Gravel bikes: 16 models under 3000 euros in the test

The 16 gravel bikes under 3000 euros

• VSF Fahrradmanufaktur GX >> e.g. available here
• Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 (Tip: Price/performance) >> e.g. available here
• Rose Backroad GRX RX820 (Tip: Test winner) >> e.g. available here
• Rondo Ruut AL1
• Merida Silex 700 (Tip: Offroader)
• Megamo West 10
• Marin Headlands 1 >> e.g. available here
• Koga Colmaro Extreme >> e.g. available here
• Giant Revolt Advanced 2 (Tip: All-rounder)
• Fuji Jari Carbon 1.3
• Canyon Grizl CF 6 SL AXS
• Corratec Allroad C2
• Conway GRV 9.0
• Bulls Machete
• Bergamont Grandurance Expert >> e.g. available here
• 3T Exploro Primo (Tip: sports equipment) >> e.g. available here

Not so long ago, a gravel bike test would have easily fitted the entire selection in our editorial office. In recent years, however, the gravel bike market has evolved considerably and is now more diverse than ever. Prices range from €10,000 down to affordable options, the equipment options are almost endless, there are specialisations for every conceivable purpose and brand names you've never heard of before. In order to carry out a fair and customer-friendly test, we had to narrow down the field. We focussed on all-rounders up to 3000 euros - this seems to be the financial limit for the average customer. Without suspension, without motors, without mechanical brakes.

Weight distribution of gravel bikes

Wheels on which the front wheel (right) carries more weight than the rear wheel react more quickly to steering commands and offer better traction at the front limit. However, the limit range is smaller and the steering is more sensitive to ruts. The weight measurement was carried out in a seated position on the lower link and the brake levers.

Mid-range: Gravel bikes under 3000 euros

The fifteen candidates that took part in the professional comparison in the laboratory and on the test lap represent the entire range of gravel bikes in the mid-range segment that are currently available on the market. There are frames made of various materials, including expensive titanium and exotic wood. The gear monopolists Shimano and SRAM offer nine different groupsets, and there are also differences in frame geometries. Initially, there were concerns regarding the evaluation of almost identical bikes, but these have been dispelled. In the mechanics labs, however, there are no major differences in the scores, which is why no models were overly praised or penalised as unrideable.

All overall scores are in the 2.x range. No candidate has achieved absolute top marks, as this would be pointless given the existence of models with a price tag of 8,000 to 10,000 euros. It is pleasing that there are no really poor scores. Especially at an experimental stage like the "Gravel", this could well have been the case. In terms of safety-related parameters such as stiffness and braking, the lowest grade is a B, and all sub-ratings below "sufficient" relate to the weight of the model in question. It is important to note that the rating scale also leaves room for professional quality. It is therefore always worth looking at both the certificate and the actual values and comparing them with each other. See also the individual scores in the table below.

Gravel bike test: In the lab and in practice

There is a good reason why we ran all models over a representative test track after an intensive lab test. In this way, we were able to confirm the measured values or uncover possible inconsistencies. Even if the technical data was very similar, as experienced testers with our sensitive hands and popometers we were still able to detect differences. Particularly with regard to the optimum range of use, we were able to somewhat invalidate the hard figures to make your purchase decision easier. Although gravel bikes are generally versatile bikes, there are specialised variants within this category. Overall, four basic types can be identified with various hybrid forms:

4 Gravel types

• Suitable for travelling: Increased seating comfort, stable straight-line stability, good damping and sufficient mounting options for luggage and bottles are important here. The weight, speed and gear range are less important.
• The all-terrain model: The focus here is on smaller gears, voluminous and heavily profiled tyres, sufficient weight on the front wheel, a powerful brake and a posture that is not too stretched out. Comfort when sitting, top speed and smooth steering behaviour are rather neglected here.
• The sports equipment: A frame geometry with handlebars for an aggressive upper body posture, a good balance between the front and rear wheels, a finely graduated gear system and the low weight of the bike and wheels make this model fast. Long-distance suitability and practical use are less of a focus here.
• The Commuter: An upright posture in everyday clothing is important for commuters. Easy handling, mounting options for everyday items and the robustness of the frameset, paintwork and components are more important than the overall weight, aerodynamics or extra-large gears.

