Doing Things Differently: Why We Demanded Better, Not More

Evolutionary progress is slow and steady, but every now and then a significant leap forward arrives. Not by following trends, but by questioning them. By finding bold answers to difficult questions.

For us, the question was simple: what if the future of mountain biking wasn’t about more, lighter, and faster, but about better? What would that bike look like?

All bikes today require compromise. Heavy, sticky tyres and plush suspension give downhill performance but slow you down on the climbs. Modern electronics bring clear performance benefits, but come at the cost of complexity and multiple batteries to charge.

How could we make a bike that performs just as well on the descents as on the climbs, with all the performance benefits of modern electronics, but none of the downsides?

One idea changed everything. We knew that downhill performance is enhanced by low and centrally placed mass. Properly positioned, this weight increases stability and improves suspension behaviour. But what if that mass came from a small, well-placed battery and motor?

Adding a motor and battery was only the first step. To unlock the full potential of the concept, we had to think bigger. We had to design a fully integrated system where everything works as one. That meant more than sharing power between the electronic components, it also meant sharing information.

Sharing a single battery simplifies the system and makes charging easier. Sharing information through one unified control system opens new possibilities.

These ideas are rooted in our RS philosophy: using next-level technology and innovation to enhance the riding experience. The best technology doesn’t demand attention. It fades into the background the moment you start riding. That belief has guided RS from the very beginning.

With Rise, this meant developing custom motor firmware that delivers elastic assistance and a natural ride feel, where support closely mirrors rider effort. With the RS Control System, it meant bringing our intuitive RS HMI interface and the MC10 RS Smart Dropper together to unlock new functions that actively enhance the riding experience.

RS is not a label we apply lightly. It is a seal reserved for projects that genuinely move us forward. And because this project embodied our RS philosophy so completely, it earned its name: Rallon RS.

Rallon was the natural starting point for this project. Throughout its seven generations, Rallon has always been a key platform for innovation, driving our MTB family forward. It’s an incredibly fun, capable bike, recognised with Pinkbike’s Bike of the Year award and proven at the highest level on the DH circuit with multiple victories and podiums.

All of that makes Rallon a perfect platform to craft our most ambitious dreams.

A dream this big can’t be realized without partners who share our passion for innovation.

We knew that FOX would accept the challenge to go further. Together, we developed a custom version of Live Valve that connects directly to our RS Control System, drawing power from the main battery and sharing information in real time. Suspension no longer works in isolation, it becomes part of a shared ecosystem, optimizing its behavior based on dropper position, motor output, and bike speed. It wasn’t easy, but it redefines what electronic suspension can be.

As for the motor, TQ’s HPR40 provided the right starting point. Its compact architecture, low weight, and near-silent operation made it ideal, but performance on paper was never the goal. What mattered was how it felt on the trail. Through a close collaboration with TQ, we developed and refined the motor firmware, testing multiple iterations with riders of different weights and riding styles. The result is assistance that feels natural, elastic, and never dominates the riding experience.

This level of openness and shared development was essential to the project, allowing the motor and suspension to become a true part of the RS system rather than just components.

This level of integration unlocks features that simply aren’t possible with conventional bikes. Electronic shifting, dropper post, motor, and suspension all communicate through a single control unit, powered by one battery.

Pedalling performance is exceptional, with subtle but responsive assistance which gives you a push when you need it but never takes over the ride. You still have to work, and the effort feels much like a lightweight XC bike. Until you start going downhill!

What we achieved is something entirely new. Rallon RS doesn’t follow the evolutionary path of trail bikes, it takes a big leap forward. A seamless integration of power, intelligence, and handling. A smarter way to ride.

Because we wanted to. Because we dreamed about a bike like this. Because we could. Because someone had to.

Rallon RS isn’t shaped by trends or market pressure. It comes from our unique cooperative structure, where ownership lies with passionate cyclists who ride, design, and test what we create. That’s what gives us the freedom to take risks, to follow our instincts, and to invest in bold ideas that reflect what we value most about riding.

We know Rallon RS won’t be our biggest seller. It’s a bike made for a few, not for everyone. But that’s exactly why we built it. To show what’s possible when passion, not just numbers, guides the process.