Marin Headlands 2 vs Vitus Venon EVO-GR Rival
Both are gravel bikes at a similar price. Here is what actually separates them.
The short answer
For a typical all-round rider the Vitus Venon EVO-GR Rival comes out ahead (71% against 67%). That is not a universal verdict — change the terrain or the priority and the order can flip.
What actually separates them
- Price
- The Marin Headlands 2 is £101 cheaper — £2,899 against £3,000.
- Weight
- The Vitus Venon EVO-GR Rival is 1.7kg lighter, which you notice on long climbs more than anywhere else.
- Riding position
- The Marin Headlands 2 sits you more upright (1.53 stack-to-reach against 1.48). The Vitus Venon EVO-GR Rival is the more aggressive of the two — quicker if you can hold it, harder work if you cannot.
- Climbing gear
- The Marin Headlands 2 has the easier bottom gear (22 gear inches against 26), which matters more than weight on anything genuinely steep.
Side by side
| Spec | Headlands 2 | Venon EVO-GR Rival |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,899 | £3,000 |
| Weight | 10.2 kg | 8.5 kg |
| Frame | carbon | carbon |
| Groupset | Shimano GRX RX820 1x12 mechanical | SRAM Rival 1 11-speed mechanical |
| Stack / reach | 1.53 | 1.48 |
| Tyre clearance | 45 mm | 45 mm |
| Lowest gear | 22 in | 26 in |
| Mudguard mounts | Yes | Yes |
| Comfort | 79 | 71 |
| Speed | 20 | 46 |
| Climbing | 55 | 69 |
| Value | 8 | 19 |
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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