The Best Gravel Bikes Under $1000 [Reviews And Advanced Buyer’s Guide]

We have reviewed a few best gravel bikes under 1000 that would be considered a part of the new “gravel bike” niche group in the cycling industry. While we are all familiar with mountain bikes, the increasing popularity of gravel bikes has become top gravel bikes in its own niche within the types of road bikes being designed, built, and ridden by cyclists.

Quick Overview: Top 10 Best Gravel Bikes Under $1000

One of the newest trends in road riding are niche bikes that are built for a range of different terrains. Gone are the days of buying rides off the rack — riders are into customizing their bikes for cyclo-cross, pavement, dirt roads, choose the best starter gravel bike or mountain terrain, racing, endurance riding, hills, and more.

What is a Gravel Bike?

Gravel bikes, like the trend towards disc brakes, are buzzing in the world of cycling. Since many newcomers to cycling, as well as those who want to try something different than standard road biking, are looking to build custom rides for off-roading, gravel bikes have become more popular than ever.

A gravel bike is essentially a drop-bar cycle that tend to have longer wheelbases than typical road bikes, with fatter tires, clearance for those fatter tire widths (which vary depending on the rider’s preference), a more upright position for better handling (as opposed to racing bikes), and lower BBs (bottom brackets) for greater stability.

These “gravel bikes” are also being promoted as all-around adventure bikes, all-road, off-road, and all-terrain bikes, along with a host of other names.

The New Niche and Best New Gravel Bikes

What is unique about gravel bikes is that the emergence of them so suddenly and in a time when customization among riders is also popular, means that there are no hard-and-fast rules about what actually falls into a category of a gravel bike.

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While road bikes have always existed on a sort of continuum — from fast and light aggressive race models to more stable and longer touring machines, gravel bikes are in a niche that can fall into cross-bikes and mountain bikes as well. Any cycle can be considered a gravel bike by the rider, as long as their intention is to take to the trails, rocky terrains, and other off-road areas.

Besides the marketing of “gravel bikes” from companies looking to promote new designs and cash in on this niche cycling movement, it does appear that consumer demand is turning gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and and off-road cycles into legitimate parts of the industry.

There are a ton of cyclists flooding the world of cycling on a daily basis, and not all of them are interested in the traditional racing cycles. Many don’t even follow tournaments, know the names of anyone riding in the Tour de France, or care much about lightweight frames for endurance and racing.

New generation of adventurers

These are the niche riders that are apart of a new generation of adventurers who are entering the world of cycling to keep fit; become more adventurous; bike on trails, in canyons, and on mountainous terrain; and go off-roading to have fun and challenge themselves. These wayward die-hards are a different consumer base than cyclists looking to hit the competition circuit or become pro cyclists.

They aren’t looking to beat Time Trials, aren’t always looking for the lightest carbon bike for aerodynamic and weight purposes, nor are they interested in thin wheels for pavement racing — these gravel bikers are likely to turn this niche into what the cross-biking movement became — a lifelong member of the world of cycling.

Top Gravel Bikes Under $1000

#1.Tommaso Sentiero Gravel Bike – Best Gravel Bike Under $1000

For 2018, Tommaso introduced the Tommaso Siena to their popular Adventure series, which has already proved to be a huge hit. The Siena is for riders who want versatility and value in a beautiful package.

On weekends, this bike can ride over any terrain you care to throw at it and get you to work on Monday in style. The Siena is lowest-cost Adventure Bike, intended to alter the way you view road cycling and commuting.

Features

The Siena was created by design team using the same high-quality aluminum tube and frame designs that employ in aluminum road line. The frame’s compact geometry delivers a more fluid ride while also increasing power transmission than other frame shapes. These frames are designed to endure, and Tommaso back it up with an industry-leading lifetime frame guarantee.

Siena was created with a complete Shimano Tourney drivetrain, which provides 21 speeds for superb gearing no matter your location. With a 12-28T Shimano Tourney cassette plus a Tourney Triple 30/39/50T crankset, Siena is perfect for the road, path or gravel– making it an ideal choice for all sorts of commuting and adventuring. Lastly, Tommaso added Tektro Lyra disc brakes so that riders can quickly stop with ease in any terrain or weather condition.

#2. Mongoose Men’s Elroy Adventure Bike – Best Budget Gravel Bike

At the end of the road is where adventures truly begin. On the 700c Elroy Adventure bike from Mongoose, a souped-up ride with capable adventure geometry that’s at home wherever the journey takes you, blaze your own path. Seriously, the only thing standing in your way will be your creativity and desire to explore.

