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What exactly does $2500 get you if you’re in the market for a new gravel bike? Quite a lot as it happens, it’s even possible to get a carbon frame and electronic shifting. I’ve scoured the cycling world for some of the best choices I’d happily recommend

Specialized Crux DSW https://www.specialized.com/gb/en/crux-dsw-comp/p/4221802?color=5368204-4221802
Canyon Grizl CF SL https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/gravel-bikes/adventure/grizl/cf-sl/grizl-cf-sl-6-axs/3696.html?dwvar_3696_pv_rahmenfarbe=R095_P10
Giant Revolt https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/revolt-advanced-3
Cube Nuroad https://www.cube.eu/uk-en/cube-nuroad-c-62-pro-swampgrey-n-black/2df0958ed6d21fa6dc294510f4f90012
Cannondale Topstone https://www.cannondale.com/en-gb/bikes/road/gravel/topstone-alloy/topstone-apex-1

CONTENT
00:00 Intro
00:39 Specialized Crux DSW
2:33 Canyon Grizl CF SL
4:01 Giant Revolt
5:34 Squarespace sponsor
6:58 Cube Nuroad C:62
8:03 Merida Silex
9:07 Cannondale Topstone
10:44 Which would I choose?

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if you’re in the market for a new gravel bike and you have a budget of between 2 and 22,000 well you have L of choice as I’ll show you in today’s video I’ve hand selected six bikes from the likes of specialized Canyon and others to demonstrate what you can get for your money and what you can get is pretty good even carbon fiber frames and electronic Wireless group sets are possible and achievable at this price point I’ll put links to all these bikes down below so you can check the price in your region whether dollars Euros or Pounds as I’m base here in the UK right let’s dive in let’s kick off with the brand new specialized Crux DSW which launched this week it’s an aluminum version of the super light carbon version and Carries all the same key features like a geometry and a 47 mm Wide Tire clearance but is made from metal not carbon fiber now personally I’m a big fan of the Croc I own one because it’s lightweight great handling it’s fast and I love the big tire space and if the new bike rides as well as the best aluminum bikes on the market it should be a good choice it’ll likely be a fir ride than the carbon one and it will be heavier but for the money it doesn’t look like you’re going to miss out on all that juicy performance at all so it’s heavier of course but the 1,400 G weight is pretty respectable for an aluminum frame and comparable to something like a candal cad X for example that is though about double the weight of an S Works Crocs in carbon fiber with a 725 G frame weight but that cost a lot more 42,000 versus the £1,500 for new Crux DSW there is sadly just one complete build at launch with a SRAM Apex explore 1 by 12-speed Mechanical group set with hydraulic disc brakes with a claim weight of 9.3 kg and cost £2,300 or $2600 and one interesting update over the carbon Crux is the adoption of the udh hanger sham Universal der hanger which is great for replacing a bent or broken hanger but also makes it compatible with what appears to be a new explore 1×3 group set coming out some point in the future and my observation on that group set are in the video linked up above as for the Crux DSW aluminium is the most common choice at this low price point because carbon frames cost more to manufacture but by selling direct Canyon will sell you this a Grizzle CF sl6 for just £400 and it also get a Shram Apex Wireless electronic group set so on paper looks far better value for money than that specialized but if you prefer the Simplicity of mechanical shifting over charging batteries on an electronic group set than the Crux could swear it for you now back to Grizzle and it’s a great riding bike in the past few years I’ve run two different models at different price points for bike packing and gravel riding and racing it does what you want from a gravel bike ample comfort from the frame and big tires calm reassuring handling and lots of mounts on a frame and fork for bike packing which Crux doesn’t get so the grizzle is a much more versatile choice if you have any desire to go bike packing or do some long Adventures where adding frame bags and bottles and Extras not the kitchen sink then this probably a better choice it is a bit heavier though at a claimed 9.6 kg but weight isn’t everything and of course you can’t go to your Lo bike shop and kick the tires and test the brake levers and ride it around the block before you buy it as you buy over the website and arrives in a large box Giants Revolt is a really good choice it’s similar to the canyon Grizzle in the handling and performance departments and also light the grizzle offers General Tire clearance so you can fit any Tire you want for any riding you doing and a frame and fork are also covered in mounts for bags and bottles and mug guards as well the Revolt has one interesting detail in adjustable sliding Dropout to lengthen or shorten a wheelbase for more or less tie clearance and to tune handling of the bike from calm to more Nimble but the difference I found is pretty marginal and in my experience the Revolt offers a slightly smoother ride than the grizzle especially at the price point because the D seat post of the Revolt offers better Comfort than the regular seat post on the grizzle only the more expensive Grizzles get the really cool split seat post which does offer a lot of comfort in the saddle this Revolt offers a mono grx and Thiago 2x 10speed group set which is an interesting mix and match approach presumably to hit the price point 2 by makes it a good choice of fast gravel racing and Road riding compared to one byy on the other bikes in this video but very much comes down to personal preference so the equipment on the bike isn’t amazing really but you are getting a really good carbon frame and fork so plenty of upgrade potential which might sweat for you and you see my most recent review on the giant Revolt by clicking the pop out banner up there okay let’s take a quick break for me to tell you about today’s sponsor Squarespace the 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attached but use my link Down Below in the description and if you enjoy it want to go further you get 10% of your first purchase of a domain or website using a special code on screen right now okay back to the best G bikes costing between 2 and £22,000 sticking closer to2 ,000 is this offering from another German brand Cube but one that sells fora bike shops and not direct like Canyon now for full transparency I haven’t ridden the new road yet the company’s gravel bike but on paper it looks properly good like a canyon you get a nice carbon frame and fork with space of 45 mm wide ties which is a bit less than a canyon and the giant but probably enough for most people it’s spec world too with a Shimano grx group set mixing 400 600 and 800 Parts with a one by configuration around an 1142 set so a really good group set and all the finishing parts from the wheel to The Handlebar and a saddle are the company’s own Brand Products as well claim weight is pretty good at just 9 kg which makes it one of the lighter bikes in this video If weight is a priority for you so a top offering for a cube and a bike I’m very keen to review in the future so stay tuned for that and a subscription to her Channel pressing that button there would be fantastic the updated marid SX has the most Progressive mountain bike inspired geometry of all the bikes in this video if you want to tackle very challenging demanding trails and tame Man bike tracks this is a bike to choose that long wheel base the really slack head angle is a bike that definitely puts the emphasis on riding very technical trails and it’s less Road bias than the other bikes in this video interestingly marid offer two options at about the same price you can go with a carbon frame and a Shimano grx 10s speeed 2x group set or switch to an aluminum Fray and upgrade to the latest newest 12-speed Shimano G RX so it’s a tough choice I think if you have any desire or ambition for future upgrades then choose the carbon one and accept the lower parts which work just fine but if you simply want the best B for bik you’re not interested in spending more money on a bike in the future then go for the aluminium one and get the better newer group set the canondale top stone is a good choice as well and definitely worth considering in this video I’ve written the carbon version is several bills over the last few years and always been impressed and this aluminium version should offer much of the same performance sadly you can’t get a carbon version without stepping up to £2,800 so the model here cost £2,200 so cheaper than most of the other bikes in the video and let’s remember that aluminium is something that canelle does extremely well they are the master of aluminium so you are getting a high quality frame here that won’t let you down at all sadly there’s no fancy Kingpin rear suspension on this bike but a drop seat stays and a skinny seat should impart some comfort on a ride quality and a space for up to 45 mm wide ties and the frame and fork are adorned with loads of mounts for mug guards and extra racks and bottles it’s a versatile bike packing gravel exploring option I like the fact you get a sham Apex explore mechanical 12-speed one by group set so big range mechanical Simplicity powerful hydraulic disc rakes good ergonomics there a group set that works really well and no batteries to worry about charging at all but unfortunately canels are usually let down at this price point by fairly lackluster finishing Parts particularly the wheels which on bike don’t look very special or fancy at all I’m sure they work just fine but they’re probably far from light to an area for a future upgrade for sure but you are getting a good frame high quality frame and a good group set in my opinion there are plenty of other bikes I could have included in this video but the video would gone on for ages and ages there a GT grade check checkpoint ventom gs1 Ribble loads of other options so let me know what bikes I’ve missed or which bikes you think are wor considering in this price range of 2,000 to £22,000 by leaving a comment down below for me I would probably go for the canyon that looks like an obvious slam dunk choice but there plenty of choice depending on your preference and your requirements where you prefer carbon fiber aluminum mechanical shifting or electronic shifting and the geometry differences are very important between the bikes as well and my tip for getting a better read on a geometry differences between two or three models of bikes you might be looking at is to use my favorite website geometry Geeks where you put in different models and it shows you how the geometry Compares from stack reach head angle wheelbase and other important metrics that determine how a bike rides responds and performs and if you want to see a video on some of the other amazing gravel bikes currently available then watch this video right up here and of course don’t forget to subscribe for more content like this on a regular basis by hitting a button right here but that is all for today thank you so much for watching I’ll see you again very soon

