Review: Orbea Oiz TR - The XC Racer's Trail Bike

The Oiz is available in five different build kit options, starting with an aluminum version that sells for $2,599 USD. Carbon models begin at $4,999 USD for the M10 kit, with a mix of SRAM GX and X01 Eagle for the drivetrain, Shimano XT brakes, and Mavic Crossmax Elite TL wheels.

The top of the line M-LTD TR build that's tested here features a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain, Level Ultimate brakes, Mavic Crossmax Pro Carbon TL wheels, and a Race Face Affect dropper post. All bikes have a Fox Float Factory fork, a Fox DPS Factory EVOL shock (custom-tuned for the Oiz), and an FSA stem/handlebar combination. The TR edition with a longer travel Fox 34 120mm fork plus the different rear shock adds $159 to the build, and then a dropper post option adds $129. (Note: For 2020, the top of the line M-LTD TR build sells for the same $8,587 but comes with SRAM's AXS drivetrain)

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Construction and Features

The bike gets a PF92 bottom bracket and internal cable routing throughout. All models use Orbea's "Inside Line" internal cable routing, which provides a clean run from the handlebars to all of the things that need actuating. The 2020 edition of the Oiz comes with Orbea's 'Squidlock' 3-position lockout lever that integrates the lockout with the dropper post lever via one clamp to further clean up the cockpit.

The shock is driven by a lightweight carbon link, and the frame also has a small integrated chain guide. More water is more better on a bike like the Oiz that's meant to cover a lot of ground, so Orbea made sure that two bottles can be squeezed inside the bike's front triangle on every size bar the small. Short riders get a single bottle mount due to space constraints.



Orbea's bikes can be customized using their 'MyO' program that lets customers choose from countless paint combinations and a handful of different components, which is exactly what I did with my Oiz test bike. I think it turned out pretty damn well, and I'm happy to help other riders pick their colors for a nominal consultation fee. It's a neat program, especially if you're ordering a high-end bike and want something that you won't likely see anyone else riding.

Riders can also choose their choice of travel (100mm or 120mm TR) during the MyO process, including bumping up to Fox's 34 Float Factory 120mm fork for the TR build. More cush or not, some riders may want to add a dropper post and change certain components in order to maximize their fun.

Geometry & Sizing


Orbea moved the Oiz to more modern geometry with their updates. On the 120mm TR version tested, the head tube angle is 68-degrees, and the seat tube angle is 74-degrees. Reach, on the size medium, is 425mm and chainstays sit at 435mm.

Riders opting for the racier 100mm Oiz will steepen angles on the seat tube and head tube by one degree and lengthen the reach by 10mm.

These numbers don't scream overly progressive compared to any modern trail or enduro bike but, for a bike with World Cup XC pedigree, they're very much in line.

Suspension Design

The suspension kinematics features a low-sag design that has more anti-squat and a much more progressive shock tune than the previous Oiz. Orbea claims they found that some customers were putting too much pressure in the suspension in order to have better efficiency to the detriment of the suspension's performance - something we've seen in a number of higher pressure shock situations.

The higher leverage of the new suspension overcomes friction easier and is much more progressive, especially at the end of the shock stroke. Orbea claims, and I can validate, that a harsh bottom-out on the bike is difficult to achieve. The anti-squat of the bike has increased quite a bit from before. It was at 102%, and it's now 114% with a 34-tooth chainring.

Between the 100mm and 120mm suspension set-ups, there are some key differences in the shock to achieve the 20mm difference. The 120mm version uses a different piston, has a longer stroke via a spacer being removed, and is more linear than the 100mm shock - traits that are ideal for a longer travel application.

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Climbing

A bike like the Oiz has to climb well, and it does an excellent job of exactly that while also maintaining traction in various situations. Two of the bike's six cables actuate the remote lockout for the suspension. While it should pedal well regardless of if it's locked out or not, that efficiency is paramount on a sporty bike like the Oiz, hence the extra lever. A lot of XC racers want a bike to be completely locked-out on certain climbs and be open on rough terrain, and the only way that can be achieved with complete accuracy is through the use of a pedaling platform.

