In case you haven’t noticed, gravel bikes have started to look a lot more like old school mountain bikes these days. Trends towards wider tires, suspension technology, and big cassettes are strangely reminiscent of simpler days. And if that wasn’t enough, flat bars are now becoming more prevalent on some stock builds. You no longer need to find an old rigid Stumpjumper on ebay to get those 1982 feels. To capture the current state of this trend, we pulled together a list of our favorite 2021 flat bar gravel bikes below the $2000 mark. In order to limit our selection and better understand this narrow category we find emerging, here are three criteria that make these six flat bar gravel bikes ‘stoke certified’.

• 1x Drivetrain - Commonly seen on modern gravel builds, 1x drivetrains are lighter, simpler, and offer ample gearing with today’s wider cassettes. Look for 38-42t road front chainrings paired with rear 10 to 12-speed MTB derailleurs and cassettes that should offer friendly gearing with plenty of long-lasting durability and performance.

• Road Plus - Proven to amplify the ride and maximize fun, 650b wheel/tire combos are a must for that true gravel factor. Most of these bikes come stock 650b, while others offer wider tires on a 700c platform. All of these bikes can handle both tire/rim combinations for easy upgrades or swapping between sets.

• Sub $2K - Great bikes don’t need to be super expensive, but there is a sweet spot that offers both affordability and quality. With a budget of under $2000 we think these six bikes should offer years of enjoyment with their proven spec sheets and durable steel or alloy frames.

6. Jamis Sequel

FRAME/FORK Steel/Steel

MAX TIRE SIZE 27.5 X 2.1"

BOTTOM BRACKET 68MM Threaded

DROPOUTS (F/R) 12 X 100MM / 12 X 142MM

TIRE SPEC WTB Byway 650 x 47c

DRIVETRAIN Shimano Deore 10-speed

GEARING 40t Front / 11-42 Rear

Jamis is no stranger to building solid gravel bikes, with its multiple Renegade trims built to withstand the elements. They call the Sequel their urban Renegade, built with Reynolds double-butted chromoly tubes to deliver a supple ride experience on top of 650b wheels for anything your local paved or unpaved roads have to offer. The Sequel features a nice overall build kit with 12mm thru-axles, hydraulic disc brakes, and a Deore equipped 1 x 10 drivetrain. As for distinguishing features compared with other bikes on this list, the Sequel comes in this cool Mahogany color and has a top tube bag mount for added storage.

PRICE $1,100 USD

MANUFACTURER'S DETAILS Link

5. Kona Dew

FRAME/FORK Steel/Steel

MAX TIRE SIZE 650b X 47mm

BOTTOM BRACKET FSA Road Mega EXO 68mm

DROPOUTS (F/R) 12 X 100MM / 12 X 142MM

TIRE SPEC WTB Horizon 650 x 47c

DRIVETRAIN Shimano Deore 12-speed

GEARING 38t Front / 11-42 Rear

Kona has been making Dews since 2002, and the latest rendition continues to get it right. The Dr Dew is one of several in Kona’s urban lineup, and one of its strengths is the brand’s Cromoly tubing which makes for the perfect rigid riding experience. While steel may be cheaper, no other material offers the shock absorption, durability and supple-ride characteristics you would want in a flat-bar gravel rig. This Dew has a great overall finishing kit which includes Shimano’s new 12-speed Deore groupset, a WTB Volt saddle and WTB Horizon 650x47c tires.

PRICE $1,300 USD

MANUFACTURER'S DETAILS Link

4. Rondo Booz

FRAME/FORK Steel/Carbon

MAX TIRE SIZE 27.5 X 47c

BOTTOM BRACKET 68MM BSA

DROPOUTS (F/R) 12 X 100MM / 10 X 135MM

TIRE SPEC WTB Venture 27.5 x 650b

DRIVETRAIN SRAM APEX1, 11-speed

GEARING 42t Front / 11-42 Rear

Our next bike is where things start to get interesting. Rondo has been quietly pushing out futuristic looking gravel bikes for a couple of years now, e.g. Ruut and Hvrt. The Booz is defined as a “pure blooded steel urban racer”, but the applications seem broader than that suggests. Hands down the coolest feature on the 2021 Rondo Booz is its TwinTip fork technology, allowing the rider to adjust how the bike handles to suit the given situation. The “lo” position of the axle offers a higher stack and slacker angles, while the “hi” position offers steeper angles and a more aero ride position. The build is complimented well with a SRAM APEX1 drivetrain, 11-42 cassette and 650b ventures for a good time had by all.

