The Best Bikes I Tested in 2023!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.ค. 2024
- Head to squarespace.com/davidarthur to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code davidarthur
Somehow I managed to ride and review 45 bikes (so far) this year so it's time to dish out some awards for the best bikes across a range of categories.
Content
00:00 Intro
00:31 Best Road Race Bike
4:28 Best Value Road Bike
7:29 Squarespace sponsor
8:27 Best Endurance Road Bike
10:40 Best All-Round Road Bike
11:52 Best Gravel Bike
16:11 Most Improved Bike
17:29 Flop of the Year
19:02 Best Mountain Bike
22:21 Overall Bike of the Year
JOIN MY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER eepurl.com/inIvGk
Supported by Saddleback
Castelli clothing bit.ly/justridebikes
Sidi shoes bit.ly/3tjQ8UP
HJC helmet bit.ly/3sRiB2Z
Buy Bikestow Stance stand here bit.ly/3LSZQXZ
Follow me:
Instagram: / davidjarthur
Twitter: / davearthur
Facebook: / justridebikesvideo - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
45 bikes in a year is a huge number for a one-man-operation. Congrats and succes for the coming years
Thanks! 🙏
Any chance of reviewing the latest Cube agree?
Elves Bikes are thrilled to be recognised in this staggering line-up! Thank you for taking the time to review the Vanyar Pro Disc 2024.
I love your work! You are thoughtful, considerate and fair in your evaluations. You are organized and thorough. You articulate your thoughts clearly and without any unnecessary nonsense. Thank you for what you do. Bravo!
Ya we know which are the best bikes of 2023.i am just trying to sell my car to buy one
😂😂😂
You’ll get more for a kidney…. 😂😂😂😂
I’ve enjoyed watching your videos and hearing your honest opinions since you started David. Congratulations on another wonderful year. I REALLY look forward to more videos from you mate. You do a, straight up, no bs job.
I think we all value your opinion highly. Thank you mate. Keep it up
You do a wonderful job David. I bought a Propel thanks to your recommendation and I’m loving it!
Great to hear!
Great video, as always. Love the way you present bikes, for me you’re the best bike channel there is.
🖤🖤🖤 Thanks for the feature David! Looking forward to getting out on a ride soon.
Many thanks for all your thoughtful reviews! Very helpful and informative.
A great year of reviews David. Keep it up 👍
Great to see the Merida Scultura 7000 as your best value road bike, I’ve just bought the 9000 at an amazing price from my local bike shop. Can’t wait to next summer to get out on it!
Awesome job Dave! Great video … keep up the good work in ‘24
Thank you for all the awesome contents and reviews you've shared with us throughout 2023, David! Kudos and looking fwd to more exciting contents.
My pleasure!
What a great review summary. I agree Tarmac 8, Giant Propel and Colnago would have been my top picks too.
Giant Defy being your bike of the year was a surprise to me, as I'd expected it might've been the Tarmac 8. Nonetheless, it's inspired me to take a second glance at it and of course the Cannondale.
Overall, you've done a great job in coming to your choices and while some may disagree , as is always the case, I'd be surprised if most were not in general agreement with you.
Thanks for going to such effort
Great brief assessments! Thank you!
Fantastic round off to the year with some solid choices - it’s hard to pick a bad bike these days with such quality information! It is a pity that almost all of the bikes except giant lower tier builds are expensive for most people getting into the sport or considering upgrading. There is a bit of info on extreme costs but needless to say in the current cost of living crisis a lot of these bikes will be out of reach for most. Keep up the great work
Wonderful video! Big, big fan of Giant bikes having two myself (Defy and TCX). Your review of the Blackheart Road Ti sealed the deal for me when I was looking to replace my ten-year-old Lynskey and seeing it here as one of your picks made it even sweeter! Loving this bike more than ever now. Cheers!
Thank you for your videos throughout the whole year. Don't think I've missed any of them! We go again for next year
Glad you like them!
I've been riding the Giant Defy Advanced Pro 0 for about a month now. Really enjoying it and pleased to see it is getting great reviews and accolades. Thanks for the reviews
Hello, I’m about to buy it. Is it worth the money ?
@@benjaminlefebvre7471 first 900km have been great. My last bike (Canyon Ultimate) lasted 65,000km and was sold for a good price in great condition. The point is - if you use it a lot and look after it should last a very long time.
I Bought a Defy in Feb. Very worth it. Buy it.
