I have been road racing for decades and 2 years ago I decided to get a gravel bike. I had never ridden gravel before and I bought the Giant Revolt for no other reason than it was in stock at my local bike shop. I was surprised, shocked really at how much I like this bike. If I'm not doing a race or fast group ride I'm on my revolt.
@@5cottins topstones have an excellent reputation. i have a topstone 1 alloy and it has been bulletproof. i use it as my beater bike when i dont want to fuck up my ibis hakka and it has been going strong for several years.
Hey Ben! what did you think of the Chapter 2 AO vs something like the latest Crux or Revolt? I have that bike and enjoy it but wanted to see how it compares to the newer bikes and if it's worth a Frame upgrade.
The value of the Revolt Advanced 3 was a big motivator for me to go Carbon for my first gravel bike. I can upgrade it over time and am starting with a bigger cassette and faster rolling wider tires.
There ya' go again Ben... raising the bar for enjoyable, hands-on, real world reviews. Spectacular work. Two of my potentials were on your list though #1 totally got me by surprise which isn't a bad thing. Thanks to you getting closer to making a buying decision. Am going over some of the for me unfamiliar brands at Sea Otter. Wish had known of it before. Definitely would have driven up from L.A. Kinda curious about titanium bikes now especially if material as light as carbon and if truly makes ride more compliant, etc. Huge thanks again for what you do. Cheers!
Thank you. And yeah, Sea Otter is worth the trip if you’re in SoCal. Ti is not as light as carbon nor can it be manipulated as easily for flex here and stiffness there. It can be comfortable to ride, and the durability is a huge benefit over carbon, but it isn’t indestructible.
I'm not into gravel bikes, I'm 100% on road. However, I like your videos, races, adventures and footage. The present list although personal, it's close to perfection as includes indeed 5 of the best current bikes. And surprise-surprise, No1 is a bike most people would buy, not just dream. So, well done. Surprise that you are the 'Aero is everything' inventor, something that even if I'm against (I love standard tubing and shallow wheels that suffer less in the crosswinds), it haunted me for a longtime since every person I know hit me in the head with this motto !! I believe that you should share a tour of your bikes at the garage. Your Tarmac, Enve, etc + all the adjustments/modifications you love or you suggest. But most of all - I repeat myself - your stuff is very interesting, fun(ny) and informative. Thanks!
Great review. I love my 2020 Giant Revolt. Great on gravel with 40c tires and great on the road. I swap in 50mm carbon wheels with 28c road tires for rides that are all paved.
Hi Ben, great video as usual! I was really happy to see the Revolt as your #1 since I just picked one up as my first “real” gravel bike (been riding cross bikes on trails forever).. I think you hit the nail on the head with the value that Giant brings.. I was able to get the Revolt Advanced 0, with carbon wheels and GRX 810, for $4,200 (2022 model).. that’s an insane spec for that price! I looked at all the other brands, even consumer direct, and couldn’t find a similar deal.. plus the fit was just about perfect for me.. I looked hard at some other bikes like the Crux and Aspero and they were both too “racy” for me since I don’t have the advantage of being able to ride every day to be in better shape :) Appreciate your insight and I always Enjoy the Ride whenever I can!
Yay for Giant! Love my (Giant) Liv Devote advanced 1. A Revolt with just a few tweaks for women specific. I opted for the 1X and love it. My everyday fun adventure bike.
Brilliant. Thanks. I’m on the aspero (not the 5). Some upgrades like seat post from black inc, terra Argo saddle, aero alu bars (cos I like the flat part). And finally 2 wheelsets, Bontrager pro 3v for gravel and Ican aero 35 (super light at 1350g) for road/all road, light gravel.
Sounds sweet. I rode and enjoyed the original Aspero again at The Cycling House in Tucson this spring. They had it set up with 32 slicks and it was a great ride.
Not sure if u read comments on older posts, but I’ve just added a Ritchey Outback into the stable. Aspero is now on 32 slicks and will be my somewhat comfy road bike and champagne gravel. The Outback fitted with the latest Sram Apex AXS eagle 10-52 with 42t chainring. With the GX 10-52 I get 2 cogs greater than a 1:1 ratio. I’m not a speed monger…it’s cool to cruise. Got a feeling the Outback will be the more used bike.
Bought a Revolt Advanced 0, seat tube split after 80kms due to a design flaw. Giant shop mocked me, saying it wasn’t common (check the internet!) and then said I’m a penalizing manner, it’s going to take months to get you a new frame. Giant couldn’t supply a replacement frame in the same colour. Eventually got a CX frame as a replacement. Now own a Checkpoint and the service, warranty and treatment at the Trek shop has been phenomenal!
Really appreciate your honest, perceptive feedback. Rarely do you go wrong with a Giant. Well engineered, reasonably priced, increasingly well designed. If I go mainstream, I go Giant. They just work and work well. The Revolt is an absolute standout. I'm riding a steel Ritchey Outback at the moment, But I owned a last gen Revolt Adv and it was excellent: stable enough, comfortable enough, fast enough, reliable... Can't beat them with a stick! I'm returning to carbon for racing soon and Revolt ties with Lauf on the shortlist.
You made my day, I always feel good when an expert validates my choice. My Revolt puts a smile on my face very time I take it out and really love the GRX Di2 2X drivetrain.
The new updated Revolt is probably in pole position for me as I am searching for a new do everything bike option. I like the Diverge STR too but I don’t trust the durability of the suspension systems, nor do I want to fiddle with them to get them just right every time I change something.
I have the lowest priced revolt. Its a great bike even at the lowest spec, especially for someone getting into biking more or a commuting/around town bike that you arent too afraid to lock. Also they look sweet, again even at the lowest price point people frequently think its a very expensive bike.
I don’t often compliment RUclipsrs… Ben… I think you come across as credible, authentic and authoritative… I have subscribed to your channel to hear more about what you have to say about the world of gravel riding… Enjoy your ride… See you on the trails… Matt
I've had a Salsa Warbird for years. It works! I don't have a need for another gravel bike, but I'd be interested in the Lauf, especially since they are CHEAPER now that they have a warehouse in the US. I love MTBing, but I agree with you on suspension or lack thereof on a gravel bike. If I need suspension I'm grabbing my XC/enduro bike.
