Issue #041, Review - January 10, 2020

Orbea Rallon M-LTD on test – a super agile 29er with improved suspension

They say you should never change a winning horse, so the Orbea Rallon M-LTD sees only minor improvement to the details instead. A new rocker arm in the rear linkage is said to improve the performance of the suspension, and even better, it’s available separately as an upgrade for the previous model. But how does the bike fare in direct comparison to the competition?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best enduro bike 2020

**Orbea** Rallon M-LTD | 170/160 mm | 14.04 kg | € 7,381

The Orbea Rallon is a bike for individualists. You can customise the paint job however you want with Orbea’s MyO online configurator – giving you several million options, for free! But the Rallon already looks great in Orbea’s preconfigured colour scheme. The asymmetric frame with its clean lines is a feast for the eyes. The build spec can also be configured online. We chose the flagship configuration but opted against the ENVE wheelset which we found to be too stiff in previous reviews. Instead we choose the reliable DT swiss EX1501 wheels. That also saves a cool € 1,499. We also swapped the DHX2 coil shock for a FOX X2 Factory air shock. In this configuration, the Rallon comes in at € 7,381, which is fair given the extent of customisation options and the otherwise excellent build, leaving little to be desired. The spec list of the Rallon M-LTD includes a 170 mm FOX 36 FLOAT Factory GRIP2 fork and a Shimano XTR drivetrain with a Race Face Next R crankset. Thanks to the relatively short seat tube, riders should generally be able to choose between two frame sizes. We received the bike in size L for our test (our riders are all about 180 cm tall), but we’ve also ridden a size XL in the past, which felt slightly too long.

**Flip-chip**
The Orbea Rallon features a flip-chip for a low and high geometry setting. On the XL model, we kept it in the “lower” position, but on the L we set it to the higher “low” position so as not to shorten the effective reach even more.

**Annoying**
As on the previous model, the cables rattled inside the frame of our test bike. According to Orbea, the cables are routed through foam housings, but they don’t seem to perform as they should.

**Too short**
The chainstay protector is too short. The front section of the chainstay is covered in protective tape, but it would have looked better and kept the bike more quiet to simply make the chainstay protector longer.

Orbea Rallon M-LTD

€ 7,381

Specifications

Fork FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 170 mm
Rear Shock FOX FLOAT X2 Factory 160 mm
Seatpost Crank Brothers Highline 170 mm
Brakes Shimano XTR 4-Kolben 200/180 mm
Drivetrain Shimano XTR M9100 32 - 10/51
Stem Race Face Turbine R 35 40 mm
Handlebar Race Face Next R 35 Carbon 800 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss EX1501 Spline 29

Technical Data

Size SM, L, XL
Weight 14.04 kg

Specific Features

**Convenient**
Orbea’s custom frame bag is big enough to store a spare tube. It stays securely attached to the frame and is a much nicer alternative to tape. Unfortunately, it leaves no room for a water bottle.

**Noticeable performance upgrade**
Thanks to the revised rocker arm, Orbea have given the new Rallon more travel and improved the kinematics. The 160 mm travel suspension now responds much more sensitively than the 150 mm suspension of the previous model. You can buy the rocker arm separately for € 249 as an upgrade for the previous model.

Geometry and size of the Orbea

Riders at about 180 cm tall can choose the size of the Orbea Rallon M-LTD according to whether they want a more playful bike (size L) or a more composed bike (XL). This is made possible by the short seat tube. However, taller riders will be looking for an even longer version in vain: XL is the biggest option available. The geometry itself is balanced and a flip chip enables you to adjust the head and seat tube angles as well as the bottom bracket height.

Size	SM	L	XL
Seat tube	406 mm	444 mm	483 mm
Top tube	583 mm	611 mm	644 mm
Head tube	100 mm	110 mm	125 mm
Head angle	65/64.5°	65/64.5°	65/64.5°
Seat angle	76/75°	76/75°	76/75°
Chainstays	435 mm	435 mm	435 mm
BB Drop	25/32 mm	25/32 mm	25/32 mm
Wheelbase	1,187 mm	1,217 mm	1,253 mm
Reach	430 mm	455 mm	485 mm
Stack	618 mm	627 mm	640 mm

**Helmet** 100% Trajecta | **Goggles** 100% Armega | **Shirt** Fasthouse Dropper MTB | **Shorts** Fox Ranger | **Knee pads** Fox Launch Pro

The Orbea Rallon M-LTD on the trail

For our 180 cm tall tester, the riding position on the Orbea felt compact but very comfortable with a central and upright pedalling position. The Rallon feels sprightly when you get on the pedals and it climbs well, making it suitable for longer rides too. In previous reviews, the suspension was the Rallon’s weakest point. With the coil shock installed, the rear end felt too linear and couldn’t cope with repeated hits and the air shock was too firm overall. The new rocker arm changes all that. Now, the Rallon responds sensitively to small hits, offering lots of traction and plenty of mid-stroke support. It’s not quite as plush as the best bikes in the test field, but also responds better to rider input.

The new rocker arm on the Orbea makes it perform noticeably better – the rear linkage responds a lot more sensitively and has more reserves.

Thanks to the short 455 m reach in size L, the handling of the Rallon is very direct and agile. If you like weaving through corners and around obstacles, this is the bike. The short front triangle keeps a lot of the rider’s weight on the front wheel, preventing understeer and making the handling very easy. If you’ve got a need for speed, you’d be advised to go up a size. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself tensing up on steep descents as you try to balance your centre of gravity. Despite having opted against the carbon wheels, the Orbea Rallon still felt very stiff and direct and always hit the lines we aimed it at. However, it takes a powerful rider to keep it on line.

The Orbea Rallon is a great all-rounder, but it reaches its limits in very demanding terrain.

How does the Orbea Rallon compare to the competition?

The Orbea Rallon is one of the most agile bikes on test. It felt very similar to the Track Slash, though it climbs better and offers more traction on the descents. It’s more on the trail end of the enduro spectrum and struggles to keep up with bikes like the Nukeproof Mega 290C or the Specialized Enduro on rough terrain but it’s also a lot more agile as a result.

Tuning tip: secure the internally routed cables | less stiff handlebar

Riding Characteristics

Uphill

sluggish
efficient

Agility

cumbersome
playful

Stability

nervous
confident

Handling

demanding
balanced

Suspension

harsh
plush

Fun Factor

planted
poppy

Value for money

terrible
very good

Intended Use

XC

Trail

Enduro

Downhill

Conclusion

The Orbea Rallon M-LTD scores with its direct, agile and balanced handling as well as its beautiful looks. It makes for an excellent climber and thanks to the revised linkage it is more capable on the descents. If you’re choosing between two frame sizes, you should think about whether you want a playful bike (smaller size) or a composed bike (larger frame). Details like the rattling cables and the very stiff rear end cloud the overall impression.

Tops

very comfortable climber
predictable and good-natured in the corners
tons of configuration options

Flops

lacks composure at high speeds
rattling cables in the frame

You can find out more about the Orbea Rallon M-LTD at orbea.com

The test field