Wilier Rave SLR ID2 evaluation: probably the most enjoyable I’ve had on an aero gravel racer

Wilier’s all-new Rave SLR ID2 takes its inspiration from the unique Rave SLR. The new bike, nevertheless, has been designed from prime to backside with racing at its core.

That’s to not say the unique Rave SLR was a slouch relating to racing, notching up wins within the Serenissima gravel in 2021 (the primary skilled gravel occasion), the Traka 200 in 2022 and Unbound 2022, with Ivan Silk the primary non-American to win gravel’s blue-ribbon occasion.

While it is nonetheless a superb racer, there’s extra to the Rave SLR ID2’s bow – much more.

Wilier Rave SLR ID2 body

The new frameset was developed at Wilier’s Innovation Lab, utilizing full 3D modelling and CFD to create an aerodynamically optimised frameset. This is then made in resin and put into full wind-tunnel testing and aesthetic analysis. Wilier definitely doesn’t wish to construct an unpleasant bike.

Further prototyping and testing led to the bike you see right here. 

Wilier claims the brand new SLR ID2 saves 5.3 Watts over the earlier SLR at 35kph, with full NACA tubing profiles and design particulars such because the widening down tube, which shields water bottles from the wind. The fork has a large profile impressed by Wilier’s Supersonica SLR time trial bike. The broad crown has area for 52mm tyres, with a beneficiant hole apart from.

The body has an optimised layup, leading to improved stiffness versus its forebear, and the revised gravel racing geometry means a tighter rear triangle and shorter wheelbase, which Wilier claims offers the brand new SLR ID2 extra exact dealing with off-road.

It’s additionally introduced updated with a UDH rear dropout and tyre clearances as much as 52mm. That makes the SLR ID2 appropriate solely with 1x drivetrains.

The body is stripped again, with two units of bottle bosses, a 3rd set of bosses beneath the down tube and bento field mounts on the highest tube. 

That’s all, although; there isn’t a provision for mudguards, baggage or different storage, and just like the Cinelli King Zydeco 2 Apex I examined it alongside, Wilier has forgone inner storage to maintain down the burden. The claimed body weight of 990g (medium, painted) is low for a motorcycle with true aerodynamic tubing and such beneficiant tyre clearances.

Wilier has additionally chosen a color vary that pays homage to the Nineties dance tradition the bike is known as after. That means some very daring color selections, such because the Pixel Green you see right here. Wilier calls this “the colour of energy”, impressed by CRT screens and laser beams from rave events, I’m instructed.

Wilier Rave SLR ID2 geometry

The geometry matches a 71-degree head angle to a steeper 73.5-degree seat angle; the stack on my massive check bike is a low 570mm, mixed with a 391mm attain. These are numbers extra akin to a highway race bike than a full-out off-roader.

The sculpted cut-away aero seat tube is used to maximise the tyre clearance whereas preserving the wheelbase quick. Enabled by the quick 423mm chainstays, the 1,031mm wheelbase is shorter than most gravel race bikes I’ve examined so far.

The 50mm fork offset, when mixed with the 50mm tyre, results in a 69mm path. It’s a contented medium between racy and trail-capable.

Wilier Rave SLR ID2 construct

As you’d anticipate from a premium gravel bike, the Rave SLT ID2 will get a really premium construct. The drivetrain is a wholesale SRAM Red XPLR with its direct-mount rear derailleur, skeletal brakes and ergonomically wonderful shifter design. 

That mentioned, for £9,200, I’d have favored to see the power-meter geared up crankset included within the worth.

The Wilier rolls on fellow Italian model Miche’s new Graff Aero 48 gravel wheels. These 48mm-deep aero-optimised rims have a hookless 27mm-wide inner tubeless design. The rims are constructed onto Miche’s aluminium hubs with their very own RES 30 Rapid Engagement freehub, giving a 12-degree engagement and a 1,525g claimed weight that is low for such a deep wheel.

