Orbea launches updated Oiz - a cross-country mountain bike “built to fly”
2023 Orbea Oiz comes with 120mm travel and a bunch of other updates
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Orbea has launched its top-of-the-range 2023 Oiz cross-country mountain bike, with changes to its geometry and travel, all in a lightweight, sub-10kg bike. The brand goes as far as claiming this to be the fastest XC bike to leave its factory in over 180 years. With that bold claim, let’s have a look at what the 2023 Orbea Oiz is about.
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The main change in the new Oiz is travel. Orbea has decided to make it 120 across the bike - meaning the only bikes in its range with 110mm travel are hardtail Onna and Alma.
By making the travel the centrepiece of the design process, Orbea says they’ve managed to optimise the geometry and the kinematics, avoiding any compromises: “The goal for the new 2023 Oiz was none other than to design a bike that simply flies, both uphill and downhill,” the brand says.
Contemporary geometry
2023 Orbea Oiz uphill riding, by Orbea
Orbea has developed the bike together with its race team, KMC-Orbea, and information from its testers and engineering team. With all of that feedback, Orbea has developed a modern geometry that claims to take Oiz’s downhill handling to a new level.
A slacker 67-degree head angle and a lower 333mm bottom bracket, together with a longer reach (450mm for size M) are some of the key aspects that Orbea says ensure control and confidence. But simultaneously the Oiz benefits from a shorter rear centre (432mm) to offer agility and responsiveness and the lower stack height (596mm for size M) and 72.5-degree seat angle claims to offer a better, more centred position on climbs.
XC marathon and stage racers will also be pleased to know that the 2023 Oiz can take two bottles in all sizes.
Technical details
The 2023 Oiz sticks to its characteristic single-pivot suspension, with engineered flexpivot in the seat stays (UFO). This is complemented by the brand's three-position suspension lockout (Squidlock) system.
Orbea has been shaving off grams where possible, and the new Oiz frame is claimed to weigh 1,750g, with a full medium-sized bike coming in at 9.98kg (with pedals, water bottle and computer mount).
Orbea claims the weight savings have not affected the performance of the bike, but that the carefully engineered carbon lay-up and an updated rear triangle, the bike is now 12% stiffer.
SIC-system - increased integration
2023 Orbea Oiz cockpit, by Orbea
Orbea Oiz still has the brand's patented I-Line cable integration technology, but the 2023
model goes a step further, following the trend for clean, integrated cockpits. With this Oiz Orbea launches the new SIC System, which shortens the cables and ensures they don’t rattle and offers an overall, clean look. The system is also optimised to make changing the stem and handlebars just as easy as on a non-integrated cockpit. The available stem lengths are 60, 75 and 90mm.
2023 Orbea Oiz Spin Block finish.jpg, by Orbea
But SIC isn't the only update at the front of the Oiz, as Orbea has also hidden a steering limiter into the headset. The Spin Block technology prevents the steerer from over-rotating and damaging the frame - but it does only work with the integrated stem and bar system.
Pricing and availability
2023 Orbea Oiz M LTD, by Orbea
As usual, the Orbea Oiz can be fully personalised using the MyO tool, and if paired with Orbea's recently launched, in-house Oquo MTB wheels, you can have a fully colour-coordinated bike.
The 2023 Oiz is available in three frame levels; alloy, OMR carbon and OMX carbon.
The cheapest option in the range, the Hydro High Polished alloy H30 model sets you back €2,799 / $3,299 / £2,999 and comes with Fox i-line shock and Fox 32 fork.
For the carbon, prices start at €3,999€/$4,399/£4,399 for the Oiz M30 with a carbon OMR frame that comes with Fox i-line DPS Performance shock and Fox 34 Float SC Performance fork.
The next level Oiz M-Pro with carbon OMX frame builds start at €6,299/$6,799/£6,599 with Fox i-line DPS Factory shock and Fox 34 Float SC Factory fork.
The top-of-the-range OIZ M - LTD sets you back €9,999/$10,499/£10,499 and comes with a full Sram Eagle XX1 drivetrain.
The new models will be available at the end of the year, but pre-orders are open through Orbea's Rider Connect service.
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