The 9 Best Flat Bar Gravel Bikes (Under $1000)

The Short Version

• Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike Overall: Salsa Journeyer Altus
• Best Steel Flat Bar Gravel Bike: State 4130 All Road
• Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike For Rough Roads: Poseidon Redwood
• Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike With Upright Geometry: Breezer Radar Cafe
• Best Aluminum Flat Bar Gravel Bike: Marin DSX 1
• Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike Ready For Commuting: Kona Dew Deluxe
• Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike Price-to-Weight Ratio: Posideon X Ambition
• Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike With Step-Through: Cannondale Quick Disc 3
• Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike for Tall Riders: Surly Preamble

The Long Version

Finding the best flat bar gravel bikes under $1,000 can be a daunting task, especially if this is your first bike purchase.

The good news is all of the flat bar gravel bikes on this list have been selected through our objective, data-driven rankings, which have been optimized based on years of working in the bike industry.

We have combed through hundreds of gravel bikes to find the best handling models, with broad size ranges, great features, adequate tire widths, suitable gear ratios, in the lightest possible package, and all from great online retailers.

All you have to do is decide on the features that best suit your needs.

We’ve made this buyer’s guide your one-stop shop for finding the best budget gravel bike.

Accompanying the bike descriptions and score sheets are sizing charts that will help you pick the right size. We have even placed direct links to shops where you can buy these bikes, and have listed the shipping cost.

We have intentionally picked bikes that can be easily obtained in the USA (that’s most of you) and can be shipped directly to your door.

The author of this website has worked in the bike industry for over 20 years and has traveled the world by bicycle for over a decade. He has written multiple bicycle buyer’s guides that round up the best bikepacking and touring bikes.

All of this experience means that you can’t go wrong with any bike featured here.

Note: We may earn a commission when you purchase a bike through our links. This directly supports CYCLINGABOUT.com and allows us to continue providing high-quality cycling information to you.

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

To learn about the characteristics of a flat bar gravel bike and for full details of our scoring system, please check out the buying advice at the bottom of the article.

Jump to Buying Advice

The Best Flat Bar Gravel Bikes For 2024

Salsa Journeyer Altus – 19/20

The Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike Overall

Salsa has put a huge amount of research and development into its Journeyer gravel bike range. The attention to detail shines through in the bike’s overall design – it offers a choice of wheel sizes, exceptional tire clearance, stable steering, mounts for different luggage setups, ample bottle cage mounts, fender compatibility, and size-proportionate handlebar widths.

The Journeyer is just 26lb (11.8kg) thanks to its lightweight aluminum frame and fork. It features a reliable microSHIFT 1×9 drivetrain and can fit wide 2.2-2.3” tires for rough dirt roads. The bike has a particularly low standover height so it’s great for riders down to 4ft8 (142cm) who are looking for a perfectly fitting bike.

The only thing that kept the Journeyer from achieving a perfect score in our rating is the climbing gear is a bit high. This means that if you live in a very hilly area, you might find yourself wanting an even lower gear ratio.

We recommend smaller 650B/27.5” wheels if you’re primarily cycling on dirt roads, and 700C/29” wheels if you spend most of your time on pavement.

Determine your Salsa Journeyer frame size in the sizing recommendations.

	Characteristic	Numerical Data	Score
Steering Stability	Stable	77mm Trail	3/3
Low Climbing Gear	Moderately Low	24 Gear Inches	2/3
High-Speed Gear	High	114 Gear Inches	3/3
Maximum Tyre Width	Very Wide	55mm (2.2”)	3/3
Tubeless Compatibility	Tubeless Compatible	–	3/3
Value For Money	Great	$899	3/3
Weight Category	Lightest	11.8kg (24.9lb)	3/3
Riding Position	Normal/Sporty	582mm Stack Average	–
TOTAL SCORE			19/20
	Salsa Journeyer with 650B Wheels	Salsa Journeyer with 700C Wheels	Shipping Cost
	See Price	See Price	$100
	See Price	See Price	$150

State 4130 All Road – 17/20

The Best Steel Flat Bar Gravel Bike

The State 4130 All Road is a steel gravel bike ready for off-road adventures. It has ample tire clearance and lots of bag/rack mounts. The notably upright riding position will allow you to ride comfortably all day should you put the bikepacking mounts to good use.

