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Giant says Revolt cracking issue is simply down to paint… but it’ll replace frames free of charge

Cracks at the top of the seat tube are cosmetic, says Giant, and there's no reason to stop riding while a replacement is organised

Giant says that an issue riders have reported on its model year 2022 Revolt Advanced and Revolt Advanced Pro bikes is simply down to cracking paint rather than anything structural – but it will replace any affected frame free of charge.

A couple of readers have contacted us to highlight the issue and pointed us in the direction of the Giant Revolt Owners group on Facebook where users have reported small cracks appearing at the top of the seat tube.

> Giant reveals ‘lighter, faster’ Revolt gravel bikes with new flip chip for increased adaptability to the terrain 

Giant Revolt Advanced paint cracking - 1

 

Giant issued this statement:

“Giant has been made aware of potential paint cracking in a small number of its composite Revolt series of gravel bicycles.

"If you are the original owner of a model year 2022 Giant Revolt Advanced or Revolt Advanced Pro series bicycle and have experienced any paint issues around the seat tube/seat clamp area of your frame, please visit the authorised Giant bicycle retailer from which you purchased the bicycle for further analysis.

“If the paint issue is confirmed to be within Giant’s warranty scope, the dealer will work to replace the affected frameset free of charge.”

Giant reveals ‘lighter, faster’ Revolt gravel bikes with new flip chip for increased adaptability to the terrainGiant has told us that the issue doesn’t affect all 2022 Giant Revolt Advanced and Revolt Advanced Pro frames, just certain frame sizes and colours, and that it occurs when you tighten the bolt for the seat post wedge (Giant uses an internal wedge-type expander system rather than an external collar to hold the seatpost in place).

> Giant unveils the Revolt X - a super-capable suspension gravel bike 

Essentially, Giant says, the tube is able to expand more than paint, resulting in the paint cracking.

What happens to the carbon? Nothing, according to Giant, it’s just cosmetic. The frame remains structurally sound and riders can continue riding without any safety concerns.

Despite it being a non-structural issue, Giant will swap any affected frame for a new one. The carbon used in that area of the frame is different on the replacement frame to avoid a repeat.

Complicating matters, though, Giant says that some of the early replacement frames that were sent out were of the original variety, so the issue recurred. That left some riders feeling frustrated.

Giant Revolt white triangle inside seat tube - 1

If in doubt, the correct replacement frames have been marked with a small white triangle inside the top of the seat tube; just a pen mark to indicate the new version.

Revolt is Giant's gravel bike lineup. The most affordable bike in the range is the £1,299 Giant Revolt 2, but this model has an aluminium frame. It's only the carbon-framed models with the Advanced and Advanded Pro suffixes that are affected here, not aluminium frames. We've not reviewed the latest model but you can check out the 2020 Giant Revolt Advanced 2 here

Giant reports that despite the comments online, only a single-digit percentage of 2022 Giant Revolt Advanced and Revolt Advanced Pro series frames have been returned.

For more details head over to www.giant-bicycles.com

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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6 comments

Avatar
Sriracha | 1 year ago
0 likes

The paint doesn't crack by itself. Either the paint is the wrong spec for the allowable movement within the frame, or the movement within the frame is beyond spec. Either way it's not good.

Avatar
IanMSpencer replied to Sriracha | 1 year ago
1 like

It seems that Giant are saying that indeed the paint is the wrong spec, and only specific batches of manufacture are affected.

Avatar
kil0ran | 1 year ago
0 likes

They've been using D-Fuse on a huge number of bikes for a number of years and it's never been an issue until now. What's changed with the 22 and newer Revolt is that the seat tube can be adapted to take a round dropper post and people have been wondering if that's what causing this issue. On the Giants I had there have been no issues with cracking, or indeed any issues with the wedge or the seatpost slipping, and I'm a heavy rider. 

Avatar
Miller | 1 year ago
0 likes

People panic about any tiny crack in carbon components. Not saying that even paint cracks aren't a valid complaint (*) but I'm not seeing any risk here.

(* See the Airbus / Qatar Airways dispute over paint cracks on A350 planes.)

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to Miller | 1 year ago
2 likes

Miller wrote:

People panic about any tiny crack in carbon components. Not saying that even paint cracks aren't a valid complaint (*) but I'm not seeing any risk here.

(* See the Airbus / Qatar Airways dispute over paint cracks on A350 planes.)

Cracks in any components (cranks?) are a cause for concern and it's not necessarily easy for customers to tell the difference between a structural failure and a cosmetic issue.

Avatar
Jem PT | 1 year ago
2 likes

It sounds like the owners are Revolt-ing smiley

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