2018 Orbea Rallon M-Team

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Orbea recently brought us out to Benasque, Spain, which is a small town nestled within the vast and beautiful Pyrenees Mountains that lay along the border between France and Spain. Why has Orbea brought us to such a unique region? To introduce us to their new 2018 enduro bike, the Rallon. Unlike the previous alloy 27.5-inch 2016 Rallon, the new enduro bike not only makes the jump to bigger 29-inch wheels, but they've also gone full carbon with the 2018 Rallon. With 150mm of rear travel and 160mm up front, Orbea is hoping you get addicted to "Enduralin," or so they say.

In their words, "Enduralin is the formula of excitement and fun that turns a good ride into a great one." Sure, it's a marketing pitch, something to get people hyped on an idea, a product, a bike, anything. Do you really need a sales pitch like that to get excited to ride your bike? If you're reading this, likely not. What gets us excited is a bike that rides better than the marketing, a bike that puts a smile on our face and makes us spit the dirt out of our mouth from grinning so hard the whole way down the mountain. We spent a couple long days aboard Orbea’s new 29-inch enduro machine, the Rallon, in the highest peaks of the Pyrenees to see if we caught the "Enduralin" addiction.

Highlights

• OMR Carbon front and rear triangle
• Asymmetrical monocoque frame construction
• 29-inch wheels
• 150mm rear travel with 160mm front travel
• Adjustable head angle and bottom bracket height
• Accepts both air and coil Metric shocks
• Keyed-in oversized yoke
• Internal cable routing
• Sealed Enduro Max bearings
• Four-bar suspension with concentric rear axle pivot
• Integrated downtube, seatstay, and chainstay protection
• 1x drivetrain specific
• Threaded bottom bracket
• 180mm post mount rear brake
• ISCG 05 tabs

Just a few short years ago we never expected to be praising 29-inch bikes so often, but you can’t deny a good ride. Orbea’s new Rallon is yet another new wagon-wheeled bike that will put a grin on any descent-craving aggressive rider’s face.

What’s The Bottom Line?

Just a few short years ago we never expected to be praising 29-inch bikes so often, but you can’t deny a good ride. Orbea’s new Rallon is yet another new wagon-wheeled bike that will put a grin on any descent-craving aggressive rider’s face. With excellent handling in the steep, fast, and rowdy, all while being capable of making the journey to the top, the Rallon is absolutely one bike we wouldn’t hesitate to throw a leg over again. With Metric and Boost spacing, modern enduro geometry, and well-thought-out features and design, we’re sure the shelf life of this bike will deliver years of hard charging and fun riding to come.

For more information, visit www.orbea.com.

Vital MTB First Ride Rating

• 
  Climbing: 4 stars - Excellent
• 
  Descending: 5 stars - Spectacular
• 
  Fun Factor: 4.5 stars - Outstanding
• 
  Value: 4 stars - Excellent
• 
  Overall Impressions: 4.5 stars - Outstanding

About The Reviewer

Fred Robinson - Age: 32 // Years Riding MTB: 14 // Height: 6'1" (1.85m) // Weight: 245-pounds (110.95kg)

"Drop my heels and go." Fred has been on two wheels since he was two-years-old, is deceptively quick for a bigger guy, and likes steep, fast trails where he can hang it off the back of the bike. Several years of shop experience means he's not afraid to tinker. He's very particular when it comes to a bike's suspension performance and stiffness traits.

Photos by Matt Wragg