QUICK ANSWER: BEST FLAT BAR GRAVEL BIKE
- Best Flat Bar Gravel E-bike: Aventon Aventure
- Best Do-It-All Reliable Gravel Bike: Priority 600
- Best Lightweight Flat Bar Gravel E-bike: Cannondale Quick Neo SL 2
- Best Mid-Level Flat Bar Gravel Bike: Schwinn Vantage F3
- Best Mountain Bikers Gravel Bike: Marin DSX 2
- Best Women Specific Flat Bar Gravel Bike: Cannondale Quick 4
FLAT BAR GRAVEL BIKES COMPARISON
PRODUCT | WEIGHT | FRAME | TIRES | GEARS | BRAKES | PRICE | RETURN | SHOP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Flat Bar Gravel E-bike![]() Aventon Aventure |
73 lbs | Aluminum | 26 x 4″ | No Gears – up to 28 MPH on Pedal Assist |
Hydraulic Disc Brakes | $$$ | Aventon 14 days for a full refund (Learn More) |
Check Price on Aventon.com |
Best Do-It-All Reliable Gravel Bike![]() Priority 600 |
30.5 lbs | Aluminum | 650B x 47mm | 30 | Hydraulic disc brakes | $$$ | Priority Bicycles 30 days for a full refund (Learn More) |
Check Price on Priority Bicyles |
Best Lightweight Flat Bar Gravel E-bike![]() Cannondale Quick Neo SL 2 |
33 lbs 8 oz | Aluminum | 700c x 38mm | 9 | Hydraulic disc brakes | $$$ | REI 1-Year 100% Satisfaction Guarantee (Learn More) |
Check Price on REI.com |
Best Mid-Level Flat Bar Gravel Bike![]() Schwinn Vantage F |
28.62 lbs | Aluminum | 700c x 28″ | 21 | Mechanical disc brakes | $$ | Amazon 30 days for a full refund (Learn More) |
Check Price on Amazon.com |
Best Mountain Bikers Gravel Bike![]() Marin DSX 2 |
24.14 lbs | Aluminum | 29 x 2.1″ | 700 x 45mm | Hydraulic disc brakes | $$ | JensonUSA 90 days for a full refund (Learn More) |
Check Price on JensonUSA.com |
Best Women Specific Flat Bar Gravel Bike![]() Cannondale Quick 4 |
25 lbs 6.4 oz | Aluminum | 700c x 35mm | 9 | Hydraulic disc brakes | $ | REI 1-Year 100% Satisfaction Guarantee (Learn More) |
Check Price on REI.com |
BEST FLAT BAR GRAVEL BIKE REVIEWS
Aventon Aventure
Best Flat Bar Gravel E-bike

PROS: – Great shifting – Perfectly balanced pedal assist – Lots of upgrade features at a great price – Well done Aventon assembly video – Lots of power – Very good bike quality – Comfortable ride – Adjustable to all situations and terrains – Keeps you at the speed you need |
CONS: – Many buyers received slightly bent rear fenders but were easy to straighten without tools – More than one customer didn’t like the customer service |
QUICK SPECS
- Weight: 73 lbs
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: 26 x 4″
- Gears: up to 28 MPH on Pedal Assist
- Brakes: Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- Price: $$$
- Return: Aventon 14 days for a full refund (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
Priority 600
Best Do-It-All Reliable Gravel Bike

PROS: – Easy to use – Extremely dependable – Very easy to ride uphill – Require little maintenance – Handles extra weight well – Well-built and strong aluminum frame – Quick and easy assembly – Smooth-shifting – Excellent customer service |
CONS: – Heavy compared to similar bikes – Several users experienced tires rubbing against the fenders |
QUICK SPECS
- Weight: 30.5 lbs
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: 650B x 47mm
- Gears: 30
- Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes
- Price: $$$
- Return: Priority Bicycles 30 days for a full refund (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
Cannondale Quick Neo SL 2
Best Lightweight Flat Bar Gravel E-bike

PROS: – Lightweight – Rides easily without a battery – Nice on uphills – Great for getting some exercise – Can pull the extra 55 pounds much easier – Great components quality – Conventional bike look makes less attention from thieves – Reasonably priced |
CONS: – No shock absorbers, which can be a bit bumpy – Battery storage capacity is small – No throttle – Rear hub motor can feel wobbly off-road climbing |
QUICK SPECS
- Weight: 33 lbs 8 oz
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: 700c x 38mm
- Gears: 9
- Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes
- Price: $$$
- Return: REI 1-Year 100% Satisfaction Guarantee (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
Schwinn Vantage F3
Best Mid-Level Flat Bar Gravel Bike