Cargo bike gravel racing loves you Ben, and waits longingly for your participation. First Boulder, then the Continental United States. Let's jump the shark and get it done.
I second that comment on Giant building their own bikes. So many companies are really just marketing firms, and I have been burned more than you'd think by companies who had a good reputation but changed their factory location and the product went to crap. I really like companies such as Giant, Allied, litespeed or Moots for these reasons
i wanted a giant revolt but couldnt find one in my size so i ended up with an ibis hakka instead. i was more hyped on the revolt at first but now i have no regrets. the ibis in bone white is just so sexy, even non cyclists give me compliments on it regularly.
I love my 2021 Giant Revolt. Would trade in for the new version with more race-focused geometry and more mounts for bikepacking if I had the money, but it's still a rock solid bike that feels awesome in a wide range of riding styles and surface types.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney I've never ridden one but several of my friends have them, one rider I was riding with on a Santa Cruz Stigmata reckons the original model felt like a bit of a truck! I don't know and I bought the first Checkpoint, if the Giant had beat Trek off the drawing board I may well have ended up with one. Very interesting that you rate the new model so highly, they seem great value for money compared to other brands and one day I'm going to convert my Checkpoint to a single speed and get another gravel bike, maybe the Giant Revolt V3 when it's eventually released. Thanks for the great video.
I have a 2022 Revolt Advanced 1. I haven't bought a bike in over 15 years and was upsold on the electronic shifters and drop post, which I dont regret at all. I got an extra set of wheels and road tires fitted with rotors and a cassette. I couldn't get along with the stock saddle but all in all I love riding this bike.
So refreshing to have a presentation of "My Top 5".. instead of the typical clickbait titles like "BEST BIKE OF 2023" !!... who is to say what is MY best.. I appreciation knowing what you like looking for in these bikes. It's useful information I can use to make my own decisions
Quite interesting... I just came over from David Arthur's channel "Just ride bikes" where he had nothing but praises for the new Giant Revolt, since it is a mixture of the TCR with gravel bike features without too many compromises. Our largest Specialized dealer for 25 years threw the towel because of Specialized's politics and became a Giant center. I guess I need to pay them a visit for a new Revolt.
Giant isn't anything close to free of problems. I've worked for 2 shops where Giant broke our contract by signing with stores far too close to the shops I worked for. I'm talking nearly half the distance in our agreement.
Thanks for the great video! I bought a '22 Revolt Advanced 2 a few months ago, and I'm really enjoying it. I chose the "2" partly so I could fit a nice set of road wheels and tires into my budget. Di2 is great, but my mechanical derailleurs shift so fast and reliably that I don't miss it. After some fiddling, I can now switch from road to gravel wheels in six minutes. I agree with your critique of the steering stem spacers and seatpost clamp/wedge. I agree that the saddle is good, and that's a surprise, because I have a terrible time finding a saddle that fits me. Overall, I got a great bike (with a few quirks) that I'll have a blast on for years to come.
I own a 2021 Giant Revolt graveler and it is a fantastic bike for racing and just plain pleasure riding. I employ a Sram Force mechanical groupo and I love it. I ride on WTB Resolute 42mm tires and they seem to be the right width for me. Glad you gave the Revolt such high marks. Victor Rodriguez, Henderson, NV
Great video Ben. Agree with your opinion on the dollar to fun ratio on the Giant. Earlier this spring, I needed to get a second gravel bike as my teenage son was getting into joining me racing events. I have had a Canyon Grail with 2x Di2 since early 2021 and was on the fence about what to get. I ended up going with the Revolt Advanced 0 with mechanical GRX 2x. Got carbon rims and all the goodness right out of the box. 100% agree the bike is stable (much less twitchy than the Grail) and a solid performer. I do miss the 'hidden buttons' on the Di2 but I sure don't feel have compromised anywhere else.
Coming from mountain bikes I purchased a Giant Revolt Advanced and can happily say it’s comfy and feels great on road and gravel. My hands and ass dont buzz like they did with borrowed road bikes. While my mtb was a big purchase, this bike was affordable and a huge value!
I’ll be riding Unbound 100 on my 2013 Focus Mares CX bike. 40c tires and 10 speed di2. Not very aero with the canti brakes. It’s an oldtimer but plenty comfy.
Absolutely loved this video… didn’t think I would,because I came to it thinking 🧐 these bikes will super cool but super expensive too.. Glad I stuck around until the end.. excellent work … (St.Helens..UK)
For me, the best geometry frame Specialized Diverge Expert or S-WORKS and very important functions for gravel roads its front suspension 20mm. Plus bonus huge frame storage.
wow Giant Revolt! great value and very popular - I considered it along side the Canyon Grail CF Sl and it was very close - went with latter as I’m more into day racing than adventure gravel - few friends have the Revolt and love it - good video thx
Ride on, Ben, thx for the 411 one the bikes you’ve tested. I’ve learned a lot form you. Currently, I own a Crux Expert (love it, geometry is perfect) that’s great on/off road. My go to all-arounder for sure, and I have a Pinarello Grevil that is more aero than just about any road bike I own. Love them both because they are great on and-or off road. My best days out include asphalt, aggregate trails, and gravel roads. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and stoke 👍
Super cool. I've ridden the Roubaix Challenge a few times, mostly on road bikes. My most enjoyable time was on a Mason Bokeh with 50mm tires for sure.... Well, at least on the cobbles; the 50k on pavement down to the Arenberg was a bit of slog with that much rubber.
Another great video Ben. I've been on the Niner RLT 9 RTO for a few years now, and it's been a super solid bike, but I'm feeling the call of that Damn MOG 🙂
I have a Sage Titanium Barlow. It’s closer to endurance road geometry with a 72.5 head tube angle which makes it great on pavement or gravel. The ride is very smooth with Panaracer gravel king SS tires in 35mm. This is my first titanium bike as well as my first gravel bike. My two previous bikes were a Specialized Roubaix and a Giant Defy. Both were great riding bikes. This one is as good if not better. I like Giant but it has one fatal flaw, the press fit BB. I hate creaks. It took me a year and several tries to get the creak out of that BB. The final solution was a Chris King BB and Morgan Blue aqua proof paste. Finally, silence!😊 Unfortunately the bike was stolen soon after. Press fit bottom brackets are now a deal killer for me. I now use Morgan Blue aqua proof paste on everything that is threaded or pressed except handlebars.
