The Rallon front triangle seems to be really resonant. Like it amplifies sounds. If it's not making noise it's a quiet bike, but if it's making noise, especially something creaking, it's REALLY creaking. Otherwise I'm pretty happy with it. Has some cool features, looks good, rides well. Coming off the Megatower v2, I think it loses a little something in suspension performance (maybe axle path), but it's very subtle and it has other attributes that are better/worse depending on the rider. For instance I like the lower AR, I think the thing stops like crazy, but my trails tend to be super bumpy hardpack where other bikes would feel like the rear triangle just locks up and skips, whereas on softer trails that doesn't really seem to be as much of an issue.
Great feedback on the Rallon there. You running Shimano drivetrain with it, or T-Type? That kinda sounds like the chain is too long. I'd run an...
Great feedback on the Rallon there. You running Shimano drivetrain with it, or T-Type? That kinda sounds like the chain is too long. I'd run an Ochain regardless. The thing with the brake hoses I get what you're saying - I was looking at their tech doc and going from the stay to the main frame looks like a royal PITA, but on the other hand I'd only have to do that once. The flexy rear end is concerning. I had a Levo with something similar and it burned through bearings in the upper link like crazy. I've always slammed my seat all the way forward, and thought that it'd probably take around a 79* STA to finally get me to slide it back a bit to maybe center. My inclination is to go with ~442 chainstays as most of what I ride wouldn't really take advantage of the stability and carving turns feel from 450. I had an ebike with ~453 reach & 444 stays, and that was super stable (stack was quite a bit lower though).
I'm running Hayes brakes (so the hoses are bigger) and it was a pain to run the hoses, but yeah, you just do it once. Needed two people, one pushing the hose and the other pulling. But I've had bikes that were worse... Generally working on the bike, things seem pretty well thought out and quality, but I don't think it's at the level of like Santa Cruz.
Stuff like STA is obviously personal preference/bike fit stuff. But yeah, it's steep, and the reach isn't super long either, so the top tube length is shorter than some other bikes.
I went with the long chain-stays and really like it, front end so much less vague (I demoed the bike with 442 as well). Could probably go even longer, but I'm on a size large. I assume the rear triangle is stiffer on the shorter stays, but who knows. Tire clearance seems quite good to me, so if people are rubbing... that's a lot of flex.
Bottle clearance is pretty tough. It comes with it's own side loader bottle cage, which you like have to use. Every other cage I tried made it worse. The bottle interferes with the underside of the top tube, especially when inserting it. I put extra tape there to protect the frame, because it does rub. I am running the Elite Fly 750 (because it has the most cleanable nozzle) but the specialized bottles don't seem to fit any better. It's so bad I would say you aren't drinking during a race run, but it's not an XC bike so that's probably fine. Obviously smaller bottles fit a lot better/fine/normal (like the 550ml size). I think I'm pretty good at drinking and riding (much wow), but I basically have to look down and manage every insertion on this bike.
I'm running low/progressive with the new superdeluxe ultimate in 5/6 volume reducers at 28-30% sag, compression in the middle. I'm pretty lightweight though, so I'm probably running more compression damping than a lot of people get in reality. The HBO saves it I'm pretty sure. Definitely less support than my megatower had, which is a bit disappointing, but it's fine. I've been able to do ~5' hucks to virtually flat without feeling a harsh bottom out (obviously absorbing as much as I can myself as well...) which is kind of my yardstick for if I can get along with a bike because that's just a feature on a trail that I ride. I don't understand these bikes that have like 15% progression or whatever. 25% seems like the bare minimum to me, but what do I know.
Marin Alpine Trail, comes in a frameset only option with the Vivid Air.
The Rallon front triangle seems to be really resonant. Like it amplifies sounds. If it's not making noise it's a quiet bike, but if it's making noise, especially something creaking, it's REALLY creaking. Otherwise I'm pretty happy with it. Has some cool features, looks good, rides well. Coming off the Megatower v2, I think it loses a little something in suspension performance (maybe axle path), but it's very subtle and it has other attributes that are better/worse depending on the rider. For instance I like the lower AR, I think the thing stops like crazy, but my trails tend to be super bumpy hardpack where other bikes would feel like the rear triangle just locks up and skips, whereas on softer trails that doesn't really seem to be as much of an issue.
I'm running Hayes brakes (so the hoses are bigger) and it was a pain to run the hoses, but yeah, you just do it once. Needed two people, one pushing the hose and the other pulling. But I've had bikes that were worse... Generally working on the bike, things seem pretty well thought out and quality, but I don't think it's at the level of like Santa Cruz.
Stuff like STA is obviously personal preference/bike fit stuff. But yeah, it's steep, and the reach isn't super long either, so the top tube length is shorter than some other bikes.
I went with the long chain-stays and really like it, front end so much less vague (I demoed the bike with 442 as well). Could probably go even longer, but I'm on a size large. I assume the rear triangle is stiffer on the shorter stays, but who knows. Tire clearance seems quite good to me, so if people are rubbing... that's a lot of flex.
Bottle clearance is pretty tough. It comes with it's own side loader bottle cage, which you like have to use. Every other cage I tried made it worse. The bottle interferes with the underside of the top tube, especially when inserting it. I put extra tape there to protect the frame, because it does rub. I am running the Elite Fly 750 (because it has the most cleanable nozzle) but the specialized bottles don't seem to fit any better. It's so bad I would say you aren't drinking during a race run, but it's not an XC bike so that's probably fine. Obviously smaller bottles fit a lot better/fine/normal (like the 550ml size). I think I'm pretty good at drinking and riding (much wow), but I basically have to look down and manage every insertion on this bike.
I'm running low/progressive with the new superdeluxe ultimate in 5/6 volume reducers at 28-30% sag, compression in the middle. I'm pretty lightweight though, so I'm probably running more compression damping than a lot of people get in reality. The HBO saves it I'm pretty sure. Definitely less support than my megatower had, which is a bit disappointing, but it's fine. I've been able to do ~5' hucks to virtually flat without feeling a harsh bottom out (obviously absorbing as much as I can myself as well...) which is kind of my yardstick for if I can get along with a bike because that's just a feature on a trail that I ride. I don't understand these bikes that have like 15% progression or whatever. 25% seems like the bare minimum to me, but what do I know.
Post a reply to: What enduro bike am I?