Updated: 24th September 2025
While both monstercross and traditional gravel bikes feature drop bars and are designed for mixed-terrain riding, they serve distinctly different purposes and rider preferences.
Traditional gravel bikes typically max out at 42-45mm tire widths and prioritize speed and efficiency on gravel roads, making them excellent for racing and fast group rides.
Monstercross bikes, however, embrace 2.1″+ tires and prioritize capability over pure speed, excelling in chunky terrain, singletrack, and loaded touring scenarios where comfort and traction matter more than outright pace.
Think of gravel bikes as road bikes that can handle dirt, while monstercross bikes are mountain bikes optimized for drop bar comfort and long-distance efficiency.
The choice between them depends on your terrain priorities: choose gravel for faster, smoother surfaces and racing, or choose monstercross for serious off-road capability and adventure riding.
What is a Monstercross Bike? A Deep Dive Definition
Monstercross bikes represent the ultimate evolution of the drop-bar adventure bike concept—a category that emerged to fill the substantial gap between traditional cyclocross bikes and mountain bikes. The term “monstercross” perfectly captures these bikes’ defining characteristic: they’re monsters in terms of capability, combining the efficiency and hand position comfort of drop bars with the terrain-conquering ability of truly wide tires.
The Essential Monstercross Criteria
To qualify as a true monstercross bike, a machine must meet these specific benchmarks:
Tire Clearance: The non-negotiable requirement is clearance for 27.5″ (650B) tires that are 2.1″ (54mm) or wider. This isn’t just about fitting big tires—it’s about having the clearance to run them with proper mud and debris protection.
Drop Bar Design: Unlike flat-bar mountain bikes, monstercross bikes feature drop handlebars that provide multiple hand positions for long-distance comfort and aerodynamic efficiency when needed.
Bottom Bracket Drop: Proper monstercross geometry features a bottom bracket drop of 70mm or less, optimized for the smaller 650B wheel diameter to maintain appropriate pedaling clearance and handling characteristics.
Adventure-Ready Features: Multiple bottle cage mounts, rack bosses, and fender compatibility are standard, reflecting these bikes’ touring and bikepacking DNA.
Why 650B and Why 2.1″ Tires?
The 650B/27.5″ wheel size creates a sweet spot that 700c wheels can’t match. While most gravel bikes are limited to 42-45mm tire widths, monstercross bikes embrace 2.1″+ tires that transform the riding experience:
- Volume and Comfort: Wider tires run at lower pressures, providing superior comfort over rough terrain
- Traction: The larger contact patch delivers mountain bike-level grip on loose surfaces
- Versatility: The ability to swap between “road plus” tires (650B x 47-50mm) for fast pavement riding and “gravel plus” tires (27.5″ x 2.0-2.4″) for serious off-road adventures
Road Plus vs. Gravel Plus Capability
One of the most compelling aspects of monstercross bikes is their ability to completely transform character with a wheel swap:
Road Plus Setup: With voluminous 650B x 47-50mm road-oriented tires, these bikes become supremely comfortable endurance machines that maintain impressive efficiency on pavement while still handling light gravel with ease.
Gravel Plus Setup: Fitted with semi-slick MTB tires in the 2.0-2.4″ range, monstercross bikes become legitimate trail-riding machines capable of tackling singletrack, chunky gravel, and serious bikepacking routes.
Best Monstercross Bikes (650B Gravel Bikes)
All-City Gorilla Monsoon
The Original Monster
Designed to handle on- and off-road shredding, bikepacking, touring, exploring, and just plain having fun, the Gorilla Monsoon is All-City’s version of a cyclocross bike with no limits. This bike established many of the monstercross conventions that others would follow.
- Frame: 612 Select CroMoly steel with TIG welding and brazing
- Tire Clearance: Up to 27.5 x 2.4″
- Build: Complete bikes feature SRAM Apex 1x drivetrain with 36t chainring and 11-42t cassette
- Features: Stealth dropper post routing, multiple mounting points
- Price: Starting around $2,099
The Gorilla Monsoon’s steel construction delivers the compliance and durability that make it ideal for loaded touring, while its aggressive tire clearance means it can handle legitimate trail riding. The classic two-tone paint schemes remain some of the most distinctive in the category.
Ibis Hakka MX
The Lightweight Champion
The Ibis Cycles Hakka MX gravel bike is our answer to the Swiss Army Knife. With its ultra versatile geometry and 1000g frame weight, the Hakka MX is just as happy crushing the local club ride as it is jumping barriers or camping out.