The 4130 comes with a 1×11-speed drivetrain, tubeless compatible wheels, generous 2.1” tire clearance, and reliable mechanical disc brakes. State also has a plethora of budget-friendly upgrades to make this your dream bike (brakes, forks, gears, wheels) although those will put you over $1,000.

In addition, State Bicycle Co frequently releases special editions, so this bike is usually available in several fun paint designs.

The State lost points when it came to steering speed; it’s a bit quicker than other bikes here, making it feel a bit twitchy at high speed. The climbing gear is also higher than we’d like to see, however, it will be great for most terrain you encounter.

We recommend choosing smaller 650B/27.5” wheels if you’re primarily cycling on dirt roads, and 700C/29” wheels if you spend most of your time on pavement.

Determine your State 4130 All Road frame size in sizing recommendations.

Poseidon Redwood – 17/20

The Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike For Rough Roads

The Redwood shines though as Poseidon’s proper bikepacking gravel bike, that is ready to take on any adventure. It employs a tough aluminum frame and fork with plenty of rack and accessory mounts. The drivetrain is a steadfast 1×10 model from microSHIFT.

The number one reason to choose this bike is the strong wheels and wide tires. The Redwood comes standard with 2.35” wide tires but it can fit 2.6” tires if you need! The 650B/27.5” wheels are connected with stiff thru-axles, and the rims are tubeless compatible.

The Redwood also has notably low climbing gears for a gravel bike, which is great for riding up steeper hills, especially with a bikepacking load.

While the bike is adventure-ready, it does have a few drawbacks.

It’s heavier than the rest at 29 lbs (13.15 kg). It also has a large-diameter alloy seatpost that rides very firmly (although the wide tires should regain most of that comfort). Lastly, the XL and XXL frames are not very tall at the front, resulting in a lower handlebar than similarly sized gravel bikes – tall riders take note.

Determine your Poseidon Redwood frame size in sizing recommendations.

Marin DSX 1 – 17/20

The Best Aluminum Flat Bar Gravel Bike

The Marin DSX 1 Flat bar is a lightweight and versatile gravel bike that has a whole slew of great features making it ready for your next adventure.

This aluminum bike with a weight-shedding carbon fork weighs in at just 25.26 lbs (11.46 kg). This great build at a budget price includes a Shimano Deore 1×11 drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and thru-axles for the wheels. The DSX 1 also has clearance for rather wide 700c x 53mm (29 x 2.1”) tires.

The DSX 1 has a classic and clean look thanks to its simple colorway and internal cable routing. It features tons of mounting points that can accommodate a variety of bag types from bikepacking cargo cage bags through to full-sized panniers. It’s a great bike for those seeking performance and comfort on mixed terrain.

The only metric that the Marin lost points in was tubeless compatibility. While tubeless compatibility is a great feature, if you are just starting in the cycling world, you may not have the proper tools for a tubeless setup, so this might not be too important to you.

Determine your Marin DSX 1 frame size in sizing recommendations.

Kona Dew Deluxe – 15/20

The Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike For Commuting

The Kona Dew Deluxe isn’t just a gravel bike; it’s a commuter’s dream that can effortlessly transition between weekends away and urban commutes. It comes stock with a kickstand, so you can easily park your bike while running errands, and fenders to keep you dry when the conditions turn on you. 

The Dew Deluxe boasts hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano Deore 11-speed gears, and 650b/27.5” wheels with lots of clearance (55mm or 2.2″). It also has the most upright riding position of any bike on this list, which is ideal for both commuting and long days in the saddle.

The biggest downside is this bike is a bit heavy, especially for an aluminum bike, weighing in at 29.76 lbs (13.5 kg). If you remove the fenders and kickstand though it is about 2 lbs (1 kg) lighter. However, fenders and a kickstand are great for bikepacking too, so you might find you appreciate them.

Determine your Kona Dew Deluxe frame size in sizing recommendations.

Poseidon X Ambition – 15/20

The Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike For Price & Weight

The Poseidon X Ambition is the speedy sibling of the Redwood. Every part of the X Ambition has been built for riding fast – it features 700C wheels that carry speed well, and a full carbon fork that saves about 1 lb (450 grams) compared to an aluminum or steel fork.

