The Takeaway: Pinarello's second-generation gravel bike ups tire clearance, improves aerodynamics, and features bold new graphics. It solidifies the brand's approach to gravel, which is basically a road bike with big tire clearance.

  • The frame can handle tires up to 700 x 50 mm or 650b x 2.1".
  • Grevil F frame prioritizes simplicity and aerodynamics at the expense of mounting points for bags, fenders, and other accessories.
  • Frame parts like seatpost and cockpit components are proprietary. The frame also features an Italian threaded bottom bracket.

Pinarello Grevil Ekar Gravel Bike

Grevil Ekar Gravel Bike

Pinarello Grevil Ekar Gravel Bike

$6,500 at Backcountry
Credit: Trevor Raab
Pros
  • Dialed ride and geometry for those wanting road bike like handling.
  • Pedaling efficiency to rival many high end road bikes.
Cons
  • Internal cable routing.

The Grevil F cannot be mistaken for anything other than a Pinarello. The brand's DNA is all over this bike, from the trademark wavy and asymmetric shapes to the Italian threaded bottom bracket. This latest model is an updated version of the original Grevil gravel bike Pinarello released in 2018. Like the original, Pinarello clearly states that the Grevil F is a gravel bike explicitly meant for going fast.

In Pinarello’s own words, the intention of the Grevil F is “full gas everywhere” and the brand isn’t afraid to proclaim that slogan on the downtube. After all, racing is a core part of Pinarello’s identity, with numerous Tour de France victories achieved on its various road-going models. So it makes sense that there is more than a passing resemblance between its top-end road racing bike, the Dogma F, and the Grevil F.

pinarello grevil f
Trevor Raab

Both frames use Pinarello’s Think Asymmetric construction, which claims to better handle the asymmetrical drivetrain forces that act on a frame. This design, especially prominent when looking at the chainstays and seat stays, has driven the design language of Pinarello’s frames for over a decade.

The most obvious, and arguably the most annoying, aerodynamic update on the new Grevil F is the new fully internal cable routing that Pinarello dubs TICR, (Total Internal Cable Routing). While this change accounts for the majority of the 5-watt aero savings of the new Grevil F at 28 mph, it will also create headaches for mechanics everywhere due to it being more cumbersome and complicated to service. This is especially true for bikes built with mechanical shifting, one of the first things I had to do was replace the shift housing on our test bike because it had been worn away and damaged inside the headtube. I don’t want to speculate on why or how it was damaged, but the process of replacing it was more complicated and lengthy compared to a bike without fully hidden cables.

pinarello grevil f
Trevor Raab

Unsurprisingly, the new Grevil F has improved tire clearance. Pinarello upped the max tire size from 700 x 42mm (on the previous generation) to 700 x 50mm on the latest model. The new bike can even clear a 650b x 2.1” tire for those tackling particularly rough trails and courses.

pinarello grevil f
Trevor Raab

However, don’t let the Grevil F’s increased tire clearance and 650b compatibility fool you., The bike is, in the simplest possible terms, a road bike with huge tire clearance. And that’s largely the experience the Grevil F delivers to the rider.

The Grevil F is stiff, light, and responsive under hard accelerations. It climbs eagerly, especially on gravel roads. At no point would I use the terms “relaxed” and “laid back” to describe either the ride characteristics or the aesthetics of the Grevil F.


Geometry & Fit

For all the “full gas everywhere” talk, the Grevil F actually gets more upright and shorter in terms of its stack and reach figures compared to its previous iteration. The new frame features a steeper seat tube angle, which is one of the ways the new bike accommodates larger tires. Upfront, the head tube is a bit slacker than the previous generation of the Grevil F. On its face, the geometry should be a bit more accommodating for riders that don’t have the physical flexibility for a pro racer’s bike fit.

pinarello grevil f
Courtesy of Pinarello

If you dig a bit deeper into the bike’s geometry sheet, you’ll see a relatively high bottom bracket measurement combined with short chainstays and a longer 50 or 55mm rake (depending on the size). All these contribute to the Grevil F’s sporty, almost cyclocross bike-like feeling on the dirt.

pinarello grevil f
Trevor Raab

My main fit concern is the Grevil’s proprietary seatpost, which has quite a large amount of setback on larger frame sizes. This could make it tough for some riders to get the right saddle position. Additionally, the variation in seat tube angles across sizes skews the reach figures considerably. As always, it’s worth double-checking the numbers or going for a test ride before committing to one of the six sizes available.


Bike Family

Currently, the Grevil F is only available built with Campagnolo Ekar, Fulcrum Rapid Red 500 wheels, and Pinarello’s house-brand MOST bars, stem, and seatpost. Pricing is set at $6,500 for a complete bike and is offered in three color schemes.

While $6,500 is not exactly cheap, given Pinarello’s pricing tendencies, I honestly expected the bike to cost more, considering the current pricing trends towards gravel bikes costing upwards of five figures.


Ride Impressions

Pinarello brings much of the Dogma F’s road racing DNA to the Grevil F, so it’s not a surprise that the Grevil F feels quite a bit like an aero road bike. On paved roads, smooth gravel, or packed dirt, the Grevil F just feels fast. It’s a bike particularly well suited to gravel courses that are wide-open and fast. In these situations, riders can take full advantage of the frame's efficiency and aerodynamics to burn through the miles.

pinarello grevil f
Trevor Raab

Thanks to the bike’s road-like feel, relatively low weight (just under 20 lbs), and excellent frame stiffness, climbing on the Grevil F is also a very road-like experience, even with 40mm wide gravel tires at low psi. The efficiency and stiffness of the frame are very helpful for maintaining momentum over gradual climbs and to power through steeper sections. The various frame shapes that Pinarello employs to add a bit of flex to the bike don’t do a whole lot. The tires accomplish most of the surface smoothing, while the rigid frame transfers rider power to the back wheel.

pinarello grevil f
Trevor Raab

Thanks to the bike's precise and road bike-like handling, descending will be a familiar experience for most road riders. The downside of the Grevil F’s road-like disposition comes into play on rough and steep descents, where the feel and position increase the chance of an over-the-bar excursion.

On rougher gravel (and even singletrack), the Grevil F rode quite a bit like a cyclocross bike. It certainly didn’t have the calming effect of a long and slack, mountain bike-like geometry to smooth out the terrain. But, the direct handling, combined with the shorter overall wheelbase, translated to a very snappy and quick-handling bike.

pinarello grevil f
Trevor Raab

If you’re the kind of rider that’s been riding trails on your cyclocross bike for years, I think the Greveil F will make you happy. For riders who are less sure of their off-road skills or would prefer a more forgiving ride, I suggest looking elsewhere. That’s not to say the bike is incapable, just that it needs a rider who’s not afraid to take risks to get the most out of it.

pinarello grevil f
Trevor Raab

The Grevil is not the gravel bike for most people. It’s a tightly wound, off-road race machine at its best when the rider is at their limit. If your idea of gravel leans closer to the mountain biking or bike-packing side of things, this is not the bike for you. If you’re a road or cyclocross racer who’s gravel curious, this might be your next bike.

Headshot of Dan Chabanov
Dan Chabanov
Test Editor

Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master’s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer.