New Bikes! Revel Ranger Bike Review

[@MexicoDrones]

Funny the directions life takes us in. I just sold my Salsa Bucksaw FS Fatbike. Loved it and built it piece by piece with the best components (sub 30 lbs for a fat bike w 4¨tires). So I am telling you all of this because I sold it to finish our new Overland Build. We loved the lifestyle you two inspired us to live so much that we decided to go all in and build a very large 4x4 overland rig from an ambulance after two years living in the Jeep. Built a garage for two bikes and I hope to build another bike for myself soon. Have a great time out there and hope to see you somewhere in Baja this season. Keep inspiring people!

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

Haha that's awesome! Enjoy your adventures and I hope bikes become part of it again haha!

[@KevIsOffGrid]

Glad you are buzzing with bikes, even happier that I helped keep the passion going.

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

You and me both!

[@eldonhongo6095]

Really appreciate the review from an experienced rider with the product ownership. What is the weight of the size large?

[@offroader5]

I rode a mid level hard tail for about 6 years and finally upgraded to a pretty nice full suspension about a year and a half ago. What a difference, especially going from an AL frame to CF. I researched and went back and forth trying to make up my mind and ended up getting a Trail Pistol from Gorilla Gravity. Very close set up to yours. Opted for NX gear to save cost on something easy to upgrade, but did go in for CF bars, the SID ULT suspension and Magura brakes. I need to get out on mine more often. Time to re-up the annual Maricopa regional pass....lol

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

The guilt of spending on a fancy bike makes me want to ride more to justify it. Haha!

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

Hell ya!

[@imbdileva]

Drunk Cyclist jersey and Colter Wall hats. Tim, you be cool!! I love rockin' my Drunk Cyclist kit!

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

👊🍻🚵

[@v8srock]

Nice looking bikes, I am interested in seeing how you plan to carry them on the Landcruiser. I am looking for ways to take my bike on camping missions also.

[@lpasatie]

Love my Ranger especially with hydra hubs and revels carbon hoops. Definitely not an xc bike!

[@adriandmd]

I bashed mine around at Alyeska and the lift access downhill trails this summer! The XX1 kit is the shit!

[@iteotwawkiaiff8948]

Congrats on the new bikes! I kinda like the wider bars nowadays, my first Trek 4500 from 1999 had a super narrow bar! Don’t know how I even rode the thing! Lol. Still riding a HT though. Being old, I’m not sure a suspended bike is worth the cost to me. Two questions: What is the bell you have? Couldn’t make out the brand name. Is Bikepacking part of your future travels? It looks so fun!

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

Thank you! I (Kelsey) like the wide bars too! The bell is from SpurCycle bit.ly/SpurcycleBell Tim has done some bikepacking and had a great time so maybe we will do a bikepacking adventure with these new bikes!

[@tomfuegue]

Cheers from Spain. Good video.

[@eddyreimer5318]

How tall are you & what size Ranger did you go with? Thanks- Eddy

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

(I) Kelsey am 5'8" and got a medium Tim is 5'11" and got size large. Both fit us well.

[@backroadcapers4948]

Awesome new bikes!

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

Thanks!

[@raleighncrider]

Great video! I've been looking at getting a Ranger for a couple of weeks now but can't decided on the best size for me. I'm 5'10" and could ride a medium or large according to their Revel website. Wish I could test ride both. Would you share how tall you guys are and what size(s) you choose? And, of course, and other thoughts on sizing. Thanks!

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

I think riding style will influence it somewhat. I tend to prefer a smaller bike that is quicker turning and more "flickable" if that makes any sense. I love the Large, but if I was your height that would be just enough reason to go for a Medium. Some people like their bike to feel like a big stable planted platform in the rough stuff so those folks tend to er on the larger size if they are in between sizes. It's so plush for a short travel bike I think you'll like either size. Cheers!

[@Jt3az]

Dream bike? N + 1 😉

[@charlesb4267]

I tried looking up the price of the bikes and there seems to be three different tier levels within the Ranger bikes, I'd hate to see the price of the higher end bikes as these are already like gold. No wonder the one website talking about these bikes pictured various male riders laying in their bed with their bike, making sure no one would steal it I suspect LOL. Very nice bikes indeed, I've never ridden on a bike that had suspension. Did they come with special thick self sealing inner tubes for your prickly desert conditions ?

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

They just posted that they're doing a 20% coupon at the moment. The base level is what we got. GX I think it's called. Tubes are a thing of the past. I've been running tubeless with a fluid called Stan's NoTubes for the last 12 or so years and it seals all, but giant sidewall gashes. I even gave up carrying a backup tube unless it's an epic ride or were bike packing.

[@charlesb4267]

@@SaltySunriseSailing Yes, that was the base model within the series I saw listed. How can one not require a tube as its a spoked wheel and not a molded wheel like most vehicles and street motorcycles use these days. Does this Stan's NoTubes actually seal all the spoke holes ?

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

@@charlesb4267 just a thin piece of tape covers the spoke holes, but many wheels have two inner walls so one has the spoke holes and the inner has no holes at all. That's how my street tubeless setup was because that bike ran 110psi so it was far to high for the tape option. With tubeless you also never get the pinch flats so you tend to run much lower psi. It's great in sand.

[@charlesb4267]

@@SaltySunriseSailing Definitely some changes since the days of pedal bikes when I was a kid ( to put it mildly ! ) . I can totally see the benefits of a tubeless tire and running lower pressures for a better ride and grip and control over surfaces such as loose gravel or sand.

[@CraigHuntBC]

Hi Guys, just curious how you decided on bikes from Revel? Small brand you don't really hear of here in BC.

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

My personal favorite was Pivot being a bike I've owned and local to Arizona as well. Revel is a bike company that we'd read about and watched many reviews of. We had a few friends start riding and swearing by Revel as well so it gave me something to go on. When they announced a 20% off deal going on it tilted the scales to try something more boutique. Spending this much is always terrifying, but thankfully it worked out.

[@raymondbradley6788]

👍👍👍

[@jayc3905]

Random question, have you ever ran over a rattlesnake or have a close encounter with one in AZ?

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

Yes, in spring it's on my mind. I've bunny hopped a couple and ran over a couple. Then I try to stop, not too close, and yell at Kelsey or whomever is behind me SNAKE in the trail! The snake is usually already slithering into the bushes. After a couple each spring we don't worry about it, but that first one always makes my heart race for a while. Haha.

[@MonkeyofAwesome]

Modern cross country bikes re so capable now days that its hard to go for more bike unless you REALLY need it.

[@MonkeyofAwesome]

I hate when people say you need a certain piece of gear to get better, but dropper post made me a more confident and better rider for sure. I’m stoked to see you guys get out on these!

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

The longer travel bikes are sure fun, but like you said short travel bikes are so capable. Plus, sorta like taking a rock buggy on an easy trail... Sometimes taking a less modified truck is more fun and challenging. 🤙

[@johnlewis3564]

How have the Sid shocks performed now that you are multiple months in to these bikes?

[@SaltySunriseSailing]

So far so good!

[@anandsamanta1055]

Buy my bikes!