Evil FollowingvsRevel Ranger
Picture yourself hurtling down a fast, chattery descent, then immediately into a tight, steep climb. The Evil Following wants to play with every feature, encouraging you to manual, pop, and corner hard, whereas the Revel Ranger will calmly and efficiently smooth out the rough stuff, urging you to maintain your momentum and keep pedaling. These two short-travel 29ers attack the trail with distinct personalities, offering riders different paths to speed and fun.
Overview
The Evil Following V3 and Revel Ranger V2 both carve out space in the popular downcountry category, bikes that blend cross-country efficiency with impressive trail descending chops. However, their design philosophies diverge significantly, leading to very different on-trail experiences. Evil, with its 120mm of DELTA suspension, builds a bike that reviewers consistently describe as immensely playful and capable, often feeling like it has far more travel than its numbers suggest. It's a bike that actively encourages rider interaction, rewarding a dynamic, engaging style.
Ride and handling
The Evil Following V3 is celebrated for a ride quality that profoundly defies its 120mm of rear travel, largely due to its Dave Weagle-designed DELTA suspension system. This linkage-driven single pivot offers a "supple early in its travel, with a predictable middle and 'bottomless ramp' at the end of the stroke," as Singletracks noted. This translates to a "magic carpet ride" (MTB yumyum) that effectively "isolates chatter better than any other bike with so little travel" (MBR), making the trail feel significantly smoother than it is. The Revel Ranger V2, with its 115mm of CBF suspension, also earns high marks for efficient, momentum-sustaining travel. Reviewers found the CBF provides an "uninterrupted pedal feeling over chundery terrain" (GearJunkie), letting the bike push you forward through obstacles, and performing notably better the faster you ride.
Specifications
Examining the builds, both brands deliver solid component choices, though with different leanings. The Evil Following GX build, for instance, comes equipped with RockShox SID Ultimate suspension, a full SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, and powerful SRAM Code RSC brakes with a 200mm front rotor. Wheels are Industry Nine Enduro S Hydra2, known for their engagement and stiffness, and it uses Schwalbe Nobby Nic/Wicked Will tires. Evil leans heavily into carbon components, with its own Boomstick Carbon Bar on the GX build. Revel's GX Eagle build, conversely, offers RockShox SID Select+ suspension, SRAM GX Eagle, Industry Nine Trail S 1/1 hubs with aluminum rims, and SRAM G2R brakes (180/160mm). Tires are Maxxis Dissector/Rekon. Notably, Revel also offers Shimano XT builds with Fox suspension, providing more brand diversity than Evil's largely SRAM-focused line-up. While Evil includes a carbon bar at the GX level, Revel's GX build has an alloy Race Face bar, with carbon as an upgrade or on higher trims. Both bikes utilize quality droppers, with Evil often spec'ing Bike Yoke Revive and Revel using Crank Brothers Highline 7, both praised for smooth action. The biggest spec difference between the selected builds is braking power, with the Evil's Code RSCs offering a clear advantage over the Ranger's G2Rs, especially for heavier or more aggressive riders. Reviewers of the Ranger often wished for more powerful brakes, an upgrade that heavier riders should consider. Evil also uses Super Boost 157mm spacing, which is meant to increase rear-end stiffness and tire clearance, though it can complicate wheel swaps for frame-only buyers. The Ranger V2, however, includes UDH compatibility, future-proofing it for SRAM's Transmission drivetrains, a welcome update to an already well-engineered frame.
