Best Gravel bike sub R40k

[BuffsVintageBikes]

The 2 choices already mentioned previously are winners... the Titan Switch and the Giant Revolt.

I was faced with the same decision 2 years ago and spent time on both but settled in the Revolt and I've never looked back, it's a great gravel bike. I really enjoyed the Titan as well but I got the Revolt at a price I couldn't refuse. I've raced it on the 361 (180km's) and toured quite a bit on it and the bike is very comfortable, especially with that D seatpost 🤙

[Henri Rouleur]

I'm riding a Giant Revolt Advanced 2. It's roughly in your price range. The "flip-chip" technology allows you to adjust the geometry of the bike. Adjusting the geometry, and adjusting your tire size at the same time (say 40cc to 50cc), allows you to switch pretty easily from race to bike-packing modes, which I understand to be one of your priorities. My only criticism of the bike is the stock wheel-set, which I found to be heavy and slow. I solved that problem by saving up some more and eventually upgrading to a set of Easton EC90 wheels. Now the bike feels like a rocket. With some decent road tyres I doubt that I will be much slower than with my road bike (a Giant TCR). In general, I'm very happy with the bike.

[TyronLab]

3 hours ago, Itsadomslife said:

Looking for something that will handle Race to Sea and the The Cedar, but also suitable for some S24O bikepacking trips. Ideally, looking for a Swiss army knife of a gravel bike...

In that usage case a bike that's on the road end of the spectrum will suit you to a tee, so my Switch and the Revolt recommendations are good ones. 

Look, there's definitely a part of me that wants to recommend a Rook Scout with enough dough left over to make it properly rapid. I have a love affair with it (I'm on my second one) and steel bikes in general. You could get a Scout frameset, a good 1x11 / 1x12 gravel groupset, some nice aftermarket 700c wheels with 43s, and have a unique ripper that's comfy and gorgeous if a little heavier than a carbon one.