First ride review: Wilier Rave SLR 2022 – Borderline schizophrenic or the best of both worlds?

The Wilier Rave SLR promises to be perfect for all-road and gravel riding. To achieve this, the Italian brand rely on a stiff carbon frame specced with either road or gravel components. Does the concept work or does it bring too many compromises? We tested the gravel version of the Wilier Rave SLR to find out.

The idea isn’t new: by swapping the wheels and tires, you can adapt a bike to the respective terrain – provided that you’ve got enough tire clearance. Wilier have taken the idea a little further, applying the concept to other components, such as the groupset and cockpit.

The result is the Wilier Rave SLR, a bike with two faces: one for gravel and one for all-road. What they both have in common is complete integration, making for a very clean and tidy look, as well as an aggressive, agile character. The latter aims the Rave SLR at gravel races or fast all-road tours.

The components of the Wilier Rave SLR – Road or gravel?

Both the road and gravel versions, which Wilier calls Allroad and Gravel setup, respectively, rely exclusively on high-end groupsets from Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo. The road models all come with electronic shifting, whereas the gravel models are available with the mechanical Campagnolo EKAR groupset. You’ll find carbon wheels and cockpits throughout.

Not a fan of n+1 approach to bikes? No problem, the Wilier Rave SLR covers a wide range of use cases.

Our test bike in the gravel setup was equipped with the SRAM Force eTap AXS XPLR. The ratio of 40 t chainring and 10–44 t cassette fits very well with the character and range of use of the bike on rather fast gravel tours. Only on very fast asphalt passages or downhills a heavier gear ratio would be beneficial. Uphill, however, you usually have the right gear at hand thanks to gear reduction and the low weight of the Rave SLR. As for the brakes, the SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD with 160 mm discs at the front and rear leave nothing to be desired: modulation, stability and braking power are typically SRAM at the highest level.

In the gravel version, the Rave SLR features the one-piece, so-called J-bar cockpit, which actually looks more like a Y. The cockpit allows for a clean integration of the cables and ensures good aerodynamics. However, the one-piece design leaves limited options for customization. Although the level of integration of the Wilier Rave SLR is outstanding, the weight is still surprisingly low: Our € 8,400 expensive test bike in size L comes in at just 7.7 kg.

The frame of the Wilier Rave SLR

The frame of the Wilier Rave SLR promises to be on par with the Italian brand’s top models, such as the Filante SLR or the Wilier 0 SLR, putting it right up there in terms of weight, compliance and handling. To achieve this, Wilier rely on the same high-quality carbon fibres and mix them with special viscoelastic fibres and liquid crystal polymers. We’ll tell you how this composition performs further below. To achieve the aggressive character of the Wilier Rave SLR, the geometry of the frame is based on that of thoroughbred road bikes. By giving it a little more stack height and a slightly shorter reach, they’ve tamed the racing character slightly, aiming to make it more comfortable. You can find the exact geometry figures of the Wilier Rave SLR in the table below. Our test rider is 1.84 m tall and his riding position aboard the size L test bike was aggressively stretched while feeling integrated with the bike.

Size	XS	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Top tube	510 mm	527 mm	545 mm	561 mm	579 mm	597 mm
Seat tube	450 mm	480 mm	500 mm	520 mm	540 mm	560 mm
Head tube	98 mm	118 mm	134 mm	154 mm	172 mm	190 mm
Head angle	70°	70°	71°	71°	71.5°	72°
Seat angle	75°	74.5°	74°	73.5°	73°	72.5°
Chainstay	421 mm	422 mm	423 mm	423 mm	425 mm	427 mm
Wheelbase	997 mm	1,012 mm	1,017 mm	1,031 mm	1,041 mm	1,051 mm
Reach	370 mm	377 mm	384 mm	391 mm	398 mm	405 mm
Stack	513 mm	532 mm	551 mm	570 mm	589 mm	608 mm

Enough of the theory – Riding the Wilier Rave SLR!

Regardless of whether it’s got gravel or road components, Wilier claim that the character of the Rave SLR is race-oriented. And after only the first few metres aboard the bike there is no doubting that – not with the gravel build we rode at least. Thanks to its low weight and ample stiffness, the Rave SLR accelerates with ease, allowing you to bring it up to speeds that you would typically experience on a road bike. The drivetrain, the frame’s stiffness and the aerodynamics work in harmony to make the bike efficient, helping you maintain that speed. However, the faster you ride, the more the voluminous Vittoria Terreno Dry Graphene 2.0 tires in 700 x 38C slow you down due to the rolling resistance of the tread, especially on asphalt and compacted gravel. In this case, you might want to switch to faster rolling tires. On loose gravel, the rolling resistance plays less of a role. On the contrary, the tread generates plenty of grip regardless of whether the surface is dry or damp. It’s only in very wet and muddy terrain that the tires reach their limits.

The aggressive, agile handling plays well with the amount of grip you have off-road, making you want to ride fast. The bike’s very direct handling can seem a bit nervous and wobbly when riding slowly, but this feeling subsides the faster you ride, allowing experienced riders to have a lot of fun. Ultimately, agility takes precedence over composure with the Wilier Rave SLR, which means that beginners will have to stay focused and keep both hands on the handlebar. In terms of comfort, the bike benefits from the voluminous tires and some level of compliance in the frame, though it remains a stiff bike aimed at efficiency and acceleration. The vibration dampening is good on compacted surfaces, but things get rough when riding over roots or loose rubble. As such, the Wilier Rave SLR is better suited to high-speed American gravel than it is to European gravel and underbiking.

Who is the Wilier Rave SLR for?

Wilier’s 2-in-1 approach makes sense from the manufacturer’s point of view since this allows the Italian brand to cover two categories with one frame. As such, the frame combines the best of the gravel and the all-road world indeed. From the buyer’s point of view, you also benefit from having one frame that can do both gravel and all-road. However, while swapping out the wheels is easy, you’ll be hard-pressed to do that with the groupset. So, you’ll be stuck with using either a road or a gravel drivetrain. The 2-in-1 approach might be good for the manufacturer, but you’ll still have to ask yourself what kind of riding you want to do and choose the components that are best suited to that kind of terrain.

With the gravel build, the Wilier Rave SLR is perfect for those who love riding fast and putting down the power on compacted and smooth surfaces or competing in short but tough gravel races. If you’ve got the experience, there’s nothing to stop you from occasionally tackling an easy trail. However, you’ll quickly reach the bike’s limits and venture into underbiking terrain despite the ample tire clearance. For long, comfort-oriented tours and everything to do with bikepacking there are better alternatives to the Wilier Rave SLR. If you’re unsure what kind of gravel riding you want to do and which type of gravel bike is right for you, then we recommend getting some personal buyer’s guide first!

The frame of the Wilier Rave SLR is aggressive and agile, offering a good basis for lightweight gravel or all-road builds. With gravel components, the bike delivers razor-sharp and agile handling, allowing those who’ve got the skills and who love riding fast on compacted surfaces to have a great time. That said, it’s not the best choice for newcomers and riders who want a lot of mounting options and a high level of comfort. In that case, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

For more information on the Wilier Rave SLR, visit wilier.com.

---

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of GRAN FONDO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words & Photos: