such, it benefits from a lower sbest stainless steel tubing cutter

As such, it benefits from a lower stack height and shorter head tube while the lowered, kinked chainstay configuration has culminated in a bigger bottom bracket drop - all of which has, according to Orbea, improved stability and outright speed. The stack figures are approximately 5 mm lower per frame size, while the bottom bracket has been lowered by 4 mm, too. Of course, using a tubeless tyre set-up will unlock extra comfort and traction, but a regular tyre and inner tube arrangement is very nearly just as good, provided you don't overinflate things. Included UCI-illegal accessories suggest they want to tri to sell it to those who also run and swim. Heres why you can trust us. I found the stock Prologo Dimension T4.0 saddle a bit uncomfortable owing to the semi-downward tilt of the tip and traded it for a flatter-profiled Fizik Antares Versus Evo R3 Adaptive, which improved things greatly. Finance provided by PayPal Credit and V12 Retail Finance, Terms and Conditions apply. Check your junk email. James Huang described the previous model as distinctly chattery, and so this likely subtle softening should be a positive improvement. As such, it has the brand new Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 groupset, plus the new Shimano R9270 C50TL wheelset and a set of 50mm deep, tubeless-ready carbon wheels. Like many of Orbeas bikes, each model of the Orca Aero can be personalised via the companys MyO program which provides a staggering number of paint options and a few chances to personalise the spec. For those who are counting grams, my size 57cm test bike, equipped with its aero water bottle and storage box, weighs 8.3kg, according to my scales. The hood ergonomics and offset between shifter paddles are the same, too - all of which promote an intuitive and familiar control interface. Orbea Orca OMX first-ride review: An N+1 killer. It's not too pretty either, to be honest, but it is useful and can be completely removed if not to your taste. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. My test bike is, per cycling industry Illuminati requirements, the top-spec model in the new Orca Aero range. First seen at this years Vuelta, Orbea now has a wholly new version designed to be a more efficient race bike. The new Dura-Ace groupset functions flawlessly, and Ill echo the impressions of my (former) colleague Matthew Loveridgeby saying the front shifting is even by the already lofty standards of Shimano front shifting phenomenal. We've sent you an email to reset your password. While this is not detrimental to its performance, it suffers on super-steep, punchy climbs, One of the standout bikes in the best aero road bike category when it comes to bang for buck. This airfoil-shaped number is claimed to weigh 225 g (including hardware). Meanwhile, the 408 mm length chainstays now match the previous rim brake model, while even shorter wheelbase figures are said to add more responsiveness. It's incredibly rapid, and will perform as well on the climbs as it does on open flats, making it an extremely versatile and capable choice. BIKE SALES/SHOWROOM: Open to customers by appointment ONLY. Select the store you visit most frequently below and their stock information will show on product pages. In fact, Orbea has managed to strike an incredible balance between frame stiffness and compliancy with its OMX carbon-fibre layup recipe. TOOLBOX BEHIND THE FRONT WHEEL the age-old question of where to carry essential tools, tubes and identification is answered by the integrated toolbox that sits behind the front wheel. Words of lightness and ride comfort were hardly mentioned by Orbea (although not ignored in design), but interestingly, there was a surprising amount of talk about ergonomics. Fortunately, both the aero water bottle and the down tube storage box are removable if you dont like them. The shaping of the fork is said to be optimised for deep profile rims, and its shape transitions smoothly through the downtube. Compared to the competition, though, thats still around 350g heavier than the size 58cm Cannondale SystemSix I tested earlier this year, which, as already mentioned, has deeper, wider wheels. Pro tip: it's worth properly arranging everything inside to avoid any annoying rattles. The great majority of torsional and lateral loads are handled by the lower spine of the frame. That said, the Orca Aero is an incredibly stiff-yet-compliant machine. Customisation like this is likely to increase the lead time for getting your bike delivered, but, incredibly, it doesnt come at any extra cost (unless you opt for component upgrades along the way, of course). The Prologo Dimension T4.0 saddle is a comfortable perch, with a shape that suits the Orca Aeros racy intentions. FRAME: Orbea Orca Aero Carbon OMX disc, monocoque construction, HS 1,5, BB 386, powermeter compatible, Thru Axle 12mm x 142mm rear, thread M12x2 P1, Speed release compatible, internal cable routing, EC/DC compatible. The on-lineMyO custom design app is straightforward and slick, offering a massive number of the frame colour combinations, and is great fun to use. Difficult to beat in terms of all-round value. The margins are very fine. You could swap in