Entry Level Gravel Bikes for 2023. How much do they cost?
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- čas přidán 6. 08. 2024
- #biggravelmiles #gravelbike
If you haven't noticed, the price of everything is up. This includes bikes. Here are 5 entry level bikes and what they are currently listed for online. But, If you are in the market, be patient. I bet you will be able to find some pretty sweet deals at shops and on the used market in the months to come.
Trek Checkpoint ALR 5:
Specialized Diverge E5: www.specialized.com/us/en/div...
Giant Revolt 2: www.giant-bicycles.com/us/rev...
Cannondale Topstone 4: www.cannondale.com/en-us/bike...
Kona Rove AL 650: konaworld.com/rove_al_650.cfm - Zábava
Your viewers may appreciate the entry level value in Marin and Polygon gravel bikes compared to the big brands. Much less affected by inflation/ price gauging.
Yes, I agree. I have included those bikes on one of my budget gravel bikes videos but I may revisit them and compare what they are selling for today. Great idea. Thank you!
I appreciate the existence of cheaper bikes. I just wish companies, in general, would offer more paint options. Like, I just want black bike with bright blue details like my 2017 Marlin 5. If I'm paying 1 grand, I at least want the option of colors.
I recommened the Topstone with the Microshift drivetrain to a friend who wanted to get back into cycling. This is the bike he bought. For the money, it's tough to beat, in my opinion. I also suggested the Polygon Heist X7, which I would call a super-hybrid. The Polygon has through-axles, a Suntour air fork, hydraulic brakes and an SLX 11-speed drivetrain. The Polygon comes with 45mm tires. If you back up a year or two, many gravel bikes would only accept 40 or 42mm tires. I'd rather have a bike capable of accepting a greater selection of tires. There is also the Marin DSX1, another flat-bar gravel bike with a carbon fork, a Deore 1 x 11 drivetrain with an 11-51 cassette, through axles, a tapered head tube and hydraulic brakes. The Marin has frame clearance to accept 2.1" tires. Think of the tire selection you now have. The Marin is on sale for $919 ($1149) and the Polygon is on sale for $999 ($1049). It seems like there is a hidden drop-bar "tax." Gravel bikes are hot right now, and when you look at bang for the buck, for the most part I'm not impressed. I'd recomend looking at a DSX or the Polygon with a suspension. Throw some bar-ends on the handlebars for an alternate hand position and call it good. If you're worried about being aero, you can slam the stem. No, you won't have the drop riding position, but you can still get outdoors and enjoy yourself.
Both, Sonder CAMINO AL GRX1 and Vitus VR 2 offer hydraulic brakes and Shimano group sets for under 1500. I’m leaning towards Sonder for it’s simpler GRX 600 1x 11-speed groupset though I may regret that living in a city with lots of hills!
I'm on the lookout for a bike and this video was very informative, thank you! I'm doing a couple of ultramarathons this year and I like the idea of cycling for cross training. I love the look of the mango cannondale topstone 4. I'm stuck between that or saving up a little more to get the olive carbon version, I think it's a real beauty.
Glad it helped! If you can swing it, carbon is pretty nice. But aluminum is still light and will absolutely get the job done!
I still don't understand why would anyone buy a Specialized bike today. The value for money proposition is so bad. This year I bought a carbon Polygon with 12spd Ultegra Di2, carbon vision Metron 5D cockpit and carbon 50mm wheels for less than 5k. I couldn't even get think of spec like this from Specialized for less than 8k and it only took 1 month to arrive. A friend waited a whole year to get his SL7.
I'm not sure either. Maybe brand loyalty? Specialized has been around forever. Other than that, I'm not sure. That or because they are sold in a lot of bike shops. And ppl go to a certain shop and that's just what they have.
Because it's their money, because they can, because they want to.
Some more options:
State All-Road 4130 - $900
Poseidon Redwood - $1000
Marin Nicasio+ - $1100
Jamis Renegade A1 & S4 - $1100 & $1400
Salsa Jouryneyer Claris - $1150
Lots of ways to get into gravel for not a ton of money.
Yea you are absolutely right. I've done a few other budget gravel bike videos in the past and I've included these bikes in other videos at some point. Was focusing on bigger brands for this video but there definitely are cheaper options.
