You never fail to blow us away and this year was no different! A whopping 9,271 of you took part in our big reader survey. And you didn’t just click through a few boxes. On average, you spent nearly 23 minutes answering up to 50 questions, pouring your heart and soul into the comment fields like it was your personal manifesto.
So, thank you – or, as other nations put it: grazie mille, muchas gracias, merci beaucoup, and danke!
Your answers are our compass, showing us which bikes, components, and topics matter most to your – and which ones don’t. That’s how we tailor our tests, comparisons, and stories to what truly gets your heart racing. In short: you steer, we type.
Best Drop Bar Bike Brand of 2025
The best drop bar-bike-brands of 2024 in detail
How are the results determined? It’s simple: in our reader survey, we asked which brand you think builds the best bikes and which one tops your shopping list. As a global magazine, we took the opportunity to analyse the feedback from our German-speaking and international readers separately – and uncovered some truly fascinating differences along the way.
Your Next Drop Bar Bike
And now for the million-dollar question: Which brand would you most likely choose for your next bike – the one you’d proudly display in your hallway, basement, or even your living room?
In the German speaking regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (GSA), Canyon take the lead by a clear margin, followed by ROSE and Specialized. Internationally, the picture shifts slightly: Canyon still lead, but Specialized and Cannondale round out the top three.
Combine both markets, and here’s how the final ranking shakes out:
Best Brand of 2025: Components & Accessories
What’s a good bike without killer gear and top-notch parts? Exactly. That’s why we asked you: Which brands deliver the best components and accessories?
As with complete bikes, we evaluated the votes from the GSA region and our international community separately. And while there’s a lot of agreement across categories, some results reveal clear differences between the German-speaking world and the rest of the globe.
The “Best Brand” title went to the brands that received the most total votes (GSA + INT). So language or region didn’t tip the scale – the best rose to the top, no matter where the votes came from. Still, the details are definitely worth a look. Check them out!
Readers’ Podium
Alongside eternal glory, bragging rights, and a warm fuzzy feeling, there were some amazing prizes up for grabs, too: together with our partners ROSE and Falkenjagd, we gave away a ROSE REVEAL PLUS Ultegra Di2 and a Falkenjagd Aristos GTR Custom – a prize package totalling € 15,500.
The lucky winners have already been notified – big congrats from our side!
That wraps up the Best Brands of 2025 in the GRAN FONDO universe. Didn’t see your favourite brand up there? No worries, the next survey is just around the corner. What’s the best way to stay in the loop? Sign up for our Newsletter and make your voice heard the next time you get the chance!
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Words & Photos: Jonny Grapentin
About the Author
Jonny Grapentin
Jonny Grapentin is an editor at 41 Publishing for E-MOUNTAINBIKE and DOWNTOWN. His background as a publisher in digital education explains his didactically grounded approach. He is responsible for "The MIRROR" column, focusing on development logic and the long-term relevance of products beyond launch cycles. His expertise lies in evaluating technological innovation and everyday utility, which he demonstrates in his numerous product tests. Whether it’s kids' bikes, pizza ovens, or espresso machines, he consistently tests innovations for real-world value, and critically questions market trends.
