Orbea’s new Oiz represents the evolution of XC

By Tom Marvin

Published: Thursday, 03 November 2022 at 12:00 am

Orbea’s revised Oiz features 120mm of travel at each end, representing yet another step-change to the world of cross-country racing, in response to the continued evolution of the XC race course.

Orbea is the second major brand to offer 120mm of travel on a dedicated XC race bike, following the recent Scott Spark, while most brands are still running 100mm suspension travel.

At the same time, the geometry figures complement the increased travel, with a longer, slacker front end, tight rear triangle and steeper seat angle.

On paper, the 34mm stanchion forks, longer travel and progressive geometry suggest this is a downcountry bike, but Orbea is clear – this is built for life between the tapes, whether that’s XC or Marathon.

With such travel, geometry and spec, the Oiz will certainly be happy shredding trails all day long.

Orbea Oiz frame details

""
Longer, lower and slacker – the new Oiz has an aggressive shape for an XC bike.
Ross Bell / Orbea

Orbea will be offering the Oiz with three different frame materials. At the entry level will be a ‘Hydro’ alloy frame with smooth-polished welds. Then there will be two carbon offerings, the OMR and higher-modulus OMX, which saves a couple of hundred grams in weight. Orbea claims the OMX frame weighs in at 1,750g, building to a sub-10kg bike.

All frames share largely the same details, though the alloy frame has a slightly longer rear triangle and a slightly higher stack height, because Orbea believes the average customer for this model will not be looking for such an aggressive bike.

The top-end OMX frames have a Flat Mount rear disc caliper mount, while the OMR and alloy frames have a Post Mount attachment – this is to allow for cheaper brakes to be fitted to the bikes.

""
The OMX frames feature a Flat Mount disc caliper mount.
Ross Bell / Orbea

At the rear, the shape of the rear stays has been altered, maintaining the same weight, but increasing stiffness by 12 per cent. This has been done to prevent the rear triangle twisting under power, maximising the frame’s efficiency.

""
Tube shapes have been modified to improve stiffness.
Orbea

However, finishing details such as frame finishes, bearing specs and cable routing are all largely shared.

On the latter subject, Orbea has joined the crowd of brands routing cables through the headset, using its SIC system. This, it says, helps prevent cable rub and keeps steering friction to a minimum.

The headset also includes a ‘Spin Block’ steering stop to prevent frame damage in a crash, with bars able to turn nearly 90 degrees to either extreme. Swapping bars and stems is said to be just as easy as it is with external cable routing.

""
The Spin Block, internal to the head tube, prevents the bars spinning too far in a crash.
Orbea

Cables run internally, with flexible guides running from the rear triangle, past the main pivot and into the down tube to help with routing. Cables then pop out into the head tube, where headset removal is required to finish cable or hose replacement.

Frames feature threaded bottom brackets, 3M frame protection (both tape and rubberised), SRAM universal derailleur hangers, ready for their new rumoured drivetrains, and an integrated chainguide. Two bottle cages can be fitted within the mainframe.

""
Textured, rubberised chainstay protection reduces noise.
Ross Bell / Orbea

As with Orbea’s top-end bikes, some Oiz models will fall within the MyO programme. This enables you to customise the bike’s paintjob, with numerous frame sections being able to accept a range of colours and decal options.

There’s no additional cost for this, however delivery times will be impacted.

MyO also covers specification choices, so you can pick from a range of alternative components at the point of purchase to better suit your preferences or budget. This includes more aggressive front tyres, as well as brakes and cockpit components.

Orbea Oiz geometry details

""
The new Orbea Oiz has 120mm of travel at both ends, despite being targeted at the XC race market.
Ross Bell / Orbea

The Oiz now comes with thoroughly modern cross-country bike geometry. 

This latest-generation bike sees a roughly 15mm increase in reach figures across the sizes, along with a 2-degree slackening of the head angle, down to 67 degrees. This noticeably increases the front-centre length of the bike, designed to give additional stability on steep, fast or loose descents.

At the back, though, chainstays remain relatively short at 432mm, with the goal of aiding handling in tight and twisty sections of trail, tuning the rider weight distribution between the wheels and aiding a ‘snappy’ feel under power, according to Orbea.