- Frame: Full carbon construction under 1000g
- Tire Clearance: 700c x 40mm or 27.5″ x 2.1″
- Dual Compatibility: Can run either 700c or 650B wheels
- Price: Starting around $3,399 for SRAM Rival builds
The Hakka MX represents the performance end of monstercross, where lightweight carbon construction meets serious tire clearance. Its ability to excel with both wheel sizes makes it particularly versatile for riders who want one bike for everything from group rides to backcountry adventures.
Bearclaw Thunderhawk
I am new to being introduced to the Thunderhawk just found out about this bike a few days ago, if you are after a full titanium gravel bike. This is definitely a great option! Just look at this thing it is a weapon of a bike! It is available in two models; the high end Force 1 with Hydraulic Disc brakes and the Rival 1 with Mechanical Disc brakes. For the purpose of this article we are going to include the Rival for comparison sake. Which we included in the comparison document (available for FREE download) just to make it a more even playing field for the other bikes. The Rival option is priced at $3,890 with the Force 1 is $1,800 more at $5,690.
Put in Bearclaw’s words the “Thunderhawk lends itself as a performance-minded 650b road plus bike that’s equipped to handle all road adventure rides, mixed-terrain endurance races, gravel grinders, and long bikepacking trips.” You get all the rack, fender and other mounting options you could dream of and the bike fits up to a 700x50c (29×1.9″) or 650x60c (27.5×2.35″) tires.
Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross
The Original Name-Bearer
This is where the monstercross name originated. With mounting points for racks and the capacity to fit three water bottles, it really is the do-it-all bike. The Monstercross frame has been in the Black Mountain Cycles line-up since day one and as long as the demand for a simple rim brake bike that can fit 48mm tires, it’ll stay.
- Frame: Double-butted and heat-treated chromoly steel
- Tire Clearance: Up to 48mm (rim brake version), 50mm (disc version)
- Features: Horizontal dropouts, three bottle cage mounts
- Price: Complete builds from around $2,200
Note: The original rim brake Monstercross doesn’t quite meet our 2.1″ tire requirement, but the newer disc brake version with 50mm clearance earns inclusion as a foundational bike in the category.
Genesis Vagabond
The Trail-Ready Monster
The Genesis Vagabond pushes monstercross toward true mountain bike territory. Built around 29″ wheels but designed for drop bars, it represents the extreme end of the category.
- Frame: Reynolds 725 heat-treated steel
- Tire Clearance: 29″ x 2.2″
- Features: 12mm thru-axles, multiple bottle bosses, +17 degree stem
- Price: Complete bike £1699.99, frameset £699.99
The Vagabond’s 29″ wheel choice and mountain bike geometry make it the most capable off-road option in this list, though it sacrifices some of the balanced handling that makes 650B monstercross bikes so appealing.
Surly Midnight Special
The Versatile Workhorse
Surly’s take on the road plus concept offers impressive tire clearance in a practical package that embodies the brand’s utility-first philosophy.
- Frame: All steel construction
- Tire Clearance: 650B x 60mm or 700c x 42mm (without fenders)
- Features: 12mm thru-axles, flat-mount disc brakes, modern road standards
- Build: SRAM Rival 1x setup
- Price: Around $2,000
The Midnight Special’s massive 60mm clearance with 650B wheels puts it firmly in monstercross territory, while its steel construction and practical features make it an excellent choice for touring and commuting.
Masi Giramondo 27.5
The Touring Throwback
The Giramondo brings old-school touring bike sensibility to the monstercross category with bar-end shifters and a 3x drivetrain.
- Frame: All steel construction
- Tire Clearance: 650B x 2.1″
- Drivetrain: 3×10 Shimano Deore with bar-end shifters
- Features: Extensive mounting options
- Price: Under $1,200
For riders who prefer the simplicity and range of traditional touring gearing, the Giramondo offers monstercross capability with classic touring bike DNA.
Surly Ghost Grappler
The Trail Destroyer
The Ghost Grappler pushes the boundaries of what we consider monstercross, offering mountain bike-level tire clearance with drop bar ergonomics.
- Frame: Surly steel construction
- Tire Clearance: 27.5″ x 2.8″ (the most in this category)
- Geometry: MTB-inspired with comfortable drop bar positioning
- Features: Massive clearance, multiple mounting options
The Ghost Grappler’s extreme tire clearance makes it more of a drop bar mountain bike than traditional monstercross, but its capabilities are undeniable for riders seeking maximum off-road performance.
Sklar SuperSomething
The California Craftsman
The SuperSomething represents California framebuilding at its finest, with both steel and titanium options available. The bike handles 29 x 2.2″ tires comfortably, though some riders have successfully fit even larger rubber.
