My Top 5 Gravel Bikes of 2023

I’ve tested at least 50 gravel bikes at this point - often inside events big and small - and here are my five favorite bikes as of May 2023.


0:00 intro
1:09 context
3:19 Specialized Crux
7:49 Ventum GS1
10:59 ENVE MOG
13:57 Stages deal
14:36 Cervélo Áspero-5
17:34 Giant Revolt


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The Ride is supported in 2023 by

[vikashpernenkil]

I bought a Giant Revolt Advanced 0 a few months ago and absolutely love it. Also glad to have my purchase validated!

[craighamilton]

I have been road racing for decades and 2 years ago I decided to get a gravel bike. I had never ridden gravel before and I bought the Giant Revolt for no other reason than it was in stock at my local bike shop. I was surprised, shocked really at how much I like this bike. If I'm not doing a race or fast group ride I'm on my revolt.

[cosmicheretic]

The value of the Revolt Advanced 3 was a big motivator for me to go Carbon for my first gravel bike. I can upgrade it over time and am starting with a bigger cassette and faster rolling wider tires.

[Chris_Rides_Bikes]

Hi Ben, great video as usual! I was really happy to see the Revolt as your #1 since I just picked one up as my first “real” gravel bike (been riding cross bikes on trails forever).. I think you hit the nail on the head with the value that Giant brings.. I was able to get the Revolt Advanced 0, with carbon wheels and GRX 810, for $4, 200 (2022 model).. that’s an insane spec for that price! I looked at all the other brands, even consumer direct, and couldn’t find a similar deal.. plus the fit was just about perfect for me.. I looked hard at some other bikes like the Crux and Aspero and they were both too “racy” for me since I don’t have the advantage of being able to ride every day to be in better shape :) Appreciate your insight and I always Enjoy the Ride whenever I can!

[garyhocking]

Great review. I love my 2020 Giant Revolt. Great on gravel with 40c tires and great on the road. I swap in 50mm carbon wheels with 28c road tires for rides that are all paved.

[gerryl]

There ya' go again Ben... raising the bar for enjoyable, hands-on, real world reviews. Spectacular work. Two of my potentials were on your list though #1 totally got me by surprise which isn't a bad thing. Thanks to you getting closer to making a buying decision. Am going over some of the for me unfamiliar brands at Sea Otter. Wish had known of it before. Definitely would have driven up from L.A. Kinda curious about titanium bikes now especially if material as light as carbon and if truly makes ride more compliant, etc. Huge thanks again for what you do. Cheers!

[thomaskuhn]

You made my day, I always feel good when an expert validates my choice. My Revolt puts a smile on my face very time I take it out and really love the GRX Di2 2X drivetrain.

[mattoleary]

Another masterpiece video. Thank you Ben! I’m amazed you got all that info in a 20 minute clip. 😮

[tariqkamil]

Brilliant. Thanks. I’m on the aspero (not the 5). Some upgrades like seat post from black inc, terra Argo saddle, aero alu bars (cos I like the flat part). And finally 2 wheelsets, Bontrager pro 3v for gravel and Ican aero 35 (super light at 1350g) for road/all road, light gravel.

[pjdubz]

Yay for Giant! Love my (Giant) Liv Devote advanced 1. A Revolt with just a few tweaks for women specific. I opted for the 1X and love it. My everyday fun adventure bike.

[lazarosnikolaidis]

I'm not into gravel bikes, I'm 100% on road. However, I like your videos, races, adventures and footage. The present list although personal, it's close to perfection as includes indeed 5 of the best current bikes. And surprise-surprise, No1 is a bike most people would buy, not just dream. So, well done.
Surprise that you are the 'Aero is everything' inventor, something that even if I'm against (I love standard tubing and shallow wheels that suffer less in the crosswinds), it haunted me for a longtime since every person I know hit me in the head with this motto !!
I believe that you should share a tour of your bikes at the garage. Your Tarmac, Enve, etc + all the adjustments/modifications you love or you suggest.
But most of all - I repeat myself - your stuff is very interesting, fun(ny) and informative. Thanks!

[jameshoward]

Really appreciate your honest, perceptive feedback. Rarely do you go wrong with a Giant. Well engineered, reasonably priced, increasingly well designed. If I go mainstream, I go Giant. They just work and work well. The Revolt is an absolute standout. I'm riding a steel Ritchey Outback at the moment, But I owned a last gen Revolt Adv and it was excellent: stable enough, comfortable enough, fast enough, reliable... Can't beat them with a stick! I'm returning to carbon for racing soon and Revolt ties with Lauf on the shortlist.

[TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Here's my list of 50 tested gravel bikes. Some I rode for months and months; some for just a day. Most were somewhere in between.
Specialized Crux
Ventum GS1
ENVE MOG
Cervélo Áspero-5
Giant Revolt (22)
Pivot Vault
3T Exploro RaceMax
BMC Kaius
Cervélo Áspero
Canyon Grail (M) CF SL8
Salsa Warbird
Giant Revolt (20)
Specialized Diverge (22)
Specialized Diverge STR (23)
Trek Checkpoint (22)
Trek Checkpoint (original)
Lauf True Grit (Lauf fork)
Lauf (RockShox Rudy/XPLR)
Lauf Anywhere
BMC URS
BMC URS 01 (w Redshift)
BMC URS LT
Evil Chamois Hagar
Litespeed Ultimate G2
Argonaut GR3
YT Szepter
Ritte Satyr Steel 2.0
Alchemy Ronin Carbon
Allied Able
Cannondale Slate
Cannondale SuperSix EVO SE
Cannondale Topstone
Canyon Grizl
Chapter 2 AO
Litespeed Cherohala SE
Moots Routt RSL
Moots Routt 45
Moots Routt ESC
Mosaic GT-1
Mosaic GT-2 45
Niner MCR 9 RDO
Thesis OB1
Trek Domane Gravel
Devinci Hatchet
Canyon Grail AL
Canyon Grail CF SLX
Bianchi Arcadex
Pinarello Grevil
Pinarello Grevil F
Mason Bokeh

[michaelnicholas]

This guy is so great to watch and listen to! He really knows his stuff and lives biking.

[NewDoughs]

I have the lowest priced revolt. Its a great bike even at the lowest spec, especially for someone getting into biking more or a commuting/around town bike that you arent too afraid to lock. Also they look sweet, again even at the lowest price point people frequently think its a very expensive bike.

[jeffplace]

Great Video with lots of informed insights. I own a Ventum GS1 and agree with your commentary specific to that machine. Keep up the good work!

[mattdickins]

Bought a Revolt Advanced 0, seat tube split after 80kms due to a design flaw.
Giant shop mocked me, saying it wasn’t common (check the internet!) and then said I’m a penalizing manner, it’s going to take months to get you a new frame.
Giant couldn’t supply a replacement frame in the same colour.
Eventually got a CX frame as a replacement.
Now own a Checkpoint and the service, warranty and treatment at the Trek shop has been phenomenal!

[derekvirta]

I've had a Salsa Warbird for years. It works! I don't have a need for another gravel bike, but I'd be interested in the Lauf, especially since they are CHEAPER now that they have a warehouse in the US. I love MTBing, but I agree with you on suspension or lack thereof on a gravel bike. If I need suspension I'm grabbing my XC/enduro bike.

[davidkelly]

I just bought an Aspero Apex 1x a few weeks ago and loving it so far.

[DJLaFontsee]

I love my 2021 Giant Revolt. Would trade in for the new version with more race-focused geometry and more mounts for bikepacking if I had the money, but it's still a rock solid bike that feels awesome in a wide range of riding styles and surface types.