to know why did you choose the Faran over the Secan? On a list of gravel bikes when the Secan is Fairlight´s former gravel bike, if I’m mistaken it’s the second time you chose the Faran, by the way I love my Secan 😎 and I’m tempted to order a Faran with wide 27.5 tires.
The Gemini looks great, finally gearhub/gearbox bikes with dropbars. Too bad it costs double what my current bike budget is. And only seems to come in one boring colour.
I have trek checkpoint, and geometry is not all that comfortable for a long day of riding, I wish it was more upright, what would be the best gravel bike with a good upright position if money is no issue?
Before giving up with your Checkpoint, have a look into riser drop bars! The Redshift Top Shelf raises your position by 50 or 70mm (2 or 2.75") to give you an ultra-comfortable upright riding position and easy access to the drops.
I always hated the GT bikes "triple triangle" design for their frames. I never understood why their steel/aluminium bikes back in the day actually had the seat stays joined to the seat post, making them heavier and stiffer with no benefit other than having a "signature look" for marketing (I was just ugly to me). Though I like the design choices on this bike, I can't help thinking that the design working so well now (in carbon & seat tube disconnect) is more arse in trying to maintain their signature look then good design.
Thank you Alee for the video. I Just ordered my Faran 2.5 and looking forward to ride it. Had my eyes open for more than 3 years to find a Frame like that.
I think in the not too distant future, to make this list with a conventional derailleur drivetrain or rear hub, a T-47 bottom bracket should be a necessary feature. I would consider a Fairlight Faran if it was T-47, but as it is now I don't see the value add for the prices they charge. It's clearly the future of conventional BBs, no point dropping thousands on a "rugged" bike without it IMO.
CO-Motion Cycles. I own three and they some of the best. Hand built frames in the USA. To your specs, and your drivetrain preference. The Divide model is a winner for example.
The bikes look good but are no where near the best, be interesting to see the criteria and to be honest tyres and wheels play a huge part in comfort, control, and speed.
Faran wins because of the mounts and price/performance criteria. Geometry is a wash looking at stack vs height. Trail is what will separare the two frames from each other I imagine.
@@omare_biketonature A gravel bike is more than just big tires. Secan has steep HTA, short stays resulting in short wheelbase, and a relatively high BB. Its a road bike with big tires (that's not a bad thing, there's a reason the midnight special is popular). There's a reason Fairlight's own marketing call it a Strael with big tires. Because it is. Its a road bike with big tires.
@@cjohnson3836 Eh, I think there's a lot of pedantry in cycling sometimes. Some people call gravel bikes a road bike with big tires, others call it a cyclocross bike, hybrid, 90s mountain bike... 🤷♂ I actually thought the video was just about gravel bikes and didn't notice the title included "Bikepacking" which makes the Faran the obvious choice over the Secan due to mounting points and beefier frame.
If you want the best value gravel bike and you're in continental Europe, you won't find any better then the Riverside GCR from Decathlon. Carbon frame and SRAM Rival AXS for 3000€. 🤯 And there's a step up for 3800€ which has carbon wheels and Sram Force AXS!
Thanks for the list But 1 question: Criteria #1 is the upright frame design. What measurements/geometry data is best used to determine what is an upright frame design? From what I understand, a stack to reach over 1.5 is a good indicator. But several bikes on this list have a stack to reach well below this. (Canyon Grizzl, Propain Terrel CF) I´ve ridden a Canyon Grizl and that is not an upright frame design at all - it is a pretty aggressive riding position.
In the case of long top tube + short stem bikes, I'm looking primarily at the stack for a given size, as the distance from the saddle to the stem is often quite consistent. The Grizl with a 20-30mm shorter stem is actually very close in size to the Salsa Journeyer, despite the Grizl having a ~1.4 STR compared to the Journeyer having a ~1.5 STR. Could it be that the Grizl you tested was a bit small, or was fitted with a stem that was too long? But also, keep in mind that I'm weighing up multiple criteria when picking these bikes, so sometimes a bike that's not super upright will rise to the top due to its other attributes!
