Radial Revere 2.1

Less than six months old, Radial Cycles is hardly the most established bike brand in the UK, but already offers a huge range of 33 bikes across all disciplines, with another 20 or so planned by the end of the year. The Radial Revere 2.1 is the company’s entry-level road machine, dipping under that all-important £500 price mark by a single penny.

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In a similar manner to many new bike companies, Radial has chosen to follow a direct sales model, selling bikes direct to the consumer in order to cut costs. A common problem with this method is that the bike is delivered in a myriad of pieces, and there is no mechanic on hand to put it together properly. However Radial is trying to do things a bit differently, delivering its bikes fully built, complete with wheels attached, leaving you with nothing to do other than straighten the bars.

The frame and fork are both constructed from 6061 alloy, keeping costs down but also meaning a slightly harsh ride

As you’d expect from a bike at this sort of price, the frame, fork, and all of the components are made of aluminium. The frame and fork use a double butted 6061 alloy, a departure from the 7005 alloy used for most aluminium frames.

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All of Radial’s frames are built in the Far East, but are put together at their headquarters in Dunstable

With the sub-£500 price point, it was no surprise to see the use of aluminium extended to the fork and seatpost, two areas that really benefit from a spot of carbon-fibre that you’ll find if you’re tempted to open your wallet a little wider (on a Radial Revere 1.1 Carbon, for example). Unfortunately this translates into a slightly harsh ride when the road surface deteriorates with vibrations transmitted through your arms and, errr, undercarriage, especially when riding at speed down descents.

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Shifting is all dealt with by Shimano’s budget Sora groupset. Sora may not be the sexiest groupset in the world, but if you’re looking for reliable shifting on an entry-level bike, it’s hard to fault. On a bike costing under £500, the Sora groupset really is a very impressive addition.

(And as an aside, Matt Pryke, one of the founders of Radial, also tells us that there are plans in the pipeline to equip a 2016 model of the Radial Revere with Shimano Claris components, bringing the price down below £300.)

It’s Shimano Sora components all round, including this compact 50/34t chainset

Both front and rear shifting is close to spot-on, with the levers just requiring a little more of a prod than Shimano’s higher-end Tiagra and 105 groupsets. Admittedly the bulbous hoods are a little unsightly, and don’t suit my small hands, but at least they do their job.

Up front there’s a 50/34t, while at the rear a 9-speed cassette with a 12-28t range should offer enough gearing to get you up some pretty steep hills. The only major departures from the Sora setup are the Tektro R325 brakes, which offer decent modulation, but lack real power once you get up to high speeds.

Most of the finishing kit on the Radial Revere is taken from the brand’s extensive range of parts and accessories. This includes the alloy seatpost, stem and shallow-drop handlebars, as well as the Radial Race Plus saddle, which looks great and is really comfortable even on longer rides and in a variety of riding positions.

Most of the finishing kit is Radial’s own products, including this rather stubby 90mm stem

The wheels on the Radial Revere are also produced in-house, and certainly seem to fit the general character of the bike. With 28 spokes at both front and rear, they are certainly a sturdy set of hoops that easily dealt with the all the punishment the rough Surrey lanes could throw at them.

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Finally, the Revere comes with eyelets for both mudguards and panniers, meaning this bike is an ideal candidate to be converted into a winter training bike or commuting bike when the time comes to upgrade a few years down the line. The bike comes equipped with clipless pedals and cleats, easing the entry of the new rider into the cycling fraternity.

Look out for a full review in the coming weeks, but in the meantime head over to the Radial Cycles website for more details.

The Radial Revere 2.1 looks pretty good for its sub £500 price-tag

The Revere is also available with Tiagra components for £649.99, or with a carbon frame for between £999-£1500

The sleek Radial Race Plus saddle is exceptionally comfortable and wouldn’t look out of place on much more expensive bikes

The lengthy head tube encourages a more upright position

The Radial wheels have 28 spokes at both front and rear, holding up well to rough British roads

The Radial Revere 2.1 seems like a good value option for your first road bike

Details

Frame: Radial Alloy 6061
Fork: Radial Alloy 6061
Shifters: Shimano Sora
Front Derailleur: Shimano Sora
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Sora
Chainset: Shimano Sora, 50/34t
Cassette: Shimano Sora, 12-28t
Chain: YBN S9
Brakes: Tektro R325
Handlebars: Radial 31.8mm Alloy
Stem: Radial 31.8mm
Seatpost: Radial 30.8
Saddle: Radial Race Plus Saddle
Wheels: Radial 28H
Tyres: Kenda 700x25mm
Weight: 9.65kg (56cm)
Sizes Available: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58cm
Colours Available: Grey/White
Contact: www.radialcycles.com