From adventurer to thoroughbred racer: A quick review of the new Giant Revolt Advanced SL

Giant developed the Revolt gravel bike from the ground up. The focus was clearly on uncompromising performance in tough gravel races, the extremely versatile, travel-friendly design of the previous model There isn’t much left. Luggage eyelets on the frame and fork: drastically reduced. Riding position: significantly lower and more stretched out than before. The storage compartment in the down tube and the flip-chip dropout for fine-tuning the ride behaviour: removed to save as much weight as possible. Preparations for a retractable seatpost or a suspension fork, which were featured on the last Revolt, are also no longer present. A carbon handlebar is now used, and other components are also designed much more with low weight and better aerodynamics in mind than with practicality. The frame, fork, handlebars, wheels and tyres were conceived as a coordinated system. The development was inspired by gravel pros from the in-house racing team: Cole Paton, a three-time top-five finisher in the Life Time Grand Prix Series, and two-time Australian gravel champion Brendan Johnston.

Light, lighter, Advanced SL

With the SL version, the flagship of the new range, Giant aims to set the new benchmark for race gravel bikes. The Advanced SL-Grade carbon frame is said to weigh 839 grams. That is 151 grams lighter than the previous model. This weight saving is achieved not only by doing away with practical gimmicks, but also through manufacturing technologies otherwise used on professional road racing models. Added to this are lightweight Cadex wheelsets with carbon spokes and new, performance-oriented tyres 45 millimetres wide. Despite the increased tyre volume (45 millimetres compared to 40 millimetres), the complete Revolt Advanced SL 0 is 290 grams lighter than the previous top-of-the-range model, the Revolt Advanced Pro 0. The weight savings extend from the frame system through to the cockpit and the wheelsets. Our test bike tips the scales at 7.26 kilograms and, after the Specialized Crux (previous generation), is the lightest gravel bike we know of to date – or, to put it another way: the lightest gravel bike currently on the market.

Aerodynamics and wind tunnel tests

Giant has also designed the frame, fork and cockpit as an aerodynamic unit, intended to provide further advantages in competition. The tube profiles were specifically engineered in the wind tunnel for the speed range typical of elite gravel races. According to the manufacturer, the frame alone reduces aerodynamic drag by around four watts compared with the previous generation. The new one-piece handlebar eliminates the handlebar-stem connection – a major source of turbulence in conventional set-ups – and routes the cables internally.

The wheels feature a 50-millimetre-high rim profile, which was developed in conjunction with the Cadex GXR 45mm tyre. The rim shape, tyre shape and tread pattern form an aerodynamic unit. Although the new tyre is five millimetres wider, it achieves a comparable level of drag thanks to a smoother tread pattern, which is designed to reduce turbulence at racing speeds. Overall, this is said to result in a power saving of up to 14 watts at typical race speeds, which Giant states as 30–45 km/h.

First impressions: New geometry, new handling

The geometry of the Revolt Advanced SL is more aggressive than that of any previous Revolt model. The handlebar height has been lowered by a full three centimetres on size M, whilst the reach has increased to 395 millimetres. The seat angle is now one degree steeper at 74.5 degrees. This shifts the rider’s weight forwards, placing more load on the front wheel. This is the main reason why the Revolt can no longer be compared to its predecessor: the comfortable tourer has been transformed into a demanding sports bike. That said, the riding position isn’t too extreme and is still suitable for long distances for those with a fit upper body; there are, after all, far more radical gravel bikes out there. Nevertheless, the difference is significant, as the riding position on the Revolt used to be almost exceptionally upright. At 1,033 millimetres, the wheelbase is still relatively long, ensuring the bike remains stable even on rough descents. Overall, however, the bike feels much more agile and playful than before, especially off-road. Its low weight – particularly that of the ultra-light wheels – also contributes to this.

What the model has retained is its fantastic ride comfort, particularly at the rear. The specially designed seatpost, with its D-shaped cross-section and additional constriction at the top, can be easily pushed downwards using your body weight whilst standing still; the frame set also visibly gives way vertically. Together with the wider tyres, vibrations are effectively smoothed out. Only when encountering rougher bumps do you need to hold on tight to the handlebars, but other gravel bikes don’t handle this any better.

Models and specifications

The new frame is, of course, fitted with a UDH dropout, and the tyre clearance has increased to 53 millimetres. There are no differences in quality or weight between the various frame variants; the integrated handlebars and the new tyres are also fitted to all versions. All available variants are fitted with SRAM 1x13 drivetrains and come with an integrated power metre. A frameset is available for €3,999 for those wishing to build their own bike.

The Revolt Advanced SL 0, the flagship model, comes with an SRAM Red XPLR AXS 1x13 drivetrain, an integrated power metre crankset, CADEX Max GXR wheels with carbon spokes and CADEX GXR 700x45c tubeless tyres. The price is 9,999 euros.

The SL 1 is built on the same carbon frame and is fitted with SRAM Force 1x13. It also features an integrated power metre crankset, whilst the Giant CXR 0 wheels have classic steel spokes. The bike costs 7,499 euros.

The entry-level model is the Revolt SL 2, which features SRAM Rival XPLR AXS with an integrated power metre crankset and Giant CXR 0 wheels; it costs 6,499 euros.

Given the positioning and pricing structure of the new Revolt, we wouldn’t be surprised if Giant were to launch a parallel model soon: more comfortable, better suited to adventure, significantly cheaper and therefore more suitable for the mass market. After all, the replacement for the current Revolt leaves a gap in the range that a global brand like Giant cannot afford to leave unfilled. Whether it will be a variant of the Revolt or a completely different model name is likely to be the only surprise.