| Following | Ranger | |
|---|---|---|
| FRAMESET | ||
| Frame | Evil Following LS Frameset | Ranger Carbon |
| Fork | RockShox SID Ultimate 2P Lever Lockout Fork, 29in, 120mm | RockShox SID Select 3P 120mm |
| Rear shock | RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate 2P Lever Lockout Shock | RockShox SID SEL+; 115mm 190x45 |
| GROUPSET | ||
| Shift levers | SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type Trigger | Shimano Deore M6100 |
| Front derailleur | — | — |
| Rear derailleur | SRAM Eagle 90 T-Type | Shimano Deore M6100 SGS |
| Cassette | SRAM XS-1275 T-Type, 12-speed, 10-52T | Shimano Deore M6100 10-51t |
| Chain | SRAM GX Eagle T-Type Flattop Chain | Shimano Deore M6100 |
| Crankset | SRAM Eagle 90, 32T, 170mm | Shimano Deore M6100 170mm 32t |
| Bottom bracket | SRAM DUB, 73mm BSA | Shimano BB MT501 73mm Threaded |
| Front brake | SRAM Code RSC | Shimano Deore M6120 4-Piston |
| Rear brake | SRAM Code RSC | Shimano Deore M6120 4-Piston |
| WHEELSET | ||
| Front wheel | Industry Nine Enduro S Hydra2 Wheelset (Front) - 30.5mm internal width, 110x15mm (unless upgrade selected) | Novatec Diablo XL |
| Rear wheel | Industry Nine Enduro S Hydra2 Wheelset (Rear) - 30.5mm internal width, 157x12mm (unless upgrade selected) | Novatec Diablo XL |
| Front tire | Schwalbe Nobby Nic Evo SG TLE | Maxxis Forekaster 29″ x 2.4″ 3C EXO Front |
| Rear tire | Schwalbe Wicked Will Evo ST TLE | Maxxis Rekon 3C EXO 29"x 2.4 Rear |
| COCKPIT | ||
| Stem | Evil 12 Gauge Stem - 45mm | RaceFace Aeffect 35x50mm |
| Handlebars | Evil Boomstick Carbon Bar - S/M: 780mm; L/XL: 810mm x 35mm | RaceFace Aeffect 35x760 20mm Alloy (SM/MD); RaceFace Aeffect 35x780 20mm Alloy (LG/XL) |
| Saddle | WTB Volt Pro - Medium | SDG Bel-Air 3 LUX |
| Seatpost | Bike Yoke Revive 2.0 Dropper Seatpost - 30.9mm (S: 125mm, M: 150mm, L/XL: 185mm) | Crank Bros Highline 7; SM: 125mm; MD: 150mm; LG: 170mm; XL: 200mm |
| Grips/Tape | RockShox TwistLoc Ultimate - Curved Hose | RaceFace Chester |
Geometry and fit comparison
Comparing the selected sizes—a Large Evil Following and a Medium Revel Ranger—immediately highlights the Evil's longer, lower, and slacker approach, even for a short-travel bike. The Evil Following in Large offers a 480mm reach, a full 27mm longer than the Ranger's 453mm reach in Medium. This substantial difference positions the rider more 'in' the Evil, contributing to its high-speed composure. The Evil's 66.6° head tube angle is nearly a full degree slacker than the Ranger's 67.5°, which, combined with the longer reach, gives the Evil more stability when descending at speed. While a slacker head tube often translates to slower steering, Evil counters this by speccing a 44mm fork offset (same as Ranger), which, according to Bicycling, creates a front end that's "quicker, feel[s] quicker" without being sketchy, encouraging precision lines. The Ranger, with its steeper head angle, will feel more direct and agile at slower speeds, particularly in tight switchbacks, which some riders prefer for a more nimble feel.
| FIT GEO | Following | Ranger | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stack | 604 | 619 | +15 |
| Reach | 480 | 473 | -7 |
| Top tube | 629 | 639 | +10 |
| Headtube length | 110 | 116 | +6 |
| Standover height | 675 | — | — |
| Seat tube length | 470 | 439 | -31 |
| HANDLING | Following | Ranger | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headtube angle | 66.6 | 67.5 | +0.9 |
| Seat tube angle | — | 75.3 | — |
| BB height | — | 338 | — |
| BB drop | 36 | 38 | +2 |
| Trail | — | 108 | — |
| Offset | 44 | 44 | 0 |
| Front center | 765 | — | — |
| Wheelbase | — | 1194 | — |
| Chainstay length | — | 436 | — |
Who each one is for
Evil Following
The Evil Following V3 is for the rider who wants a short-travel bike that defies expectations and actively encourages play. If you live for finding side hits, pumping through every undulation, and railing corners with aggressive leans, this bike will put a massive smile on your face. It's suitable for someone who tackles technical terrain regularly, even the "big mountain rocky tech" as MBR puts it, but doesn't want the sluggishness of a long-travel enduro bike. This rider values a stiff, precise frame and a suspension system that makes the trail disappear yet still offers a lively pop for launching off features. If you enjoy manualing, pulling wheelies, and want a bike that feels "dangerous" how hard it corners (Awesome MTB), this is your machine. It also appeals to those who appreciate a unique, boutique brand with a distinct "punk rock" attitude.
Revel Ranger
The Revel Ranger V2 is an excellent choice for the rider who values efficient speed, predictable performance, and composed capability over an overtly playful ride. If your goal is to cover ground quickly, whether on long, undulating singletrack or during endurance-focused events and bikepacking trips, the Ranger's momentum-sustaining CBF suspension will be a major asset. This bike shines for someone who appreciates a predictable ride that absorbs rough terrain without fuss, allowing them to remain relaxed even when going fast, as GearJunkie noted. It's for the rider who wants an agile climber that delivers power efficiently and confidently descends a wide range of trails, but isn't necessarily looking to launch off every root or get overly "poppy." If you're tackling terrain that demands consistent pedaling and stable tracking, especially in conditions where consistency is key, the Ranger will be a reliable "stoic instrument of speed" that gets the job done without fanfare.
