Handmade custom gravel bikes: 5 Shotter highlights from the Bespoked trade fair

This year’s Bespoked was all about gravel bikes: drop bars and slightly knobbly tyres as far as the eye could see. But it wouldn’t be a trade fair for bespoke frame building if, by 2026, these tyres weren’t frequently appearing in the new 32-inch size. Whether 32, 29 or 28 inches, with a steel or aluminium frame: we were there at Bespoked and picked out the finest gravel bike gems from the show. With so much exclusivity on display, even die-hard tech geeks can’t help but be amazed.

Conclusion

Gravel bikes are one of the most popular categories in the custom frame-building scene. Indeed, almost half of the exhibitors at Bespoked showcased a standout gravel bike: brimming with craftsmanship and a passionate dedication to cycling. We’re featuring five of them in this article. Fans of unique gravel bikes should, however, keep their eyes peeled over the coming days and weeks. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor

1. Retro meets modern: Cybercycles Grawall 32”

​Stefano and Horst from Cybercycles have a soft spot for the style of the 80s and 90s. That’s why they keep conjuring up cranks, stems, forks and even frames with a retro look. Forty years ago, however, no one would have imagined that gravel bikes with 32-inch wheels would one day become all the rage. At Bespoked, Cybercycles is showcasing a modified version of the Grawumm steel gravel bike featuring the new giant wheels, which they’ve named the “Grawall”. Although it has a classic look, this show bike is fully state-of-the-art, featuring 3D-printed components and CNC-machined details. Naturally, the handcrafted Grawall 32” is fitted with the brand’s own clean steel components. A highlight for metal enthusiasts: the Cyber Cranks GR, weighing just 495 grams.

2. Milled in Greece: Aper Dryad

The Greek CNC specialists brought a particularly exciting gravel bike with them to Bespoked. The new Dryad is made entirely from CNC-machined aluminium. By varying the arrangement of the milled struts, Aper can customise the stiffness of different frames and tailor them to the rider. But that’s not all: at the junction between the seat stays and the seat tube, there is a flex point concealed within a bolted bushing. This is designed to enhance riding comfort on rough gravel tracks. The individual frame components are also bolted together. Despite being manufactured locally in Greece, the price – starting at 1,500 euros for the frameset – remains extremely competitive. Aper states that the frame weighs 1,700 grams and the fork 740 grams.

3. Music to a tuner’s ears: Dangerholm’s Scott Scale Gravel

Naturally, professional tuner Dangerholm is keen to present yet another show bike at Bespoked, optimised down to the very last detail. The gravel bike is the result of a collaboration with the Swedish guitar maker Strandberg and features the same paint finish as the accompanying (and, of course, equally ultra-light) musical instrument. The starting point was a Scott Scale hardtail mountain bike frame, which Dangerholm combined with an ultra-short stem and drop bars. Interestingly, the bike is also said to have a sound all of its own. A silent hub set from Onyx has been combined with textile spokes, designed to evoke the strings of a guitar, and even the Brakestuff brake discs were selected based on the sound they make when braking. Featuring a prototype carbon crankset from Darimo and new aero carbon rims from R2, this one-off bike weighs in at just 8.85 kilos.

4. Australian Ferris wheel: Curve Big Kev of Steel 32”

Curve made the long journey from Australia to take part in Bespoked. There, the brand showcased the latest V2 version of its ‘Big Kev of Steel’ with 32-inch wheels. The prototype features a new steel fork, which is designed to improve handling compared to the first 32-inch version. Hidden within it is a flip-chip that allows the offset to be adjusted. This enables various configurations to be tested with the new wheel size. Chief designer Jimmy Rostlund is currently riding the handmade steel frame in size Medium to gain experience with 32-inch wheels. In his view, there’s no reason why even the XS size of the Big Kev of Steel couldn’t be fitted with 32-inch wheels one day.

5. It doesn’t get any bigger than this: Sour Purple Pie 4XL

Sour built this special version of the Purple Pie gravel bike for a customer over two metres tall. In relation to the standard frame sizes, this one-off would correspond to size XXXXL. To ensure the right dimensions, the enormous bike is fitted with 32-inch carbon wheels from Nextie. The frame is fitted with a Pinion gear system. The Purple Pie is driven by a Gates belt. A hub dynamo supplies power to the lighting system. Naturally, the steel frame shines in a striking two-tone special paint finish. Thanks to local production in Dresden, Sour probably had the shortest journey to Bespoked.

What do you think: which do you reckon is the coolest gravel bike at Bespoked 2026? Let us know in the comments!