Gravel e-bikes are still relatively few but it is apparent that they are quickly becoming popular among beginner and experienced bikers alike. This can be attributed to the fact that gravel bikes, in general, are still only being slowly introduced to the biking community at large. Experiencing first-hand the unique advantages and features it brings to the table is undoubtedly just one of the compelling reasons why this is so.
The utter versatility that these kinds of electric bikes have is evident in their ability to be comfortably ridden through not only asphalt but rocky and other off-road trails. This is why it is not at all a surprise that experts are quick to rain praises on them and tout them as the “only e-bike you will ever need.” This outstanding quality alone serves as a good hint as to why these electric bikes are enjoying fast-increasing demand.
How much does a gravel e-bike cost? Gravel e-bike price stands, currently, at $3,400 to $6,000, with an average cost of $4,700. There is a single exception to this, though, in the form of Specialized Turbo’s Creo SL Expert EVO, which costs $9,000. It has to be noted that Specialized Turbo is a brand known among e-biking circles for its exorbitantly high prices.
Gravel electric bike prices are, thus, different from most other electric bike types in terms of the price range of current models available. From the above trend, it becomes obvious that most brands almost completely forgo low-end and high-end to focus on offering mid-range gravel e-bikes instead.
This is, of course, if it is compared to the price ranges of common e-bikes like eMTBs, city, and road electric bikes. However, as it stands, it is safe to say that there are not enough gravel e-bike models yet to come up with a vivid picture of prices.
Read also: How to select your first electric mountain bike? And, How much does a good eMTB e-bike cost?
Gravel e-bike models are evidently more affordable, that much is certain. That said, besides their unique design and perks, there really is no need to depart from looking at e-bike factors such as motor and battery when determining gravel e-bike costs.
List of notable gravel e-Bikes
| Model name | Price | Weight |
| Bulls DAIL-E Grinder | $5,799 | 49 pounds (22,2 kg) |
| Raleigh Tamland iE | $4,749 | 46,3 pounds (21,0 kg) |
| Yamaha Wabash | $3,499 | 42 pounds (19,0 kg) |
| Easy Motion Rebel Gravel-X PW | $3,399 | 42 pounds (19,0 kg) |
| Bulls Grinder EVO | $4,999 | 52 pounds (23,6 kg) |
| Specialized Turbo Creo SL Expert EVO | $9,000 | 29.7 pounds (13,5 kg) |
Factors affecting gravel e-Bikes costs
These electric bikes can really showcase the best in durability, power, and versatility users can expect from an electric bike. This is a given since they are expected to be ridden through trails with generally unpredictable conditions. This considered these qualities are where, more or less, these pricing factors are based on.
Read also: How to find a reliable e-bike? And, Should I buy a new or used electric bicycle?
Gravel e-bike needs a powerful motor
You need to be able to have the confidence to go over various inclines with equally different steepness grades when riding your gravel e-bike over terrains that it is specifically designed for. This is why manufacturers tend to go all the way with the motors of these kinds of electric bikes.
The assist performance determines the amount of support the motor can give. Those with higher power assistance capabilities, of course, tend to cost more. Motors with 500W of peak power are already considered as very powerful, and you will find that a lot of gravel e-bikes have motors reaching such capacities.
To get an inkling as to how much pedal assist these motors can give, experts usually use the simpler analog of having a couple of riders helping you pedal if you choose the highest support setting.
But looking at the price range of gravel electric bikes, the fact that e-bike motors do not cost as much as the battery becomes readily apparent. Even high-performance gravel e-bikes are being offered at comparatively lower prices than first-rate electric mountain bikes with larger capacity batteries, for example, but with pretty much similar motor performance.
Gravel e-bikes generally require higher durability
Riding through rugged, gravelly paths can immediately take a toll on any electric bike, which does not have the necessary components to handle such rougher terrain. Because of this, most gravel e-bikes are often mistaken for road e-bikes.
Arguably, there are certain features and advantages for which these two readily overlap. However, there is a stark difference in durability, particularly when it comes to components used in gravel electric bikes. To say that they are tougher could prove to be an understatement, but that does serve as an adequate estimation of how many off-road beatings these e-bikes can take. This is because certain models are even submersible.
Read also: How to select the best cargo e-bike (with examples)? And, How much does a good cargo e-bike cost?
