Three years ago, Revel Bikes was born with two models: the Rascal, a 130mm travel 29er and the Rail, a 165mm, 27.5 all-mountain bike. Revel has been teasing something new over the past week and now we know what it is: a 155mm, 29-inch version of the Rail. It appears this new model will be offered alongside the existing 27.5 Rail, giving buyers a choice of platforms.
“We spent years designing, testing, riding, and refining this bike,” said Revel in a press release. “The Rail 29 represents the best of what we have learned since launching the Revel brand just three short years ago. We love our Rail 27.5, but 29” wheels, bigger bearings, beefier hardware, and an absurdly well-tuned CBF suspension platform make this bike something we are wildly proud of.”
Revel notes that the climbing efficiency is impressive for a 155mm bike and that the Rail 29 will perform well on enduro race course, bike parks, or big days out.
Revel added ISCG-05 tabs for bash guards, a first for one of their bikes, a universal derailleur hanger, and they have redesigned the linkage hardware. Now, pivot bolts only use a 6mm hex wrench, instead of two different sizes on either side of the pivot. Revel says that mechanics can leave the cranks on while the pivots are serviced as well. The Rail 29 also uses larger bearings for better durability. There are more available coil shock options now, and Revel credits a smaller yoke at the lower shock mount for making this possible.
The frame itself maintains a very similar aesthetic to Revel’s previous models, with the shock horizontally dissecting the frame’s interior.
The Rail 29 comes in four sizes, small, medium, large, and XL. On a medium, there’s a 415mm seat tube, a 76° seat tube angle, 436mm chainstays (across sizes), and a 65° head tube angle. The wheelbase on the 29er is actually slightly shorter than the 27.5 bike at 1,202mm, and the reach remains moderate at 447mm.
Pricing starts at $3,499 for a frame and complete bikes start at $5,999 for a build with SRAM GX. For more information see the Revel Bikes website or shop for the Rail 29 at Worldwide Cyclery.
