Anyone with experience of Orbea Orca?

alidaf

And able to offer any advice, hints, tips, etc. I have the STH at the top of my wishlist but trying to find an outfit to try one is proving nigh impossible. It is up against Giant TCR Advanced SL 3 as the most available but I also have Colnago CLX3 and Pinarello FP Due and Quattro although these are equally difficult to find.

A lifetime warranty has to be worth it but I'm more worried about sizes and how it would handle. How did it compare to the last bike? What was better about it? What other bikes were considered and how did it stack up? Is it a joy?

rowings MTP

Eureka Cycles on Parkgate Rd, Chester do Orbea. Can't help beyond that but may be a good starting point.

noodleman

Try epic cycles. They used to stock them and are a great shop. I test rode one but I was in between sizes and just couldn't make one fit. Very fast bike but pretty harsh and unforgiving. Just my opinion.

alidaf

Opinions are welcome. I thought the 'attraction' system was meant to make it more forgiving! It has highlighted the definite need for a test run though.

Eureka cycles is nearer to me but never dealt with them before, although I have heard of the cafe.

rolf_f

I'd check the Epic website out - it's a damn site nearer to you than it is to me but I still made 3 trips down there when buying my Look. They have a good range and they'll set up two or three bikes to suit you properly so you can test them on a fairly long ride. They do still do Orbea irrc (though they didn't manage to fit me to one either!) but they have quite a range of desirable bikes. Basically, it maybe a long way down but if you arrange things properly, you'll spend a whole happy day (or three!) down there.

rowings MTP

I bought my Onix from Eureka in 2009 and numerous other bits since along with the odd service and would have no hesitation recomending them. Small shop so you'll most likely be dealing direct with Keith the owner or his wife and in my experience both really genuine people. You might have to call them on the odd occasion as may take a while to return calls but other than that first rate.

No experience of Epic and they were recomended when I bought my bike but decided I'd rather deal with someone on my doorstep.

alidaf

Rolf F wrote:

I'd check the Epic website out - it's a damn site nearer to you than it is to me but I still made 3 trips down there when buying my Look. They have a good range and they'll set up two or three bikes to suit you properly so you can test them on a fairly long ride. They do still do Orbea irrc (though they didn't manage to fit me to one either!) but they have quite a range of desirable bikes. Basically, it maybe a long way down but if you arrange things properly, you'll spend a whole happy day (or three!) down there.

That's two recommendations now so I'll give them a look. Thanks.

rowings MTP wrote:

I bought my Onix from Eureka in 2009 and numerous other bits since along with the odd service and would have no hesitation recomending them. Small shop so you'll most likely be dealing direct with Keith the owner or his wife and in my experience both really genuine people. You might have to call them on the odd occasion as may take a while to return calls but other than that first rate.

I will give Eureka a call first since they are not too far away. What made you get the Onix, and how do you feel about it now?

rjh299

No hints or tips, just that the Orca is one of the best looking bikes going IMO.

nferrar

I bought my Look from Epic to and I actually first contacted them about an Orca, they pointed out whilst it was a great race bike it was harsh compared with a lot of similar bikes and they'd even had a couple returned for that reason. This was last year so not sure if they've changed anything for 2012 (and the guide I was with on a training camp in Spain has had his Orca for a few years and really likes it but then the roads are a lot nicer over there...). Only reason he might not get a new one is he doesn't like the new boxy chain stay look, I actually like it though.

rowings MTP

Went for the Onix for a couple of reasons but lifetime warranty that you mention was definately one.

Couple of years on I still love it, sure most on here will be biased in favour of their own bikes but for me there's not much at that price point that I would swap it for and don't envisage changing it for a while yet. When I do it may very well be for an Orca configured for Di2.

I've read a fair few reviews on the Orca and never a bad one I'd definately give one a try before rulling out.

Nice decission to have to make!!

alidaf

Thanks for sharing thoughts everyone.

mercia_man

As a newcomer to the forum, here's my first post, a review of the Orbea Orca. I know it's a bit long but hope it's useful.

I bought an Orca frame in a sale at Bridgtown Cycles, Cannock, at the end of 2007 for £1,410 with carbon seatpost and headset and built it up for another £1,000, taking advantage of some brilliant new year offers from PBK, Ribble, Chain Reaction, Total Cycling and Merlin. Total budget less than £2,500 for a bike that would have cost at least £3,500 ready built.

My bike has Campag Neutron Ultra wheels, Michelin Pro Race 3 tyres with latex tubes, 10-speed Record/Chorus components and Ritchey WCS carbon bars and alloy stem.

I chose it largely on the strength of a review in Cycling Plus by then tech editor Paul Vincent, whose views (along with those of forum regular Monty Dog) I respect and trust. Paul really rated the Orca and gave its handling five out of five.

It replaced an aluminium Principia RS6 Pro as my best bike. Handling is superb - slightly less nervous than the Principia - and you can really feel the 16lb Orca spring forward and respond when you put some power into the pedals.

I'm 5ft 10in with a 33in inside leg and the medium 54cm size is a good fit. There's some toe overlap with my size 9 S Works shoes but that doesn't bother me.

I must say I don't find the ride harsh - quite the opposite. The Orca certainly floats over rough road surfaces better than my 531 steel-framed tourer with 28mm tyres, although the tourer is more comfortable than the Orca when fitted with 32mm tyres. I believe that tyre choice has more effect on ride comfort than the frame. Supple tyres like the Michelins, Veloflex Pave or Vittoria Open Corsa are, in my experience, the key to comfort. I've done 100-mile sportives on the Orca with no probems.

I haven't ridden the big name bikes like Giant, Specialized, Trek or Scott and I'm sure they're all good. But the Orca certainly looks stunning in its cream and carbon livery and is the one that people admire when our group stops for a coffee!

So if you want something a bit different, an Orca is well worth considering. The frame has changed slightly over the past few years but I think you can still get the one like mine under the "classic" title. I'd drop in at Epic Cycles (I've heard good reports of their customer sevice) and have a look and a test ride.

alidaf

Mercia Man wrote:

As a newcomer to the forum, here's my first post, a review of the Orbea Orca. I know it's a bit long but hope it's useful.

Thank you for your review. I was especially interested in your comparison with your older, steel framed bike. I'm moving from aluminium too and wonder whether the harshness that others have experienced is relative to whatever type of bike they had before. I'm a little shorter but with the same leg length, possibly 1" longer so your review has been very helpful. Thanks again and welcome to the forums I guess.

mercia_man

Just looked at Epic's website and it appears they no longer stock Orbeas so if you are thinking of getting one it may be best to look at Eureka Cycles.

The Orca classic has a partly painted finish and polished alloy seatclamp. It may be that the more recent models are stiffer to ride. All I know is that mine is really comfortable and has responsive and stable handling. Easy to ride with no hands!

Here's Paul Vincent's review on Bike Radar of a bike nearly identical to mine: www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/.../rev ... a-tdi-9452. The headline says "Race tuned plus comfort - a winning combo".