ORBEA ORCA M30 Pro - Shimano 105 5800

The Orbea Orca OMP is where you see how trickle-down technology results in a great bike at a great price. This comes out of the same moulds as the WorldTour-level Orca OMR but utilizes a more durable carbon mix in the layup. The result is a bike that rides largely the same, with the same aerodynamics, same stiffness, same comfort, same ride, just a bit heavier—they need to use more material to yield the same characteristics.

Road bikes are probably the most highly-refined cycling machines you can find. So it’s impressive that Orbea found room to dramatically improve their Orca Performance Frameset. The bike is 20% smoother, 19% stiffer, and rides better than the old Orca OMP. It’s also 180g lighter than the previous iteration.

Orbea started by refining their production methods. The frame utilizes OMP, Orbea Monocoque Performance, carbon, but how they set up the material for the mould has changed. They’ve stopped using bladders and started using EPS foam. Better, more consistent compaction, for a stiffer bike, and less weight, as the frame no longer has the bladders inside. They then optimized their lay-up, working to move materials around and shifting shapes so there are more material and bigger shapes where you need stiffness, and less where you don’t. They also reduced the number of aluminium inserts necessary for the frame, another weight reduction tactic.

Orbea also switched the Orca to a dramatically tapered 1 1/8” to 1 ½” steerer for added steering precision with no weight increase. They chose to build around a BB386EVO bottom bracket shell so not only could the bottom bracket weigh less, but the area around it could be lighter and stiffer. They moved to around 27.2mm seat post for a lighter clamp and post as well as for greater comfort.

Knowing the value of aerodynamics, they shaped the head tube, fork, and down tube to minimize what the wind sees, giving you a speed boost with no cost in weight or stiffness.

Key Features:

• Orbea Orca carbon OMP, monocoque frame is lightweight and built to defy the air
• Orca OMP carbon fork, full carbon steerer fork works with the frame for aero efficiency
• Shimano 105 5800
• Mavic Aksium Elite Clincher wheels are quick rolling
• Vittoria Rubino G+ 25c tires are grippy and fast

SPECIFICATION