Literally the same experience. Giant revolt advanced 2 ‘22 and the pressfit bottom bracket creaked from day 1. Had it noted at service with giant dealer and made no difference. It’s been relegated to the kickr and I’ll be selling it. I doubt I’ll buy a pressfit bb again. Probably looking at a Crux expert as the 22 model is 30% off in runout.
This is a great list! A bit surprised to see that Giant at the top but they do offer a lot of bang for not much buck. I considered the Aspero-5 and the GS1 but ultimately went with the racy Obed GVR and haven't looked back. It's treated me well, and been rock solid. I have GRX 2x di2 on it and it too is my #1 groupset of choice. I have a set of aero road wheels for it but hardly ever put them on - the gravel wheels (Spinergy GXX) and Cinturatos are just too good. Whenever it's time to get another gravel bike though, I think i'm going with titanium. While I do like to go fast, racing is not a priority for me.
@@LastAphelion I haven't ridden any titanium gravel bikes yet (I do have a titanium hardtail though, which I love and rides extremely well) but the ones i'm considering are (in no particular order) - Chumba Terlingua, Sanitas Node, Alchemy Ronin, LiteSpeed Ultimate G2 and Sage Storm King. Ultimately for me it'll come down to which one I can get GRX 2x Di2 on. That's the only groupset i'll consider.
Great review. I have a Crux, and no, it didn't cost me $12.5 grands but only half that. You can certainly enjoy a decently-built Crux for much less than the price of the S-Works.
The best bike is the bike that has the right geometry and fit for your body. I bike that you can ride comfortably for a long time. I have a short torso and long legs, bought the Litespeed T1sl. Feels like its custom made for my body. Had a couple of other road bikes in the past, none has felt som comfortable to ride. If I ever buy a gravel bike it will be a Litespeed because of that.
Giant Revolt is a well designed bike. Everyone I know that has one loves it. The geometry did not work for me. I went with the Cannondale Topstone carbon ultegra with 2 by. The kingpin feature is awesome on the Oregon "chonky" gravel. I don't race and never will. I just ride.
I've been riding revolts since 2014. My only gripe is PF BB on the carbon models. And the seat post shim is annoying too, as Ben said. I now have the Adv Pro 1 with Rival AXS. Heavy groupset!
I was getting a little sweaty with those first 4 bikes, $4k for the cheapest... Whew! But then the mighty Revolt. I bought a '20 Advanced 2, and still absolutely adore it. Rides great as a road bike, and you can get pretty silly with it on big tires! Great value is candy on top. Upgrade with time as you can. Only my stem is stock these days! Nice review.
So Ben, most of us can only choose one, so which is the most versatile, like I ride mostly east chunk and gnarl but love getting out on road bike smooth gravel. Like the Highlander, there can be only one! It would seem the Giant has the top nod for this role. Thanks for another great video.
Yup, my mix of riding is such that something that can handle some fast paced short to medium gravel rides and double as Bike-Packing Trail Mule was the order list for me back in Sep 2022, the SL5 Checkpoint won out after trying out 3 other brands… for a carbon stead it’s taken a beating (upgraded to the Bonty carbon rims) well impressed…. but for sure my criteria is not the same as Ben…. that Ventum sure seems like a sweet ride though…
Thanks a bunch Ben, I find your reviews very helpful! Curious to hear your opinion on the Domane SL/ SLR as a gravel bike if you've ridden that one? I find their Gen 4 model sits just around the sweet spot with 40/42 max clearance, as tested by @gravelcyclist etc. I too think 40mm is the optimal gravel setup for fast paced, racy gravel fun.
Thank you. Glad to hear that. I think the Domane is a great bike, and agree that 40mm is the sweet spot for fast gravel. I have a new inexpensive aluminum one in for test with Tiagra. Going to try it with both road and gravel tires and will do a review video. Before Trek launched the Checkpoint, they - for a few months - had a Domane Gravel, which I called BS on. ruclips.net/video/waYQeRnZ6nQ/видео.html
Just saw your video and I am so happy that you love the GIANT as its the bike I got, I did not see your video before I bought the bike som this made me so happy that a guy like you likes the bike although I have Pirelli M on i might try out your maxxis. Awesome video as always
Nice video sir great review and have to agree after research got a giant revolt advanced 0 In 2022. Figured best level for me didn't want to splurge for 11spd di2 I figured 12spd was on verge and would rather have that as a ultegra 12spd user already. Love the thing had some great rides n bike packing trips on it. Like the Enve too, as I just love Enve full stop. Keep up the good work.
Wow, didn‘t expect your #1 after all these lightweight, aero and expensive gravel bikes. Very reasonable and well presented Top 5. Would love to own any of these (if I would have the chance to ride them before purchase). My current favorite bike: Time ADHX / Canyon Grizl CF SLX Di2 (man, this sand colorway got me)
Love my '22 Revolt Advance 3 as a commuter or slap road wheels & tires and it's my backup for the group ride. And of course there's out of the box racy gravel, or flip the chip for a longer, more steady wheelbase for the chunkier stuff.
Nice list Ben, I bought a CRUX COMP which I loved, saddly I have to returned it to Specialized due to some issue with the steam and fork spacers, still wating if my local store will return my money, and I thinking on Ibis HAKKA MX either Ventum GS1
Great list Ben! I started with a Giant Revolt and always recommend it as a good start into gravel for both price and value. I was curious if you ever got a chance to test out a 3T Exploro Racemax or Ultra? Also would just love to see the list of bikes you have tested in general. Thanks!
Thanks. Yes on the Exploro RaceMax, but not the Ultra. I have a spreadsheet with the gravel bikes I have tested and geo and notes. Was trying to figure out how to add that to the video, but it looks like illegible garbage. I need a graphic designer! Maybe that could be a separate video - a quick run down of *all* the bikes.
Awesome video as usual…!!! Your top pick the Giant revolt gives me faith that you don’t have to take out a second mortgage to buy a good bike!!! 😅 The bike industry is getting way outta control with pricing.. (just my opinion)
Great stuff as always Ben. I had a Litespeed T5 Gravel for a few years. That was stolen, with Litespeed now being considerably more expensive in the UK (current Watia is $1=£1!!) I now have a Kinesis Tripster ATR v3- you might want to check that out if you can, a great all-rounder at a good price. Alpkit's Sonder Camino Ti is a frankly ridiculous bargain for titanium- $2349 for a frame, would like to see your impressions on that too.
