The 11 Best Road Bikes Under $5000 for Men & Women

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These are the best road bikes for under $5000 based on in-depth market research and customer and expert reviews. I evaluated them based on my road bike scoring system.

As an avid road cyclist, I can recommend these bikes. You will also learn what to expect and how to choose a road bike in this price range.

What Are the Best Road Bikes Under $5000?

Skip to the comparison table…

The best road bikes under $5000 have a carbon frame, aluminum or carbon wheels, and hydraulic disc brakes. Aim for electronic groupsets like Shimano 105 Di2 (or Ultegra Di2) and SRAM Rival eTap, an overall weight of around 8 kg (17.64 lbs), and internal cable routing.

I recommend reading the How to choose a road bike section first if you are unsure what features to look for in a road bike in the $5000 price range.

TIP: If you have a $5000 budget, you can buy a cheaper bike (around $4000) and upgrade its wheels. Wheels like these best road bike carbon wheels are one of the best upgrades you can make to become faster.

Polygon Helios A8X (The Best Overall)

Weight 4/5 | Comfort 4/5 | Aerodynamics 4/5 | Components 5/5 | Build Quality 4/5 | Design 5/5 | Brand Recognition 3/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 4.2/5

I admit Polygon is not a well-known brand yet, but their bikes provide excellent value for the money.

The Helios line is marketed as performance aero road bikes with electronic shifting. A7X has Shimano 105 Di2 and A9X Dura-Ace Di2 groupset.

Helios’ geometry is not as aggressive, considering it’s a performance bike, making it more suitable for less flexible riders.

It’s also among the few bikes in this price range with a full Shimano Ultegra Di2 R9100 2x12spd (!) groupset.

A8X also has a fully integrated cable routing. This feature has recently become a standard in this price range.

One of this bike’s weaknesses is the Entity WR5 Carbon Disc wheelset. I couldn’t find much information about it.

However, thanks to the low price of this bike, you can sell its wheels and replace them with one of these Chinese carbon road bike wheels, for example.

Another question mark is the aerodynamics. Polygon has not released any data. The frame also doesn’t look as fast as, say, the Cannondale SystemSix and similar high-end aero bikes.

But considering its price and used components, it’s the best road bike for under $5000.

Trek Madone SL 6 Gen 8

Weight 3/5 | Comfort 4/5 | Aerodynamics 4/5 | Components 4/5 | Build Quality 5/5 | Design 4/5 | Brand Recognition 5/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 4.0/5

The Madone family were originally aero road bikes with more aggressive geometry. But in 2024, Trek merged Émonda and Madone, resulting in an all-rounder road bike that is lightweight but also aero.

SL 6 Pro Gen 8 is a simple yet timeless bike suitable mainly for climbers and those who like responsive bikes.

It comes with a Shimano 105 Di2 (R7100) groupset, which was widely criticized for its high price compared to the older Shimano 105 mechanical (R7000). However, it’s now electronic and has 2×12 gears (instead of 2×11).

SL 6 Pro has Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35 wheels that are stable in crosswinds thanks to their shallow depth and more responsive than deep-section wheels.

You probably noticed that its weight is not as low as expected, but that’s mainly due to the wheels. I recommend selling them and buying a Chinese wheelset. This way, you can easily achieve a weight of under 8 kg.

Overall, you can’t go wrong with Madone Gen 8. However, you will pay a little extra for an established brand and a worldwide network of distributors.

Cannondale SuperSix EVO 3 and EVO Disc 105

SuperSix EVO 3 scoring:
Weight 4/5 | Comfort 4/5 | Aerodynamics 3/5 | Components 4/5 | Build Quality 5/5 | Design 4/5 | Brand Recognition 5/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 4.0/5

SuperSix EVO Disc scoring:
Weight 3/5 | Comfort 4/5 | Aerodynamics 3/5 | Components 4/5 | Build Quality 5/5 | Design 3/5 | Brand Recognition 5/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 3.7/5

The SuperSix is Cannondale’s series of lightweight road bikes. It’s often mixed up with SystemSix (aero road bikes).

The SuperSix EVO is a mid-range lightweight road bike with Shimano 105 Di2 (released in 2022). The 2023 version is called EVO 3 and has a slightly redesigned frame and cockpit. Both make the bike more aero.

Considering the relaxed geometry, you shouldn’t experience back or neck pain from a too-aggressive aero position. Just ensure you set the bike fit right.

The other components of these bikes are the same – they only differ in the groupsets and color options.

