Giant REVIVE (Recumbent?)

[philrush]

The title sort of sums up the question.

I "was" in the market for a Hybred, and test rode a Giant Cypress today. I was ready to buy when I saw a Revive on the floor.

I sat on it, played with all of the adjustments and was impressed with the comfort of the riding position.
The sales guy refered to it as a 'semi" recumbent and offered a test ride.

I was interested enough that I pulled back my money for the Hybred until I do a little "research" on the Revive.
I declined the test ride as I tend to be impulsive on these types of purchases and didnt want to fritter away more than twice the $ the Revive cost vs the hybred.

Also, I was looking at the base model @ $645, and would like any positive/negative comments on this bike VS the DX model @ $895.

I am also looking (early considerations) at a RANS Fusion, so dont please dont fuss at me when you see a thread posted about that bike.

thanks
phil

[cjs1948]

We have two Revives and think they are great comfortable rides. My wife needs relative to the Revive and finances are about to change so hers is for sale. It has just been posted to eBay and would save you some money. In any case, I recommend the lesser model for one reason--the gearing. The earlier Revives didn't have good climbing gears (we changed ours) and the deluxe model has a closed system which means you can't change it. If you live where there are no hills then it doesn't matter.

CS

[ruchai]

I have the standard 7 speed revive and like it. I did not take the DX because it weighs much more and the hub gear is not as efficient as the derailer. It is my first encounter with a bike company that sell lighter model for less than the heaier model! The revive is the most comfortable bike I ever had. I had it for four months and ride it 17 km daily. Had give me no problem.

The only thing I do not like about the Revive is that it weighs 19 kgs. Hard to transport in small car. The weight does not effect it's performance much though. The Revive is not suitable for hill climbing with the standard setup.

Because of the problem of transporting the Revive in our small car I just bought a new Giant Halfway for when I want to take along a bike. It is not as comfortable as the Revive but foldable and much lighter and looks just as nice!

Ruchai

[cjs1948]

The standard Revive is eight speed not seven and Ruchai echoes my point about the gearing. The new standard models now have a 12/32 rear cassette which is a big improvement. We changed ours to 11/34 cassettes which is even better on both high and low.

CS

[philrush]

2 good points about the extra wieght of the DX and the gearing.

I am planning a test ride today, and had actually planned on the DX, but will now reconsider.

The gearing doestnt bother me much now, as I am planning basic, flat roads and hard packed trails.

On an earlier post, I mentioned that I am a BIG boy (56 years old) and 300 lbs.

My plan is some short distance riding to suppliment walking, as a means of exercise, and to use it as a "get around" vehicle when I am using the motorhome.

At 1st, I thought I wanted a Hybred and rode a Giant Cypress yesterday. At my wieght, I wasnt comfortable at all, and spotted this Revive on the floor.

I am considering a purchase of the REVIVE, and a possible purchase of the Hybred in the future to "add" more options for me.

thanks for the comments.

[sukispop]

I am also looking (early considerations) at a RANS Fusion, so dont please dont fuss at me when you see a thread posted about that bike.
phil

Hi Phil,

If I get your "drift" from your statement that I quoted above, you're concerned that folks here are gonna "fuss" with you because you've posted separate threads about different bikes, asking owners of these bikes to comment on them.

--I don't think you have any worries here--Many of us do the same thing when we're researching bikes that we're considering buying. When there aren't a lot of "professional" reviews available, the next best thing is to go to a forums community and ask for comments by people who actually own and ride the bikes you're researching. And most of us are more than happy to share our comments and experiences. After all, it's returning the favor, right? There weren't any Rans Fusions(one of the other bikes that you've posted about) available for me to look at in person, sit on, much less test ride. And it's tough for me to make a fairly expensive purchase on something sight unseen. So I went to the forums, did a search on the Fusion, and found a couple of really helpful threads that helped me to make the decision to buy the Fusion. And, as I've posted in reply to your Fusion thread, I couldn't be happier with the bike. It simply is the best bike purchase that I've ever made...and, better yet, it's one of the least expensive bikes that I've ever bought, too!

While I haven't ridden a Revive, I have seen one at our LBS, and have read a review on it in RTR(Recumbent and Tandem Rider Magazine). As some of the other folks here have commented, it's apparently a comfortable bike to sit on and ride. While its style isn't quite my cup of tea, many people find it a handsome and futuristic-looking bike with a certain zoom-zoom aesthetic quality. I kinda prefer the cruiser bike look with elegantly curved frame tubing and less "stuff" on the bike...but it's all good...to each his/her own! I've read that the Revive is not a good climber, but it sounds like Giant's addressed this to some degree with improved gearing...but even then, I think the Revive is really meant to be a recreational, flat-land comfy cruiser...not meant to challenge any hill climbing or land speed records.

Another bike to check out, Phil, is the Electra Townie...it's a sort of semi-recumbent, with the crank/bb moved slightly forward, and the seat nice and low, allowing riders to be able to have their feet flat on the ground while remaining seated at stops. Sheldon Brown, a bicycle ghuru, has written some very nice things about the Townie on his website.

My friendly suggestion, Phil, is to hold off buying your bike until you've had a chance to test ride all of the bikes that you're researching...If possible, try to get a test ride on a current model Fusion, since the new version probably won't be available until close to Christmas, or even later. Where do you live? There are Rans dealers in most states. Test ride the Revive too...and maybe even that other semi-recumbent made by KHS(I think that's the company) that kinda looks like the Revive...then you'll know which bike feels the most comfortable and natural to you...and that's really the most important thing.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
:)

[ruchai]

Yes, my Revive has 8 gears. At my age (74) I seldom use the 8th gear! The other fact about the DX is that you will not be able to repair the back tire on the road. The cluster at the real wheel are so complicate i could not figure out how to remove the wheel. The Revive come with slime filled tires though.

ruchai

[philrush]

Thanks guys.

I have made up my mind to get one of these.

Because ao the extra wieght, complexity of the rear set up on the DX, AND the extra $150 in cost, I ordered the base model in red.

I test rode one in the shop yesterday, and again today, and it really is a nice bike for "local" riding.

I initially began my search by looking at a Gian Cypress hybred and had some real dificulty ridig it the other day. I thought it was because of my size (300#) but, after riding the Revive, I spent some premium time with a different sales person on setting the bike up. When I rode it today, it was like a totaly different animal than the one I rode 2 days ago!!

I like both bikes so much, (and really need the exercise), that I am seriously considering buy BOTH, and using the Cypress for the more "difficult" terrain.

Again...thanks for your replys and comments

phil

[guardrail]

make sure you get the 11/32 rear cassette

[Swizz]

Would one need a different derailleur for that as well?

[ramblerdan]

Hello, new user here.

Just bought an '04 Revive DX from a shop that has no interest in and little knowledge about this type. An initial observation is that the square channel frame and non-diamond shape makes it hard to mount accessories made for typical tube frames. So far I have mounted a water bottle holder with long hose clamps encased in clear plastic tubing (so as not to scratch the paint), and I have a pretty good idea about mounting an air pump.

My next priority is panniers, but the suspension makes it impossible to mount both at the rack and at the hub or bottom "tube." Have any Revive owners out there found or fabricated panniers? Thanks.