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<\/a><\/p>\nRallon RS: A mountain bikers eMTB?<\/p>\n
Aside from the motor and RS integration system, the Rallon RS is a Rallon. It uses a carbon fibre frame, delivers 170mm rear wheel travel with a 170mm fork. There isn\u2019t a downhill version of the Rallon RS yet, but this is the same general layout as the DH\/Enduro convertable frame<\/a> Orbea earned serious kudos for last year.<\/p>\n There are two main features of the Rallon RS that set it apart from the Rallon and the Wild. One is integration and the other is, obviously, power. The whole idea behind Orbea\u2019s RS system<\/a> is that these two elements should work together with the Rallon\u2019s existing downhill performance as seamlessly as possible. That\u2019s what sets the Rallon RS on its own as more than just another light eMTB.<\/p>\n Rallon + TQ = Rallon RS<\/p>\n We\u2019ll start with power. While there are some wildly powerful e-bike motor systems out there, Orbea opts for less. In fact, TQ\u2019s HPR40 system is one of the least powerful currently available. It\u2019s \u201cjust\u201d 200 watts max with 40 Nm torque. Just is in quotations because, as Orbea points out, that\u2019s still like having a World Cup racer helping you up every hill. Or, as Orbea puts it, a \u201chelping hand\u201d that doesn\u2019t \u201cdominate the rider experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Orbea goes further, giving the TQ a \u201cRS Tune\u201d that sees it ease into its power band and \u201cnever exceed the rider\u2019s power\u201d. That\u2019s pretty much the opposite of a lot of systems that try to deliver as much power as quickly as possible. Orbea suggests the intent is to help out when help is needed most, on the hardest bits of climbs, not all the time and not instead of a riders power. I.e. it adds to, instead of overwhelming the rider\u2019s power.<\/p>\n Purposeful power not more power<\/p>\n This low power approach flies in the face of 2025\u2019s endless search for more power, obviously. Orbea justifies it quite succintly:<\/p>\n \u201cMany long-travel bikes claim to balance climbing and descending, but often deliver a level of\u00a0motor support that removes the satisfaction of the climb. Orbea approached this differently.\u00a0The objective was to improve the pedalling feel on climbs by reducing the usual\u00a0compromises that come from the extra weight of a long-travel chassis and the rolling\u00a0resistance of aggressive tyres\u201d<\/p>\n The bonus of this system is that it\u2019s just 1,170 g, which should help the Rallon RS preserve the original ride feel of the unplugged Rallon.<\/p>\n In addition to possibly the least powerful motor out there, Orbea uses one of the smallest batteries out there. At 290 Wh, the TQ fuel tank in the Rallon is smaller than the Overtime Pack range extender Rocky Mountain offers for its Powerplay eMTBs. it also is about half the energy of the Trek Slash+ battery<\/a>, which aims for a similar purpose for a slightly more powerful TQ motor. Again, the goal is light weight and light assist, and the pay-off is that the smaller battery is lighter. Orbea does offer a range extender option if you can already feel the range anxiety creeping in.<\/p>\n But, at the same time, Orbea\u2019s making some pretty strong claims about the range of the HPR40 and 290Wh combo. The brand estimates 1,200-1,800m elevation gain or 2-3 hours of ride time off the main battery alone. I\u2019ll add the caveat that individual results may vary, as range depends a lot on the person and terrain. But that sort of range could make sense, even with the smaller battery, as the HPR40 is asking much less from its energy supply than a near-instant 1,000W draw would.<\/p>\n While a little power is one big idea, the second big move from Orbea is to make the Rallon RS one integrated system, not multiple isolated systems.\u00a0That means, for starters, the Shimano Di2 drivetrain, TQ drive unit, Orbea wireless dropper and Fox\u2019s Neo system all draw power from the main battery. More than that, though, they communicate to deliver a bike that is constantly responding to the terrain before you have to tell it to via RS integration. What you do with your dropper post, or your cadence, can change how your suspension works.<\/p>\n This is a novel way for brands to go up against SRAM\u2019s Powertrain\/Flight Attendant combo, without being forced entirely into a SRAM ecosystem. It requires integration between the four brands, Orbea, TQ, Fox and, to an extent, Shimano. But it also leaves the door open for broader integration into Orbea\u2019s RS system. Which is nice, for consumers.<\/p>\n Fox X2 Live Valve Neo integrates into RS system<\/p>\n Integrating Fox\u2019s Float X2 Neo shock means more than drawing power from the Rallon RS\u2019s battery instead of its own power supply. The Neo taps into Orbea\u2019s RS system to use multiple system inputs, like dropper post position, cadence and speed, to adjust the shock mode. Post up? firmer for climbing support. Post down? Wide open for maximum descending performance. You can override all of this with Orbea\u2019s RS HMI remote, too. That\u2019s not just switching between open and closed. The remote actually toggles between tune modes (set up via Fox Neo app) on the shock.<\/p>\n Using Fox\u2019s Neo system allows Orbea to adjust the Float X2\u2019s tune to prioritize descending capabilities, as the system will automatically firm up for climbing. On the Rallon RS model with a standard X2, Orbea says the shock will have a similar tune to what is on the non-electric Rallon.<\/p>\n Smart dropper post adds to performance<\/p>\n Orbea includes its new smart dropper post in the Rallon RS. \u201cSmart\u201d means more than just communicating with the Neo shock. Orbea sets the smart dropper up with an automatic partial drop or, and this one is interesting, a push-to-drop function that allows you to push the lever in advance you know you\u2019ll need to drop the post, then drop the post within a set timeframe instead of having to do both at the same time.<\/p>\n<\/a>A TQ motor and slender downtube make this look more like a Rallon than a Wild<\/p>\n<\/a>It doesn\u2019t actually glow in real life. Photo: Orbea.
\nOrbea + Fox + Shimano = RS total integration<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n