Best Gravel Bikes Under $2000 – Reviews & Buyers Guide

Gravel Bikes gained so much traction in the cycling World around three years ago, and we have all come to realize that they aren’t going away anytime soon. Gravel bikes are not only being bought by people that are interested in riding gravel but also by people that are interested in having a do it all bike.

Cycling has so many disciplines, and it can get costly if you are going to partake in them all, you would need three types of mountain bike, a road bike, a TT bike, and many more.

A gravel bike, although it won’t be as effective as bikes made for particular disciplines, will offer a bike with the ability to do most, and that is what makes them so unique. All these bikes in this article are excellent examples of gravel bikes and will suit many a riding style.

What we look for when looking at the best Gravel bikes

When we look at Gravel bikes for less than $2000, we are offered a wide variety to choose from, so we will break the bikes down to what they are made of. In this article, the best gravel bikes under $2000, we will look at the bike’s parts to determine the quality and ability of each bike.

Frame – We are going to be looking at a couple of different types of materials. Steel and aluminum are the go-to materials at this price range of $2000 or less.

Groupset -At this price range, we will see some basic groupsets and some quite advanced groupsets. We are going to look at the brand, the range, ability, and quality.

Wheelset – 650b or 700c wheelsets are mainly used on Gravel Bikes. We will also look at brand, quality, and if they’re tubeless.

Brakes – We will be looking at both Hydraulic and Cable disc brakes on this list. At this price range, some are integrated into the shifters, and others are separate.

Unique Features -What on the bike makes it stand out from the crowd.

Looking to save a few bucks? Check our our article on the best gravel bikes for $1500 and below.

We Think You’ll Like It: Best Carbon Fiber Gravel Bikes

View the best Gravel Bikes Under $2000 below

1. Best Overall: State All Road 4130

Features of the State All-Road

• Chromoly Frame
• SRAM AXS Groupset
• 700c Wheelset with 38c Tires
• SRAM Hydraulic Disc Brakes
• Adventure Mounts, Tubeless Ready

We’re straight out the gates with an incredible bike, the State All Road. As you can see, this bike stands out from the crowd with its Incredible spec. This is a lightweight Chromoly Frame paired with a Chromoly fork and it’s stunning. One thing we love about this bike is your get to spec it yourself from new with different parts and even the choice of wheel sizes.

Not only that, it is full of bolts ready for bottle cages and bag mounting. The groupset isn’t just the Legendary SRAM AXS Full Wireless. It’s the 11-speed model, which is a 1x set up. If you have been lucky enough to try it before, you will know how good this gearing is.

It comes with 700c Tubeless-ready Wheelset and 38c tires as standard. Not only do you get all the above, but it has SRAM Hydraulic disk brakes too.

Pros and cons for the State All Road

Pros

• Hydraulic Disk Brakes
• SRAM Wireless Groupset
• Lightweight Frame
• Beautiful Paint Job

Cons

• Heavier than a carbon bike
• Right at the top of the budget

Why We Like It

This is the complete package. It’s light and fast, well equipped, and ready for anything from club runs to big adventures. For a rider like myself this is the perfect gravel bike.

2. Kona Rove

Features of the Kona Rove

• Chromoly Steel Frame and Fork
• Shimano Sora
• 650B Wheelset with 47c Tires
• Cable Brakes
• Tubeless Ready Rims

The Kona Rove is entirely different from many bikes on this list and is unique in itself. It’s a versatile gravel bike. It’s the complete opposite of the majority and offers the user a very different experience.

The frame is lightweight chromoly steel and will provide a considerable amount of comfort as it’s paired up with the steel Fork. It can run 47c tires on a 650b wheelset or 45c on a 700c wheelset. The groupset is the Shimano Sora and offers a vast range of gears and options to get you up those longer climbs smoothly and efficiently.

