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So yesterday I went for to a Santa Cruz demo day looking to buy/try a new Bronson but alas they didn't have the XL I needed so ended up having a play on a Megatower (worst name ever by the way sound like an 80s copyrighted folding action figure from China). But unlike the awful name the bike albeit a cc reserve build was brilliant,and the wagon wheels have got me wanting to move back to 29ers, at 6,2 and leggy i think i might be onto something. So having a look yesterday a local ish shop had a Rallon in store in XL, I dived in the car and just managed to get there per closing time, enough time to have a good eye at it and sit on test, spec wise for the money its hands down a better looking bike on paper.. so whats the catch? Is the Santa over priced or is the Orbea priced that way because its not as good ? What also made me gush was on the website you can custom order the frame colours you want (pink as f*£k).
Reviews seem to be bang on just real ride input needed please ..cheers
@doug_basqueMTB.com is probably the man to answer you.
EDIT: no idea why his name is not linking, sorry.
Get yourself a demo. Orbea are a great company IMO. I have an Occam, which is a lovely bit of kit. I've noticed that SC have to reduce the spec significantly to even get in the same region price-wise.
This may help:
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/new-orbea-rallon-anyone-ridden-one/
Thanks for the link Martin 🙂
Rallon is great. I’ve put more miles than most on one! (1.5 million meters of descending by basqueMTB team this year). Happy to answer questions. I won’t tell you why it’s cheaper than the Santa Cruz, I can only tell you why it’s been a great bike for me. I’m sure the SC is too. Should be great for your size, I think.
Pricing isn't always directly related to quality on bikes, or any consumer products really.
Not ridden the Rallon but it'd be on my demo list if I wanted an all-rounder. The SC probably wouldn't, but only 'cos I think there are better propositions in the long-travel full enduro 29er segment.
I've got one and quite simply it's awesome. It's as good a descender as a 150/160mm 29er is going to be but it's also far better at going up than it has any right to be. It's stiff and precise but can also go full monster truck if needed.
I got mine after 6 months out from an ankle op so have been unfit and overweight whilst riding it last year and was still setting PBs on pretty much everything local to me on it. At the mo want there is nothing out there that is making me look elsewhere.
After spending what seems to be for ever reading and watching reviews Ive just to find many negative comments , maybe sizing but having said that the xl is right for me.. im getting excited
I'm on an XL with a 35mm stem and 150mm dropper at 6' I wouldn't want to be smaller.
Biggest issue is they aren't coming out of the factory particularly quickly.
Great bikes. Definitely give one a go.
If you’re in hitting distance of South Yorkshire, JE James have one of each large and XL demo Rallon that you can take out for a day or more so long as you book ahead (demos are hidden under ‘bike hire’)
Rode the Rallon after getting a SC Bronson hoping I wouldn’t want to swap. Too close to call on ride / frame, would have been very happy on any with no regret at the same price after riding both hard. I’d take the best fork / group / wheel package deal available within your budget and hit the trails.
Love my rallon. It’s just good everywhere.
I’ve been circling a new bike for a while and the Rallon has crossed my list more than once.
Apologies for slight hijack, but do people see it as a bike that could reasonably be an only MTB for someone who did most things and wasn’t necessarily prioritising descending? Having seen them in action (older models) I believe the climbing is there, but has the big wheel/big travel squashed the playful poppiness? Other bikes still on my shortlist are the current 5010, Primer and Flare (aware I have a mix of wheel sizes).
Also, does anyone know of a medium Rallon demo in the UK?
Id need the 50mm stem and a 150 dropper maybe even a rise on the bars as they were super flat . spec wise it would be the team build so 36 ad x2 with 1501 wheels
Other bikes still on my shortlist are the current 5010, Primer and Flare (aware I have a mix of wheel sizes).
Occam is closer to those than the Rallon? I have an Occam and it’s a great bike. Think they run 29 or 27.5+ too if that makes a difference.
It does climb and pedal well and not just for a 150mm bike. I set mine up to be smooth and controlled. It be set up stiffer with more pop but it feels best as a stable high speed machine.
I got one after my RocketMax got nicked, it's a better bike in every way apart from how it looks. I haven't found an area where it falls down yet. 30+ mile big rides, uplifts and local riding (Tweed Valley) it just doesn't trip up anywhere. It's a significantly better climber than the Hightower I used to have. I got it with the X2, the difference between pop and plough is a few clicks and 12 PSI.
The little storage box it comes with is surprisingly handy and it'll take a bottle as well. As you can see, I quite like mine 🙂
what's Orbea's warranty like? I think/assume that part of the Santa Cruz premium is their lifetime frame and bearings stuff.
"ORBEA offers all its users Orbea's Lifetime Warranty, which is completely voluntary and free of charge. It consists of a lifetime warranty with no time limitations that covers all frames and rigid forks assembled on our bicycles against breaking and/or cracks.
Orbea's Lifetime Warranty will also extend coverage against paint, varnish and corrosion defects on all frames and rigid forks for 1 additional year after the end of the legal warranty (in other words, for up to 3 years after the purchase of the product by the user)."
I've had an R4 Rallon for nearly 4 years now and have tested and raced an R5 a few times recently. I'm now selling my R4 to buy the R5. Got a few thoughts up on my blog if you're interested.
