If you’re considering getting into cyclocross, you probably have at least some idea of how demanding a sport it can be on a bike, and are likely attempting to determine which would best suit your needs.
The Canyon Endurace CF SL Disc 9.0 Di2 fared quite well as the best of the cyclocross bikes which we review, with the Ridley X-Night being the runner-up and the best budget option.
Our Picks for the 5 Best Cyclocross Bikes
The above links will take you to eBay & Amazon, where you can check prices and see some similar bikes.
What makes a good cyclocross bike?
The 5 Best Cyclocross Bikes Compared Side-by-Side
Let’s compare 5 of the cyclocross bikes on the market to see how they shape up relative to the features which we just identified as being extra important for cyclocross bikes.
Weight
When you’re grabbing your cyclocross bike with one arm and staggering through mounds of mud or jumping small obstacles, you’re going to want to be carrying a bike like the Canyon or the Trek. These two bikes are nearly 2kg lighter than their compatriots, which can make a noticeable cumulative difference.
Kona Rove is the regrettable heavyweight here, weighing in at nearly 10kg.
Reach
The reach of these bikes stays clustered tightly around the 38cm mark, though Kona Rove has an extra cm, which could make it a bit more challenging to handle the bike effectively during a sharp turn.
Chainstay Length
Chainstay lengths stick very closely to 42cm, with no real outliers to speak of.
Wheelbase Length
Unlike the others, the Canyon has shaved off a few centimeters from its wheelbase length to be as nimble as possible and provide as many opportunities for overtaking the competition as a rider can manage
Seat Tube Angle
Like many of the other metrics, there is little variation among the seat tube angles of these bikes intended for cyclocross. It’s unlikely that the half degree deviations from 73 degrees are going to have any major impact on your ability to handle the bike. Likewise, there’s probably not much comfort or competitive advantage to be found in these half degree differences.
Review Of Ridley X-Night Disc Rival 1
The Ridley X-Night Disc Rival 1 has the potential to be a beast of a cyclocross bike. The Ridley has a lot of extremely durable components which make the bike extremely responsive if perhaps a bit difficult to use outside of cyclocross.
- Groupset
- Wheelset
The Ridley X-Night Disc Rival 1 uses a 24t HM/HR Unidirectional carbon frame.
The thickness and broadness of the carbon frame are where the Ridley is getting its massive amount of weight—carbon frames don’t handle the frequent torsional strains of rapid, sharp turns in cyclocross very well, so they need to be tough.
Pros
Cons
For a bike that is purpose-built for cyclocross, the Ridley X-Night could probably perform pretty well in the hands of a sufficiently skilled biker. Even if you wanted to use it in a different setting, the Ridley X-Night could also easily perform well in very rugged conditions typically scaled by higher-end mountain bikes.
Expert Opinions
“It has a lot of helpful little features that help during cyclocross that prevent it from losing the chain.”-Le Tour de Plants
“It’s got the enthusiasm of a mountain bike. It’s the stiffest ride that I’ve ever had, and this could function as a road bike which is amazing to me.” -Graeme Street of CycloClub.
“All the parts are tied together with parts from other really reliable brands.”-Global Cycling Network
Review of Kona Rove
Kona Rove might not be the craziest cyclocross bike out there, but it’s competitive if you’re willing to make do with a few of its weaker components. Overall, Kona Rove might be a good choice as a first cyclocross bike.
- Groupset
- Wheelset
This bike uses Kona Race Light 6061 Aluminum Butted frame.
Rove’s frame is nearly 10kg in weight, which wins it no awards. The frame is the weakest point of the bike.
Pros
Cons
There are many better cyclocross bikes than Kona Rove, but if you’re looking for a bike that can double as a mountain bike and withstand a lot of abuse, it still might be the right bike for you.
Expert Opinions
“It has a lot of configurability—you can use it as a racing machine, or a mountain rider, or even a dirt path rider.” -Full Cycle Ottawa
“Awesome bike. I tore mine apart and put it back together again with no problems, and it’s a beast.”-Mountain Powder Hound
“Very well priced, very well specced bike—they’re designed for performance and handling, but for most people, they customize it to make it into whatever they want.”- Bicycle Works
Review Of The Trek Boone 7 Disc
The Trek Boone 7 Disc is a carefully constructed cyclocross bike that incorporates some of the high-quality components that we’ve seen mentioned before in other bikes. The Trek can cyclocross, race, or even be a city bike.
- Groupset
- Wheelset
The Boone 7 Disc uses a 600 Series OCLV Carbon frame, IsoSpeed, E2 tapered head tube, BB90 bracket, hidden fender mounts, internal control routing, 3S chain keeper, and a Ride Tuned seatmast.
A lot of work has been put into this bike’s frame to make it the centerpiece of the bike. The frame’s aesthetic screams “agility,” and you’ll find that it delivers.
Pros
Cons
If you’re in the market for a cyclocross bike, consider the Trek Boone 7 to be a strong contender, assuming you can afford it.
Expert Opinions
“It’s meant for cyclocross, but I consider this one bike for all roads.”-Ingemar Gardell
“Trek Boone included a little bit of a suspension system that doesn’t get much attention, but if you think about it, saving your back from all those little impacts during the race is going to help you out a lot at the end of the day.”-Global Cycling Network
“Love the bike. I originally got this because I wanted a bike that could do it all, and I was pretty pumped to configure it so that it could do so.”-Wild Outdoor Living
Review of Canyon Endurace CF SL Disc 9.0 Di2
Hailing from Slovenia, the Canyon Endurace CF SL Disc 9.0 Di2 is the cyclocross bike built for those who want to combine style, power, and versatility. Surprisingly, Canyon manages to offer all of these attributes at a low cost without compromising on the quality of the components.
- Groupset
- Wheelset
The Canyon Endurace CF SL Disc 9.0 Di2 uses a Canyon Endurace CF SLX DISC Frame, which is carbon.
Canyon’s frame is very light—around 7kg—meaning that it’ll be easy to carry while on the cyclocross course. There is a slight problem with this, though: a light frame made of carbon may be prone to breakage due to the torqueing of the turning necessary to navigate cyclocross.
There haven’t been any specific complaints about the Canyon’s frame breaking, but it’s worth remembering when it comes time to buy a new bike.
Pros
Cons
In short, the Canyon Endurace CF SL Disc 9.0 Di2 is cyclocross bike that’s built to be perfect and may approach perfection except its frame. The only other thing to mention about this bike is that because it’s manufactured in Slovenia, getting customer service or interpreting the purchasing information can be very difficult, so plan accordingly.
Expert Opinions
“This bike is a weapon. It’s a cyclocross bike. It’s a mountain bike. It’s a road bike.”-The Sick Biker
“Let’s be honest. This bike looks good. And yeah, it sounds good. The sound of the rear hub is to my liking.” -Jaiven
“The groupset is a fantastic performer. The SWISS DT wheels are a great addition, too.” -Cycling Weekly