Giant Revolt 1 (2025)

The Giant Revolt 1 is an affordable performance-level gravel bike with an aluminium frame.

The Revolt 1 has the best build kit in an aluminium frame before the Revolt range steps into carbon fibre.

During this preview, we’ll learn a little more about what the Giant Revolt is and highlight the most important points of the Revolt 1 build.

What is the Giant Revolt 1?

The Giant Revolt 1 is a gravel bike that is not just designed for gravel roads.

It’s designed riders who are:

• Searching for a comfortable general fitness bike that can cross-over different types of terrain.
• Commuting short or long distances and a bike that can be fitted with bike panniers and mudguards.

Who should consider the Giant Revolt 1?

Riders that want a lightweight and well designed aluminium gravel bike with above average components.

And because the Revolt 1 is a gravel bike, it’s also designed for riders that want the following:

• A bike that feels stable over bumpy roads and at higher speeds.
• And calm handling over rough, loose or wet surfaces.

The Revolt’s Design

The modern design trends we’ve seen with mountain bikes have translated over to the Giant Revolt. In summary, the bike is now longer, lower and slacker.

The Revolt is longer; both in the front and back.

The longer front means the Revolt is less cramped.

Riders can change body position and move around the bike. This is necessary to do on unstable surfaces.

And the longer rear end makes the Revolt 1 feel stable at high-speeds. It doesn’t bounce or move around, delivering a calmer ride.

The rear-axle has a built-in adjustment that allows you to adjust the length of the rear of the Revolt 1. The short position makes it more nimble and responsive. Maximum tyre size is 45mm in this position.

And the Revolt 1’s long-position can accommodate 53mm wide tyres. This position delivers the most stable handling.

Giant also made the Revolt 1 lower.

Which has several advantages:

• It lowered the Revolt’s centre-of-gravity, making it more stable.
• Allows you to lean into corners easier without feeling top heavy.
• Less likely to over-correct during a wobble or sudden rider input.

The steering angle is slacker.

It increases front end grip in corners. Improves straight-line stability. And reduces the chances of going over the handlebars.

The Revolt 1 Build

The Revolt 1 uses a premium aluminium frame paired to a carbon-fibre fork.

The full carbon fork (not partially carbon) reduces weight and improves comfort by absorbing road vibrations.

First, the gears.

At its heart are Shimano’s gravel bike specific components, called GRX.

These 10-speed components are excellent value.They deliver above-average performance without the hefty price tag that comes with high-end parts.

Compared to the Revolt 2 (9-speed), the Revolt 1’s 10-speed gears do represent a significant upgrade, with smoother gear changes and improved durability.

Hydraulic disc brakes are another upgrade.

Less maintenance. More power and control. And a smoother lever feel are some of the benefits.

And just like every other Revolt model, the Revolt 1 uses tubeless tyres.

Instead of using an inner tube, tubeless tyres contain a liquid sealant inside.

This sealant is designed to seal small punctures (typically up to 6mm) allowing you to continue riding without stopping.

For larger punctures that the sealant cant fix, a tubeless tyre repair kit is used to plug the hole and get you back on the trail or road.