The weakness of this road bike is its wheels. I’d recommend upgrading to lighter carbon wheels over time.

Don’t forget that most bikes come without pedals. Choose from the best road bike pedals on the market if you don’t have clipless pedals.

Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8 Disc Di2

Weight 4/5 | Comfort 4/5 | Aerodynamics 3/5 | Components 5/5 | Build Quality 5/5 | Design 3/5 | Brand Recognition 5/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 4.0/5

Canyon is known for its direct-to-customer business model. They offer products of the same quality but at lower prices than competitors.

Proof of this is also their timeless Ultimate CF series. Although their prices have increased recently, they still provide good value. Similarly to the Polygon Xelios A8X, this Ultimate has the latest Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset.

The Ultimate series’ geometry is more aggressive than the Endurance series, making it more suitable for performance-oriented road riders.

Surprisingly, unlike the lower-end Ultimate CF 8 Disc, this one does not have a power meter. However, thanks to its relatively low price, you will have enough money left from the $5,000 budget to buy it. Here are the reasons why you should consider using a power meter.

Anyway, the Ultimate CF SL 8 Disc is also one of the lightest bikes on this list, weighing 7.48 kg in the M size!

So, why is it not the best overall? First, it’s often sold out. Second, the direct-to-consumer model means that in case of issues, you have to rely on Canyon customer support, which is not great (see Canyon Trustpilot reviews).

Giant TCR Advanced 0 and Liv Langma Advanced 0 (Best Road Bike under $5000 for Women)

Weight n/a | Comfort 4/5 | Aerodynamics 3/5 | Components 4/5 | Build Quality 5/5 | Design 3/5 | Brand Recognition 5/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 3.1/5

Giant is known for its good-value bikes. They also have a brand focused on women’s bikes (Liv), so the Giant TCR Advanced 0 and the Liv Langma Advanced 0 are almost identical except for a few details.

Both have a carbon frame, fork, and seatpost that absorb vibrations and improve riding comfort. Considering today’s standards, they have narrow, 25mm tubeless tires. Luckily, the clearance is 33mm.

TCR Advanced and Langma Advanced come with the Shimano 105 Di2 2x12spd electronic groupset for quick and precise shifting.

Overall, Giant and Liv are well-known brands offering quality bikes for a good price. Their only flaw is not fully internal cable routing.

ROSE XLITE 04 105 Di2

Weight 3/5 | Comfort 4/5 | Aerodynamics 4/5 | Components 4/5 | Build Quality 4/5 | Design 4/5 | Brand Recognition 3/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 3.8/5

ROSE XLITE 04 105 Di2 is one of this list’s simplest yet best-looking road bikes. I love its finish and internal cable routing. It looks so clean.

It’s a perfect bike for racing because its relatively aggressive stack and reach push you into a more aerodynamic riding position. It has an average weight of 8 kg, which is a bit disappointing.

It has an electronic Shimano 105 Di2 groupset, hydraulic disc brakes, and tubeless-ready wheels with 28mm tires.

One disadvantage is that ROSE is not widespread in the US, so you have to order it from Germany and pay about 250€ (270$) for shipping. But even with the shipping, it will fit the $5,000 price range.

Cervélo Soloist Rival AXS

Weight 3/5 | Comfort 4/5 | Aerodynamics 3/5 | Components 4/5 | Build Quality 5/5 | Design 3/5 | Brand Recognition 5/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 3.1/5

The Soloist has a rich history, and in 2022 (the 2023 version), it was redefined to be more aero yet still lightweight. It differs from the R5 series by being lighter and from the S5 by being more aero. It’s a compromise between the two.

Thanks to its relaxed geometry and 28mm tires, this bike is suitable for casual and serious cyclists who appreciate riding comfort.

It has internal cable routing, although the cockpit is less sleek than other bikes. But you can easily adjust the handlebar as needed.

Of course, it has electronic shifting, this time from SRAM and their Rival eTap AXS, with 24 speeds and a wide range of gear ratios.

So, if you are willing to spend a little more than $5000, this bike shouldn’t escape your attention. It will excel in the hills and, with deeper wheels, on the flats as well.

Focus Izalco Max 8.9

Weight 3/5 | Comfort 4/5 | Aerodynamics 4/5 | Components 4/5 | Build Quality 4/5 | Design 4/5 | Brand Recognition 4/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 3.8/5

Focus is one of the less popular cycling brands, but its Izalco Max 8.9 is a modern road racing bike. For 2024, it is completely redesigned.