The integrated frame bag lets you take everything you need on long bike tours or refreshing camping trips, while the huge pannier-friendly front rack and convenient rear rack mount provide even more carrying space.

Three unique water bottle cage mounts ensure that you can always stay hydrated on your next cross-country trek or favorite fundraiser ride.

Features

Elroy is equipped with a sleek alloy frame, strong steel fork, reliable Tourney derailleurs and 14-speed shifters/brake lever combo– making it easy to get up hills on your morning commute or zip to happy hour after work (the front rack even has a built in bottle opener!). You can also take Elroy off road thanks to crisp mechanical disc brakes, wide 700c alloy rims and large 40c tires.

The bar-end shifters and compact gear cluster are so well hidden that it’s easy to miss them, but the bike is packed with features that make it ideal for riding on singletrack or in the woods. The suspension fork is surprisingly plush. A 1-piece aluminum crankset and a wide range of gearing options let you ride over any terrain, from pavement to dirt. Internal cable routing, fender mounts, and two additional fork-integrated water bottle cages… The Mongoose is an incredibly versatile adventure touring bike that suits every journey you take.

#3. Schwinn Sporterra Adventure Adult Gravel Bike – Best Gravel Bike Under 500

I began exploring riding and discovered a gravel bike. I did some research on the internet and visited big box stores, but I couldn’t discover them in my region. Not sure if this bike is truly a gravel or not, but it’s advertised as such along with an adventure bike.

Do you not want to repair anything? I’m sure any local bike shop could tune up your bike in smooth functioning condition as long as the components aren’t harmed/bent. With the aid of online videos, I was able to make the modifications. If you have my problem, you will undoubtedly require at least allen keys and possibly a tire remover tool.

Recommendation

The shift paddles were simple to use, and I can’t really compare them to others since I haven’t tried them before. They make a sound when shifting, but it doesn’t bother me. Pedaling does not create much noise. There is no kick stand, which I already ordered and installed.

 Although it was a little daunting to put together, for the most part everything went smoothly. Your mileage may vary though when it comes to defects and issues with the bike. 

With my own bike, I found three fixable issues:

1) The front tire was originally installed incorrectly on the wheel’s rim. The tread should always face the forward direction of the road, but it had been facing in reverse. I flipped the tire over and put it back on – solved!

2)The drop bar was installed backwards on the stem clamp. I simply removed the bracket, flip-flopped the drop bar, and closed it back up.

3) The rear brake caliper on my bike was rubbing against the disc all too frequently, which is highly likely to happen on most bikes. On the rear side, it was completely misaligned, especially in the back. When I rode, I could sense drag. The problem was solved after I adjusted the brake calipers.

How I start?

At first, I felt like this bike was too big for me. The inseam measurements (the top bar of the center frame) were much higher than I’m used to.

I set my pedal to the lowest setting on the side where I’m going to start. It will be a lot easier to get your foot in place if you tilt the bike. The rest is simply a matter of pushing, straightening out the bicycle while standing, and then raising yourself onto the seat. After doing it a few times, it will feel more natural. Normally, when I sit down, I just push down on the pedals.

This allowed me to cycle more freely, as I didn’t feel like my legs were constrained by being in a lower position.

At first you may feel pretty high off the ground and it might seem scary, but after a few runs I enjoyed being higher up. It’s kind of the feeling people get when they buy big trucks!

If I’m on a flat surface, to dismount, first I slow down. Then I get into standing position and before tilting myself with the bike, land on whichever foot is closer to the ground. When getting off at the same spot you started from will make it easier to get back on again. Whip your leg over the seat once you’re in standing position. It’s much simpler if find an elevated object like a driveway or even better, if there’s a ledge nearby like a curb or garden wall where you can stop altogether.

Final Thoughts

Could you get a better gravel bike for a similar price point? Probably, but there arent very many options. The mongoose gravel around a similar price point wasnt available for me and along with the very cheap looking kent gravel bike. Amazon is great with returns. Its also a schwinn, yea maybe not the old school schwinn, but this bike looks good and feels solid compared to the bikes i saw at walmart and target.

I took my chances with Amazon on this specific type of bike, rather than ordering from a specialty bike store. I didn’t want to run the risk of screwing it up and being charged restocking and shipping fees because I didn’t understand sizing, etc. Luckily, Amazon came through for me on this one.