PRICE $1800 USD

MANUFACTURER'S DETAILS Link

3. Commencal FCB

FRAME/FORK Aluminum/Aluminum

MAX TIRE SIZE 650b X 2.1”

BOTTOM BRACKET BSA 68 MM

DROPOUTS (F/R) 12 X 100MM / 12 X 142MM

TIRE SPEC WTB Venture 700x50mm

DRIVETRAIN SRAM APEX1, 11-speed

GEARING 40t Front / 11-42 Rear

Perhaps the most beautiful bike on or list is the FCB from Commencal. Known for their mountain bikes, Commencal has taken their Fast City Bike to new levels with a 1x drivetrain and 650b hoops. The ‘F’ could easily stand for fun as the bike is sure to have a lively feel while being able to handle way more than your average CB. The bike does lean more towards the urban explorer with its narrow 640mm handlebars, but those can easily be swapped out if you'd rather dodge trees than cars. The “Heritage Green” finish looks great along with the stock tanwall 50mm Ventures. Commencal is currently taking pre-orders on the 2021 FCB with expected delivery in Spring of next year.

PRICE $1,100 USD

MANUFACTURER'S DETAILS Link

2. Marin DSX

FRAME/FORK Aluminum/Carbon

MAX TIRE SIZE 29 x 2.1”

BOTTOM BRACKET Sealed Outboard Bearing

DROPOUTS (F/R) 12 X 100MM / 12 X 142MM

TIRE SPEC WTB Riddler 700c x 45mm

DRIVETRAIN Shimano Deore 12-Speed

GEARING 42t Front / 10-51 Rear

Just announced yet easily making our list for the best 2021 flat bar gravel bikes, is the all-new Marin DSX. The crew at Marin should know a thing or two about rigid rippers, and its new bike is exactly what this brand can do well. Compared with some of the other bikes on or list that share DNA with their urban ancestors, the DSX 1 and DSX 2 trims take more inspiration from hardtails. The DSX was designed as “the mountain biker’s gravel bike” with 1x drivetrains, large tire clearance, and dropper post routing. The DSX comes stock with 700x45mm WTB Riddlers, with room up to 29x2.1” MTB tires. The DSX 2 shown here is the higher-end build, with the main difference being some upgraded Shimano specs including the hubs, hydraulic brakes and Deore 12-speed drivetrain.

PRICE $1100 USD

MANUFACTURER'S DETAILS Link

1. Specialized Diverge EVO

FRAME/FORK Aluminum/Carbon

MAX TIRE SIZE 650b X 2.1”

BOTTOM BRACKET 68MM Threaded

DROPOUTS (F/R) 12 X 100MM / 12 X 142MM

TIRE SPEC Specialized Rhombus Pro 700x42mm

DRIVETRAIN SRAM NX, 11-speed

GEARING 40t Front / 11-42 Rear

The Diverge was first launched in 2014, and has been evolving ever since with Future Shock suspension and increased clearances. But one of the original modern day gravel bikes has never been more capable and forward thinking than the all-new Diverge EVO. Specialized designed its flat-bar grinder with increased reach, a slacker head tube and lower bb to push you further onto the loam and away from the bike’s all-road origins. The EVO is a fun looking bike and consumers agree, as this Comp E5 EVO model, and its pricier Expert E5 EVO brother, have both been out of stock since their launch. The only thing missing here are the wider tires on 650b wheels that the frame and fork can handle, an odd choice in our view given the intended application. Overall a very cool bike that’s not your dad’s old stumpjumper.

PRICE $1,600 USD

MANUFACTURER'S DETAILS Link

Thanks for checking out our top flat bar gravel bikes for 2021! If you think we missed a bike on the list please let us know in the comments below. Also be sure to subscribe to get future reviews, industry news and product release updates.