Gravel Bike Reviews

Cycling Weekly

We have seen a whole host of new gravel bikes land this year which means this year is going to make for a great time to take to the rough stuff. Thanks to our extensive testing for our 'Gravel Bike Of The Year' awards, we have spent lots of time with the most popular models out on the market today. We have rounded up our favourite and in this video you will find our top 7 best gravel bikes for 2025. We have the best offerings from brands like Enve, Specialized, Canyon, Cervelo, Ridley and Merida.

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00:00the world of gravel bikes used to be simple a road bike with a slacker geometry and wider

00:05tire clearance but fast forward to 2024 and there are a plethora of different options available on

00:13the market gravel race bikes gravel exploration bikes really the list goes on so to make things

00:20simpler we have picked out seven of the best bikes on the market in 2025 so stay tuned for

00:27our top picks for every type of gravel rider let's jump into the merida silex a bike that has been

00:34stirring excitement ever since mate mohoric rode it to victory at the 2023 uci gravel world championships

00:42the new silex is geared towards adventure boasting an updated geometry with a 69.5 degree head angle

00:49that leans into mountain bike stability merida's kept the silex broad appeal intact while adding

00:54serious upgrades for starters the silex can now handle 45 millimeter tires giving it solid grip

01:01for off-road handling though it's a bit shy of the 50 mil standard that some gravel riders prefer

01:08with 180 millimeter disc brakes both front and rear this bike delivers confident braking power

01:14especially when loaded with gear perfect for bike packing trips we tested the merida silex 10k last

01:22year complete with reynolds carbon wheels sram axis explore group sets and an 8750 pound price tag and

01:30we were incredibly impressed its bags are fun to ride and dare we say it still provides decent spec value

01:38for money against the competition that said the silex range is broad and there is better value to be found

01:44lower down in the range next up we've got an iconic crux from specialized but hold on this isn't another

01:5410 000 pound superbike instead it's a trusty alloy steed the specialized crux d sw shines as an adaptable

02:03slightly more wallet friendly choice for riders seeking one bike to tackle gravel cyclocross and road

02:09constructed from specialized delucio smartworld aluminium this versatile alloy frame mirrors the

02:16high performance geometry of the pricier crux carbon models offering an impressive 47 millimeters of tire

02:22clearance and a fact 12r carbon fork for responsive handling on diverse terrains during testing the crux dsw's

02:32lively ride proved especially agile on climbs and stable on descents handling tight corners with ease

02:39although it's heavier than its carbon siblings a will set upgrade like swapping dt swiss g540 hoops

02:46for lighter rover wheels unleashes even more of the crux's potential at 2 300 pounds for the complete build

02:54it's a well-priced entry into gravel and multi-surface riding the crux dsw frameset is also available for

03:01those who prefer to build their dream bike from scratch from the biggest market player to a brand

03:09that has built its reputation on great value german engineering we've got something from canyon

03:15the canyon grail cf-8 is one of the most sensible bikes in the range providing race proven performance

03:22and an incredibly capable spec all at a rather modest price tag a newly designed more aerodynamic frame and

03:30a one-piece double drop handlebar work together to minimize drag resulting in a streamlined profile

03:37the bike's extended wheelbase slacker head angle and low bottom bracket enhance its stability and inspire

03:44confidence on technical terrain it's built with bomb proof components including the shimano grx 822 12

03:51speed mechanical groupset and dt swiss g1800 wheels which are perfect for the majority of users however the

03:59high level of integration comes with compromises canyon specific accessory mounts and limited

04:05handlebar adjustability can add unexpected costs and restrict customization as many standard bike

04:12accessories won't fit with canyon's proprietary mounts at 2799 pounds for a carbon frameset and capable groupset

04:21and will set combo the grail cf sl8 is a stellar choice for gravel riders hunting for a great value spec

04:31next up we have got the trek checkpoint sl7 axis gen 3 a gravel bike that's built for adventure comfort

04:41and speed a prominent bike ridden by the likes of jasper steven in the uci gravel world champs the