It uses a Tubeless-ready wheelset and is 650B as standard and paired with 47c tires. The brakes are mechanical disc brakes, and it is probably one of the most basic and reliable bikes on this list. It would be amazing for bike touring or as an adventure bike.

Pros and cons for the Kona Rove

Pros

• Super Comfortable
• Ready for some serious touring
• Super reliable

Cons

• Heavier than other bikes on this list
• Although well equipped with fundamental components

Why We Like It

The Journeyer is a fantastic bike and not only falls into the bracket of being a good gravel bike but would make an excellent touring bike. It is basic, but it works, and it works well.

3. Norco Search XR A2

Features of the Norco Search XR A2

• Aluminum Frame with Carbon Fork
• Shimano GRX Groupset
• 700c Wheelset with 38c Tires
• TRP Mechanical Brakes
• Tubeless Ready Rims

The Norco Search is a very cool bike. Not only does it look like the best gravel bike, but it’s also unlike any other bike on this list. Norco typically make mountain bikes so you can imagine what ability this bike is going to have off road.

The aluminum frame is made to be strong, go fast and also offer a great level of comfort. It has a great geometry which is going to work on the gravel and the road excellently.

It runs the Shiamo GRX gravel groupset, which is excellent for range and ability. The wheelset is 700c and is equipped with 38c tires. Also, it is tubeless-ready.

Pros and cons for the Norco Search XR A2

Pros

• Solid Frame and Carbon Fork
• GRX Groupset
• Tubeless-ready Rims

Cons

• Mechanical Brakes
• Not the cheapest

Why We Like It

This bike is excellent, and it will probably be the best all rounder on this list. The only thing that lets this bike down is the mechanical brakes. Overall though NS Bikes bring excellent mountain bike heritage into the gravel world.

4. Mongoose Elroy

Features of the Mongoose Elroy

• Aluminum Frame
• Shimano Tourney Groupset
• 700c Wheelset
• Mechcanical Disc Brakes
• Front Rack, Frame Bag

Now the Elroy is a monster of a gravel bike, and I’m sure to some the best gravel bike on this list. Let’s start with the Elroy Aluminium Frame. Well, it’s a Mongoose, so you know it’s an excellent start, as they make top-quality frames.

It has a relaxed Geometry and shares many features of a road bike and a mountain bike. Unlike a mountain bike, it’s paired up with Mongoose Aluminum Gravel Forks. The frame comes with Drop bars, and is great for beginners and seasoned cyclists.

As far as value for money goes this bike is incredible. It has so much to offer and more. Your looking at an amazing bike and not only that your get a front rack and frame bag thrown in which is great for bikepacking.

The Elroy is going to give you comfort, it looks great, and it can perform.

Pros and cons for the Elroy

Pros

• Very Off-Road Capable
• Rack and Bag
• Big Tire Clearances

Cons

• Basic Components
• Limited colors

Why We Like It

We love the Elroy because it is just epic vale for money. f you want to go gravel riding or bikepacking on a budget this is the right bike for you. The rack and the frame bag are a great bonus too.

5. Bombtrack Arise 700c

Features of the Bombtrack Arise 700c

• 4130 Cromoly Steel
• Single Speed
• 700c Wheelset with 40c Tires
• TRP Sypre C Mechanical Brakes

The Bombtrack Arise is a unique bike spoken about a lot in the Gravel and Touring community. The Frame geometry is very relaxed and is going to be an absolute mile munching machine. It’s also made of Cromoly Steel, and the frame is paired up with a Cromoly fork to match.

This is going to probably be one of the most comfortable rides on this list. The groupset is also very unique on this bike. It runs a single speed. This means you only have one single gear which although very limiting makes this bike very cheap and very reliable. Single Speeds are getting very big in the gravel world and it’s exciting to see cyclists racing on them.

The wheelset is a 700c and comes with 40c tires and has clearance up to 50c tires. These are the Vee Speedster tires and they are great. The Brakes are mechanical disc brakes, and although not hydraulic, they will do the job.

