Road Cycling - Orbea Orca Good, Bad, or Great?

So I'm working in LA for 2 weeks (home is Austin Tx) and I thought I'd bring my bike along. I own a sweet Cinelli Starlight w/Record 10s....or should I say I used too. I arrived on Sat and got up Sunday and headed out to do the PCH/Mullholland loop. 12mi into it on a 7% decent I get rear flat as I turn into a corner and really eat it bad. Luckily I didn't break any bones just a ton of road rash. Unfotunately my bike is toast! Bent the top tube and destryed the levers and the right side Look Cx6ti pedal.

So I need a new frame and since I used to live here I have a good friend who owns a shop. He can hook me up with a Obea Orca for a pretty good price. I've always owned either steel or aluminum bikes. I've only ridden one carbon bike and it was a Colnago C40. To be honest the bike felt kinda dead but I had just come off of my steel Serrotta so I'm sure that had something to do with it. Has anyone had any experience with the Orbea Orca? I've read some great reviews but I'd like some "real world" feedback.

Thanks in advance,
Michael

my lbs sells a lot of orbea and they speak highly of the orca

it is an amazingly light and pretty frame...i have not ridden one though...i don't need to be tempted

it is a much better "value" than a c40 if there is such a thing in a premium frame

in a search for my last frame, i test rode an orca and i loved it.
in the end i could not swing the price-tag, but i was mighty tempted.
i was somewhat worried since orbea does not have a long history
in carbon manufacturing. still, the orbea stands behind their product
with a lifetime warranty. the bike is priced well, especially if you
are going to get a deal.

I'd say Orbea is solid, not great. They have great paint, and are mass produced in Spain. Will you like it? Probably, but I personally think for the $$ you can do better, or certainly as good for less. They list for $2200 USD. If your deal is sweet then I'd say go.

I'd say Orbea is solid, not great. They have great paint, and are mass produced in Spain. Will you like it? Probably, but I personally think for the $$ you can do better, or certainly as good for less. They list for $2200 USD. If your deal is sweet then I'd say go.

Tourist is this your impression of Orbea overall or of the Orca in perticular? I've read some very positive reviews about the Orca and I can get it for over 30% off retail. In the same price range I'm pretty hard pressed to find something equal. Having said that I'd pay more to get the right frame as a few hundred more at this level is worth it for the right bike. Here is the build list (unless noted as new the part will come off of my old bike)

Orbea Orca Carbon frame and fork Blue (new)
'04 Record BB (english new/mine is Italian)
'04 Record Carbon Shift/Brake Levers (new toasted mine)
'03 Record Carbon Front and Rear derailers
'03 Campagnolo Neutron Wheelset
Cinelli Solido OS Bar/Stem
USE Alian Seat Post
Frizik Arione Saddle
Look Cx6Ti Pedals (new)

I will be selling the Muscle Fork and '03 Campy Record Italian BB off of my Cinelli if anyone is interested.

So I'm working in LA for 2 weeks (home is Austin Tx) and I thought I'd bring my bike along. I own a sweet Cinelli Starlight w/Record 10s....or should I say I used too. I arrived on Sat and got up Sunday and headed out to do the PCH/Mullholland loop. 12mi into it on a 7% decent I get rear flat as I turn into a corner and really eat it bad. Luckily I didn't break any bones just a ton of road rash. Unfotunately my bike is toast! Bent the top tube and destryed the levers and the right side Look Cx6ti pedal.

So I need a new frame and since I used to live here I have a good friend who owns a shop. He can hook me up with a Obea Orca for a pretty good price. I've always owned either steel or aluminum bikes. I've only ridden one carbon bike and it was a Colnago C40. To be honest the bike felt kinda dead but I had just come off of my steel Serrotta so I'm sure that had something to do with it. Has anyone had any experience with the Orbea Orca? I've read some great reviews but I'd like some "real world" feedback.

Thanks in advance,
Michael

The Orca is a sweet looking bike indeed. I too have read great reviews, but haven't ridden one. I've been checking out the Orca too, but it's just a little outside of my price range. If your friend (lbs owner) wants to pass along that 30+% discount to others, I would certainly be interested. What's the name of his shop? You can email me too if he's interested in more business. Thanks.