It’s not more specific for its angular shape and thicker tube profiles, reminiscent of aero bikes. Focus also opted for 105 Di2 instead of mechanical Ultegra.

Like many other road bikes, Max 8.9 has internal cable routing for a cleaner look and better aerodynamics.

It’s nice to see the 45mm deep Novatec R4 carbon wheels. Those are ideal for most conditions (flats, rolling terrain, and climbing).

On the other hand, it only has a mechanical groupset, the older generation of Shimano Ultegra (R8000). You would have to pay much more for wireless shifting from SRAM.

What Are the Best Aero Road Bikes for Under $5000?

This part includes only the pure-blood aero road bikes for under $5,000. They are characterized by their thicker tubes and deeper section wheels that lead to better aerodynamics.

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Di2

Weight 3/5 | Comfort 3/5 | Aerodynamics 5/5 | Components 4/5 | Build Quality 5/5 | Design 3/5 | Brand Recognition 5/5 | WEIGHTED OVERALL SCORE 3.9/5

Canyon’s Aeroad line of aero road bikes includes the Aeroad CF SLX 7 Di2, its most affordable model. Unlike the 2023 version with the Shimano 105 2x11spd groupset, the 2024 has the Shimano 105 Di2 2x12spd group.

The Canyon has DT Swiss ARC 1600 wheels with 62mm front and rear wheels. So you’ll have to be careful when riding in crosswinds.

Thanks to the great price-value ratio, Aeroad became popular among riders worldwide. Riders racing it, like Mathieu van der Poel, regularly achieve great results.

On the other hand, this is an often appreciated and relatively lightweight aero bike at a great price that allows you to purchase additional accessories—for example, a bike counter or a power meter.

Bike	Type	Frame Material	Weight [kg]	Groupset	Tire Width	Buy	Weight	Comfort	Aerodynamics	Components	Build Quality	Design	Brand Recognition	Weighted Score
Polygon Helios A8X	All-rounder	Carbon	7.9	Shimano Ultegra Di2 2x12spd	28mm	Check Price	4	4	4	5	4	5	3	4.2
Trek Madone SL 6 Gen 8	All-rounder	Carbon	8.19	Shimano 105 Di2 2x12spd	28mm	Check Price	3	4	4	4	5	4	5	4.0
Cannondale SuperSix EVO 3	All-rounder	Carbon	7.95	Shimano 105 Di2 2x12spd	25mm	Check Price	4	4	3	4	5	4	5	4.0
Cannondale SuperSix EVO Disc 105 Di2	All-rounder	Carbon	8.2	Shimano 105 Di2 2x12spd	25mm	Check Price	3	4	3	4	5	3	5	3.7
Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8 Disc Di2	All-rounder	Carbon	7.48	Shimano Ultegra Di2 2x12spd	28mm	Check Price	4	4	3	5	5	3	5	4.0
Giant TCR Advanced 0	All-rounder	Carbon	n/a	Shimano 105 Di2 2x12spd	25mm	Check Price		4	3	4	5	3	5	3.1
Liv Langma Advanced Disc 1+ AR	All-rounder	Carbon	n/a	Shimano 105 Di2 2x12spd	25mm	Check Price		4	3	4	5	3	5	3.1
ROSE XLITE 04 105 Di2	All-rounder	Carbon	8	Shimano 105 Di2 2x12spd	28mm	Check Price	3	4	4	4	4	4	3	3.8
Cervélo Soloist Rival AXS	All-rounder	Carbon	n/a	SRAM Rival eTap	28mm	Check Price	3	4	3	4	5	3	5	3.7
Focus Izalco Max 8.9	All-rounder	Carbon	8	Shimano 105 Di2 2x12spd	28mm	Check Price	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	3.8
Trek Madone SL 6 Di2	Aero	Carbon	8.7	Shimano 105 Di2 2x12spd	28mm	Check Price	3	3	5	4	5	4	5	4.0
Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Di2	Aero	Carbon	8.22	Shimano 105 Di2 2x12spd	28mm	Check Price	3	3	5	4	5	3	5	3.9

List of the best road bikes under $5000 with the info about the frame material, groupset, and weight. The bikes are scored based on this road bike scoring.

My Verdict

Polygon Helios A8X is the best road bike under $5000 overall. Thanks to the full-carbon frame, internal cable routing, and the latest Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset. It provides one of the best price-value ratios of all bikes on this list.

Liv Langma Advanced 0 is the best road bike under $5000 for women. It has a women-specific carbon frame and sizes to provide the best fit possible. It also features a Shimano 105 Di2 groupset.

Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 7 Di2 is the best aero road bike under $5000. It has an aero-optimized frame with deep-section DT Swiss wheels and a Shimano 105 Di2 groupset. The frame is also stiff, making it a fast rocket, especially for flats and rolling terrain.

I recommend reading the following section to learn more about road bikes in this price range and how to choose them.

How to Choose the Best Road Bike Under $5000?

This is a shortened version of my road bike guide. I adjusted it to comply with this price range.

Road Bike Type

The $5000 budget offers mainly performance (lightweight/all-rounder) and aero road bikes. You may also find ‘premium’ endurance road bikes.

Performance Road Bikes (All-Rounders)

Performance road bikes (you can also find them under “lightweight,” “race,” and “all-rounder” road bikes) are like endurance bikes except for their more aggressive geometry.

Thanks to it, the rider sits in a more aerodynamic position with a lower drag coefficient. The weight is also slightly lower than on endurance road bikes. Thus, performance road bikes are ideal for hilly or mountain terrain and racing.

This type of road bike is unsuitable for people who are not too flexible. Beginners may also struggle with them. Getting used to the racing riding position and high stiffness takes some time.

Recently, manufacturers have started to focus more on optimizing their aerodynamics, combining the best of the aero and lightweight worlds. That’s why we can call them all-rounders.

Aero Road Bikes

Aero road bikes have thicker tubes and deep-section wheels for better aerodynamics.

As a result, they excel on flats, descents, hilly terrain, and cross-winds because they can maintain speed easily. Their geometry is similar to performance road bikes.

On the other hand, they are more expensive than all-rounder and endurance bikes, heavier, and less agile.

Endurance Road Bikes

Endurance road bikes are a great option for beginners and people who want to take long trips.

These bikes have more relaxed geometry, so you can ride more upright. As a result, you don’t have to be as flexible, and you will enjoy more comfort.

On the other hand, you will be slower than on a performance road bike, which pushes you to a more aggressive aerodynamic riding position.

Frame Material and Bike Weight

Road bikes below $5000 have carbon framesets (you may also encounter expensive aluminum frames). Below, I explain the benefits and disadvantages of these materials.

1. Carbon road bikes are stiffer and lighter than aluminum road bikes. Carbon is more labor-intensive and more expensive. The main downside is that internal cracks can appear and cause failure under additional pressure if you crash. Therefore, an inspection after a crash is highly recommended.
2. Aluminum is a relatively cheap material that is not as labor-intensive as carbon. Aluminum frames are less stiff and heavier than carbon frames, but they are more affordable. This means that the other components (like the groupset or wheels) are usually better than on carbon bikes for the same price. The downside of aluminum frames is that they may corrode over time.

Sources: CyclistsHub, SheldonBrown, ScienceDirect, CyclingWeekly

The following table shows road bike weights based on the frame material.

Frame Material	Weight of the Bike
Carbon	6–8 kg 13–18 lb
Aluminum	8–10 kg 18–22 lb
Steel	9–11 kg 20–23 lb

The estimated weights of road bikes depending on the frame material are based on my market research and comparing weights of road bikes from various manufacturers.
It also depends on the components used on the bike. For example, disc brakes add around 0.5kg (1lb) to the bike’s weight.
The more expensive road bikes usually have better and lighter components, so their overall weight is lower.

Groupset

Road bikes for up to $5000 use 2X groupsets. The gear selection (mostly 2×11spd or 2×12spd) is wide enough for most terrains (it also depends on the cassette and chainring gear ratio).

When riding a (road) bike with a 2X, avoid cross-chaining to improve efficiency and prevent damage to the components.

Which Groupset Manufacturer to Choose?

There are 3 main manufacturers of groupsets – Shimano, Campagnolo, and SRAM. Shimano dominates the market.

According to Credit Suisse, Shimano had about 80% of the global share in bike components in 2016. More recent estimates speak rather of 70%. I found out that the Shimano road bike market share was 70% in 2023.

Road bikes under $5000 usually have Shimano 105 Di2, Ultegra (Di2), or SRAM Rival eTap AXS groupsets. For more details, see my Shimano vs. SRAM road bike groupset comparison.

Bikes with Campagnolo groupsets are almost non-existent in this price range.

Check out the following table showing groupset ranges from various manufacturers and how they compare.

