Top 15 BEST Ultralight Gravel Bikes For 2025 // Fast, Light, Agile

[@Cyclingabout]

I made this video because I LOVE seeing bike manufacturers push the boundaries of design and engineering. But please note that bike weight is probably NOT as important as you think! ❌ My real-world testing, along with the numbers from the mathematical models, suggests that a kilogram extra weight will likely add one or two minutes on a hilly 100km (62mi) bike ride. And on a flat route, a kilogram is likely worth 10 or 20 seconds over 100km. If you want to go fast, you're MUCH better off worrying about your aerodynamics or tyre rolling resistance. 😎 Here's my video explaining why bike weight is not that important: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXXdfqWYf7l-Y7c

[@CL-dh2mf]

A light bike just feels AWESOME!😊

[@philmccavity]

You're not the person I thought would produce this video, but I'll probably watch it anyway, since all of your stuff is impeccably researched.

[@stevenr5149]

nice video. i’m an ex roadie/ weight weenie. Always find these videos interesting. however, in this chapter of my life, I’m riding just for fun and enjoyment. Now, I stop seeing significant light-weight benefits under 21 or 22 pounds. I can feel the weight difference between a 17 pound and a 20lb bike but the 17 pound bike isn’t any more fun to ride. My 20lb crust Bambora was so much more enjoyable/fun than my 13.9lb Cervelo, I got rid of the Cervelo.

[@OutThere42]

I thought for a sec it was April 1 in US 😂. But I get your point

[@gabscar1]

I question whether the aero gains from these expensive frames are worth it for a gravel bike. How fast do you cycle on gravel? Furthermore, crashes are more likely when cycling off-road, esp. at speed! One bad crash and your ~$5k frame is for the bin.

[@matejzima8210]

*cries in Surly* :D :D thanks for well researched video, I'm especially impressed by the Cube. WOW.

[@SchwappSchwopp]

Fun to watch but not payable! Can you do a bikepacking and biketouring steel bike video next? :) and also more than just one budget rec, more like few recs sub 1000, few recs sub 2000 and so on :) several options like dropbar, flatbar, altbar etc.

[@55mblindy]

Keep up the Great Work😊

[@Cyclingabout]

Thanks, will do! This was a fun project to research and turn into a video. 😎

[@tomnoyb8301]

Seeing you like unusual setups; is there a: Recumbent FW-belt-drive with RWD Regenerative-motor? GDMBR-cabable? Or long-distance gravel capable? Preferably 23°-to-40° seat-angle (underseat-steering?)? On a related subject; is there a tubeless-tire setup not requiring sealant? Scooters/motorcycles don't require sealant; not sure why bicycles haven't solved this problem yet?

[@marc_frank]

the crux looked amazing already cool to see that a very similar bike is #1

[@AndreSB43]

Have you looked into the Norwegian brand Fara cycling? Their gravel frameset is 1300g, but they also have a all-road / light gravel frameset that weights 980g. Thanks for your good buyer's guide, it helped me choose my Kona Sutra which is not light but have taken me on mountain roads fully loaded with 5 panniers.

[@timd7958]

Isnt the Enve MOG light enough to be included here?

[@markifi]

the problem with the nuroad is you can't switch to mechanical gearing without crazy bends in the cable. it would be a good one to buy and immediately sell the silly groupset if you could route the cable right, though

[@Ckmwellihandle]

For urban or gravel bikes which type of brake is a better option mechanical disc or hydraulic disc brake? I mean is there too much difference between them considering the maintenance cost of hydraulic if it breaks down

[@erich8258]

Looking at my Giant Revolt -- the Superior appears to use the same frame

[@christwardzik]

Great video so for an aero race machine the Ridley or even BMC is way stiffer than the ostro eh??

[@Cyclingabout]

That’s what the deflection testing shows! Not by an insignificant amount either…

[@henk014]

Best bikes are heavy bikes, simple as that. The heavier - the better.

[@CA-ub6pf]

And the more terrible they ride

[@tariqkamil7853]

Maybe the best steel gravel bikes, alloy, Ti and cf then a like a summary of the bests the best…in your opinion

[@Turbobuttes]

All my gravel dreams take place in the mountains so my dream gravel bike is a sub 8 kg custom built titanium number. For now though? I'm gonna be content with my 9.7 kg alloy gravel bike for a little while longer.

[@archer1x257]

What about the Canyon Grail CFR XPLR with 7.5 kg and the Rose Backroad FF Red XPLR AXS with 7.6 kg?

[@Cyclingabout]

These bike models (with Red XPLR specifically) didn’t exist when I conducted my research a month back! I’ve added them to my written article on the CYCLINGABOUT website - thanks.