In keeping with modern trends, the seat angle has become 1.5 degrees steeper, too, sitting at 76.5 degrees. This aids comfort and efficiency when pedalling up steep hills, with hips placed more over the top of the cranks.

""
A neat chainguide keeps the drivetrain secure.
Ross Bell / Orbea

Orbea has also dropped the BB a touch, to account for the additional travel of the bike, which otherwise might leave it feeling tall.

The alloy Oiz bikes have a slightly altered geometry. These have chainstays that are a touch longer and a taller stack, giving a more relaxed, slightly more stable ride. This is designed to make the bike a little ‘easier’ to ride for potentially slightly less race-focused, or experienced riders.

SizesMLXL
Seat tube (mm)405432460510
Top tube (mm)575598623650
Head tube (mm)9090100115
Chainstay (mm)432432432432
BB height (mm)333333333333
BB drop (mm)42424242
Wheelbase (mm)1,1381,1631,1891,219
Head angle (degrees)67676767
Seat angle (degrees)76.576.576.576.5
Standover (mm)731741741750
Reach (mm)425450472496
Stack (mm)596596606619

Different-sized frames will feature altered component sizes.

  • Small frames will come with 170mm cranks, 60mm stems and 125mm dropper posts
  • Medium frames will come with 175mm cranks, 75mm stems and 125mm dropper posts
  • Large frames will come with 175mm cranks, 75mm stems and 150mm dropper posts
  • XL frames will come with 175mm cranks, 90mm stems and 150mm dropper posts

Orbea Oiz suspension details

""
The rear triangle uses a flexstay system to help control the suspension. It’s fairly snappy in length.
Ross Bell / Orbea

Orbea uses a flexstay arrangement on the Oiz. This means there’s no rear pivot in the rear triangle. Instead, a section of the seatstays is designed to flex, allowing the suspension to move as it should through its travel.

The shock is driven by Orbea’s Fiberlink linkage, a lightweight composite rocker. This version sees broader, double-race, more reliable bearings and a stiffer construction.

Little has changed with the kinematics of this generation of Oiz, compared to the last.

""
The Oiz’s leverage curve is nigh-on identical to the previous-generation bike.
Orbea

Orbea keeps its Squidlock lockout system on the Oiz.

This three-position, bar-mounted lever toggles the shock between Open, Medium and Firm modes. The cable for this runs through the top tube to the forward shock mount, where the cable stops, and twists the compression dial.

""
The Fox shock has a remote lockout, the cable hidden by the frame’s top tube.
Ross Bell / Orbea

The Squidlock also controls the fork’s damper, from Open to Firm. When the shock is in its Medium mode, the fork remains open.

When in Medium, the bike sits higher in its travel, maintaining a steeper dynamic geometry.

Orbea Oiz specification details

""
Three grades of frame will be offered, the top-end OMX carbon, a mid-range OMR carbon and Hydro alloy at the lower end.
Ross Bell / Orbea

Orbea will offer 11 models of the Oiz, across the three frame materials. 

There will be four OMX models, four models with the OMR frame, and three alloy Hydro frames.

The bikes will feature wheels from Orbea’s new, in-house wheel brand, Oquo.

These feature own-brand carbon or alloy rims, with DT Swiss hubs and Sapim spokes.

Finishing kit will also largely come from Orbea’s own brand, OC.

""
Orbea has developed a headset and stem system designed to keep cable runs clean and tidy.
Ross Bell / Orbea

On some models, this will include Orbea’s new OC Mountain Performance MP10 stem. This integrates neatly with the internal-routing headset, and combines with the steering stop. 

Dedicated stem spacers, as well as Garmin and Wahoo computer stem-top mounts will be available, with the bikes shipping with a Garmin mount as standard.

Suspension comes from Fox, while drivetrains will be offered from Shimano and SRAM.

Tyres come from Maxxis’ stable, with the 2.4in-wide Rekon Race featuring prominently, though the more aggressive Dissector will be also offered as a front-tyre option.