At $1500 it is a good deal. I just think that Orbea is not a "special" product. You can get mass produced carbon frame from lots of places. The Trek 5200 frame is $1300, Look KG 451, Giant TCR, Kestrel Talon, Blue Competition Cycles are all less than $1500. All I'm saying is don't get caught up in the awesome paint jobs. Which, BTW are extremely sweet.

At $1500 it is a good deal. I just think that Orbea is not a "special" product. You can get mass produced carbon frame from lots of places. The Trek 5200 frame is $1300, Look KG 451, Giant TCR, Kestrel Talon, Blue Competition Cycles are all less than $1500. All I'm saying is don't get caught up in the awesome paint jobs. Which, BTW are extremely sweet.

The Orca is a 'special' product the reason is that it's not mass produced but made to order mine took 2.5 months to get as they are built to order compared to the frames you've mentioned therefore it's well worth paying extra to have something different. Don't be put off by it being Orbeas first effort with carbon i've been riding it for a few months and it is pure class, light, fast and in Euskatel colours a head turner

The Orca is a 'special' product the reason is that it's not mass produced but made to order mine took 2.5 months to get as they are built to order compared to the frames you've mentioned therefore it's well worth paying extra to have something different. Don't be put off by it being Orbeas first effort with carbon i've been riding it for a few months and it is pure class, light, fast and in Euskatel colours a head turner


While I think my Orbea Orca is pretty darn special, I don't think it's made to order (as I got mine in a week). I do know that there was limited availalbility duing the middle of this year.

At this price range I don't really think there's a "bad" bike you can get (a few exceptions to the rule I'm sure). Performance wise, unless you're a racer or rider with particular preferences, I think you'll be happy with all frames similarly priced.

That being said there are external factors that help us chose our bike (look, color, origins, sponsored riders etc) which may help you better decide which to get.

Thank being said. I love my Orca.

can get it for over 30% off retail

30% is definitely good, but not super-great. I've seen steeper discounts ... 35% maybe 40%.
How much do you want to spend? ~$1500?
How about a Merlin Agilis with a fork for that price?

Best.

Hey michael,

$20 says you buy the Orca....& then a Look as well...:D

hitchy

30% is definitely good, but not super-great. I've seen steeper discounts ... 35% maybe 40%.
How much do you want to spend? ~$1500?
How about a Merlin Agilis with a fork for that price?

Best.

Steeper discounts on the Orca or on bikes/frmaes in general? I've always heard that bike have very low profit margin and LBS make it up in accesories but I do see special discounts on certain clubs or friends that seem to be in the 15-30% range and these are not including closeout items. Seems to me that even to a friend you will not try to lose money when you sell stuff (break even at the very least). Anyway just a thought.

Rode an Orca liked it but had to save alot of cash at the time and went with the TCR.. Hmm love it too.
Hate to say I am not so sensitive to all the little ride differences that Reveiwers always seem to pick up on.

Also since I live in Austin now and also used to live in SoCal, I am not ever going back home to California and ride a bike. Or at least my own bike :)

Nicco

Get it in Euskaltel colors.

Or look at the Cervelo R 2.5, I want one so bad.

I currently own an Orbea XLR8R frame which was discontinued to build the Orca frame. I have raced this Orbea frame for a year and would say it's an excellent product. I have test ridden an Orca, I have several team mates who races the frame and they love the bike. I was very impressed with the frame and think Orbea over all is an excellent bike.

Steeper discounts on the Orca or on bikes/frmaes in general?

In general.
30% is by no means nothing to sneeze at. And I doubt if his friend will take advantage of the situation. But, I know there are steeper discounts around, you just have to hunt around alot. Sometimes get lucky and just stumble onto the frame.

Best.

i posted this in another thread too, but is there any info available on the Orbea Onix? with a 30% discount, it puts that particular frame right at around $1190 for a full CF frame. i'm considering the onix, but i just can't find any info on it :(

melloboy

Or look at the Cervelo R 2.5, I want one so bad.

what he said.

I now own a an Orca and a LOOK 381. If I only had to own one bike it would be the LOOK as I feel it is a better all around bike. This is due to the more relaxed geometry, which gives the LOOK slightly slower steering. However the Orbea is a better climber and I will be using it when in road races and the LOOK in crits. The Orca is a beautiful bike and well made. It is light, fast and very comfortable.

i second what 2rodies said about the orca
i took a look at it in person and man, the Orca is a work of art imho, whereas the Look 381 imho looks (no pun intended) much more utilitarian. i'll be going the Orca route as well :)

melloboy

Piece of crap. I have an Orbea and it is a a heavy pig. Gonna get a Scott CR-1 now. I highly reccomend them.

