Gravel Bike Reviews

After almost a year, two different frames, three events, and a few thousand miles, Nic finally sat down to pen his thoughts on Velo Orange’s new gravel bike. Featuring sliding dropouts, an aluminum alloy frame, and clearance for large tires, this moderately priced off-roader delivers more than first meets the eye. Read his Velo Orange Chessie review here…

Designed to defy easy categorization, the Wondercross Wanderer is an adventure-focused titanium gravel bike built for all-out adaptability. Sam Rice spent two months testing the bike across a massive array of terrain in New Zealand and Australia, putting its do-it-all claims firmly to the test. Read on for his full review…

Canyon just dropped the new Grizl Escape ECLIPS, and it’s a full-on love letter to bikepacking. Packed with thoughtful details—right down to a gummy bear graphic on the seat tube—it’s clear they didn’t just design this bike for adventure; they designed it for us. Find our full review here…

The Breezer Radar X Pro is a steel drop-bar gravel bike with big tire clearance, plenty of mounting points, and a dependable build kit, all for $2,000. Does its unique geometry and fit complement its impressive list of features, or is it holding it back? Read on for Miles’ review with thoughts on where it falls between a gravel and drop-bar mountain bike…

The titanium Viral Wanderer is an adventure-focused drop-bar bike built around a Pinion Smart.Shift system. Neil spent several months testing one on off-road rides around Colorado to determine if this uniquely comfortable, durable, and low-maintenance rig could be a true “forever bike.” Find out in his video and written Viral Wanderer review here…

Originally published Jan 2nd, 2019. Major update: Jan 8th, 2025 Bikepacking bikes come in all shapes and sizes—everything from plus-tire hardtails to svelte gravel race rigs and from full-squish to […]

Is steel the perfect frame material for an efficient, dedicated gravel bike? Neil got ahold of the new Otso Warakin steel to find out. Find his in-depth Otso Warakin review here after two months and 350 miles aboard this chromoly beauty, including an overnighter and several big adventure rides to test its mettle…

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…