In this article we bring to you the best cyclocross bikes under 2000$, These are bikes with drop handlebar and fat-tires that are specifically designed for a muddy off-road race. But today it has become more popular than the sport itself.
However, due to its wide tires, ruggedness, and comfortable yet fast riding position, this style of bike is extremely capable and can be not only for racing purposes but also for work and long road adventures to muddy trails and so much more.
Without a doubt, having this with you guarantees extraordinary biking experience, whether you use it for racing you’re using it for racing or not. From everyday commuting and weekend camping to light-off and long-distance touring, bikes in the cyclocross category can be used from highly tuned race machines to multi-use workhorses more tuned for the beginner than the veteran.
So how does a novice cyclist decide which cyclocross bike to spend their money on? Look no further than this buyer’s guide to a small selection of cyclocross bike around the $2000 price point. We’ll introduce you to some of these bikes, narrowed to only 5, we’re sure one of these products will suite you best.
Benefits from Cyclocross Bikes
There many reasons why you should try a cyclocross bike. It offers a lot of advantages that are sure to level up your riding game. So, if you’re into casual biking or riding competitions, these benefits are sure to come in handy.
Firstly, versatility, with this type of bike, you can ride along any terrain, from muddy road and wet pavements to off-road paths and so much more. This will help you to go on more adventures and even discover new and interesting routes.
Also, stability, cyclocross bikes are much easier to handle when riding through rough roads. This is because they have a more angled steering tubes also help guide the front wheel. Ensuring more control for the riders on their journey.
Furthermore, comfortability. Most of these bikes have several features to ensure a comfortable ride, even for long periods. When compared to other bikes its frame is smaller. It has a frame shape that allows you to have a more relaxed seating position as your center of gravity is lowered to a better position allowing more control and a better fit on the handlebar.
Lastly, the most obvious reason, good practice. These are great bikes for improving your riding control skills. Because it has thinner tires, you’ll have to learn harder to control it, it will also help you adapt to different terrain types and help you gain the most experience form each ride, which is great if you’re a complete novice when it comes to cyclocross riding.
Top 5 best picked Best Cyclocross Bikes Under 2000$
Cyclocross bikes have become such a trend these days, which is why the market is full of them. But with so many choices available, which is best suited for you? Well, help you out here are the best ones.
Best Overall Product: Colnago World Cup
The Colnago World Cup is a great bike to race on, or just have fun. It is well equipped for just about any use. At a of $1200 price point, it is hard to go wrong picking this bike and a no-brainer inclusion on our best cyclocross bikes under 2000$ list.
Colnago is a traditional Italian bike and a mainstay of riders throughout the world as it’s a best all-round bike. Bikes like these have won every single major CX in the world. The world cup features a full shimano 105 group set with mechanical disc brakes. The mid-compact drive train gives a wide range of gears as well. This bike is a very flexible CX setup and runs two chain-rings in front. This allows for use of the bike on the road, in the mountains, and all over since the gear ratio won’t let you done.
The Avid BB-7 brakes are super easy to adjust. Th braking is reasonable with them, but you may want to experiment with rotors and the brake pads to get a feeling that you will grow to love. The frame and fork feature post-mount, so adjustment and braking quality can be maintained easily.
The wheels are a great starter set by FSA who also supplies the crankset. The Kenda tires are excellent, but you may not want to try others out. Tires are not a one size fits all suggestion. Different geographic regions require different compounds and patterns, not to mention weather issues. Some tires are just plain better in the mud.
When you look at the Colnago World cup, it may not be a carbon-fiber bike, but at this price tag, that’s hard to do. However, this is the same frame design in a more affordable aluminum version. The design isn’t an afterthought. The front end is very accessible for carrying, with an added tube to help fir onto your shoulders better, no other brand does this.
Features at glance:
- Easy to adjust Avid BB-7 and Shimano 105 mechanical disc brakes.
- Aluminum built frame with is great for the brakes.
- Reinforcement tube between the seat tube and top tube that help carrying the frame on shoulders.