[@razakrisah7830]

what about Canyon Grail CFR XPLR ?

[@Cyclingabout]

It slots in right behind the Cube.

[@georgebirddrums]

Good vid.. but the Rose Backroad FF is 7.6kg and would've been 8th

[@Cyclingabout]

I'm almost certain the highest spec Backroad FF was over 8kg (€4,999 model) when I was researching. The 7.6kg XPLR Red AXS model must've only just been added to the website! Looks like a great ride, especially for the price.

[@georgebirddrums]

@Cyclingabout I was commenting because you make great vids 👍🏼

[@Cyclingabout]

@@georgebirddrums Thanks! I'll be adding the Backroad FF to my resources. 😎

[@jekutrukukchannel4900]

Hallo... Salam kenal dari pesepeda MTB Indonesia 🙏🙏🙏

[@francisblackwell7597]

Wonderful video--Different topic/??--Any recommendation for bike torque wrench for "average" cyclist that occasionally works on his bikes but doesn't want to spend "a lot" (< $60)?? thanx

[@Cyclingabout]

The BBB BTL-73 would be my pick at that kind of price point.

[@francisblackwell7597]

@@Cyclingabout Thanx!!

[@okgreenglobal]

How come you never have an open cycle in your list as they are sort of pioniers in the market?

[@Cyclingabout]

They do not offer a complete bike under 8kg.

[@Raymond-Farts]

Not one titanium bike? There are those people like me that stay away from carbon.

[@rigensshyti5447]

Titanium is heavier than carbon this is for the lightest bikes

[@ivanboesky1520]

@Raymond-Farts Yeah, like all those guys that have titanium frames with a carbon fork, a carbon stem, carbon wheels, a carbon seatpost, carbon handlebars and a carbon railed saddle. Often they are also running carbon bodied pedals too and shoes with carbon fiber soles, but let’s be scared of a carbon fiber bike frame. LOL

[@Raymond-Farts]

@@ivanboesky1520 My titanium bike has titanium bars and stem and spacers from Controltech, titanium seat post from Firefly, titanium saddle rails. Titanium bottle cages. Yeah, it has a carbon fork from ENVE because titanium forks are difficult to source but I will have one eventually because they are being produced. There are some carbon parts that can't be avoided but I'm doing my best to stay away carbon. I've had my share of carbon parts failing, and I can't remember ever having an aluminum part fail on any bike I've ever owned. Of coarse they do wear but that's natural.

[@flowtoolz5554]

"And an added bonus is the lighter wallet you now have" Freudian Slip? No worries, I also love to spend 😊

[@mortlow6688]

Canyon Grail Cfr, Open upper?

[@Cyclingabout]

CFR is 8kg, and the OPEN UPPER is frame only. The lightest OPEN UP complete bike is 8.2kg.

[@toyotaprius79]

But will they blend err I mean fold?

[@user-zw6pn3ql7y]

The Brompton G-Line folds and could arguably be a gravel bike (but light it is not)

[@RO8YO]

With sufficient force, yes.

[@BryanIrhehlblackmetal]

i love felt breed 30 M-size

[@peterbest4943]

Anyone else hearing a really high pitched noise while watching this video?

[@Cyclingabout]

I make these videos as I travel the world on my bike. It's hard to find a quiet place in Tanzania, so you're hearing insects in the background. I tried my best to reduce their noise but you can only do so much with software...

[@garyboyle695]

They'll may feel lighter but the penalty is a worse ride and you'll get more fatigued.

[@riderrunco]

Gt grade?

[@jamescourier1545]

I built a 1x12 gravel bike that's lighter than that S-Works for $5400.

[@igorzingllc7344]

can you share information ?

[@jamescourier1545]

@igorzingllc7344 Light Bicycle Journey frameset with their AR25/DT180/XRay/Micro Spline wheelset (1054g) Dura Ace rotors/calipers, GRX 12S levers/derailleur, e-thirteen XCX crankset/40T , XTR 10-51 cassette, S-Works Pathfinder 42c tires, XTR chain, cane creek hellbender 70 lite headset, Lexon gravel integrated carbon bar, , 27.2mm 130g carbon Climax seat post with 31.6mm thermoplastic sleeve, 125g Toseek carbon saddle, Ergon BT gravel bar tape, I think that's it. Components were bought on Black Friday promotions last year which saved about $600 😃

[@oliverberger5946]

​@jamescourier1545 GRX derailleur with 10-51 cassette. Does this really work? Thanks for sharing your part list.

