Review: The 2020 Revel Rascal's Suspension Design Lives Up to the Hype
Revel bikes is a brand still in its infancy, launched at the start of 2019 with two bikes in its line-up, both using Canfield's CBF suspension design.
The Rascal is the Revel's take on a versatile trail bike, with 29" wheels and 130mm of rear travel, that's mated to a 140mm fork.
The frame on its own sells for $2,799 USD and is available in a blue "Alaska" color or the silver "T1000". There are also options to buy a frame and fork, and there are three different SRAM-centric builds ranging from GX Eagle up to the top-of-the-line XX1 Eagle AXS.
All of the builds have RockShox suspension, and wheelsets based on Industry 9 hubs. With the introduction of Revel's RW30 composite wheels, the X01 and XX1 builds are equipped with those rims.
The Rascal is the Revel's take on a versatile trail bike, with 29" wheels and 130mm of rear travel, that's mated to a 140mm fork.
The frame on its own sells for $2,799 USD and is available in a blue "Alaska" color or the silver "T1000". There are also options to buy a frame and fork, and there are three different SRAM-centric builds ranging from GX Eagle up to the top-of-the-line XX1 Eagle AXS.
All of the builds have RockShox suspension, and wheelsets based on Industry 9 hubs. With the introduction of Revel's RW30 composite wheels, the X01 and XX1 builds are equipped with those rims.
Revel Rascal Details
• Wheel size: 29"
• Full carbon frame
• Travel: 130mm rear / 140mm front
• 66-degree head angle
• 433mm chainstays
• Lifetime warranty / lifetime crash replacement
• Price: $6,999 USD
• Weight: 30.2 lb / 13.7kg (size medium, as shown)
• www.revelbikes.com
• Wheel size: 29"
• Full carbon frame
• Travel: 130mm rear / 140mm front
• 66-degree head angle
• 433mm chainstays
• Lifetime warranty / lifetime crash replacement
• Price: $6,999 USD
• Weight: 30.2 lb / 13.7kg (size medium, as shown)
• www.revelbikes.com
 | Pointed in the more fun direction, the Rascal is lively and active, the type of bike that encourages you to get airborne any time there's an opportunity. |
Construction and Features
The team at Revel is comprised of several industry veterans, including Jason Schiers, who have a wealth of experience in getting creative with the use of composites. Schiers claims that he likes carbon as a material because it's extremely tunable - a bike can be made stiff or compliant in the zones it needs to be.
According to Schiers, mountain bike frames have historically used a mixture of 0, 45, and 90-degree fibers to make a frame, with the wall thickness built up where it's needed to get the desired characteristics. Schiers is of the opinion that the fiber angles should be dictated by the load going through that specific part - that you should tailor those fiber angles to do very specific work. Revel uses more 30/60-degree fibers to produce what they say is a lighter yet stronger frame.
The bike has internal tubes for routing cables, an integrated chainguide, and room for a water bottle inside the front triangle, although on the small and medium-size frames only a 20oz bottle will fit. The cable routing is nice and clean and there's a threaded BB to round things out.
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The team at Revel is comprised of several industry veterans, including Jason Schiers, who have a wealth of experience in getting creative with the use of composites. Schiers claims that he likes carbon as a material because it's extremely tunable - a bike can be made stiff or compliant in the zones it needs to be.
According to Schiers, mountain bike frames have historically used a mixture of 0, 45, and 90-degree fibers to make a frame, with the wall thickness built up where it's needed to get the desired characteristics. Schiers is of the opinion that the fiber angles should be dictated by the load going through that specific part - that you should tailor those fiber angles to do very specific work. Revel uses more 30/60-degree fibers to produce what they say is a lighter yet stronger frame.
The bike has internal tubes for routing cables, an integrated chainguide, and room for a water bottle inside the front triangle, although on the small and medium-size frames only a 20oz bottle will fit. The cable routing is nice and clean and there's a threaded BB to round things out.
