【Circles Tokyo】What is the difference between the Rambler and the Rambler SL?

2025/6/10 Circles

Gravel + Adventure + All-Road: At the Crossroads of Choice

Hello! It’s John from Circles Tokyo.
Before you know it, it's already June. 2025 is flying by, and we’re already at the halfway point.

Exactly one year ago, during my time training in Nagoya, I built up a bike. That bike is the WILDE Rambler SL.

Since then, it has been my true "partner" through countless adventures—from on-road and off-road riding to long-distance tours, gravel rides, and even BikeToFishing trips.

In the midst of all this, WILDE released new colors in late April!
It’s been creating a buzz both here and abroad, and as a Rambler SL user myself, it’s certainly stirring my heart (honestly, these new colors are hard to resist...).

What’s the difference between the Rambler and the Rambler SL?

Lately, we’ve had more people coming to Circles Tokyo to check out the WILDE series, and this is the question I get asked most often.

"What is the difference between the Rambler and the Rambler SL?"

While both are born from the same brand, their different forks lead to slight variations in geometry, giving each a distinct personality based on their intended use.

In this article, I will explain those differences in detail while incorporating my own personal experience with them.

■ Comparison Summary: Rambler / Rambler SL

Category	Rambler	Rambler SL
Fork	Segmented Steel	Carbon
Trail / BB Height	Longer / Higher	Slightly Shorter / Lower
Ride Style	Bikepacking / Long-distance Touring	Gravel Riding / Long Rides
Versatility	High (numerous mounts, dynamo-ready)	High (numerous mounts, dynamo-ready)
Ride Feel	With a longer trail than the SL and a slightly smaller BB drop (higher BB height), it offers superior capability and clearance on rough terrain.	The overall weight reduction provides a balanced ride feel that combines acceleration with vibration damping.

Trail Value	Rambler	RamblerSL
XS	69	72
S	73	76
M	70	73
L	63	66
XL	63	66

BB Drop	Rambler	RamblerSL
XS	63	67
S	68	72
M	68	72
L	68	72
XL	68	72

※A longer trail provides more straight-line stability, while a shorter trail makes handling quicker. A smaller BB drop results in a higher BB height, making it easier to avoid obstacles, while a larger BB drop lowers the BB height, increasing stability.

My experience after a year with the Rambler SL

The smoothness characteristic of the carbon fork combined with surprisingly direct acceleration.
The first thing I noticed when riding the Rambler SL was that "pleasing responsiveness."

The lightweight structure responds well whether you’re sitting or standing, and the feeling that "the bike moves forward exactly as much as you put in" is clearly communicated from pavement to forest roads.

The moment I rode over rough gravel or cracks in the pavement, I thought, "Wow, this is different." The carbon naturally absorbs fine vibrations that aluminum or steel would typically transmit, making a massive difference in fatigue in your hands and shoulders.

This is especially a huge advantage for long rides or dirt descents, as it really helps in not sapping your concentration.

The charm of the Rambler is its "tough and reliable travel gear feel"

As you can see by comparing the table above with the images, the Rambler is designed with a higher BB compared to the Rambler SL.

In other words, since the pedals are further from the ground, they are less likely to strike rocks or bumps, allowing you to ride through technical terrain without hesitation.

Having that extra ground clearance and reducing the risk of scraping a bottle mounted under the downtube on rocky terrain provides a tremendous sense of security on long journeys.

Why are the Rambler series bikes so resistant to fatigue over long distances?

One of the reasons lies in the "stack height."

Stack height is the vertical distance from the center of the BB (bottom bracket) to the top of the head tube. It affects handlebar height and the rider’s posture.

Let’s compare the stack height of the ALL CITY Cosmic Stallion with the Rambler series.

ALL CITY Cosmic Stallion

Size (cm)	Stack (mm)
46	518
49	536
52	550
55	577
58	600
61	624

Rambler / Rambler SL

Size	Stack (mm)
XS	533
S	565
M	576
L	599
XL	618

As you can see, the Rambler series is designed to be 10 to 20mm higher for each size.

This naturally raises the handlebar position, making it easier to maintain an upright posture. As a result, your lower back and shoulders stay comfortable even on long rides.

Furthermore, even when descending on rough roads or downhill sections, you don’t have to lean forward too much, allowing for confident control—I really feel this is a design made for "fatigue-free adventure."

It’s not just a gravel bike

Both the Rambler and Rambler SL build upon comfort and stability from their high-stack design, while maintaining distinctly different characters through their variations in forks and geometry.

In other words, it doesn’t just fit into the "gravel bike" category; it is a platform that fuses the three elements of gravel, adventure, and all-road.

From bikepacking to fast gravel, you are sure to find the perfect bike for your riding style.

While the Rambler and Rambler SL share a basic design philosophy, their "riding character" is clearly differentiated through specifications like the fork and BB height.

To summarize briefly...

■ Rambler

For those who value travel and durability.
・Equipped with a Segmented Steel fork
・High trail / High BB height
・Perfect for bikepacking
・Ground clearance makes it strong against bumps
・Great expandability for long journeys

If you’re looking for the peace of mind that you can "ride anywhere," this is the one.

■ Rambler SL

For those who want to ride nimbly and freely.
・Features a lightweight carbon fork
・Smooth acceleration and vibration damping
・Handles everything from pavement to gravel
・Perfect for comfortable long rides
・An all-rounder that pursues the joy of riding