""
Through the MyO programme, the frame’s paint and logo colours and textures can be personalised on higher-end models.
Ross Bell / Orbea

Orbea Oiz M-LTD specification and price

  • Frame: OMX Carbon
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float SC Factory 120mm
  • Shock: Fox i-line DPS Factory shock
  • Drivetrain: SRAM XX1
  • Brakes: SRAM Level Ultimate
  • Wheels: Oquo Mountain Performance MP30LTD Carbon
  • Price: £10,499 / $10,499 / €9,999

Orbea Oiz M-TEAM specification and price

  • Frame: OMX Carbon
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float SC Factory 120mm
  • Shock: Fox i-line DPS Factory shock
  • Drivetrain: Shimano XTR
  • Brakes: Shimano XTR
  • Wheels: Oquo Mountain Performance MP30TEAM Carbon
  • Price: £8,399 / $8,599 / €7,999
""
Maxxis Rekon Race tyres feature across the range of bikes.
Ross Bell / Orbea

Orbea Oiz M-PRO AXS specification and price

  • Frame: OMX Carbon
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float SC Factory 120mm
  • Shock: Fox i-line DPS Factory shock
  • Drivetrain: SRAM GX AXS
  • Brakes: Shimano XT
  • Wheels: Oquo Mountain Performance MP30TEAM Carbon
  • Price: £7,299 / $7,399 / €6,999

Orbea Oiz M-PRO specification and price

  • Frame: OMX Carbon
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float SC Factory 120mm
  • Shock: Fox i-line DPS Factory shock
  • Drivetrain: Shimano XT
  • Brakes: Shimano XT
  • Wheels: Oquo Mountain Performance MP30TEAM Carbon
  • Price: £6,599 / $6,799 / €6,599

Orbea Oiz M10 specification and price

  • Frame: OMR Carbon
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float SC Factory 120mm
  • Shock: Fox i-line DPS Factory shock
  • Drivetrain: Shimano XT
  • Brakes: Shimano XT
  • Wheels: Oquo Mountain Performance MP30TEAM Carbon
  • Price: £5,999 / $5,999 / €5,699
""
34mm stanchion forks feature heavily across the range.
Ross Bell / Orbea

Orbea Oiz M11 AXS specification and price

  • Frame: OMR Carbon
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float SC Performance 120mm
  • Shock: Fox i-line DPS Performance shock
  • Drivetrain: SRAM GX AXS
  • Brakes: Shimano XT
  • Wheels: Oquo Mountain Performance MP28PRO
  • Price: £5,799 / $5,699 / €5,499

Orbea Oiz M20 specification and price

  • Frame: OMR Carbon
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float SC Performance 120mm
  • Shock: Fox i-line DPS Performance shock
  • Drivetrain: SRAM GX
  • Brakes: Shimano M6100
  • Wheels: Oquo Mountain Performance MP28PRO
  • Price: £4,999 / $4,999 / €4,799
""
Orbea’s Squidlock controls the fork and shock damping.
Ross Bell / Orbea

Orbea Oiz M30 specification and price

  • Frame: OMR Carbon
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float SC Performance 120mm
  • Shock: Fox i-line DPS Performance shock
  • Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
  • Brakes: Shimano M6100
  • Wheels: Oquo Alloy
  • Price: £4,399 / $4,399 / €3,999

Orbea Oiz H10 specification and price

  • Frame: Hydro alloy
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float SC Performance 120mm
  • Shock: Fox i-line DPS Performance shock
  • Drivetrain: Shimano XT
  • Brakes: Shimano M6100
  • Wheels: Race Face AR 30c
  • Price: £3,999 / $3,999 / €3,699
""
A neat touch – a slither of foam sits between the frame and chainstay to prevent dirt ingress, which could cause damage to the carbon.
Ross Bell / Orbea

Orbea Oiz H20 specification and price

  • Frame: Hydro alloy
  • Fork: Fox 32 Float Rhythm 120mm
  • Shock: Fox i-line DPS Performance shock
  • Drivetrain: SRAM GX
  • Brakes: Shimano M6100
  • Wheels: Oquo Alloy
  • Price: £3,499 / $3,599 / €3,299

Orbea Oiz H30 specification and price

  • Frame: Hydro alloy
  • Fork: Fox 32 Float Rhythm 120mm
  • Shock: Fox i-line DPS Performance shock
  • Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
  • Brakes: Shimano MT201
  • Wheels: Oquo Alloy
  • Price: £2,999 / $3,299 / €2,799