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Best Gravel Bikes Under $1000 Reviewed

As a keen cyclist, you’re probably someone who knows a thing or two about hopping onto your bike and getting that cardio in while enjoying all kinds of landscapes.

Cyclists all over the world love getting out of the house and setting sail on their bikes. Through all climates and all terrains, they’ll look to travel as much as they can and pound the pavements for hours on end.

What better way to expand your biking horizons than to hit the scenic trails on one of today’s best gravel bikes under $1000.

While each avid cyclist would be more than happy with the bicycle they are currently using, we would all prefer to utilize the best possible equipment and the highest quality of bike.

If you have the passion, the skill, and the determination, you’ll do just fine on a substandard, cheap gravel bike – this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t always look to improve on what we already have, though.

Gravel bikes should always provide the proper function and comfort as you make your way around all kinds of worldly areas of the planet.

While cheap and substandard gravel bikes can still do a job, they won’t perform anywhere near as well as you’ll like in comparison to some of the more reputable and popular choices.

You should also look to make your cycling experience as close to perfect as possible, and the bike is the number one factor in making the ride as near to 10/10 as can be.

A high-quality gravel bike will increase the smoothness with which you travel. It’ll also help to improve your ability to cycle through all kinds of endeavors as you won’t be dealing with a flawed machine that breaks down and malfunctions regularly.

Injuries and unpleasant incidents are less likely to happen, also, as you’ll be working with a much safer invention. Gravel biking is supposed to be a challenging event at times, but you shouldn’t have to suffer through an adventure – a high-quality gravel bike will ensure the entire practice is enjoyed.

With that said, we’ve compiled a list of five of the best gravel bikes around. While it’s all subjective and you may feel differently, we feel as though this group is worth taking a look at. So, without further ado, let’s delve into the five and talk about the benefits you’ll receive from each!

Check Out Our Favorite Gravel Bike Under $1,000

Top Gravel Bike Under $1000 Comparison Chart

Best Gravel Bikes Under $1000

1. Mongoose Malus Fat Tire Gravel Bike

A steel, mountain-style, fat-tire frame will provide you with a lot of stability and strength as you head off into some of the most difficult terrain known to this planet.

As the name suggests, the tires are thick and will provide a lot of support on your rides. It’s the biggest selling point for this bike. The wideness of the tires and the added stability allow you to really push the boundaries and try a myriad of tricks and travel on almost any terrain.

These tires are four inches wide and can roll over literally anything in its path – the four-inch alloy rims are light but very strong. You get a psychological boost from this kind of feature, which is obviously a bonus.

It has a rear derailleur for smoother gear changes and an alloy a-head stem with a mountain handlebar that helps to keep you in total control when out tackling the terrain. Front and rear disc brakes allow crisp stopping, meaning you have a lot of control over your speed.

It comes with a one-year warranty. Should you ever run into any issues with the bike, mongoose will be on hand to repair or replace if it ever gets past the point of small changes.

2. Schwinn Mesa 3 Gravel Bike

This is for bike riders who are avid fans of heading out into all kinds of terrain. If you wish to up your game and become one of the best, the Schwinn Mesa 3 Gravel Bike might be for you.

It has a small frame that tends to be fit for riders that are around 5’2” to 5’6” in height, but there’s a certain leeway and fluidity that, of course, allows you to maneuver yourself in if you’re a little taller.

With a front suspension and a linear-pull brake style, it serves your top-class cycling game perfectly. It has a mountain-tuned aluminium frame and a Zoom HL565 aluminium suspension fork – perfect for gravel paths. The 27.5” wheels and tires provide the right traction you need when out on the trail.

In terms of the gear-shifting, it comes with a 21-speed Shimano Tourney Drivetrain and Shimano EZ-FIRE shifters compliment it. This helps with precision shifts at quick speeds. Not exactly your basic gear system – one for the intermediate riders to enjoy.

3. Royce Union Lightweight Gravel Bike

The Royce Union Lightweight bike possesses a 21” aluminium frame that is all three of strong, durable, and lightweight.

It has WTB alloy rims that are paired with WTB Nano 700C tires, so you can put your faith in a reliable set of wheels.

It can come with both a Shimano Sora 9-speed index and a Shimano 2×9 shifter that provides 18 speeds – a lot of room to work with here.

In terms of the breaks, you’ll be comfortable with the Dual Shimano disc brakes as they’ll provide the right kind of stopping power once again should you ever need to alter your speed both dramatically or gradually.

In terms of the seating, you’ll also be handed some comfort as the WTB Volt saddle is extremely comfortable. Mixed together with the large tires, the seat soaks up a lot of bumps and the stiffness of the frame.

Not only will you be in utter comfort during long rides, but you’ll have all the control you need as you traverse through the elements and floorings.

