SCOTT Speedster Gravel

SCOTT Speedster Gravel is a sibling of the Speedster road bike with wider tires and geometry that’s optimized for comfort and stability. SCOTT says this bike is the perfect companion for all-day off-road rides.

In this review, we’ll put the entry-level Speedster Gravel 40 to the test to find out how it performs and how it compares to similarly priced competition.

Assembly and Setup

SCOTT bikes are easy to unbox. The box opens at the side, and everything slides out on a cardboard tray.

The accessory kit comes with user manuals, QR codes linked to assembly videos, and a toolkit with everything needed for assembly or on-the-fly repairs. SCOTT also includes a chain tool, tire patches, and a 5Nm torque limiter for the ratchet wrench.

The bike arrived with the bars and stem attached, so installing the seatpost and front wheel were the final steps.

Our test bike was tuned correctly out of the box: components were greased, wheels ran true, shifting was indexed, and brakes didn’t rub.

Bike Description

The Speedster Gravel line has been around for a few years. The 2025 builds are a mix of 1x and 2x, with four options from the Team at the top to the Speedster Gravel 30 at the bottom.

Our Speedster Gravel 40 is 2x and comes from the 2024 generation. In the past, the Speedster Gravel 40 sat below the 40 EQ and above the 50EQ, 50, and 60. SCOTT no longer offers those four builds, but they might still be available from some retailers.

The Speedster Gravel 40 only comes in one color but is available in an above-average seven sizes from XXS to XXL. The dark Mastaphora Grey with gold accents looks great.

The bike has an aluminum frame and fork and weighs 25.13lb in size Large. It has a weight capacity of 265lb.

The Speedster Gravel 40 rolls on aluminum Race X25 Disc rims from SCOTT’s in-house component brand, Syncros. These 28-hole rims have an internal width of 25mm and pair with Formula Team II CL hubs.

The tires are 45mm Schwalbe G-One Bite Performance. This version of these tires is tube-only, which is disappointing, as the aftermarket version is tubeless-ready.

At 2,050g, the wheelset is an obvious area to cut some weight from this bike, especially for riders who want to run narrower rims and tires for lighter gravel road riding.

The groupset is 2×10 Shimano Tiagra with Tiagra 4700 shifters and derailleurs, a 50/34t crankset, and an 11-34t Shimano cassette. This combination provides gearing ratios from 1.0 to 4.55. The lowest gear is okay for moderate climbs, but steeper ones will require getting out of the saddle, which isn’t ideal if trying to maintain traction on a loose or wet surface off-road surface.

Braking is handled by Shimano BR-RS305 mechanical disc brakes with centerlock 160mm rotors.

The cockpit includes a Syncros Creston 2.0 Alloy handlebar and 103mm stem. Cables enter the frame below the stem and are fully internal from that point. This gives the Speedster Gravel a clean look and protects the cables, but complicates servicing. The Gravel 40 also comes with a Syncros Tofino Regular 2.5 endurance saddle.

With bento-bag mounts on the top tube, a pair of bottle-cage mounts on the seat tube, three bosses on the down tube, and another pair under the down tube, the Speedster Gravel is nicely set up for bikepacking. Unfortunately, however, there aren’t any mounts on the fork, and there’s no way to mount regular fenders to the seatstays. Syncros sells direct-fit fenders for the Speedster Gravel line, but they only appear to be compatible with the 10, 20, 30, and 50 models; the fork on the 40 doesn’t have the hole for fitting the front fender.

Overall, the Speedster Gravel 40 is a good-looking bike with a decent component specification for an entry-level bike, and comfortable geometry that should allow for easy all-day riding on gravel terrain.

Riding the SCOTT Speedster Gravel 40

We tested the size Large (56) frame with the tires set to 31psi at the front and 33psi in the rear on long, mixed-terrain rides, which included pavement and gravel ranging from smooth category 1 to some chunky cat. 3. I also tested 33.5psi up front and 36psi at the rear on smooth pavement.

