We have written multiple articles on the best gravel bikes. Ranging from $500 now up to $3,000. This article focuses only on gravel bikes in the price bracket $2,500 to $3,000. If you are looking for other best gravel bikes but for even less I suggest checking out our other articles.
But let’s get into these bikes, hey?!
Niner RLT 9 Steel 2-Star Apex 1
Okay please forgive, yes its $99 over the budget for this list. But I couldn’t come to grips with recommending a gravel bike that is made from alloy if you are going to spend $3k. You can pick up the Niner RLT 9 Alloy for a few hundred dollars less, but steel is real!
Available in emerald green or black/bronze, the Steel Niner RLT 9 is designed for adventure and versatility. With a Reynolds 853 Steel frame and an RDO carbon fork. The frame is compatible with both 700 x 50c tires and 650b x 2.0″ tires. The frame also features integrated frame mounts, external cable routing, and rack and fender mounts so you can easily transform this bike into a daily commuter or touring bike.
Genesis Vagabond
The all new Genesis Vagabond is a monstercross bike in the loosest of terms, what’s that? Think love child of a road and mountain bike, a true adventure steel gravel bike. Here at Cycle Travel Overload we are all about exploring by bike, no surprise we recommend adventure ready gravel gravel bikes.
So the Vagabond sees some upgrades with 12mm thru-axles and the use of Reynolds’ benchmark 725 steel for even further advanced riding quality. The Vagabond screams “take me off-road” with the 1X Sram Apex drivetrain and 36-tooth chainring and 11-42T cassette for better climbing on the steep stuff. It also has the Kenda Saber Pro 29 x 2.1 tires with clearance for up to 29 x 2.2″ wheels and tires. The frame and fork as more then enough braze-ons for mounting all the gear you need for your next adventure.
Liv Devote Advanced 2 Be Good
The perfect women’s gravel bike! The Devote has what it takes to fulfil your bikepacking and gravel grinding desires. Carbon gravel bike made from Advanced-Grade Composite ensuring a lightweight bike for speedy adventures allowing you to sail up climbs and accelerate quickly on paved or gravel roads.
An adventure ready women’s gravel bike with clearance for 45c tires and mounts for racks, accessories and three water bottle cages, this bike meets the demands of your next epic ride. Thanks to the Internal cable routing and D-Fuse seatpost and handlebars. The bike presents a clean look with vibration-damping comfort and less maintenance. Featuring a 2×11 drivetrain with 32/48 T crankset and Shimano 105 11×34 T cassette. With Giant CrossCut AT 1, 700x38c tires. Be Good!
Bulls Trail Grinder
Okay so I know I said no alloy bikes but hey this has to be the coolest and most unique looking gravel bike under $3,000! the bike handles both gravel roads and singletrack thanks to the very cool looking Rail Sport 29 x 2.1″ tires. Its definitely ready for exploring, even comes with a Limotex Alpha 1 Light dropper post with 100mm travel. And a rather limiting 42T crank and 11-42T cassette and not the mention the aluminium frame and limited mounting points for gear. It’s really only in the list for its looks 🙂 Weighing 21.85 lbs or 9.91 kg.
Canyon Grail CF SL 7
A highly versatile gravel bike ready for just about anything. The all carbon build for this model weighs in at 9.36 kg under budget for this list. Featuring Shimano’s GRX810 gravel groupset, you get that unique two-tier designed handlebar setup giving that floating bar illusion from the side profile of the bike. Canyon have even gone as far to match their all new Canyon Grail Frame Bag to the multi colour of the bike. It even features a internal seatpost clamp which grips the seatpost lower down in the seat tube, increasing the seatpost’s effective bending length for more comfort.
All City Gorilla Monsoon
Check out what we have to say about this bike. All City describe this bike as their dirt do-it all solution. A sweet beast designed to handle on or off-road shredding, bike-camping, short-duration dirt touring, and the pursuit of good times!
You get the ultimate all steel adventure bike build, with 650b x 2.4″ tires, hydraulic brakes and dropper post, with a 1×11 drivetrain, which offers a rather limited 25.01″ climbing gear when compared to other bikes in this list. The all new 2022 Gorilla Monsoon comes in a GRX and Apex build kit. Weighing in at 13.15 kg or 29 lbs and max tire clearance for 27.5 x 2.4″
Marin Headlands 1
The Marin Headlands 1 Bike is built for adventure on and off-road riding. The full carbon frame features modern geometry, ample tire clearance (for up to 700 x 45mm or 650b x 50mm tires), and excellent ride quality on rougher terrain. The frame is also compatible with internally routed dropper posts, has rear rack mounts so you can easily transform this bike into a daily commuter or light-duty touring bike, and can use mudguards.
This version of the Marin Headlands comes with a Shimano GRX RX600 11-speed drivetrain. This includes a cassette 11-42T and 40T crank with Schwalbe G-One Performance 700 x 40mm tires.
Kona Libre CR
At jut under $3k the Libre CR by Kona is for the rider that knows exactly what they want in their gravel bike. A fast, efficient and comfortable bike across any terrain. Whether its bikepacking, ripping the local gravel roads, or out on an epic summer-time century. Its the bike with the perfect blend of quality mixed with price.
Specialized Diverge Expert E5 EVO
One of probably the better bikes in the list when it comes to climbing gears thanks to the new 38T crank and RAM NX Eagle 11-50t cassette. If you are looking for a flat bar gravel bike this is the cream of the crop.
When it comes to the bikes geometry it is more progressive then the new drop bar Diverge. With an increase in the reach, slackened head tube and lowered the bottom bracket, resulting in a rather planted feeling.
The bike is MTB inspired, with a 1 x 12 high end level GX Eagle, Rival 1 groupset, hydraulic disc brakes and a dropper post. Built around an alloy frame and carbon fork. Rolling on some 700x42mm tires, you get max clearance for 47mm with a 700c wheel and 2.1” with a 650b wheel.
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