The rolling resistance comparison of those road vs mtb tires are very misleading. In practice, road tires always have much less resistance. Here is why: While the rolling resistance can be similar with *the same pressure*, road tires always must use much higher pressure, so as a result, they always have much less resistance. You can say that you can go higher with the pressure with the mtb tires as well, but that is true only to an extent, and when so, they will be unbearable uncomfortable (because comfort depends on the deflection, and that will be less with the wider tire with the same pressure)
@@Cyclingabout For this particular pair the rolling resistance could match even with different pressures, but it is pretty much cherry picking a worst sample of road tires and a good one from mtb tires. RR is well below 10 watts for a good road tire and it is between 10-20 for a good mtb tire, so the difference is at least 2 fold generally. Add to this the higher aero drag of a wider tire and the difference will be very significant.
We see a lot of them here in France (cause it's a local brand). The customer support looks good too, in case of problem with the frame or else. I went with a Canyon for budget issues and because I liked the grizl AL, but Origine was on top of my list for online brands for aluminium and carbon frames.
The VIral Wanderer is the only one that comes to mind. Unless that's the perfect bike for you, it'll be best to upgrade the fork of a rigid Pinion bike yourself.
influencers can. maybe they can influence you enough to spend a little bit more on bikes. Because everybody knows a bike that costs less than 1000 $ is shit. =).
I have a list of excellent gravel bikes under $1000 on my website! Still too expensive? Try finding one of these models second hand: www.cyclingabout.com/best-budget-gravel-bikes-with-drop-bars-under-1000/
never been more rich white folks than today. add to this, GPS w/ IPHONE cockpits, watt meters, and the bike packing myth where folks purchase a lot of styles of bags, straps, mounts, and then decide to get panniers.
@@gregknipe8772Non white here 😅 I have everything you’re mentioning except for watts meter and you’re right about the bikepacking bags, I also have bikepacking panniers and right now I have my eyes on the Mountain Laurel ultra light panniers, I spend my money on bikes, bags, outdoor gear and bikepacking trips.
I appreciate you mentioning stuff like the Journeyer, Grizzl, and Fairlight Faran, but man having a full carbon and also a $5000 ultralight bike set as "bikepacking bikes" just feels ridiculous coming from a guy that CLEARLY knows what he's talking about when it comes to durable bikes meant for traveling on.
I don't think you pay much attention to what is said on this channel. The whole idea is to have touring and bikepacking in mind, the geometry and swapping components to make rides comfortable. Anyone with back problem can also have terrible experience on full suspension with bad setup.
@@SonnyDarvishzadeh Well, kid, the key is to understand what "In my experience" means. After that, you may be able to start a debate. Just in order to make it not too long. I'd say that you don't have to worry, I've been riding every sort of bike since 82', any sort of frame material, over any terrain, and I've done it in several countries. And of course, I got my back injured. Just to let you know that I know what I'm talking about. Cheers.
meh, this is a bow to the current hype, and there are still road riders who have not purchased their "gravel bike". I prefer touring presentations, but I get it. there is untapped market with folks with money to burn. may as well jump in. next will be E-gravel bikes, then trikes. on and on.
This was a HARD video to make as there are just so many great bike options! What bikes should have made my list, and why? 🤔
Thanks for putting this together, I look forward to it each year.
Riverside 920 from Decathlon? How is it possible that he didn't make it to this list? Meets all requirements + has an integrated USB charger and dynamo hub...
This year I opted for the Canyon Grail (single decker). It is so fast and light that it replaces my road bike and flies over gravel and forest paths. With the right bags it is also suitable for bikepacking.
I was surprised to not see any of the big brands like trek and giant. Why did you choose to not include the checkpoint and revolt? Was it the price and popularity?
Bikes with gearboxes because maintenance is a waste of time
Here's a positive comment Alee: Thanks for the video!
My wallet stopped watching after the Journeyer.