At 6′ tall with a 33” inseam, I’m at the top end of the stated fit range for the size L frame, but I still found a very comfortable fit. The Speedster Gravel’s stack-to-reach ratio of 1.52 results in a fairly upright position, and after several hours of pedaling, my back wasn’t screaming at me, making the bike suitable for long rides and bikepacking adventures.

The bike accelerates quickly and maintains speed well over level ground and shallow climbs, but the steeper climbs I encountered on my way to the trails were very challenging. The 2×10 gearing makes it easy to hit a good cadence, but on very steep climbs, I was left wanting a lower granny gear. On any incline above 10%, I had to get out of the saddle or grind away while seated.

Obviously, wider gravel tires will always be slower than narrow road tires on pavement, but the 45mm wide G-One Bite tires didn’t hold me back as much as I feared they would when I first saw the tread pattern. They feel pretty good on the road, but they really shine off the tarmac.

Most of my riding was on category 1 and 2 gravel, where the bike feels stable and easy to control. The frameset and tires absorb road chatter well, and the bike even takes the larger impacts from washboarding and potholes in its stride.

The tires offer good grip on gravel, but on a dirt path with some muddy sections, there is some loss of traction. Braking is generally good, except on muddy or very loose gravel descents, but admittedly, this is pushing the bike past its intended terrain. Mechanical brakes never provide the modulation or easy power of hydraulic brakes, and on looser surfaces, it isn’t easy to maximize braking without locking up the wheels.

The Speedster Gravel is more at home on relaxed gravel paths than tight, twisty trails. The stability afforded by the fairly long wheelbase and relaxed head angle makes the steering relatively sluggish. The Speedster can handle the twists and turns of tighter trails and dodging obstacles, but this isn’t where its strengths lie. Rather, it’s much better at putting down the power and mitigating the chatter and washboarding.

Leave the tighter trails for nice category 2 gravel, and the bike really comes into its own. It’s easy to maintain good speeds and enjoy the sweeping curves, feeling confident about the bike’s stability and grip.

Away from the steeper, slick descents, the brakes are fine, and the gearing offers more than enough range to maintain speed over rolling hills. In testing, I covered ground quickly, and everything went great until the final challenge: a steep climb, hitting 12%. I quickly dropped to the lowest gear and once again had to get out of the saddle and grind away.

Despite the hard work up steep climbs, I was very happy with the bike’s performance. The Speedster Gravel 40 handles gravel roads and extended rides over mixed terrains with confidence and comfort. For me, the bike’s main weaknesses are the limited gearing range and mechanical brakes. Also, needing to run tubes means a greater risk of puncturing.

Pros

Versatility

The Speedster Gravel 40 is capable of handling pavement or gravel, putting weekend trails and weekday commutes all firmly within reach. It’s stable on gravel and even handles some smooth trails, yet it still has the pickup and speed to make pavement riding fun. For riders who are new to gravel and want an affordable bike that handles it all, the Speedster Gravel 40 is a good choice.

Ride Comfort

True to SCOTT’s claims of all-day comfort, the Speedster Gravel 40 is great on extended rides. The upright riding position reduces strain on the back and neck, while making it easy to keep an eye on the road or trail ahead.

The bike’s ability to eliminate tiring, high-frequency vibrations and iron out the harder hits from potholes and washboarding shows that the old claims of aluminum being uncomfortable aren’t relevant anymore.

Cons

Gearing Ratio

The 50/34t cranks and 11-34t cassette left me grinding hard up grades exceeding 10%. For bikepacking, this bike definitely needs a bigger first gear.

Unfortunately, the Speedster’s Tiagra rear derailleur is already at its official gearing limit, so running a bigger cassette would require upgrading the derailleur. Fortunately, the Tiagra shifter is compatible with the RX400 derailleur from Shimano’s GRX range, which officially supports a 36t first gear at the back in 2x.