- Frame: Double-butted, heat-treated chromoly steel (also available in titanium)
- Tire Clearance: 700c x 2.1″ or 650B x 2.1″ (some riders fit up to 2.2-2.35″)
- Features: Crown and dropout bosses for front racks, fender compatibility with up to 50mm tires
- Price: Steel frameset starts around $2,200, titanium options available
Sklar describes the SuperSomething as falling about 40% along the spectrum from a fat tire road bike to a mountain bike, meaning all kinds of builds are possible. The attention to detail and hand-built quality make this a standout option for riders wanting something truly special.
Crust Bombora
The California Artisan
The Bombora is designed around 650B/27.5″ wheels with a maximum 2.3″ tire size, though some riders have successfully run up to 2.4″ rubber. With traditional frame design and artistic details like a bi-plane fork crown, the Bombora delivers a timeless custom builder aesthetic.
- Frame: Steel construction with custom builder details
- Tire Clearance: 650B x 2.3″ (some fit 2.4″) or 700c x 48mm
- Features: Flat mount disc brakes, road crank compatibility with max 44t chainring
- Availability: Frameset only, custom builds available
Crust describes the Bombora as capable of being a light tourer, randonneur, dirt tourer, bikepacking rig, or city bike—true monstercross versatility that embodies the “one bike for everything” philosophy.
Fairlight Faran
The British Adventure Tourer
The Fairlight Faran represents modern British framebuilding at its finest, with generous tire clearance and adventure-ready geometry that makes it perfect for everything from loaded touring to gravel racing.
- Frame: Reynolds 631 steel construction
- Tire Clearance: 650B x 58mm (2.3″) or 700C x 50mm, can fit 27.5 x 2.4″ tires
- Features: Multiple mounting points, touring geometry, adventure-focused design
- Price: Starting around £2,000 for framesets
The Faran’s impressive tire clearance and touring-focused features make it an excellent choice for riders planning serious adventures or multi-day bikepacking trips.
OPEN WI.DE.
The Performance Monstercross
OPEN’s WI.DE. brings aerodynamic efficiency to the monstercross category without sacrificing tire clearance, proving that you can have both speed and capability.
- Frame: Full carbon construction with aerodynamic tube shaping
- Tire Clearance: 650B x 2.1″ or 700C x 47mm
- Features: Aero-optimized design, high-end carbon construction
- Price: Premium pricing reflecting carbon performance focus
The WI.DE. demonstrates that monstercross bikes don’t have to sacrifice speed for capability, making it ideal for riders who want to race and adventure with the same bike.
Brother Cycles Mehteh
The Steel Purist’s Choice
Brother Cycles’ Mehteh offers classic steel construction with modern monstercross capabilities, built for riders who appreciate traditional framebuilding craftsmanship.
- Frame: Steel construction with classic geometry
- Tire Clearance: Generous clearance for 2.1″+ tires
- Features: Adventure-focused design with touring DNA
- Availability: Limited production from British framebuilders
The Mehteh represents the intersection of traditional British framebuilding and modern monstercross functionality.
Salsa Fargo
The Bikepacking Pioneer
The Fargo helped establish the template for modern adventure bikes, combining drop bar comfort with serious off-road capability and bikepacking-optimized features.
- Frame: Steel or titanium options available
- Tire Clearance: Designed for 29″ x 2.2″ tires with drop bars
- Features: Extensive mounting options, bikepacking-focused geometry
- Price: Multiple build options from around $2,200
While technically a 29″ bike, the Fargo’s drop bar configuration and adventure focus make it a spiritual ancestor of the modern monstercross movement.
Curve GXR “Kevin”
Again this bike is available as a frameset. You can also order a complete bike, but only based on availability. You may need to contact Curve if you are interest in this rig. To make the Kevin, Curve had to take the fun of a cyclocross bike, fused in some adventure feels and rolled it into one neat do-it-all package that can take you anywhere. You get the option for 700c or 650B. With 700c wheels with 28–45mm tyres for Road/Gravel/Cyclocross or go full HellCat with 650b (27.5”) wheels running 1.8–2.2” tyres. Frameset starts at $3,999 Aud
Monstercross bikes represent the ultimate expression of drop bar versatility. They’re machines built for riders who refuse to be limited by terrain or distance—bikes that can handle a morning group ride, afternoon singletrack session, and weekend bikepacking trip with nothing more than a wheel change.
The category has evolved far beyond its humble beginnings, now encompassing everything from lightweight carbon race machines to steel touring monsters. What unites them all is that magic combination of drop bar efficiency and fat tire capability that makes them true quiver-killers for adventurous riders.
About The Author
