Words Max Hides
Images Cameron Mackenzie
RRP $13,099
Distributor Revel Bikes
It’s not too often you get the chance to ride something genuinely unfamiliar; a bike you’ve never seen in the carpark, let alone thrown a leg over. When the call came in to review Revel’s Ritual, a quick Google image search was swiftly replaced with baited clock-watching as the hours until I could finally hit the trails wound down.
Whilst Revel may not be a name you’ve heard thrown around much in the local scene, that’s all about to change. After a turbulent few years, the Colorado-based brand has reset with purpose, is back under original ownership and is ready to push forward. With a strong line-up of nononsense bikes spanning everything from shorttravel pedallers through to long-travel electricallyassisted options, it won’t be long before we see more of them floating around our local trails.
The Ritual is Revel’s long-travel, enduro-ready brawler. It’s their biggest and most capable machine in the range. Boasting 170mm of travel up front and 165mm in the rear, it immediately screams confidence, and that feeling continues once you’re on trail, especially as the gradient tips down and the track comes to life.
Whilst I try not to judge a book by its cover, it’s hard not to take notice of the Ritual the moment you lay hands on it. The test bike arrived in Revel’s ‘Space X’ colourway, and while it could be dismissed as just another black bike, it’s actually a split-tone metallic black and raw carbon combo that catches the light beautifully, highlighting the quality of the build throughout.
At 183cm, I regularly find myself caught between sizes. I tend to go slightly smaller when in doubt, but I can move an XL around without too much issue. This Ritual was an XL, and whilst it looked imposing standing still, once aboard it fitted my long, lanky build surprisingly well. Worth noting: Revel only offer the Ritual in a full 29” configuration for Large frames and above. Small and Medium frames come as a mullet setup (29” front, 27” rear), and there’s no cross-compatibility between the two – Revel are clear on their website that converting larger frames to mullet will void your warranty.
Geometry & Suspension
Revel haven’t gone crazy with the geometry here, which I think is entirely the right call given the intended use. The numbers on the XL are sensible and well-considered: a 64-degree head angle, 77-degree seat tube angle, 508mm reach, 1298mm wheelbase and 441mm chainstays. On paper it sounds like a big bike, and it is, but it’s a balanced one.
The suspension design centres on a horizontally mounted shock housed in the middle of the frame, part of what Revel call their CBF (Conforming Body Frame) pivot system. Unlocked, it pedals with minimal bob; locked into climb mode, it’s rock solid. It’s no XC bike, but it sure as hell climbs like one. Open the shock back up and blast down something steep, and the bike becomes planted, controlled, and almost eerily stable in the rough. The suspension design is executed so well that even with zero setup dialled in, the first lap down Spudz’s at Victoria Park had nothing coming out of my mouth but laughter.
Frame & Build Quality
The bikes are built with durability firmly in mind, designed to go the distance whether you’re a weekend warrior, a park rat, or an enduro racer. The fully carbon frame is lightweight yet strong, and Revel haven’t cut corners on the pivots. It’s all alloy down there, built burly and stiff with longevity in mind. Given how grim a Christchurch winter can get, the quality bearing protection is a strong play.
Size-specific chainstays across the range means each frame size gets a suspension tune matched to its geometry, so everyone – regardless of size – gets a balanced ride. And, in a nice practical touch, every bike in the range comes with inframe storage, so you can stash a jacket, tools, or a bag of lollies for those longer days out.
The Ritual is also dual-crown compatible for those who are park inclined, with the only caveat being that the axle-to-crown measurement can’t exceed 596mm. Setting this up singlespeed with a dual crown and smashing laps with your mates sounds like an absolutely brilliant time.
Build Kit
The test bike was the second-tier build, not the flagship, but still very well specced. It came kitted out with a RockShox Zeb Ultimate fork and Vivid Ultimate rear shock, SRAM XO Transmission, Maven Silver brakes, DT Swiss carbon wheels, Maxxis tyres, and OneUp/Revel finishing kit. One standout feature across all three complete builds is that every single one comes with the top-of-the-line RockShox Zeb fork and Vivid Air rear shock. So regardless of which build you go for, the suspension is sorted. At $13,175 NZD for the second-tier build, it’s well priced relative to the competition.
