Video: A Very Detailed Explanation of the Raaw Yalla DH Bike

Feb 13, 2023
by RAAW Mountain Bikes  

A bike is a meeting of hundreds of details that all need careful consideration and balancing in development to turn an idea into something you can throw a leg over and go ride. At times it can feel a bit like a mad circus juggling act.

It might be that not many people know about all these details, or better yet, the links between them, and how it all goes into making a bike ride the way it does.

Developing a DH bike removes a couple of details that would be present on a bike that needs to go up the mountain, as well as down. But with the speeds and ferocities that a DH bike can be ridden at, while there might be fewer things to consider, each one needs to be scrutinised to a finer degree. Up at the ragged edge there’s no room for Friday afternoon-style decisions.

Being huge bike geeks, we find all this stuff hugely interesting. Potentially to the point that our wives need to remind us once in a while to talk about other things than kinematics and chassis stiffness.

But if you’re also a bike geek, then put the kettle on and enjoy our in-depth walkthrough of all the details that go into making our new DH bike, the Yalla!.

RAAW Yalla
RAAW Yalla

RAAW Yalla

RAAW Yalla
RAAW Yalla





For more information about the Yalla!, and our other bikes, the Jibb and Madonna, head to raawmtb.com.

Author Info:
RAAWMountainBikes avatar

Member since Mar 27, 2018
31 articles

53 Comments
  • 50 1
 This is awesome. You can tell this bike was built and designed by engineers, not by a marketing team. Dan & Team know what they're talking about and it shows in the design, such a well thought out, well rounded bike. Love the adjustability and durability designed into this thing. I wish all bikes did that, especially the 3 pos, cs length. I never get tired of hearing Dan Roberts nerd out on bike design. I personally would prefer a Mullet, but hey, I can get behind the reasonings for sticking with full 29er.
  • 33 1
 Can we still get a RAAW video explaining the weird RAAW Yalla launch video?
  • 3 1
 I have to say I liked it better the second time I watched it. No, i still can't afford it.
  • 19 1
 Kind of disappointed in this vid. I mean, where are the sheep? I have come to expect to see those animals in new bike ads since they're a perfect fit.
  • 26 14
 I get that this is a description of the details, but there's no real explanation or evidence based reasoning for anything.
For example - "having 2 wheelsizes in 1 bike isn't a good idea"
Errr ok? Fancy telling us why Bruni etc are wrong?
  • 11 0
 I think they meant making a bike accept both 27.5 and 29 a good idea, and they would probably prefer to rid 29 themselves so making it designed around that 29 wheel was their goal
  • 12 0
 @avg-roadie: *Geometron has entered the chat*
  • 6 1
 No statements without citations allowed! The internet police gonna put you guys behind bars
  • 1 0
 I guess they want to say: we had the design already fixed when mullet became popular.
I bet they will release a mullet version next!
  • 2 0
 @niccolope: But he is basically just reading a geo chart and telling you that their 4 bar is the best
  • 5 1
 Did y'all watch the same thing I did? He spoke for more than a minute on this topic, giving multiple reasons why Raaw prefers 29 front and rear (and acknowledged that certain tracks/riders benefit from a MX setup.) He said MX works on this bike, it just puts all the adjustments at one end of the range and you give up a lot of the adjustability they built into it.
  • 2 0
 The wheelsize thing is just one example of many unquantified statements in the video
  • 1 1
 @IllestT: I understand that they have tested it and decided against it. So the statements are 100% qualified because they come from their experimentation. They do not need to quote a research published in a scientific magazine. They create a bike with a certain set of tradeoffs and make it ride as they want it to ride, simple as that, if you want a bike which rides differently, go somewhere else.
  • 7 0
 RAWW frames are stunning. Saw them at a world cup venue, pictures wont do justice.
  • 4 0
 What is the total price for the frame without shock inc shipping, import duty and vat to the UK no one seems to know
  • 41 3
 that's Brexit for you, mate
  • 2 0
 In the US, we're in the same boat when it comes to added fees, tax, tariffs ordering from the UK. We used to have a $900 USD/£800 (or so. Daily exchange rate) buffer before additional fees started. Now it's £150, or about $200 USD. Haven't ordered anything yet, but I keep looking at getting a new Cotic. Just not sure how much more it would be, would just a frame be above $3000? That's my concern. That would be a complete bike.
  • 4 1
 @Will762: this.
Importing from the EU now is a fees-lottery
  • 1 0
 www.simplyduty.com

You just need to make sure the place you are buying from is taking off local sales tax.

You can also ask them to ship DDP and give you a price for that and it puts onus on them to work it out.
  • 3 0
 @oldschool43: last frame I bought from these guys was sale price plus shipping. That’s it.
  • 1 0
 To import to the UK you have to add 20% tax / VAT to RRP of what you buy from there web site, shipping is 25 euro's from Germany to customs for a frame, Then £25 pound UK side to your house, what parcel force charged me anyhow.
It's the customs duty which seems to be the variable LOL
For my Madonna frame i had to pay £475 extra, But I don't care as she is a bloody awesome looking frame, and rides mint with the build I got.
  • 1 0
 @oldschool43: I bought a new madonna at the end of last yr and it was 2500 and change shipped to my door. If you go on the site, add to cart and fil in the data they calculate Shipping ect for you on the site
  • 1 0
 @IllestT: Importing from the UK now is a fees-lottery too ;-)
  • 6 0
 Now thats bike porn
  • 6 0
 More Dan Roberts
  • 1 0
 Pretty sure he doesn't work for PB. Think he's a consultant in the DH bike market segment as he seems to be working on several projects.
  • 1 0
 @Will762: pretty sure you’re right. His reviews are technical yet digestible. He’s very good at what he does.
  • 4 0
 100% better than the other video.
  • 3 0
 wow no one commented on them reposting this same exact article, but without the wack sheep video that made no sense? Big Grin
  • 4 0
 ok ok ok I'll buy one
  • 2 3
 Add 4% for frame and the shock ex shipping

If you want the rolling model, if they go about offering this like the Jibb and Madonna you’re into the realms of 14-20% import duties.
  • 7 0
 14-20%??! Yalla gotta be kidding.
  • 3 1
 @scary1: more like zero in freedom units.
  • 2 0
 I didn't have to pay any taxes on my jibb coming into the US, just the shipping fee
  • 1 0
 It's hardly their fault. Raaw don't decide import duties outside of the EU. For the UK, have a word with HM Revenue and Customs.
  • 2 0
 Wow, this thing must cost HUNDREDS
  • 2 0
 Man their bikes are so sweet looking; i want!
  • 1 0
 They ride pretty sweet too, if that kind of thing matters
  • 2 1
 Imagine roaring down the trail and when you get a slug you Need to get past you shout in your loudest yoice: Yalla
  • 14 13
 He lost me at "29 front and rear"
  • 1 1
 Would be interesting to see Raaw and Neko's Frameworks project to do a collaboration.
  • 8 0
 Dan Roberts, the guy in the video, has been helping Neko on his project apparently. He's in the most recent video talking about the carbon rear triangle.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBykSCW1FNo
  • 1 0
 awesome Video Dan. Love it.
  • 1 0
 And now with Ohlins and Fox option. Great for me. Looks awesome.
  • 1 0
 Awesome watch, thanks Dan!!
  • 1 0
 Looks like a proper monster truck.
  • 3 3
 such a lovely bike but, 29 is dead..........
  • 2 3
 How many bottle mounts?
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