Geometry & Sizing
With a 140mm fork, the Rascal has a 66-degree head tube angle, 75-degree seat tube angle, and 433mm chainstays. The size medium has a reach of 444mm. Those numbers are on the more conservative side of the spectrum, especially the reach and seat tube angle measurements.
The bike can be ridden with a 130mm or 150mm fork as well. This, of course, steepens or slackens things out a touch in either direction.
With a 140mm fork, the Rascal has a 66-degree head tube angle, 75-degree seat tube angle, and 433mm chainstays. The size medium has a reach of 444mm. Those numbers are on the more conservative side of the spectrum, especially the reach and seat tube angle measurements.
The bike can be ridden with a 130mm or 150mm fork as well. This, of course, steepens or slackens things out a touch in either direction.
Suspension Design
The Rascal's suspension uses the Canfield Balance Formula (CBF) suspension design which Revel licensed from Canfield. CBF focuses on having a suspension system that has a high level of anti-squat to help it pedaling performance. To achieve this, the links are aligned so that they line up with the chain line throughout the entire travel range.
This gives a high amount of pedaling efficiency and lots of anti-squat. The shock ramps up a lot at the end of its travel to prevent bottom out, but is soft off of the top for a lot of small-bump compliance.
With those large amounts of anti-squat also comes a good anti-rise number. With the anti-rise number near 100%, the geometry of the bike should be preserved even under heavy braking.
| Specifications | ||
| Release Date | 2019 | |
| Price | $6999 | |
| Travel | 130mm | |
| Rear Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate | |
| Fork | RockShox Pike Ultimate | |
| Headset | Cane Creek 40 Series | |
| Cassette | SRAM X01 Eagle | |
| Crankarms | SRAM Descendant | |
| Chainguide | Revel | |
| Bottom Bracket | SRAM Dub | |
| Pedals | None | |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM X01 Eagle | |
| Chain | SRAM X01 Eagle | |
| Front Derailleur | N/A | |
| Shifter Pods | SRAM X01 Eagle | |
| Handlebar | ENVE M6 | |
| Stem | Truvativ Descendant 31.8mm x 40mm | |
| Grips | Ergon GE10 | |
| Brakes | SRAM G2 RSC | |
| Wheelset | Industry 9 Enduro | |
| Hubs | Industry 9 Hydra | |
| Spokes | Industry 9 System | |
| Rim | Industry 9 Enduro | |
| Tires | Maxxis Minion | |
| Seat | Ergon SM10 | |
| Seatpost | RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6mm | |
Test Bike Setup
I aired the RockShox SuperDeluxe shock up with 180psi to get 28-30% sag and 5-6 clicks of rebound, from open. For the fork, I had 87psi and 4-5 clicks of rebound. I ran the LSC on both wide open. I opted for a 50mm stem but have also ridden the Rascal with the 40mm option.
I've been riding the Rascal for nearly six months at this point, putting hundreds of miles on it in the process. All of my testing took place in the Southeast US on a variety of terrain, just about anything East Coast one could imagine, from flowy singletrack to the rugged roots and rocks of Pisgah National Forest, to GNCC style rake & ride loam tracks.
Daniel Sapp
Location: Brevard, NC, USA
Age: 33
Height: 5'10" / 178cm
Inseam: 32" / 81cm
Weight: 150 lbs / 68 kg
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: @d_sapp1
Location: Brevard, NC, USA
Age: 33
Height: 5'10" / 178cm
Inseam: 32" / 81cm
Weight: 150 lbs / 68 kg
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: @d_sapp1
Climbing
The Rascal's climbing prowess echos my sentiments of the longer travel Rail. Although the seat tube angle isn't as steep as some of the competition, the seated climbing position worked very well for my 5'10" height. The CBF suspension does a great job of keeping the bike sitting higher in its travel; there's no wallowing or feeling like you're sinking in deeper than necessary.
With the RockShox SuperDeluxe shock fully open, there's next to no pedal bob, and throughout the several months I've been riding the bike, I haven't found myself reaching for the lockout switch at all. In both flatter and steeper terrain, the position on the bike is comfortable and pleasant for anything from a quick jaunt to an all-day trudge.
The bike was extremely easy to handle on tight, slow, and technical climbs, and the traction offered up is impressive. I have pedaled up many bits of trail that have left me floundering on other bikes due to slipping on roots or rocks, but the Rascal just motors on.
![Photo by Michael McQueen]()
The Rascal's climbing prowess echos my sentiments of the longer travel Rail. Although the seat tube angle isn't as steep as some of the competition, the seated climbing position worked very well for my 5'10" height. The CBF suspension does a great job of keeping the bike sitting higher in its travel; there's no wallowing or feeling like you're sinking in deeper than necessary.
With the RockShox SuperDeluxe shock fully open, there's next to no pedal bob, and throughout the several months I've been riding the bike, I haven't found myself reaching for the lockout switch at all. In both flatter and steeper terrain, the position on the bike is comfortable and pleasant for anything from a quick jaunt to an all-day trudge.
The bike was extremely easy to handle on tight, slow, and technical climbs, and the traction offered up is impressive. I have pedaled up many bits of trail that have left me floundering on other bikes due to slipping on roots or rocks, but the Rascal just motors on.
Descending
Pointed in the more fun direction, the Rascal is lively and active, the type of bike that encourages you to get airborne any time there's an opportunity. It's a prime example of an aggressive trail bike - it climbs well, it doesn't mind charging into rough terrain, and it's spec'd to do so and make it out without hesitation. The traction available while descending is parallel to the Rascal's uphill grip, with the bike feeling extremely smooth and composed, especially in nests of rocks and roots.
The shock is very sensitive to small bumps, yet it ramps up nicely when bigger impacts strike. While it's plenty capable anywhere, the Rascal really excels in tight, twisty, technical, "old school" style terrain. It's quick around the corners, and it never felt like it was too long or cumbersome when faced with those tighter trails. As I mentioned earlier, the reach is on the more conservative side, but I felt it was appropriate, and it's part of the reason the bike worked so well on slower speed sections of trail that require lots of body English to navigate.
I've also spent time riding the Rascal with a 130mm fork and feel that the performance difference is negligible in regards to steepening angles.
I've been on the bike for several months now, long enough to comment on a few nuances and durability. I do think that the paint could bear to be a bit tougher as I've seen a number of chips and scuffs. Additionally, although I have experienced no issues with it, the bike can collect dirt in the area of the pivots/bearings and it's challenging to clean. While this is something that could lead to problems down the road, especially with as many pivots as the bike has, the tester I'm on is still running as good as it was on day one.
![Photo by Michael McQueen]()
Pointed in the more fun direction, the Rascal is lively and active, the type of bike that encourages you to get airborne any time there's an opportunity. It's a prime example of an aggressive trail bike - it climbs well, it doesn't mind charging into rough terrain, and it's spec'd to do so and make it out without hesitation. The traction available while descending is parallel to the Rascal's uphill grip, with the bike feeling extremely smooth and composed, especially in nests of rocks and roots.
The shock is very sensitive to small bumps, yet it ramps up nicely when bigger impacts strike. While it's plenty capable anywhere, the Rascal really excels in tight, twisty, technical, "old school" style terrain. It's quick around the corners, and it never felt like it was too long or cumbersome when faced with those tighter trails. As I mentioned earlier, the reach is on the more conservative side, but I felt it was appropriate, and it's part of the reason the bike worked so well on slower speed sections of trail that require lots of body English to navigate.
I've also spent time riding the Rascal with a 130mm fork and feel that the performance difference is negligible in regards to steepening angles.
I've been on the bike for several months now, long enough to comment on a few nuances and durability. I do think that the paint could bear to be a bit tougher as I've seen a number of chips and scuffs. Additionally, although I have experienced no issues with it, the bike can collect dirt in the area of the pivots/bearings and it's challenging to clean. While this is something that could lead to problems down the road, especially with as many pivots as the bike has, the tester I'm on is still running as good as it was on day one.
Revel Rascal
Yeti SB130
How does it compare?