That said, gravel e-bikes should not be interpreted as electric bikes built solely to ride on gravel paths. Their stellar durability, regardless of terrain, really makes them deserving of the high price tags that their manufacturers attach to them. That is not to say that they are all more expensive because of this, and the evidence is fairly obvious when we look at the prices of most cargo e-bikes and eMTBs.
Some gravel e-bikes feature a unique design
Gravel e-bikes immediately stand out from other e-bikes if you have a trained eye for spotting. The most obvious difference lies in the drop bars that practically the majority of gravel e-bike models use.
You will see that plenty opt to have wider drop bars. They are designed as such to ensure that the e-bike will be able to handle rougher terrain with ease. Another unique component is the gear shifter (or double tappers in other locales). These allow riders to quickly and smoothly switch gears when climbing a slope then proceed to do a lengthy bomb afterward.
These necessary improvements may not be as costly as other fundamental e-bike components, but they definitely still have an effect on the total price.
Gravel e-bikes benefit from more powerful batteries
The importance of riding range as primarily determined by battery capacity is a given in any type of e-bike and gravel bikes are certainly not an exception. Those that will be able to provide higher riding ranges, considering the need to frequently rely on the motor for support, will always cost more.
A lot of riders will rather have as much range as they can get from their electric bikes. What is good is that most of the gravel e-bikes available in the market are able to deliver in this regard. A good enough proof of this is the generally positive feedback that these types of electric bikes get once their battery capacities are being discussed.
Read also: What is the difference between e-bike batteries? And, How far can e-bikes go? What is the e-bike range?
There really is no need to stray from the rule of thumb of more capacity equals more costly when discussing gravel e-bike batteries. This is apparent in practically every model available today.
Gravel e-bikes benefit from extra safety features
Being able to safely bomb hills and mountains is just as important as being able to conquer them. For this, manufacturers also add parts that ensure riders will be given that kind of security every time. This can be evident in the brakes they incorporate, for example, which are usually more powerful (and more expensive) hydraulic disc brakes.
High-performance lights and puncture-resistant tires are but some other helpful components that you can expect gravel e-bikes to have. And, for the safety benefit they provide, they will cost more.
Read also: Can e-bikes help climb steep hills? And, How safe are electric bikes?
Maintenance and insurance of gravel e-bikes
Running costs are expected to be higher for gravel e-bikes, especially if they are frequently used on bumpy and rocky roads. This is not considering the standard annual maintenance that all electric bikes should be given. You may need to replace certain parts more as well, but since plenty of models are more resilient then this surely does not apply to all gravel e-bikes.
Insurance length can be a very good gauge of quality when it comes to gravel e-bikes. After all, with the amount of time they spend on off-road trails, these bikes will always have a higher chance of getting damaged. This is why if a brand can offer insurance coverage that is longer than most, then that particular model is a good bet. Just be ready to pay more for it.
Other gravel e-Bike facts related to price
Gravel electric bikes are a bona fide top performer in the current e-bike market, especially if we are going to consider the current demand for them. Obviously, where there is demand, more brands will be quick to meet user needs.
This is evident in Yamaha’s take of this type of e-bike when they released their Wabash gravel bike in the early half of 2019. It will not be a surprise if more reputable brands will begin to introduce their own renditions of this truly innovative bike.
Their versatility shines in the fact that a lot of gravel e-bikes can also be categorized as road and cross bikes. They are potent all-rounders with innately 2-in-1 qualities that inevitably make them appealing to a lot of people. And their continuous rise in popularity only affirms this. Much like any commodity, expect this growing demand to influence costs.
A few words in conclusion
Since this particular category of e-bikes is getting a lot of attention from a lot of the household brands out there, do not be surprised if gravel e-bikes become a normal gauge of e-bike prices in the future.
Using Yamaha’s Wabash as an example again, it becomes evident that even with the efficient innovations it was able to introduce after its release, it still manages to trump other e-bikes in terms of cost. In fact, a lot of its contemporaries cost twice as much yet are not able to offer convenient riding perks.
Read also: Why are e-bikes so expensive? And, will e-bikes become cheaper? If they do, when?
To say that it heralds the much-awaited price reductions in e-bikes may already be taking it too far, though. Even so, it is still an interesting fact that only confirms how the brand competition will definitely have a huge impact on e-bike prices as time goes by. Furthermore, in the background lingers the eventual maturation of e-bike technology, which may cause considerable price cuts as well once it arrives.