I just got a base model Aspero with SRAM Apex 1x a few days ago, and I'm loving how it feels and rides. I like fast bikes too, and I test rode a few other things, but find the Aspero to be my bag. I ex[eted to find the Apex lacking and originally planned to upgrade when I got the chance, but it's smooth and works really well. It's a keeper. I'll probably upgrade the bars to aero carbon.
Thanks for your candor …. and not jumping ahead in your video, I’d arrived at the choices of a Time gravel frame whatever that model name is or the Giant. A little pleasantly surprised with your choice. I guess I still have to flip the coin, which is not small, as I haven’t seen any ridden reviews of the Time…just a hint.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney and as they are building a factory here stateside you have another reason! Not that you aren't adequately busy already. Thanks for your work...play,whatever you call it
Ben, Thanks for the review. I’ll have a 58 cm Time ADHX coming in at Vecchios in a few weeks if you’d like to give it a test ride. Give Jim a call if you’d like to arrange… Stumper
thanks for this vid! hoping they add internal storage to future generation revolts. I have a swat box on my bike (2016 roubaix) and I really like not needing a saddle bag - don't think I'd buy a new bike without some sort of integrated storage system.
The Giant Revolt was my favourite pick when looking for a gravel bike a couple months ago, but all those stories about cracked seat tubes held me back. Ended up getting a Trek Checkpoint, which has been fine so far. I do love the down tube storage; like really, REALLY love it. I wonder if I'll ever be able to own a bike without it... But that Enve...it's a beautiful bike; there's no denying that. Where do you normally ride, Ben? I'm in Boulder County and starting to explore the gravel in the foothills and also the plains East of Boulder, but happy to get recommendations from you, as I'm sure you have a wealth of routes under your butt 😊
Checkpoint is a great bike. Glad you dig it. I am in south Boulder so a lotta Flagstaff and Chapman, Marshall Mesa, and Boulder Res-area dirt. www.strava.com/athletes/116154
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney, Checkpoint is what I brung, so I gotta ride it 😄 I'm in Louisville, so riding pretty much the same places. I'll say "hi" if I ever run into you, which I hope to!
I bought a Giant Revolt Advanced 0 a few months ago and absolutely love it. Also glad to have my purchase validated!
I have been road racing for decades and 2 years ago I decided to get a gravel bike. I had never ridden gravel before and I bought the Giant Revolt for no other reason than it was in stock at my local bike shop. I was surprised, shocked really at how much I like this bike. If I'm not doing a race or fast group ride I'm on my revolt.
Here's my list of 50 tested gravel bikes. Some I rode for months and months; some for just a day. Most were somewhere in between.
Specialized Crux
Ventum GS1
ENVE MOG
Cervélo Áspero-5
Giant Revolt (22)
Pivot Vault
3T Exploro RaceMax
BMC Kaius
Cervélo Áspero
Canyon Grail (M) CF SL8
Salsa Warbird
Giant Revolt (20)
Specialized Diverge (22)
Specialized Diverge STR (23)
Trek Checkpoint (22)
Trek Checkpoint (original)
Lauf True Grit (Lauf fork)
Lauf (RockShox Rudy/XPLR)
Lauf Anywhere
BMC URS
BMC URS 01 (w Redshift)
BMC URS LT
Evil Chamois Hagar
Litespeed Ultimate G2
Argonaut GR3
YT Szepter
Ritte Satyr Steel 2.0
Alchemy Ronin Carbon
Allied Able
Cannondale Slate
Cannondale SuperSix EVO SE
Cannondale Topstone
Canyon Grizl
Chapter 2 AO
Litespeed Cherohala SE
Moots Routt RSL
Moots Routt 45
Moots Routt ESC
Mosaic GT-1
Mosaic GT-2 45
Niner MCR 9 RDO
Thesis OB1
Trek Domane Gravel
Devinci Hatchet
Canyon Grail AL
Canyon Grail CF SLX
Bianchi Arcadex
Pinarello Grevil
Pinarello Grevil F
Mason Bokeh
No Orro gravel bikes in the list. 🥲
Hi, what was your opinion about the cannondale TopStone ?
А где CUBE Nuroad ?
@@5cottins topstones have an excellent reputation. i have a topstone 1 alloy and it has been bulletproof. i use it as my beater bike when i dont want to fuck up my ibis hakka and it has been going strong for several years.
Hey Ben! what did you think of the Chapter 2 AO vs something like the latest Crux or Revolt? I have that bike and enjoy it but wanted to see how it compares to the newer bikes and if it's worth a Frame upgrade.
The value of the Revolt Advanced 3 was a big motivator for me to go Carbon for my first gravel bike. I can upgrade it over time and am starting with a bigger cassette and faster rolling wider tires.
This guy is so great to watch and listen to! He really knows his stuff and lives biking.
There ya' go again Ben... raising the bar for enjoyable, hands-on, real world reviews. Spectacular work. Two of my potentials were on your list though #1 totally got me by surprise which isn't a bad thing. Thanks to you getting closer to making a buying decision. Am going over some of the for me unfamiliar brands at Sea Otter. Wish had known of it before. Definitely would have driven up from L.A. Kinda curious about titanium bikes now especially if material as light as carbon and if truly makes ride more compliant, etc. Huge thanks again for what you do. Cheers!
Ti gravel bike rules but a carbon aero is faster
Thank you. And yeah, Sea Otter is worth the trip if you’re in SoCal.
Ti is not as light as carbon nor can it be manipulated as easily for flex here and stiffness there. It can be comfortable to ride, and the durability is a huge benefit over carbon, but it isn’t indestructible.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney Appreciate the 411 on Ti. Wasn't really looking forward to throwing another build into the mix/decision making process.
I'm not into gravel bikes, I'm 100% on road. However, I like your videos, races, adventures and footage. The present list although personal, it's close to perfection as includes indeed 5 of the best current bikes. And surprise-surprise, No1 is a bike most people would buy, not just dream. So, well done.
Surprise that you are the 'Aero is everything' inventor, something that even if I'm against (I love standard tubing and shallow wheels that suffer less in the crosswinds), it haunted me for a longtime since every person I know hit me in the head with this motto !!