Pros and cons for the Bombtrack Arise

Pro

• Looks great
• Very Comfortable ride
• Very rugged
• Amazing value for money

Cons

• Heavy
• Only one gear

Why We Like It

The Bombtrack is an interesting bike. It’s a gravel bike, yes, but this is made for day after day comfort. If you were looking for a bike to go on a very long tour on or off-road and to ride every day while still being comfortable, this is the one. It is very limited on the gearing front but a huge amount of fun to ride.

6. Best Value: Diamondback Haanjo 3

Features of the Diamondback Haanjo 3

• Alloy Frame Carbon Fork
• Shimano Sora 2×9
• 700c Wheelset with 37c Tires
• Tektro Mechanical Disc Brakes

The Diamondback Haanjo 3 is an excellent bike. It’s one of the aluminum gravel bikes on this list. Although not the lightest, it will offer a good amount of comfort in return for the extra weight you are taking. The geometry is very road bike-focused, but it works as this gravel bike isn’t made to be an off-road monster.

We’re looking at a light gravel bike here, which will be used a lot on the road. It comes with the Sora 2X Groupset, which is seen on many road bikes and offers a good range and selection of gears. The wheelset is a 700c set that comes with 37c tires.

The brakes are Mechanical Disc Brakes which provide good stopping power and also are very easy to maintain. When it comes to the Haanjo 3 simplicity is key.

Pros and cons of the Haanjo 3

Pros

• Fast and Nimble bike
• Disc Brakes
• Looks great in Yellow

Cons

• More light gravel/road

Why We Like It

This is a great example of a Gravel bike where you’re going to be spending a lot of time on the road and taking the odd bit of gravel. It’s fast, agile, and fun. It’s very close to a cyclocross bike.

7. Surly Disc Trucker

Features of the GT Grade Elite

• Chromoly Steel Frame and Fork
• Shimano Alivio 3X8
• 700c Wheelset with 41c Tires
• Mechanical Disc Brakes
• Relaxed Geometry

The Surly Disc Trucker is an excellent bike for the best gravel bikes under $2000. It’s a very comfortable bike with its chromoly frame and forks. The design of the frame is unique, it’s been made for extreme comfort and the kind of bike you could cycle around the world.

It has the Shimano Alivio 3X8 groupset is basic, but it has a decent range. The wheelset is 700c, and the bike comes with 41c tires. It also has a mechanical disc brake system. So on the surface, it’s pretty basic, but sometimes with bikes, that just works.

This is ready for off-road terrain, but I rate it as a touring gravel bike. It’s a very reliable bike with so much to offer the rider and is going to soak up the miles easily.

Pros and cons for the Surly Trucker

Pros

• Comfortable and strong
• Looks great

Cons

• Very Basic components
• Top end of budget

Why We Like It

If you are looking for a gravel bike which is going to do big miles the Surly Disc Trucker is it. It’s perfect for long distance touring and is going to have the ability to go anywhere.

8. Schwinn Sporterra

Features of the Schwinn Sporterra

• Aluminum Frame
• Shiamno Groupset 2×7
• 700C with 38c tires
• Mechanical Disc Brakes
• Rack Mounts

This Schwinn has to be on this list. It’s a basic bike but an excellent one at that. It’s made for all day long comfort and would make an excellent touring bike also.

This is going to give an extremely forgiving and fun ride. The Shimano groupset is a 2×7, so although fewer options, the range of the gears is still very good and when the services comes round will cost next to nothing for parts. It’s a very hard wearing and reliable groupset made for mega miles.

It is on a 700C wheelset, and it is equipped with 38c multi terrain tires. It also has mechanical disc brakes, which stop you but are not as effective as the hydraulic. The bike is incredible value for money and is half the price of most of this list. Not only that Schwinn is a very reputable brand.

