10 Best Gravel Bikes 2023

My pick of some of the best gravel and adventure bikes for 2023

Content
00:00 Intro
1:32 Canyon Grizl
2:52 Giant Revolt
4:53 Cannondale Topstone
7:28 Mason Bokeh
8:57 3T Exploro Race Max Ultra
11:20 Scott Addict Gravel
14:11 Fairlight Secan
16:15 Specialized Diverge STR
18:02 Specialized Crux
19:22 Trek Checkpoint
20:45 Summary

Supported by Saddleback

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[Ecoroof]

I brought a Stayer Cycles Groadinger UG a few months ago. Steel frame carbon forks and wheels wireless shifting on 47mm tubeless tyres. It's an absolute beast of a bike. Fast nimble and strong. 54km ride today around Cannock chase and I didn't want to stop.

[davidnicholson]

These bikes are all wildly different, which reflects the fact that "gravel" is in the eye of the beholder. I ride a lot of dry, pebbly farm road gravel here in the American Midwest and I've personally found that I prefer something like the Crux: a cross bike that can fit slick 40mm tires. Anything more is overkill and slow. If you're in the UK and ride a lot of effectively muddy singletrack, you'll want way more bike. Similarly, when David recommends swapping out the Maxxis Receptors on the Revolt for "something better", he's talking about the conditions he rides in as for me the Receptors are actually the perfect gravel tires.

[nishiki]

Just sold my Titanium Enigma Excel road bike and my carbon Felt 29er and bought a Scott Addict Gravel 10, it’s bloody brilliant and does it all

[dopamethyldopa]

I had a top spec canyon grizl slx CF 8 which I loved riding. The seat tube cracked after 400km (2 months!). No crashes or any other trauma to the frame. Getting a warranty replacement through Canyon was a disaster. I recommend you consider their warranty replacement policy before buying from them. I've opted for a bike from a manufacturer that has a better warranty replacement process and will let me take the bike into an authorized dealer if I have any issues. Canyon has some pretty fancy marketing and sponsor awesome riders, but they don't take care of the people that pay full price for their bikes.

[robertkeefer]

I have the Giant Revolt Advanced 2, and it is a solid fun bike. It has been quite good so far.

[Aragorn.Strider]

I bought the Giant Revolt Advanced 3 from 2022. Nice to see it's on your list as well (yes I have the cheaper version but still), perhaps I did something good. I changed the tires to Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H40, and I love it. For me this works great on say a sunday 60km ride some with some broken tarmac, brick roads and some (easy) off road.

[Toops]

I brought a Crux and absolutely love the bike, the fact that it doesn't have extra bosses for mounts was one of the reasons to buy, threaded bb, no proprietary components, it's just a bike that can do just about everything it's not a specific type it's just fun

[roberttaylor]

Brilliant video! You looked at some awesome bikes from across the range and price points. If I had not have (already) bought an awesome Marin gravel bike a few months ago - I would really have seriously considered looking at the Mason and S-Works. This is a great way to find out your options / learn about the Brands and new models. I only decided what Marin model best suited my needs, only after watching several good YTube videos just like this one. Many thanks Dave and keep up the good work.

[ShafinRehman]

I've had my 2022 Addict Gravel 30 for only a month but it's been a blast. So fast, much smoother than my 2020 Trek FX 3 hybrid and the matte sparkly green paint is stunning. It's not a bike one sees often and I've already gotten quite a few complements on it. Pricing in Canada was great too but I had to wait over a year for delivery. It was worth it though. I originally was gunning for a Specialized Roubaix or Diverge but the yearly price increases were a massive turnoff.

[tomrodriguez]

Kona bikes? I bough one back in 2014 and it is the most dependable bike I've owned, at 61 I've owned a lot, really smooth riding and fair priced bike too.

[alex]

That’s a great list. I think the Aspero and Kaius are very worthy contenders as well.

[donadams]

Bought a Secan frame, kitted it out with a road group set and 38mm Pathfinder tires. Couldn’t be happier. Unbelievably comfortable on long road rides, but still plenty fast (I’ve even set some Strava PRs) and versatile enough to tackle the modest gravel /mixed surface riding I do. Not a race bike by any means, but for training and pleasure rides, it could not be better.

[HippieMTB]

Nice vid my dude. Ive been looking into the Canyon Grizl and lone behold thats the first bike you show. Real good video, its rare that I watch the full length of a video. You really know how to captivate your audience. ✌

[Ah_Lee_Sun]

I have the Liv Devote Advanced Pro (the ladies version of the Revolt) and the Maxxis slick tyres were terrible. I added Gravelkings (despite Giant telling me they would not fit to hookless rims) and the ride has been amazing.

[Volkmannx]

Nice selection, Fairlight being my favorite.

[dand]

I picked up a Specialized Sirrus X5.0 in 2020, carbon fiber lightweight with the future shock 1.5 and a 1 X 11 gear train, the only real difference between it and the much more expensive Diverge is that I have a flat bar which while not aero, is very comfortable.
I’m just surprised that bike YouTubers show no love for a flat bar bike.

[chriss]

For me, a threaded bottom bracket is extremely important. Suddenly, very few brands remain to choose from.

[benrobinson]

I'd happily add the Nukeproof Digger to the list, best gravel bike I've owned so far. By far the most aggressive and resilient of the bunch.

[TheDiegis]

Scott Addict Gravel is on my radar for some time now, keen to see your review b4 I pull the trigger!! 😁

[jensbertholhansen]

Love my Mason Bokeh, which I received January 2018. Rides well and has taken me on many adventures.