I believe that you should share a tour of your bikes at the garage. Your Tarmac, Enve, etc + all the adjustments/modifications you love or you suggest.
But most of all - I repeat myself - your stuff is very interesting, fun(ny) and informative. Thanks!
Thank you. I need to clean up my garage first!
Great review. I love my 2020 Giant Revolt. Great on gravel with 40c tires and great on the road. I swap in 50mm carbon wheels with 28c road tires for rides that are all paved.
Hi Ben, great video as usual! I was really happy to see the Revolt as your #1 since I just picked one up as my first “real” gravel bike (been riding cross bikes on trails forever).. I think you hit the nail on the head with the value that Giant brings.. I was able to get the Revolt Advanced 0, with carbon wheels and GRX 810, for $4,200 (2022 model).. that’s an insane spec for that price! I looked at all the other brands, even consumer direct, and couldn’t find a similar deal.. plus the fit was just about perfect for me.. I looked hard at some other bikes like the Crux and Aspero and they were both too “racy” for me since I don’t have the advantage of being able to ride every day to be in better shape :) Appreciate your insight and I always Enjoy the Ride whenever I can!
Another masterpiece video. Thank you Ben! I’m amazed you got all that info in a 20 minute clip. 😮
Glad it was of interest.
Yay for Giant! Love my (Giant) Liv Devote advanced 1. A Revolt with just a few tweaks for women specific. I opted for the 1X and love it. My everyday fun adventure bike.
Cool. Thanks for sharing your experience with the Devote.
Brilliant. Thanks. I’m on the aspero (not the 5). Some upgrades like seat post from black inc, terra Argo saddle, aero alu bars (cos I like the flat part). And finally 2 wheelsets, Bontrager pro 3v for gravel and Ican aero 35 (super light at 1350g) for road/all road, light gravel.
Sounds sweet. I rode and enjoyed the original Aspero again at The Cycling House in Tucson this spring. They had it set up with 32 slicks and it was a great ride.
Not sure if u read comments on older posts, but I’ve just added a Ritchey Outback into the stable. Aspero is now on 32 slicks and will be my somewhat comfy road bike and champagne gravel. The Outback fitted with the latest Sram Apex AXS eagle 10-52 with 42t chainring. With the GX 10-52 I get 2 cogs greater than a 1:1 ratio. I’m not a speed monger…it’s cool to cruise. Got a feeling the Outback will be the more used bike.
Bought a Revolt Advanced 0, seat tube split after 80kms due to a design flaw.
Giant shop mocked me, saying it wasn’t common (check the internet!) and then said I’m a penalizing manner, it’s going to take months to get you a new frame.
Giant couldn’t supply a replacement frame in the same colour.
Eventually got a CX frame as a replacement.
Now own a Checkpoint and the service, warranty and treatment at the Trek shop has been phenomenal!
Really appreciate your honest, perceptive feedback. Rarely do you go wrong with a Giant. Well engineered, reasonably priced, increasingly well designed. If I go mainstream, I go Giant. They just work and work well. The Revolt is an absolute standout. I'm riding a steel Ritchey Outback at the moment, But I owned a last gen Revolt Adv and it was excellent: stable enough, comfortable enough, fast enough, reliable... Can't beat them with a stick! I'm returning to carbon for racing soon and Revolt ties with Lauf on the shortlist.
You made my day, I always feel good when an expert validates my choice. My Revolt puts a smile on my face very time I take it out and really love the GRX Di2 2X drivetrain.
I say the same about my Áspero5
The new updated Revolt is probably in pole position for me as I am searching for a new do everything bike option. I like the Diverge STR too but I don’t trust the durability of the suspension systems, nor do I want to fiddle with them to get them just right every time I change something.
I have the lowest priced revolt. Its a great bike even at the lowest spec, especially for someone getting into biking more or a commuting/around town bike that you arent too afraid to lock. Also they look sweet, again even at the lowest price point people frequently think its a very expensive bike.
I just bought an Aspero Apex 1x a few weeks ago and loving it so far.
Great Video with lots of informed insights. I own a Ventum GS1 and agree with your commentary specific to that machine. Keep up the good work!
I don’t often compliment RUclipsrs… Ben… I think you come across as credible, authentic and authoritative… I have subscribed to your channel to hear more about what you have to say about the world of gravel riding… Enjoy your ride… See you on the trails… Matt
Thanks, Matt.
I love your brute honesty with humour. Subscribed
Cheers. Thank you.
I love my 2022 Revolt Advanced Pro 0. It is the only complete bike that I have kept stock in my life. I've been riding since 1993.
I've had a Salsa Warbird for years. It works! I don't have a need for another gravel bike, but I'd be interested in the Lauf, especially since they are CHEAPER now that they have a warehouse in the US. I love MTBing, but I agree with you on suspension or lack thereof on a gravel bike. If I need suspension I'm grabbing my XC/enduro bike.
Cargo bike gravel racing loves you Ben, and waits longingly for your participation. First Boulder, then the Continental United States. Let's jump the shark and get it done.
Hehehe. You tee it up, we’ll knock it down.
I second that comment on Giant building their own bikes. So many companies are really just marketing firms, and I have been burned more than you'd think by companies who had a good reputation but changed their factory location and the product went to crap. I really like companies such as Giant, Allied, litespeed or Moots for these reasons
i wanted a giant revolt but couldnt find one in my size so i ended up with an ibis hakka instead. i was more hyped on the revolt at first but now i have no regrets. the ibis in bone white is just so sexy, even non cyclists give me compliments on it regularly.
I love my 2021 Giant Revolt. Would trade in for the new version with more race-focused geometry and more mounts for bikepacking if I had the money, but it's still a rock solid bike that feels awesome in a wide range of riding styles and surface types.
Yeah, I didn’t like the original Revolt geo nearly as much.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney I've never ridden one but several of my friends have them, one rider I was riding with on a Santa Cruz Stigmata reckons the original model felt like a bit of a truck! I don't know and I bought the first Checkpoint, if the Giant had beat Trek off the drawing board I may well have ended up with one. Very interesting that you rate the new model so highly, they seem great value for money compared to other brands and one day I'm going to convert my Checkpoint to a single speed and get another gravel bike, maybe the Giant Revolt V3 when it's eventually released. Thanks for the great video.
My pleasure. Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences.