It only makes sense to compare two similar bikes from companies that are both based in the state of Colorado. Both bikes have 130mm of rear suspension and 433mm long chainstays. For the medium-sized frames, the wheelbases are also similar, with the Yeti being a mere 3.6mm longer. The Yeti gains a little travel with a 150mm fork out of the box. Its head tube angle is a half-degree slacker than the Rascal, and its 77-degree seat tube angle is 2-degrees steeper than the Revel's.
On the trail, both bikes score at the top in overall ride quality and experience. The Revel does a better job of handling and managing trail chatter, with more small bump sensitivity than the SB130. If you're a rider that has tighter and more technical trails, the Rascal is an easy choice. It is more nimble and intuitive to ride than the SB130 in those situations.
For riders who crave flat-out speed and ride more aggressively, the SB130 delivers, as it feels its best when pushed harder. That's not to say it doesn't feel really good the rest of the time, it just takes a little more pushing to unlock its full potential. When both bikes are pushed to their limits, the SB130 has a slight edge, with a little more travel up front and a little more stability at those higher speeds, but at the end of the day, neither bike will disappoint you.
Technical Report
SRAM Drivetrain: Revel spec's all of their bikes with SRAM Eagle drivetrains. The X01 Eagle system is tried and true, and didn't cause any issues during testing. With the full-SRAM spec, there's also a RockShox Reverb Stealth post included. Compared to other cable-actuated posts, the hydraulic lever felt sluggish, and required more effort to push than I would have liked.
Tires: The Maxxis DHF/DHR II tire matchup is one of the most common combinations out there, and for good reason. It's nice to see the EXO+ casing spec'd over the EXO, and I've had no issues with flats whatsoever through plenty of encounters with sharp rocks and low air pressures.
RockShox Suspension: RockShox's Pike Ultimate and SuperDeluxe rear shock performed flawlessly and the smoothness of the suspension was one of the most noticeable qualities of the Rascal's ride. The suspension is easy to set up and has 100% trouble-free over the last several months of riding.
Industry 9 Wheels: Industry 9's fancy system wheels with high-engagement hubs are difficult to beat. Revel's bikes all come with i9's in some form or fashion. The only update to the 2020 Rascal from the one I've been riding is that it has Revel's RW 30 composite wheels included, which ups the price by $200 overall. I've been riding the wheels for a few months now and have nothing but good things to say about them, and they're an excellent value for a lot of performance in the complete bike package from Revel. The i9 Enduro level system wheels can be a little stiffer than some other options available and certainly contribute to a stiff but good quality ride.
SRAM Drivetrain: Revel spec's all of their bikes with SRAM Eagle drivetrains. The X01 Eagle system is tried and true, and didn't cause any issues during testing. With the full-SRAM spec, there's also a RockShox Reverb Stealth post included. Compared to other cable-actuated posts, the hydraulic lever felt sluggish, and required more effort to push than I would have liked.
Tires: The Maxxis DHF/DHR II tire matchup is one of the most common combinations out there, and for good reason. It's nice to see the EXO+ casing spec'd over the EXO, and I've had no issues with flats whatsoever through plenty of encounters with sharp rocks and low air pressures.
RockShox Suspension: RockShox's Pike Ultimate and SuperDeluxe rear shock performed flawlessly and the smoothness of the suspension was one of the most noticeable qualities of the Rascal's ride. The suspension is easy to set up and has 100% trouble-free over the last several months of riding.
Industry 9 Wheels: Industry 9's fancy system wheels with high-engagement hubs are difficult to beat. Revel's bikes all come with i9's in some form or fashion. The only update to the 2020 Rascal from the one I've been riding is that it has Revel's RW 30 composite wheels included, which ups the price by $200 overall. I've been riding the wheels for a few months now and have nothing but good things to say about them, and they're an excellent value for a lot of performance in the complete bike package from Revel. The i9 Enduro level system wheels can be a little stiffer than some other options available and certainly contribute to a stiff but good quality ride.