It is almost impossible to combine all of these qualities, as some of them are technically contradictory. The test models show a colourful mix of characteristics in order to meet the different requirements of potential buyers. All bikes can be ridden on gravel without any problems, without the steering feeling spongy or a loss of power due to twisting at the bottom bracket. Braking behaviour in dry conditions was also excellent across the board. There were some differences in terms of gearing, mainly in terms of model generation, number of gears and gradation, but less in terms of quality. In addition, all wheels were equipped with modern and robust thru-axles that can withstand the high forces of the hydraulic disc brakes and are firmly bolted to the frame.

Minimal differences

Nine of the fifteen manufacturers rely on their own wheels to save costs. However, this is often at the expense of quality, with a few exceptions. So if the obvious differences are not decisive, the details must be. Even small nuances are clearly noticeable in a direct comparison. The frameset, which forms the basis of every bike, is particularly important. Not only do the material and the shape of the tubes have a significant influence on the handling, but even slight differences in millimetres and degrees in the geometry can completely change the character of the bike.

A brief outline will allow you to better categorise our test results. The extensive logic behind this could fill an entire book: The material and shape of the frame and fork elements are mainly responsible for stiffness (ideal for pedalling without losing power and for safe, dynamic steering) and flexibility (increases comfort by absorbing vibrations and small bumps). The seat post, handlebars and stem can be taken into account here.

Here it becomes clear that there is a conflict of objectives when it comes to making bikes stiff and flexible at the same time. However, it is a myth to believe that carbon is automatically extremely stiff, while steel is very flexible and aluminium is somewhere in between. In fact, you can currently achieve the highest stiffness for the same weight with carbon, but the processing, thickness and shape of the tube also play an equally important role. Many of the results in the test reports can be better understood if you follow the basic rule: "The thinner a component is and the longer it runs without support, the more flexible it becomes".

Gravel bikes under 3000 euros: speed comparison

The bars on the graph show the speed in km/h that can be reached in the lowest gear at 60 rpm and in the highest gear at 90 rpm of the crank. It is important to note that wide spreads of the cassette, as with the Merida (see picture), cause large and less economical gear jumps.

Geometry of the test gravel bikes

Shops often only talk about the frame height, which is the least accurate measurement of a bike. After all, the height of the saddle can be widely adjusted. Other important data such as the angle from the bottom bracket to the saddle or the angle from the fork axle to the ground as well as the length of the top tube are determined by the designer and are fixed. These parameters determine whether you sit further back on the saddle with your weight on the saddle and the pressure on your gluteal muscles or further forwards with more weight on your pelvis and can therefore pedal more biomechanically efficient. A difference of three degrees of tilt on the seat tube can make the difference between a long-distance bike and a racing model.

Similarly when leaning the upper body forward: a slightly longer frame length and/or a short head tube can transform a relaxed, semi-upright riding position into a highly athletic position with a better centre of gravity and aerodynamics. A good way to compare bikes is the established STR value, which represents the ratio of frame size to height (see individual ratings below). Our STR+ measurement in the test reports is even more practical: Handlebars and stem are also taken into account here. Higher values of around 1.25 indicate a more upright position, while the lowest value of 1.111 stands for a racing-style riding position.

The position and orientation of the rider influence the weight distribution on the front and rear wheels. This has a noticeable influence on the riding characteristics, especially off-road, and is therefore of interest for gravel bikes. The wheelbase, i.e. the distance between the axles, mainly influences the manoeuvrability of the bike. A rear wheel that is close to the bottom bracket and a steep fork make the bike more agile, while long wheelbases and caster ensure a stable straight-line ride. On gravel bikes with wide tyres and very short wheelbases, you should make sure that your shoe does not get caught on the front wheel when turning.

Brakes and gearsticks

As already mentioned, all the gears and brakes tested fulfil their function. The differences lie mainly in the operating concept as well as in the number, gradation and spread of gears - especially in relation to the smallest and largest gear. Modern, electronic shifting systems are an exception in this price range - only Canyon manages to install a wireless shifting system from SRAM for the budget. As a rule, classic shifting is still used with levers and Bowden cables. Beyond that, the preference for Shimano or SRAM is a matter of personal belief. Beginners get on better with two shift levers per hand, especially in stressful situations. In the gravel sector, single-speed cranks with just one chainring are becoming increasingly popular - a trend that we cannot fully understand, as it limits the range of applications but has few counter-indications.

