With a modern geometry that is suitable for the latest courses, the Orbea Oiz caters to the needs of cross-country racers. However, it also doubles up as a fun and functional general trail bike. Orbea allows some setup customisation so key components can be changed to suit personal preferences, which may help save you money based on personal fit preferences. Overall, this bike is fast, capable and enjoyable to ride, making it one of the best mountain bikes for cross-country currently available.
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In the Orbea lineup, the Oiz is the only cross-country full suspension option. All Oiz model framesets are made of carbon fibre and feature 120mm travel at the rear and are designed to be paired with a 120mm fork. While it’s not as pure as race bikes such as the Trek Supercaliber or the Specialized Epic World Cup, Orbea claims it’s “the fastest XC bike to leave our factory in over 180 years.”
Carbon Oiz M framesets start with the M30 for £4,399 and move up to the top-spec M LTD XX at £10,899. The M-Team AXS test bike pictured here starts at £7699 but the bike is a model within the MyO system, which allows some customisation and a custom colourway. Changes to the specification including the wheels, tyres, saddle and dropper seatpost, take the total to £8,442 at retail.
The Oiz lineup starts with the hydroformed alloy frame on the H30, and there are two carbon frame versions in the range, OMR and OMX. The differences are a 200g weight saving in favour of the OMX and that frameset uses a flat-mount brake fixing that limits the rotor size to 160mm, whereas the OMR has a post-mount system that boosts rotor clearance to a maximum of 180mm.
Orbea Oiz M-Team AXS – Technical details
The Oiz frame looks quite similar to many other full-suspension cross-country bikes, especially the more recent designs that focus on having two accessible water bottles within the main frame. For many riders, bottles are still the preferred choice over hydration packs, especially those participating in cross-country or marathon events.
The M-Team AXS uses the OMX carbon frame, which is claimed to weigh 1,740g, making it one of the lighter framesets available. For comparison, the Specialized Epic Evo weighs 1,659g and the Merida Ninety-Six weighs 2,089g – both claimed weights.
The Oiz suspension uses the UFO single-pivot setup with flex designed into the rear seatstays. The main pivot sits above the standard 34T chainring, which claims to improve pedalling efficiency. There is a neat rubber cover over the area to keep some of the mud and muck out.
Orbea’s Squidlock multi-function handlebar lever allows you to control both the dropper seatpost and the suspension of the bike. There are three positions available with a dual-lockout feature. The first position keeps the fork and rear suspension fully open, while the middle setting keeps the fork fully open but increases the shock compression damping. The final position locks out both the fork and rear suspension completely.
All Oiz framesets come with an internal cable system called the SIC System. The cables are fed through grommets inside the top headset bearing giving the front end a clean look – especially when paired with the hose routing from the SRAM Level brakes. However, if you need to replace the headset bearing, you will also need to disconnect every hose that is fed through. If you prefer to ride with a lower front end, you can purchase a Low Stack Headset Cup for an additional £25, which allows for a slammed 8mm lower front stem height. All frameset versions use a standard BSA threaded bottom bracket.
There are four different sizes of framesets available, each with specific recommended rider heights ranging from 155cm to 198cm. The key geometry numbers for these framesets include a head angle of 67-degrees for all sizes, a seat angle of 76.5-degrees and 436mm chainstays. The reach figure varies between 425mm (Small), 450mm (Medium), 472mm (Large) and 496mm (XL).
The frameset has two bottle cage mounts within the main frame but clearance is not brilliant. A side-loading cage is going to be essential and, depending on the exact cage and bottle, a 500ml bottle should be possible to fit. You could potentially use a bigger bottle but you’d need a Wolftooth B-Rad 2 mounting base or the Tailfin bottle dropper which claims to be the lowest profile version available.
The bike pictured here has a semi-custom paint finish, which is carried out through the MyO program at no extra cost, although it will likely increase the delivery time. Specific areas of the frame can be painted in a range of hue options and you can even change the logo colours not to mention mix things up with either gloss or matte finishes.