Tks for the insightful content, David! I agree with you on the Overall Bike of The Year. I’d have pick the same bike. Keep it up! 👍
Thx David!❤
nice roundup, keep up the good work
Thanks, will do!
I’d just ordered a new 2023 Merida 6000 when I watched your review off the 7000. I originally was after the 9000, but after discussions with my local bike shop that the frames were the same & going for the 6000 plus the fact that I could get it in white, I had enough money in the budget to upgrade the wheels to a set of Scope R5 aero wheels with GP5000 Tyres & TPU tubes ( I’m not sold on tubeless). I was also able to afford my first power meter. I also settled for 105 Di2 over Altegra, which I’m incredibly happy with. My point like yours is, Merida make an incredibly affordable range of bikes & with a few tweaks here & there, I’ve ended up with a (in my eyes) fantastic, stiff, fast road bike that came in under my budget. P.S. love your show David & looking forward to more great reviews in 2024.😮
For my budget I found the variety of my Felt Broam 30,Felt FR 30,and Felt AR Advanced 105 Di2 really covered all my riding enjoyment and kept me within my budget
hi David , What do you think of the comparison between Enve Mog and 3T Extrema? I saw you tested both…
thanks see you soon and compliments 👍🏽
Love your videos. I can't seem to find any reviews on the Ridley Helium SLX Disk. I know the bike was raced by a pro team last year but there isn't much info on it as far as reviews go. I'm curious to see a review of this bike.
Very good informative video. That giant defy definitely caught my eye as a possible new endurance bike. If you’ll review the new focus paralane that would be great, as right niw it’s a toss up between these 2 for me to pull the trigger. Would love to try them both out. Focus seems a bit cheaper with about the same specs.
I’ll try and get the Paralane in for review
Tks 4 many good videos. It's discouraging however when you discuss prices. The ones you show are bad enough, but prices are always MUCH higher in US for same model, even after allowing for exchange rates.
Great vid, I really enjoyed it a lot! What about the Roubaix as all around, was it the price?
Yea good point. I liked the Roubaix as well. Especially when David threw 40mm tyres on it and took it off road too.
Giant Defy is an ultra-sensible, super good-looking bike at a very reasonable price! So that one for me, please!
I'm still on my velvet red Filante SLR and the marginal hard-to-tell improvements the SL8 and similar bikes offer is very hard to justify. Any chances of reviewing the Yoeleo G21? Would be very interesting to see how it stacks up against more expensive bikes. Didn't see the Enve MOG coming! Expected the Supersix to take the V4RS place. I think it rides on the Pogacar/UAE hype wave. Thanks!
Great round up. Not much I would lay down on…but the MOG is IT for me.
Best bike for the value for me is the ribble ultra sl r. What a fantastic bike. Outperforms all my other bikes with ease.
Would be nice to have the list of bikes tested. All I took away from this is that you're ridden a lot of Giants and Specializeds
Best race bike other vids conparing SL8 to Trwk Madone 24 say the Trek is far more confortable/smoothest and faster due to bigger areo downtube/forks? Have yiou tried it?
How much better or worse do you think a top end 2015 bike is against the sl8, ? Etap 2015 dogma f8 £2600 this is what i paid, sl8 sworks at least 9k
So when are you getting your new Defy? 😄
Hey David, have you gotten a chance to try out the new Orbea Orca? If so, what do you think? I'm looking at grabbing a mid--tier one as it would come with a free fitting and I was just wondering if you think it would be hampered by a SRAM Rival drivetrain if I'm coming from a SRAM Force one.
I haven't yet I'm afraid, proved tricky getting bikes out of Orbea this year. Hopefully next year! Rival is a bit heavier but I don't think it'll really slow you down compared to Force that much
Rival also has a cheap one-sided power meter option that was a big plus for me. Very budget-friendly compared to Force/Red or power meter pedals.
I have been riding an orbea oiz 2023 best mountain bike i have had. Did you try an orbea
review a polygon mountain and/or road bike
What model Castelli bibs are those?
😂So Is Canyon Grail CF SL good enough ? No internal storage & cockpit mount. I just bought one, i am quite sad that the Fidlock frame bag is always out of stock. And the frame bag is made for Grail.....
About the best race bike…: have you tested the dogma F ? What are your thoughts about sl8 vs dogma F ?
I absolutely love my Cervelo Soloist. Sad to not see it here
Sadly not had the chance to test one yet, maybe next year
Me too. Waiting for the Soloist shout out and unfortunately nothing. 😢
USA cycling has a rule that you have to use a road bike. If I can only afford one bike on a budget which "Road" frameset could I use that would allow the largest tires so I could also use it for gravel races?
