Test: If you are looking for a cheap gravel bike, you will find it in the Giant Revolt 1. In addition to the attractive price, it offers a well-made aluminum frame and interesting details.
The world's largest bicycle manufacturer has always been innovative when it comes to racing bikes. Giant launched its Cadex carbon frames 30 years ago, and around the turn of the millennium, the company surprised everyone with the first sloping road bikes that revolutionized the look and fit of the racing machine. The Giant Revolt is also characterized by the steeply sloping top tube. The Graveller is available in numerous variants, with the aluminum model starting at 1.049 euros. The Revolt 1 is number two from the bottom, for 1.499 euros already equipped with GRX components.
Balanced geometry
At first glance, the sand-colored bike looks compact and stocky; our test bike, in the middle of five sizes, is of course well-balanced. Anyone who is tall and omits the spacers will achieve a significant saddle elevation thanks to the 165 mm short head tube; If you are smaller and don't extend the seatpost far enough, you can sit comparatively upright without the bike looking too big and enjoy the low standover height thanks to the sloping shape.
The shape of the slim frame is strongly based on the carbon model with low seat stays, post with a D-shaped cross section and integrated seat clamp, the latter a rarity in the lower price range. The aluminum and carbon models also have exactly the same geometries with minimal deviations. What is striking about the Revolt is the elaborately shaped main tubes - other manufacturers use simple round tubes here. Cables and cables are routed in the down tube, but not in the fork. The lack of attachment points is striking for a gravel bike: three bottle cages can be mounted, plus basic mudguards. When installing the rear wheel, the not clearly defined stop is noticeable - it takes a while for the wheel to be positioned correctly. The tire clearance is 45 mm.
2×10 and tubeless wheelset
The Shimano GRX is typical Gravel, here with 2×10 gears and an FSA crankset. The range of gear ratios is so large that you never really miss the missing sprocket; the function of the gears and brakes is impeccable, even if the eleven-speed version works more smoothly. The solid 28-spoke wheelset is delivered in a tubeless setup, which is practical if you want to go off-road straight away. There, the Giant proves to be a rather calm, touring-oriented gravel bike: The steering is designed for good straight-line stability, and the bike is a bit sluggish when accelerating. It could look different with a different wheel set, because the one installed here weighs almost 4,2 kilos. In terms of comfort, the slightly curved top link towards the driver is striking; the aluminum post flexes moderately despite the large extension, and the hard edges of the saddle press on the inside of the central recess.
frame | Giant AluxX |
suspension fork | Giant adv full carbon |
Wheels | GIANT S-X2 Disc |
Tubes | Giant CrossCut AT 2 |
derailleur | Shimano GRX RX-400 |
Gear levers | Shimano GRX RX-400 |
Crank | SA Omega Adventure 48/32 t. |
Front derailleur | Shimano GRX RX-400 |
Brake | Shimano GRX RX-400 |
Seat post | Giant D fuse |
Saddle | Giant Approach |
Stem | Giant Contact |
Links | Giant Contact XR D-Fuse |
Apart from that, the Giant is quite pleasant to drive, but it is worth taking a closer look at the model range. Occasional riders looking for a cheap gravel bike could go a long way with the Revolt 2 for 450 euros less; the only difference is the 2×9 gears and the mechanical disc brakes.
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