Revel Rascal First Ride Impressions

I spent 2 days aboard the Revel Rascal, a long travel 29er trail bike. Here are my impressions!

Here's the bike on Revel's website:

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[cosmicheretic]

I built my Rascal frame up a year ago. It's a best bike I've ever ridden or owned. The grip from the cbf climbing and descending are unmatched in my opinion.

[bj]

I have owned the rascel for 2 years now. I have had the creeking problem as well. It was an easy fix with tighting. For me, this is the best bikes I have ever owned. I am weigh 250 lbs on my best day and I abuse every bike I have had. So far the maintenance has been easy. I would say, I would prefer a 150 fork since I tend to max the fork off most drops. As you can imagine, I am not a fast climber, but this suspension has made a huge difference for me.

[joshuadoss]

This past may I ride the same bike from that shop. Loved it

[Slinkylinky]

I own a rascal and I'd say you're pretty spot on with everything but I wanted to respond to a few things
1) creaking is real. Mine developed creaks in the first 6 months of ownership. Nowhere near as bad as this video. Luckily, revel has an amazing warranty and they covered the cost of replacement bearings even though they don't explicitly state that like Santa Cruz does. I've heard nothing but good things about their warranty department so if you did own this bike and it had this excessive creaking they'd do anything they needed to take care of it. Definitely does eat through bearings though.
2) I did disagree a little with your opinions on climbing. Yes, the seat angle is slack for modern winch up the fire road climbs, but this bike is a godsend if you live somewhere that has almost exclusively tech climbs or more "traversing" climbing. Slack seat angle is good if you're mostly on flatish ground. The axle path just makes rocks disappear as you get up and over them and I think that's the most immediate difference I notice when I ride the rascal vs other bikes. Yes there's bob when you really push on the climbs, but the traction is unreal.

I also felt like it was a little unfair to keep comparing it to bikes like the Ripley and ranger and to some extent the sentinel because it's meant to kind of rest between the two and be for someone that wants to be able to go a little harder on the descents than a Ripley or something would, but not be a big unwieldy bike and I think it's exactly that. A bit of a jack of all trades master of none, but I think depending on where you live it can be a better choice than some of the bikes you mention. I'm in new England and it feels almost tailor made for the area although I do sometimes wish it was either more xc or more Enduro focused depending on what I'm riding. Great review and good analysis all around though.

[keithhulker]

I bought the ranger and built it full scram xo with Sid 120 ultimate and I love it! I ride a lot of flow trails with lots of climbing and the bike climbs great to me and the guys are super helpful I had to call them twice to get the right bottom bracket spacing they told me exactly what shims to use and we’re glad to talk to me on the phone which was impressive. I wonder if that creeping was the bottom bracket my bike is totally silent. Love your videos!

[mattkeyes]

I own a Rascal as of January this year and I live/ride in the Springs. I have brought and rode in on trails ranging from Colorado, Arizona, to California, and I shopped a number of other bikes before settling on the Rascal. I *almost* waited for the new Rail29 but was talked into trying out a Rascal, and I haven't turned back. The bike is the most fun bike to ride that I have ever been on, and it does everything I want it to do. The travel numbers initial seemed like they may be on the low side but I have had the complete opposite experience. The faster it goes, the more stable it feels, too, so it really adapts like a good bike needs to. After test riding, I easily settled on the Rascal over some popular larger travel bikes.

At any rate, I only post back to say great video and the squeaking is definitely the case of it being a rental bike. My Rascal only makes the sounds you would expect. As for heel strikes, I use SPDs and so my foot positioning is more or less locked in, and I have no issues. I'm not trying to be contrary to the video, but I wanted to provide some feedback in the event that anyone reads the comments as, when I spent last year and early this year spec'ing and shopping bikes, I watched this video and had a doubt about Revel until I rode one. CBF is amazing and the best suspension out there (IMHO)

[MarioXcore]

I have this bike now and its super good, cant complain about anything as far as a trail bike goes.