I’ve been riding mnt bikes for the past 30+ years. I’m thinking
about buying a Gravel bike but
have no idea what tire size
is best. Any suggestions
I'm a fan of 29" 50mm tires. I personally run Vittoria Barzo's up front and Mezcal's in the back. If, at 50mm tubless with inserts I feel like I should have a 27.5 or wider tire...well I probably should be riding an MTB
I like 45-55mm with less aggressive tread (like the Continental Terra Hardpack or double fighter) for everyday commuting and bikepacking. They handle every terrain except for Mtb stuff perfectly and are also not too slow on pavement, did a bikepacking trip with lots of bags on the rear rack recently, averaged 30km/h on a day with 65km of distance.
At that width, you also don't need to worry about smaller potholes or curbs like you would with a sub-40mm one
I enjoy your videos. I will say in one category which is brakes. I have toured in many remote and a very long distance from services and I prefer cable disk brakes as you can repair in the field and is a simple system to maintain. I wish more bikepacking bikes came with this style or as an option.
Now the real question is Fairlight Secan or Faran… 😅
Thank you for doing the research. It is beneficial.
Another excellent Cyclingabout video!
Thank you.
So much negativity in the comments. jeeez. Thx for the list and for taking the time.
Tire choice is more important than frame choice, you should review some tires, from big and small brands.
Hot take
Tires are hard to review
Bs
In blind test you couldn't tell the difference between a Maxxis and a Panaracer. Nobody can... Anyone who says they can is full of shit. I've been riding for 45 years... 99% of riders in a blind test can't tell the difference between the frames and components they run.
@@JustJake77 This seems obvious to me
Some interesting choices - thanks for not parroting the same old recommendations we get from the usual suspects.
Thanks for this vid. Very interesting and quite useful
Hello, thanks for the video :). One thing, I am always surprised to see the canyon grizl in the list of bikes for bikepacking. I had a canyon grail which is similar except for the tyre clearance, and if for sure it was an efficient bike, it was not comfortable bike.
I now ride a chiru vagus with a higher stack on which I put a 70 mm stem so the reach ends up shorter than the canyon and honestly it's day and night in terms of comfort. I feel like the canyon is more a road bike with big tyres rather than a regular gravel
I had a grizl for one day, I totally agree it's a race bike, stack is too low for leasure gravel and bikepacking, also tire clearance is not that great with 50 mm tires there is no room for mud
@@Jean-jk4zv Yes - weird choice. Criteria #1 is an Upright Frame Design - the Grizl Size Medium has a Stack-to-Reach of 1.45 which I would consider to be a fairly aggressive riding position.
What would you guys recommend me between Grail and Grizl if I only want to have 1 bike that covers 60% tarmac and 40% gravel?
Could you guys recommend a similar channel with someone who checks bikes available in the EU market?
The Salsa Cutthroat ticks all your boxes. Not included because of its price ?
I'd expect it to show up on the off-road list; I think it's probably too mtb-adjacent to qualify as a gravel bike by most definitions.
Recently got the Merida Silex 7000 2 with a GRX 1x12 speed. I've been commuting on it (30min ride with large hills) and will be taking it on its first real long distance (125-140Km) next week.
What’s your opinion about it? Thinking to get the same bike too
Here in western Europe, it seems that gravel bikes are like SUV. They are mainly used on asphalt roads. Every time I see bikepackers on gravel bikes, their bikes are so clean that I doubt they often ride dirt roads.
what do you think about Rondo Bogan ST2 ?
I am always surprised that in such lists, Surlys are missing. But that is understandable though...they have been left behind so to speak and are no longer truly unique.
Fairlight just builds much better frames, so the steel category is gone, the cheap ones arent that good, so this category is also gone.
@@sorenludwig3978 True, true. And Surlys were never cheap anyway, so to speak and even less now. Their midnight special costs upwards of 2,000 dollars for mechanical disc brakes. Crazy indeed.
If you want something cheaper and more capable offroad get a used hardtail and then put a rigid fork, if you want to use a dropbar get a hardtail with a short top tube. I have 3 bikes right now, a hardtail, a rigid mtb, and a gravel bike. The rigid mtb is the best for gravel but if i have one bike to do it all i take my specialized diverge e5.
