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Cranksets vary in chain ring size and number and in crank arm lengths. The best mountain bike cranks almost exclusively use single front chainrings directly mounted to the drive-side arm. No doubt this is one reason why I instantly gelled with the bike. The best mtb crankset for you might even be one that simply fits you better regardless of the features. I rode it in the highest of the two available geometry settings and, as much as I love a low bottom bracket, the high setting was as low as I could reasonably get away with. The Rallon is so low, in fact, that it comes with shorter 170mm crank-arms to gain some extra pedal clearance. > Specialized mountain bikes: which model is right for you? “The Rallon is so low, in fact, that it comes with shorter 170mm crank-arms to gain some extra pedal clearance”Īnd while a lot of manufacturers claim to make long, low, slack bikes, Orbea really is walking the walk. It’s ultra-plush and is backed up by smooth, controlled damping in the mid-stroke for a planted feel that few 160mm-travel bikes I’ve ridden can match. This bike is certainly race-tuned, but not in a hard-as-nails, hold-on-and-skip-across-the-top-of-the-bumps sort of way. On the rear, a longer than average rocker link gives a very smooth, progressive feel to the suspension. In pursuit of the ultimate enduro race bike, Orbea has gone as far as specifying a custom-tuned spring curve to match the slack 66° head angle. With its Mavic Crossmax Enduro wheelset, carbon Race Face components and latest Bos suspension it’s a really well-dressed bit of kit, with the performance to match. Not that you’ll need to make many changes to the X-Team I rode in Italy. Despite all of the spec options, Orbea promises to get your bike to you within four weeks of placing your order. Modifications to the standard build-kit are made online and the price is adjusted accordingly. The options don’t end there.īecause all the bikes are assembled at Orbea HQ in the Basque Country, each model permits a degree of customisation, from selecting a wider handlebar or a different set of brakes, all the way up to a complete suspension upgrade. Prices start at a very competitive £2,199 for the Fox-equipped Rallon X30, and at the other end of the spectrum there is the Rallon X-LTD for £5,499, with a SRAM XX1 groupset and carbon Roam 60 wheelset. There are four bikes in total, and all share the same 160mm-travel aluminium frame.
#CRANK XTEAM MTB SERIES#
Yes, you guessed it: it’s yet another 650b enduro bike.īut before we delve into some of the specific details of the Rallon X-Team that I rode on the Enduro World Series trails of Finale, Italy, let’s take a closer look at the rest of the line-up. That’s all set to change, though, with the introduction of the new Rallon. Spanish brand Orbea has always had a comprehensive range of mountain bikes, but it’s probably best known in the UK for its XC race hardtails.
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