Level	Shimano	SRAM	Campagnolo	Type
Entry	Claris			Mechanical
Entry	Sora			Mechanical
Entry	Tiagra	Apex		Mechanical
Mid-range	105 11spd 105 12 spd 105 12 spd Di2¹	Rival Rival eTap AXS¹	Centaur	Mechanical
Mid-range		Force	Chorus	Mechanical
Pro	Ultegra Di2	Force eTap AXS	Chorus EPS	Electronic
Pro		RED	Record Super Record	Mechanical
Pro	Dura-Ace Di2	RED eTap AXS	Super Record EPS	Electronic

A comparison of road bike groupsets (from entry-level to pro) of the major manufacturers (Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo) and their type.
¹Shimano 105 Di2 and Rival eTap AXS are electronic groupsets.

TIP: Learn more about the pros and cons of electronic and mechanical groupsets.

Brakes

Road bikes under $5000 have hydraulic disc brakes. Rim brakes are almost dead in this price range. Below, I explain disc brakes’ pros and cons compared to rim brakes.

Disc brakes are much more effective in various weather conditions, so your stopping power is not affected. They also don’t require as much force to be applied to the brake levers.

Their downsides are weight, more difficult maintenance, and higher price. This means that a bike with disc brakes will have worse components than a bike with rim brakes at the same price.

Road bikes below $5000 come with hydraulic disc brakes. They are more convenient than mechanical ones, but also more expensive.

Wheels and Tires

Let me explain them in more detail.

Wheel Type – Clincher vs. Tubular vs. Tubeless

• Clinchers are the most widespread type of wheels/tires. The tire is supported by an inner tube made of rubber or latex. They are used on road bikes of all price ranges.
• Tubular tires are more common among professionals, but you hardly ever find them on production road bikes.
• Tubeless tires are the most modern and can be found on road bikes below $5000. They don’t use an inner tube but have a tire sealant instead. They have lower rolling resistance and are more comfortable. On the other hand, replacing them is more difficult than replacing clinchers.

NOTE: If the wheels are ‘clincher tubeless-ready,’ you can use them with tubeless tires.

The following table lists the advantages and disadvantages of different types of wheels.

Wheel/Tire	Pros	Cons
Clincher	• Easy to replace • Easy to repair	• More prone to puncture • Heavier than tubular or tubeless
Tubular	• Allows very low and high tire pressure • Less prone to puncture • Lightweight	• Difficult to replace • Difficult to repair • More expensive than clincher
Tubeless	• Allows lower tire pressure • Self-repairing capability (sealant fills out small holes, quality sealant required)	• Tricky installation without an air compressor • Difficult to replace • Difficult to repair • More expensive than clincher

Pros & cons of clincher, tubular, and tubeless wheels/tires
Sources: cyclistshub.com, theproscloset.com, cyclingtips.com

Tire Width

The wider and more volume tire, the more comfort you get and the more difficult terrain you can ride in.

When I started riding a road bike, almost everybody used 23mm tires. According to the road.cc, it was a common standard.

Nowadays, 25mm and 28mm tires are the most popular. Some road bikes use a combination of a 25mm tire in the front, and a 28mm tire in the rear, and some bikes come with 30mm tires (usually endurance road bikes).

You can always experiment and try different tire widths to find the ones that suit you best.

Rim Depth

The general rule is that the deeper the wheels, the more aero they are.

Aero road bikes in the below $5000 range use wheels deeper than 50mm. All-rounder bikes usually have sub-50 mm wheels.

Remember that the deep-section carbon wheels have one downside. Their handling in cross-winds requires more focus because they are less stable than shallow wheels.

When shopping for a road bike in this price range, double-check its wheels. Sometimes, it’s better to sell the stock wheels and invest in these carbon road bike wheels or Chinese carbon wheels for maximum performance gain.

Road Bike Size

You have to choose the correct bike size and geometry to avoid injuries caused by the wrong bike fit and increase overall riding comfort.

Road bike sizes are given in centimeters (48cm, 50cm, 52cm…) or descriptive sizes (S, M, L, XL, etc.).

Geometry-wise, things are a little more complicated. Simply put, endurance road bikes will push you into a more upright position, while performance bikes will push you into a more aggressive (aero) position.

I recommend the Bikeinsights tool, which helps you compare different bike geometries. If you are less flexible, avoid reach, which is too long, or drop, which is too large. Feel free to watch the following video or read this guide by Bikeradar to learn more.

Road Bikes Under $5000 FAQ

This post is regularly updated to provide the most up-to-date product tips. If you find a product that is not up to date, please contact me.