Best electric gravel bikes 2023: dirt loving drop bar e-bikes with added oomph

Could electric gravel bikes be the best and most versatile e-bikes on the market?

Gravel Week
(Image credit: Tino Pohlmann)

Here’s our pick of the best electric gravel bikes on the market right now. We've tested them across a range of riding conditions, assessing their performance for both ride quality and factors specific to electric bikes such as range and charging time.

Gravel bikesare constantly being touted as the best 'do-it-all' bikes, so it's no surprise that they feature among our list of thebest electric bikes.

For those aiming to compete, a growing number of events such as the Dirty Reiver and the Belgian Waffle Ride now have an e-gravel bike category, adding to the appeal of this burgeoning market.

The mix of all-terrain capability, confidence-inspiring stability, and additional assistance make electric gravel bikes an interesting proposition, not only for off-road riding, but also as urban commuter bikes.

Our pick of the best electric gravel bikes

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose.Find out more about how we test.

At the bottom of the page we've got more tips on what to look for when you're choosing the best electric gravel bike for you.

另外,如果你不是解放军ning to head off tarmac you can check out our pick of road-specific models in our guide to thebest electric bikeshere or if you're after something a little more affordable, you can find our guide to thebest budget gravel bikes(without a motor) here.

Cannondale Topstone Neo Lefty 3

The Topstone Neo Lefty features suspension both at the front and rear for added comfort over rough terrain

(Image credit: Cannondale)
Best full suspension e-gravel bike

Specifications

Motor/Battery: Bosch Performance Line CX motor, Bosch Powertube battery, 500Wh
Frame/Fork: BallisTec Carbon frame, Lefty Oliver fork, 30mm travel
Groupset: FSA Bosch chainset 42, Shimano GRX 600/810, 160mm rotors
Tires: WTB Resolute TCS, 650x42c
Weight: 17.36kg / 38.27lb

Reasons to buy

+
Handling and traction
+
Power application
+
Good battery range

Reasons to avoid

-
Almost too much torque
-
Poor wheel spec
-
It's not pretty

The Cannondale Topstone is the brand's gravel bike. Add the Neo to it and it designates a Cannondale electric bike, while the Lefty bit refers to its single legged suspension fork, plus, as you'd expect, the Carbon bit refers to its frame material.

Cannondale calls this a full suspension gravel bike, with the 30mm travel Lefty Oliver fork upfront and the bike's 'Kingpin Softail suspension' giving another 30mm travel at the rear.

With the same drive system as the Canyon Grail:ON, Bosch’s Performance Line CX motor delivers up to 75Nm of torque, making this bike really capable of powering up rocky inclines or techy trails. The large 500Wh Bosch internal battery delivers up to a claimed 125km / 78mi range. On test, 40+ mile rides mixing the power modes barely used half the battery, so we could see how this range is certainly achievable.

The carbon fibre frame and suspension features put the Topstone Neo Carbon 3 Lefty well above the price point of other e gravel bikes, but we felt it was "unrivalled in its class in terms of motor performance and the grin-inducing ride." It also blurs the lines between gravel and mountain bikes even more, and will probably be more bike than most will need. But hey, what fun!

Read more:Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon 3 Lefty full review

The Turbo Creo is Specialized's lightweight e gravel bike

Specialized's Turbo Creo uses the brand's own motor

(Image credit: Colin Levitch)
Best for battery range

Specifications

Motor/Battery: Specialized Sl 1.1, 320Wh
Frame/ Fork: Future Shock 2.0
Groupset: Shimano GRX810, 160mm rotors
Tires: Specialized Pathfinder Pro 700x38
Weight: 13.5kg / 29.7lb

Reasons to buy

+
Perfectly controlled power delivery from SL1.1 motor
+
Relatively lightweight
+
Dropper seatpost included stock

Reasons to avoid

-
Praxis 'wave tooth profile' front chainring isn't as secure as a typical narrow-wide

With the same motor and battery as its pavement oriented brand mate, the Specialized Turbo Creo SL Carbon Comp EVO is ready to tackle wild and woolly conditions.

The frame is made from Spesh's' top-of-the line Fact 11r carbon fibre, and sees a Future Shock 2.0 suspension stem at the front, complete with adjustable damping. At the back is 1x Shimano GRX shifting, though the left shifter isn't a dummy, it actuates an X-Fusion Manic Dropper Post.

When your legs run out of steam, Specialized's own SL 2.1 motor has got you covered with 240W of assistance. Integrated into the downtube is a 320Wh battery pack, claimed to be good for up to 128km / 80mi, Specialized offers a bottle cage sized ranger extender that adds an extra 64km / 40mi.

Rolling stock comes in the form DT Swiss R407 hoops with Boost hub spacing, finished in 38mm Spesh Pathfinder Pro tyres.

