Wilier Rave SLR ID2 Force XPLR E1 Bike

The Wilier Rave SLR ID2 Force XPLR E1 is what happens when one of cycling's oldest frame builders applies full-scale aerodynamic engineering to a gravel race bike. Wilier Triestina has been building bikes in Bassano del Grappa, Italy since 1906, and the Rave SLR platform carries that pedigree directly into the most competitive segment in cycling right now. The original Rave SLR won at Serenissima Gravel, Traka 200, and Unbound Gravel. The ID2 is faster — 8.9% less aerodynamic drag than its predecessor, worth 5.3 watts at 35km/h — and it's built to keep winning.

The second-generation frameset was developed with full 3D modelling and CFD, and every detail reflects a clear obsession with speed. The NACA-profiled down tube is widened specifically to shield water bottles from the airstream. The fork design is drawn from Wilier's Supersonica SLR road bike, with wide stays optimised for larger tires. Cabling is fully integrated. And the frame is built exclusively for 1x drivetrains — there's no front derailleur option — both to reduce weight and to clean up the aerodynamic profile. Tire clearance grows to 52mm, up 10mm from the original Rave SLR, opening the door to wider tires that roll faster on rough ground and absorb vibration without giving back the bike's inherent speed.

What makes the ID2 structurally distinctive is Wilier's balanced design approach: stiffness targets are set independently for each size from XS to XXL, and every tube is engineered accordingly. The XS rider and the XXL rider each get a frame tuned for their weight, power, and load — not a geometrically scaled version of the same tube set. The high-module SLR carbon — incorporating HUS Mod carbon and Liquid Crystal Polymer in the layup — comes in at a claimed 990g for the painted frame. The geometry is race-oriented throughout: a size M runs 70.8° head angle, 75° seat angle, 561mm stack, and 387mm reach, with a compact wheelbase designed for rapid acceleration and precise handling on technical terrain.

Design Benefits

1. Aero-first gravel architecture. The 8.9% drag reduction over the previous Rave SLR isn't a marginal refinement — it's a full redesign. At 35km/h, 5.3 watts of saved drag accumulates over the course of a long gravel race into real time on the clock. The NACA down tube, fully integrated cabling, and Supersonica-derived fork all contribute to a frame that moves through air the way a road race bike does, even when you're riding on dirt.
2. 52mm tire clearance with aero profile intact. The ID2 expanded clearance from 42mm to 52mm without compromising the aerodynamic shape. That extra width means lower pressures, a bigger contact patch, and better vibration damping on rougher surfaces — and the Miche Graff Aero 48 carbon wheels are matched to the tire spec to keep rolling resistance and aerodynamics working in the same direction.
3. Size-specific stiffness tuning. Most carbon frames are geometrically scaled — the tube shapes stay the same, only the dimensions change. The Rave SLR ID2 sets independent stiffness targets for each size, then redesigns the tubes to meet them. A rider on an XS gets a frame as laterally responsive relative to their power as a rider on an XXL. It's a manufacturing approach that takes significantly more engineering time, and it shows in how consistently the bike handles across the range.
4. 1x-only drivetrain design. The ID2 was built around a single chainring from the start — the front triangle is shaped to take full aerodynamic advantage of that decision. SRAM Force XPLR AXS handles the shifting with a 10–46T cassette and a 40T chainring, covering race-pace flats through punchy gravel climbs. The Universal Derailleur Hanger keeps field maintenance straightforward wherever you're racing.

Final Take

The Rave SLR ID2 Force XPLR E1 is built for one type of rider: someone who takes gravel racing seriously and wants a bike that reflects that commitment. The geometry is aggressive, the construction is race-oriented, and every engineering decision — from the 1x-only frame design to the NACA down tube — is made in service of going faster. With Wilier's 119-year Italian heritage and a platform proven at Unbound, Traka 200, and Serenissima Gravel, the ID2 arrives with a strong track record behind it. The Force XPLR AXS build brings serious electronic shifting at a level below the flagship, paired with Miche Graff Aero 48 carbon wheels that add real aerodynamic and weight advantages over alloy. If your gravel riding is more race than adventure, this is the bike.