#4. Raleigh Bikes Willard Gravel Adventure Road Bike – Best Adventure Gravel Bike

With the Raleigh Willard, you can drastically reduce traffic on crowded urban roads. This ultra-versatile bike allows you to go places where most road bikes can’t, while still providing comfort for paved road cycling. For a more responsive ride, there are thru axles front and rear.

The bigger rims enhance ride comfort, while the wider tires provide confidence in loose conditions and roll well across rough terrain.

 The bonus rack and fender attachments allow you to carry more stuff and go even when it’s raining. Take a trip down unpaved country roads, make that gravel road detour on your way to work, or drive long distances over the weekend. The Willard can do it all. 

When you receive the bicycle all you neede to assemble is the handlebar, pedals, sear, and the front wheel. I would suggest you get familiarized on how the gears work for this bike.

#5. Tommaso Siena Gravel Adventure Road Bike – Best New Gravel Bike

Tommaso was founded in 1985, and he had worked with craftsmanship bicycle features for a long time. An ever-increasing number of cyclists all over the world have been consistently experiencing Tommaso’s impact throughout the years.

Perhaps it is because not typical for most companies, but rather than that, Tommasos has done an excellent job at making flawless city bicycles with a full Tommaso outline warranty.

Tommaso’s Siena a relatively simple job to put together if you have the right equipment. The tool kit does not include allen keys or a pedal wrench, as shown in the illustration above.

Features

The 40c tires that come with the bike do not meet the ERTRO safety standards. The rim has an inner width of 13.5mm and the ERTRO recommends a maximum size of 25c for safety purposes. This could be dangerous when cornering because a 40c tire will balloon more than a 25c wheel, making the bike unstable.

Some of the components that came preassembled required adjustments. The front derailleur was off by a few millimeters which made it difficult to shift gears. Additionally, the front brake caliper was not aligned correctly which resulted in the rotor and brake pads rubbing at an odd angle.

Keep in mind that the rear dropouts are 130mm wide. The majority of modern wheels are built for 135mm or greater, making it difficult to locate a wheel set to accommodate wider tires.

#6. Royce Union RGF Gravel Bike – Best Lightweight Gravel Bike

The Royce Union RGF is a lightweight aluminum frame gravel bike from the Royce Union line. 18 speeds are provided by a Shimano gear system that is both pleasant and versatile for pavement and gravel road surfaces. The WTB Volt seat is comfy over long distances. You may stop precisely and consistently with the RGF’s twin Shimano disc brakes.

 A bike that’s comfortable to ride, with great disk brakes and high-quality tires. I commute on very rough roads, so I wanted a road bike but with bigger tires that can run at lower pressures. 

If you’re someone who wants to take relaxed joy rides a few times per month, this is the perfect bike for you. It’s also my first small saddlebike and I didn’t experience any discomfort during my 30-40 minute fast-paced commute. The disk brakes are incredible – they work perfectly and the mounting brackets can be adjusted for an even better fitmentwith disc rotors.

The extra-wide sneakers I wear (size 13 US) made it difficult to readjust my foot placement on the pedal, and caused my toes to hit the front tire when turning–an issue other people have complained about. However, after a few rides, I was able to solve that problem by adjusting my foot placement. Now, from time to time my right heel does touch the rear derailleur because of the wide design of running sneakers; but if I had proper cycling shoes, that wouldn’t be an issue.

Recommendation

Under heavy loads, the crank makes an undesirable noise that I think is coming from either the rear gears or bottom bracket. Additionally, the bottle cage holes are not symmetrically placed on the frame which means my water bottle protrudes more to right side. No matter how much I adjust the rear derailleur cable, a few gears always give me trouble when shifting; it’s impossible to find a position where all 9 work smoothly.

Furthermore, the front fork is not made perfectly straight, but it does not affect the bike’s performance. I also tried to upgrade to better tires but had a difficult time setting the bead because rim tape was overlapping the rim bead.

#7. Hiland Aluminum Road Bike – Best Gravel Bike For the Money

Has your back in town or in the woods with this Hiland bike. It all starts with the gravel geometry, which allows you to steer and maneuver through difficult situations. The wide tires provide excellent stability on soft, loose, and hard surfaces, as well as tough disc brakes that assist you maintain control on every slope. Do you need a commuter bike? This model is drilled numerous locations to enable accessories like racks, fenders, and other attachments to be attached.

Though it’s light and easy to ride, you will have to put the bike together upon arrival. The ad says that a brake lever shifter combo is included, but this part must be mounted onto the handlebars yourself.