Orbea Oiz M-Team AXS – Specification
The M-Team AXS pictured here uses the OMX frameset in combination with a Fox Factory SL Factory shock, providing 120mm travel and paired with a Fox 34 Float SC Factory FIT4 fork. Both have remote lockouts that are activated by the Squidlock remote lever, which also controls the dropper seatpost. The standard Oiz M-Team is equipped with a Fox Transfer SL Performance seatpost. On the size S and M frames, a 125mm drop is standard, which moves up to 150mm on L and XL frames. Buying it directly through Orbea allows you to specify some component choices with the option of 100mm, 125mm, and 150mm for the same price or upgrade to the SL for an extra £79.
The groupset is a combination of SRAM X0 and GX Eagle AXS T-Type. It has a 34T chainring fitted to the X0 DUB chainset and an SRAM GX 1275-A1 cassette with a 10-52T range. The frameset can accommodate chainrings up to 38T which is best suited for Nino Schurter chasers or those who live or race in flatter areas. In terms of crankarm sizes, there are 170mm on the Small and Medium and 175mm on the Large and XL sizes. No 165mm option is available for now.
The cockpit is Orbea’s own-brand – OC. The stem and handlebar provide a clean, almost integrated look. The aluminium stem has a -10 degree sweep with a choice of lengths with a top cap that fits nicely into a steerer-tube-mounted computer base. The carbon OC MP10 handlebar is 760mm, with 9-degrees back sweep. It is nice to see ESI grips fitted as standard – while they might not be the most durable, they provide excellent comfort and grip in all weather conditions.
The standard Oiz M-Team comes with OQUO M30TEAM wheels that have DT350 hubs, Sapim D-Sprint spokes, and carbon hookless rims. They come with a 30mm ID that has a claimed weight of 1,570g and are wrapped in Maxxis Recon Race 2.4in tyres. Our test build has the upgraded OQUO M30LTD wheels and Schwalbe Wicked Will 2.4in Speed Grip tyres. The upgraded wheels have DT240 hubs, Sapim CX-Ray spokes and a lower spoke count on the front wheel but the same 30mm ID hookless carbon rim. The changes result in a substantial weight saving with a claimed weight of 1,365g.
Orbea Oiz M-Team AXS – Performance
I have experience in cross-country riding and racing, which I still do regularly. For my general riding, I usually go to trail centres in South and Mid Wales or ride in the local forests. I have also used the Oiz for local cross-country races.
The setup and configuration were excellent for me from the first ride. The frame geometry and components provide a riding position that suits the modern style of riding and racing, where courses can have technical descents and tough climbs.
When I started riding the Oiz I set the pressure in the fork and shock slightly above the recommended values for a firmer pedalling feel with 20% sag. But I found myself lowering the pressure to get 25% sag on each ride. Even with 25% sag, the ride was still excellent with very little pedal-induced bobbing, and I could use more of the travel. The platform and shock ramp up considerably towards the end but the mid-travel is very reactive and responds well on rugged trails with high-frequency bumps.
The rear of the bike was so reactive that it began to draw attention to the Fox 34 Float SC Factory fork. While it has plenty of adjustment, with the standard setup I found it wasn’t quite as effective through the mid-travel when set at a pressure that didn’t result in it blowing through the full 120mm too quickly. With more time and the ability to test with volume spacers, I am confident I can set things up to suit my riding style.
Overall the Squidlock is effective but I didn’t find I used the mid-position very often – it was either fully open or fully closed. As the testing progressed, there were occasions when the cable became stuck and it wouldn’t release past the mid-setting. It could be freed with some movement and may be improved by adding a little lubricant to the cable but it wasn’t great to see in a new component.
The M-Team AXS model has exceptional components, although I found the saddle to be an exception. The upgraded Selle Italia SLR Boost has a hard base with minimal flex and little padding, making it too firm for my liking. On the other hand, the SRAM AXS T-Type groupset is outstanding with accurate and smooth shifting even under load. I particularly noticed the speed and power of the shifting during races, especially during the start and the steepest climbs. The groupset was flawless in all conditions including mud and rain.
Many manufacturers aim to keep the weight low for cross-country race bikes and the Transfer SL seatpost has been chosen for that very reason. However, the downside is that it only has two positions available: up or down. Given the option, I would still prefer an Infinite Dropper seatpost (even with a weight penalty of 200g) as I prefer being able to drop the post just a small amount for technical on/off pedalling singletrack sections.