I had never heard of the brand propain, they ran a sale last week in north america and I bought a Terrel. They should give you a commission! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for another well thought out, accurate & informative video.
We all appreciate your hard work.
Great video! I'd like to just comment on the first criterion of comfort. As far as I know, a more aggressive, sportive position doesn't invariably equal lower comfort. This is a highly individual parameter, dependent on our level of flexibility and core strength. Proper bike fitting also plays a role. On a bike of a size chosen right to our body proportions and set correctly, one can feel equally or even more comfortable than on the frame forcing a more upright position. Said all this, more upward geometry makes probably for a safer choice for most of us.
Isn't gear-inches wheel circumference, not diameter?
How many inches the bike moves forward with each pedal revolution: large chain ring teeth divided by rear cog teeth multiplied by the tire's circumference.
Just bought that priority gravel bike, sadly its only in black but on the positive side virtually zero maintenance and less fragility for the win. Their mountainbikes are too heavy.
The Grizl 8 1by would be my pick over the 7. Costs only a little bit more and you can just change the mech cage to make it compatible with a 10-51 cassette. Admittedly the 2x mech should be able to fit a bigger cassette but I'll admit I'm biased to 1x. To be honest though I feel like even the tire clearance of 700c X 50mm is outdated and not optimal. Given that wider xc tires are generally proven to be faster, more comfortable and less likely to puncture than gravel tires there's just no excuse not to be trending towards fitting them. If I got any of these bikes I would probably try to shove in a 29 X 2.1 mezcal right away but mud clearance would of course suffer. Bikes like the Lauf Seigla or Curve Big Kev are showing what tire clearances can be while still being able to fit a gravel crankset. Hopefully that kind of design thinking shows up in more affordable bikes. I know I'll probably get hit with "just get a mtb bro" but I do think gravel bikes have their place and if xc mtb tires truly are optimal for "gravel" then gravel bikes should be able to fit them. I'm annoyed that wider tires are still largely seen as just for adventure and not speed/racing. Even the recently released new version of the Canyon Grail can only fit 42mm tires, what a joke. Watch Dylan Johnson if you need convincing that mtb tires are the best choice for speed on gravel terrain. Most of the current gravel bikes should be put in the category of allroad bikes and the next generation of gravel bikes(both adventure and racing ones) should be made to comfortably fit 29 x 2.25 tires IMO.
Great video. I always enjoy your well researched videos
What about Merida Silex 700 or 7000 (version 2024)?
Great video! 🚲
Nice round-up video. I personally wouldn't call 17 gear inches very low gearing, but I guess my legs are noodly and my bags too heavy. :)
I'm looking forward to your video on bike packing bikes for more rugged terrain. I'm looking to buy a Tout terrain outback xplore but definitely open to other suggestions.
that's a great list of bikepacking gravel bikes. steel is an emotion 🔥
Some great bikes there and a really well thought out vid. Well worth checking out Ritchey frames though. Not complete bikes, but very well considered, versatile frames of high quality and reasonable price: the Outback for all around gravel (casual race - bike packing) and the Ascent (bike packing - expedition). My only criticism is a lack of sizes suitable for small riders; but as you say, this is a really common issue.
I'm a big Ritchey fan! They are undoubtedly a step-up in terms of tube selection and engineering on most steel frames, and build up into really nice bikes. I think they are especially great for lighter and more recreation riders, as they offer a bit less lateral stiffness than usual (lab tests suggest ~20% less than average).
The thin design of GT Grade's top tube and seat stays would make me less confident in vibration-prone/rocky areas. I am sure it is tested, but I wonder how it holds up long term compared to aluminium or steel touring/bikepacking bikes. I get that they are meant for different purposes, but I would prefer a slightly more robust looking design.
I know it doesn't look tough, but the Grade is in its 3rd generation now! The design is well-proven.