Pros and cons for the Schwinn Sporterra

Pros

• Great for mixed riding
• Looks great
• Price

Cons

• Not the lightest
• Components are basic

Why We Like It

The Schwinn Sporterra is an amazing value for money bike which is going to offer you the rider an excellent experience. It looks fantastic and is good for trails and also road riding. If your looking for a do it all bike which is going to be nice on your pockets this is it.

9. Diamondback Haanjo 1

Features of the Diamondback Haanjo 1

• Aluminum Frame
• Shimano Acera 1X Trigger Shifters
• 700c with 38c Tires
• Disc Brakes
• Flat Bars

I wanted to mention the Haanjo 1 on the list as it is unique and would be an excellent Gravel bike, although it falls pretty close to an off-road hybrid. The frame is a lightweight Aluminium frame, and it pairs nicely with an aluminum fork. Although it shares the name with the Haanjo 1 it’s a very different bike.

The Haanjo 1 is a simple bike which is going to be excellent for all types of riding and probably one of the most comfortable bikes on this list. It’s good value for money and perfect for not just gravel riding but touring and commuting.

The frame also has flat bars, and because of this, they pair it up with an Acera 1x groupset, and it uses trigger shifters like on a mountain bike. The wheelset is a 700c and pretty basic. These wheels sit on 38c tires, also to help these slow down, you are equipped with Tektro disk brakes.

Pros and cons for the Diamondback Haanjo 1

Pros

• Comfortable
• Lightweight
• Disc brakes

Cons

• Flat bars aren’t for everyone
• Basic Wheelset

Why We Like It

The Haanjo 1 is going to be an enjoyable bike to ride. It will be comfortable, fun and easy to use. It will be quick as it’s pretty lightweight and value for money it’s excellent. The flat bars won’t be for everyone. It is very much a flat bar gravel bike for the road and light gravel riding.

10. Best Budget: Kona Dew Plus

Features of the Cannondale Quick 5

• Aluminum Frame
• Shimano Altus Groupset 2X7
• 700c with 35c Tires
• Mechanical Disc Brakes

The Kona Dew Plus is a really interesting bike, and I want to start by saying it’s less than half the price of the $2000 budget. The frame is aluminum, but unlike some of the others, it’s not super lightweight.

It is designed to be strong. It is paired up with Aluminium forks, and the frame itself is made for comfort, so perfect for touring and Bikepacking. It has flat bars and is geared by a Shimano Deore Groupset, which is a 1X10. It’s a very basic groupset but has a decent range.

The Wheelset is Kona’s basic own 650b, and they’re paired with some 47c tires as standard. These disc brakes are hydraulic, at this price is amazing value.

Pros and cons for the Kona Dew Plus

Pro

• Price, under half the budget
• Excellent for Bikepacking and touring

Cons

• Heavy bike

Why We Like It

The Dew Plus is a very basic bike. It will be very comfortable, and it will handle the light gravel and off-road well. It will make touring, Bikepacking, and commuting easy. The best thing about this is the price it’s fantastic value for money. It’s not the best gravel bike on this list but it is amazing because of the cost.

11. Tommaso Sterrata

Features of the Tommaso Sterrata

• Aluminum Frame
• Shimano Claris 2×8
• 700c with 40c Tires
• Mechanical Disc Brakes
• Carbon Fork

The Tommaso Sterrata is an excellent Gravel bike. The aluminum frame is light and fast and is also equipped with carbon forks. The Shimano Claris gearing has a good range and plenty of options. The 700c wheelset has 40c tires, perfect for a mix of light to aggressive gravel. It doesn’t have hydraulic disk brakes, but for the price, I wouldn’t expect that. It will make an excellent all-rounder for round and gravel.

Pros and cons of the Tommaso Sterrata

Pros

• Lightweight
• Carbon Forks
• Price
• Great All-Rounder

Cons

• Basic Components

Why We Like It

I think the Tommaso Sterrata is probably one of the best all-round bikes on this list and is an excellent jack of all trades, master of none. A great adventure bike.

