BMC URS 01 LT TWO vs Marin Headlands 3
Both are gravel bikes at a similar price. Here is what actually separates them.
The short answer
For a typical all-round rider the Marin Headlands 3 comes out ahead (71% against 62%). That is not a universal verdict — change the terrain or the priority and the order can flip.
What actually separates them
- Price
- The BMC URS 01 LT TWO is £200 cheaper — £3,599 against £3,799.
- Weight
- The Marin Headlands 3 is 1.7kg lighter, which you notice on long climbs more than anywhere else.
- Riding position
- The Marin Headlands 3 sits you more upright (1.53 stack-to-reach against 1.45). The BMC URS 01 LT TWO is the more aggressive of the two — quicker if you can hold it, harder work if you cannot.
- Tyre clearance
- The BMC URS 01 LT TWO takes 47mm tyres against 45mm — the single most common thing buyers wish they had more of.
- Climbing gear
- The BMC URS 01 LT TWO has the easier bottom gear (20 gear inches against 23), which matters more than weight on anything genuinely steep.
- Shifting
- Only the Marin Headlands 3 has electronic shifting. Crisper and lower maintenance, but it needs charging and costs more to replace.
Side by side
| Spec | URS 01 LT TWO | Headlands 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,599 | £3,799 |
| Weight | 11.1 kg | 9.4 kg |
| Frame | carbon | carbon |
| Groupset | Shimano GRX RX822 1x12 mechanical | SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 1x13 |
| Stack / reach | 1.45 | 1.53 |
| Tyre clearance | 47 mm | 45 mm |
| Lowest gear | 20 in | 23 in |
| Mudguard mounts | Yes | Yes |
| Comfort | 66 | 79 |
| Speed | 19 | 30 |
| Climbing | 45 | 63 |
| Value | 0 | 11 |
Neither might be the right answer
This page assumes an average rider. Tell us how you actually ride and we will rank these two against everything else at the price.
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