Great video - thanks for sharing
Fantastic video as always
Hey this video is great! The only trouble I'm having is that I can't actually find the fairlight faran available or for sale anywhere, at all. There's only listings for the preorder of the 2.5 which is double the price, and still isn't available. If anyone knows where I can find a listing for this or if it can still be bought anywhere please let me know! OR if you know another bike that would be a good fit in the steel catagory. Trying to find a commuter/bikepacking bike, in steel that I can keep and work on for a long time and it's been a lot since this is my first time getting into buying a bike. Lot's of research just to find out a lot of what I want isn't available, or is way outside my price range, or isn't really what I wanted. Tough times indeed. Thanks for the help!
I would love to see you cover recumbents. I am trying to find a front-wheel-drive recumbent (like the Cruzbike S40) with a Rohloff and belt drive. That would be a super low maintenance, all weather, with great aerodynamics touring bike. (Not for the crazy stuff you ride over, but for pavement and dirt/gravel roads.) You could put all your touring kit behind your body and seat in an aerodynamic shape. I want to cross the US from coast to coast on such a bike next year when I turn 70. Any ideas or helpful information?
Great content!
Curious to know why did you choose the Faran over the Secan? On a list of gravel bikes when the Secan is Fairlight´s former gravel bike, if I’m mistaken it’s the second time you chose the Faran, by the way I love my Secan 😎 and I’m tempted to order a Faran with wide 27.5 tires.
The Gemini looks great, finally gearhub/gearbox bikes with dropbars. Too bad it costs double what my current bike budget is. And only seems to come in one boring colour.
I have trek checkpoint, and geometry is not all that comfortable for a long day of riding, I wish it was more upright, what would be the best gravel bike with a good upright position if money is no issue?
Before giving up with your Checkpoint, have a look into riser drop bars! The Redshift Top Shelf raises your position by 50 or 70mm (2 or 2.75") to give you an ultra-comfortable upright riding position and easy access to the drops.
Try a longer higher angle stem raising your handlebar
I always hated the GT bikes "triple triangle" design for their frames. I never understood why their steel/aluminium bikes back in the day actually had the seat stays joined to the seat post, making them heavier and stiffer with no benefit other than having a "signature look" for marketing (I was just ugly to me).
Though I like the design choices on this bike, I can't help thinking that the design working so well now (in carbon & seat tube disconnect) is more arse in trying to maintain their signature look then good design.
thank you for REAL gravel bikes, kill flat mount we can all have big rotors
Thank you Alee for the video. I Just ordered my Faran 2.5 and looking forward to ride it. Had my eyes open for more than 3 years to find a Frame like that.
I'm always propain
I think in the not too distant future, to make this list with a conventional derailleur drivetrain or rear hub, a T-47 bottom bracket should be a necessary feature. I would consider a Fairlight Faran if it was T-47, but as it is now I don't see the value add for the prices they charge.
It's clearly the future of conventional BBs, no point dropping thousands on a "rugged" bike without it IMO.
CO-Motion Cycles. I own three and they some of the best. Hand built frames in the USA. To your specs, and your drivetrain preference. The Divide model is a winner for example.
Wanted to purchase your ebook via PayPal but link doesn't work. Goes to Paypal but once on site it just sits there buffering ad infinitum
Anything below 2 meters of development fits his criteria for low gears.
The bikes look good but are no where near the best, be interesting to see the criteria and to be honest tyres and wheels play a huge part in comfort, control, and speed.
Priority Gemini is definitely an interesting option. I wish they built a carbon frame version and added some mounting bolts to the fork though.
I wonder if Priority is ever going to open a dealership in Europe...
@Cyclingabout Question: Why the Faran over the Secan?
Secan is effectively a road bike with big tires, a posh Surly Midnight Special.
@@cjohnson3836 Strael is a road bike that can accommodate up to 35 mm tires, the Secan is a proper gravel bike.
Faran wins because of the mounts and price/performance criteria. Geometry is a wash looking at stack vs height. Trail is what will separare the two frames from each other I imagine.
