Revel Unveils Their Fresh-off-the-Mill Tirade Hardtail. Titanium Loving for the Win

Ladies and gents, titanium is one of those elements that's always been on the cycling radar, with some manufacturers using nothing except this metal to craft their two-wheeling monsters. One such crew is Revel, a rather young kid on the block, but with the ability to stay afloat in an industry dominated by names the likes of Cannondale, Trek, and countless others.

They achieved this by going after a bit of a niche bicycle market and, in the process, managed to build capable machines from titanium - some can be used for bringing home gold medals on the daily - that won't burn a massive hole in your pocket either. All that brings us to the Tirade, Revel's newest backcountry-munching monster.

Now, before you go on any further with this article, I invite you to take a nice long look at what you see in the image gallery; that's the Tirade. As you do, be sure to take in the magic that is this bike, mainly the frame with its slim and slender physique, tapered head tube, and manipulated down and seat tubes. Be sure to also point your attention to the adjustable dropouts and the fact that the frame is dropper post-ready. Did I mention it can also accommodate forks with up to 140 mm of travel? Yeah, Revel did a number on this one.

A few aspects that need to be considered when we approach the Tirade are things like those adjustable dropouts, letting us tune our experience to however we feel like riding on a particular day, that the geometry of this thing may be the sweet spot in terms of a trail-ready bike.

For example, the head tube sits at a slack 64.7 degrees across all frame sizes, and the seat tube is found between 74 and 75.5 degrees, depending on the size. But it's those adjustable dropouts that riders are sure to love. Up to 13 mm are available to work with. Then again, maybe the 140 mm of travel is what you'll end up loving. For me, it's that undying frame that I love.

For others, it may be the wheel, which, after all, dictates the entire dynamics of this ride. Overall, the Tirade is tuned to run on 29-inch wheels. If you happen to go for a full build, Continental Kryptotal rubbers seem to be standard.

Speaking of full builds, Revel isn't the sort of crew that'll throw just about anything on their frames. Instead, if you've got at least $5,200 (€4,850 at current exchange rates), you can grab yourself a complete Tirade with SRAM's GX Eagle drivetrain, RockShox Ultimate fork, Code R brakes, and crank brothers dropper post.

The most expensive full build would be the SRAM XX setup, going for a pocket-shaking $9,600. However, this version is ready with a Lyrik Ultimate fork, carbon fiber wheelset, a Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 dropper post, and a fully wireless transmission. This is the one you want if you plan on bringing home the gold.

Now, I understand that these prices are a bit out of our reach for most of us, but there's a way around losing part of your life savings: grab a bare frame. According to the manufacturer's website, you can dish out no more than $2,500 (€2,325) and pick up a frame-only kit.

Why is this a rather decent option to consider? Several reasons, one of which is the fact that very few of us need the precision of wireless shifting and shocks that never bottom out; after all, most of us just want a bike that's stable and solid on the trails and does not necessarily catch airtime.

Secondly, chances are that if you're considering grabbing a titanium frame, you already have an idea of what you want and that only comes from experience. Oh, and if you're like me, that experience has left several drivetrains lying around your garage; maybe you just want to throw on what you already use on your current two-wheeler.

Suppose you're new to this sport or pastime activity. In that case, there are a few aspects of titanium you need to be aware of. The first is this metal's ability to offer around twice the tensile strength of steel for half the weight, music to any frame manufacturer's ears. Secondly, titanium is one of those metals that says no to liquids and is literally unaffected by any of the elements. In short, you'll be buying a bicycle that can outlive you, and many titanium machines have outlived their jockeys.

At the end of the day, if you're going to buy a bike, make sure you buy one that you can ride for years to come, and the Tirade has all the goods to be just that, your forever bike. With regular maintenance checks on your bike, even the gear will be sure to reach its peak half-life. Ride safe out there, and always whip it around with a helmet on your head.