your preferred handlebar of choice without any trouble. The downtube and seat tube are curved around the front and rear tyre respectively, and each of these frame tubes are optimised to smooth the airflow for 25-28 mm tyres. Its been five years since Orbea introduced the Orca Aero, its aero road bike. The geometry is similar to that of the Cannondale SystemSix, and like that bike it feels nimble, racy and sharp. ORCA AERO IS FASTER WITH THE BOTTLE IN PLACE airflow around the downtube rolls seamlessly past the bottle and cage, and nothing impedes the beautiful look of the frame. SUMMER SALE | Try 3 issues of Cycling Plus magazine for 5 + Get a pair of Lusso cycling socks! The Orbea Orca Aero M120iLTD is a beautifully balanced machine that prioritises speed and comfort over weight. One of my biggest gripes with aero road bikes is that the component sizes dont always chime with the bikes stated intentions. Company Reg: 5987559. Aligning the new Orcas frame with the airflow, optimising cross-sections, smoothing transitions and a myriad of other improvements mean a big reduction in drag. Orbea calls this paint scheme borealis blue/carbon raw and I think it looks spectacular - especially with contrasting gold accents. Orbeas all new OC Cockpit has been designed for a perfect balance of aerodynamics, stiffness to weight and ergonomics. As a result, power transfer is instant and the bike accelerates almost immediately when summoned, urging you to pedal harder, ride faster. Given the size of this disparity, I had BikeRadars friendly mechanic and product tester Will Pooleweigh it using his scales too, to double-check mine werent wrong. It has a well thought-out design, which expertly balances practicality and speed. The Orca Aero uses a standard, 31.8mm stem clamp, meaning you can use any standard road handlebar you like, if you prefer. a lender and offers finance from a restricted range of finance providers. I didnt get on perfectly with the shape of the handlebar. Simon joined BikeRadar in 2020, but has been riding bikes all his life, and racing road and time trial bikes for over a decade. To create your new password, click the link in the email and enter a new one. The Orbea Orca Aero is just sublime once up to speed; it cuts through the air with ease and holds momentum in much the same way as a time trial bike. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the new Orca Aero is Orbeas decision to not use a one-piece cockpit. Given the size medium Canyon Aeroad CFR I tested last year weighed almost a full kilo less than this, Id expect an equivalent version to still weigh a decent chunk less too. |, USD $9,999.00 Ill accept the increased mass is likely to be a sticking point for some, especially at this price point, but the Orca Aero is a bike that doesnt feel heavy on the road, and physics suggests it doesnt make much difference against the clock either. The frame is ready to accept traditional bidon cages. The company has strengthened the areas that matter most in this regard - the lower spine of the frame where torsional and lateral loads are at their greatest. In fact, the only references come in the form of gold logos on each side of the seatstays while a solitary Orca Aero graphic takes up residence on the top tube near the stem, Orbea calls this paint scheme borealis blue/carbon raw, It's a superb colourway offset by the raw carbon and gold wordmark logos, A closer look at the raw carbon on the top tube, Handlebar setup is more traditional in application as opposed to a fully integrated system. Our test bike came stock from the factory with Vision 40 SC wheels - a great rolling stock option but way too shallow for a bike of this ilk. The frame and fork are claimed to weigh 1,150 g and 430 g respectively. And then theres a wholly new aero seatpost and of course a cockpit that hides the cables. The ride quality is well damped but doesn't come at the expense of feel and feedback. Fortunately, Orbea offers extensive customisation options through its MyO programme, which solves this issue in one fell swoop. The feedback relayed through the wheels and underpinnings is communicative - high-definition almost, allowing you to really tap into the bike's superlative grip reserves. Bath Reset using the link below. With a level of adjustability similar to a standard road bike and customisation options galore, the Orca Aero is a bike I would genuinely love to own. Meanwhile, the new and lower drag Orca Aero OMX seatpost offers up to 25 mm of fore-aft adjustment and a wide range of tilt. The headtube, downtube and chainstays resist twisting forces applied by pedalling through alternate cranks. The shifter button textures have been updated, but its a very subtle change. This makes fit adjustments very simple. FORK: Orbea Orca Aero OMX ICR, full carbon, 1-1/8 1,5 tappered head tube compatible, Thru axle 12x100mm, thread M12x2 P1, Speed release compatible dropout. Both are entirely optional, and only the aero bottle is UCI-legal, but considering how few people actually take part in UCI-sanctioned events, thats probably a moot point anyway. The MyO programme also offers a limited number of component options, but for individual tailoring or full bespoke builds please contact us here at Epic Cycles