Pros
+ Excellent ride quality both climbing and descending
+ Attention to detail
+ Suspension design lives up to its hype
Cons
- SRAM only spec leaves Shimano fans out
- Dirt pockets / loam shelf are difficult to clean
- Paint durability
Pinkbike's Take
| Quick, lively, and nimble, Revel's Rascal is a unique bike that delivers a high-performance ride. In fact, it's one of the best riding 130mm trail bikes I've been on in recent memory, and it's a bike that I have been able to recommend to a number of riders without hesitation. |
Author Info:
Member since Jan 18, 2007
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This^
You can't please everyone. I prefer to build my bikes from scratch, including the hoops and usually buy a new frame every 12-18 months and just transfer everything over. Lastly, the frame only options from Revel are priced pretty competitively too.
Ah yes. Because drivetrains have ALL to do with winning championships. I heard the current MotoGP champion as well as 2nd and 3rd place were on Michelin tires since 2016! Those must be some magic tires!
Gonna have to strongly disagree on this one. Maybe at lower levels, but my sram X01 11spd shift action is way lighter and responsive than the M9000 and 8000s ive owned. Just switched my park bike from M8000 back to X1 because of this. I will say 11spd shimano SLX is the AK47 of drivetrains, and wouldn't hesitate to use it on a budget build.
JMHO though so take that for what it's worth.
I would say neither of our opinions are worth anything, you have to go out and try this stuff, because obviously we are having different experiences with the same equipment.
I am sure a few GX fanboys out there will diagree but what ever. Shimano is damn good across it ranges that we see on modern MTB's
I was shopping for a complete bike for my daughter in law, when it came down to comparing four similar bikes, the bike I purchased was the one that had a Shimano drivertrain.
Maybe all buyers aren't as particular, but some are, and some mfgs should take notice.
Bikes I was looking at: Spec. Fuse, Trek Roscoe, Kona Big Honzo, Salsa Timberjack.
Salsa Timberjack for the win!
Instant shifts, up or down.
Hyperglide to me!
Some bike companies are founded bike enthusiasts. Maybe those bike companies simply prefer working with component suppliers like SRAM who are also founded & run by bike enthusiasts (not fishermen).
Both SRAM & Shimano bring awesome stuff & keep pushing each other in performance and quality - and we benefit with awesome bikes.
Please - back to focusing on the Rascal!
Shimano 12spd is leagues ahead of anything Sram makes.... including AXS.
@flymiamibro22: Sorry man, but if you have worse shifting with Shimano 12 than you did with 11 its almost certainly down to user error and poor setup. It's not just about setting the B tension.
youtu.be/G0LW8bBltUI
Okay but rude and Minnaar are on Shimano drivetrains. So that’s kind of a weird example. Rude was actually instrumental in product testing the new 12 speed xtr and played a significant roll in several revisions.
Careful, the Shimano hype on Pinkbike from all the people who don’t own it but have a classic case of “grass is greener on the other side” is pretty high. Now is a poor time to start a riot.
I like my xtr 12 speed a lot. It’s sick as f*ck. I also liked my SRAM GX that came stock on my bike, and thought that was super crisp quick shifts.
We’re spoiled for good choices right now.
Sram really isn't as bad as people make it out to be. People just have their preferences, and with preference comes bias. They both work well. And once Shimano comes out with their gear box, they'll be the leaders in migration to many bikes being spec'd with them.
But ya... Everything you said about Shimano is completely inaccurate. Do you even read the comments on PB? Everyone is a Shimano fanboi. It's cool to like a different brand, but no need to exaggerate.
I can feel what gear I'm in and don't need a clunk and some clanging noises to clarify it every time I make a shift. That's not being a fanboy, it's just an opinion- I like my bikes to be quiet and operate smoothly so I can get the most out of riding them.
You wouldn't accept clunky, noisy gears from your car, why are you happy with that on your bike?
youtu.be/kem5Rk863WA
Those Icetec rotors (RT86/96) have an aluminum core so no they don't last long at all. They're designed to dissipate heat really well, not last your lifetime. If you want a long-lasting rotor stop braking so much and just make sure its a good quality steel one...Everyone knows Japan can do some unbelievable things with steel.