However, a competitor to this bike, Specialized’s Diverge 3 Alloy, combines a 46/32t chainset with 11-39t cassette for much easier climbing. Likewise, the 2025 Speedster Gravel 30, which costs just $100 more, has a lower first gear.

Brakes and Fork

While the Speedster Gravel 40 is fairly well appointed, the lack of hydraulic brakes is a disappointment. Alternatives such as the Canyon Grizl, Specialized Diverge 3 Alloy, and SCOTT’s own Speedster Gravel 30 offer hydraulic brakes and a carbon fork at around the same price.

Conclusion

The SCOTT Speedster Gravel 40 delivers solid performance as a versatile, entry-level gravel bike. It blends road-bike efficiency with gravel capability, making it a strong choice for riders who want one bike for off-road adventures and relatively fast road rides.

This bike excels at what it was designed for. The comfortable geometry kept me fresh on long rides. On category 2 gravel and shallow climbs, the bike is smooth and stable. The 45mm Schwalbe G-One Bite tires provide good grip on loose terrain and good speed on tarmac.

This model seems to be off the lineup for 2025, and the Speedster Gravel 30 is available for just $100 more with hydraulic disc brakes, a lower granny gear, and a carbon fork, addressing the main complaints I had with our test bike.

The only other complaint is the non-tubeless-ready tires. I appreciate that SCOTT needs to keep the costs down, but this is a gravel bike, and frankly, who’s running tubes off-road, given the huge reduction in punctures provided by running tubeless?

Despite these few shortcomings, the Speedster Gravel 40 performs well, so for riders new to gravel who prioritize comfort over outright off-road capability, the currently available Speedster Gravel 30 is an excellent option for mixed surfaces and light trails.

Score Breakdown

• Build quality: 80
• Performance/Innovation: 85
• Design: 90
• Ride quality: 90
• Price/Value: 75

Overall: 84

Detailed Specifications

Total Weight: Claimed: 25.13lb – Actual: 25.13lb
Frame: 6061 aluminum
Headset: Integrated steel cup
Fork: Speedster Alloy Disc 1 1/4″-1 1/2″
Shifters: Shimano Tiagra ST-4700 Dual-control 20-speed
Brake Calipers: Shimano BR-RS305 mechanical disc
Brake Rotors: Shimano SM-RT64 rotor 160mm
Chain: KMC X10
Crankset: Shimano Tiagra FC-4700 50/34t
Bottom Bracket Shimano BB-UN300
Front Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra FD-4700
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tiagra RD-4700-GS
Cassette: Shimano CS-HG500 10-speed 11-34t
Rims: Syncros Race X25 Disc
Front Hub Formula Team II CL Disc 28H
Rear Hub Formula Team II CL Disc 28H
Tires: Schwalbe G-One Bite Performance 700c x 45mm
Handlebar:
Saddle: Syncros Tofino Regular 2.5

Geometry Details – Size L (56)

Seat Tube: 22.04” (560mm)
Reach: 15.37” (390.4mm)
Stack: 23.37” (593.7mm)
Stand Over Height: 32.48” (825mm)
Virtual Top Tube Length: 22.74” (577.6mm)
Wheel base: 41.59” (1,056.4mm)
Head tube angle: 71.0°
Seat tube angle: 72.5°

Weight

Bike 25.13lb / 11.40kg
Bike without wheels, cranks, chain 13.64lb / 6.19kg (Size Large)
Tire 1.22lb – 553g
Front wheel (bare) 1.98lb – 898g
Rotor + lock ring 0.34lb – 156g
Rear Wheel (bare) 2.54lb – 1152g
Cassette 0.87lb – 396g
Front Derailleur -0.23lb – 105g
Rear derailleur 0.60lb – 276g
Crankset 2.01lb – 914g
Chain 0.58lb – 264g