Poseidon didn’t just have speed in mind for the X Ambition though. It features an excellent low climbing gear ratio for steep hills and a notably upright riding position too.

This aluminum bike comes in at a lightweight 25 lbs (11.34 kg). It uses the same microSHIFT 1×10 drivetrain as the Redwood, and simple mechanical disc brakes.

A downside is that the maximum tire size is fairly narrow at 42mm. However, if you’re aiming for speed and only need the bike for light off-road riding – this will be wide enough. It’s also worth noting the standard wheels are not tubeless compatible (but a wheel upgrade kit is available for a few hundred dollars extra).

Determine your Poseidon X frame size in sizing recommendations.

Cannondale Quick Disc 3 – 15/20

The Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike With Step-Through Frame

Cannondale has been in the bike market for decades bringing innovation to bikes whether they are for world-class athletes or budget-minded consumers. The Quick 3 is a lightweight bike that will have you equally zipping through the city or down bumpy gravel roads.

The Quick 3 is an aluminum gravel bike and comes with hydraulic disc brakes and a carbon fork. The bike weighs in at only 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg), and has a broad height range fitting riders 4’10” – 6’9” (the tallest of any bike on our list).

There are also unique accessories included with the bike, for example, a built-in phone mount (compatible with SP phone cases) that allows you to document your rides in conjunction with the sensor in the fork and Cannondale app.

The Quick 3 is the only bike on this list that is also offered as a unisex step-through frame. While not common in the US, these low-slung frames are much easier to mount, and a great option if you have limited mobility, or simply need to dismount frequently.

At 42 mm (1.65”) the Quick 3 has a fairly narrow maximum tire width, but this is plenty wide for light gravel roads and bike paths. The only other downside is the low climbing gear, which is higher than some bikes on the list.

Determine your Cannondale Quick frame size in sizing recommendations.

Surly Preamble – 15/20

The Best Flat Bar Gravel Bike With Size Proportionate Wheels

Surly is hoping that the Preamble is your preamble into cycling, as their entry-level bike (they call it a “gateway drug”). This fun and versatile bike will surely draw you into some dirt road cycling adventures.

Surly offers height-inclusive frame geometry, meaning the XS and S have sloped top tubes for extra frame standover, and the XL accommodates very tall riders (6ft7). In keeping with Surly’s size-inclusive geometry, the XS and S bikes come with smaller 650B wheels, while M through XL bikes come with 700C wheels.

The Preamble Flat bar is a steel bike so you’re sacrificing comfort for a bit of weight, but it still only weighs 12.3 kg (27.12 lbs). The bike comes with a 1×9 microSHIFT drivetrain and mechanical disc brakes as standard.

Downsides to the bike include a narrow tire width compared to some, higher climbing gear than we’d like, and a heavier-than-average weight.

Determine your Surly Preamble frame size in sizing recommendations.

Budget Gravel Bike Buying Advice

Frame Material

Aluminum – This is the most common frame and fork material in this price range. Aluminum provides the best balance between frame stiffness, lightweight performance, and cost-effectiveness.

Steel – People who ride steel bikes are often fanatics about them. They love the side-to-side flex that a steel frame offers, as well as the ability to easily repair the frame, should something break. The downside to this material is that it’s heavier than aluminum, usually by 2 or 3 pounds (1-1.5 kg).

Carbon Fiber – While there aren’t any carbon fiber bikes on this list, a few bikes do feature a carbon fork. Carbon forks shave off a pound of weight and can be more forgiving over bumps. A carbon fork is a great upgrade for those who are looking to squeeze out the most performance.

Drivetrain Type

1X – A single chainring in the front eliminates the front derailleur. These drivetrains are paired with a wide-range cassette at the rear so you can still maintain a broad gear range. The simplicity of a 1X system is appealing to riders who want ease of use, and less mechanical hassle.

2X – A double chainring drivetrain offers a broader range of gear ratios by featuring two front chainrings. This allows for smaller differences between gears on the rear cassette, providing a more consistent cadence (pedalling speed in RPM) across a wider range of speeds, gradients, and terrains. A 2X setup is a great choice for people who will do a lot of paved road riding.

Wheel Size

The choice of wheel size ultimately comes down to personal preference, some companies such as State Bicycle offer a second wheelset for an additional fee, and other companies like Salsa offer the same model in both wheel sizes.