as we are able to offer virtually unlimited customisation options. I think that would be about perfect for me, so, if anyone at Orbea headquarters is reading this and feeling exceptionally generous, dont hesitate to get in touch. By If youre buying this bike with a view to doing time trials or triathlons, though, you might love the aero bottle more than I did. You tried too many passwords and now your account has been locked for the next 30 minutes. You can see more specific details and pricing of the new Orca Aero at Orbea.com. OrbeasMyO (MyOrbea) programme enables riders to personalize their bikes to an extent that is unique in the bike industry. et Cie, S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-1{ color: #d8d8d8;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-1:hover { color: #d8d8d8;}. In fact, I found the storage system pleasantly adequate when it came to housing my spare tube, CO2 canister, tyre levers and Allen key. We'll also make sure this order counts towards your Loyalty Scheme discount. That 8.3kg is 700g more than the 7.6kg weight Orbea claimed in its press materials for this model. And impressively theres no extra charge for many of the customisations related to fit and finish. Mix of Shimano's Ultegra R8100 and Orbea's in-house components help balance things out, Super-fast once up to speed, with agile handling and a magic-carpet-like ride quality. Company No: 04842265 One area in which the Orca Aero doesnt impress is on the scales. Cables route underneath the handlebar and stem, and into the frameset via the headset. Apart from a small weight penalty, the precision in terms of shifting performance and brake modulation is almost indiscernible from the pricier Shimano Dura-Ace R9200 groupset sibling. Taken in combination a multitude of improvements in dozens of areas erduce overall drag by a whopping 15W at 40kph or 28W at 50kph. Orca Aero is one of the most efficient, fastest aero frames on the market. The complete build as pictured here tips the scales at 8.57kg with pedals, which is nearly a full kilogram heavier than the Merida Reacto Team-E. At this weight, it's more in line with the 8.2kg BMC Timemachine Road 01 Two and 8.63kg Felt AR Advanced Ultegra Di2. Its effectively Orbeas own take on FSAs ACR system but one that allows for greatly simpler stem swaps and stem height adjustment. Slipping effortlessly through the air delivers that instant feedback of a world-class aero bike. Like the bottle cage, the toolbox is not only useful but aerodynamically beneficial! As usual, the faster you go, the bigger those saving become. Oh, dear. Like other pure aero road bikes, such as the Cannondale SystemSix, Felt AR or Vitus ZX-1 EVO CRS, it has that magical ability to sail along on flat and rolling roads with noticeably less effort. Now based in the UK's Surrey Hills, Aaron's life revolves around bikes. Closer inspection however, reveals a brace of gold Orbea wordmark logos, just above the cutline on each side of seatstays while a solitary Orca Aero graphic - also finished in gold - takes up residence on the top tube near the stem. According to Orbea, it makes the bike a little more slippery too it essentially acts as a fairing, which is why its not UCI-legal with no discernible downsides (assuming you dont mind how it looks). 4 It also confirmed it had weighed my test bike at 8.24kg before it shipped to me. Orbea have worked hard to ensure that the new Orca Aero retains the beautifully balanced handling of its predecessor. CRANKSET: Shimano Ultegra R8000 36x52t HEADSET: FSA 1-1/2 Integrated Aluminium Cup HANDLEBAR: OC RA10 Road Aero Carbon, Reach 80, Drop 125, Flare 5, w/Di2 hole STEM: OC RP10 Road Performance ICR, -8, IFC02 Computer mount interface SHIFTERS: Shimano ST-8170 BRAKES: Shimano R8170 Hydraulic Disc CASSETTE: Shimano Ultegra R8100 11-30t 12-Speed REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150 FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150 CHAIN: Shimano M8100 WHEELS: Vision 40 SC Disc Carbon TLR CL TYRES: Vittoria Rubino Pro IV G2.0 TLR 700x25c SEATPOST: Orbea Orca Aero OMX, SB0/25, w/Micro tilt adjustment SADDLE: Prologo Dimension T4.0 size143 mm HANDLEBAR PLUGS: Orbea Anti-Slippery/Shock Proof FRONT WHEEL AXLE: Orbea Thru Axle 12x100mm M12x2 P1 Lite REAR WHEEL AXLE: Orbea Thru Axle 12x142mm M12x2 P1 Lite HYDRATION: Orbea Aero Bottle and Bottle cage Set STORAGE: Aero Accessory Container, Epic Cycleworks 7-8 Tower Street Ludlow SY8 1RL, Tel: 01584 705042 (Sales and General Enquiries). products. Id definitely want a custom paintjob as well, perhaps in Bristol South CC or BikeRadar kit colours. In terms of design, it shares much of its DNA with the Ordu time trial bike upon which it's based, so it gets a similar horizontal top tube and shaping treatment around the headtube and downtube, as well as the in-house-developed aero bottle cage and frame storage system which fills the gap between the front wheel and down tube. There is no better feeling. Its great to see a brand thinking practically and looking at optimising the way we carry things on the bike such as water and spares. Subtle model designation references in gold help lift the visual package, Stock Vision 40 SC wheels are too shallow for a bike from this category.