Best cheap gravel bikes 2024 – our top-rated gravel bikes under $1,500

Gravel is massive these days, with prices ranging from sky high to highly affordable. In this guide, our test team has picked out the best cheap gravel bikes under $1,500 (or a similar number currency-wise if you don't live in the US).

Cheaper gravel bikes keep getting better too; as tech from the best gravel bikes filters down, we are seeing budget bikes becoming lighter, faster, and most importantly, more fun to ride.

Keep reading for our expert reviewers' list of some of the best cheap gravel bikes you can buy for gravel and adventure riding. Our best pick overall is the carbon-forked GT Grade Elite, and our budget choice is the Specialized Diverge E5.

This guide focuses on bikes between $1,000 and $1,500. If your budget is a little tighter, check out our best gravel bikes under $1,000 guide. If you're unsure of the tech behind gravel bikes, check out the bottom of this guide for our 'how to choose' section, and we've also got a dedicated feature on five must-have features on a budget gravel bike.

The quick list

Best cheap gravel bikes

1. Best overall

At this price point, it's hard to fault the GT Grade Elite gravel bike. With its stylish aluminum frame, carbon fork, tubeless-ready WTB rims built around 12mm thru-axle hubs and shod with WTB Riddler tires, it's a versatile and affordable bike that's raring to go. 

Similar to other bikes in this list, the Grade Elite comes equipped with a 2x8-speed Shimano Claris groupset, offering reliability, alongside the Tektro mechanical disc brakes for stopping power.

The aluminum frame and carbon fork combo keeps the weight off somewhat and results in a nimble-feeling gravel bike that can handle a decent amount of rough stuff. If you want a bit more cushion, swap out the 37mm Riddlers for up to 42mm of rubber.

2. Best multi-terrain

Giant recently updated its Revolt gravel range and despite the Revolt 2 being the base model, it has a lot in common with the premium models like the Giant Revolt Advanced 0 which we found to be a fast and versatile gravel bike when we reviewed it.

The Revolt features an alloy frame and carbon fork with modern gravel-inspired geometry that lengthens the top tube and shortens the stem to lengthen the wheelbase and improve the stability. You also get a flip-chip to adjust the chainstay length and plenty of mounting options for bikepacking. Giant has even included its D-Fuse seatpost which has a flattened section to dampen trail vibrations – you can still run a dropper post too if you want.

Where the Revolt 2 excels is the wide spectrum of riding it can cover, whether it's as a super-smooth fat tire road bike, with fast handling, big slick tires, and enough bottle mount points to embarrass a camel. Throw on some knobblies and the big tire clearances make it very capable off-road.

3. Best adventure

The Topstone got a refresh this year with the most obvious update being Cannondale's decision to drop the seat stays to bring it aesthetically in line with the carbon Topstone models – although it doesn't share the Kingpin suspension.

What you can't see is that Cannondale has increased tire clearance and the Topstone can now run a 45mm tire for increased off-road grip and comfort. An alloy frame and carbon fork keep weight down while the front and rear thru-axles add stiffness and steering precision.

With an abundance of bottle cage mounts around the main triangle, and touring rack mounts on the seat stays, there is no doubting the Topstone 4's ability for adventure. It's good to see WTB Riddler Comp tires equipped too, rather than the big slicks seen on some other bikes.

4. Best budget

The most affordable Specialized Diverge might not have the Future Shock steering damper, but it is a thoroughly convincing gravel bike.

The Specialized Diverge has been designed to allow for big tire clearance; running a 700c wheel the Diverge will clear up to 47mm. If you prefer the 650b wheel size, the E5 will run a 2.1in tire without issue.

Like most of the aluminum value gravel bikes on our list, the Diverge E5 has a carbon-fiber front fork and extensive mounting points. All cable routing is internally routed through the frame and fork for a neat finish.

