Abu Garcia Revo SX Generation 3 Product Review

Reel Review

Abu Garcia's Workhorse - the Gen 3 Revo SX

Date:	10/16/13
Tackle Type:	Reel
Manufacturer:	Abu Garcia
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 7.68 - GOOD

Introduction: If there's a segment of low profile baitcasting reels that can be defined as "workhorse", it's those products priced in the rough range of $150. This is the true sweetspot between what most consider budget reels and an entry level to high end. Since the introduction of Abu Garcia's Revo line of baitcasting reels, the company has been very aggressive in their efforts to dominate market share as is evidenced by the diversity of their lineup. Their entry into this workhorse category of casting reels? Well, that's the reel we're looking at today. Introducing our take on Abu Garcia's 3rd Generation Revo SX.

Abu Garcia Gen 3 Revo SX Specifications
Line Capacity - Rated	12/145
Line Capacity - Spool Volume	13 cubic centimeters
Retrieve Ratio	6.4:1 & 7.1:1
Inches Per Turn	6.4:1 = 12.5" - 26"
Inches Per Turn	7.1:1 = 14" - 29"
Weight	6.7 oz
Spool Weight	14.7 grams
Bearings	9 + 1
Drag	10.29 lbs
Origin	Made in Korea
MSRP	$159.99

Quality/Construction: Several countries in the Far East are now being leveraged for manufacturing other than just China and Japan. In recent years we've seen an influx of product from Thailand, Taiwan, to the country many are referring to as "the New Japan" because of the quality of product being produced within their borders. That country is Korea. Abu Garcia manufactures all their Revo line of reels in Korea and in looking over the Gen 3 Revo SX, it's easy to understand why.

Introducing Abu Garcia's third generation Revo SX casting reel.

The fit and finish of our Revo SX is outstanding. The sideplates on this reel align perfectly with the frame with no noticeable gaps or protrusions anywhere as you run your finger over the joints and seams. The reel is finished in a smooth and consistent matte black with red highlights at the spool, under the dragstar, and in the handle nut and port holes. There is a very-very slight degree of backplay in the reel but only if you hold the reel and handle very tight in both hands and wiggle back and forth. The knobs do exhibit maybe a millimeter - if that - of play into and away from the handle.

Quality Ratings for Abu Garcia Gen 3 Revo SX
Finish (1-5)	Frame & Sideplate Tolerance (1-5)	Handle Tolerance (1-5)	Knob Tolerance (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
5	5	4	4	18	20	9.0

We fished the Revo SX aboard a St. Croix Legend Xtreme rod as well as a Phenix M1.

Performance: We fished this reel spooled with twelve pound Sunline Super Natural monofilament and mounted on a Phenix M1 MX72H-B (7'2" Heavy Powered) casting rod.

This reel is very compact, lightweight and comfortable to palm.

Retrieve: The Revo SX is available in two different retrieve ratios ( 6.4:1 and 7.1:1 ). We calculate the inches per turn in each of these retrieve ratios from empty to full spool to range from twelve and a half to twenty six inches (12.5" - 26") on the 6.4:1 ratio reel to fourteen to twenty nine inches (14" - 29") on the 7.1:1 ratio reel.

It comes with a standard, 80 mm handle.

Our test specimen was a 7.1:1 ratio reel which performed very well while fishing spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in the California Delta. On one or two trips, there was a time where the reel felt a little rough, but a quick dab of oil on the bearings and under the levelwind worm gear cleared those issues up right away.

Performance Ratings for Abu Garcia Gen 3 Revo SX
Retrieve (1-5)	Drag (1-5)	Power (1-5)	Casting Range (1-5)	Brakes (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
4	4	4	3	3	18	25	7.2

Taking a look inside we see the SX's drag array.

Drag: In the lab, our Revo SX performed well during its Sweet Drag Performance Test save for a couple of unexplained dips in pressure of near 40%. The reel did not exhibit any of these inconsistencies out on the water or at least not to where we could discern.

Sweet Drag Performance for Abu Garcia Gen 3 Revo SX (~2.5 Turns to Lockdown)
	Full Turn	Full + 2	Full + 4	Full + 6	Lockdown	Avg % Change
Start Up	0.15	0.36	.63	2.54	9.97
Sustained	0.13	0.36	.67	2.54	10.29
Biggest Drop	0.08	0.29	.56	1.5	9.37
Change in Startup vs Sustained	11.4%	1.2%	6.5%	0.04%	3.2%	4.5%
Biggest Drop from Sustained	39.8%	20.4%	16.5%	40.9%	8.9%	25.3%

Looking over the Sweet Drag Performance chart, we can see where these dips occurred in the "Full + 6" setting, but the curve is in relatively good shape aside from that one dip. Where the drag seemed more erratic was at finger tight lockdown. This was not a setting we tested out in the field since we rarely, if ever fish our reels on this drag setting.

Fig 1: Our Sweet Drag Performance chart illustrates how consistent the SX's drag performed over several adjustment points while strapped to The Machine.

Power: Our review specimen was the 7.1:1 retrieve ratio Revo SX. This is not a retrieve ratio we'd expect to come with a lot of power. For testing purposes, we tied on a Norman DD-22 deep diving crank, tossed it out and attempted to crank it up with this reel. The reel was certainly able, but it wasn't ideal. Otherwise while fishing plastics, spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits, we did not run into any situations where the power of this reel came into question. We'd rate this reel average in this regard.

The Revo SX is an effective caster, but don't expect to use it as a finesse reel, it's not made for that.

Next Section: Casting Range