Don’t rely on the English version of the user guide to tell you where to position them. It will provide you with the essentials of how to install the wheels and seat, but it won’t much more. After you’ve finished assembling it, don’t expect to be riding it right away. You’ll have to adjust the shifters.

This bike is perfect for anyone just starting out. It’s light and easy to maneuver, with smooth pedals and a nice glide. Once the shifters are adjusted, it will be even better. That being said, don’t expect this bike to compare to ones that cost thousands of dollars–it’s not in the same league. But overall, I’m happy with it.

#8. Eurobike XC580 Gravel Bike – Cheap Gravel Bike

The bike comes with 85 percent put together. The front wheel, pedals, handlebar, seat, and pump must all be installed according to the assembly instructions. nnThe assembly instructions are included in the kit; please read them carefully before putting the bike together and checking for accuracy. nnAll of the necessary tools are supplied in the package.

If you follow the instructions carefully while assembling it, your bicycle will function properly!

The EUROBIKE Gravel Bike is not only the cheapest option on our list of best gravel bikes, but it also offers a larger wheel size. With 29 inch wheels, this bike can take on almost any terrain you come across. And with a 21 speed drivetrain for under $500, this bike is an incredible value.

There are twin disc brakes on the EUROBIKE Gravel Bike to ensure that you have complete command over your vehicle at all times. The frame of this bike is made of steel, allowing it to stay in the budget range. However, with a size of 54 cm and compatibility for 5.7-6.2 feet tall riders, it does have a good weight capacity of up to 250 lbs for a steel frame.

#9. Giordano Trieste Gravel Bike – Best Starter Gravel Bike

A gravel bike is similar to a road bike, but your everyday roadbike can’t handle every road, can it? Enter the realm of gravel bikes. A gravel bike is essentially a cross between a road bike and a cyclo-cross bike. Single trails, backroads, and crushed cobblestones – you name it, and this kind of bicycle will get it done. The adaptability of this sort of bicycle makes them an excellent commuting machine as well as light touring equipment.

The Giordano Trieste Gravel Bike is a great option on our list today that can be addition to your collection of sports bikes. The features of the Giordano Trieste Gravel Bike are powerful and suitable for an experienced rider and even a racer.

The Giordano Trieste Gravel Bike is made up of a Chromoly steel frame which is highly beneficial compared to standard steel frame. The same goes for the fork of the Giordano Trieste Gravel Bike.

The bike’s gears are shifted by the Shimano Claris STI Shifters, which can be adjusted to 16 speeds. With the bike, you’ll get a very dependable riding experience thanks to the Shimano components. The Giordano Trieste Gravel Bike comes with 700C x 30 mm tires, which are ideal for high-speed riding.

#10. Vilano Gravel Bike with Disc Brakes – Best Deal Gravel Bike

This versatile hybrid bike is equally at home on tarmac and dirt trails. This gravel bike has drop bars, dual-purpose 700x38c tires, and integrated brake lever shifters for a smooth ride on both road and trail.

Mechanical disc brakes have excellent stopping power in a variety of conditions, and the lightweight aluminum frame with steel fork makes it suitable for all types of cycling activities.

There are holes for water bottles (additional items sold separately) as well as rack attachments (accessories available separately) to help you carry everything you need on the journey or tour.

Features

The bike came mostly disassembled (mostly put together)? If you know what goes where, you should be able to finish the job. All you’ll need is a 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm Allen wrench key. My only concern was how much preload the fork had against the headset.

The parts are on the low-low side of the spectrum. That implies they may be heavier, more clunky, and less prestigious. Instead of cast or machined aluminum, you could receive stamped steel instead. You won’t find a single Deore XTR here. Tourney is your highest goal. The components are good enough to get you started right away. They won’t hold you back as much as you believe

The wheels are so low-end that they are “out of true” and “out of round.” Tire pressure was a measly 55 PSI. The rear wheel is powered by a 7-speed freewheel. If you want to upgrade your cassette, you’ll need a new rear wheel. Keep this in mind if you want to keep the wheels. Also bear in mind that because freewheels are inserted into hubs, they aren’t as robust as cassettes would be inserted into hubs.

Recommendation

The water bottle cage screws on the seat tube prevent the seat post from going lower than 3.5″ above the seat post clamp if they stick into the seat tube too much. So, if you’re shorter than 5’6″ and need thatseat to be lower then you will either need a shorter post or cutthe one it comes with – cutting is not uncommon but undesirable. Leave at least 4″ of seat post inside the frame’s seattube when you make your final cuts. And remember,”measure twice, cut once.”