I have a 2022 Revolt Advanced 1. I haven't bought a bike in over 15 years and was upsold on the electronic shifters and drop post, which I dont regret at all. I got an extra set of wheels and road tires fitted with rotors and a cassette. I couldn't get along with the stock saddle but all in all I love riding this bike.
Merckx Strasbourg 71. Excellent bike with features like Kevlar shielding at rock impact areas and attachment points for fenders and extra bottles.
Ah, shoot! You reminded me that I left that one of my tested list… Glad you like it.
So refreshing to have a presentation of "My Top 5".. instead of the typical clickbait titles like "BEST BIKE OF 2023" !!... who is to say what is MY best.. I appreciation knowing what you like looking for in these bikes. It's useful information I can use to make my own decisions
Thanks, Jim. And yeah, who the heck am I to say what THE WORLD'S BEST are?
Love my Ventum .. plus you can pick bar, stem, and crank length to truly get your size
Yeah, that is a plus and a notable difference from Canyon (at least in North America - Europeans may have more flexibility in parts).
Love my Cervelo Aspero! Can't wait to use it at BWR Canada
That BWR Canada course should be a challenge. Have fun!
Top class, as usual. That Revolt absolutely rules.
Quite interesting... I just came over from David Arthur's channel "Just ride bikes" where he had nothing but praises for the new Giant Revolt, since it is a mixture of the TCR with gravel bike features without too many compromises. Our largest Specialized dealer for 25 years threw the towel because of Specialized's politics and became a Giant center. I guess I need to pay them a visit for a new Revolt.
Giant isn't anything close to free of problems. I've worked for 2 shops where Giant broke our contract by signing with stores far too close to the shops I worked for. I'm talking nearly half the distance in our agreement.
Happy to hear that David and I agree on that. He had his Crux with him at Sea Otter this year.
Thanks for the great video!
I bought a '22 Revolt Advanced 2 a few months ago, and I'm really enjoying it. I chose the "2" partly so I could fit a nice set of road wheels and tires into my budget. Di2 is great, but my mechanical derailleurs shift so fast and reliably that I don't miss it. After some fiddling, I can now switch from road to gravel wheels in six minutes.
I agree with your critique of the steering stem spacers and seatpost clamp/wedge.
I agree that the saddle is good, and that's a surprise, because I have a terrible time finding a saddle that fits me.
Overall, I got a great bike (with a few quirks) that I'll have a blast on for years to come.
The Revolt was my first gravel bike and running 50c ReneHerse and am just crazy happy with it.
Sweet.
Thanks, perfect review and video at the perfect time.
I own a 2021 Giant Revolt graveler and it is a fantastic bike for racing and just plain pleasure riding. I employ a Sram Force mechanical groupo and I love it. I ride on WTB Resolute 42mm tires and they seem to be the right width for me. Glad you gave the Revolt such high marks.
Victor Rodriguez, Henderson, NV
Cool. Hope you're staying cool in Henderson.
Great video Ben. Agree with your opinion on the dollar to fun ratio on the Giant. Earlier this spring, I needed to get a second gravel bike as my teenage son was getting into joining me racing events. I have had a Canyon Grail with 2x Di2 since early 2021 and was on the fence about what to get. I ended up going with the Revolt Advanced 0 with mechanical GRX 2x. Got carbon rims and all the goodness right out of the box. 100% agree the bike is stable (much less twitchy than the Grail) and a solid performer. I do miss the 'hidden buttons' on the Di2 but I sure don't feel have compromised anywhere else.
I hope your son ends up riding the same size bike so you can get his hand me downs. 😄
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney yep same size so I sort of get to extend the N+1 equation.
Coming from mountain bikes I purchased a Giant Revolt Advanced and can happily say it’s comfy and feels great on road and gravel. My hands and ass dont buzz like they did with borrowed road bikes. While my mtb was a big purchase, this bike was affordable and a huge value!
Yes. What I like about the Crux. It’s just a bike.
Other than seatpost, the Giant is also just a bike, but much more affordable
Nice T-shirt Ben! All legendary Belgian hills!
Love your Dutch shirt. As being Dutch I can imagine from whom it came.... ❤😂
Also with the revolt the AL versions start around 1,000 or so for those starting on a tighter budget !
Yeah, that’s a great shout.
I’ll be riding Unbound 100 on my 2013 Focus Mares CX bike. 40c tires and 10 speed di2. Not very aero with the canti brakes. It’s an oldtimer but plenty comfy.
Heck yeah, Peter! I will see you there. As you know, plenty of the early Unbound/DKs were won on much narrower tires. Comfy is good.
Absolutely loved this video… didn’t think I would,because I came to it thinking 🧐 these bikes will super cool but super expensive too..
Glad I stuck around until the end.. excellent work … (St.Helens..UK)
Cheers!
For me, the best geometry frame Specialized Diverge Expert or S-WORKS and very important functions for gravel roads its front suspension 20mm. Plus bonus huge frame storage.
Can the new marketing slogan for specialized be “the stem is normal, the bar is normal” because it should be
I think they're going with "Who needs two chainrings? NOT YOU BUDDY YOU ONLY GET ONE!!!"
wow Giant Revolt! great value and very popular - I considered it along side the Canyon Grail CF Sl and it was very close - went with latter as I’m more into day racing than adventure gravel - few friends have the Revolt and love it - good video thx
Absolutely!!!! Light and areo!!!! Y’all finally got it and from a practical man!!! What is the weight of the revolt bike?
Ride on, Ben, thx for the 411 one the bikes you’ve tested. I’ve learned a lot form you. Currently, I own a Crux Expert (love it, geometry is perfect) that’s great on/off road. My go to all-arounder for sure, and I have a Pinarello Grevil that is more aero than just about any road bike I own. Love them both because they are great on and-or off road. My best days out include asphalt, aggregate trails, and gravel roads. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and stoke 👍
Cheers, Kato. Thanks for sharing your experiences, too.
It would have been nice if you had put a list of all 50+ bikes you’ve tested 😉 but I was pleasantly surprised by your bike choice 👍🏻
Ben enjoy your video. Riding BMC Unrestricted URS 01 ONE and if I have to choose will take the Cervelo Aspero 5
I rode my Giant Revlon Advanced 2 in the Paris-Roubaix Challenge last month. It rode like a dream!
