This spring, Revel announced a couple of new bikes: the electrified ReRun, the longer-travel Ritual, and a (sort-of) new Rascal with its new SL frame option. And then Revel went away. And then it came back with a new, old owner. Revel’s founder, Adam Miller, bought the brand back from the private equity group he sold it to in 2021.

But all of that is a bit of a convoluted distraction from the Rascal SL. Back in February 2024, Revel released the Rascal V2. I reviewed that bike (in a size XL) for another outlet, and my takeaway was that in a world full of 130-millimeter bikes that seem hell-bent on cosplaying as enduro rigs, the Rascal was a nice alternative—a trail bike that just wanted to ride mellow trails really well.

And then Revel announced the new SL version of the Rascal, which keeps all the same geometry and features as the V2 I reviewed, but uses a new carbon layup to shave 200 grams off of the frame. It’s like a Yeti Turq, or a Santa Cruz CC, or a Specialized S-Works. The same bike, but lighter.

I’ve been riding the new SL version of the Rascal, and my biggest takeaway is that feels like the most obvious possible evolution for this bike, and it makes it “better” in exactly the way I’d like. 

Revel Rascal SL Details

• Travel: 130 mm (rear) 140 mm (front)
• Wheel Size: Mixed 29”
• Size Tested: Large
• Build Tested: XO Transmission 
• Head Tube Angle: 65.5°
• Measured Weight: 31.0 lbs (14.06 kg)
• MSRP: $6,899

Revel Rascal SL Details

The new Rascal SL keeps all the same little frame details as the V2 it’s based off of. That means internal routing (with a kind of weird loop of brake hose under the bottom bracket), titanium fasteners, CBF dual-link suspension design, a small fender at the rear linkage, and no in-frame storage.

The Rascal SL is a fairly dialed bike, with fairly “normal” standards. Its geometry is notably a little conservative, with a slightly steeper head tube and slacker seat tube than more aggressive bikes in this class. And, while you are welcome to bump the fork travel up to 150 millimeters, Revel does not recommend over-stroking the 50-millimeter shock for more rear travel.

There is no option to run mullet wheels, and no flip-chips or geometry adjustments to be seen. What you buy is what you get. That’s a little refreshing in its simplicity, but folks who love to fiddle should look elsewhere.

Revel Rascal SL Build

Revel launched a few new builds with the new SL frame. The XO Transmission option I reviewed is unsurprisingly centered around SRAM’s eponymous drivetrain, and an Ultimate level Super Deluxe and Lyrik. Motive Silver brakes slow you down, and DT Swiss XMC1501 Spline ONE Carbon wheels spin shod with Continental Kryptotal Trail Soft Front and Xynotal Trail Endurance Rear tires.

At a cursory glance, that spec mostly makes sense. But, spoiler alert, I really like this bike (a lot). And I have a bad habit of holding bikes I enjoy to a higher standard spec wise. So here’s a bit of a tangent about what I would change about this bike’s spec if I owned it. To be clear, how it ships makes a ton of sense, but I can’t help but imagine tweaking it to optimize my favorite parts of its performance, and maybe these notes will help you if you’re looking to build up your own Rascal SL.

First: I don’t think product managers should ever spec bikes with the combination of Motive brakes and Lyrik (or Fox 36) forks. This has come up in reviews before, but I’m more and more convinced that if a bike deserves a burlier fork like a Lyrik or 36, it also deserves burlier brakes.

And while usually I’m advocating for brands to spec Mavens on their Lyrik bikes, with the Rascal SL, I’d go the opposite direction. This bike is begging for a Pike. It’s only about 150 grams of weight savings, but why not make that shift? I don’t have any desire to overfork the Rascal SL to 150 millimeters—if I did, I’d just buy a different bike. 

Second, I dig how the stock Continental tires ride, but I can’t help wondering how much silly fun this bike would be with just a little more cross-country biased tires. Maybe a Dissector/Rekon combo? Maybe dual Rekons? As we’re about to get into, even with its stock Lyrik and tires, the Rascal SL is so responsive and zippy. If I owned this bike, I’d turn that personality up to 11 with a lighter fork and faster tires.

Riding the Revel Rascal SL

As I mentioned in the intro, I rode almost this bike for a few months in late 2023 and early 2024, with two main caveats. First, and least importantly, I was on the non-SL version that weighed around half a pound more. And second, I was on an XL. At 6’2” I slot between large and XL for most brands, and initially I was given the wrong size chart for the bike, that made me think I need to be on the XL, so I just rolled with it. And the XL was great. It was one of the most fun Galbraith bikes I’ve reviewed. I’m smiling right now just writing about it.

But wow, did going down a size and shaving some weight make this bike even more fun! On the pedals the Rascal SL delivers a delightful combination of platform and traction. It doesn’t feel like any of my pedal power is being wasted into the rear suspension, but it doesn’t feel taut, or high-strung like some bikes in this class. It still grips very nicely on tricky climbs, while never feeling like I needed to lock it out for smoother ascents.

And, while I’d usually jump to descending performance, let’s talk “going across the hill” for a moment. The Rascal SL does this very well. In rolling, pumpy traverses, the Rascal generates speed quite well, and carries momentum across obstacles and through awkward corners.

When you do finally point things downhill, the Rascal controls its travel very well. It feels like there’s a very defined platform in the mid stroke that’s never harsh or violent feeling, but still gives you a very consistent place to pump and pop off of. That, combined with how nicely the Rascal deals with smaller chatter means that this is a bike that I’m always reaching for bonus gaps on. 

Up top I mentioned that this might be my favorite Galbraith bike around, and that’s an important descriptor. Everything on Galbraith in Bellingham, Washington, is purpose-built for bikes, and other than a couple of pro jump lines, there’s nothing “scary” on the hill. Instead it’s littered with features that are fun to gap into, or out of, or jib, or whatever. Riding on Galbraith is rarely survival, puckered, riding. Instead it’s intentionally playful, and that’s exactly what the Rascal does best.

I do not want to ride steep, techy trails blind on this bike. There are several bikes in this class (the Transition Smuggler and Cannondale Habit come to mind) that do that type of thing much better. I do not want to race cross-country on this bike (the Trek Top Fuel does that better). Instead, I want to do the rides I do most often: pedal from the house, goof around on familiar trails, and come home as the sun sets.

However, the same qualities that make the Rascal SL so good in that scenario also lend themselves to the sort of rugged, square-edged, “big wander on multi-purpose trails” riding I used to do in Idaho and Wyoming. It handles awkward, flat-but-techy sections of trail quite well. It’s efficient over a long day. It’s smooth and consistent. It’s a trail bike. It’s not here to win races or push your limits, and that’s refreshing.

For Now

Revel’s updates to the Rascal SL make a whole bunch of sense. This is a bike that benefits from a little shaved weight, and I don’t think the Rascal lost any of its spark when it shed those grams. There’s no one design element or ride characteristic that outshines or defines this bike. Instead, it presents a coherent, compelling package that’s a whole bunch of fun.

Learn more: Revel Bikes