04:47checkpoint stands out with updated colorways and geometry designed for endurance and stability

04:54this bike offers wider tire clearance and multiple accessory mounts ideal for serious

05:00bike packing or just having extra room for gear with integrated down chief storage you can easily stash

05:06essentials like tools or snacks giving you even more flexibility on your ride the bike's wireless

05:13group set provides smooth precise shifting while its bondrager airless elite carbon wheels and gravel

05:19specific handlebar design contribute to a clean high performance feel the checkpoint's iso speed

05:25decoupler now prominently visible absorbs bumps and rough terrain adding to its comfort without

05:32compromising speed whether you're navigating rocky paths or just enjoying a long scenic route the trek

05:38checkpoint sl7 axis gen 3 balances comfort and capability making it a top pick for any gravel

05:46enthusiast the only achilles is the 6 200 pound price tag our next bike is something rather different

05:56and more premium perhaps and is only really available as a platform for custom builds envy's first dedicated

06:03gravel bike the mog strikes an impressive balance between stability comfort and performance making

06:10it a solid choice for mixed terrain riding gravel racing or bike packing adventures during testing we found

06:16that the mog's lightweight carbon frame ample accessory mounts and thoughtful features like downcheap storage

06:23make it an adaptable and convenient gravel companion engineered around 700c wheels with up to 50

06:30millimeters of tire clearance the mog is specifically designed for high volume tires forgoing 650b

06:37compatibility to maintain its stable confidence inspiring geometry the mog frame offers plenty of

06:42mounting options a threaded t47 bottom bracket and the choice between a dropper or rigid seat post giving

06:49riders the flexibility to customize for varied off-road adventures on technical trails the mog's responsive

06:56handling and solid geometry shown with the 40 mil nvg series dropper post providing extra control on

07:02descents price that 5 500 pounds for the chassis the mog is a premium option but its versatility and

07:10thoughtful design make it a worthwhile investment for dedicated gravel riders

07:17the ridley canso fast marks our move from the true do-it-all gravel bikes and onto the slightly more

07:23race focus bikes of the gravel sphere the ridley canso fast brings high-speed aero design to gravel

07:30borrowing from ridley's noah fast road bike for its aerodynamic frame and geometry designed with a

07:36deep section head tube and fully integrated cables the bike cuts a sleek figure but it's also surprisingly

07:42comfortable the frames carbon flex and 38 millimeter vittoria torreno tires absorb a lot of trail chatter

07:50making it easy to maintain a smooth pedal cadence and efficient posture the canso's responsive handling

07:57and short wheelbase make it agile especially on technical single track however its short wheelbase can

08:03feel unstable on steep descents and toe overlap on our extra small test model may pose challenges on

08:09tight trails while the aero benefits are evident on long fast descents the extra weight and limited

08:16tyre clearance slightly reduce its overall versatility however the canso fast is ideal for gravel riders

08:22looking for a high performance race orientated bike that balances speed with a surprisingly comfortable ride

08:32the 2024 cervello aspero is a gravel bike boasting impressive versatility and comfort without

08:38compromising on speed designed with a carbon frame and an emphasis on all-day reliability the aspero shines

08:45on both gravel and smooth tarmac while the geometry stays largely unchanged from previous models it now

08:52offers greater tyre clearance and the option for a 46 tooth chainring making it more adaptable for varied

08:59terrain the updated rear triangle with drop seat stays and increased seat post flex contribute to a more

09:06forgiving ride especially on rougher surfaces with a sram apex axis groupset 40 millimeter wtb vulpine tires

09:15and fulcrum rapid red 300 wheels it's designed for riders who crave a balance of speed and comfort but

09:22with enough capability for gravel adventures the frame also features a flip chip that allows adjustments to

09:28the bike's trail for slightly altered handling depending on wheel size priced at 4 200 pounds the aspero does

09:36struggle against some of its rivals when it comes to delivering spec for money but for the keen gravel racer

09:42it remains a fantastic option and one that could easily be upgraded with a nice set of race wheels

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