Super cool. I've ridden the Roubaix Challenge a few times, mostly on road bikes. My most enjoyable time was on a Mason Bokeh with 50mm tires for sure.... Well, at least on the cobbles; the 50k on pavement down to the Arenberg was a bit of slog with that much rubber.
Another great video Ben. I've been on the Niner RLT 9 RTO for a few years now, and it's been a super solid bike, but I'm feeling the call of that Damn MOG 🙂
Love my 2019 Giant Revolt 0, very comfortable. Just had LBS upgrade to GRX Di2.
Damage $ ?
@@osint6372 No damage, upgrade. Less expensive than buying new Revolt with Di2
I have a Sage Titanium Barlow. It’s closer to endurance road geometry with a 72.5 head tube angle which makes it great on pavement or gravel. The ride is very smooth with Panaracer gravel king SS tires in 35mm. This is my first titanium bike as well as my first gravel bike. My two previous bikes were a Specialized Roubaix and a Giant Defy. Both were great riding bikes. This one is as good if not better. I like Giant but it has one fatal flaw, the press fit BB. I hate creaks. It took me a year and several tries to get the creak out of that BB. The final solution was a Chris King BB and Morgan Blue aqua proof paste. Finally, silence!😊 Unfortunately the bike was stolen soon after. Press fit bottom brackets are now a deal killer for me. I now use Morgan Blue aqua proof paste on everything that is threaded or pressed except handlebars.
Literally the same experience. Giant revolt advanced 2 ‘22 and the pressfit bottom bracket creaked from day 1. Had it noted at service with giant dealer and made no difference. It’s been relegated to the kickr and I’ll be selling it. I doubt I’ll buy a pressfit bb again. Probably looking at a Crux expert as the 22 model is 30% off in runout.
Appreciate the insight. I’m enjoying a Santa Cruz Stigmata as my go-to. It feels quite nice on some 28c road tires as well.
The Stigmata has been a stalwart for years. No need to fix what isn’t broken.
This is a great list! A bit surprised to see that Giant at the top but they do offer a lot of bang for not much buck. I considered the Aspero-5 and the GS1 but ultimately went with the racy Obed GVR and haven't looked back. It's treated me well, and been rock solid. I have GRX 2x di2 on it and it too is my #1 groupset of choice. I have a set of aero road wheels for it but hardly ever put them on - the gravel wheels (Spinergy GXX) and Cinturatos are just too good. Whenever it's time to get another gravel bike though, I think i'm going with titanium. While I do like to go fast, racing is not a priority for me.
What would be your top picks for ti?
@@LastAphelion I haven't ridden any titanium gravel bikes yet (I do have a titanium hardtail though, which I love and rides extremely well) but the ones i'm considering are (in no particular order) - Chumba Terlingua, Sanitas Node, Alchemy Ronin, LiteSpeed Ultimate G2 and Sage Storm King. Ultimately for me it'll come down to which one I can get GRX 2x Di2 on. That's the only groupset i'll consider.
Great review. I have a Crux, and no, it didn't cost me $12.5 grands but only half that. You can certainly enjoy a decently-built Crux for much less than the price of the S-Works.
Great review Brother...thank you !
Great review, Ben! Top 50 list next? 30sec per bike, 1min intro/outro; people love top whatever list so does RUclips’s algo.
The best bike is the bike that has the right geometry and fit for your body.
I bike that you can ride comfortably for a long time.
I have a short torso and long legs, bought the Litespeed T1sl.
Feels like its custom made for my body.
Had a couple of other road bikes in the past, none has felt som comfortable to ride.
If I ever buy a gravel bike it will be a Litespeed because of that.
Love my Crux Comp with upgraded Roval carbon wheels. Never ride my road bike anymore.
Giant Revolt is a well designed bike. Everyone I know that has one loves it. The geometry did not work for me. I went with the Cannondale Topstone carbon ultegra with 2 by. The kingpin feature is awesome on the Oregon "chonky" gravel. I don't race and never will. I just ride.
I've been riding revolts since 2014. My only gripe is PF BB on the carbon models. And the seat post shim is annoying too, as Ben said. I now have the Adv Pro 1 with Rival AXS. Heavy groupset!
I was getting a little sweaty with those first 4 bikes, $4k for the cheapest... Whew! But then the mighty Revolt. I bought a '20 Advanced 2, and still absolutely adore it. Rides great as a road bike, and you can get pretty silly with it on big tires! Great value is candy on top. Upgrade with time as you can. Only my stem is stock these days! Nice review.
Cool. Glad it was helpful, and that your experience was similar to mine.
The 2023 Felt Broam 30 hands down a bike that met my expectations and more in all facets
So Ben, most of us can only choose one, so which is the most versatile, like I ride mostly east chunk and gnarl but love getting out on road bike smooth gravel. Like the Highlander, there can be only one! It would seem the Giant has the top nod for this role. Thanks for another great video.
Also, noted all are carbon bikes. No metal in this list.
I concur, the order could be slightly different, Trek should be slotted in there somewhere, I don't have experience with Ventum or Giant.
Fair enough!
Yup, my mix of riding is such that something that can handle some fast paced short to medium gravel rides and double as Bike-Packing Trail Mule was the order list for me back in Sep 2022, the SL5 Checkpoint won out after trying out 3 other brands… for a carbon stead it’s taken a beating (upgraded to the Bonty carbon rims) well impressed…. but for sure my criteria is not the same as Ben…. that Ventum sure seems like a sweet ride though…
Yes indeed / dig my Giant revolt / best bang for buck.
Thanks a bunch Ben, I find your reviews very helpful! Curious to hear your opinion on the Domane SL/ SLR as a gravel bike if you've ridden that one? I find their Gen 4 model sits just around the sweet spot with 40/42 max clearance, as tested by @gravelcyclist etc. I too think 40mm is the optimal gravel setup for fast paced, racy gravel fun.
Thank you. Glad to hear that. I think the Domane is a great bike, and agree that 40mm is the sweet spot for fast gravel. I have a new inexpensive aluminum one in for test with Tiagra. Going to try it with both road and gravel tires and will do a review video.
Before Trek launched the Checkpoint, they - for a few months - had a Domane Gravel, which I called BS on. ruclips.net/video/waYQeRnZ6nQ/видео.html
Another vote for the Giant - I added The Tufo Gravel Thundero 40 tyres to mine and absolutely love it.
