5 of the Best Road Bikes Under $1,500

The Allez DSW Elite uses a Specialized E5 Premium Aluminum with D'Aluisio Smartweld Technology.

Specialized made this bike for aggressive riders, and the aluminum frame with DSW technology meets that need. The DSW technology welds the frame in places of low stress to improve the overall stiffness and strength of the frame.  

This bike uses Shimano Tiagra shifters, crankset, and cassette. It also uses Axis 1.0 brakes.

Shimano Tiagra is a 10-speed system that will give you almost as much performance, power, and speed as the mid-range tier of Shimano products, but at a lower price point. The Axis 1.0 brakes can be a bit touchy and may need a more extended period of breaking in than others.

The Allez uses the AXIS Classic wheelset with Specialized Espoir Sport tires.

The AXIS Classic wheelset doesn’t offer quite as much stiffness you’d expect from this powerful bike. The set is a bit heavier than some racing wheels and can present some drag when climbing up hills. The Specialized tires get a lot of miles, but may not provide enough grip to make them work with you when riding.

This bike might be a contender for serious racers or those in training. The high-end frame is a huge benefit, offering incredible stiffness from aluminum, and the Shimano Tiagra components help keep the bike at a low price-point but still lend to the bike’s overall quality.

The Emonda ALR 5 uses a an Ultralight 300 Series Alpha Aluminum frame.

This is an aluminum frame (Trek calls it an “advanced aluminum” frame) designed to achieve a good balance of stiffness and weight, which an sometimes be tough for aluminum frames. Trek uses hydroforming to create these tubes, a process where they essentially fill round tubes with pressurized water inside a mold to create the tube shape, which allows them to mold aluminum frames “to their current limit” as well as to create more precise welds with less welding material. Trek likes this system because it supposedly gives them a weight advantage over competitors in the same class.

All in all, it shouldn’t be any surprise that Trek makes a great frame, and it’s a particularly solid frame at this price point.

This bike uses a Shimano 105 groupset, including a 50/34 crank and an 11-28 cassette.

No surprise here, but it’s worth noting this bike houses a full Shimano 105 groupset, so you’re not going to have to replace mediocre components.

The Shimano 105 is fairly ubiquitous in this price range. The Shimano 105 is a good all-round groupset, and the shifters included have a slightly easier shift than than something like, say, an Ultegra 11-speed groupset (although they won’t be quite as precise, either).

ONe of the good things about Shimano groupsets, though, is that they’re interchangeable, so you can slap on an Ultegra cassette (or whatever) if you want to customize the drivetrain of your Emonda a bit.

This bike uses Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite 700x 25c tires and Bontrager Tubeless Ready rims.

There are pros and cons to this wheelset for sure, and while you’ll be making a few sacrifices here, this is also likely where you’re saving a bit of money.

The main complaint for these tires is usually that they’re not going to be as stable in wet conditions or going around corners at speed. They do, however, make very little noise and seem to be very durable (we couldn’t find any real complaints even with riders who’ve put several thousand miles on them). In dry conditions and on most roads, though, they’re a perfectly suitable starter wheelset.

The Fuji Roubaix 1.1 Road Bike uses an A6-SL super-butted 6066 aluminum frame.

The A6-SL super-butted 6066 aluminum frame is Fuji's way of keeping the bike as light as possible while maintaining its strength and responsiveness. The frame is a step up from the company's lower-budget aluminum frames, using less material in areas where stress isn't usually a factor and butting the frame in areas where it needs it most, like the front fork and tubes, to improve its stiffness and strength.

This bike uses Shimano New Ultegra brakes and shifters, Shimano 105 cassette, and the Oval Concepts 500 crankset.

The Shimano New Ultegra is one of the company’s newer versions of the performance groupset meant for serious racers and matching the performance level of the company’s top tier of DURA-ACE components. The rim brakes offer excellent contact for quick stopping and reliability in various weather conditions.

The Fuji balances the price of its high-end brakes and shifters with the lower tier of Shimano’s mid-range components, the 105. This groupset still offers excellent performance, value, and 11-speeds, just like the Ultegra would. You won’t see much difference except for a little added weight, which is hardly a concern for this already-light bike.

The Oval Concepts 500 crankset performs much like the Shimano 105 or Ultegra. And, the semi-compact 52/36t crankset offers a wide range of gears, making this bike an excellent choice for uphill climbs.

The  Roubaix 1.1  uses the Oval Concepts 527 wheelset with Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tires.

This wheelset is an entry-level set from Oval Concepts. The set meets the needs of the amateur road racer, the target of this bike, offering a 27mm rim with Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tires. Zaffiro Pro is Vittoria's high-level "training" tires, made for endurance more than agility. They may not be the best choice on sharp corners or for comfort, but they’ll likely log lots of miles before needing an upgrade.

This bike has some excellent components for an amateur bike in the $1500 range, including a durable and responsive frame and Shimano mid-range components that are usually found on more professional bikes. But, it seems that the wheelset is what dropped the price on this bike and may warrant an upgrade.

The Ridley Fenix Alloy 105 uses a Fenix A, Triple Butted Hydroformed 6061-T6 Aluminum frame.

The Ridley has a triple butted aluminum frame that relieves extra pressure from the frame's joints to create an overall stiffer frame. The Fenix is also known for its diamond shape frame, giving it a geometry that absorbs impact from small and large road bumps, making it an excellent frame for those who ride long distances on harsh road surfaces.

The Fenix uses Shimano 105 crankset, cassette, and shifters, and Forza Stratos brakes.

The Shimano 105, one of the company’s mid-range groupsets, gives the Ridley Fenix 11 speeds and a variety of gears comparable to the slightly lighter Ultegra. Ridley opted for the Forza Stratos brakes, rather than the Shimano 105, which offers a smooth pull with little force necessary and quick braking.

This bike uses the Forza RC31 wheelset with Vittoria Zaffiro tires.

The Forza aluminum rims on the Ridley are good for low budgets, offering an entry-level road bike rim option that provides stiffness from well-placed spokes and good cornering ability. The Vittoria Zaffiro tires are a step down from the Pro version used on the Fuji Roubaix 1.1. These are also training tires, but are a bit more rigid than the Pro, which could put you on the path to a bumpier ride.

The Ridley Fenix Allow 105's aggressive racing geometry and high-end parts give the rider a sturdy and comfortable ride. The wheelset and tires could stand an upgrade to provide the bike with a bit of a lighter weight and to aid the frame in even better shock absorption for harsh roads.