Because an electric gravel bike must above all be able to do one thing in my view: it must not lose sight of its universal purpose. Anyone who only eyes as little weight as possible or as much motor power as possible quickly ends up with a bike that sounds exciting on paper but in practice gets stuck somewhere between a road bike, a trekking bike and a light e‑MTB. The Dimanche 29 Gravel takes a different approach. Even the platform already makes quite clear where the journey should go: gravel, forest tracks, long days in the saddle, luggage, commuting, multi‑day tours and here and there a rougher forest path — all on drop bars, yet with appropriate comfort thanks to a suspended Vario seatpost and a stem with damping.

Geometry

Technically, Moustache relies on a hydroformed aluminium frame with Bosch-CompacTube integration, a carbon fork and 29-inch wheels. The tyre clearance is a pleasantly generous up to 50 millimetres and fits the concept well, because that covers not only the classic gravel road but also rough connecting sections, poor asphalt and rides with luggage. There are also mounting points for mudguards and a luggage rack, making it clear that the Dimanche is not just meant for the Sunday spin. This very versatility is, in my view, one of its greatest strengths and a great choice for our little adventure.

At the heart of it is Bosch's Performance Line SX. That's a far more sensible choice for a bike like this than a large CX unit or just any hub motor. The SX brings enough power to soften steep gravel climbs, headwinds, heat and luggage without turning the gravel bike into a little moped. Above all, its character suits a sporty usage profile: it likes cadence, provides pleasantly dynamic assistance, and is much more restrained both acoustically and visually than a classic full‑power motor. It's paired with the 400‑Wh CompactTube battery, which sits deep in the down tube and keeps the center of gravity where you want it on a bike with luggage and loose ground. If you need more range you can supplement it with the PowerMore extender; for many typical day rides the 400‑Wh base is already a practical starting point.

Technical specs Dimanche 4

What's interesting about the Dimanche is also that Moustache doesn't try to artificially force the gravel theme into a racing bike. The bike is neither delicate nor trimmed for minimal weight, but instead robust, pleasantly uncluttered and clearly designed for real-world use. I generally like that. Especially with e‑gravel bikes, I find it much more plausible when a manufacturer allows room for sensible tires, luggage and mudguards, instead of trying to save a few hundred grams at all costs and then shrugging their shoulders at every other sensible requirement. The Dimanche is therefore more a tool than a showpiece — just a relatively elegant and, in any case, a fairly well-thought-out one.

Within this platform, the Dimanche 29 Gravel 2 serves as the entry-level model. The bike already comes with all the essential ingredients that underpin the concept: Bosch SX, 400-Wh battery, the same frame platform as the more expensive models, a carbon fork, generous tire clearance, and the option to further expand the bike toward everyday use or travel.

When it comes to equipment, the Gravel 2 deliberately remains pragmatic. The Shimano CUES drivetrain with 10 speeds and an 11–48 cassette is certainly no high-end gimmick, but it fits the bike's role. It offers enough range for mixed terrain, is considered robust and low-maintenance, and is therefore exactly at home where such a bike is often ridden: in everyday use, on tour and even when faced with dirt, rain or a lot of luggage. The rest of the equipment reads similarly. The Gravel 2 aims to provide a functional foundation, and that's fundamentally not a bad approach.

The Dimanche 29 Gravel 4 is built on the same base, but overall comes across as a bit more premium. The main difference lies less in the philosophy than in the equipment. With SRAM Apex 1x12 and an overall somewhat higher-quality setup, the Gravel 4 weighs a few grams less than the entry-level model despite the Kiox 300 display. The 12-speed gearing with an 11–50 cassette suits the character of a motorized gravel bike very well, because it provides enough reserves both on fast connecting stages and on steep forest roads. Especially when the bike is loaded with bags or you want to move reasonably well beyond the 25 km/h limit, a well-geared drivetrain never hurts. We had no problems with either bike even on rough and steep terrain sections.

Anyone who on longer tours likes to access power or range data or to make various settings will be much better served by the Kiox 300 display than by the minimalist option on the entry-level model.
The Gravel 4 is the solid mid-point of the Dimanche series: still clearly suitable for everyday use, still possible to fit with luggage and fenders, but built on a sportier, more harmonious and overall more refined foundation. Above that there is only the Dimanche 6 with electronic SRAM X1 AXS shifting.

Tech Specs Dimanche 2

What all the models have in common, however, is ultimately more important than the differences in equipment. The Dimanche Gravel is neither a classic race-gravel with a motor nor a trekking bike with drop bars. It sits squarely in between: sporty enough to cover real ground on asphalt and gravel, robust and practical enough for bags, mudguards and everyday use, and equipped with a motor that doesn’t dominate but helps at the right moment. That’s exactly why the two Moustache bikes fit so well into our Semmering summer story: two bikes that get us to our destination comfortably and, more or less, relaxed, even when sweat is streaming horizontally from our foreheads in the heat and our legs sometimes have other ideas.

Whether you choose the Gravel 2 or the Gravel 4 is ultimately less a matter of faith than of intended use and budget. The Gravel 2 is the sensible, robust and fairly all-round base. The Gravel 4 steps up the drivetrain, display and overall equipment, making it the more exciting choice for those who more often ride long tours, place more value on finer technical execution, or see the Dimanche more as their primary sporty bike. The good news is: the underlying concept works for both. And to me that is usually more important in the end than whether there's one more gear somewhere or a display that is larger.

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