Just saw your video and I am so happy that you love the GIANT as its the bike I got, I did not see your video before I bought the bike som this made me so happy that a guy like you likes the bike although I have Pirelli M on i might try out your maxxis. Awesome video as always
Cool. Glad to hear it.
giant bikes are always on point, the design is simple/minimalist but the specs are efficient and effective. and all my bikes are giant lol
i'd love for you to test ride blackhearts all road ti bike. i know youve seen it, but would love for you to ride it as well!
Nice video sir great review and have to agree after research got a giant revolt advanced 0 In 2022. Figured best level for me didn't want to splurge for 11spd di2 I figured 12spd was on verge and would rather have that as a ultegra 12spd user already. Love the thing had some great rides n bike packing trips on it. Like the Enve too, as I just love Enve full stop. Keep up the good work.
Cool. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.
Your videos offer great information. Nice work!
Wow, didn‘t expect your #1 after all these lightweight, aero and expensive gravel bikes. Very reasonable and well presented Top 5. Would love to own any of these (if I would have the chance to ride them before purchase).
My current favorite bike: Time ADHX / Canyon Grizl CF SLX Di2 (man, this sand colorway got me)
I'm keen to try a Time.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney max tire width on the Time ADHX is only 38... I think the next gen will be very interesting tho
Love my '22 Revolt Advance 3 as a commuter or slap road wheels & tires and it's my backup for the group ride. And of course there's out of the box racy gravel, or flip the chip for a longer, more steady wheelbase for the chunkier stuff.
Great recommendations. What are your top 5 Titanium Gravel bikes?
Have both the Crux and Revolt. The Giant is a better cruiser, but the Crux is more fun.
which one would you keep if you could only have one?
Picked up a 2023 revolt advanced pro 1 and love it!
Awesome & Thanks Sir 🙏🕊
Nice list Ben, I bought a CRUX COMP which I loved, saddly I have to returned it to Specialized due to some issue with the steam and fork spacers, still wating if my local store will return my money, and I thinking on Ibis HAKKA MX either Ventum GS1
Great list Ben! I started with a Giant Revolt and always recommend it as a good start into gravel for both price and value. I was curious if you ever got a chance to test out a 3T Exploro Racemax or Ultra? Also would just love to see the list of bikes you have tested in general. Thanks!
Thanks. Yes on the Exploro RaceMax, but not the Ultra. I have a spreadsheet with the gravel bikes I have tested and geo and notes. Was trying to figure out how to add that to the video, but it looks like illegible garbage. I need a graphic designer!
Maybe that could be a separate video - a quick run down of *all* the bikes.
Awesome video as usual…!!! Your top pick the Giant revolt gives me faith that you don’t have to take out a second mortgage to buy a good bike!!! 😅
The bike industry is getting way outta control with pricing.. (just my opinion)
Thank you. I am happy for brands to shoot for the moon, but we gotta have a range of price options if we want more people to join the party.
Fantastic video 👌👌👌
Great stuff as always Ben. I had a Litespeed T5 Gravel for a few years. That was stolen, with Litespeed now being considerably more expensive in the UK (current Watia is $1=£1!!) I now have a Kinesis Tripster ATR v3- you might want to check that out if you can, a great all-rounder at a good price. Alpkit's Sonder Camino Ti is a frankly ridiculous bargain for titanium- $2349 for a frame, would like to see your impressions on that too.
Bummer about the theft. We don’t get Kinesis over here (I don’t think!) and I had not heard of Alpkit. Will look into them. Thanks.
I just got a base model Aspero with SRAM Apex 1x a few days ago, and I'm loving how it feels and rides. I like fast bikes too, and I test rode a few other things, but find the Aspero to be my bag. I ex[eted to find the Apex lacking and originally planned to upgrade when I got the chance, but it's smooth and works really well. It's a keeper. I'll probably upgrade the bars to aero carbon.
Glad you dig the bike and the group.
Excellent video
Bought a giant revolt 2 after watching this video. Loving it.
Glad to hear you dig the bike!
Just bought a Crux Pro, love it 💖!
Cool. Enjoy.
Thanks for your candor …. and not jumping ahead in your video, I’d arrived at the choices of a Time gravel frame whatever that model name is or the Giant. A little pleasantly surprised with your choice. I guess I still have to flip the coin, which is not small, as I haven’t seen any ridden reviews of the Time…just a hint.
I have not ridden a Time in years. I should rectify that.
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney and as they are building a factory here stateside you have another reason! Not that you aren't adequately busy already. Thanks for your work...play,whatever you call it
Ben, Thanks for the review. I’ll have a 58 cm Time ADHX coming in at Vecchios in a few weeks if you’d like to give it a test ride. Give Jim a call if you’d like to arrange… Stumper
@@stumpystumper1274 that is super generous of you. Thank you. I may well take you up on that.
Love my Scott Addict Gravel
thanks for this vid! hoping they add internal storage to future generation revolts. I have a swat box on my bike (2016 roubaix) and I really like not needing a saddle bag - don't think I'd buy a new bike without some sort of integrated storage system.
Awesome review! Really appreciate your insight and candidness. Have you ever tested a Santa Cruz Stigmata
studio.ruclips.net/user/videobd-fkG-5AzU/edit
Great shirt 👏🏻. Greetings from The Netherlands 😊
Cheers!
Excellent video. Subscribed!
Awesome, thank you!
The Giant Revolt was my favourite pick when looking for a gravel bike a couple months ago, but all those stories about cracked seat tubes held me back. Ended up getting a Trek Checkpoint, which has been fine so far. I do love the down tube storage; like really, REALLY love it. I wonder if I'll ever be able to own a bike without it...
But that Enve...it's a beautiful bike; there's no denying that.
Where do you normally ride, Ben? I'm in Boulder County and starting to explore the gravel in the foothills and also the plains East of Boulder, but happy to get recommendations from you, as I'm sure you have a wealth of routes under your butt 😊
Checkpoint is a great bike. Glad you dig it.
I am in south Boulder so a lotta Flagstaff and Chapman, Marshall Mesa, and Boulder Res-area dirt. www.strava.com/athletes/116154
@@TheRidewithBenDelaney, Checkpoint is what I brung, so I gotta ride it 😄
I'm in Louisville, so riding pretty much the same places. I'll say "hi" if I ever run into you, which I hope to!