Hi, Scrolling through the YouTube last night I came across one of those 'top 5 gravel bikes' videos and learned about Giant's Revolt Advance 3 model for 2021. I am in the market for a new gravel bike and after riding the 30lb steel Jamis Renegade am ready for something light and nimble. There are cheaper Chinese carbon made frames out there for less money but my LBS doesn't sell them due to their lack of warranty and poorer quality. They sell Jamis, Cannondale, 3T, Pinarello, Otso, Giant, and Cerevelo. Probably a few others too. So the bike at the top of my list is the Cannondale TopStone because the shop guys ride them and love them. However their lowest carbon model is like $2,700. The Jamis Renegade carbon version, like C1 is $2,600. I am not happy with Jamis' quality of build on my current steel Renegade (long story) so am not excited to buy a carbon frame from them. 3T, Salsa Warbird, Cerevelo - all above the $2,600 mark for carbon frame. So to my surprise, the Giant Revolt Advance comes in at $2,100 - almost $500-1,000 cheaper than the ones listed above AND comes with Shimano's new GRX components, Shimano's hydro disc brakes, and clearance for 47mm wide tires! Got a guy excited. So I did a deep dive into a few videos and interweb articles on Giant's manufacturing process to see if they cheapen out to low grade Chinese carbon or how they can save money. They own their own Carbon manufacturing. They make their own carbon sheets in house and to different stiffness levels. Then they cut apart the sheets and during the layup process select pieces from the different stiffness levels depending on the part of the bike they are building. So it is stiff where it needs to be and more compliant where it should be also. So the videos and articles, have a guy convinced, that this might be the best value brand out on the market today in terms of high quality and price.
So, what has been your experience with this bike & brand. Am I right in my understanding or are there other issues to be aware of? I know there is a delay in ordering and shipping now but I don't see that as an obstacle.
The Revolt is an excellent bike that is great value.
Only thing to lookout for is the weight is pretty high on the Advance 2 and 3 for a carbon bike. IIRC a 2019 Advance 2 size medium was ~22.5 pounds when I weighed it at a shop. Granted you can get that down to 20 pretty easily with wheels / tires / crank.
Side note, I am curious how you ended up with a 30 pound steel Renegade, and what the issues were there? I just built a steel Renegade on a $2K budget that weighs 23 pounds with pedals, sealant in the tires, cages, etc.
hey zen_ good to hear. Yeah I have heard that carbon frames/bikes can vary in weight. i.e. not always super light.
So I had my kid weigh himself on the bathroom scale, and then pick up my Renegade. My unscientific weighing had the bike come in at 26lbs. not 30. Pretty much stock, except for new seatpost, different saddle, clipless pedals and wider tires. 26lbs isn't horrible but would be nice to drop to 21 or 22 lbs.
I just found a sweet leftover 2020 GT Grade 49 (fits like a 52) Carbon Elite for my daughter-in-law for only $2k. With Tiagra 2x, Canyon saddle and decent WTB wheels/tires and nicely shaped bar, a decent 22.5 lbs. Heavy seatpost will go to shorten reach. Gorgeous "suspension" frame geometry. I almost bought one of the first of these carbon Grades back in 2015, but grabbed a new Diverge Expert instead. Nice to see that the redesigned Grade is so sweet, if a bit long and lax: more gravel than road. Couldn't find ANYTHING comparable under $2.5k in Boston area.
I really like the GRX groupset. I looked at bikes with Tiagra, SRAM Apex, one with Rival (but mechanical discs), and I like the GRX even more than I expected. 46/30 and an 11-36T large sprocket is very versatile.
I was considering a couple high end gravel bikes in 2019. "Open up" etc. and after doing all the same research you have done ended up with the Ultegra level Revolt. Could not be happier. Have not been on a road bike in two years. I did get some 650b wheels for it , which has also been awesome.
paupeter wrote:hey zen_ good to hear. Yeah I have heard that carbon frames/bikes can vary in weight. i.e. not always super light.
The frameset is not heavy, but the stock wheels, tires, crankset, and saddle are. There is ~1 pound to be saved with a lighter saddle and tires (things you would likely change right away anyway), and ~1.5 pounds on wheels and crankset.
I got the 2020 Revolt Advanced 2 almost exactly one year and 4,500 miles ago, coming up from a stout (28 lb?) Brodie Argus set up in adventure mode. Mine has the 105 derailleurs and hydros. I swapped out the stock saddle for a Fabric with Ti rails and stock tires for Rene Herse Snoqualmie Pass 43s, which I wore out; now have Gravel King SS. The D-Fuse seatpost works brilliantly and the bars are comfortable. Although I wanted 105 because I am more of an all-road rider, up to 30% gravel, the introduction of GRX with hydros at the Advanced 3 level is an amazing value. The stock wheelset is over 2000g, so beefy for sure, but I am carrying an extra 15 or 20 lbs on my body and the wheelset upgrade will come when it comes. I love this bike. It is confidence-inspiring and fun as all get out. If the OP can get their hands on one during the shortage, snap it up.
Thanks everyone for their input. After learning about the scarcity of cheaper but high quality carbon gravel bikes on the market now I snatched up the Giant Revolt Advanced 2 from a bike shop about an hour away. The closest Revolt Advance 3 was in southern IL, about an 8 hour drive+hotel+food. The 2 was not at my preferred LBS, but one that supports local gravel events in MN anyway. Shop was great. Mechanic spent 2 hours with me chatting gravel and bikes and setting up to my fit measurements. The bike is even more amazing in person. The paint job is mesmerizing. Shifts color in the sunlight. I'm not a tubeless tire guy yet but may become one. We'll see. This one comes set up tubless right away with stock Giant wheels and tires. I want to change them out for my Terrene's that are lighter and better tread pattern but I don't want to get all the sealant muck all over. What I learned in the shopping process may be interesting to some of you. My LBS local said they cannot even place an order for Giant Advanced 2's or 3's or carbon Cannondale Topstones. The Topstones that exist out there are XS and Large sizes, and the Large really fits like an XL/60cm. Another local shop has carbon Salsa Warbirds, if you are not a 56cm and want only SRAM Apex 1. Again, not able to order 56cm carbon warbirds and have no idea when they will be in stock. I would have wanted a 2x drivetrain but again, the price for the Warbird would have been like $3,600 compared to the Giant Revolt 2 at $2,500. A shop down in Illinois said that when the pandemic hit, Giant bought up the remaining inventory of Shimano components so they could continue to build and ship bikes. Lastly, another local LBS carries Marin bikes. He said they are delivering like normal business because their manufacturing plants are in Malaysia or Indonesia and not impacted by the China closures. He said he could order a Gestalt for me and get it within 2 weeks. It's similarly priced as the Advanced 2 or 3 but its SRAM Apex 1x drivetrain, not GRX and not 2x. So part of the reason the other brands are not able to ship bikes is because they have no components to put on them. My LBS and friend there said, as much as he didn't want to lose a sale, "I am telling you as a friend, if you can find what you want, snap it up now, cause it will be gone next week." I am up in the northern suburbs of St. Paul, MN. I feel very fortunate to pick up such a nice bike, light, great fit, great color, great tire capacity, components, during this difficult time. Thanks again for all the input. I will probably post more in a couple months about how much fun it is and what I learn. Paul
You really are fortunate to have found a proper bike in these crazy times. My LBS sells both Giant and Marin, and has shared similar stories. I was in there recently when a new customer came in asking about the Revolt. All he could do was tell him which size would suit him and then offer to set up a notification... and hope.
Scarcity certainly helps us better appreciate what we have.
