Hey Jonathan, that is the question. I haven't decided yet. I'm going to ride a Forbidden Dreadnought next week, and also plan to ride the new Ibis Ripmo V2S and Santa Cruz Hightower 3. Once I have a few more rides on bikes in the 160mm'ish category I'll decide if I want to make the jump, and if I want to stick with Revel or try something new. My Rascal is an amazing bike so it's going to be a hard choice. We just rode (most of) The Whole Enchilada and the Rascal ate it up without any issues. So much fun! Thanks for the question!
@@jonathanzumwalt4392 We ended up selling our van and buying a new one, so I'm on financial lock down currently :-(. But, after riding a lot in the PNW this winter I've definitely decided I'm going to get a bigger bike. I'll keep you posted on the channel as soon as I put in an order for the next bike.
Great video! I just ordered a Rascal after debating between the Rail29, Ibis Ripmo, and Pivot Switchblade. I just liked how the Rascal seems a little more versitile while still as capable and will push my skills a little more than a burlier travel would. I test rode a SB and the Rascal on the same day, and both were great. I just found the bigger travel 29ers felt a little more "monster truck"-ish vs. the Rascal. Any updated thoughts on your Rail29 and Rascal? The Rascal seems like it will be more fun overall to ride. For reference, I'm 6'3" 200 lbs. on a XL frame, and I came from the Colorado Front Range to the Phoenix, AZ area and will be doing a little bit of back and forth. The Rascal seemed like the best choice vs. a bigger travel bike
Hi Matt! VERY AWESOME!!! In my opinion, you will not be disappointed by choosing the Rascal! I rode a Dreadnought a few months back and it was a tank, but haven't had the chance to demo anything else lately. So, I'm still not sure what my next bike will be. It's really a tough choice because the Rascal is so good. Maybe I'll just put a 150mm fork on my Racal and call it good. Ha! Cheers!
Hi! Thanks for a really nice review. How would you compare the Rail towards a bigger bike ( Trek Slash) as an everyday bike? I do find the Slash (size large)a tad big (I am 6" and the Rail size large should be really nice for my height. I am letting my Slash go and I am looking for a bike that should be a bit more versitale. At the moment I am looking at a Rail and an Orbea Rallon. I do ride some burly (enduro)trails, but also a lot of rooty and rocky trails with undulating terrain. Cheers
Hi Peter, Thanks for the comment! I'm sorry, but I haven't ridden the Slash (specifically). That being said, I would totally ride the Rail as an everyday bike that can also crush enduro trails. It felt big enough to handle to good chunk, but nimble enough to still be fun on a cross country ride. I hope this helps. Cheers!
@@TheVantasticLife Thanks for your reply. Good written words. I am torn at the moment between the Rail or an Orbea Rallon. The Rail because of your words, and then the Rallon because of the added suspension travel and the Rallon handling of the chunky stuff. I do fear for the Rail being a tad too nimble on the chunky stuff and then the Rallon might be too much travel for the every day trails. I KNOW I am a very difficult buyer to please now, but it all comes down to those two bikes :-) Cheers!!
@@peterlomsdalen8953 I have a friend that rides the Rallon (and likes it), but he lives in Ecuador, where there's TONs of enduro riding. Sorry I can't help more. Good luck!!
@@austinpierce6053 I did end up with an Orbea Rallon M-Team size large. Due to difficulties with delivery from Revel I did not want to risk not getting a bike for the spring season, I did end up with the Rallon. Only got a few very wet rides before winter hit, but so far the Rallon is one fantastic bike. Pedals so well and it has this race feeling with such quick handling. I did get a mullet. That was not the intension, but due to shortage of 29¨wheels that was my only option. So far fantastic fun!! :-) I still feel sad for not beeing able to test the Rail 29, but so far the Rallon has been a blast!
@@TheVantasticLife the Rascal took me a bit to love. I came to absolutely love it, once I upgraded the fork to 150 and lowered the height of stem. That made into a very responsive, capable and agile bike.
@@pjsanab Nice! For me it was love in like 30 seconds. I demoed the Rascal in Sedona and told the shop I wanted to buy it that day! And have loved it ever since. Except having to clean the pivots every 6 months. That's not my favorite.