Hiya David. I enjoy your videos but would love to see some tests on £2000 bikes.
Hoping for some Envee Melee deals but none so far. Cheers from Southern California 🍻👍
I doubt we see deals on them for awhile. I had never heard of them before, but now I'm seeing them all over in videos and ads. A pro team just announced that they'll be riding them in the big tours next year. Their marketing is going through the roof and they're going to have to make that back. For bigger name brands, that's where most of the cost comes from.
why have't u reviewed factor ostro vam yet? that bike is so popular
I bought a ZFS 5 100 frame. Just got it all built up. It’s a rocket and great on the downs
Love my tarmac sl8, couldn't justify the sworks, so I went for the pro
So did I😃 and I love it! Got the green DI2 Pro in size 56cm. I even got 15% discount at my local dealer in DK.
Same here! The SL8 Pro is amazing. I put a Ceramicspeed coated BB on mine and it's a dream.
@michaeldatrindade1702 That's the same as mine, but I've got it in a size 58
@@johntrussell7228 I haven't done any mods yet , but I think the first will be 28mm tyres
@@michaeldatrindade1702 I got the same (52) in the green as well. Colour is amazing! I love it!
Winner, good call
Hi David, didn't catch the name and company of your best gravel bike in 2023, could you specify again, thanks !
Enve Mog 👍
You'd see a lot more S-Works SL8s on the roads if they weren't quite so high. That much is a bit hard to swallow, if you will excuse the pun. Don't get me wrong, it is rightly expensive, but the guys in charge apparently said, "requires the cavity search."
Van Rysel has the best 2023 bike (RCR)…and will be for 2024 as well….but they won’t pay TH-camrs
I have watched every one of your Videos this year and have to say the choice for the best bike surprised me. When you say is so much better than the Sl7, above all other race bikes what exactly do you mean? How? I hate makes the SL8 so much better when most people who ride the bikes agree is hardly a departure from the previous model. I think picking the best bike is a futile experiment when so so many variables go into consideration. Wheels, groupset, etc. appreciate the effort but I don’t see the SL8 being a winner
Well, since i just bought an Enve Melee you know what my vote is.
Great video David. You do a fantastic job. Can't argue with these results.
The other day I purchased a Carerra Vengeance 2nd hand for £60...yup sixty quid, almost like new, unfortunately the rear derailleur had got hooked up in rear wheel, so a new derailleur and a new hanger, some shift adjustments, and hey presto, a fully working bike 😊..27.5 inch tyres were still decent but by pure luck a guy less than 3 miles away had a brand new set of Continental tyres for the princely sum of just £10.00😅...all in all bike owes me about £105.00 I think a bargain 👍. Got the shimano Derailleur and 2 hangers from Amazon for about 35 quid and the tyres were a tenner....so the specs are, alloy frame, 8 speed derailleur /24 gears. Quick release wheels, disc brakes, adjustable front suspension and pretty much as new TBH....Did I get a bargain? I guess it depends on how you look at it, but I think I did OK for the money 💰...its a nice looking bike in a sort of metallic non shiny black colour with all black spokes and black alloy rims with small ascents of chrome here and there. I like it...the wheels are extremely light, the frame although made from light alloy isn't the lightest frame, the main reason is the front adjustable suspension which adds significantly to the weight of the frame, but still it is lighter than others I have owned at much pricier costs. Sometimes you don't need to spend thousands on a bike, I got a massive amount of satisfaction when I rebuilt the bike too. I'm an engineer, so I like saving things, if interested just Google it, it's a nice looking bike TBH...Everybody, ride safe, and take care...
Giant defy is a good looking in my eyes
Title should be the best laugh bike manufacturers had in 2023
any bikes for easter ueropean wallet? (around 450 euro max)
When the review of SAVA?
Best gravel bike for me - the one I bought 😀
I was actually thinking the Mach4sL would have been your pick for MTB
Ha! I didn’t wait long enough!!
I had convinced myself the Giant Defy IS the next bike... DA enters the chat and says how bout ENVE MELEE ... bugger
😎
Hey after seeing this video, I’m considering giving Giant a second look. I always thot they were high build quality and light weight but with that said I thought they rode kind of generic.
I respect your opinion greatly tho, so with all the Giant awards in this video I’m gonna check them out again.
Question tho, do you take any money at all from Giant???
