Ride Impressions from the Revel Rail Mullet MTB

Author: Mark Mctamany  Date Posted:12 June 2021 

Ride Impressions from the Revel Rail Mullet MTB

So what is the Revel Rail mullet bike actually like to ride? There was a lot of interest in our article on converting the Rail to a mullet mountain bike, and now that we have a few months riding the bike, we have a few riding impressions to share.

Revel Rail Mullet with Formula Selva

First things first - we never tried the fork in 160mm. The Formula Selva has a short axle to crown, and despite running a 29" fork with 170mm of travel, the ride characteristics felt just the same as the 27.5" Rockshox Lyrik. So we have left it at 170mm on the front, closely matching the 165mm rear end.

The most noticeable differences? Cornering, jumping and traction.

Traction - 29er wheels have slightly more traction than the smaller wheel sizes due to a greater contact patch on the ground, and it is noticeable on the Rail. The front grips a little better than before and it takes a fair bit more to break away than the rear.

Jumping - Hitting big jumps feels different to having balanced wheels front and rear. At first the rear kept dropping straight after the lip - as they were familiar jumps we were confident it was the wheel size doing it. We eased off a couple of clicks of rebound damping to speed it up and that fixed it.

Cornering - We definitely noticed the difference in turning circles between the two different wheel sizes - the feeling is very subtle but we found ourselves adapting our position slightly through the corners.

And what about climbing and BB height? We haven't noticed climbing performance change at all, and the Rail still has that nice low BB feeling (like you're in the bike). It is nice to know that if we want, we can drop the fork travel by 10mm and get back to the original geometry if we want.

Final thoughts? We will keep the bike set up as it is - with the Selva there is no noticeable compromise to the bikes stock performance, and the front wheel traction is a noticeable benefit. Cornering requires a slight body position change, which is a real adjustment anyone looking to mullet their bike will have to take.

Revel Rail Mullet mountain Bike

Revel Rail mullet mountain bike

Get in touch with us now if you have any questions, or hit up the store to get your hands on one. We can build fully custom completes - send us an email or message. Frames and components are in stock now!

Also as a reminder, we have demo bikes in selected areas so you can go for a short ride to see what they are like free of charge, and rental bikes for those that want to get a better feel for them over a fortnight or longer. The cost of rental is taken off the price of a new bike or frame.

What makes a Revel Bike special?

What makes a bike special or different these days? It is a valid question! We see lots of marketing hype and big words getting thrown around but what does that mean in the real world, out on the trails, or f

Read Full Post
Suspension Setup Basics

Did you get a new bike, fork, or shock and need to get it up and running smoothly? Hopefully, this helps! Sag, Rebound, Compression, High and Low-Speed dials, etc etc... Setting up suspension can be con

Read Full Post
iXS Gear in Stock!

For decades, the iXS brand has stood for highly functional protective and casual clothing for two-wheel athletes. The iXS goal is to provide you with the highest level of safety and the best quality product

Read Full Post
Genesis bikes are on sale!

At ORBO we specalise in all things off road. How do Genesis bikes fit in you may ask? Genesis bikes are degined to take on any terrain you throw at them. Sure they look like a road bike and can handle tar r

Read Full Post
ORBO Staff Gravel bike build

The crew at ORBO are self confessed gear nerds and so when one of the team decided recently to build a do it all gravel bike they went deep! With a solid range of gear to choose from it wasn’t easy. Read m

Read Full Post
The Burgtec Pedal Range

Burgtec is a company known for producing high-quality mountain bike components, including pedals. Pedals are crucial components for mountain bikers, they provide the connection between the rider's feet and

Read Full Post
Meet an Off Roader - Dave

Meet an Off Roader - Dave Tell Us About Yourself At over 40 years of age I still think wheelies and jumps are awesome, and hope my kids grow to enjoy a passion for bikes too. I've been into riding b

Read Full Post
Revel Rascal and Ranger rundown

Buckle up for the Revel Rascal and Ranger rundown! Revel Rascal: Unleash the Trail Warrior Design and Build: The Revel Rascal is a trail bike designed to conquer any terrain. With its sleek thermoset

Read Full Post