These are wrapped with Vittoria’s newest Terreno T50 gravel tyres in a big 50mm width.

Up entrance, the Rave SLR will get a one-piece bar and stem; this aero-optimised combo has a broad aero-shaped prime and the subtlest of flares, with solely a 30mm delta between the 420mm width on the hoods and 450mm on the drops.

At the rear, the Rave will get the identical slender aero carbon put up as discovered on Wilier’s Filante light-weight highway bike, though right here it’s with a 15mm offset. This is topped by Prologo’s quick Dimension saddle with Nack carbon rails.

It’s undoubtedly a premium construct, and other than including an influence meter, there’s little or no an elite racer would ever want to vary on this bundle.

Wilier Rave SLR ID2 journey impressions

You’d anticipate a motorcycle created with an aerodynamic design temporary to be quick, however maybe not precisely snug for non-professional riders who aren’t hardened to the rigours of lengthy seasons and difficult rides.

Thankfully, the Rave SLR ID2 doesn’t fall into that class. Large, 50mm-wide tyres are going to do a variety of the heavy lifting relating to consolation, though they definitely don’t account for all of it. 

The entrance finish is remarkably compliant relating to high-speed chatter and deep ruts. The one-piece bar design, with its stem that’s far slimmer than a typical instance, has sufficient vertical compliance to nullify hand-numbing vibrations and take the sting out of bigger hits.

At the identical time, it’s stiff sufficient to remain agency when honking on the bars out of the saddle, both climbing or sprinting. Throw the Rave right into a tough, rutted nook and the identical is true; the bar tracks straight, enabling the forgiving tyres to squash and grip.

The groupset has been flawless all through testing, with correct shifts, no chain chatter and no misshifts.

I solely had one anomaly the place I left the bike in a sizzling storage post-riding, solely to return the following day to seek out the derailleur battery discharged. It hasn’t occurred once more since, though the climate (and temperatures in my storage) was considerably excessive this summer time.

The wheel and tyre combo is surprisingly quick on the highway. I’d have guessed a 50mm tyre with a tread could be cumbersome on tarmac, however that hasn’t been the case. On a journey with a roadie buddy working 28mm highway tyres, I used to be capable of maintain his wheel with out struggling.

The Rave excels on gravel roads, doubletrack trails and poorly maintained again roads. It’s speedy to speed up, and people huge aero rims assist it maintain on to the momentum.

I anticipated the Rave to falter on my excursions onto singletrack and ridge-traversing sheep tracks. But the lightness of dealing with on the entrance finish enabled me to make corrections when a bump pushed the wheel off line. 

The steering just isn’t so sharp as to make twists and activates singletrack a handful, and the shorter wheelbase makes for a motorcycle you may flick by tight sections. The Rave SLR even takes the occasional airtime in its stride, with the massive tyres cushioning landings with ease.

The 40-tooth chainring, mixed with the 10-46t cassette, is a good center floor for gravel driving and I used to be by no means discovered wanting, both climbing or sprinting.

Wilier Rave SLR ID2 backside line

Sometimes it’s good to put away your expectations of a motorcycle primarily based on its seems to be and specs, and simply journey it.

If I’d been given the selection for a gravel bike of my goals, I most likely wouldn’t have given the Rave a second look. It regarded too targeted and an excessive amount of about aero/stiffness for what I would like from a quick gravel bike.

I’m very completely happy to be confirmed improper. The Rave SLR ID2 is an excellent, very succesful all-round gravel bike. Its aerodynamic optimisation and low weight haven’t come on the expense of its off-road means, and bringing enormous tyre clearances into the combo makes it versatile too. 

I’m unhappy that it doesn’t include down tube storage, as a result of that’s shortly change into one thing I’m an enormous fan of. However, chances are you’ll not really feel the identical and will want the stripped-down, aero optimised, light-weight, very race-oriented and great-looking Rave SLR ID2 simply as it’s.