It is quite obvious you haven't tried a full HG+ system yet.
I don’t care about ebikes, road bikes or fishing rods. I’m only interested by what effects me.
Short travel "trail" bikes with DH geo and over 2.5 kg's of tyres make no sense to me at all. Riding it made me realise that my current trail bike, with "conservative" geometry, already does everything well and certainly better than I can anyway. Saved me a fortune.
Also, the 2 degree steeper seat tube angle is a no brainer for us dudes over 6ft.
Point where the super slack HTA/super steep STA/long reach craze may have hit peak and we can rightly start backing off, at least for most riders and trails.
Also, I don't believe CBF has loads of anti-squat. Isn't the design based on exactly 100% anti-squat through the entire range of travel?
Having ridden both VPP and DW, I find they're very similar in their most current iterations. I'm back on a VPP after spending a couple on DW, and I very much like the platform they both provide (VPP being a little more pedal friendly).
So....magic?
linkagedesign.blogspot.com/2019/09/revel-rascal-29-2019.html
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14° @130mm in 21/30
25° @130mm in 50/30
And despite the STA being 75°, the saddle seems way too far back, above the rear wheel comparing with the Yeti ont the last pic (and the rascal is not level).
"It may show up in these pseudo science kinematic analyses, but it does not show up in the real world"
It's exactly the opposite.
Analyses results are reproductibles and figures produced have a mechanical meaning : they are opposables and objectives. If you don't get them, just educate yourself.
Testing bikes is purely subjective and the "it's better than everything else" only mean something for yourself in your own real world (and is a bit genuinely ridiculous given the amount of bikes designs you probably never even thought of)...
You don't buy a 1000 $ computer, a 30 k$ car or whatever costing more that 3-400 grands on testing it in the shop (or maybe you did), you buy it first on specs. Because specs have a meaning and " it limb like a goat and goes down like a bobsleigh" mean nothing.
Didn't notice anything once I hit dirt and root but it was also a high end demo bike so I was hovering in bike whore heaven the whole ride anyway.
Could be attributed to my poor pedaling form or other things but I personally didn't like it.
I am educated enough to know I wasn't using the terminology correctly. I just didnt take into account that I would lose ethos with my audience...apparently.
I just think people who dont ride enough get too hung up on trying to become better riders by using some sort of scientific basis, or YouTube, or whatever their takeaway is from reading these suspension analyses that have recently become so popular.
It's really quite simple, and subjective as you said. Ride bikes, choose what feels best. I think most people only research the hell out of it, never test more than two bikes, and then get on here and try to prove how the bike they invested in is the best.
I will try to be more accurate with my use of terminology in order to sway the scientific OCD and opinionated audience in the future. You have made it clear that I lost credibility due to my improper use of words. I'm pretty sure you knew what the meaning of my statement was. You just are hung up on details...but I dont care, you can ride whatever you want...
And btw, I am currently in school educating myself. I also work at a shop, go to tradeshows, know a lot of industry people, and have ridden the majority of the suspension designs out there. CBF is the best in my opinion for trail bikes. And it was startlingly better than anything else I have tried (which of course is not everything, but is a significant amount of what it out there). And yes that is highly subjective, but it is based on more real world tests than most people on this site referencing kinematic details they read online....
That being said, I would argue that the CBF suspension platform doesn't have "high" pedal kickback like they say they do. High is all relative to other bikes and most manufacturers today are shooting for 100% anti-squat. The Revel's anti-squat drops consistently from about 117%-80% in the 32-50 gear combo. That's not that high, and at the blog post above, you can see many other bikes with higher levels of anti-squat. That results in pedal kickback of about 20 deg at full travel, which is pretty average because the anti-squat is pretty average.
After riding Revel’s Rail for two weeks, I couldn’t believe how easily the rear hung up on larger roots and rocks when pedaling uphill.
Not sold on CBF just yet.