700C (29″) – 700C has been the standard road bike wheel size for decades. Its large diameter allows for a greater rollover capability, so 700C can clear obstacles easily while carrying more momentum. This makes them ideal for riders who prefer to ride faster with greater efficiency.

650B (27.5”) – By reducing the rim size, you can fit higher-volume tires on the same gravel bike frame. Wider tires provide more grip and reduce body fatigue on rough terrain. This wheel size is ideal for those who want to prioritize bike control and ride comfort.

Handlebar Type

There are advantages and disadvantages to drop bars and flat bars, and your choice ultimately boils down to how you want to use your bike. You can read our full pros/cons article about handlebar type HERE.

Drop Bars (Curly Ones) – These bars offer a more aerodynamic riding position that is ideal for long days on the bike. and more hand positions than their flat bar counterparts. Due to their narrower width, they are often better for squeezing between cars and urban obstacles.

Flat Bars (Not Curly Ones) – Flat bars offer extra steering leverage for better bike control, and the ride position they put you in is usually a bit more upright. This makes them a great option for beginners. Our list of the best flat bar gravel bikes (under $1000) is coming soon.

The CYCLINGABOUT Scoring System

Steering Speed

We assign:
3 points to a bike with a trail of 68mm or more
2 points to a bike with a trail between 61 and 68mm
1 point to a bike with a trail 60mm or less.

Steering speed is an important part of our rankings. We use the ‘trail’ measurement, which gives us the best approximation of how a bike’s steering will feel to you the rider. This article on Bike Insights gives a great in-depth analysis of what constitutes trail.

Generally, mountain bikes have the highest trail figure (90-130mm), resulting in a slow steering feel. This keeps them extremely stable at high speeds, especially when combined with a wide flat handlebar and short stem.

On the opposite end, road bikes generally have the lowest trail figure (50-70mm), resulting in a quick steering feel that best suits the characteristics of a narrow drop bar and longer stem.

Low Climbing Gear

We assign:
3 points to a bike with a climbing gear of below 24 gear inches
2 points to a bike with a climbing gear between 24 and 28 gear inches
1 point to a bike with a climbing gear above 28 gear inches

We measure the lowest and highest gears on a gravel bike using “gear inches”. They are calculated using the diameter of your wheel, multiplied by the front sprocket, and divided by your rear cog. That gives us a convenient two or three-digit number to compare bikes that use different wheel sizes and tire widths.

The good news is that you don’t have to calculate the gear inches manually, websites like Gear-Calculator work them out for you.

On a gravel bike, the ideal climbing gear is generally 24 gear inches or below as this gear allows you to pedal comfortably up a steep hill at 7kph/4mph. 24 to 28 gear inches is generally acceptable on moderately steep terrain, and 28 or above is better suited to milder gradients.

High-Speed Gear

We assign:
2 points to a bike with a high-speed gear above 100 gear inches
1 points to a bike with a high-speed gear below 100 gear inches

At the other end of the scale, the ideal high gear is somewhere over 100 gear inches. This will give you enough gears to pedal down a hill at 48kph/30mph. Stepping up to 125 gear inches for your high-speed gear, and you can still pedal at 60kph/37mph.

Maximum Tire Size

We assign:
3 points to a maximum tire width of 47mm or wider
2 points to a max tire width of 42 to 47mm
1 point to a max tire width of 42mm or narrower

The maximum tire width is determined by frame and fork clearance. Bikepackers typically choose the widest tire available, as the wider the tire the more varied the terrain you can ride. This is why bikes with a larger tire clearance received higher scores in our rankings.

Wider tires have a larger contact patch with the ground. This gives you more grip as you navigate challenging terrain. A wider tire can also absorb vibrations and impacts more effectively, providing a smoother overall ride.

The good news is that wider tires won’t slow you down much because it’s the tire’s rubber compound that primarily (~80%) determines rolling resistance. In fact, some wide/nobby mountain bike tires roll much faster than slick road bike tires!

Tubeless Compatibility

We assign:
3 points to a bike that has tubeless compatible wheels
0 points to a bike that has tube-only wheels

Tubeless – A tubeless setup has a reduced risk of flats due to the latex-based sealant inside. The sealant is to self-seal small punctures caused by thorns or debris.

A tubeless setup also allows riders to run lower tire pressure for a more cushioned ride without the risk of pinch flats. To run a tubeless setup, both the rim and tires need to be tubeless compatible. The initial setup requires a bit of familiarity with putting sealant into tires and seating the tire on the rim.

The ranking system we use places a lot of emphasis on bikes with tubeless compatibility, as it is such great convenience.

Tubes – Tires with tubes are easier to install and more straightforward for most users. It’s worth noting that all tubeless wheels can fit tubes.

Value For Money

We assign:
3 points to a very good value bike
2 points to a good value bike
1 point to a bike of ok value-for-money

Admittedly, this metric is rather subjective, however, we have a good sense of the quality of the frame, fork, and components and whether they match the asking price of the bike.

Weight

We assign:
3 points to a bike under 12kg (26.5lb)
2 points for a bike between 12-13kg (26.5-28.7lb)
1 point for a bike over 13kg and over (28.7lb)

Weight is one of the easiest things to measure on a bicycle, so it is often the emphasis. However, it’s our opinion that bike weight matters much less than you think. This is because a 1kg (2.2lbs) heavier bike usually only results in a one or two-minute time penalty over a 100km (62mi) hilly ride.

Nonetheless, a lightweight gravel bike often uses higher-quality components and materials, so this is still an important metric.

Riding Position

We use the average stack height of all frame sizes to determine whether a bike has a ‘sporty’ or ‘relaxed’ riding position. This metric gives us an idea of how high the handlebar is relative to your saddle height.

Normal/Sporty means the bike’s handlebar is a typical height compared to other gravel bikes. A bike is considered sporty when the average stack is under 590mm.

Upright/Relaxed means the bike’s handlebar is higher than average compared to other gravel bikes. A bike is considered ‘relaxed’ when the average stack is 590mm or taller.

It’s worth noting that you can turn a ‘sporty’ bike into a ‘relaxed’ bike by increasing a bike’s handlebar height using a riser stem or steerer tube extender. These products normally add 25 to 75mm (1-3″) of bar height.

Sizing Recommendations

Simply find your height and inseam on these charts to determine the size(s) that will fit you.

If you’re on the boundary between two sizes, those with a long inseam often prefer the taller handlebar height of the bigger frame size. Conversely, if you’d like a lower handlebar height for a performance-oriented riding position, simply choose the smaller size.

The frame standover is the measurement from the ground to the top tube (50mm/2.0″ in front of the bottom bracket). Ideally, this measurement is less than your inseam so that your crotch has clearance over the bike frame.

Salsa Journeyer

	Salsa Journeyer with 650B Wheels	Salsa Journeyer with 700C Wheels	Shipping Cost
	See Price	See Price	$100
	See Price	See Price	$150

State 4130 All-Road

What State 4130 All Road Frame Size Should You Buy?

	$100 Shipping cost	$45 Shipping Cost
Turquoise Fade	–	See Price
Rust Fade	–	See Price
Pacific Gold	–	See Price
Raw Phosphate	–	See Price
Matte Olive	See Price	See Price

Poseidon Redwood

What Poseidon Redwood Frame Size Should You Buy?

	Poseidon Redwood	Shipping Cost	Pick-Up
	See Price	Free	Free

Breezer Radar Cafe

	Breezer Radar Cafe	Shipping Cost	Pick-Up
	See Price	Varies with location	Yes (VT)

Marin DSX 1

	Marin DSX 1	Shipping Cost	Pick-up
	See Price	$85	Free
	See Bike	–	Free

Kona Dew Deluxe

	Kona Dew Deluxe White	Kona Dew Deluxe Blue	Shipping
	See Price	See Price	$119 (Home) or $80 (Bike Shop)

Poseidon X Ambition

	Poseidon X Ambition	Shipping Cost	Pick-Up
	See Price	Free	Free

Cannondale Quick Disc 3

	Cannondale Quick Disc 3	Cannondale Quick Disc 3 (Step-Through)	Pick-Up
	See Price	See Price	Yes

Surly Preamble

	Surly Preamble	Shipping Cost	Pick-up
	See Price	$100	Yes (AZ)
	See Price	$150	Yes (MN)
	See Price	Varies with location	No