[@jamescourier1545]

@oliverberger5946 yes it works. It's the normal size for the 1x12 GRX but it's usually an SLX or XT. I chose XTR for weight savings

[@leightonbohl1920]

Who buys these eye-wateringly expensive bikes? Do they race them? Where, aside from some yearly exodus across the Kansas plains? These seem to be mountainbikes for extremely rich dudes who might ride a trail or two on the weekend. I live in the UK and post Brexit you couldn’t buy most of the bikes reviewed here. Besides, cf may be strong when used in a directionally appropriate manner, but any severe lateral impact is going to see you walking back home. 5 to 12 thousand pounds for a bike seldom ridden?!! Clearly someone is buying the bikes, but who? Is it Alan Sugar and his mates? I’ve heard he’s partial to getting out and about on two wheels. Seriously, as an 80 year old who’s been in the saddle for a half century and more, this is an unknown area of the sport. Shall we call it, hmmm, The Plutocratic Wheelers.

[@wy7yrk4cz74]

Considering their weight what are their difference from road bikes? Wider tires and a little more aggressive geometry or is there something else?

[@themightymite5688]

Plug this into google: "Please tell me the difference between a gravel and a road bike because I'm too lazy to be bothered to look it up without being told to do so." That should help answer your question.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Road to gravel: Slacker head angle Wider wheels and tires Taller stack height Vibration damping/suspension/flex technologies (seat post, handlebars, forks, axles, chain stay)

[@markifi]

also lower gearing

[@garyboyle695]

Aero on s gravel bike just seems pointless. You're never going to get into the body position to take advantage of it. Also, give me a slight heavier bike that offers more comfort, which is faster in the long run.

[@anthonyharris483]

I'd take a high quality steel frame bike over carbon.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Least expensive one of the bunch still cost what a small motorcycle costs.

[@Cyclingabout]

Yep! All products are available on a price spectrum. You can spend big money on a high-performance motorbike too (US $50,000+)!

[@drill_fiend1097]

You can get a Lauf Seigla rigid core wireless for like US$2,640. The base Honda Grom costs US$3,599, and even more with features like ABS. With vehicle registration, insurance, license and extra for motorcycles... There are tradeoffs.

[@asapguide]

Do the lightest e-bike in the world

[@user-el3rp6nh5m]

buy an old top cyclocross bike with rims. Saves you 10.000 and 1-2kg of weight.

[@pedrolahoz]

There is a different dimension to this light gravel business. While this guy focused on expensive western brands, similar or better results may be attained with manufacturers from the east, specially China, at 30% of the cost.

[@drill_fiend1097]

How about ENVE Fray?

[@Cyclingabout]

For this video, I wanted tyre clearance to be a minimum of 44mm. 👍🏻

[@drill_fiend1097]

I think ENVE Mog Frameset itself is lighter than some of the frameset of the bikes shown here. Can't speak about the complete builds they offer though.

[@Stevehatesgravel]

Would like to see how long these flimsy frame bikes last 🤣🤣🤣

[@ivanboesky1520]

Most CF bikes last years and years and even if you crash them they can be repaired far easier than damage to a steel or ti ride. 🤪🤪🤪

[@PiattosVillaminVlogs]

Mine is 12Kg+++ 😭

[@abn140]

lekkie? suma wagi "mózgów" europejskich polityków to nadal mniej.

[@idarborlaug]

Would love to see some of them with a good quality gear system. No rohloff or pinion gears to be found. And no belts. Not buying this expensive bike with such crap chains and derailers.

[@erich8258]

Gearboxes may be great, but they'll never be part of a lightweight setup (or a list of lightweight gravel bikes)

[@CL-dh2mf]

The main reason is these are extremely heavy.😉

[@levrider9558]

Strong opinions from someone who watches this video. I think tout terrain offers some.

[@idarborlaug]

@levrider9558 unfortunetly i live in a area which salts the roads during winter. And a steel bike is not something i think will work. Aluminium corrodes here and fuses to everything.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Pinion systems will make a gravel bike about 26-29 pounds, depending on frame size. Comparative derailleur bikes run in the 21-24 pound range. It's not a huge difference. The motivation is extremely low maintenance, clean drive train without fragile dangly bits, dirty greasy oily stuff, and replacing drive components 3 or 4 times for the equivalent life of a Pinion or Rohloff system. Pay more up front for the gearbox or gear hub, but pay much less throughout the ownership period. You might end up paying less in the long run due to less time, chemicals, degreasers, oil, wax, trips to the shop for fiddling with adjusters, and so forth.

[@novoseries]

Didn’t see the extraordinary Rave SLR Wilier Triestina Gravel/Road bike 👎🏽

[@Cyclingabout]

I considered the Rave SLR but ultimately decided not to include it here as there’s already too little clearance at the seatstays with a 38 mm tyre fitted. I'm sure people wouldn't have any problems in dry conditions, but they’re destined to get packed full of mud when conditions are wet.