Also, the Rascal has higher pedal kickback at full travel than the Hightower, even though the hightower has more travel, about 20 degrees vs 18.5 degrees.
For instance, SC sells the Hightower with a 30t ring.
PK for the Rascal in 30/50 is around 22-23°, which is in the highest value for a trail bike.
AS is not constant too across the travel, so two bikes with same AS curve but different sag will feel different as pedallling, too.
That and shock stroke and ratio are the most influencing parameters on AS/PK perception, in my humble opinion.
The VPP-like group of bikes from Linkage Rascal comparison have all a very high PK (they just miss a Pivot to be complete). That's Antonio Osuna's way to present things. If he had put a Stumjumper ST or a Knolly Fugitive LT, the difference in AS/PK enveloppe between bikes would have been greater.
Would be awesome if they release an alu version. Either that or if Canfield release a new Riot.
Look at the seat angle on that thing - unrideable!
/Mega nerdy engineer riding Knolly
triggered engineer
Canyon?, who, in the right mind, would buy a Canyon?(except maybe of you are in road riding..maybe there)
What about petroleum bearing grease, rubber tires, paint, tire sealant, etc. not to mention, I’ve never seen a drawn tube of 6061 just growing in a field. It all has to be processed.
And while yes aluminum can be recycled,
Go to a bike shop and ask them how many times they have rebuilt a wheel or frame and recycled the aluminum. It all gets binned and buried.
Nah, true engineer(d)s choose Dave's extra legit travel apparatus, AKA Evil ????
My hotlist for my latest build actually included Knolly Fugitive, Evil Offering, Revel Rascal and Last Clay/Glen. True story. Must be a true Engineerd.
The Revel Rascal (130mm rear) is a total blast on big days, climbing 4-5K ft in alpine. Would definitely purchase it again, and am very glad to be riding it for my second summer this year.
I think 140mm is the sweet spot for a 29er trail bike, but haven't been held back by this bike.
The Forbidden Druid looks like the only thing I'd be interested in considering for a direct replacement.
13.7kg is quite heavy for a short travel trail bike specced with top-shelf components
I was ref. to be "light enough" for general trail riding. If I'd still wanted a light bike, I could have kept my sub 10 kgs Oiz.
Also, 100 grams is a joke. Spec for spec, if the SC HT was 13 kgs and the revel was 13.7, then you could argue that there is a meaningfull diff. For 100 grams, I wouldn't bother and just take the bike I like/wanted/suit my needs the most.
But, the Rascal "rode lighter" than its weight suggests...if that makes any sense.
Like bmx bike in terms of flick.. Tech has come a long way.
www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/mountain-bike/a22658943/giant-trance-29-review
Frame weight, what size, what shock, and what accroutements (ie with rear axles, with cups ? )
Ended up ordering a 130 frame build due to getting a killer price that dropped the 130 below the price of the Rascal.
The frame only (with shock, headset and seat clamp) is $2800.
The Guerilla Gravity has an aluminum rear triangle.
Only advantage to carbon rear triangles anymore could be a slight increase in stiffness. Frame weight of the GG is similar if not a hair lighter than the Revel stuff despite that alloy rear end.
It's nice not having to worry about laying down my GG. I watched it tumble into a rocky wash, picked it up, and proceeded to go do some drops on it.
Loved my Riot (like a kind of dated, aluminum version of the Rascal) and currently holding out for a longer travel 29er from them. Sounds like they've got more stuff coming later in the season, so we'll see.
GG doesn't do much sponsorship, nor do they offer shop deals, EP deals, etc. so they don't have paid fanboys to drive the hype-train. It's all owners who mostly paid full price.
Despite having an aluminum rear end like the poors, a 160/170 Guerrilla Gravity Gnarvana weighs the same as a Revel Rascal, maybe even a little less depending on shock.
My point is, the Revel products offer a great suspension design at an average weight and price, but they aren't the lightest or the cheapest. The CBF design is the main selling point.
...and if your a fan of poor man's alloy, Canfield has got you covered.