Different switching concepts

If you're completely new to a bike, it can be helpful to quickly understand the shifting logic behind it. Four brands - Bergamont, Koga, Giant and Corratec - rely on 2x cranks from Shimano and have been consistently praised for this. There don't seem to be any space problems between the small chainring and wide tyres up to 48 mm wide, as is the case with Koga can be seen. SRAM does not offer a special gravel crank with two blades, but theoretically you could use the road range if there is enough space on the frame. The diagram with the gear ratios shows the different interpretations of the product managers in the gravel sector.

With the single-speed models, there was often the problem that the gears ran out either with a tailwind on the flat or on steep ramps. Models with a wider gear spread often lacked exactly the right gear ratio on the flat, as the jumps between the gears were too large. With twelve instead of eleven sprockets, this problem can be significantly reduced.

The SRAM drivetrains were, apart from the Rondo and Canyon are all equipped with the new 12-speed Apex. On Shimano bikes with only one chainring, only the Merida and the Rose equipped with the extra sprocket. Giant on the other hand, shines with two times twelve wonderfully finely graduated gears. The ten-speed gearstick on the Bergamont does not perform so badly due to the double crank. If you want to categorise a cassette on a singlespeed bike, you can follow the following tip: Subtract the number of teeth of the smallest sprocket from that of the largest sprocket and divide the result by the number of cogs in the cassette. The value should be between 3.5 and 2.5.

Shimano vs. Sram

With Sram, the brake lever is fixed, while you can shift both up and down by pressing inwards on the shift lever. With Shimano, on the other hand, the larger sprocket is selected with the brake lever, while the smaller sprocket is operated with the separate small shift lever. Shimano's Japanese concept is more intuitive and less error-prone, especially in hectic moments.

Wheels and tyres

Wheels and tyres give the gravel bike its individual character. Some prefer traditional 32-spoke wheels, while others opt for system wheelsets (LRS) with 24 spokes. Even in the racing sector, there should be no fewer than 24 spokes. In the test, we didn't find any models that exhibited stiffness problems under heavy braking or when pedalling. However, there were some models that were a little too heavy, which was more noticeable on the wheels than on the rest of the bike.

Choosing the best tyre is a challenge as it depends on various factors such as terrain, rider weight and ability. Sometimes narrow knobbly tyres are more suitable, while other situations may require more voluminous tyres with a lug pattern. For all-rounders, knobbly tyres with a width of around 45 mm have proven their worth. The more flexible they are, the better the grip. Most rims can be converted to tubeless, with the exception of those on Marin. We have put together some interesting gadgets from the manufacturers (see picture gallery above).

The individual grades of the gravel bikes tested

Red are the scores from 5.0, orange are the values that are slightly out of line, green are positive outliers. This allows you to exclude gravel bikes depending on your personal weighting.

*LL = for life, CR = Crash Replacement

Explanation of the table and graph

In the case of the five-axle graphic above, the more area coloured blue, the better the overall impression of the bike. The partial scores are shown graphically and the good scores are on the outside. A clear distortion of the pentagon shape indicates selective weaknesses or "island talents". In the table above, high measured values are sometimes bad, as small values are better in the comfort measurements. This means that less force was needed to deform the wheel and achieve damping. On the other hand, higher values are better for stiffness, as more force had to be simulated to cause torsion of the frameset. The grades correspond to the classic school grading system.

Explanation of the bar chart

The three bars provide a practical overview of the different models. The wider they are coloured, the more universal the model is. In addition to the equipment list and the test results, subjective riding impressions were also taken into account.

• Field of application: Bikes with a lot of riding comfort, good fixed points for luggage, cable ducts, good directional stability and puncture-proof profiled tyres are practical. Sportier models offer plenty of upper body support, gear ratios for speed, manoeuvrable steering and low weight.
• Substrate: Off-road here refers to unpaved trails and rough tracks, onroad to paved or tarmac roads. Gravel and dirt tracks lie in between.
• Seating position: Only road racers offer an upright riding position. Gravel bikes, on the other hand, are available from moderately sporty to almost upright.