The all-new Orbea Orca is a lightweight road bike that delivers the best ride feel and handling of any bike we’ve ever ridden.
Orbea like to shout that this is a bike for people who love climbing and want the best bike for the hills – and that’s true. But it’s far more than just a lightweight climbing bike. The new Orca delivers a wonderful ride feel that is hard to quantify but instantly puts a smile on your face. On top of its seemingly effortless agility you get a smooth but thoroughly engaging ride, thanks to clever vibration damping, and handling that is quite simply sublime.
Since the launch of the first generation Orca, we have loved every evolution of this bike – now in its seventh generation the Orca rides better than ever before. Â
“The Orca is quite simply, sublime. It’s been a while since I’ve jumped on a bike and grinned at what it offers. The whole package is on point, with the weight, stiffness, and comfort; it harks back and looks forward at the same time. It’s not trying to be anything or add any extra features that would be frivolous or detract from its design goal. You expect it to glide up hills, and it does; you expect it to chew downhills aggressively, and it does. It has that all-day comfort and the snappiness you expect in a race bike.”
“Sure, some bikes out there are faster on the flat due to the added aero flourishes, or at least feel as though there they are, and sure some feel light uphill and aggressive downhill, but the Orca somehow feels like it offers the essence of what I want from a road race bike. That being a well-rounded machine that can do it all exceptionally well and without compromise…And to boot, it looks bloody lovely. Chapeau Orbea, you have a winner on your hands.”
” The Orca exhibited exceptional agility, responding swiftly to steering inputs and requiring minimal effort from the rider. It climbed effortlessly, and handled predictably through fast successive curves on the descents, eager to accelerate back out of the corners.”
“With the new Orca 2024, Orbea present a genuine climbing bike, breaking away from the trend of all-rounder race bikes in recent years. What may initially appear as a step backwards actually turns out to be a leap into the future, injecting new excitement into their range. The Orca brings a breath of fresh air to the somewhat standardised world of road bikes, delivering pure riding fun. With a high level of customisation, and a distinct difference between the OMX and OMR models, the Orbea Orca 2024 is undoubtedly worth considering.”
“What occurred to me immediately was how efficient the Orca feels when climbing, excelling whether sat tapping out a rhythm, or stood out of the saddle. While it feels very stiff, it still manages to keep the ride quality smooth.”
“Jumping out of the saddle, acceleration is immediate, helped by the impressive Zipp Precision hubs at the centre of the Oquo wheels. When attacking out of the saddle, the front end felt very lively, with the bike darting from side to side as my weight pushed through the bars.”
“Descending is perhaps even more impressive. Pyrenean mountain descents are usually smooth and well-surfaced, but the Orca is incredibly predictable and confidence inspiring.”
Staff member, and former World Tour pro, Molly Weaver reviews the new Orbea Orca, and is seriously impressed – after writing this review Molly completed the Trans Pyrenees ultra race aboard the Orca and it performed beautifully throughout!
“The bike is planted, stable, but not at the expense of quick handling. There’s a nimbleness to the Orca, taking it through turns with a relaxed and swift change of direction, and dodging the inevitable potholes with ease.”
“The Orca is a bike that wants to carry you uphill, so much so that it almost felt like I was cheating as the gradients grew. It’s no secret that Orbea’s aim was to create a frame that was lightweight, and excelled on the climbs, and they’ve certainly succeeded in that. This is far from the first time in my career that I’ve ridden a bike that set out to be super light as a selling point, but it’s the first one that’s managed to achieve this without reducing the enjoyment that comes from riding it over varied terrain. You lose nothing with the Orca, and you gain a climbing beast!”
“The new Orbea Orca is the most well-balanced road bike I have ever ridden; and I’ve ridden a lot. It’s a lightweight climbing bike first and foremost, but this hasn’t come at the cost of all round excellence. Rather than a jack of all trades and master of none, the Orca is a master of all trades and exceptional at some.”
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