Best High-End Cyclocross Bikes Under 2000$: Diamondback Haanjo Trail
As you will find CX bikes, expensive doesn’t necessarily it’s the best or makes it better. A $5000 bike is not any better than a $2000 bike. On more expensive bikes, you’re also paying for carbon wheels. So, with a reasonable understanding, buy an economical bike, and then upgrade the wheels when you require it! That will save you money.
A great way to get there is to start with the Diamond Haaanjo Trail bike. The bike’s the epitome of great bones, and the wheelset isn’t too bad either.
Unless you want to race on an elite level, the Shimano Ultegra drivetrain on the Haanjo is excellent pick. Even if you are racing on the bigger level it would take some convincing to spend a lot more money. When it gets muddy, and with the most likely to occur crashes, derailleur and shifters get damaged, but why spend 3 times the cost of an Ultegra for something that will get damaged anyway?
The Diamondback Haanjo also features hydraulic disc brakes by Shimano XT which is the most powerful braking system uses in newer technology that is also used in mountain bikes. When you have hydraulic you won’t want anything else. This ensures better control and stability for the rider as it can be use on multi-road platforms. The braking power and modifications are second to none.
The HED wheels on this bike are a great mid-level wheelset. They are fairly light, and with some modification could go tubeless. The cool thing is that this is front and rear thru-axle on this bike. That makes the bike stiffer, and more sure handling. The carbon fork also helps with shock and vibration absorption.
It can come in 4 sizes. But even better there also is a ladies version called the Haanjenn. Both are excellent and part of our best cyclocross bikes under 2000$.
Feature to glance:
- Easy to custom to riders need.
- Powerful Shimano XT hydraulic brakes for better control.
- HED Wheelset are front and rear thru-axle
- Carbon fork helps with absorbing shocks and vibrations.
- Aluminum alloy frame built to ensure durability and comfort riding.
Most affordable: Gravity liberty CX
The new and improved Gravity Liberty CX is what you are certainly searching for. And when it comes from one of its famed distributors, you can be surer of quality and reliability. The cyclocross bike comprises tough aluminum tube framing to handle a variety of users. And according to the company, this unit is perfect for users as tall as 6ft 7 inches.
It features a high-performance styling for better performance than the previous version, as well as the competition. It offers smoother ear shifting and better safety thanks to the Shimano 24 speed ger system. Assembling the bike is fairly fast, even for a complete novice, and takes a short time.
This is one of the cheapest bikes I saw in a CX style was the gravity Liberty CX bike. While this bike could work for someone looking to et their feet wet on this type of riding. Would argue against the bike a bit. The sub $500 price is interesting though.
It has an aluminum frame which is great for comfort and stability as it aligns the rider in a better seating posture. It also has Shimano Sora, with dual control brakes and shifters for better control. Tektro cantilever brakes on it as well. There really is great value from it at this price point.
Although, here is where some issues come. The rear end of the frame is made wrong. When the cantilever brakes, the posts need to be specific distance as a minimum apart. Otherwise, they do not pull at the right angle and you get decreased braking power. The gear ratios are totally wrong for this bike type. It needs to have a 30 or 32 large cog on the gear cluster. The front chainrings should be smaller as well.
Feature at glance:
- Affordable, less than $500.
- Light-weight Aluminum alloy frame, built for better comfort and control.
- High-performance styling for better performance
- Smooth gear shifting and better safety thanks to Shimano
- Powerful disc brakes
Great Alternative: Tommaso Siena
The Siena disc bring an unpredicted level of versatility and value to our adventure line. Designed as an all-in-one, go anywhere, all-rounder bike. The Siena is perfect for the value riders who needs one bike for everything. 28 spoke wheels can handle extra weight and tough terrain, and avid BB5 disc brakes offer great stopping power on harsh weather and terrain conditions. The Shimano tourney drivetrain offers a wide variety of gearing options so you can handle whatever the trail throws at you. You can et all these features for your dream bike in less than $1000.
It has an aluminum compact frame and SST steel fork make for a strong, reliable, and lightweight ride. Also, it provides extra stability and control as it helps the rider to lowering his center of weight to the right size for better control and smooth riding. The frame is also well built so it can endure for all your touring and commuting needs.