We Think You’ll Like It: Gravel Bike vs. Hybrid Bike

Gravel Bike Buyers Guide

When it comes to buying a Gravel Bike, it is challenging to find the perfect gravel bike for you. There’s a lot of different types of bikes on the market, and they all come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Why is this though? It’s because gravel biking is a little bit more open to ideas.

You get drop bar gravel bikes, you get flat bar gravel bikes, and you even get cruiser bars used on gravel bikes. As long as it can go on gravel, it can be loosely classed as a Gravel bike. What makes a gravel bike good at going off-road?

It’s all down to the components they use, and in this guide, I wanted to explain the different parts of the bike, so you know what to look for when purchasing a gravel bike.

Frame Material

The frames on Gravel bikes come in all different materials. They can be Steel, Aluminium, Titanium, Carbon, and even sometimes they come in Bamboo, Hard Wood, and materials such as Graphene. Each different metal gives the bike a different ride characteristic. Let’s talk about the main three. Aluminum, Steel, and Carbon.

The Aluminum Frame also known as an alloy frame is lightweight, cheap to produce, stiff, and normally used to make a bike affordable and fast. Although this sounds all great on the surface, they can give a very unforgiving ride, and if they break, they are challenging to repair.

The Steel Frame is metal like aluminum, but they do not share many characteristics between them. Steel Frames are heavier, much cheaper to produce, flexible, and very easy to repair when broken. The advantages of Steel mainly come in the fact they are incredibly forgiving, which makes the ride of a steel bike extremely comfortable.

They may be heavier, but if you’re not in a rush and just want to enjoy the spin, Steel is the material for you. Then we have the carbon frame. It’s very lightweight, costly to produce, stiff, and made to be extremely quick.

This is the go to racing material when it comes to cycling, it makes for a very responsive ride. It is extraordinary, but the drawbacks come in the fact although strong, it’s only strong where it needs to be. If dropped in the wrong way a carbon frame can break easily, and although they can be repaired,

I wouldn’t advise a carbon repair job. An honorable mention is Titanium, another metal frame material that is widely used in the cycling world. What makes it unique is that it is extremely forgiving, it’s a very strong material, and it’s also very light. So why are we not all on Titanium? It’s because it has to be welded in very special conditions and is expensive to produce.

Frame Geometry

Geometry is the design of the frame and will give it specific characteristics depending on the style it has been created in. For example, a road racing bike will be aggressive to make it fast. A Touring bike will be the opposite to make it comfortable.

A mountain bike will be designed for control. I bring this up because a gravel bike can be made for speed, comfort, or control, and they will come in many different shapes and sizes. Always read up on the bike you are looking at to make sure it will suit the riding you will be doing.

A good judge of comfort is how high the handlebars are compared to the saddle. If they are fairly even or the handlebars sit higher, expect it to be very comfortable. If the handlebars are very low, expect a more aggressive riding position.

Most gravel bikes are made for comfort, and that seems to be how companies are going when releasing a new gravel bike as it opens the rider up to lots of adventure riding.

Forks

Forks come in many different materials also. You can get forks in many different materials, Carbon, Steel, and Aluminium. Like the frames, they offer different characteristics. Aluminum is stiff and relatively lightweight.

Carbon is very light and stiff. Then Steel is heavy but flexible. Stiff forks like aluminum and carbon are generally on racing bikes, and steel forks are often used on tourers and bikes made for comfort. The stiffer the fork, the more agile it will feel, but it also will be a harsher ride. The more flexible, the less agile, the more forgiving.

Groupset

The Groupset or Gearing can also be very varied when it comes to cycling. You can have flat bars and use mountain bike gearing, you can have drop bars and have road bike gearing, or even you can gravel groupsets that sit between the two.