Marin nicasio+ or cannondale topstone 4 which one is better?
i have two very nice gravel bikes both with GRX 800 series 1X drives and blah blah blah all that good stuff and i also have a posiden bikes gravel with lower end items on it and well.. that was under $1000 and the thing is amazing fun on trails..
Given I'm not completely bought in to gravel riding or biukepacking, but I'm curious enough to give both a go, I decided to shop for a gravel bike that would be unlike any of my other bikes and could also serve as an indestructible workhorse and overnight bikepacker -- for under a grand. After a month of research, looking at new and used bikes, and a few iterations of changing my mind about buying such a bike at all, I decided on a new Poseidon Redwood, for under $900. Mechanical disk brakes, Microshift 1X10, all aluminum frameset, and pretty heavy, but excellent value and, most importantly, essentially bulletproof.
Thanks for the comment. This could help some ppl who are in the market.
I have one.. the redwood is awesome.. and I have some expensive gravel bikes as well and love riding my posiden.. I made it tubeless and dropped some weight but the thing rips!
Here in Finland almost all entry and mid level gravel bikes are sold out. It's difficult to find a decent bike under 1500 euros and even used ones are sold quickly. I think I'll wait for summer until people will start selling their bikes which they don't need anymore
I agree with you - the prices on bikes at all levels have been going through the roof !
Like the price on that Trek Checkpoint ! Wow.
But I do recall just before covid hit bad in earl 2020 a friend got a Revolt 2 for $1,050,
now its $400 more? Giant really does get you a lot for the money , imo.
and 2x9 is fine to get started on gravel - upgrading the drivetrain isn't a huge a deal
if the base fame is decent.
Absolutely! And I remember before covid a carbon revolt (I think with 105 or GRX) was right around $2,500. The build of that trek is fine but a freaking aluminum bike for $2,500 is ludacris.
I’ve been obsessed with the price point since covid. First, until now in my area, none of them have been in stock. But now some are coming in. Then there’s Canyon with the Grail 6 for $1700 with GRX400 and hydro brakes? It’s a balance now of LBS for more $… 😐 It’s hard to think about $2500+ for anything mid level and up. FB marketplace and CL have been pretty active. I see almost nothing on Pinkbike. Then there’s always the used CX route… For $500 or so you get 105 and canti brakes.
Absolutely. Honestly I feel bad for the shops for what I think is about to happen. They are the ones that are going to suffer. The big brands will always make their money...
Entry level Ozark Trail G.1 Explorer Gravel Bike - $248 and it's amazingly upgradable.
I've seen some videos on this bike! I actually want to buy one and test it out. Would be an affordable extra bike to have for friends to ride or whatever.
All the hate on mech brakes. My $2700 All City Cosmic Stallion in 2019 has mech brakes. I swapped the bb7’s for Spyres. Guarantee you don’t need more grip than this has. And I can maintain my brakes out on gravel. Doubt you can do the same on hydro. 😏
Yes, yes, yes! I should have mentioned that there is nothing wrong with mech brakes, they work just fine. BUT hydro are much nicer in my (not expert at all) opinion. I have mechanical brakes on my kona and they have never failed me. But the hydro on my other bikes do feel better.
Keep an eye on Planetx, TI gravel bike with force axis &2300 quid
Ah, I'll have to check it out!
I bought a Motobecane gravel 3 after my vintage Marin's frame broke,I have no camplaints,other than it weighs ,33lbs
Most gravel bikes and most bikes have thru axles, it's not a rare upgrade anymore like 3, 4, 5 years. Fuji jari 2.3 and 2.5 are very good deals
Check out our weekly newsletter of all the best road & gravel cycling deals!
Just get out there and ride!
Would you go with Kona Rove AL 700 2023 or Marin Gestalt 2023 ? I like that the Marin have hidden cables in the frame...
To be honest, if both are aluminum, they are probably similar. I kinda like the Gestalt. I'm by no means an expert though.
I would love to hear what you think of the Diamondback Haanjo 5? I haven’t come across a single person talking about this specific bike and have been searching for the perfect bike for my type of riding and this bike checks all the marks. It comes in at 2,200 after tax + warranty
Seems like a strong bike that will last and I can hopefully take to a few gravel riding competitions!?
It’s weak points are the small cog topping out at a 34 T which I may just replace with something ranging higher and not 100% sure but it looks like 700x37c tires may be its clearance limits.
