Are There Quality, Affordable Gravel Bikes?

Filed under: News |

Typically, there is a vast difference between the cheapest variety of a product and the top-of-the-line as far as quality, effectiveness, and function. For gravel bikes, the cost range is substantial from those that deem the affordable options and those labeled as ‘top-tier.’

The claim is that those on the lower end of the price point are hard to differentiate in quality and function from those on the high end. For example, purchasing a $1500 ‘cheap’ choice in today’s market will give you nearly all the same key features that come standard with the $5000 or even the $10000 selections. Follow for advice regarding whether you should invest in a gravel bike.

These attributes include loads of tire clearance, hydraulic disc brakes, and what is a solid geometry. The frames are relatively light, with parts comparable in function to those at a much higher expense.

The tires are what determines the ride quality. The bike tires are generally cheap, so just because the price on the overall bike drops, the ride quality will not substantially reduce.

Do You Lose Quality When You Opt For Affordability With Gravel Bikes?

Determining what qualifies as the most essential qualities is how to answer this question. If the relevant features are present and are of a high quality on the affordable bike the same as the pricier version, go with the least expensive. Some materials are not essential and don’t play a part in the overall effectiveness of the bike. They just contribute to the lower cost. Some things are critical and a must-have. Check out what you should look for:

  • Framing:  The suggestion is that the framing material will ultimately play a part in the cycle’s ride comfort, stiffness, and weight. But to what extent is minimal as compared to a road bike simply due to the bike’s tires, which range in at a psi of between 25 and 45, creating much more impact on the ride than what the material comprising the bike will matter.

It’s not saying the framing is altogether irrelevant, but as far as the part it plays in having a significant impact to cause you to buy a much more expensive bike, it’s not worth it. It doesn’t affect the ride, merely the weight. It would help if you weighed what’s most important – good ride, lower cost over a little less weight, and more expensive—kind of a no-brainer.

  • The Brakes: A budget bike needs to have adequate brakes to make the cut, meaning hydraulic disc brakes. These allow a set-forget mentality and are much more powerful and controlled. The suggestion is that these are simply an all-around better brake.

You will need to pay for these, generally in the $1500 range, but there is no substitute of the same caliber. Some investments are unavoidable.

  • The Drivetrain: When upgrading your bike, the first investment should always be to the brakes before you do the drivetrain. The suggestion is that most of the modern models are of relatively good quality with little performance gap.

When it comes time to make this change, you need to look first for the gear range, whether there is a front chainring or there are two. It’s critical to ensure that your low and high gears engage when you ride. The recommendation is a ratio of 1:1 in the rear and front chainrings, to begin with, the low gear, but it can go significantly lower.

You’ll have a quieter drivetrain if there is a rear derailleur clutch present, which prevents the pulleys from jumping up and down and can keep you from dropping a chain. Try to ensure that most of the drivetrain comes from the same place as they’ll try to save costs in hidden areas where you wouldn’t expect.

Final Thoughts

You have to wonder if the main components responsible for the functioning of the bikes are similar to the cheaper varieties as compared to the ‘luxury’ models who would bother spending all that extra money. There are so many genuinely good inexpensive options, visit https://www.bikebinge.com/best-gravel-bikes-under-usd1000/ to see for yourself. How would the additional expense actually benefit someone?

There will definitely be bragging rights if you’re into that kind of thing, major bling, maybe a more comfortable ride. But if you’re riding on a gravel bike on rough terrain, are you truly interested in comfort?

One thing to be aware of when you’re budget conscious is where exactly the manufacturer has cut corners. Ultimately, your safety is going to be the top priority. Key in your selection process is researching whether this has been compromised.

As long as you see a comparatively good quality product, take your hidden treasure and ride on into the sunset, knowing you have an awesome product with similar capabilities but at half the price—definite win-win.