Piece of crap. I have an Orbea and it is a a heavy pig. Gonna get a Scott CR-1 now. I highly reccomend them.

heavy pig? Okay, maybe you don't like the Orbea, but my Volata, whcih isn't even top of the heap, rides great, climbs great, and actually performs like a much lighter bike due to my light wheels and pedals..

Why do you hate the Orbea? Seriously.

I now own a an Orca and a LOOK 381. If I only had to own one bike it would be the LOOK as I feel it is a better all around bike. This is due to the more relaxed geometry, which gives the LOOK slightly slower steering. However the Orbea is a better climber and I will be using it when in road races and the LOOK in crits. The Orca is a beautiful bike and well made. It is light, fast and very comfortable.

Why a slower steering bike for crits? I always use my darty, wicked quick Cannondale for crits...I am always willing to learn...please?

Why a slower steering bike for crits? I always use my darty, wicked quick Cannondale for crits...I am always willing to learn...please?


Personal prefference nothing more. I like the more "stable" platform of the LOOK for tight crits is all.

Piece of crap. I have an Orbea and it is a a heavy pig. Gonna get a Scott CR-1 now. I highly reccomend them.


Heavy Pig? Well my Orca is only 15lbs 10 oz with pedals and cages I wouldn't call that heavy. As for piece of crap the Orca is very well made and finished to a very high quality.

Heavy Pig? Well my Orca is only 15lbs 10 oz with pedals and cages I wouldn't call that heavy. As for piece of crap the Orca is very well made and finished to a very high quality.

Don't let the haters get to ya.

"Congrats on a nice ride" greeneyes ;-)

Orange or the other color?

Yeah, I have yet to see an Orbea that's a piece of crap. My hometown shop sells dozens of them, literally. Their club team rides Orbeas and they got me on one. I love it. Great bikes for the money, at least with their metal frames (the only ones I have any experience with).

not sure how true this is, but i was told by a couple of people at a few shops that orbea hired one of the carbon fiber specialists from f1 team ferrarri or bmw or something to do production and process development on the frame. if that's the case, there's no way, imho, the orca or onix is going to be a shoddy frame :)

melloboy

Don't let the haters get to ya.

"Congrats on a nice ride" greeneyes ;-)

Orange or the other color?

Thanks I got the blue/white frame. Blue bar tape, Fizik Arione w/blue stripe and white Vredestiens.

Personal prefference nothing more. I like the more "stable" platform of the LOOK for tight crits is all.

Thanks. I would be exactly the opposite. I like the darty stuff for Crits...and loved my old steel raleigh for Road racing...descended like it was on rails!

Thanks I got the blue/white frame. Blue bar tape, Fizik Arione w/blue stripe and white Vredestiens.

That would have been my choice.

Pics?? Why are you holding out?

Thanks I got the blue/white frame. Blue bar tape, Fizik Arione w/blue stripe and white Vredestiens.

How's the Fizik been treating you? My orbea Chorus came with Selle Italia Filante, which I have yet to see outside my bike and I don't know if an upgrade to the fizik is should be next. I'm just curious why you did go for the more expensive Fizik (Aliante?) as I know your Orbea's decked out?

How's the Fizik been treating you? My orbea Chorus came with Selle Italia Filante, which I have yet to see outside my bike and I don't know if an upgrade to the fizik is should be next. I'm just curious why you did go for the more expensive Fizik (Aliante?) as I know your Orbea's decked out?

I didn't like the Aliante as much as the Arione. The Arione just fits my butt better.

The bike has white Vredestiens on it now. I'm going to swap out the Cinelli Solido stem and bars for Deda Newton bar/stem.


http://usera.imagecave.com/bikemike/obside-copy.jpg

I really like the colour scheme. Now if only I'd had an extra $2-3K when I was buying my blue and white Lemond Nevada City ;)

I'm just curious why you did go for the more expensive Fizik (Aliante?) as I know your Orbea's decked out?


G'day,

The Alante & the Arione are totally different saddles....you may like one & not the other...price doesn't have anything to do with it.