So please, stop worrying about how much a bike weights and start focusing on how it rides(up and/or down)!, cheers.
You mean, let's say in the price bracket of 4500-5000 USD, you will have to think at anything else beside how the bike rides?, personally, I would take a 10% higher priced bike if it rides better, even though it is heavier and whatever else presumably lesser atributes. Maybe it is just me but, if a bike rides well, I will not care about the fac that is 500-1000 USD more expensive and 100 grams heavier than some other option. If I have 4500 USD to pay for a new bike, I can pay 5500 if I deem necessary. So, really, it all depends on how the bike rides and if it suits my needs and my terrain(as it should be).
When I asked the Revel guys about it, they said they hadn't really heard of the problem...but they also said a number of people asked for 170 cranks...and the bike can be run at 20% sag. I never got to demo at 20% b/c it was just too popular to get another turn.
But yeah, it's been shown that crank length doesn't have much correlation to power output, especially in mtb type situations (track is a bit different). I'm 5'10 and usually ride a size Large from most companies, and have run 170 cranks forever now. I've had to make swaps on all my bike except the last, Stumpy 27.5 2018+ Large, which came with 170s
(SRAM DM though, so I still swapped them to a RaceFace 104BCD because I need a real bashguard, but that's another story. Also gained even more clearance because the SRAMs are the same casting just drilled differently, so the 170's crank arm itself is still as long as a 175, where-as RaceFace is doing different castings as of 2019, and that's yet another story.
Dan- as a fellow 5'10" inbetweener, did you intentionally choose a medium or was that just the size you ended up with. Did you ever feel that the "short" reach was ever an issue or did it help with the lively feel of the bike?
It's why I sold my Ripley V4 and bought a LS instead. Wish I had never sold my Riot. Waiting to see what Canfield releases as it's replacement then it'll be that bike or a Rascal.
#gofasteatass
What the f*ck? You guys bitch and moan about single digit millimeters of "too short" reach and single degrees of "too slack" seat tube angle. But changing the head tube angle and front travel (and wheelbase, and front center, and trail, and axle-to-crown) is negligible to handling?
That's some Grade A Prime BullShit (TM) right there.
I've burned so many bridges I don't get invites any more. Need this one...
If you see mulch, it's someone's private spot...or a new pirate line.
www.bikemag.com/2020-bible-of-bike-tests/bible-review-revel-rail
Most of the builds comes with SRAM. Some with Shimano, but not often.
Don't know about the industry (maybe Sram has a better commercial/marketing department), but that's a shame. SLX/XT/XTR would be so nice if standard on bikes.
I ended up going with the new Ripley. It gives up a little going down to the Rascal which I hope to fix a little bit with a rear shock swap but I find it more FUN to throw around as well. It also climbs soooooooth and as like a scalded cat if needed. It blew me away on my local climbs.
But the reach is 16mm longer, at 460.2mm, on the Yeti. With, half a degree slacker head tube and longer fork, something doesn't add up. The Yeti should have much more wheelbase relative to the Revel. One of these measurements is not like the other...
(The headtube length is ~10mm short on the Yeti, but the 10mm longer fork means the top of the headtube is pretty much the same height, so that small potential difference in reach can be factored out.)
A DW hits only hits it a SAG.
Umm, you can see in the video that the bottom link's alignment to the chain changes through the travel...
So you could put that fork and shock on any bike and it would be awesome? Because if they were the "most noticable", then the rest of it just doesn't matter as much... Chain growth? Anti-rise? Who knows?! I only noticed how smooth the shock was!
Just one word. No.
I'm the biggest rider in my group at 100 kg, and my bike is expectedly the heaviest as well (I run strong tires, big dropper, big alloy bars, etc), but when it's considered relative to body weight I actually have the lightest bike!
I do have a fairly high leverage frame (Stumpy 27.5 2018+) so I've got a ton of air in the shock, but still 1/7 out from maxing it out, so all good there! Someone heavier might want to switch to coil, but isn't everyone just looking for an excuse to go coil anyway? Haha!
Suspension design matters, but I think value matters more.