For those not sold on the complete builds, Revel also offer the Ritual as a frameset only, including the RockShox Vivid Ultimate rear shock, FSA Orbit headset and seat clamp, so you can build it up exactly how you want. Helpfully, Revel have also left cable ports in the frame for those not ready to commit to electronic shifting. Your old 11-speed XT gathering dust in the garage? It’ll slot right in.
Components
This was my first time back on the full SRAM/ RockShox package since 2020 and whilst we all want to forget that year, I was excited to run the new stuff. The Maven Silver brakes are, without question, the most powerful brakes I’ve ridden; one squeeze and you’re stopped, before you’ve even fully committed to the idea. The trade-off is modulation, which is noticeably lacking. For context, the Code RSC’s I ran back in 2017 had some of the best brake feel I’ve experienced; the Mavens are a step back in that regard. SRAM have since released a lever upgrade kit to address this, which is worth looking into if you’re after more nuance.
The XO Transmission groupset is, as the name suggests, like having AI in your drivetrain: exceptional when it’s working, frustrating when it isn’t. I had a few teething issues early on but once resolved, the shifting was seamless. Personally, I’d spec the Eagle 90 option – Revel offer this as an alternative build configuration on their website, and if I were buying, that’s the route I’d take.
I’ll always have a soft spot for DT Swiss wheels, and the XMC 1501 carbon wheelset doesn’t disappoint. Stiff but compliant, laced to a pair of 240EXP hubs, smooth, reliable, and they sound great. Paired with a Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR II in EXO+ casing, it’s a confidence-inspiring combo when things get loose and loamy. Revel’s in-house grips and stem, paired with a OneUp alloy bar, give a solid feel at the contact points. For a tall rider, the specced 240mm OneUp dropper post is a welcome touch – getting the seat well out of the way on descents makes a real difference.
The Ride
The Ritual rides at one speed, and that speed is flat out. It wants you to pin it, hit everything with conviction, and trust the bike to sort itself out underneath you. Fast and loose, but never out of control or, rather, being just on the edge of control while everything still feels weirdly perfect.
Living in Christchurch, we’re spoilt for good terrain. Christchurch Adventure Park, Victoria Park, Craigieburn, we’ve got a heap of options. On the trails I know best, the Ritual felt right at home from the first ride. The steep, tight, fast lines around town that can punish a bike with too long a wheelbase just felt smooth and composed. The weight, too, was a surprise, for an XL enduro rig, it’s substantially lighter than my own bike, and that matters over a full day in the hills.
On a few of my regular loops in Christchurch and Craigieburn, I found myself riding up more than I normally would, the geometry places you in a great climbing position, and the CBF suspension design keeps pedalling efficient without feeling dead. Lock out the shock on longer fire road climbs and it pedals away. The inner grom in me got well and truly awakened on the descents, jumping everything, taking high lines, riding faster than I have in years without once feeling like the bike was going to spit me off.
My only real gripes with the package are minor. The stock grips are a bit rough and on the thin side. Only being able to fit a small drink bottle is a real consideration – if I’m spending a full day out pedalling, I’m going to be a thirsty human. The bars are a touch wide stock, but that’s a two-minute fix. If I were buying this for myself, I’d size down to the Large, opt for the Eagle 90 build, and spec up to DT Swiss carbon wheels.
Final Thoughts
My main takeaway from time on the Ritual is that it has opened my mind to what a modern enduro bike is capable of. For a long time, I’ve held the view that 140/120mm is all you need around Canterbury, and that a lot of it is in the bike’s geometry. Boy, was I wrong. The Ritual has proven that big travel can equal big fun, when it’s packaged in something this efficient, this light, and this capable across varied terrain.
Whilst the drivetrain gave me a few headaches along the way, I could absolutely see the Ritual earning a permanent spot in my fleet. A bike that can comfortably handle all-day epics, satisfy long-suppressed enduro ambitions, and still climb as well as many short-travel bikes I’ve loved? That’s a compelling offer. It’s the perfect N+1 for the confused bike-a-holic. When you’re next in the market for an enduro rig, put the Ritual on your radar. I’ll be saving my pennies for a frameset and maybe, just maybe, I’ll come out of enduro retirement to do it justice.