The Rallon has routinely come out as one of the best bikes out there since the R4 days, they're excellent bikes and good specs. IMHO Santa Cruz bikes are way overpriced for the spec you get but that said, they do hold their value very well on the second hand market so something to consider if you are thinking long term.
The Rallon is meant to be an enduro race bike so if you got the descents worthy of it, then it's a good all day bike. If it's relatively tame your way, then the Occam would be better. The TR is a great 29er trail bike and the AM is pretty much a carbon version of the R4.
I'm a year into owning one. The confidence this bike gives you is short of nothing normal. I've taken on bigger jumps and drops than I'd ever imagined, did 40 mile rides on tarmac road, trail center stuff and bike parks.
Some negative points tho. At 6"2 and on the XL I get sore hands when riding trail center gravel trails that last over 4/5 mins. I'm on to my 5th set of bars and stem lengths to sort this. I believe the stack height is low so need a 30/40mm rise bar.
Second one is I upgraded the wheels from the factory and with the hubs that come on these wheels you can feel the 1/4 turn in the pedals before the engagement. I got some Pro 4 hubs and the difference is night and day.
My alloy Trance in size L is lighter then the XL full carbon Rallon.
All in all tho I do like the bike, once up to speed it just keeps going has saved me a few time from going OTB and i cant see me selling it anytime soon.
Tested one last October and couldn't make it fit me really. Size L was a bit too small and the XL was too big. It was a good bike, fo'shure but it didn't set my world on fire like I hoped it would've and was a bit surprised by the sizing issues.
Clink, brakeneck and orena, that’s pretty much what I was thinking - possibly the Occam is a better bike for me although that opens up the LT 27.5 vs ST 29 question, plus demos seem rarer (looks like my choices may be Canterbury or Fort Bill... Hm, decisions...)
From where I live I’ve got lots of natural moorland heading out towards the Dark Peak or the Pennines and it’s not so much that big descents don’t exist, that they aren’t my focus. I’m pretty limited for space and trying to keep the fleet to three (FS MTB, CX and HT). It’s the classic ‘is this too much bike and will it iron out all my trails so they’re not fun anymore’ question I think...
From where I live I’ve got lots of natural moorland heading out towards the Dark Peak or the Pennines and it’s not so much that big descents don’t exist, that they aren’t my focus.
Sorry to butt in, but you are a prime candidate for a short/mid travel 29er.
They can be faster than an enduro bike almost everywhere, including some fairly technical descents IME.
Sorry to butt in, but you are a prime candidate for a short/mid travel 29er.
They can be faster than an enduro bike almost everywhere, including some fairly technical descents IME.
That pretty much echos my suspicion, and is why things like the Primer were on my interest list. I do have a demo booked for one but because direct sales it’s not soon (late June) so in the decision void I’m looking around. The Rallon is something I’ve had an interest in for a while now, but I think possibly my time for owning such a bike has passed and maybe an Occam TR (130 29er) may be a better choice from Orbea’s lineup.
I have had mine for just under a year, and as a serial bike changer, I cannot recommend it enough. I use mine for most things, from a gentle pootle, hike-up- a- ben, coast to coast and riding on/off piste in the Tweed valley approx twice a week.
I guess the best thing I can say about it is that I never think 'i wish I had brought another bike' ie. I've never came to a downhill bit, techy climb, genteel pootle that I've felt under or over biked.
Some Rallon gushing here - (nice colour too)
My local Orbea dealer was able to get demo bikes in, if that helps?
Shall have to ask. It would be good to be able to ride the Occam and Rallon in the same area. The local moors can get quite fierce, but then they do merge onto the Dark Peak.
Definitely into the stage where riding bikes is needed though. Reading what’s written around the Web, it’s almost worth wondering why the Occam exists if the Rallon does everything claimed, given neither are exactly XC bikes...
It's a slight compromise - Occam is less full on enduro but pedals a bit better on the easier stuff. Works fine for my local XC riding but also trips to the Lakes/Wales. Of course, that won't stop me getting an Oiz...
Martin, Occam AM or TR, out of interest?
DezB just watched that cheers for the share..
Well, just had response from Orbea after I queried that the Occam AM page didn’t seem to be allowing size selection.
Apparently they’ve sold through the 2019 stock it was so popular and there is no more until next MY, individual examples left at dealers is all that is left.
For such a popular bike it’s certainly kept a low profile online!
Martin, Occam AM or TR, out of interest?
AM, but the previous version ie 140/140 travel. Bought the frame second hand when I was holding out for a 2019 Oiz Trail (they sold out of that one too).
I've just moved from a Transition Patrol to a Rallon. Still dialling it in but it's a very direct, efficient climber and it feels much more manoeuvrable than a big bike should.
It feels like a proper all rounder. I have a riding buddy who pretty much changes his bike annually. He's had his Rallon well over a year now - and has no intentions of changing it up. That's a pretty significant compliment...
My lad has one and he loves it. Sizing wise it's definitely worth trying one as the small/medium seems to come up a bit short and I always ride medium sized bikes but I could easily run a large. I run a carbon Bronson and I'd definitely change to one for my next bike.