Gravel bike purchase

[splat]

7 hours ago, Ryan Laaks said:

Hi All,

 

Seeking advice on what gravel bike to purchase. I currently have the following options specialized diverge comp 2019, scott addict 40 2024, merida silex 6000 2019 or trek domane SL5 Gen3 2024. Looking for a long lasting purchase, that will handle semi rough terrain and be good on the road. Your assistance is most grateful. Regards Ryan

Of the 4 on that list, I would probably suggest the Scott as its the newest.
Is that an alu or carbon frame ?

As stated elsewhere, the Domane isn't really a gravel bike by modern standards.
The Specialized is old spec (tyre clearance)
And I don't know much about the Merida, but I imagine that it can't take 45mm tyres which should be the minimum in my opinion.

What is your budget ?

[ChrisF]

Something else to consider .... during 2024 more and more brands went the route of integrated cables and brake hoses.

 

It looks CLEAN 

 

And it COSTS when you need a basic service of the steering tube bearings ..... 

 

I had to choose between the Merida and the Giant (thats what was in stock at the time, in my price and spec range) .... The Merida looked VERY good with the super clean look .... glad I went for the more traditional cable routing, in frame, but not through the "neck" ....

 

The Merida sizing also seems to be a bit larger than the other makes, so best to test ride one if you decide to go this route.

[Ryan Laaks]

1 hour ago, splat said:

Of the 4 on that list, I would probably suggest the Scott as its the newest.
Is that an alu or carbon frame ?

As stated elsewhere, the Domane isn't really a gravel bike by modern standards.
The Specialized is old spec (tyre clearance)
And I don't know much about the Merida, but I imagine that it can't take 45mm tyres which should be the minimum in my opinion.

What is your budget ?

The Scott is a Carbon Frame, I am looking at Max R40k. Regards 

[guidodg]

Revolt

[thebob]

Revolt 0 on sale now seems to tick all the boxes

[Rowl]

8 hours ago, Ryan Laaks said:

The Specialized is running the 12spd - AXS and the Scott is on the Shimano GRX FC-RX610-2 46-30 T and Shimano CS-HG710 11-36. What is your view point....

Won't go for the older bike as mentioned above, tyre clearance won't be up to spec. Given all the feedback and pricing on the Revolt 0 with GRX 2x12 within your budget...

[splat]

16 hours ago, Ryan Laaks said:

The Scott is a Carbon Frame, I am looking at Max R40k. Regards 

Scott Addict (carbon) Gravel with 2x gearing and 45mm tyres sounds like a winner at that price 

[Super Sywurm]

I am also in the market for a gravel bike, either the 2024 Giant Revolt 1 (alu) or a 2025 Merida Silex 4000 (carbon).

Any first hand experience?

[fatcyclist]

Let me jump in here. Also in the market for a gravel bike (probably seriously in January though, due to recovery from surgery). Need something strong, after a 10 year hiatus from cycling and 3 years of CrossFit I'm over 130kg's with a good amount of upper body strength now.

What are the opinions on the Avalanche Roam? It's for weekend riding mostly, in the week I ruck and make myself cry with a kettlebell and a sandbag. 

[Dexter-morgan]

2 hours ago, fatcyclist said:

Let me jump in here. Also in the market for a gravel bike (probably seriously in January though, due to recovery from surgery). Need something strong, after a 10 year hiatus from cycling and 3 years of CrossFit I'm over 130kg's with a good amount of upper body strength now.

What are the opinions on the Avalanche Roam? It's for weekend riding mostly, in the week I ruck and make myself cry with a kettlebell and a sandbag. 

Spec wise, I think it's OK, a friend of mine has one and loves it, he did put better wheels on but still running the 10 speed drive train.

[fatcyclist]

6 minutes ago, Dexter-morgan said:

Spec wise, I think it's OK, a friend of mine has one and loves it, he did put better wheels on but still running the 10 speed drive train.

The website says it's 11 speed LTwoo? Don't know it at all.. Single blade up front.. 

[ChrisF]

3 hours ago, Super Sywurm said:

I am also in the market for a gravel bike, either the 2024 Giant Revolt 1 (alu) or a 2025 Merida Silex 4000 (carbon).

Any first hand experience?

 

Sort of first hand experience ... having looked at both brands when I bought.

 

Disclaimer - I have previously owned both Merida and Giant, very happy with both brands.

 

The Merida stock at the time was low .... what I wanted was not in my size, and what was in my size was not in my budget ..... all that aside, GLAD I did not buy the Merida.  Why ?  Internal routing of all cables and hoses .... incredibly neat looking setup, and no easy feat to service the head tube bearings ....  Your riding may or may not make this an issue.

 

My 2024 model Revolt has "normal" cable routing outside the bars, then in the frame.

 

The larger tyre size of the Revolt is worth noting.

 

From a salesperson at the one shop, which had both brands, the Merida reach is longer than the Giant .... I have longer legs than reach .... so the Merida would have been a smaller size frame for a similar reach ..... again, this as per the salesperson ..... would be interesting to do a deep dive in the stats and actually check the validity of this claim.  (after the internal routing I was not interested in digging deeper into the Merida options)

 

Must be close on a year now that I have the Revolt .... HAPPY !!

[Dexter-morgan]

27 minutes ago, fatcyclist said:

The website says it's 11 speed LTwoo? Don't know it at all.. Single blade up front.. 

Sorry, I was confused between the latest 12 speed and "older" 11 speed, but the bikes look nice on CL floor, some on bikehub as well.

[Super Sywurm]

14 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Sort of first hand experience ... having looked at both brands when I bought.

 

Disclaimer - I have previously owned both Merida and Giant, very happy with both brands.

 

The Merida stock at the time was low .... what I wanted was not in my size, and what was in my size was not in my budget ..... all that aside, GLAD I did not buy the Merida.  Why ?  Internal routing of all cables and hoses .... incredibly neat looking setup, and no easy feat to service the head tube bearings ....  Your riding may or may not make this an issue.

 

My 2024 model Revolt has "normal" cable routing outside the bars, then in the frame.

 

The larger tyre size of the Revolt is worth noting.

 

From a salesperson at the one shop, which had both brands, the Merida reach is longer than the Giant .... I have longer legs than reach .... so the Merida would have been a smaller size frame for a similar reach ..... again, this as per the salesperson ..... would be interesting to do a deep dive in the stats and actually check the validity of this claim.  (after the internal routing I was not interested in digging deeper into the Merida options)

 

Must be close on a year now that I have the Revolt .... HAPPY !!

Do you have a carbon or alu Giant?  I am leaning more towards the Merida as it seems to be more mtb orientated and probably a bit more comfortable?  It will mainly be used for road riding.

I want a comfortable ride, not a race machine.  Then again, the Giant is +-11k cheaper than the Merida.

[PappaWatTrap]

You are right the Merida does seem to be slacker. You will have to check the reach though, but that can be sorted by a shorter stem. 

The giant can however fit larger tyres so you can really take it on some proper fire roads. 

Edited November 17, 2025 by PappaWatTrap

[Super Sywurm]

3 minutes ago, PappaWatTrap said:

You are right the Merida does seam to be slacker. You will have to check the reach though, but that can be sorted by a shorter stem. 

The giant can however fit larger tyres so you can really take it on some proper fire roads. 

Reach is no issue, as it is still shorter than my Rapide Tigre.