If any brand sponsored me or the videos it would be declared, so no - the only support I get is listed below in the description of the video 👍
@@davidarthur awesome thx David… have a great 🎄 🎅
I have a 2022 giant tcr and love it. Only my Colnago C64 rides better but it cost double the price. Both the new propel and defy are amazing bikes, as David stated. You'd need to spend at least another £1200-1500 more to get the same spec from say Specialized or Cannondale
What about a trek emonda alr5. Did i buy a poor bike ?? 😢
Best bike over all for me .....Canyon grail
CANYON AEROAD CFR not in the road race category 🤦♂ - David, what are you doing....??
I didn’t review it this year 😝
@@davidarthur 😬
There seems to be lots of gimmicks (in tube storage and bags…) seeing plenty of standards being dropped… perhaps they would be better actually getting their QC right and delivering value for the high prices that are being asked.
No Trek Madone SLR 7
You missed this one for sure!!!!
Because I reviewed it last year 😎
You should re-make this video but with no bikes above 3K.
I got the SL8 pro in the green. I love it and the colour is👌
Need to add an pedal-assist ebike category.
..Pinarello X..
3000-3500 GBP bikes like the Vitus Venon Evo are now considered "value" ?!?
Value does not mean cheap 😜
Is the new look 795 blade rs that bad that no one actually review it?
I can't get them to send me one but am trying
@@davidarthur looking forward to, thanks!
I think the Gen 7 madone should’ve been on the list instead of the propel! However, everything else I 100% agree with.
Sadly the Madone review was last year so couldn’t really include it here
The SL8 rattles your teeth and is slower than the Trek Madone.
OMG! My bike isn't on the list!
😝
I have never felt more disconnected from the choices on this video 😅
Grats
The best bike is the one you're riding.
Why is speed so important ? For me I just want to enjoy the ride you won't see me with drop handle bars .I gyess it's just your personal view .
ENVE
Most people would be better off with the Roubaix, than the Tarmac.......Road race bikes are wasted on the average rider.....(see Bikefit James).
No.
No disrespect, love your channel but it always seems to be giant, specialized, Scott, envelope etc…seems rather biased to me.
Rather predictable l think, a bike that no ordinary person can afford!
Sl 8 its overated...colnago v4rs is better.
Sl8, durianrider rates this bike😂😂
You believe anything that scumbag says?
I rather like non-carbon bikes.
All carbon junk with the exception of the Blackheart. How about some additional titanium or steel bikes? I like your content David, but this list is honestly a disappointment. I’ll stick to my 2011 Moots Vamoots or 1983 Schwinn Super Sport built up as a gravel machine. Or my son’s 1992 Colnago Superissimo. Or the other 4 steel bikes in our garage.
That's almost 1 bike per week. Good job but the reviews are not impartial. Your job is just marketing, but that's how the industry is, I can understand
It’s not, I’m sorry you think that it the case
@@davidarthur not that I would say 100% of the times you are impartial but I mean it is a lot of marketing and at some point you have to follow not so independent reviews. Anyways you do a great job!
45 bikes in not even a full year. Even assuming a ride every single day this is only 7 or 8 rides per bike. Is this really enough to come to terms with the nuances and character of a bike? Personally I think full reviews require longer. Whilst definitely better than a kick of the tyres or a push on the suspension in the carpark - I'd suggest that you are producing something that is more than first impressions - but perhaps not enough for a full review.
Yes it is. I hear where you're coming from but I know I get enough riding on each bike for a good, honest and fair review and way more than a first impression that you get from a single ride such as at a product launch. I could ride a bike for 3 months say but that isn't going to really influence the review more than riding it for 1 month for example, other than bring in component reliability. And the more you ride a bike the more your mind and body gets used to all the little nuances - and going from one bike to another brings those small differences into starker contrast. It's why group tests are so useful. I've also been reviewing bikes for about 20 years now which also helps :)
Bike for rich folks😢
I would like for a bike reviewer to talk about the ethical implications of buying bikes from China and thereby supporting a dictatorship with a terrible history of human rights abuses and which props up other dictatorships like Russia.
Get educated before leaving such a comment
@@blimey5348 About what? Isn't China a dictatorship?
Mostly made in Tawain not China, a good majority of satellite brands by Giant manufacturing, though there are some Chinese manufacturers, probably more on the components side of the equation
@@mmurmurjohnson2368 Yes, and I have no problems with stuff that's made in Taiwan, of course.
@@motohead9266 You mean the Republic of China?