Best Flat Bar Gravel Bikes

FLAT BAR GRAVEL BIKES COMPARISON

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

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

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

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

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

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

BEST FLAT BAR GRAVEL BIKES – BUYING GUIDE

WHY A FLAT BAR GRAVEL BIKE?

1. Support you in upright position riding
2. Easy to control by beginners, especially with front luggage
3. Offer more handlebar real estate for bike accessories
4. 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