PROS: – Easy to mount – Built to last – Smooth-shifting – Comfortable seat – Very light – Great bike for the money |
CONS: – 245 lbs user replaced three spokes after two years and some unexpected bumps – Brakes works less and less when you go over 25 mph – Came with “Schwinn Hybrid Bike” manual that bears absolutely no relationship to this bike – Several people received it missing bolt or something |
QUICK SPECS
- Weight: 28.62 lbs
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: 700c x 28″
- Gears: 21
- Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes
- Price: $$
- Return: Amazon 30 days for a full refund (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
Marin DSX 2
Best Mountain Bikers Gravel Bike

PROS: – Stable on the gravel – Reasonably priced – Rides comfortably – Generous tire clearance – Great all-around bike – Climbs nice |
CONS: – No specific assembly instructions – Some found the flat bar a little too much wide |
QUICK SPECS
- Weight: 24.14 lbs
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: 29 x 2.1″
- Gears: 700 x 45mm
- Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes
- Price: $$
- Return: JensonUSA 90 days for a full refund (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
Cannondale Quick 4
Best Women Specific Flat Bar Gravel Bike

PROS: – Easier to ride up hills compared to similar bikes – Comfortable ride – Lightweight frame – Powerful consistent stopping power in all weather conditions – Very wide range rear cassette – Plenty of low gears for the climbs |
CONS: – Won‘t keep up with similar bikes sprinting or on the downhill – Comes with no mudguards – Less high gears |
QUICK SPECS
- Weight: 25 lbs 6.4 oz
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: 700c x 35mm
- Gears: 9
- Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes
- Price: $
- Return: REI 1-Year 100% Satisfaction Guarantee (Learn More)
TODAY’S PRICE
BEST FLAT BAR GRAVEL BIKES – BUYING GUIDE
WHY A FLAT BAR GRAVEL BIKE?
- Support you in upright position riding
- Easy to control by beginners, especially with front luggage
- Offer more handlebar real estate for bike accessories
- Its easier to change gear/brake cables
FRAME MATERIAL
- Carbon Fiber: These frames are light and stiff, but not immune to cracks in hard uses and still the priciest. Carbon frames can come in uniques designs because it can be shaped in any form desired.
- Titanium: Frames made from titanium dampens road vibration quite nicely, don’t rust, and weigh half of the steel weight.
- Aluminum: These frames are light and stiff, making them slightly less comfortable. Speaking of money, aluminum frames are relatively inexpensive, making them ideal for people that can’t afford a carbon frame.
- Steel: Steel frames are ideal for riders looking for a durable and affordable option. They are also comfortable but weight more than aluminum and carbon. They are two types of steel bike frames, chromoly steel and carbon steel, the first one offer a higher strength-to-weight ratio but its pricey, the second type is strong equally to chromoly but is very heavy but still affordable.
SNAP VS STABILITY
Generally speaking, the longer bikes with70 or 71-degree head tubes are more stable, making them easier to descend on sketchy terrain.
On the other hand, tight bikes with72 or 73-degree head tubes handle and climb quickly but hard to keep your line on descents.
WHEEL SIZE
- 650b : Mountain Bikes
Bikes with 650b wheels are ideal for raw, rugger roads, and technical situations.
- 700c : Road Bikes
Bikes with700c wheels have less rolling resistance, making them ideal for smooth roads because they maintain their momentum.
GEAR RANGE
Bikes with a wide gear range are ideal for going fastup and down hills and everything in between.
DRIVETRAIN CONFIGURATION
2x drivetrain: Two frontchainrings and a rear cassette
- Has a wider range of gears, with small jumps.
- Heavier.
- More component to get gummed up in heavy mud
1x drivetrain: Single front ring and asuper-wide rear cassette
- Ligher in weight by dispensing of the front derailleur
- Less component to get gummed up in heavy mud.
- Simpler.
- Fewer gear options.
BRAKES
Disk brakes are the go-to for gravel bikes because they let you ride with lower tire pressure.
Cable Disk Brakes
- Provide more wheel clearance.
- More reliable than rim brakes in wet weather.
Hydraulic Disk Brakes
- Provide more wheel clearance.
- More reliable than rim brakes in wet weather.
- Require less pressure for the same amount of braking power, compared to cable disk brakes.
Rim Brakes
- Less stopping power
- Does not give room for big tires
TIRE CLEARANCE
Riding too much in the dirt makes your bike will build up clay and mud, this is why the best gravel bike should have a wide tire clearance.
GRAVEL BIKE VS ADVENTURE BIKES
Gravel Bikes: | Adventures Bikes: |
– Lighter – Shorterwheelbase, headtube, and chain-stays – Have a spectrum closer to the cyclocross bikes |
– Heavier -Longer chainstays, wheelbase, and headtube – Have a spectrum closer to touring bikes |
Updated on December 24, 2022 by Ben