Great review. I'm so glad you listed your height and the size you demoed. At 6'1 you are in between a L and XL according to Revel's sizing. If you were to buy the bike, would you go with a L ? I'm asking because I find myself in between sizes as well, and with the new GEO I'm wondering if sizing down is better way to go than sizing up. Sizing up, would require shorter stems and pushing the seat forward etc. Your thoughts ?
Hey Joe! A fellow 6'1" in-between size friend! Man, I have found this to be very frustrating in the past. Fortunately on the Rail 29 I thought the L fit me really well, and would definitely go with that size. Let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers!
So if you could have only one bike and it's between and rascal and rail 29, you'd go with the rail 29? Sounds like you don't sacrifice much for the additional travel.
Hi Andrew, This is the question that I'm asking myself right now. Based on the riding that I like to do, and how I'm getting more comfortable with larger features, I would go with the Rail 29 over the Rascal to have the additional travel. I will be personally buying a new bike in 2023, and the Rail 29 will be high on my list. I just have to demo a few more bikes before I make the final decision for the bike that I will buy next. But it could very likely be the Rail 29. - Joe
@@TheVantasticLife living this right now ! Currently have the Rascal. Wondering if it’s worth the “upgrade” not sure it is an upgrade. Love how capable the rascal is ! Doesn’t act or feel like 130mm !
I hear you completely! The Rascal definitely over-performs that 130mm. Even after demoing the Rail 29 it’s not a 100% clear choice. Do you have a place you can demo the Rail 29?
@@TheVantasticLife sadly not in the UK ! I did hear that putting a Push coil 11/6 on the Rascal transforms it like a whole new bike. Impossible decision 😂
Sorry for the delay, Revel just got back to me. Here’s what they said. “Depending on size, higher end Rail29 builds are coming in around 29-30lbs”. So, I’m guessing this bike was around there, although it felt heavier.
Are you going to keep your Rascal or get a Rail 29?
Hey Jonathan, that is the question. I haven't decided yet. I'm going to ride a Forbidden Dreadnought next week, and also plan to ride the new Ibis Ripmo V2S and Santa Cruz Hightower 3.
Once I have a few more rides on bikes in the 160mm'ish category I'll decide if I want to make the jump, and if I want to stick with Revel or try something new.
My Rascal is an amazing bike so it's going to be a hard choice. We just rode (most of) The Whole Enchilada and the Rascal ate it up without any issues. So much fun!
Thanks for the question!
@@TheVantasticLife What did you end up doing?
@@jonathanzumwalt4392 We ended up selling our van and buying a new one, so I'm on financial lock down currently :-(. But, after riding a lot in the PNW this winter I've definitely decided I'm going to get a bigger bike. I'll keep you posted on the channel as soon as I put in an order for the next bike.
Looks like a sweet bike! Thanks for the review
Thanks Shawn! It was a pretty fun bike! I wish you could ride it!
nice.! trails there look fun.. Sedona ish. Got a Rail 29er coming
SWEET!!! I love that bike!
Great video! I just ordered a Rascal after debating between the Rail29, Ibis Ripmo, and Pivot Switchblade. I just liked how the Rascal seems a little more versitile while still as capable and will push my skills a little more than a burlier travel would. I test rode a SB and the Rascal on the same day, and both were great. I just found the bigger travel 29ers felt a little more "monster truck"-ish vs. the Rascal. Any updated thoughts on your Rail29 and Rascal? The Rascal seems like it will be more fun overall to ride. For reference, I'm 6'3" 200 lbs. on a XL frame, and I came from the Colorado Front Range to the Phoenix, AZ area and will be doing a little bit of back and forth. The Rascal seemed like the best choice vs. a bigger travel bike
Hi Matt! VERY AWESOME!!! In my opinion, you will not be disappointed by choosing the Rascal! I rode a Dreadnought a few months back and it was a tank, but haven't had the chance to demo anything else lately. So, I'm still not sure what my next bike will be. It's really a tough choice because the Rascal is so good. Maybe I'll just put a 150mm fork on my Racal and call it good. Ha! Cheers!