I don’t want to settle with anything but a 2x GRX group set I’m pretty stuck on that and hydraulics are a must.
Do you have any recommendations or insight?
I know this is a long comment but I haven’t bought it yet and was hoping to talk to a few people before committing.
Thanks for your time!
I talked about the Diamondback in a video from a few years. Pretty cool bike at a good value, I'd say. I've actually got another video coming out today or tomorrow that I think you may find useful. Stay posted!
Great I look forward to it thank you!
not the case in ireland ,if anything they have gone up ,have seen one or two bikes that have maybe dropped 100euro (sale price) and new modle of same and in most cases its the exact same bike with new colours 700/800more ... dont know if that is to push the sale of the older one or that just the new price of the bike ...
Microshift advent is reliable and durable.
I'm surprised you didn't mention Scott Speedster 50 or Orbea Terra as a beginner gravel bike. Any thoughts on those?
So many bikes out there. I try to stick to five per list. I don't know much about those bikes. Probably similar to the ones on this list though.
Does seem like prices had got up significantly. I got my Checkpoint AL3 right at the start of Covid for around $1400. It’s served me well for getting started but I’m window shopping some upgrades. Leaning towards a Salsa Warbird, Specialized Diverge or Allied Echo.
That Allied is incredible. Unfortunately with that price tag all I will ever be able to do with a bike like that is window shop lol. Check out the Cervelo Aspero too.
Yeah it would be like buying a car. I’d have to save up for quite a while, but the biggest draw for me is being made in the US. I’ll definitely check out Cervelo. They haven’t been on my radar, but I’ve heard good things
@@TysRidesthe aspero rocks..
@@seamuslewin4325 I love mine. Absolute blast on any surface.
@@TysRides I just picked up some g one rs (low rolling resistance tires.) Hopefully squeeze some free watts from them.
You can find a lot of deals on the individual parts online. I build steel a 10,5kg, grx400/tiagra gravelbike for under 1k. Comparable bikes cost 2k+.
Yea. In the past, I'd say cheaper to buy a complete bike as opposed to piecing one together, but that might not be the case anymore.
@@TysRides It really depends on if you can get deals on the parts. I got 50% off the frame and 40% off most of the other stuff in online sales. I am seeing some prices go back down again tho. Canyons Alu Endurace with hydrolic Tiagra went from 1400€ to 1200€ msrp. It has 35mm tire clearance, seems like a legit deal for an allroad bike.
Do a value analysis on the Poseidon x. Aluminum gravel with a carbon fork for under 700 bucks! The nerve of canonndale pricing the same setup for twice the price! Wow wtf
Shits crazy right now man. I'm working on another project right now but after that a Poseidon video might need to happen. I really like that idea! Thank you.
@@TysRides I bought the Poseidon X and it's a great little gravel bike. There's still value for the dollar out there. you just need to look for it.
@@JeffRevell yep. I think I'm going to make a video comparing that bike to the Cannondale. I have a buddy who also owns that bike and he likes it. He rides a lot though and has had to replace the brakes and wheels. I imagine those parts that come on the poseidon are very comparable to the Cannondale though.
I strongly considered the X but decided on the Redwood for its full alloy frameset and greater versatility. If I were just going to own one bike, I would have selected the X, but I already have bikes suitable for paved roads and light off-road use. I wanted something more robust but without a suspension fork, and the Redwood ticks all my boxes.
I would have welcomed if you used historical price data for comparison and maybe add in some inflation adjusted pricing for fair comparison instead of your gut feel...
Noted!
Just ordered a diverge elite, managed to get it for 1550 and seems to sort all the weak points the base has
How do you like it? It's what I'm considering getting. And where'd you find it at that price?
@@BobFRoss7 got it from Evans cycles in the UK ( that’s in pounds ). Loving it so far, already done 50 miles and it’s awesome.
Can’t believe I don’t see canyon bike in the list
I have Canyon on a few other lists.
So do you hate Moose? Do you ever look at Canadian bikes?
I love moose. I ride a Cervelo Aspero. Best bike I've ever owned.
I just got a 2020 topstone sora for 500
Sick deal!
Specialized is killing bike shops. Forcing shops to sell at below cost. Giant is lowering dealer cost as they reduce pricing so dealer margins remain in tact. Specialized is reducing price on bikes without reducing dealer cost. So their pricing is below the cost of the store. Many stores are laying off folks and some are going under.