With the Mission Control app, not only can you adjust just how much power each of the assistance modes kicks out, but you can also set a distance you want to ride and the battery level you’d like to see remaining at the end and the bike will manage its battery usage automatically to hit these targets.

You can even pair up a Bluetooth heart rate monitor and have the motor adjust its assistance to keep you within a certain range – perfect for recovery days.

But even before you start tinkering with these elements, the way the motor applies its power is markedly different to most other e-bike systems. There’s no whiplash-inducing jerkiness as you can get with some designs – the power comes on in a much more controlled fashion that feels much more natural.

Read more:Specialized Turbo Creo SL Carbon Comp EVO full review

Ribble cgr al e side on

Ribble's CGR AL E features a MAHLE Ebikemotion 250W rear hub-based motor

(Image credit: Myles Warwood, Future)
Best value hub motor e-gravel bike

Specifications

Motor/Battery: MAHLE Ebikemotion X35 M1 250W motor, Panasonic 36V/250Wh battery
Frame/Fork: 6061-T6 Aluminium frame, CGR AL e Disc carbon fork
Groupset: SRAM Apex 1 HRD 1x11 speed
Tires: WTB Horizon Road Plus TCS 650b x 47c
Weight: 13.6kg (30lb) - medium

Reasons to buy

+
Clean aesthetics
+
Highly versatile
+
Ebikemotion motor is smooth and unobtrusive

Reasons to avoid

-
40Nm hub based motor doesn’t deliver quite the same effortless power as an 80nm mid motor system

On first look at the Ribble CGR AL e, you'd have no idea this machine is actually an electric gravel bike. Seriously, look at it! Where's the motor?

Building onRibble's non-motorized CGR (Cross, Gravel and Road)which we rated highly, the electric version features a MAHLE Ebikemotion 250W rear hub-based motor and Panasonic 250Wh battery hidden away in the downtube. This is controlled from a single button on the top tube, designed to look as sleek as possible.

Ribble claims a range of up to 96 km / 60mi over mixed surfaces, and although this motor may not be as powerful as some MTB orientated setups, it does give a significantly more lightweight total build that can be totally recharged in three and a half hours.

Ribble's Hybrid AL e utilises a similar setup, and we found the power delivery to be a pretty good balance. Sure, you don't get the same instant acceleration with this as you do a more powerful system, but if all you're looking for is a bit of a helping hand a high powered motor can be rather overkill. With this, you can greatly increase the distances you're able to cover, but still feel like you've worked.

The range starts with a Shimano Tiagra build. Shimano 105, SRAM Rival and Shimano Ultegra builds are also available and you can use Ribble's Bike Builders to customise your spec. There's even a step-through frame available.

Read more:Ribble CGR AL 105 full review

Read more:Ribble Hybrid AL e full review

Look's E-765 e gravel bike

The E-765 features a mid-drive motor and a SRAM 1x groupset

(Image credit: Look)

4. Look E-765 Gravel

Best lightweight mid motor system

Specifications

Motor/Battery: Fazua mid-drive motor and 250W battery
Frame/Fork: Look E-765 carbon fibre
Groupset: SRAM Rival 1x
Tires: Hutchinson Touareg 700x40c
Weight: 13.6kg / 30lb

Reasons to buy

+
Capable on rough terrain
+
Lightweight, efficient Fazua motor system

Reasons to avoid

-
No bosses for additional load carrying

Look released its all-new gravel bikes and gravel e-bikes at the same time in 2019, a range of high-end carbon fibre bikes that leans toward the racier end of gravel. These lightweight builds are stripped back for speed, so you won't find any bosses for mounting racks, mudguards or other luggage.

就像Pinarello和凯恩(见下图),看哈s used the Fazua 250W motor and battery system, helping to reduce overall weight. There's a claimed range of up to 86km / 53mi in urban conditions, or 53km / 33mi over mixed surfaces.

There's space for most gravel tyres, although geared towards smaller 650b wheels with wider tyres – clearance for 700c wheels is 40mm or 55mm for a 650b. The electric E-765 Gravel version comes with Hutchinson Touareg 700x40c.

Read more:New Look gravel bike and E-gravel bike launched

Canyon Grail:ON CF 8 eTap

The Grail:ON uses Bosch's PerformanceLine motor and battery that boasts a claimed range of up to 75 miles

(Image credit: Future)
Best for adventurous riding

Specifications

Motor/Battery: Bosch Performance Line CX (Gen4), Bosch PowerTube 500Wh battery
Frame/Fork: Canyon Grail:ON CF (carbon fiber)
Groupset: Shimano GRX RX600/812, FSA Cranks
Tires: Schwalbe G-One Bite 50mm
Weight: 17.1 kg / 37.7 lb

Reasons to buy

+
Bags of power
+
Impressive battery range - up to 75 miles claimed

Reasons to avoid

-
Quite heavy - over 37lbs / 17kg
-
The handlebar might not suit all tastes

Canyon's offering is specifically targeted at those wanting an electric gravel bike that can tackle more adventurous riding with ease.

