When we originally wrote this piece in 2022, we easily found 13 road bikes you could still buy with rim brakes – fast forward to 2025, and we've had to scratch around to list just eight.
Rim brake stalwarts such as Pinarello have now gone all-in on disc brakes, while even the Specialized Allez – the prototypical beginner's road bike – is now disc brake.
Colnago's 2024 launch of the C68 Rim Brake suggests that there's life in the old stoppers still, but they're a vanishing breed. In fact, disc brakes have been dominant in terms of sales since at least 2018, with rim brakes relegated to niche options for enthusiasts.
Some budget road bikes still feature rim brakes, although even here, mechanical disc brakes have now largely taken over.
In other cases, rim brake frames are still lovingly welded together by custom bike builders, or they live on in retro steel road bike models from larger brands.
Here’s a rundown of eight rim brake road bikes you can still buy new in 2025.
This list is by no means exhaustive, and there are certainly other new rim brake bikes out there – not to mention the glut of used rim brake bikes that can now be picked up for a song – we haven’t included, but it should whet your appetite for old-school stopping power.
We've also kept the list focused on performance-minded road bikes. There's a healthy market of touring- and gravel-inspired road bikes, such as the Brother Cycles Mr Wooden and other bikes of its ilk, that still use rim brakes, but they're not the focus here.
Editor's note: We last updated this list on 18 August 2025, removing discontinued bikes and updating timely references.
Entry-level road bikes with rim brakes
There are still a few entry-level bikes with rim brakes. They often present better value for money and their disc-equipped stablemates and if you're only riding in fair weather, few compromises.
Below, we've included some that we’ve reviewed here at BikeRadar.
Cannondale CAAD Optimo
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The CAAD Optimo is Cannondale’s entry-level road bike option, with an alloy frame, dropped seatstays and part-internal cable routing.
The available spec options have shrunk since 2022, but in 2025, UK riders can still purchase the Optimo 2, with Shimano Tiagra, or Optimo 4 with Shimano Claris.
In the US, only the Optimo 4 is currently sold.
In both cases, Shimano rim brakes are swapped out for Promax dual-pivot callipers – a common theme with entry-level bikes.
We liked the fast-handling ride quality and comfort level the CAAD Optimo offered, although wheels and tyres are also chosen to hit a price-point rather than for their performance.
- Read more: Cannondale CAAD Optimo review
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Trek Domane AL 2 Rim
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The Domane AL 2 Rim is the alloy entry point to Trek’s extensive Domane endurance road bike range. It's still listed on Trek's international site, although it's no longer shown in the US or UK.
With a part-Shimano Claris 8-speed groupset, we enjoyed the ride quality, but the no-name brake callipers weren’t impressive. They’d justify a swap-out for a more performant option, such as Shimano’s in-series brakes.
- Read more: Trek Domane AL 2 review
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Giant Contend
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Giant still sells the rim brake Contend, pairing a carbon fork with an alloy frame.
Although the model numbers differ between the UK and US both have similar specs with a Shimano Claris 8-speed groupset.
Again, there's a swap-out to Tektro rim brakes, which we found effective and fuss-free. It’s a quality ride on the 28mm tyres and tubeless Giant wheels, along with a D-shaped carbon seatpost and decent saddle.
- Read more: Giant Contend review
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Boardman SLR 8.6
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Boardman Bikes still has this rim brake entry-level bike in its range, alongside higher-spec and higher-priced disc brake options.
It’s yet another bike with Tektro callipers, which we found gave so-so braking. We reckoned an upgrade to better brake pads should up braking performance at minimal cost.
- Read more: Boardman SLR 8.6 review
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Merida Scultura Rim 100
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This isn't one we've reviewed, but worthy of mention is the Merida Scultura Rim 100 – the sole rim brake representative in the brand's current UK range.
It too has an 8-speed Shimano Claris groupset, pairing an alloy frame with a carbon fork.
The 25mm Maxxis Pursuer tyres feel narrow by modern standards, as does the narrow gear range offered by the 11-28-tooth Sunrace cassette.
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Performance road bikes with rim brakes
There are still some more expensive rim brake bike options available, too.
We haven’t reviewed many of these bikes in their rim-brake guise – and even finding photos of them in their non-disc version was a challenge! – but, if you look hard enough, you can still get a high-end road bike with rim brakes.
Again, this selection is by no means exhaustive. We've focussed on bikes we've tested and those available from mainstream manufacturers.
Colnago C68 Rim Brake
Colnago was an early adopter of disc brakes, bringing the C59 Disc to market in 2012.
It seemed to have gone totally disc in 2022 when it replaced the V3Rs – on occasion ridden with rim brakes by Tadej Pogačar – with the disc-only V4Rs, so it was something of a surprise to see it offer a rim brake option on its hitherto all-disc C68.
The bike is designed for direct-mount rim brakes and is electronic groupset only, which leaves just Shimano Dura-Ace as a current generation groupset option.
Otherwise, you're going to have to go back two generations if you want a Campagnolo Super Record or SRAM Red build.
Basso Venta Rim
Until very recently, Basso offered its high-end Diamante climbing bike in a rim brake option, though that appears to have been quietly discontinued, having vanished from the brand's website.
That leaves the Venta as the brand's sole remaining rim brake bike. Also available in a disc brake option, the bike borrows much of the tech seen on Basso's other bikes, but is offered as a more affordable option for those dipping their toes in with the brand.
The rim brake option is available with Shimano 105 or the very rarely seen rim brake version of Campagnolo Centaur.
Reilly T325
Titanium and rim brakes? Now that's a classy combination.
The Reilly T325 really impressed us with a thrilling and divinely smooth ride quality, but you certainly pay the price for such luxuries.
At £4,300 for the frameset, it presents a serious investment for most of us, but really could be a bike for life.
- Read more: Reilly T325 review
Wilier Superleggera
Unashamedly retro, the Superleggera harks back to Wilier's long history, with a Columbus steel frame and the ramato colourway of Wiliers past. Wilier offers a couple of Campagnolo mechanical groupset and wheel options.
When we had a Superleggera in a few years ago, we weighed the size 58 bike at 8.92kg - not bad for a steel bike, although the rim brakes do shave some weight from discs.