@@omare_biketonature A gravel bike is more than just big tires. Secan has steep HTA, short stays resulting in short wheelbase, and a relatively high BB. Its a road bike with big tires (that's not a bad thing, there's a reason the midnight special is popular). There's a reason Fairlight's own marketing call it a Strael with big tires. Because it is. Its a road bike with big tires.
@@cjohnson3836 Eh, I think there's a lot of pedantry in cycling sometimes. Some people call gravel bikes a road bike with big tires, others call it a cyclocross bike, hybrid, 90s mountain bike... 🤷♂ I actually thought the video was just about gravel bikes and didn't notice the title included "Bikepacking" which makes the Faran the obvious choice over the Secan due to mounting points and beefier frame.
this sounds more like adventure bikes. is there such a category officially now? or it's in the ultra?
Did you check out Obed bikes? They are amazing!!
Perfectas para las atiiculaciones y la prostata...todo sea x ir a la moda...
Pięknie!
Zaciekawiły mnie koszyki na bidony - co to za modele?
If you want the best value gravel bike and you're in continental Europe, you won't find any better then the Riverside GCR from Decathlon.
Carbon frame and SRAM Rival AXS for 3000€. 🤯
And there's a step up for 3800€ which has carbon wheels and Sram Force AXS!
3000 EUR on a decathlon bike?? Hello no.
Wow giant or Santa Cruz or meridian didnt make the list
I want my gravel touring Grouring bike NOW
Thanks for the list
But 1 question: Criteria #1 is the upright frame design. What measurements/geometry data is best used to determine what is an upright frame design? From what I understand, a stack to reach over 1.5 is a good indicator.
But several bikes on this list have a stack to reach well below this. (Canyon Grizzl, Propain Terrel CF)
I´ve ridden a Canyon Grizl and that is not an upright frame design at all - it is a pretty aggressive riding position.
In the case of long top tube + short stem bikes, I'm looking primarily at the stack for a given size, as the distance from the saddle to the stem is often quite consistent.
The Grizl with a 20-30mm shorter stem is actually very close in size to the Salsa Journeyer, despite the Grizl having a ~1.4 STR compared to the Journeyer having a ~1.5 STR. Could it be that the Grizl you tested was a bit small, or was fitted with a stem that was too long?
But also, keep in mind that I'm weighing up multiple criteria when picking these bikes, so sometimes a bike that's not super upright will rise to the top due to its other attributes!
Sir , Excellent bicycle I love bicycle thanks
I’m very surprised the sonder doesn’t even get a mention
What is the cheapest place (country) in Europe to pick up a gravel bike and bring back to Australia?
It'd have to be of the more competitive markets, so perhaps Germany? Don't forget to claim back the VAT!
Pls recommend more bikes under 1500$/€
Can you do a review on Dutch bicycles .
Great video. There are at least 2 brands ive never heard of. Make that 3
The rolling resistance comparison of those road vs mtb tires are very misleading. In practice, road tires always have much less resistance. Here is why:
While the rolling resistance can be similar with *the same pressure*, road tires always must use much higher pressure, so as a result, they always have much less resistance.
You can say that you can go higher with the pressure with the mtb tires as well, but that is true only to an extent, and when so, they will be unbearable uncomfortable (because comfort depends on the deflection, and that will be less with the wider tire with the same pressure)
The rolling resistance comparison is with the road tyre at 80 psi, and the MTB tyre at 25 psi. 👍
@@Cyclingabout For this particular pair the rolling resistance could match even with different pressures, but it is pretty much cherry picking a worst sample of road tires and a good one from mtb tires.
RR is well below 10 watts for a good road tire and it is between 10-20 for a good mtb tire, so the difference is at least 2 fold generally.
Add to this the higher aero drag of a wider tire and the difference will be very significant.
My next gravel/winterroadbike is probably going to be an Origine because you can choose so many options!
We see a lot of them here in France (cause it's a local brand). The customer support looks good too, in case of problem with the frame or else. I went with a Canyon for budget issues and because I liked the grizl AL, but Origine was on top of my list for online brands for aluminium and carbon frames.
kislux versace bag is so cute
Excellent and very useful!
