Marin Headlands 2 vs Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 GRX 1x: riding position?

The Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 GRX 1x sits you more upright (1.56 stack-to-reach against 1.53). The Marin Headlands 2 is the more aggressive of the two — quicker if you can hold it, harder work if you cannot.

Marin Headlands 2 vs Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 GRX 1x: tyre clearance?

The Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 GRX 1x takes 52mm tyres against 45mm — the single most common thing buyers wish they had more of.

Marin Headlands 2 vs Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 GRX 1x

Both are gravel bikes at a similar price. Here is what actually separates them.

The short answer

These two score within 0 points of each other for a typical all-round rider, so there is no single winner — the right one depends entirely on which of the differences below you care about.

Marin

Headlands 2

67% for a typical rider

£2,899 at Brand website

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Cannondale

Topstone Carbon 3 GRX 1x

67% for a typical rider

£2,950 at Brand website

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What actually separates them

Price: The Marin Headlands 2 is £51 cheaper — £2,899 against £2,950.
Riding position: The Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 GRX 1x sits you more upright (1.56 stack-to-reach against 1.53). The Marin Headlands 2 is the more aggressive of the two — quicker if you can hold it, harder work if you cannot.
Tyre clearance: The Cannondale Topstone Carbon 3 GRX 1x takes 52mm tyres against 45mm — the single most common thing buyers wish they had more of.

Side by side

Spec	Headlands 2	Topstone Carbon 3 GRX 1x
Price	£2,899	£2,950
Weight	10.2 kg	10.2 kg
Frame	carbon	carbon
Groupset	Shimano GRX RX820 1x12 mechanical	Shimano GRX 610/822 1x12
Stack / reach	1.53	1.56
Tyre clearance	45 mm	52 mm
Lowest gear	22 in	21 in
Mudguard mounts	Yes	Yes
Comfort	79	84
Speed	20	17
Climbing	55	55
Value	8	7

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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