The lockout on the Oiz is centered around a "push-to-unlock" system. This means that you push the long-throw lever to unlock the suspension, and you can just tap the short-throw lever to lock it again. This works well in a lot of situations, especially when you need to quickly firm things up as you roll into a climb during a race.

With the suspension open, the bike does feel as if it has a lot of anti-squat - an appropriate amount - and it sits up in its travel as you turn over the pedals. The pedaling position is comfortable, and with 120mm of travel and its low weight, the bike is easy to maneuver through tricky sections of trail.

Descending

The 120mm-travel Oiz TR is a competent descender, but make no mistake: It's just a semi-beefed up XC rig, not a bike that would fall into the "trail" category as a bike with 'TR' would lead one to believe. While it feels as if it is ready to handle most terrain, the spec seems to hold it back a little on the more technical trail sections to where it's not all that much better at 120mm than it is at 100mm. It's comfortable, sure, but it doesn't inspire riders to let 'er rip the way one may expect it to with the changes to travel and spec.

The suspension is active and supple, and there's always plenty of traction. Even on larger hits, I found the bike was difficult to bottom out, and the ramp-up of the suspension felt smooth and proper. It was fully capable of handling larger-than-average XC hits. It just doesn't possess an increase in confidence-inspiring handling traits I was hoping for compared to the 100mm Oiz XC or other bikes in the 120mm XC category. Additionally, the push-to-lock lever for the suspension can easily inadvertently be actuated, locking out the suspension - typically when descending. It's just not ideal.

Day-long rides in less demanding conditions are comfortable and smooth with 120mm of travel and riders looking for a more marathon-style XC bike that will take the edge off of rough, but not overly technical sections of trail will find the Oiz excels in those situations. Riders used to a classic top-level XC bike but who also want a little more travel will find the Oiz TR to be a good match.

How does it compare?

Two shapeshifting XC bikes currently available are the Orbea Oiz and the Specialized Epic EVO. Both are built on a 100mm pedigree World Cup XC race platforms but feature a longer-travel, 120mm set-up. Price-wise, the Oiz takes the win, with the top-of-the-line, $8,299 build coming in significantly less than the closely comparable $9,920 S-Works Epic Evo. There are also more build and customization options with the Oiz, from parts spec to color, that riders have to choose from. Specialized only has the top tier S-Works bike and then the Expert level bike, which sells for $5,850 in the EVO version. There are a number of other options in the standard 100mm front travel version. The Epic also features only a 100mm option for rear travel. The Oiz has that and 120mm, so, another point for versatility.

When you get both bikes on the trail, the bikes are similar in weight and some spec, depending on whether you've set the bike up in World Cup race mode or trail mode. Even with similar geometry, the wider handlebars and better dropper post on the S-Works Epic EVO convert it into a bike that's far more confidence-inspiring to ride on rough terrain. The Epic doesn't have as much rear travel, but it also doesn't have the rat's nest of cables that the Oiz does. Then again, it trades that for a proprietary suspension platform, which a lot of riders will see as a problem changer, not a problem solver.

Technical Report


Tires: Maxxis tires are spec'd and can be chosen, to an extent, while building the Oiz. It would be good to see more aggressive offerings, but the available combinations of Ikon, Forekaster, and Ardent's will suit the majority of riders looking for a bike in this category.

Fox Suspension: The Fox Factory suspension worked flawlessly and is simple to set-up and tune. I had a lot of gripes with the lock-out, but that isn't reflective of the quality of the suspension overall and it's not a fault of the Fox suspension, it's the placement and clutter on the bars. Orbea recently introduced their “Squidlock” system which positions the suspension switch for a cleaner more user-friendly setup with no lever interference which should help alleviate some of this.

SRAM Eagle Drivetrain: The Eagle XX1 drivetrain is reliable, lightweight, and performs well. It's durable, tried and true, and the range of gearing, paired with the 34-tooth front chainring is appropriate for an XC race bike.

Pinkbike's Take

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Reviews and Tech Reviews Trail Bikes Orbea Orbea Oiz