It comes down to what kind of riding you will be doing to match the groupset you will need. Typically bike companies will match the groupset to the style of frame they will be using. A good indicator is the front chainrings, 3x will be for touring and older mountain bikes, 2X is road and gravel, and 1x is mountain biking and gravel.

There are many exceptions to this rule, though. Most groupsets will offer a similar range of gears to each other. The gear range is what helps you in hilly terrain. When companies talk about speeds, it doesn’t affect the gear range. It is the number of options you have within that gear range. For example, a 2×8 speed can offer the same gear range as 1×10. The 1×10 will just have fewer options but still the same gear range.

We Think You’ll Like It: What Terrain are Gravel Bikes Good for?

Wheelset

The wheels are pretty simple on good gravel bikes. You usually either get 700c or 650b. 700c is typically seen on road bikes and is nearly the same as a 29” mountain bike wheel. 700c wheels are bigger than 650b and will normally have smaller and thinner tires on.

The bigger the wheel, the less agile it will be, but the better it will roll at higher speeds and over obstacles. The 650b is a smaller wheel nearly the same as a 27.5” mountain bike wheel. The advantage of a smaller wheel is you can fit bigger tires on them in the same frame.

Usually, a 650b wheelset will come with quite large tires. Small wheels such as 650b wheels are better at acceleration and are much more agile to move around at slower speeds, perfect for technical terrain.

Brakes

Brakes serve an essential purpose, but we have very different types of gravel on the market. Firstly you always want to be on disc brakes. If you’re looking at gravel bikes without, I’d be concerned about their ability.

There are two different types of disc brakes, Mechanical and Hydraulic. Mechanical requires cables, and when you pull the brake, the cable tightens, closing the calipers and slowing down the disc on the wheel. These brakes are good, and they work but will be much harder on the hands than hydraulic.

Hydraulic brakes are fluid actuated, and when the lever is pressed, the fluid is pushed to the caliper and closes the pads together. This system is more expensive but much more efficient and much easier on the hands. They are both as reliable as each other, in my opinion, but hydraulic require less maintenance.

Unique features

When it comes to gravel bikes, it’s always worth thinking about unique features as there are plenty to be found. Gravel bikes can come with suspension stems, suspension seat posts, dropper posts, flared bars, and even clutch rear derailleurs. Certain gravel bikes might cost more because of these features, but they can complement the riding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Gravel Bikes so good?

They can go off-road, they can go on the road, and also everything in between. They will not match a full-on road bike on the tarmac or a full-on mountain bike on a trail, but they will be able to do the job.

What makes a good Gravel bike?

A good gravel bike, in my opinion, will be comfortable, reasonably light, and very fun to ride. It should be about enjoying the miles.

What tire size is best on a gravel bike?

It depends on what you’re doing. Light gravel and mainly road, I’d recommend 37c. Off-road and heavy gravel, I’d personally recommend 45c and above.

Is a gravel bike better than a road bike?

They are very different bikes. Road bikes will always be best for the road as they are designed for that. Gravel bikes are designed to be able to be a little more adventurous.

Conclusion

Gravel bikes are a lot of fun. You will be able to use it in many different cycling disciplines, and it will spice up your training. If I could just have one bike in my garage, it would be a gravel bike. When it comes to picking the right gravel bike, it’s essential to look into what the gravel bike you are looking at buying is designed to do. Gravel biking hasn’t just come along as a fad, it’s here, and it’s here to stay. We will see a lot more UCI and professional gravel bike riding coming soon, and it will be a very recognized discipline.

Expert Tip

Suppose you’re new to gravel biking and come from a road biking background. I’d highly recommend starting on light gravel and slowly building up to more technical trails later. Slowly building up your confidence is the key to good off-road cycling.

Did You Know?

Gravel biking has got so much variety when it comes to events. You can have events as short as 20k, and as long as 2000k in length. One of the most epic Gravel races available is called the Inca Divide and is 1200k around the Andes Mountain range in South America.

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