[bike-czech]

I had the same creaking on my bike. It was the dirty saddle runners.

[MountainDeweyMTB]

Great review! I will say, I have owned this bike for over a year now and I think it's the best climbing bike I have experienced. I have never tried the Ranger but I have the Rail 29 and that bike is super fun, especially if you need the extra travel for the downhill stuff. I have a Rascal vs Rail 29 review on my channel if you are interested, I am happy to answer any questions you have for both.

[bennyb]

Awesome Review ! I live in Denver and will check out the Bike shop to test ride in the Springs. I have an older EVIL and want to keep that as my bike park destroyer

[MrRay]

finally got to ride one!! awesome bike, seems like many 120mm-130mm travel bikes go nuts with "efficiency" but when I ride these super efficient bikes they just feel like they almost lock out under hard power.... perfect for screaming up double track or smooth trail and standing sprints but on technical climbs I end up using an absolute ton of body English and hop/lung over obstacles so I dont spin the rear wheel making them far less efficient on the fun trails. The Rascal was firm enough not soft of mushy (not bobbing up and down if you are reasonably smooth)... but the suspension stayed active so I could grind over tech in a low gear or more middle low gear. Deal breaker for me was at 6'3" more leg than average the stack hight of the XL was insanely low and I probably would have wanted a bit more reach as well... the stack was nuts, saddle to bar drop looked like a pros road race bike LOL Not sure why this happens but its really common that bikes down scale up or down evenly from a medium.... they get 30% longer but like 4% taller stack, same going small they get shorter reach but the stack only drops a smidge (but at least that way you can get a neg rise stem and flat bar) other than 30mm riser a bar your stuck with a low stack when you are tall.

[skyerains]

Imagine having the Chutes as your after work lap all the time. Great review.

[keithkiggins]

Just got my Rascal frame and fork last week. Just a brake bleed and chain cutting away from riding it! Thanks for the review.

[motoace]

I own a 2019 Rascal and love it. I switch between my Yeti SB100 and this. The Rascal is my “all-day” adventure bike that can handle pretty much anything I throw at it. It’s relatively efficient to pedal and just gobbles up the chunk. When I jump on the SB100 I realize how much heavier the Rascal is but that is to be expected. I have absolutely zero regrets in buying the bike and would gladly buy another one when the time comes.

[weso]

Clint, first you reviewed my new bike rack (Quikrstuff) and now you’re reviewing the bike brand that I currently have on order (Ranger). Great minds think alike! I hope the bike purchase turns out as well as the rack purchase.

[rahulgupta]

Morning Clint,
First off, love your videos and honest reviews. As a 45 year old, I appreciate your maturity and straightforward reviews as opposed to other you tubers focused on more “kiddish” viewers. I live in North Ga & ride a lot of trails you do. Only a few hours from Brevard which is one of my favorite places.
I recently sold my Trance Advanced & purchased a Revel Rascal. It did take a few rides to get more used to it. I love it!! It climbs very well & descends even better. I demoed sev bikes prior to pulling the trigger on the Rascal. No creaks on mine but it seems to be a common complaint for some.
Leaving to go ride Bear/P1/P2 now…
Happy Trails & Thanks for your review.

[neal]

The suspension creaking is definitely a thing. In the pivots. Sold my first one and am building a second. Needed to size up. Nice review.

[bbre]

I’ve been on my 2020 rail for a year as my one and only do it all bike. I’m still loving it. I am one of those that feel better on the 27.5 wheel size so I lean towards the rail. If they made a 130ish travel 27.5 bike I would love to get on one just a touch lighter is all

[jayswavely]

My Rascal creaked like crazy until I replaced the pivots. A good bike but I wish the reach was a bit longer and the seat tube a bit steeper. Otherwise, a good bike.

[adriandmd]

Took 7 weeks to get my charcoal Ranger XX1 AXS and wow! I rode a SC Superlite since 1999. Not anymore! :))