While riding with the suspension fully open, there was some pedal bob but nothing too significant. The Squidlock feature can be quickly and easily activated whenever maximum efficiency on smooth climbs is needed. On some technical or singletrack climbs, the mid-setting was used, which keeps the rear locked out while keeping the front active.
The bike feels brilliant on faster descents, through sweeping bends and singletrack. It’s very stable and reactive, thanks to its progressive geometry and, overall, doesn’t feel too slow through tighter switchbacks.
Both tyre options are suitable for racing. The Maxxis Rekon Race is a great choice for dry conditions and the Schwalbe Wicked Will is an excellent option for mixed British weather.
Orbea Oiz M-Team AXS – Verdict
There are a growing number of cross-country bikes available with 120mm travel and designed for both racing and riding – so where does the Orbea Oiz M-Team AXS match up on price and performance?
The Scott Spark RC World Cup is £7,899, the updated Cannondale Scalpel comes with either SRAM GX AXS at £6,750 or SRAM X0 at £8,550.
The Canyon Lux Trail CFR is available in the top-spec CFR LTD with SRAM XX Eagle groupset priced at £8,099 or the Shimano XTR version at £6,699. While the Canyon is cheaper and, on paper, a better specification, for races where I had the option of both I opted for the Oiz. The Oiz feels the fastest and most efficient when climbing and has a more aggressive riding position that I prefer for racing.
If value is a key priority the Rockrider RACE 900S is hard to beat with a carbon frame, wheels and SRAM GX AXS, (albeit not the T-Type) for £3,000. It isn’t as light, or as race-focused as the Oiz but Decathlon has suggested there might be a new version in the pipeline that may have space for two bottle cages.
The Orbea Oiz is one of the fastest, most capable and fun bikes currently available and has been designed for racing. The progressive geometry makes technical terrain a breeze and the suspension performance also makes it efficient to pedal and climb.
The Orbea Oiz M-Team AXS can’t compete on price against the best value options but it is on a similar level to many with some custom choice possibilities that allow some personalisation that could help you save money. Overall the Oiz is now among the best full-suspension bikes you can buy for both racing and general trail riding.
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About the bike
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BUILT TO FLY
Take control. Don’t accept compromises. Oiz isn’t down-country or trail; this is a 120mm XC race machine that looks as good as it rides. Modern geometry and clever suspension, designed from the start around 120mm, bring extra fun to every ride without compromising weight or efficiency. Simply put, Oiz is the fastest XC bike to leave our factory in over 180 years.
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Orbea specification, as ridden:
FRAME
Orbea Oiz Carbon OMX, Fiberlink, Boost, BSA, SIC, UFO, I-line shock
SHOCK
Fox Float SL Factory 120mm Remote Push-lock Evol Kashima custom tune 190x45mm
FORK
Fox 34 Float SC Factory 120 FIT4 Remote-Adj Push to Lock QR15x110 Kashima
HEADSET
Alloy 1-1/2″, Black Oxidated Bearing, LOW STACK HEADSET CUP
CRANKSET
SRAM X0 Eagle Dub Black 34t
SHIFTERS
SRAM AXS Pod
CASSETTE
SRAM GX-1275 Eagle 10-52t 12-Speed
REAR DERAILLEUR
SRAM X0 Eagle AXS
CHAIN
SRAM GX Eagle 12-Speed
HANDLEBAR
OC MP10 Mountain Performance Carbon, Width 760, Sweep 9
STEM
OC Mountain Performance MP10 Alu SL, -10º
BRAKES
SRAM Level Silver 2 piston Hydraulic Disc
WHEELS
Oquo Mountain Performance MP30LTD
TYRES
Schwalbe Wicked Wil Evo TLE 2.40 Speed Grip, Addix, Brown
SEATPOST
Fox Transfer SL Factory Dropper 31.6
SADDLE
Selle Italia SLR Boost Fill Carbon Rail 316 Ø7×9 mm
REMOTE LOCKOUT
OC Squidlock MP20 Remote, Dropper, Suspension 3 Pos
Frame & Fork
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Summary
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