New Orbea Rallon increases suspension travel for demanding race courses and bump absorption

A 7mm increase in rear travel is accompanied by a slacker geometry

By Nick Clark

Published: Wednesday, 11 October 2023 at 14:00 PM

Orbea has released its new Rallon, featuring increased travel and geometry refinements.

The new enduro bike’s rear suspension has increased from 160mm to 167mm and the Rallon now features a slacker head angle of 64 degrees that can be slackened further to 63.5 degrees.

As with the previous model, the bike is only available with a carbon fibre frame.

Orbea says the new Rallon is available now, with the range starting at £5,399 / $5,299 / €4,999 for the Rallon M20 while the top-of-the-line Rallon M-LTD costs £11,399 / $10,999 / €10,499.

New graphics and two new colourways can be chosen, with the bike still available through Orbea’s MyO online custom configurator.

Refinements over revolution

Orbea Rallon dropping off rock feature
The Orbea Fox Enduro Team have been testing the new bike at the UCI Enduro World Cup.
Orbea

Orbea says the 7mm increase in rear suspension travel achieves better bump absorption, making the Rallon more capable on demanding UCI Enduro World Cup courses.

The bike continues to use Orbea’s asymmetric frame design. This is said to increase stiffness while reducing the amount of material needed by using a brace in the front triangle to provide strength.

Orbea Rallon with forest background
Orbea’s Rallon continues to be coil shock compatible.
Orbea

Orbea’s Monocoque Race (OMR) carbon fibre is used in the construction. This is the brand’s second-tier composite, sitting behind OMX which is used on bikes such as the Oiz cross-country bike, and the Orca road bike.

Orbea says a further forward pivot point has allowed it to increase the rearwards part of the Rallon’s axle path when the suspension is compressed. This should mean the new bike is better at dealing with square-edged hits.

Orbea Rallon Steep N Deep seat tube
Orbea’s Steep’N’Deep seat tube also features on the new Occam trail bike.
Orbea

The Steep’N’Deep seat tube is said to allow 203mm of dropper post insertion on all frame sizes.

The Rallon can be set up as a mullet bike, with Orbea saying the geometry can be maintained by switching between the supplied shock extenders.

Integrated storage

Orbea Rallon and Fox DHX2 shock with forest background
The LOCKR cover also features bolts for a bottle cage.
Orbea

The Rallon has Orbea’s LOCKR internal frame storage system. The system consists of a door panel on the Rallon’s downtube and two internal bags that can stop tubes, tyre levers and CO2 canisters from rattling about on rough terrain.

There are integrated hex and torque keys in the bike’s main pivot and rear axle which are held in place with magnets.

Both of these integrations can also be seen on the new Orbea Occam trail bike.

Orbea has given the new Rallon fully sealed bearing which it says should keep things running smoothly through the roughest conditions.

Co-moulded frame protection features on the downtube of the bike to fend off rock strikes, and on the chainstay to minimise chain slap.

Orbea Rallon geometry

Geometry is where most of the changes have been made to the Rallon, with the bike now featuring a 0.5-degree slacker head angle of 64 degrees compared to 64.5 degrees on the previous model.

This can be slackened further to 63.5 degrees by adjusting the bike’s geometry which also increases the bottom bracket drop from 28mm to 35mm.

Seat tube angles remain the same as the bike it replaces at 77.5 degrees and 77 degrees depending on the position of the flip-chip.

SMLXlS-MULLETM-MULLETI-MULLETXI-MULLET
Seat tube (mm)415415435460415415435460
Top tube (mm)572599626653573600627655
Head tube (mm)9010011012090100110120
Chainstay (mm)440440440440438438438438
BB height (mm)350 / 343350 / 343350 / 343350 / 343343343343343
BB drop (mm)28 / 3528 / 3528 / 3528 / 3535353535
Wheelbase (mm)1,2021,2311,2601,2901,2011,2301,2601,289
Head angle (degrees)64 / 63.564 / 63.564 / 63.564 / 63.564 / 63.564 / 63.564 / 63.564 / 63.5
Seat angle (degrees)77.5 / 7777.5 / 7777.5 / 7777.5 / 77770770770770
Standover (mm)737737754774744744761781
Reach (mm)435460485510430455480505
Stack (mm)619628637646623632641650
Fork length (mm)587.7587.7587.7587.7587.7587.7587.7587.7
Rake (mm)4444444444444444

Orbea Rallon spec and price

Orbea Rallon M20

Orbea Rallon M20
All Rallon models come specced with a dropper seat post.
Orbea
  • Fork: Fox 38 Float Performance, 170mm
  • Shock: Fox Float X Performance
  • Drivetrain: Shimano SLX
  • Brakes: Shimano M6120
  • Wheels: Race Face AR 30c
  • Tyres: Maxxis Assegai 2.5in (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4in (r)
  • Price: £5,399 / $5,299 / €4,999