roadwarrior

Historical note....Orbea made rifles and handguns before they started making bikes. They are located in the Basque part of Spain. Thus their tie to Euskatel Euskadi.

coasting 

I has a soft spot for Orbea Orcas. Or do I mean hardon.

IANative

For just that reason... to find out the specs of the stuff they pair with their frames on their complete bikes.

Yet another reason to like them.

Lamabb

I'm set on my decision to by a Orca Bli2 that has the bronze frame for a slightly heavier but smoother ride and the famed shimano Di2 shifting. I wanted a bike that is comfortable on long rides becuase I intend to start doing ultracycling events but I also want to do local races and crits. It also seems to be the best bang for my buck when it comes to having a light carbon frame with Di2. I'm currently traveling and can't wait to return home to buy it!

merlinextraligh

Only problem is you buy an Orbea, you start dressing in all Orange, speaking Euskara, have uncontrollable cravings for tapas, and move to San Sebastian.

IANative

Perhaps, but that has to be preferable to dressing in polka dots and speaking French.

asindc

I love my 2005 Orbea Onix. Best bike I've ever had. Their frames are well built and very nice looking as well.

Fox Farm

My 2009 Orbea Orca developed a carbon tube failure on the top tube in the very center (mid point). I took it to two shops, one which was my LBS owned by a close friend and another shop who sold Orbea. Both said that the delamination and movement of the tube was a manufacturing defect (you could squeeze the tube and it would compress slightly). The frame was three years old. We sent the frame to Orbea US (in Arkansas) and they sent me a brand new Orca gold frame, color of my choosing. No questions asked. So, to the OP, they are a good company but much smaller than the big four but certainly reputable and have been in business for many years.

verist

Really enjoying it, have a few short rides under my belt. Some of the surfaces were a bit bumpy and the bike soaked them right up. It seems like a good balance (at least for me) in stiffness and compliance. I got some Look Keo Max pedals and put a few of my polar stuff on it to track my effort/cadence. Here is a quick small pic of it.

Leukybear 

When I still had my 2007 orbea orca I absolutely loved it!
What was one of my best upgrades ever, coming from a bianchi nirome c2c, stayed that way some 20k+ miles later til' the day I was enticed by the curves of my current dogma 2 and parted ways with it in what was to be my worst trade ever in hindsight.
Warranty was great too, the earlier models were plagued with a seatstay prone to cracking under stress and they stood fully behind their product. Not to mention lifetime workmanship & 2 year cosmetic warranty for original purchasee at the time I got mine.

That wouldn't be the last orbea in our stables either, I ended up picking up a newer parted out/ wrong size for OP, di2 orca frameset for my wife and it's safe to say Orbea is still on the ball as far as R&D and quality goes.

Cyclelogikal

I have the 2011 model Aqua TPX in orange/white and besides being a very visible bike it rides well and absorbs the road well being an aluminum bike. I have since put a set of Spinergy Stealth PBO wheels on the bike but basically it is a well made very good ride. Weighs in at just over 16 lbs. dressed.

seymour1910

C'mon, why hide the goods, give is a drive side shot...man I want that bike.

IANative

So... I probably shouldn't tell you that mine showed up on the brown truck today, huh?

halfspeed

I fail to see the problem here.

Mansram01

Love my '08 Orbea Orca. Now my lightest bike at 15.1 ls despite the deep wheels. Fast & light. She handles great.

seymour1910

c'mon hawkeye, stab me in the heart why don't you...
meant to tell you before, my son (6 year old) saw me typing a message to you one day and noticed your avatar, his pop warner football team is modeled after UI, so he thinks everything hawkeye's represents them. It's really funny. He assumed I was writing to one of his coaches.

SirHustlerEsq

Orbea and Trek are too ugly to own, Cannondale bikes looked great in 2013 with the non-team colors, but the paint is pretty ugly this year. This is all fact of course, not opinion.

Get the one with the best warranty. I will only buy composite bikes with a lifetime frame warranty. It's too much cash for me to take a chance on.

IANative

What a beauty. That's what my newborn Orca wants to be when it grows up.


Get 'em started down the right path when they're young, that's what I always say. Go Hawks! Did you order your Orca BRV yet?

Cyclelogikal

We need to start some Orbea Porn shots! <Bike porn that is!!!!

Cyclelogikal

Here is my 2011 Aqua in orange/white and yes I do have a set of Orbea orange bib shorts and jersey!!!!

pdxtex

i have never ridden a orbea but my feeling is that they are seen as a respectable marque, perhaps on par with specialized or cannondale, more geared towards enthusiast type roadie folks. while bianchi is probably the european trek, trying to appeal to a wider range of cyclists.....

Brian Ratliff

I rode the bottom bracket out of a 2007 5.2 Trek Madone last year. The lifetime warranty was handy: got me a brand new frame. If you are the original owner, Trek's warranty is very good.

koolerb

Wow! That is a great looking bike.

Mansram01

Here's the other one.

IANative

This isn't a criticism of your 2012 Orca, but I find your 2008 model far sexier.