The "Onix" made it difficult for the testers to approach. The crookedly applied decor may still pass as a cosmetic flaw. However, the 47 centimetre wide handlebars, which make a racing bike-like riding position impossible for normally proportioned riders, are hardly comprehensible. After a few metres, one tester complained of a rumbling noise on the rear wheel: the inner tube had been pinched by the clincher tyre during assembly at the factory and could only be moved into the correct position with great difficulty. Of course, there are also positive things to report: The carbon frame pleases with its unique look and details such as rebound stops on the head tube, the measured values are consistently unobjectionable and the fork even offers above-average suspension. The "Ultegra" groupset and Ksyrium "Elite" wheels are on a par with the rest of the class, and favourably priced "Kéo" pedals from Look are included.
Purchase/Info: Orbea S. Coop. Ltda, phone 0180/51230021, www.orbea.com
Weight frame/fork/headset bearing*: 1,284/404/56 g
Frame sizes**: 48, 51, 54, 57, 60 cm; seat/steering angle: 73.5°/73.5°
Seat/top/head tube: 540/570/197 mm
Wheelbase/caster: 991/53 mm
Stack/reach***: 603/392 mm
EQUIPMENT
Fork: Orbea
Steering bearing: FSA, 1-1/8 inch
Brakes/gears/bottom bracket: Shimano Ultegra (50/34 t.)
Wheels/tyres: Mavic Ksyrium Elite/Vittoria Rubino (clincher tyres)
Handlebar/stem: Orbea/Orbea
Saddle/ -post: Selle Italia SL/Orbea (31.6 mm)
*weighted weights; **manufacturer's specification; test frame size greased; ***stack/reach: projected vertical or horizontal dimension from centre of bottom bracket to top edge of headset cap