Would be interesting to know how the legal basis of their contracts with bike shops allow that. In EU, as far as I understand contract law there, it is a violation if a supplier tries to control the price that their contract partner resells at. That within the confines of a standard service contract.
Carbon isn't necessarily better, it depends what you're trying to do with the bike.
In my opinion, carbon provides a much better ride feel than aluminum. Now, if I'm loading the bike down for a tour, I'd probably go for steel. But in pretty much any scenario, I'm taking carbon over aluminum and I believe most ppl would agree.
@@TysRides sure, but ride quality isn't everything though it is important. Aluminum can tend to be more durable and less prone to crash damage, so if it's a bike you're trying to keep for years then it can be a better choice. A good compromise between ride quality and durability are aluminum frames with carbon forks.
@@joeyrogerson83 I have a 2013 Cannondale Cadd 10 that is an aluminum frame and carbon fork. It has been great. No issues with frame. I also had a 2018 YT Jeffsy comp that was aluminum. After 4 years of use the frame cracked from use near a weld. I have heard other stories of aluminum cracking after years of use. So I think it is debatable whether or not aluminum is more durable than carbon. Carbon fiber is pretty damn strong.
@@TysRides I could give you as many stories about carbon failing, but that is anecdotal and not hard data so take it as you will. But once again aluminum is objectively more resilient to crash damage so it at least has that leg up.
Carbon IS necessarily better. The ride and shock absorbing qualities of carbon is unmatched!
The Cannondale is a bag of bolts
Hydraulic brakes are a negative in my book. Rode a Nicasio 2, loved the stopping power of hydraulics, but I don't have the patience to deal with maintenance. Perhaps in due time this will change, but the ease of working on cable brakes always wins (for me).
I get that and I respect it! Knock on wood, the two gravel bikes I've had with hydro brakes have been pretty low maintenance. I've had my current bike over a year and brakes are still working and feel like they did the day I got the bike. I have worn through a few sets of pads though.
What maintenance? I have some 18 year old deores with the factory fluid in them still
I have little to no problem with hydro brakes and the stopping power just blows mechanical away.. and i dont find hydro brakes being difficult to work on at all.. maybe just spend some time with them and you will pick it up! good luck out there!
any entry level gravels that is not mechnic break?
There are a few brands out there that offer a grx 400 build with hydro brakes for around $1,700.
@@TysRides what are the brands and model that has the dydrolic brakes?
@@dajunchaohua Off the top of my head I know Canyon has a few. Felt has the Broam that has hyrdo. Check out my video titled, "The ABSOLUTE Best Value Carbon Gravel Bikes in 2023. That video has some options you might like.
Do these bike have wireless shifting? Are the brakes wireless?
Shut up
With the sweet ass economy and impeding recession at least we can look forward to these ridiculous bike prices coming down some.
Poseidon x
I just did a full value analysis of the Poseidon X vs. the Topstone 4. Got all the info, just need to shoot the video and edit. Should have it out in about 2 weeks.
Bruh, there is NOTHING wrong with mechanical brakes lol. Money saved there is better spent elsewhere at these pricepoints. Good list in any case, feel really bad for LBS who missed sales during the peak of demand, and will likely now suffer pretty badly over the next 6-12mo
Yea I agree. I meant to say that in the beginning but forgot to mention it. I agree with you, save the money by using mechanical brakes and get a better drivetrain. Was simply pointing out that for the heavy price tag, the bikes are coming with mech brakes which are a cheaper option. And you are exactly right. The shops will suffer but the big companies will still make their money.
Wouldn't buy any one of them. Too overpriced for the specs.
Entry level gravel bikes list starting with a 2500$ bike? Also most entries on this list are overpriced. Could've done better, man :/
Thanks for the input. That was part of the point of the video. To show just how expensive entry level bikes have gotten. The base model Trek is $2,500.
Didn't much comprehend the point of the video, did you?
@@Ridgeline61 lol
@@Ridgeline61Well, maybe its just me but entry level bike and carbon is not good connection. Maybe the examples used are not correct.
Just build up one
In old days, pre coronis, it was usually always cheaper to buy a complete bike...not anymore!!! I agree. Buy a frame and build it.