Giant Revolt 2 (2024)

The Giant Revolt 2 is an aluminium gravel bike built to ride sealed roads, gravel and dirt trails on one bike.

It pairs a lightweight ALUXX aluminium frame with a carbon fork, runs Shimano Sora 2x9 gearing and cable disc brakes, and rolls on 38mm tubeless-ready tyres. A flip chip at the rear axle lets you fit tyres up to 53mm wide.

One flip chip, two bikes

The rear dropouts have a flip chip that moves the rear wheel forward or back:

• Short setting: a shorter wheelbase for quicker handling and acceleration on roads and smooth gravel, with room for tyres up to 45mm.
• Long setting: a longer wheelbase for more stability at speed on loose, rough gravel, with room for tyres up to 53mm.

The 38mm tyres it comes with fit either way. The long setting is there for when you want to go wider for rougher trails or bike-packing.

Built for comfort over long rides

The Revolt uses an endurance riding position, so you sit a little more upright than on a road race bike. Three things take the sting out of rough surfaces:

• Dropped seat stays: the thin rear stays join the seat tube lower down, so they flex slightly over bumps.
• D-Fuse seatpost: its D-shaped profile flexes a little under the saddle while staying stiff side to side for climbing and sprinting.
• Carbon fork: damps vibration from the front wheel better than an alloy fork, so your hands and wrists stay fresher.

The geometry pairs a longer reach with a shorter stem and a lower bottom bracket. That keeps steering responsive while making the bike feel planted on loose descents. Shorter chainstays keep it nimble in tight corners.

Gearing and brakes

Shimano Sora 2x9 shifting pairs a 48/32T FSA crank with an 11-34T cassette.

The lowest gear (32T x 34T) is easy enough for steep gravel climbs, and the highest (48 x 11) keeps you pedalling on fast sealed roads.

Braking is Tektro MD-C550 cable-operated disc brakes with 160mm rotors. Discs keep stopping consistent in the wet and on dusty descents. They're cable-actuated rather than hydraulic, so they need a firmer pull on the lever and occasional cable adjustment as the pads wear. If you plan long, steep descents, hydraulic discs are worth considering on a higher-spec gravel bike.

Tubeless ready, and ready to upgrade

The Giant S-X2 alloy wheels and Giant CrossCut AT 2 tyres (700 x 38mm) come tubeless prepared. Running them tubeless lets you use lower tyre pressures for grip and comfort, with fewer flats from pinches and thorns. Our workshop can set them up when you buy.

The frame takes a standard 30.9mm round seatpost as well as the D-Fuse post, so you can fit a dropper post later for steep, technical descents.

Revolt 2 or something else?

The Revolt 2 is a great first gravel bike for mixed roads, rail trails and fire roads.

If you want hydraulic brakes and a wider gear range for steeper terrain, the steps up to the Cannondale Topstone 2 with Shimano GRX 2x10 with hydraulic discs.

If most of your riding is on sealed roads with the odd gravel detour, the Giant Contend AR is a lighter-feeling all-road option.

Compare the full range in our gravel bikes collection.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum tyre size on the Giant Revolt 2?

53mm with the flip chip in the long position, or 45mm in the short position. It comes with 38mm tyres.

Does the Giant Revolt 2 have hydraulic brakes?

No. It uses Tektro MD-C550 cable-operated disc brakes with 160mm rotors.

Is the Giant Revolt 2 tubeless ready?

Yes. The wheels and Giant CrossCut AT 2 tyres come tubeless prepared.

Can I fit a dropper post to the Revolt 2?

Yes. The frame accepts a standard 30.9mm round seatpost, including dropper posts.

What does the flip chip do on the Giant Revolt?

It moves the rear wheel to change the wheelbase. The short setting gives quicker handling and fits tyres up to 45mm. The long setting gives more stability and fits tyres up to 53mm.

What groupset does the Revolt 2 use?

Shimano Sora 2x9, with a 48/32T crank and an 11-34T cassette.