Specialized markets no less than seven derivatives of its Diverge E5 and the geometry is wonderfully adapted to specific sizes. Stem lengths vary from 60- to 100mm, across the size range. The uppermost 54-, 56-, 58- and 61cm frame sizes all feature rather steep geometry, with a 71.75-degree head angle, balanced by a 73.5-degree seat angle, which prioritizes the Diverge E5 for long days of gravel climbing.

5. Best entry-level

For $1,299 the Fuji Jari 2.3 gravel bike will give you access to the open dirt roads while also coming back with a hefty amount of coins in your pocket. For an entry-level bike it has plenty to offer, including a good amount of tire clearance – it comes stocked with 37mm WTB Riddlers, but can take up to 42mm rubber – as well as plenty of mounting options for all the accessories you might want to add.

A mixture of Shimano Alivio and Sora drivetrain components leaves you with 2x9 gearing, and while these aren't high up in Shimano's road groupset hierarchy, you still know you're getting solid and reliable Japanese shifting performance.

Add to this the Tektro Mira mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors, and you're getting a decent amount of gravel bike for a small investment when you compare it to the rest of the market.

6. Best all-road

Marin does a couple of versions of its Nicasio budget gravel bike. The Nicasio+ is a 1x drivetrain-equipped gravel bike that opts for 650b wheels and big tires. The extra tire volume, paired with a steel frame enhances the Nicasio's comfort. The 47mm WTB Horizon's are good quality tires too, although the smooth profile is better suited to tarmac and dry speed rather than enhanced grip.

Marin has specced a microSHIFT 1x9 drivetrain that is equipped with a clutched derailleur and narrow-wide chainring that stops the chain from falling off on rough terrain. The 42t chainring on the Nicasio+ is quite big, meaning it's nippy on flat or rolling terrain, but budding bikepackers or those climbing steep hills will probably want to invest in a smaller chainring so they can have lower gears.

7. Best for style

We think the State Bicycle 6061 Black Label All-Road has to be one of the best-looking gravel bikes on this list and it packs a lot of punch beyond its racey aesthetic.

The alloy frame and carbon fork feature internal cable routing and thru-axles for a sleek and direct ride. State gives the option to spec the bike with either 700c wheels and Vittoria Terreno Zero (38c) tires or 650b and Vittoria Terreno Dry (47c). Or you can have both for an additional $399 for a versatile setup.

The 6061 Black Label All-Road comes with a 1x11 State Bicycles branded drivetrain with a 42t chainring and 11-42T cassette. This will give a decent range but riders may want to drop to a smaller chainring for bikepacking. The brakes are also State branded mechanical units.

8. Best flat bar

Most riders picture drop bars when they think of gravel bikes, but that doesn't mean flat bars (or riser bars) don't have a space in the gravel-sphere. In fact, some riders much prefer the more upright position, added control on descents, and extra real estate to fit the best bikepacking bags.

Sonder's flat bar Camino is outstanding value as well. Not only do you get a SRAM Apex 1x12 speed drivetrain but the Camino is equipped with powerful hydraulic disc brakes, something that we aren't seeing on other gravel bikes at this price range.

This is on top of an alloy frame and carbon fork that has thru-axles and all the mounts you need whether it's mudguards, racks, bottles, or bikepacking bags. While the bike might only come with 40mm tires, you can upgrade these to 50mm on 700c; if you choose to switch to 650b the Camino can fit a monstrous 2.2in tire.

9. Best for bikepacking

You probably didn't expect to see a bike from the legendary bikepacking and touring brand Salsa feature in this list, but its Journeyer gravel, bikepacking, and touring bike slips into budget with a good chunk of change left.

As you would expect from Salsa, the alloy frame has an abundance of bikepacking, rack and mudguard mounts ready for all riding from big gravel tours to daily commutes. The Journeyer also comes in both 700c and 650b options with a healthy tire clearance of 650b x 58mm / 700c x 56mm.

Salsa has specced a 1x9 speed microSHIFT Advent drivetrain which offers simplicity and chain security on rough terrain, at the expense of smaller gear ratio gaps and a smaller 11 - 42t gear range.

How to choose the best cheap gravel bikes