Gravel Bike Reviews

Following our review of the titanium Esker Lorax, Logan put in a few months aboard the latest Esker Lorax steel model to see how it handles a variety of trails and dirt roads. Read on for the full review, complete with a comparison to other drop-bar 29ers, pros and cons, and, as always, a full complement of photos…

The new Esker Lorax Ti is the brand’s interpretation of the quintessential drop-bar mountain bike. Neil has been riding one for the past month, covering over 300 miles from the North Shore of Minnesota to the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains. In this review, he compares the Lorax Ti to similar bikes and shares its unique characteristics, value, and more…

Dirt-specific drop-bar bikes are undoubtedly one of the most—if not the most—prolific styles of bicycle we feature on the site. In this piece, we review the history of this genre, consider where it is today, and list what we feel are the 13 best drop-bar MTBs, ranked based on votes from our team of editors here at BIKEPACKING.com. Find it all here…

Whether you’re running the latest wireless drivetrain or a mechanical one, derailleur-based drivetrains have some obvious shortcomings. They require regular maintenance and cleaning to function correctly, the parts wear out, […]

The acronym behind the new Specialized Diverge STR (Suspend The Rider) refers to its unique front and rear suspension setup that isolates riders from bumps without sacrificing the efficient stiffness of a rigid carbon frame. There was no suspension of disbelief required for Amy Jurries, however, as she found the Diverge STR to be a joy to ride on a recent bikepacking trip across the diverse landscapes of Cyprus, even when loaded. Find Amy’s full review here…

Reporting from the 2024 Sea Otter Classic, we got a first look at a brand new drop-bar adventure bike from Viral Bikes. Read on to find a photo gallery and learn more about the intriguing Viral Wander, a titanium bikepacking rig designed around the Pinion Smart.Shift system…

Today, Kona Launched their latest bike, the Ouroboros. We were lucky enough to have one for a month or so beforehand, and Neil put it through its paces, pedaling it more than 300 miles around Colorado and Utah, riding it on gravel, singletrack, and an overnighter. In his video, he dives into Kona’s new drop-bar offering in detail. Find our Kona Ouroboros review here…

The Santa Cruz Stigmata, the brand’s longstanding gravel bike, was recently updated with new geometry and some intriguing features that further expand its capabilities. Version four (V4) was marketed for “big races, big distances, or big dumb rides,” and we couldn’t resist putting it to the test. Neil’s been extensively testing the latest Santa Cruz Stigmata for several months for this full review…

Taking design cues from their fully custom US-made gravel bikes but available at a more approachable price point, the Super Something is Sklar’s first production bike. It caught our attention with its clean aesthetics, curvy steel frame, matching fork, and generous tire clearance, and we were curious to see how it would handle everyday riding and loaded bikepacking. Find Miles’ Sklar Super Something review here after extensive riding around Oregon, Idaho, and Colorado this fall…

The Kona Sutra is a perennial classic touring bike that has been around in various forms for nearly two decades. Seeking to shake up his perspective, Lucas spent most of the past year pedaling one around Colorado. Find his in-depth review and a generous helping of photos here…

We’ve received more review requests for the Black Mountain Cycles La Cabra than almost any other bike over the years. After getting a hold of one early this spring, the day is finally here. Find our in-depth review of the venerated and unique La Cabra after several months of testing it loaded and unloaded on the trails and gravel roads of Western North Carolina here…

The Otso Fenrir Ti is a full two pounds lighter than the stainless steel version we reviewed two years ago. Find an in-depth review of the Fenrir Ti after 550 miles of bikepacking, gravel grinding, and trail riding in Utah and Colorado here, plus photos, a swappable build kit, and more…