Hi! Thanks for a really nice review. How would you compare the Rail towards a bigger bike ( Trek Slash) as an everyday bike? I do find the Slash (size large)a tad big (I am 6" and the Rail size large should be really nice for my height. I am letting my Slash go and I am looking for a bike that should be a bit more versitale. At the moment I am looking at a Rail and an Orbea Rallon. I do ride some burly (enduro)trails, but also a lot of rooty and rocky trails with undulating terrain. Cheers
Hi Peter, Thanks for the comment! I'm sorry, but I haven't ridden the Slash (specifically). That being said, I would totally ride the Rail as an everyday bike that can also crush enduro trails. It felt big enough to handle to good chunk, but nimble enough to still be fun on a cross country ride. I hope this helps. Cheers!
@@TheVantasticLife Thanks for your reply. Good written words. I am torn at the moment between the Rail or an Orbea Rallon. The Rail because of your words, and then the Rallon because of the added suspension travel and the Rallon handling of the chunky stuff. I do fear for the Rail being a tad too nimble on the chunky stuff and then the Rallon might be too much travel for the every day trails. I KNOW I am a very difficult buyer to please now, but it all comes down to those two bikes :-) Cheers!!
@@peterlomsdalen8953 I have a friend that rides the Rallon (and likes it), but he lives in Ecuador, where there's TONs of enduro riding. Sorry I can't help more. Good luck!!
@@peterlomsdalen8953 what did you end up going with?
@@austinpierce6053 I did end up with an Orbea Rallon M-Team size large. Due to difficulties with delivery from Revel I did not want to risk not getting a bike for the spring season, I did end up with the Rallon. Only got a few very wet rides before winter hit, but so far the Rallon is one fantastic bike. Pedals so well and it has this race feeling with such quick handling. I did get a mullet. That was not the intension, but due to shortage of 29¨wheels that was my only option. So far fantastic fun!! :-) I still feel sad for not beeing able to test the Rail 29, but so far the Rallon has been a blast!
Based on this review I’m keeping the Rascal. I can still hit chunk, drops and jumps with confidence.
Nice! The Rascal is a fantastic bike!
@@TheVantasticLife the Rascal took me a bit to love. I came to absolutely love it, once I upgraded the fork to 150 and lowered the height of stem. That made into a very responsive, capable and agile bike.
@@pjsanab Nice! For me it was love in like 30 seconds. I demoed the Rascal in Sedona and told the shop I wanted to buy it that day! And have loved it ever since. Except having to clean the pivots every 6 months. That's not my favorite.
Great review. I'm so glad you listed your height and the size you demoed. At 6'1 you are in between a L and XL according to Revel's sizing. If you were to buy the bike, would you go with a L ? I'm asking because I find myself in between sizes as well, and with the new GEO I'm wondering if sizing down is better way to go than sizing up. Sizing up, would require shorter stems and pushing the seat forward etc. Your thoughts ?
Hey Joe! A fellow 6'1" in-between size friend! Man, I have found this to be very frustrating in the past. Fortunately on the Rail 29 I thought the L fit me really well, and would definitely go with that size. Let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers!
So if you could have only one bike and it's between and rascal and rail 29, you'd go with the rail 29? Sounds like you don't sacrifice much for the additional travel.
Hi Andrew, This is the question that I'm asking myself right now. Based on the riding that I like to do, and how I'm getting more comfortable with larger features, I would go with the Rail 29 over the Rascal to have the additional travel. I will be personally buying a new bike in 2023, and the Rail 29 will be high on my list. I just have to demo a few more bikes before I make the final decision for the bike that I will buy next. But it could very likely be the Rail 29. - Joe
@@TheVantasticLife living this right now ! Currently have the Rascal. Wondering if it’s worth the “upgrade” not sure it is an upgrade. Love how capable the rascal is ! Doesn’t act or feel like 130mm !
I hear you completely! The Rascal definitely over-performs that 130mm. Even after demoing the Rail 29 it’s not a 100% clear choice. Do you have a place you can demo the Rail 29?
@@TheVantasticLife sadly not in the UK ! I did hear that putting a Push coil 11/6 on the Rascal transforms it like a whole new bike. Impossible decision 😂
Agreed, impossible! I just saw a Push coil on a Rascal a few weeks back. I should have asked them about it. That sounds very interesting.
What was the weight of your test bike?
That is a GREAT question! I couldn't find the weight of any of the Rail 29 builds online. I will reach out to Revel and let you know what I find out.
Sorry for the delay, Revel just got back to me. Here’s what they said. “Depending on size, higher end Rail29 builds are coming in around 29-30lbs”. So, I’m guessing this bike was around there, although it felt heavier.