Hitchy

G'day,

The Alante & the Arione are totally different saddles....you may like one & not the other...price doesn't have anything to do with it.

Hitchy

So does one have a particular purpose vs the other or does the difference fall under the proverbial "preference"? One biek I test rode (cannondale R3000 i believe) had the Arione and it did seem very smooth.

Will I be doing myself any noticeable favors (from my stock seat) by getting either one?

So does one have a particular purpose vs the other or does the difference fall under the proverbial "preference"? One biek I test rode (cannondale R3000 i believe) had the Arione and it did seem very smooth.

Will I be doing myself any noticeable favors (from my stock seat) by getting either one?


G'day,

the Arione is 30 cm long....a fair bit longer than most conventional saddles....Fizik go on about 'wing flex' technology.....i don't know anything about that...might be just marketing hype. I like it because the length gives me that many more 'riding' positions, so i can 'move' around on the saddle a fair bit. Its well padded & weighs in at 230gm, so will appeal to guys who are stressing about both weight & comfort. Some people hate them, but an equal number love 'em. Me, I went back & bought another for the training bike!

hitchy

I would like to reiterate what I said earlier. MY Orbea is a piece of crap. Its a 2003 Altec aluminum frame with carbon seatstays. It ways 19 lbs in 60 cm. The Orca is a sweet bike and not a piece of crap. I got my Orbea before I started working at a shop who is the rival of the shop I got my bike at and they have brainwashed me to despise Orbeas. Congrats on a getting a great ride and I love my Arione.

So does one have a particular purpose vs the other or does the difference fall under the proverbial "preference"? One biek I test rode (cannondale R3000 i believe) had the Arione and it did seem very smooth.

Will I be doing myself any noticeable favors (from my stock seat) by getting either one?

The Arione is less "cushy" than the Aliante. I was riding an SLR before I tested the Aliante and it was like going to a lounge chair it was almost too comfortable. The Arione has a sweet spot that flexes and give a nice comfotable ride. The Aliante is much lighter in the carbon railed version.

The Arione is less "cushy" than the Aliante. I was riding an SLR before I tested the Aliante and it was like going to a lounge chair it was almost too comfortable. The Arione has a sweet spot that flexes and give a nice comfotable ride. The Aliante is much lighter in the carbon railed version.


Ahh ok, I thought that the difference (aside from price) somehow related to use or certain body types. I'm leaning towards the Arione in the next two months so if anything comes up with yours please do let me know.

Ahh ok, I thought that the difference (aside from price) somehow related to use or certain body types. I'm leaning towards the Arione in the next two months so if anything comes up with yours please do let me know.


I love the Arione I have one on all 4 of my bikes.

arione here as well
i'm not quite sold on it 100%
for the most part, it's very comfortable, but in some positions, for some reason, my perenium gets squashed and it ain't too comfortable when that happens. i might need a seat adjustment, though. i'm sold on the build quality though :)

melloboy

Where can you get one for such a great discount, please send me a link or phone number.
Thanks much.


30% is definitely good, but not super-great. I've seen steeper discounts ... 35% maybe 40%.
How much do you want to spend? ~$1500?
How about a Merlin Agilis with a fork for that price?

Best.

I know a couple guys in our club ride them and love them. Bicycling mag had one on the front cover and pretty good write up on them as well.

When I test rode the Orbea it seemed a bit lively for my taste. It's stupid light and it wants to "jump".

I like the Onix a bit more as it seemed to hold the road better.

this post is so old that he's already sold the bike.

this post is so old that he's already sold the bike.

Yep sold it in November and I haven't LOOK'd back;)

I was initially in love with the Orbea but it soon waned. I spent a ton of time trying to get this bike to feel right for me and it never happened. I also was really dissapointed in the fork which is like a pogo-stick when sprinting (I'm only 153#). I now own two LOOK's and they are two of the best bikes I've ever owned.

Any pics of the bike with the white tires? I'm going for a black and white theme on my LOOK 386 and currently settled on all black tires. White tires might just be the ultimate unnecessary purchase...well maybe the white/chrome Arione should get that title.

All show, no go. (http://home.comcast.net/~joejackson951/bike/DSC00478.JPG)

Here is my LOOK with white tires.


http://usera.imagecave.com/bikemike/481.jpg

Cool, thanks for the photo. Any comments on the tires overall, aside from color? I see you have good taste in water bottle cages too :)