4. Huffy Stone Mountain Gravel Bike

The Huffy Stone Mountain gravel bike has 21 speeds – much like the other options in the group – so you can be sure of the performance while riding.

This also allows you to be ready for all kinds of outdoor adventures. The index Shimano TZ-31 rear derailleur combines with the microshift twist shifter to give you these 21 different speeds.

So, whether you’re looking to climb up a hill or safety travel down one with the right amount of zest and control, you’ll have it all handled. The same goes for if you’re hoping to simply ride with huge bursts of acceleration! The removable rear derailleur guard will ensure that you receive consistent gear operation.

The slight-rise handlebar it possesses enables upright riding that minimizes back and shoulder strains. It has ATB-type resin pedals on the 3-piece crank that has such a responsive feel, too. Kraton grips provide a very comfortable touch, also.

With regard to the wheels, you’ll be comfortable with some 26” knobby tires as they penetrate the dirt bike paths simply. You won’t have to worry about the way in which the bike deals with these kinds of environments.

Linear pull hand brakes allow consistent stopping practices, which make the performance and safety more than up to scratch. The suspension fork is able to handle all kinds of jumps, bumps, and dips – you’ll be getting a very smooth operator when you hop on the Huffy Stone Mountain bike.

This gravel bike is typically ideal for those aged 13 and up. If you’re a minimum of 5ft tall, then you should be good to go. The steel frame is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

5. Merax FT323 Falcon Gravel Bike

With the Merax FT323 Falcon, you’re not only getting a good-looking vehicle, but you’re getting so much more due to the wonderful price you’re going to be paying.

You’ll also receive a one-year warranty if you feel as though you need to make changes after a short amount of time.

Like the first on this list, the Merax has 21-speed fitted Shimano shifters and derailleurs that can assist with gear-shifting. This reliable and smooth way of changing speeds will help out so much throughout all terrains. While it’s mainly for those who have been riding for a while, it will also help beginners as they get used to everything.

It has a dual-suspension design that smooths bumps and allows you to stay in control while riding through all kinds of conditions and terrain. Linear pulls breaks will provide enhanced stopping power for when you need to come to an abrupt halt.

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Top Gravel Bike Under $1000 Features To Consider

Each bike will have different qualities and benefits. Each design will have different ergonomics for different reasons, but they will all share a similar style with the same fundamental aspects.

If you want the best kind of gravel bike, then you’ll have to look into some of the features and determine if they’re functioning as well as they should. Here are some of the features in question:

Wheel Size

Wheel size obviously matters when it comes to the kinds of roads you can ride as well as the rolling resistance you’ll feel throughout your ride.

The larger and wider the tire, the more it will be able to deal with the likes of rough surfaces as it’ll have fantastic grip while maintaining the speed you desire.

It’s recommended by many that 650B wheels should be preferred if you’re traveling on a bumpy gravel road a lot of the time, and 700B if you’re spending a lot more time on smoother surfaces.

The Frame

When it comes to the very fundamentals of a bike and something that should be considered deeply, the frame and fork should be at the very base of your thinking.

This kind of thing determines just how much the bike will feel – it sets the tone for pretty much every other aspect of the bike itself. At this moment in time, aluminium is the most popular choice due to the fact that it’s lightweight for the price you’ll have to pay.

Aluminium bikes with carbon forks tend to be around a kilo lighter than a bike made out of steel. Steel has a little more side-to-side flex which makes that kind of a frame quite popular due to the improved comfort and feel, though.

Angle Of Frame

Each frame has different lengths and different angles in terms of the way they’re lined up.

Typically, if a gravel bike’s frame is more upright and on an inclined angle, it’s likely to be suited to a more relaxed ride with less strain on worry about performance levels.

If the angle is more narrow and flatter, then it’s going to be more focused on performance. If you’re looking to increase your speed and time while cycling through different terrains, then you’ll likely look for something that is a lot narrower.

If you’d like to focus more on the experience, then choosing a more upright frame makes a lot of sense.

Tubeless Compatible Wheels

A huge aspect of a high-quality bike is whether or not it can work with tubeless wheels. Modern technology has reached a point whereby our tires can heal themselves should they ever receive a puncture.

This is done via a sealant that rushes to the problem area and plugs the ease efficiently. They’re lightweight and have a lower rolling resistance.

This is recommended as they’re a lot more convenient and make for better performance than traditional ones.

Gearing

The way the gears are setup makes a big difference in terms of how the bike will move. You can choose to have front and rear shifting, or just simple rear shifting. With the former, you’ll have more options and a much more broad range of riding speed and styles.

With just rear shifting, you’ll get a more fundamental set of speeds. While the front and rear shifting option is heavier, it allows you to cater to all kinds of different terrains and scenarios – you aren’t tied to a particular way of riding.

Beginners are more suited to the simpler style, but a higher quality ride will likely include more shifting options.