I am looking at getting a new road bike. I have narrowed the choice down to either an Orbea or a middle level Trek (2300 or the like).

The Orbea is very nice because of the proliferation of paint jobs you can get for it. They also have some nice color schemes. The dealer also thinks that they would suit me better as I am a fairly large rider (105kg) and I will not be racing it - merely recreational riding with my local club.

The Orbea would have Velocity rims (because they are very strong) and full Ultegra groupset. The wheels are a bit heavier than the Bontrager Race-Lites of the Trek. They are also not bladed spokes (just normal), which do not look as "cool" as bladed.

The Trek is nice as it is good for resale value. Also well known, so a bit of "pose" value. Also slightly lighter - about 1kg I guess. One problem with (say) the 2300 is the wheels that come stock with it (Bontrager Race-Lite) - they are not terribly strong and may not bear up under my weight. And perhaps the frame is not as comfortable as the Orbea.

These are the comparison issues I have come up with so far.

I would be interested in hearing what other people think about these particular issues, or even any other comments about either of these brands.

I would be more impressed by the Orbea personally.

I am encouraged to hear it - I was leaning the same way myself.

Do you have any reasons, or is it a "gut feeling" thing?

Orbea has been around since the 50's and is located near Bilbao Spain, which is a region whose love for cycling is a rival to Toronto's love for Hockey or New York's love for Baseball. The company is a workers co-operative so each employee has a vested interest in the quality of the end product and each has complete veto power over a frame if they aren't satisfied, so you know you're getting a good product from them. Not to say that Trek isn't good, but I doubt the people building them enjoy cycling as much. Just my opinion though.

I say go with the Trek. You wil get a better warranty.

Orbea may have been around for decades but US distributor is rather new and well as many already seen with other companies they can disappear thus leaving many buyers with no service.

Unless you are in Spain buy an Orbea.

However if warranty is not a huge concern either frame is good buy.

Trek is in the USA and well established so warranty and work is much easier to deal with as they are a much bigger company.

P.S. I own an Orbea I bought in Spain and I am sure when it breaks I will not get any service or warranty.

I say the Trek, too. I love mine.

I bet living in Australia that you'll be ok with either's warranty.

Living in Australia really doesn't matter. Just make sure there is a distributor and call them for dealers.

I had not thought of this issue - my LBS is both a Trek and an Orbea dealer, so that should not be a problem. The LBS is pushing me to the Orbea as he thinks the ride would better suit my greater weight.

I seem to be leaning very much towards the Orbea. One of the reasons I bought my first road bike - a Solo Softride - was that it looked distinctive. And I like to look different. At 105 kg that is usually not too hard! Anyway... While the Treks are very good and well known, and pretty good for "cool" points, the Orbeas look a hell of a lot better (in my opinion). Very distinctive - and you can even customise them - put your name on them or anything. I presume that costs a fair bit, and I am not particularly looking to have my name on the bioke, but you can chose from a dozen or so very artistic paint schemes. Treks have two.

While one probably should not buy a bike on how it looks, most of us do. When it comes down to it, it becomes a gut feeling, and how cool it looks certainly has a part to play.

If this was not so - I would buy a Raceline. These are about half the price of a similar Trek, and have a very good ride. In fact, I love the ride the Raceline gives me. Suits me perfectly, although they do come in at around 10kg. But they have a very poor name - they are almost a K-Mart bike (at least here in Australia), so while the product itself is flawless, market perception is not. A funny thing. I keep kicking myself for being so shallow, but there you go. they certainly need to do an image upgrade...

The warrenty is the same - lifetime.

I weigh more than you (250 pounds on the way down thank goodness) and I have had no problems with my 2300 or the Bontrager race lite wheels. Just wanted to let you know so you don't go with the other bike just becuase of your weight.

Get the bike that fits you best and you like the ride of best.

Steve

Well, I curently weight 105kg (down from 123kg!). In fact, I am basically riding a bike to lose weight. I am still losing weight, but slowly.

This is about 230 lbs.

I am excited to hear that the Race Lites can handle 250lbs. One guy in the bike shop said the same thing, but my LBS (where I shop all the time) said they probably wouldn't. This was a BIG concern to me as the wheels are fairly expensive.

Thank you for your very helpful comments.

Oh come on now. A Trek or an Orbea? Be different! Be unique! Get an Orbea! I just got an Orbea; I've had it for about 2 months now, and I love it!

I think the Bontrager wheels would hold you, like some people have been saying, but do you want to take the chance when you're spending that much money? You don't want to trash them.

And, about Orbea USA being fairly new: I got my Orbea straight from their factory in Arkansas. I talked right to the head sales guy. They're not going to sink into nothingness anytime soon. The USA branch is currently expanding. I read an article on cyclingnews.com about 4 months ago that said Orbea USA is growing fast, and getting a heck of a lot more competitive in the US, with the other companies. If you search on the website, it will still be there in the archives.

I weigh more than 250lbs and have a Trek 5200 with the Race Lite wheels. I have put almost 2000 miles on this bike so far and have had no problems. The Race Lites are as true today as when I left the lbs. If a 5200 will tote me around I'm sure a 2300 should be able to take you.

I tend to think I have been won over! Such enthusism is hard to ignore!

Exactly my point, and what my LBS guy was saying. It is a lot of money if I buckle a wheel - and you only have 20 or so spokes to try to true up the wheel - not terribly easy he tells me. And warranty will not cover that. But then other users have done many mile swith no problems. Can you suggest another wheelset that is as good but stronger? What did you use?

I have to confess that I'm somewhat skeptical of the Bontrager Race Lite (or maybe it was the X Lite) wheels. I have two friends who have crashed in the past year on the Race Lite wheels. In both instances they were cornering and their rear wheel taco'd, sending them to the pavement. I know there are lots of folks riding them without problems. It just gives me pause.

BTW, I'd go for the Orbea (not not just because Velo has one. ) because, all other things being equal, I'd take the bike that's more distinctive.

SteveE

Or-be-a, Or-be-a, Or-be-a...

Chant it. Use it for meditation.
Get the Orbea!!

kneighbour,

Lifetime means the life expectancy of the frame. NOT your lifetime.

I hate this wording and I hope soon it becomes illegal in the USA at least to use this term. Some bike firms are not using this problematic term.

Lifetime in many cases means 1-3 years at most. Steel frames usually have a lifetime warranty of 3-5 years. But do not more and more companies are doing just one year and labeling it lifetime.

They use lifetime because people tend to think that they will buy one frame and always get a free one until the end of time. That is untrue and I wish they would not use that wording. It causes much problems at shops where warranties are denied by manufacturers and it is up to the shop oto inform and many times it makes for an irrate customer in the store. So I wish they would put the warranty more clearly.

Trek is really good. Orbea I have no real experience. But I am sure Orbea will not give you a new frame say 5 years from now. At leat in the USA. Also do not fall for what some companies due and they sell you a new frame claiming it is an upgrade. That I see is really bad. They not only sold you a bad frame, but managed to sell you another one. Tricky!