Yeah I demoed the Fuel EX too. For me the Rallon is faster both up and down the hill!i actually don't know the stem length, I thought 40mm maybe - it's just the stock one.
Hi GKW, could you please elaborate on how you found the Rallon faster climbing than the Fuel? That's a pretty bold statement! cheers 
If you where to get the M10 upgrade the fork, shock and wheels didn't care much if it was GX or X01 and had already got Hope brakes and other parts from your old bike, would spend the extra to get the M Team bike?
I know that's going to sound daff as sorts but finding it hard to make up my mind what to do. Saving money keeps the wife happy.
Hi GKW, could you please elaborate on how you found the Rallon faster climbing than the Fuel? That's a pretty bold statement! cheers
It was whole lot of things that basically meant the bike was faster for me - it definitely fitted me better, the riding position was better, I felt the suspension was better and although it's not the most reliable Strava confirmed it was faster uphill on a regular route!
I managed to get a ride on a large on Saturday, thanks to Pedals, and I was very impressed. This was my 1st ride on a 29er and it quashed my preconceptions. The bike felt very agile and not dissimilar to my 27.5er. The best thing for me was the lack of pedal strikes- II kept it in the low (not lower 8)) setting and didn't encounter any. LOng. low and slack maybe all the rage, but to be honest, I would rather sacrifice some of the benefits of this to minimise pedal strikes.
It wasn't the best conditions to test a bike and I was a bit unsure of the tyres, but overall i think i could live with one 🙂
If you where to get the M10 upgrade the fork, shock and wheels didn't care much if it was GX or X01 and had already got Hope brakes and other parts from your old bike, would spend the extra to get the M Team bike?I know that's going to sound daff as sorts but finding it hard to make up my mind what to do. Saving money keeps the wife happy.
If you're not too fussed on bar/stem/drivetrain and have your own brakes then M10 with upgrades works out cheaper, or did for me anyway. Personally, GX eagle will do (almost) the same job and importantly isn't going to be any slower than the top of the range eagle stuff (not sure the same can be said for lower end fork/shock/wheels, which is where the upgrades are worthwhile IMO). I also went for the upgraded dropper and will likely swap the brakes out at a later date. Came to £4500 with 10% work discount, so £1200 cheaper than the M-team.
What would you swap over from your current bike?
I have Rental bars and stem, Ergon grips and saddle along with hope Tech 3 E4 brakes.
I'm thinking get an M10 upgrade the wheels and the same with fork and shock. Ride and enjoy the bike then when needs be add X01 parts when a good deal comes around online or in my LBS.
I also went for the upgraded dropper and will likely swap the brakes out at a later date. Came to £4500 with 10% work discount, so £1200 cheaper than the M-team.
Noob question, are you upgrading the parts via your LBS when ordering? I was under the impression you could only customise via the Rallon website?
You can upgrade most parts (inc brakes and dropper) on the MyO bit. And I am sure if your LBS is good enough, they could help you out if there is something specific you want that isn't listed on the orbea site. I have bars and stem from my previous bike and brakes will get replaced at a later date if I dislike the XTs.
When you order through orbea, you create a PDF with your spec taken from the orbea website. This PDF is emailed or taken in person to your LBS who puts the order in with orbea directly.
Here's mine I picked up this weekend,
Ordered through a dealer late October and arrived bang on time.
XL M10 with factory 36's, X2 and 1501 wheel upgrades as a few others have recommended, cost me £4,350.00
By far the best value in my opinion too, happy with the GX eagle stuff, don't believe in spending big on drivetrain with the weather we get !
I've added the Sixc bars and reverb.
Took it out yesterday, well impressed, I had a demo ride before I ordered.
Initial impressions are its a superb climber and efficient pedaler, possibly best I've owned, riding position its fantastic for me at 6'3" even with the 40mm stem, plenty of room in the cockpit, no steering flop on the climbs.
Once you get out of the saddle and stomp on the pedals it really flies with no wallowing in its travel.
