Orbea Bicycles Rallon 2022
Reviews / Enduro Bikes
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At a glance
The Rallon is Orbea’s weapon in the enduro world. Sporting 160mm travel in the rear and a full carbon frameset with flip chip adjustable geometry. Although designed around 29’’ wheels, it can easily be turned into a mullet setup if you’re looking for a more playful ride. The Rallon is available in 4 different build specs, and as a frame only.
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Price: from 4599 EUR
The product
We got our hands on the Rallon with top spec. Fox coil shocks in the rear and a beefy 38 in the front to take the hits. Shimano XTR all around and to finish the kit off, top of the line Race Face Carbon cranks, wheels and cockpit. While all those cool parts are nice to have, it is the frame which matters most for this review. We all know that XTR and top spec Fox works like a charm.
The carbon Rallon has a 64 degree head angle that can be steepened by 0.5 degree through the flip chip. Besides altering the head angle, this also changes the seat angle by the same amount as well as alters the bb height by 7mm. Another thing to note is the 440mm chainstays, giving you a stable ride with plenty of grip on the climbs. Reach is a roomy 485mm on the size L, which is long but not extreme by today's standards.
Frame technology wise, there is a lot of attention to detail with the new Rallon. Of course there is an integrated storage compartment in the downtube that has enough space for a Cliff bar and Co2 cartridge. The smart storage doesn’t end there though. In the main rocker pivot you find a small minitool that's kept into place with a magnet. A nice detail although best used for emergencies only.
Out on the trail
Climbing on the Rallon is a joy. Somehow it feels more like a trail bike on the uphills. The position on the bike is very comfortable, and is suitable for long steady climbs. Even when things get steep and technical on the up, the long chainstays provide a stable base. You just have to keep in mind the low bb height to avoid pedal strikes in the rocky bits.
Descending on the Rallon is very ‘business’. It’s fast, stable and feels balanced in a variety of terrain types. With none of the geometry numbers moving into the extremes, it didn’t shine in particular at for example ultra steeps or high speed affairs. Instead it was stable, predictable and very fast. Maneuvering through tight switchbacks the Rallon felt very capable, but at times it lacked a bit of a playful feeling. If I had to compare it to a bike, I’d say the Transition Spire comes very close, although that bike excels more at high speed rocket like riding, while the Rallon remains more allround.
The suspension is nice and progressive, but not extremely plush. Don’t get me wrong, the bike handles rough rocky rooty sections like a boss, it just gives a little more feedback than some of the other coil equipped bikes we’ve ridden. Cornering however is a world of its own on the Rallon. The low bottom bracket does wonders and railing berms comes naturally. If they would offer a tad slacker head angle (63 or so), this would even be improved.
Verdict
The Rallon is an extremely good looking bike. Their geometry is not pushing any limits, which makes it a great allround machine for the enduro rider or racer. The frame is covered in nice details and the flip chip is a nice touch. It would be cool if there was a little more than just 0.5 degrees to play with though. Spec wise there are plenty of options to choose from, although whichever one you choose you end up on the higher price range. Let’s hope 2023 will see an alloy version! If customizing is your thing, have a look at Orbea’s My-O program that lets you customize your spec and even frame colors!
This review was in Issue 72 of IMB.
For more information visit Orbea BicyclesRelated
By Jarno Hoogland
Jarno's life has revolved around two wheels ever since he swung a leg over his first BMX at age 4. After a BMX and DH racing career, he moved on to work for bike shops, distributors and brands before ending up in the editors seat at IMB. Based in the ultimate testing ground in the Swiss mountains, he runs his guiding operation and makes sure every IMB issue is filled with top notch content.
