Orbea Orca M35

Orbea Orca M35 - Lightweight upgrade: The Orca with carbon wheelset

Orbea is one of the most innovative brands in the racing scene. After the Spaniards successfully worked on improving the aerodynamics of the Orca last season, the topic of lightweight construction was at the top of the to-do list for 2024. To achieve this, the developers not only slimmed down the carbon frame, but also all components. This is the only way to achieve the lightweight design target. With a weight of less than 7 kilos for a frame size of 53 cm, it would be hard to find an even lighter production road bike in this class. The Orca thus arouses all the feelings of happiness that can turn road cycling into an addiction: Immediate acceleration, vehement propulsion and the ability to literally fly up long Alpine passes. Yet the Orca has remained a good all-rounder: With tire clearance of up to 32 millimeters, it can almost be transformed into a gravel bike.

In the M35 version, the Orca largely corresponds to the equipment of the M30. But only almost! The decisive factor is the upgrade with an extremely lightweight carbon wheelset. Under the label Oquo, these high-quality wheels are developed in their own laboratories. This vouches for unrestricted race suitability. The other components: With the extended range of 2 x 12 gears, Shimano's 105 drivetrain is the new benchmark in the mid-range segment. The hydraulic disc brakes are also from the market leader Shimano and convince with unsurpassed function and ease of service. A carbon seatpost rounds off the lightweight concept.

Completely redesigned carbon monocoque frame

The most striking innovation are the rear stays, which now attach directly to the saddle sleeve. At the same time, the seatpost received a simpler but more efficient clamping mechanism. Other optimizations to the geometry: the wheelbase was slightly reduced, which improves the responsiveness when starting. And the fork blades received an aerodynamic lift. Orbea manufactures the Orca frame in two quality levels. The M35 uses OMR carbon, which is slightly less complex to manufacture compared to the OMX variant. The price / performance ratio can really be seen. The bladder molding process ensures that no wrinkles and irregularities occur in the carbon mats during production. At Orbea, they are keen to use as little raw material as possible. Thanks to Orbea's ICR Plus system, all cables run completely internally from the stem onwards. This underlines the clean look of this extremely fast road racer.