Did a few short off piste forest trails and it feels like a real weapon downhill but still very playful and manouvarable.
Only ridden in the low setting rather than lower, but I'd say that it would take more than the half degree you lose off the HA and SA to ruin this bikes climbing ability.
The XT brakes felt superb too once bedded in.
Can't wait to get out on some steep dry trails.
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That looks bang tidy Mark. Any chance of a side on photo with saddle at pedalling height please?
Some of those look lovely. That one is the same colour as the prototype I had Mark and it looks great. (Although mine was hand painted and had the black bit made up with electrical tape!) The purple also looks stunning in the flesh. I don't think that the pictures, pretty as they are, do it justice. Mine is going to be similar to Seb´s grey one but all in Matt, I can´t wait for it to come. I've ordered a Laufey (new name for the Loki) in the meantime.
davosaurusrex - Member
That looks bang tidy Mark. Any chance of a side on photo with saddle at pedalling height please?
Can't get a pic for u at the moment as the brand new reverb died on the first outing, the bottom came out of the post and it spilled its guts after an hour, appears like there was no circlip fitted in the bottom.
Currently sat with no post in until I fit the standard affect dropper.
The reverb was a 170 drop and gave a bb to top if saddle height of about 820mm when set up as per photo... if I remember right, if that helps.
Doug is right that the pics don't do the bikes justice, they don't photograph well with that Matt finish. Mine has a matt invisiframe kit fitted which makes it look really nice with a slight sheen, the kit fits awesome and covers almost everywhere, first time I've had one on a new bike and I'm impressed.
LBS will do me a M10 with Wheels, fork and shock upgrade for £4300 should be £4800. Very tempting.
Anybody in here who's ridden both the Rallon and the Smuggler or the Aeris AM9?
I'm almost sold on the Rallon, but I can't demo one before the end of April.
Cheers
Sold my 2016 smuggler for the Rallon, early days as I said above only had one ride on the rallon (not ridden the 2018 smuggler though) but I'd say the rallon has a comfier riding position and is a better peddler/climber than the smuggler. Also lighter, I'd rather do a big xc ride on the rallon than the old shape smuggler.
The rallon when climbing and pedalling xc trails does not feel like it has 150mm at the rear as it doesn't wallow and is very efficient even without the climb switch on.
dblspeed - I also replaced a Smuggler with the Rallon.
As mark_rich has said the Orbea is lighter and a better climber than the Transition. The Smuggler despite being short travel always felt very plush and I have not got the Rallon to feel like that yet - I'd say its more of a lively feel. In general I would say it feels snappier despite being much longer travel but that might be down to weight as much as anything else. Descending on the Smuggler was very good (I had 150mm forks and an Angleset on mine) but I'm going faster on the Rallon and feeling more in control.
I've not ridden the Aeris to compare but my gut would say it's a middle ground between the 2 in terms of ride style?
Has anyone ridden the 2018 Enduro in comparsion to the Rallon? They look very similiar geometry wis.
MBR did a rallon v enduro shootout this month, but I take their reviews with a pinch of salt!
Rallon 9 / 10
Enduro 8 / 10
Enduro was let down by the ohlins fork but could be THE bike if equipped with fox suspension.
Mentioned rallon might be better with 160 rear travel.....maybe for enduro racing but I'd rather have it at 150 and have more pedalling efficiency for my usage thanks.
Anyway I think spesh will be giving them pink enduro elites away come August.
Descending on the Smuggler was very good (I had 150mm forks and an Angleset on mine)
gadzooks!
Mentioned rallon might be better with 160 rear travel.....
😆
Did they hit a rock that was 10mm too big for the back wheel to get over?
Thanks all for the input.
GKW my gut feeling (and looking at the suspension design) tells me the AM9 is more pedal friendly than the Smuggler, I also like the lower standover better, but less the 4 mm taller seat tube.
The Aeris is also quite a bit longer than the Rallon, 773 mm vs 753 fc, longer chainstays, so probably the latter is better suited to most of my riding than the former.