For petite 5’4/11?
Things I love doing while watching a video, currency conversions. 😑
Just let me know when you've created a global currency that's universally used.
@@Cyclingabout most RUclips vids give all three denominations. USD, Pound sterling and the euro. It would’ve been nice to have that easy comparison.
Have you looked at the Polygon bend R7? This seems like a great bike at a reasonable price. Would be interested to hear your thoughts.
The Bend and Tambora models are right up there for me! Great price, quite upright, lots of mounts, and ideal climbing gear ratios on some models. 👍🏻
Appreciate your thoughts mate.
Wish the price were listed in the video too
It is at the beginning of each chapter
Thank you.
Subscribe button is right on top of the price :(
Damn, I didn't think about that! Will make sure not to make that mistake again. 👍🏻
Are there any Pinion gravel bikes with suspension?
The VIral Wanderer is the only one that comes to mind. Unless that's the perfect bike for you, it'll be best to upgrade the fork of a rigid Pinion bike yourself.
@@Cyclingabout Thank you for the response.
No ultralight gravel bike from Specialized or the Diverge STR or the Niner MCR 9 RDO?
Yeah, even Specialized Roubaix with fork suspension is a good choice. All of these are premium and race oriented though.
How can anyone afford these bikes?
Im wondering how anyone can afford a vehicle as Im riding my bike to work.
influencers can. maybe they can influence you enough to spend a little bit more on bikes. Because everybody knows a bike that costs less than 1000 $ is shit. =).
I have a list of excellent gravel bikes under $1000 on my website! Still too expensive? Try finding one of these models second hand: www.cyclingabout.com/best-budget-gravel-bikes-with-drop-bars-under-1000/
never been more rich white folks than today. add to this, GPS w/ IPHONE cockpits, watt meters, and the bike packing myth where folks purchase a lot of styles of bags, straps, mounts, and then decide to get panniers.
@@gregknipe8772Non white here 😅 I have everything you’re mentioning except for watts meter and you’re right about the bikepacking bags, I also have bikepacking panniers and right now I have my eyes on the Mountain Laurel ultra light panniers, I spend my money on bikes, bags, outdoor gear and bikepacking trips.
I appreciate you mentioning stuff like the Journeyer, Grizzl, and Fairlight Faran, but man having a full carbon and also a $5000 ultralight bike set as "bikepacking bikes" just feels ridiculous coming from a guy that CLEARLY knows what he's talking about when it comes to durable bikes meant for traveling on.
discbreaks are overrated for gravel & city commuter usage.
Rain 💦
I got my Faran for a Year now and I have never been more in love with an item before.
The best gravel bikes are mountain bikes 🤣
Why are most down handle bars?
Flat handle bars not good?
Well if you want suspension buy a mtb bloody hell
In my experience, I don't recommend a gravel bike for anyone with back problems, unless they are riding on paved roads.
I don't think you pay much attention to what is said on this channel. The whole idea is to have touring and bikepacking in mind, the geometry and swapping components to make rides comfortable. Anyone with back problem can also have terrible experience on full suspension with bad setup.
@@SonnyDarvishzadeh Well, kid, the key is to understand what "In my experience" means. After that, you may be able to start a debate. Just in order to make it not too long. I'd say that you don't have to worry, I've been riding every sort of bike since 82', any sort of frame material, over any terrain, and I've done it in several countries. And of course, I got my back injured. Just to let you know that I know what I'm talking about. Cheers.
One's bad enough, let alone ten.
Are we still doing top 10 lists? What year is this
What would you prefer?
meh, this is a bow to the current hype, and there are still road riders who have not purchased their "gravel bike". I prefer touring presentations, but I get it. there is untapped market with folks with money to burn. may as well jump in. next will be E-gravel bikes, then trikes. on and on.
no mention of canyon bikes?
The Grizl 7 is right there.
Im waiting for my Marlin 7 gen 3 omg can’t wait to meet him by person