What actually is Downcountry? Revel Ranger review 

Best explanation of why downcountry exists I've seen. No one else acknowledges that "trail" expanded upward over the past few years to include travel territory previously covered by all mountain and even enduro.

Giant have been doing this for years - SX version of Anthem is their XC bike with bigger fork and rims. Was a super fun bike, preferred it in a lot of ways to the Trance that replaced it.

Very good description of downcountry. Much better than that confusing ball of mess explanation on GMBN.

Long and winding should have way more subscribers than 6k. On the way for 10!

Great review buddy. Ranger looks amazing. I've riden the Rascal and absolutely loved it. The CBF suspension system stays super active when braking, so handled the rough stuff much better than other bikes in its catagory. Can't wait to try the Ranger also.

Thank you, down country bikes aka 120mm travel are the type of bike that will ride Cascades and a marathon race like the Otway very well and will also hold it’s own at any gravel race. I love this “genre” and have been riding a “down county” bike (Scott Spark) since 2018. Hope you are convalescing well.

Excellent explanation and reasoning behind the crosscountry category---good review as well

I have been riding a mix of paved trails and XC with some steep climbs over the past three weeks of owning my new De La Soul. I am blown away each time I ride this magnificent machine!! But, the reason is I was riding a '99 SC Superlite. Wow how things have changed 😄. The local shop has a tech riding the Ranger like an enduro bike. He enjoys the descents as much as the uphills like me. The only time he needs his downhill bike is when riding the chairlift up at Alyeska ski resort. The XX1 AXS kit kicks ass!!

Beautiful bike, but almost $12k AUD...jesus

Everybody gangsta till downcoutry bikes become enduro bikes

Nice bike and nice review. Hamish, high quality work as usual. I reckon I’m down with down country. Also, your baby can talk! Times flies!

Sounds like much the same Geo and set up as my 2018 Yeti SB 4.5. My yeti is 114mm(R)/140mm(F) with 444mm reach (Large) and 67.4 degree head angle. I kitted it out with bigger 2.4'' tyres and 4pot SLX brakes. I also swapped the original Float DPS shock to a fox DPX2 to help with the rear end cope with the bigger hits and rougher terrain. I've ridden the exact same trails as my old Canyon Spectral with 150mm rear travel. It's definitely not as plush as the longer travel bikes, but it can handle it occasionally. I would only say that if you plan on riding chunky/ big trails you are still better off getting a 130+mm trail bike. The modern ones climbs amazingly well.

Best channel on RU-vid

Do you not own a scale? Why on earth did you not give us the actual weight of the bike? Also, could you mount a second side-access bottle cage inside the frame (at the higher bolt loction)???

I have my Anthem advanced pro from giant then I change the fork to 120mm and a dropper post. best of both worlds between XC and Trail mtb. Im not sure if i can consider this as down country bike already.

Your demo bike looks like it has frame protection on it. Do you know where it came from? So all the usual places don't have Ranger kits yet.

a very conservative "down country" - meant to be a great bike though from all the reviews. would be interested to see a back to back with a Ripley, Spur or Izzo.

Awesome review Hamish, and what a stunning bike! Is that the Cascades trail at 1:39 and 3:20?

You got a spec wrong it would be a 180mm rotor on the front ast the Sid Ultimate is a 180 pm and the rear is a 160 pm.

Does it handle better with the bars low ?

Omg Remi can talk!

What do you think about the siskiu d series

Looks awesome. So Lake Mountain and You Yangs, did you ride it anywhere else (I think Harcourt?)

Well, the xc bike capabilities moved toward trail bikes as well, offsetting that gap. And riders have been setting up light trail/capable xc bikes for about twenty five years now.

I wonder how it would go at Harcourt bike park

Lake Mountain!!!

Are you excited about Warburton

Makes me feel like i overbiked for youi on a 150 travel bike

third

downcountry is a marketing gimmick IMO. 130/120-130 travel from trail bikes should be perfect for all rounder bikes

Omg. Another commercial bs...