Opting for Bosch's Performance Line CX system — more routinely seen on electric mountain bikes — the motor provides up to 340% support in turbo mode and a generous 85Nm of Torque, designed for scrambling up steep climbs and smashing singletrack.

The disadvantage of this powerful 2.9kg / 6.4lbs motor is that this kind of riding is heavy on the battery. Canyon has used a larger 500Wh battery to tackle this, which gives an average 120km / 75mi range, depending on power settings, terrain, rider weight etc. You can predict your range on any given ride using theBosch eBike range calculator here.

圣杯:功能大间隙50mm tyres and its relaxed, upright riding position compared to the non-motorized Grail is welcome. The unique handlebar design may not appeal to all riders, but it gives a little moe compliance when riding on the tops.

Read more:Canyon Grail: ON full review

Cairn Cycles E-Adventure 1.0

Cairn Cycle's e gravel bike features geometry well-suited to technical trails

(Image credit: Cairn)
Best value mid-motor e-gravel bike

Specifications

Motor/Battery: Fazua Evation 1.0, 250Wh battery
Frame/Fork: Aluminium frame, carbon fork
Groupset: SRAM Rival hydraulic disc 42t, 10-42t
Tires: WTB Resolute 700x42c
Weight: 14.61kg / 32.2lb

Reasons to buy

+
Geometry and handling inspire confidence
+
Fazua motor system provides just enough assistance
+
Ability to ride without motor
+
Lower price when compared to similarly spec'd bikes

Reasons to avoid

-
Will you ever ride without the motor/battery

The E-Adventure 1.0 electric gravel bike from Cairn Cycles really impressed us in our review, landing a 9/10 score. The alloy frame has helped to keep the price down too, which for a bike of this calibre is really respectable.

As the name might suggest, the E-Adventure certainly isn't lagging behind when it comes to the latest gravel-friendly features, including full mounting points for racks and three pack mounts on each fork leg, as well as internal dynamo routing for long-distance riding or commuting.

You can fit up to 700c x 45c or 650b x 2.25" (57c) tyres with the generous clearance. Meanwhile, the Fazua Evation 1.0 delivers a range of up to 80km /50mi and assistance up to 25kph / 15mph.

On test, we found the geometry to be really confidence-inspiring over technical terrain. To us, it's obvious that this could be a popular choice with riders seeking a little extra assistance to keep up with their riding buddies or for those heading out on bikepacking weekend adventures. Just remember you may need to recharge.

Read more:Cairn Cycles E-Adventure 1.0 full review

Pinarello Nytro Gravel bike

Pinarello's Nytro e gravel bike uses the Italian's brand's signature carbon curves to great effect

7. Pinarello Nytro Gravel

Best e-gravel bike for a racey feel

Specifications

Motor/Battery: Fazua
Frame/Fork: Carbon Torayca T700 UD
Groupset: SRAM Force eTap AXS 1x
Tires: Maxxis Rambler 700 x 40mm
Weight: Not specified

Reasons to buy

+
Well balanced and confident handling
+
Inherits aero features from the Dogma race bike

Reasons to avoid

-
Spec may leave you feeling the bike is a little overpriced

的Pinarello Nytro砾石t的功能he road-going Nytro electric bike but adds a gravel twist. Those features, like the curvy Onda fork, are themselves inherited from the legendary Dogma, the race bike choice of the Ineos Grenadiers pro team.

The frame is made from Toray T700 unidirectional carbon, with Pinarello's trademark asymmetric design which Pinarello says shapes the frame around the specific forces acting on the drive side and non-drive side of the bike. The frame also sees FlatBack tubing and Pinarello's Fork Flaps to slice through the air, as well as an FSC integrated seat clamp and aero seatpost.

There's added clearance for gravel tyres, with 40mm Maxxis Rambler rubber fitted. The frame will handle 42mm 700c or 2.1" 650b tyres.

Wilier Jena Hybrid

The Jena e gravel bike features a Mahle motor and Shimano GRX groupset

(Image credit: Wilier)

8. Wilier Jena Hybrid

Best for variety of spec options

Specifications

Motor/Battery: Mahle ebikemotion
Frame/Fork: Carbon monocoque NH-Mod
Groupset: Shimano GRX RX815 Di2 2x
Tires: Vittoria Terreno Dry 700 x 38mm
Weight: 12.8kg

Reasons to buy

+
Wide range of spec options
+
Flat bar bike available
+
Bar-mounted controller for the motor

Reasons to avoid

-
Italian styling doesn't come cheap

The Jena Hybrid takes Wilier's Jena gravel bike and adds a motor and battery from Mahle ebikemotion for extra grunt without too much extra weight. Wilier has mounted the motor controller on the bars, rather than on the frame as is normal with this system, so it's easier to change assistance levels and check battery status.

