With last year's scramble towards ever-wider gravel tyres, pretty much any gravel bike that doesn’t come with 50mm or more of tyre clearance is probably in line for an update.
You can now fit 50mm+ tyres to some incredibly capable bikes across all kinds of gravel sub-categories – from aero-lightweights such as the wonderful Wilier Rave SLR and fantastic all-rounders such as Parlee’s Taos, to trail-capable rockets including Cannondale’s Topstone, Trek’s CheckOUT and Mondraker’s Arid.
All of these bikes prove that big tyre clearances don’t necessarily mean compromising weight or handling.
So there is no excuse not to tweak and update the designs of some great, groundbreaking gravel bikes.
Here, in reverse order, are the top 5 gravel bikes I want to see brought up to date in 2026.
5. Canyon Grail
While the Grail is a fine gravel bike – nimble, light, fast and exceedingly well-priced – its 42mm maximum tyre clearance feels woefully small for a 2026 bike.
That seems an odd omission for a brand that’s been steeped in gravel for longer than most, especially when Canyon got pretty much everything else right with the Grail.
We need an update to bring the clearance in line with the rugged Grizl’s 54mm.
4. Kinesis Tripster ATR
While Kinesis’ aluminium Tripster AT+ has been one of my favourite gravel bikes in recent years, I’d love to see Kinesis update the titanium ATR.
Bringing the tyre clearances up and adding a UDH dropout would give this most versatile of titanium gravel bikes a new dimension – and I may even be tempted to update mine.
3. Merida Silex
Merida’s clever long-front-centre, MTB-inspired geometry set out the Silex as a very forward-thinking gravel bike.
In 2023, the Silex’s 45mm of clearance was generous; now, much like the Grail, it could really use an update.
Bring in a UDH-compatible dropout and in-frame storage, and the super Silex could be back as one of the front runners among trail-capable gravel bikes.
2. Marin Nicasio+
This budget-priced piece of perfection, with its simple 1x drivetrain and tough 650b wheels, blew me away thanks to its sub-£1,000 price tag.
I would, however, like to see it updated to 700c or 29er wheels, with a bit more clearance added to the mix, too. Aside from that, don’t change a thing, especially the price!
- Read more: Marin Nicasio + review
1. Scott Addict Gravel
The Addict Gravel was a true trend-setter – all the aerodynamics and light weight of the pro-tour proven Addict reimagined into a seriously rapid gravel race bike.
However, if you set a trend, you’ll end up looking dated once your rivals catch up. Much like the other offerings here, the Addict’s 45mm tyre clearance could do with an update. Let’s have 50mm+ please, even if that means forgoing the current 2x compatibility.
The same goes for UDH compatibility. I’d also like to see the front end corrected for a gravel suspension fork – and frame storage, too.