23 Comments

  1. Cannondale is only good for the frame. If you look at the reviews (from real people), everyone writes that it has problems with the wheels and the bottom bracket. That is, you buy a bike for such money that you almost immediately buy a set of good wheels for it. Wtf?

  2. Thanks! Last week I tested the Grizl with Rival Etap and next day I tested a Crux with a Rival and I ordered directly the Crux because it is the more sporty bike for me. The Crux Expert 2023 ist actual £2350 here in germany which was the best deal for me.

  3. Cervelo Aspero is my next gravel bike. Definitely out of this price range, but I've never found another bike that is so fast, so responsive and so comfortable.

  4. The $64,000 question is of course, do you really need Carbon or Di2?
    If you’re bike-packing, is it cheaper to buy a lighter tent etc?

  5. Currently using my trek domane al2 as a gravel rig. Upgraded with gravel bars and tubeless wtb byway tyres. Works really well and love this style of off road riding as I come from a MTB background. I am looking to buy a proper gravel rig at some point but not sure which way to go. Quite like the Marin headlands range and also their gestalt XR range which has slacker MTB inspired geo. Good review here and you may of just made my job harder of choosing a another bike! Another one I like is the grizl from canyon. I think a 1by drivetrain is high on my list as that's what works for me regarding my mtb's.

  6. Comparing the s-works crux to the new alu one is a little silly. S-works has always been insanely priced. The next tier down from the s-works crux is only 825g vs 1400g for the alu model and you can pick up that model with the same spec albeit a slightly older groupset for the same price as the new alu crux. Its pretty poor value really.

  7. The Sonder Camino is the best value out there, not to include on the review is surprising. A Camino AL AXS for £1,800.00 is a bargain and an incredible bike

  8. The longer I think about Specialized’s Crux DSW the more I come to the conclusion that it checks more boxes than expected. UDH, lightweight but solid alloy frame and mechanical 12 speed with its SRAM APEX groupset while offering the same and versatile geo of its carbon origin.

    Sadly, it‘s not available atm but once I might buy one and equip it with DT Swiss‘s GR1600 wheelset to get an overall great performing and sturdy bike. As you said, weight is not everything.

    As always, your recommendations are spot on. Appreciate it very much that you cover so many brands and categories of road and gravel bikes. Thank you so much, David!

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