Came across this Orbea Orca for only 4800$ and it has a taller stack vs reach than most large road frames I have found. Which is perfect for my mostly legs body. The Ordu TT bike gets a lot of hate on ST but how is their road line? I have never ridden one and honestly haven’t seen a ton of them out there. Any love for the Orbea’s?
I’ve ridden a number of the Orbea road bikes and tri bikes. The company I work for sells them.
They are a great middle of the consumership bike: Not too stiff, comfortable ride, neutral handling. For most people who want a carbon road bike the Orca should be an adequate choice. Great finish quality too.
I feel like Tom is really underselling the Orca.
The newest Orca (silver level) is the best carbon bike I’ve ever ridden. The ride is super comfortable but it’s stiffness is completely there. The handling is snappy and quick, but not “twitchy.”
The fact that the Orbea bikes have a bit more stack than others is very nice. It keeps me from needing to run additional spacers.
I don’t know if there are many road bikes out there that could make a person happier.
I’ve got some less than nice things to say about Orbea, but thats more about the company then their bikes…
There are very few bikes that have a stack over 60 in the largest size, the orca has a 62. Pinarello’s new dogma has a 65 stack which would be amazing but the frame is more than the Orca is as a complete bike.
Thanks for the insight, this bike is on my radar.
I have a bit of a bias, but I love the way the Orca rides. I am super excited to be riding one this year. Though I wish the higher level frames came in matte black. I have always been a fan of the Dark Knight look.
Love my Ordu, and also considering an Orca. Like the OP, experience and insight with Orca greatly appreciated.
I purchased a 2007 Orbea Orca (when they did its major re-design). Wow. The bike was amazing. The monocoque frame was great.
-Super lively and snappy
-You feel the road, but the frame does absorb quite a bit of road vibration frequency
-Stiff - I felt like every ounce I put into the frame moved me forward
-Cornering is great if you’re confident. It goes where you tell it.
-Sexy as hell
I also liked it a lot because the couple places I have lived, not many people had one. I think it’s nice not to ride the same bike as everyone else. Be different.
I work for another bike company and I have no problem saying their Orca is a great frame. Granted, Orbea has completely overhauled its frame line-up since I purchased mine, but I’m sure they still have be to a good ride. I would probably still ride one if I hadn’t found a brand I like more.
Good luck.
I have the last model year of the Orca before they switched to the newer model, but I’ve enjoyed it tremendously. I will be selling it shortly, but only because I want something newer.
Hack
i had a 2008 orca. a really great ride, fast but not so stiff that riding was painful.
My gf is all legs. She’s 5’9" and her inseam is 2" longer than mine and I’m 6’. Her last bike was a 2007 Diva. She loved it. Last year she bought a new Orca silver (they eliminated the Diva). There was a problem with the new bike. Orbea replaced it.
The new design is much stiffer and she likes it better than the Diva. But, because of geometry changes, it’s been a real struggle to get her position dialed in. Finally getting the zero set back post has helped. In general, I think a proprietary seat post is a bad idea.
Other than that, it’s a great bike.
I have a 05 Orca, I being riding it sense then, and I love it!
Its a great road bike, especially made for climbing.
The paint finish is awesome, the take care of all the smallest details.
Whit the lifetime warrant I just update the drivetrain to a newer DA and i’m thinking to keep the bike maybe for another couple of years.
As for a road bike, I have an Opal 2008-ish. Got it used from a friend. He raced crits and other races. He upgraded to a Stork, broke 2 BB cups. My training partner has a Ordu & his wife, a Diva (the bike, not her). They both love em.
I’ve got an Onix (and an Ordu). Love both of them.
I had the 2011 Orca GDI2 (actually…still have the frameset, just haven’t sold it yet) and I really liked it. I wanted a slightly smaller frame though than what I had so picked up a Felt F1 recently to give it a go. I haven’t had any time on the road with the F1 to compare the two yet. Before the Orca I had a Cannondale Supersix Hi-Mod and really thought the Orca was every bit as nice a ride - maybe even slightly better on climbs for me. So yea, I think up here on ST you’ll get lots of hate for Orbea because of the Ordu (which I also had…and it felt like a brick to me) but the Orca is a hell of a roadie IMO.
I’ve had 2 Orbeas a lobular 100 and a 1st Gen Orca. My wife has a first gen Diva that we got NOS. Nothing but praise for the company and their customer support. I had a paint issue on my Lobular and was offered a generous replacement with the Orca, no hassle. My wife’s Diva was a steal that I ordered online through my LBS, killer deal! I’ve since moved on and I’m a loyal Ti guy but if I want back to Carbon for my primary road bike the new Orca would be on my short list, and probably the only non-boutique brand (Parlee, Serotta, Crumption). Just my 2 cents…
my wife and i bought a couple of orbea alma hardtail 29ers. obviously not their road bikes, but, couldn’t be happier with the bikes. i think taller stacks on road bikes is the coming trend. you saw this on cervelo’s S5. most people, even pro tour team pros, are riding with spacers under their stems on these shorter stack geometries. that doesn’t make a lot of sense the way these new frames are designed to work.