The top of the frame is rather high. I’m 5’6″ and my inseam is approximately 30″ to 31″. The 49cm frame’s top tube awkwardly bumps into my crotch. If you’re shorter and accustomed to picking out 48cm – 50cm frames, keep this in mind. This is the trade-off for having such huge – and I mean **huge** – tire clearance around the frame and fork.

Finally, I didn’t care for the brake/shift levers’ location. They were placed rather low on the handlebars. To get started, I had to bend the bar way back and tilt it all the way up. I took off all of the handlebar tape and raised the levers higher on the bars. This allowed me to tilt down the handles while still comfortably reaching the hoods. Additionally, this provided me a chance to wrap some cool bright cork tape around the bars.

Final Thoughts

If you expect this bike to surpass all others, then you may be disappointed. But if you’re looking for a good platform to start with and upgrade over time, this is it. Newcomers will love being able to ride on gravel roads and explore the great outdoors while more experienced riders may find it lacking in some ways. However, with a few modifications, this could easily become a great value an excellent ride.

How To Choose The Best Gravel Bike – Buyer’s Guide

Just like with mountain bikes, there are debates over wheel size for gravel bikes and cycles in the “adventure road” category, which encompasses everything from skinny-tired touring bikes all the way up to monster cross-cycles, which boast three inch tires on 26 inch rims.

There are many questions about gravel bikes and if they are a trend, a movement with potential for long-term interest, and whether all of this variety is needed.

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Based on the trends that emerged in 2016 and are still going strong, from the popularity of off-road/mountain/adventure bikes like gravel cycles, the increasing preference of disc brakes, the love of fatter tires, and more, it is clear that these trends are already changing the world of cycling. Even the most prominent brands in racing cycles who have always build caliper rim bikes with a standard 23 to 25 x 700c tire, and high BBs have released lines of best gravel bikes under 500 that are meeting consumer demands.

Now many road bikes are featuring frames with greater tire clearance capabilities, so that the rider can put on 23s or a 2 to 3 inch tire. Many are offering full disc brakes (or hardtail models), and the designs have changed a bit in lowering that bottom bracket for better stability and lower center of gravity for the bike.

It seems to us that many of the trends in road bikes are the same trends that are fueling the gravel bike and adventure biking categories.

So many riders just want to get out there and take on the challenge of biking off-road with skinnier tires on dirt trails. Others want fat tires and hardtail braking designs (rear disc brake only) for better control, and with the tough nature of mountain biking, a change in geometry for superior control has been met.

The Difference Between Gravel Bikes and Mountain Bikes

What makes gravel bikes different from hardtail mountain bikes (and similar adventure bikes) is that riding on gravel often requires more speed than mountain biking requires, so a gravel bike will tend to have road-oriented riding positions, all-terrain road components, and other design features. This means that speed is more of a factor for gravel bikes than mountain bikes.

For example, a mountain bike position is more upright — it has around 5,000 grams of drag because speed is not much of a consideration. However, a good road position has only 3,500 grams of drag in comparison. A good TT (time trial) position has even less at 2,500 grams. These positions on a bike depend on the rider’s intentions and goals when riding, and when it comes to gravel bikes, it is somewhere between off-road durability and freedom and speed.

Dave Koesel, General Manager at 3T America, said it best: “In the same way that you are faster on a TT bike than a road bike, you will be faster on a drop-bar bike on gravel than you would be in a wide-bar upright position of a typical mountain bike. It’s free speed.”

Conclusion

In the end, while the variety of gravel bikes, mountain bikes, off-road bikes, all-terrain bikes, road bikes, and other adventure cycles are somewhat bewildering and complicated, the consumer knows what they want and the cycling industry is doing a great job at recognizing the need for customization, offering best gravel bikes under $1500 with options such as disc brakes and larger tire clearances, as well as drop-bar models and lower bottom brackets.

Don’t get caught up in the labels — when you are seeking out a cheap gravel bike or any other type of cycle from road, endurance, mountain, or adventure — simply stick with the features and components and compare them to the type of riding you intend to do. There is the best budget gravel bike for every niche, and even if you have to customize it yourself, bike manufacturers are making best gravel bikes under $2000 easier than ever to do so and even building bikes for your personal specifications.

It has never been better to be a cyclists. Take advantage of this freedom.