15/09/2026
I took the Rascal to Japan. How did it do?
Bike Review – 2026 Revel Rascal Eagle 90
Size: Large
MSRP (USD): $5499
Test Location: Nagano, Japan
Rider Height: 185cm
Since becoming a Revel dealer, the Rascal is the one bike in their range that really piqued my interest. For many of us, one bike is all we can afford. And for this reason, that one bike must be capable of tackling the variety of terrain that we’ll likely encounter throughout the course of our mountain biking journey. Fortunately, the Rascal is that one bike to rule them all!
The blurb…
“The Rascal put Revel on the map when we launched in 2019. Now in its third iteration, we've improved every aspect of geometry and suspension kinematics, using the best quality carbon layup in the biz. Making the Rascal the ultimate do-everything, ride-everywhere trail bike.”
My take…
Who doesn’t want one bike to ride everything and everywhere? The “ultimate quiver killer” as the phrase goes. And while many will lay claim to offer such a versatile and capable mountain bike, so few can ultimately back up that claim.
I’ve previously owned such a mountain bike, the Pivot Switchblade. And for this reason, the Switchblade is the standard by which I measure all others.
On paper, the Rascal is virtually identical to the Switchblade in terms of numbers. There is one number however where the Rascal is vastly different… and that number is the price tag. The Rascal, like most other Revel models, is considerably cheaper than its rivals. And that’s not to say that the Rascal is cheap, but rather that all things being equal, the Rascal represents significant value for money. And in this day of higher fuel prices, increased cost of living, etc. it’s gratifying to know that you can purchase a premium mountain bike for considerably less money without the need to compromise due to budget constraints.
Another area where the Rascal is a stand-out is performance. I’ll admit, I did plenty of research into the Rascal prior to it arriving, and so I had a certain level of expectation ahead of my first ride. And on that front the Rascal did not disappoint.
The Rascal managed to meet my lofty expectations, but with a few distinguishing character traits that I had not expected. Namely, the Canfield Balance Formula (CBF) suspension platform, which is unlike any other I have encountered. Pinkbike describe CBF as “Supple, supportive, consistent, and quiet.” And I could not do a better or more concise job of describing CBF to you.
During the initial set up, I had to check and re-check my tune* because the suspension felt very “squishy” on the road test and I’m used to a much firmer set up. And yet, despite this, it was so supportive on the trail. And during one of my biggest climbing days in recent memory, I did not have to reach for the lock-out once. It was firm with virtually zero “pedal bob” – it still blows my mind!
* Compression and rebound were set as per the Rockshox Trailhead app recommendations. SAG was set at 30%.
Another stand-out trait was the overall handling. Bike Park is not where the Rascal excels. And yet that is exactly what I subjected it to for four days in a row. And while I didn’t take the usual “point and shoot” approach I would otherwise deploy on my 170mm Enduro bike, the Rascal certainly held up admirably. On singletrack track however, when confronted with off-camber, roots, ruts, pinches, switchbacks, and steeps, it performed like a champion!
If I bought a Rascal…
I would be very, very pleased. The finish and attention to detail is arguably best in class. There is room for a full-sized bottle and one extra accessory mount inside the front triangle. The Rockshox suspension suite is excellent (more on that later). The quality of componentry relative to the less than $9k AUD purchase price is very hard to beat.
Frame:
Rascal Carbon SL
Fork:
RockShox Lyrik ULT 150mm
Shock:
RockShox SDLX ULT 130mm
Drivetrain:
SRAM Eagle 90
Brakes:
SRAM Motive Silver
Cockpit:
OneUp Alloy Handlebar / Revel CNC Stem
Dropper Post:
OneUp Dropper
Wheels:
CrankBros Synthesis Alloy Enduro
Tyres:
Maxxis DHF 29 x 2.5 Front / Maxxis DHR 29 x 2.4 Endurance Rear
The Rascal is available as a frameset and in four builds. The Rascal E90 has a current RRP of $8905.
Note: The purchase price varies relative to the exchange rate – no inflated margins, you pay the best price at the current rate of exchange.
Book a test ride on our demo bike and experience the Rascal for yourself?