The heavy duty Tomasso Corsa TC-20D wheels are our toughest wheels, and specifically designed to handle rough terrain, dirt and gravel. The 28 spoke rims roll great and can handle the extra weight of touring gear with ease.
It is amazing just how a few dollars more make for a better made and engineered bike. However, there are a number of bikes out on the market that need help. From bad cranks arms that repeatedly fall off, to other poor-quality parts. Luckily the Tommaso Siena does not have these issues.
Features to glance:
- Affordable, one of the best bikes under 2000$
- Great lightweight aluminum alloy frame for comport, control and stability.
- Shimano tourney shifter, great for easy gear change.
- Powerful Avid BB5 disc brakes
- Tommaso corsa TC-20D wheelset.
Old School Design: Retrospec Bicycles AMOK-16
For some riders, there is a certain purity to riding cyclocross bikes. New-fangled brakes, or shifting systems ruins the simplicity of riding a bike at the park on a fall day, carving around the grass, running up hills in search of a great workout.
Without breaking the bank, the Retrospect Bicycle AMOK-16 is a modern throwback to a traditional cross bike used in CrossFit training. This steel-framed, cantilever braked is traditional as they come. It’s a great all-in-one, al-rounder bike that is perfect for any terrain, rain or shine every day of the week.
It has the 16-Shimano 2400 Claris drivetrain components with integrated STI shifting and braking for precision control without ever removing hands. This lets the rider experience the best control as it easy to shift gears and lets them enjoy a comfortable ride on their adventure.
The frame with 4130 chromally which is hand-built and double-butted so you can depend on it day in and day out for it ensure stability and allows rider to have a comfortable fit with the handle bar. It has Multi-terrain Kendal small block 8 tires handle on and off-road so it conquers any terrain or trails when discovering new routes.
The Amok goes for around $500, but if you want to pursue upgrades, and vintage cross style, this is a great start point. Also, there are tons of parts to upgrade this bike with. The wheels are nothing special. But the problem with that is you would have to add a good $200 or more to drastically improve the rims to a lighter and faster option. That kills the nice price tag on this bike.
Feature to glance:
- Ultimate commuting machine that is perfect for any terrain.
- 16-Speed Shimano 2400 Claris improves braking and shifting.
- Chromalloy frame used to increase strength and stability.
- Multi-terrain kindle small block tires easily handle on and off-roading trails.
Conclusion
Cyclocross, whether racing or just looking for a great season workout is an excellent activity with much to gain. The cyclocross scene is full of great, fun and adventurous people, and most egos are checked at the door. Riding muddy trails have a tendency to equal our skill levels and improve them.
A great thing about cyclocross is that you don’t have to invest a ton of money in a whole new activity to go and have fun. A proper bike is usually the only consideration. Special clothes, helmets or pads aren’t realty required. A good bike makes all the difference.
Best Overall Cyclocross Bike
A real surprise is our Best Overall Cyclocross Bike, the Colnago World Cup. Normally Colnago bikes are very expensive, however this bike is an exception. What the Colnago will do for when you face a challenge is respond. When you need to shift at the last second, it will do that. Need solid braking? It will do that too. This is where a good bike helps you out and reach your greatest milestone. Cyclocross normally feature short courses about a mile long with short steep climbs and it test your bike handling and grit. The Colnago is a great pick that you will never regret.
Best Value Product
If you are on a tight budget then our Best Value Product, the Tommaso Siena is the best bike on a budget with all the features you need.
Best Features Product
Not everyone is like somebody who has dozen different sorts of bikes hanging around in their garage at home. These days, it is easy to find some flexible use bikes that are easy to adjust to, especially if you aim to ride on gravel or mountain terrains. Our Best Features Product goes to the Diamondback Haanjo or Haanjenn for female versions, for their flexibility in regards to different terrain. While it is not a CX bike, they can be depended upon as they have powerful hydraulic brakes that give more control fir its riders and is easy to adjust to their needs, which make them capable to use on much harsh terrains as it is a well-built all-round bike.
In today’s market, manufacturers are really responding to riders’ needs with great models and results. These are just a few of best cyclocross bikes under 2000$ that are highly reviewed with positive results.