Argh analysis paralysis
So my brother's rallon has arrived! Mine is going to be another week or so, but here is his to have a gander at.
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Another one that looks great! I have yet to see a really dodgy colour combo - given the scope on the MyO system there's bound to be a few.....
The frame is so beefy it makes that 36 look like a 32 😀
Nickism which build is that?
I get mine this afternoon, yippeee
Great reading these newer posts on the Rallon. No update/change on my M10 MyO delivery date, March/April (ordered November). Just as a reminder for those checking out sizing I carpark tested a s/m and at 5"8 it was perfect. Gone for full gloss black with full Graphpite Grey graphics and Kashima up front with 150mm Turbine dropper and chainguide. Any news and will keep you posted for those following delivery times etc. Keep posting yours in the mean time!!
Anyone running a bottle cage yet on their rallon ?
Was going to by a right hand lezyne side loader (seemed to make sense as most people are right handed + shock levers on right) saw the fabric ones once I got in the shop so got that.
Fits fine, however when fitting i noticed the cage mount bolts are off centre on the downtube for some reason so the bottle leans more to the left making me wonder if they are designed for a particular cage ?
As far as I know Orbea recommend that you use a left loading bottle cage.
Hopefully not derailing from the Rallon but I have a couple of months to wait for my Rallon. In the meantime I bought a Laufey, it’s the new name for the Loki. I tested one a fair bit last year and loved it but had to give it back. The new one has a bigger fork and new coloques, it looks great!
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It's finally arrived! I'll get some proper pictures of it in its natural environment when I take it out but at the moment you'll have to do with hospital accommodation decor.
Blue and pink... brave but I think it works really nicely! It rides so well with that shock. Enjoy!
Think that blue is a brilliant colour!
I'd highly recommend invisframe or similar to protect the paintwork. Sadly didn't do it myself and already have a few prominent scuffs to the finish!
Not ridden for 3 weeks,Manflu has ruined me
Looks nice that laufey Doug, have they done away with the plus wheels now or have u changed them?
I'm fancying a 650b+ hardtail myself to save the rallon from all this crap weather.
Hey Mark, those are plus wheels! A Highroller 3.0 and a Chronicle 3.0 as well. You can get it 29 instead I think.
Hey Mark, those are plus wheels! A Highroller 3.0 and a Chronicle 3.0 as well. You can get it 29 instead I think.
They look like 29er wheels in the pic, must be the camera angle, very nice though. Looks long and slack
Anybody riding the Fox 36 Float Performace 160 3-Position fork on the M10 (grip damper)? How do you like it?
General consensus is the HSC LSC damper is very good, but haven't found much on the grip damper.
Besides the extra cost in certain situations I'd rather have the 3 position adjustability to quickly lock the fork.
nickism - are you 'Bike of the Day' on another site?
The one I demoed had the GRIP damper and it is very good indeed. I'd say it would be more than fine for the majority. See here for an overview from someone who knows what they're talking about... https://www.pinkbike.com/news/the-tuesday-tune-ep-13-foxs-budget-fit-grip-damper.html
I've heard it's rebadged marzocchi tech, which is pretty good. I liked it.
Disclaimer: I have the full factory one on my Rallon. Pics when I get some nice ones.
Cheers bloddsexmagik, the meantime I got a good deal on the M10 with factory forks and took the plunge.
I had seen the PB article but also read some negative user feedback about the grip as well, probably due to improper set up, who knows, in the end I just felt getting the factory fork was going to be easier than upgrading later,
So i've ridden mine a few times now and I think we're starting to understand each other. It feel's so snappy compared to other big 29ers I've ridden and that's taken a bit of getting used to but I think it's going to be an absolute rocket. Feels mint surfing into muddy ruts.
Some pictures because that's what everyone wants to see:
[img] https://imgur.com/1Z3BgR3 [/img]
[img] https://imgur.com/8Vsq7Tc [/img]
[img] https://imgur.com/k99dP1z [/img]
My MyO is due end of February - forward of the original delivery date.
When was the original date, Addict?