There's room for 44mm 700c tyres or up to 48mm 650b and Wilier has a range of its own brand wheels available including aero carbon options. There are loads of mounting points on the carbon frame and fork.

Wilier offers a range of spec levels for the Jena Hybrid and there's a flat bar option available too.

Everything you need to know about e gravel bikes

What should you look for when buying an electric gravel bike?

Although there'll be a few specific things that you'll need to consider when buying an e gravel bike, most of what you'll need to check out is the same as for any electric bike. That includes themotor type、位置和转矩、电池的大小和范围,bike weight, and, of course, your budget. Check out our handy guide onhow to buy an e-bike here.

Don't think that electric gravel bikes are simply for riding off-road though. Just like conventional gravel bikes, they can also make great town bikes or commuters, thanks to their plentiful mounting points (usually including mudguard and rack mounts), sturdy wide tyres and wide range gearing which comes in especially handy when you're carryinga lot of luggage.

You'll need to consider safe storage and charging, as these bikes tend to be pretty pricey. Check out ourpick of the best E-bikesfor more urban options and ourbest gravel and adventure bikesfor non-electric options to consider too.

A Bosch mid-drive motor fitted to an e gravel bike


What motor is best for e-gravel bikes?

There's a wide range of motors used in electric bikes, with some of the biggest names includingBosch, Fazua and Shimano. As the motor fittedbecomes more powerful, it also tends to become heavier, with greater energy demands that result in larger, heavier batteries.

Some electric gravel bikes that lean more towards the MTB end of the spectrum will feature more powerful motors for high torque of around 80Nm which helps on really technical terrain, while many use motors with around 40 or 50Nm. These are less powerful, so you'll need to work harder, but help keep the e-bike's weight down.

If you really want to do your homework, read up onhow e-bikes workhere.

An e gravel bike motor neatly hidden in the downtube of an electric gravel bike

How much range does an e-gravel bike need?

You'll need to think about how you intend to use your electric gravel bike when it comes to working out what your range requirements are, and thebatterycapacity you'll need.

Does that model have a removable battery so you can bring a spare or take it somewhere handy to recharge? Will you have a place to charge your bike on an overnight trip or commute?

Generally speaking, the larger the motor and battery, the heavier the total bike will be. Bear this in mind if you'll need to lift your bike into a car or carry it up a flight of stairs for example, as heavier bikes make this more tricky.

A digital display mounted to the handlebars of an e gravel bike

Is an information display important for an e-gravel bike?

Information displays will help you see how much battery life you have left, as well as what mode you're in. Typically these will come in the form of a digital unit mounted on the handlebars or a button with LED lights on the top tube.

有些会给你额外的信息,而others can be linked to your smartphone for more customisation and information.

Do I need e-bike specific components and finishing kit

Keep an eye out for e-bikespecific components and finishing kitwhen you're choosing an e gravel bike.

Think wheels, tires and groupsets, as these tend to be more robust and designed to cope with the extra weight and torque of the ebike system and the rigors of riding off-road. This helps them last longer before they need to be serviced or replaced.

What tires for an e-gravel bike

It wouldn't be an article about gravel bikes without mentioning tires, right?

Generally speaking, as the electric gravel bike you'll be riding is heavier than non-motorized gravel bikes, it's a good idea toopt for wider tires.

Even if you set your bike up tubeless, it's still possible to pinch flat if you bottom out the rim on a rock, root or curb — though sealant may plug the snakebite hole.

These wider tires will also help to take out some of the harshest bumps along the way, and make the ride a little more comfortable for you. Look for tyres that are a minimum width of 40mm, or even consider 650b wheels with wider MTB tires.

How we test

We have a dedicated team of testers here atbeplay手机客户端下载, whose job is to review a whole range of cycling products and to write objective reviews of their experience of using them day in day out in a whole range of conditions.

With huge experience, they're really well placed to compare products, identify their strengths and weaknesses and bring you an honest, unbiased assessment of how they perform.

In many way testing electric gravel bikes is the same as reviewing their acoustic counterparts. Depending on the bike, our testers ride a range of routes from forest roads to technical single track, as well as logging up plenty of miles on the road as well. Across this range of terrain we asses a number of factors, including comfort, handling, suitability for bikepacking and durability.

However, being e-bikes we also look at the motor and battery and consider ease-of-use and battery life and range amongst other factors.