Orbea Oiz Review

The Orbea Oiz has been a staple in the XC World Cup scene for years—light, fast, and uncompromisingly geared towards propulsion. With more travel, modern geometry, and a clear nod towards down-country, it aims to broaden its versatility.

Technically, the suspension still relies on a single-pivot design with flexing seat stays – lightweight, low-maintenance, and optimized for efficiency. While previous Oiz models were available with either 100 mm or 120 mm, Orbea now fully commits to 120 mm – a clear statement towards modern XC demands, where down-country and technical trails are increasingly becoming the standard.

The moment you sit on the Oiz, it becomes clear: This bike wants to move forward. The riding position is sporty. With the short head tube, a relatively high amount of weight is placed on the wrists. Sporty riders love this efficient position. Less sporty riders may need to get used to it first. Uphill, the Oiz fully plays to its strengths, even though our test bike, at 11.5 kilos, isn’t exactly a lightweight. Considering the price of about €6000 (more on the customization options later), the weight is absolutely fine. It’s simply the reality if you want a dropper post and 120 mm of travel combined with chunky 2.4-inch tires. The high bottom bracket stiffness and the firm, bob-free suspension provide a very direct ride feel. The lockout system allows you to adjust the suspension in three stages – open, platform, or fully locked out. This is a real advantage, especially on long climbing sections or asphalt stretches. The new lever with a “ballpoint pen mechanism” also makes handling easier.

However, the real difference from its predecessor (the models before 2023) and classic race full-suspension bikes with 100 mm of travel becomes apparent on the downhill: With a 67-degree head angle and an extended reach (450 mm for size M frame), the new Oiz rides much more confidently. In fast corners, it sits firmly on the trail, and during technical sections, it feels more controlled without being sluggish. The stable ride at high speeds makes the Oiz a true fun machine – not just for the race track.

Orbea offers the Oiz in a wide range of models – from affordable aluminum frames to ultralight OMX carbon frames with top-notch components. Depending on the setup, the Oiz can weigh as little as 11 kilograms (e.g., with Fox 34 SC and SRAM XX SL Transmission) while still being practical enough for marathon stages or sporty tours. The integration of accessories is also well-designed: two bottle cages fit in the main triangle. Unlike some other bikes, the Oiz doesn’t have a storage compartment. However, a spare tube and CO2 cartridge can be secured under the top tube with a strap.

Orbea is one of the few manufacturers that allows its customers to personalize their new bike in many ways. The options range from a custom paint job to swapping out individual components. So if you place a high value on specific groupsets, you can upgrade your Orbea Oiz piece by piece without having to go for the top model. This is possible because Orbea paints and assembles its bikes in Spain and has really established an efficient system with online ordering and Click and Collect pickup from its dealers. This service in this form is available from no other manufacturer of Orbea’s size, which also offers generally attractive prices.