A First Look at this Exclusive 2021 Orbea OIZ OMX

In normal times when a new exclusive bike rolls through the door, we’d shout from the rooftops to convince you to come into the shop to see the latest and greatest. However, these are not normal times. Visits to the shop are borne of necessity rather than leisure, but that doesn't mean we have given up on bringing in the exclusive, innovative, and attractive through our doors. And while we don't encourage you to come by the shop unless you need to, we hope our first look at the new 2021 Orbea Oiz OMX, one of only a handful available worldwide, mirrors our excitement at the shop. After all, isn't the goal to be out on your bike? While Orbea bills this as a new Oiz, we really see it more as refinement from the current Oiz to the 2021 Oiz OMX. Orbea’s approach is less about reinventing the wheel and more about taking an existing, very successful design and supercharging it. The real proof comes once we have a chance to put it to the test out on the trail but for now, we’ll highlight the changes that excite us.

The big stuff: Orbea claims that the new Oiz OMX frame (with shock and hardware) is the lightest full-suspension frame on the market. It comes in at a featherweight 1740g with the aforementioned shock and hardware in size medium thanks largely to use of more high-modulus carbon that allows Orbea to tune the weight and stiffness for each Oiz size. This marks a savings of over half a pound over the already-light Oiz, a remarkable change considering this frame comes with a lifetime warranty. The complete weight of this 2021 Oiz M-Team TR is 24.2 lbs without pedals.

Other significant changes include a 5mm shorter chainstay in an effort to increase responsiveness, as well as a flat-mount brake mount in the back. Orbea claims the end result is a bike that feels snappy when you push on the pedals, with improved suspension activity under braking.

Riders jonesing for the ultimate cross-country machine love that the Oiz can cleanly fit two water bottles, and the Oiz OMX is no different. Plus with Squidlock, a dual remote lockout with a middle "traction" mode, the Oiz offers the perfect balance of efficiency and control. This particular model is the 2021 Orbea Oiz M-Pro TR. It features a combination of Shimano XT and Shimano XTR kit, which ensures the best performance out of the componentry. Suspension is taken care of by Fox, with a Factory 34 Stepcast (with a Fit4 damper) and a Factory DPS shock rounding it out. DT Swiss XR1650 wheels are lightweight, serviceable, and offer compliant ride feel, while the Selle Italia SLR Boost saddle is a welcome sight to our eyes. This is highlighted by an OC branded stem that offers an optional computer mount for use with a Garmin or Wahoo computer.

Orbea has really stepped it up in customization and overall paint schemes. The new Oiz OMX has three unique design schemes. There are additionally scores of color combinations available utilizing their MyO program, which offers the addition of 'terrazzo,' 'marbling,' and 'geometric camouflage' in addition to a custom color selection. Other personalized choices include but are not limited to different suspension, stem and crank length options, a carbon wheel upgrade, tires, and more.

But even this limited edition Oiz OMX in this white and black gloss looks excellent, with the light marbling over the black paint making this bike feel particularly unique.

We look forward to getting out on the new Oiz to be able to provide a substantive ride review. But for now, all of these beauty shots will suffice. Have any questions about the 2021 Orbea Oiz OMX, or Orbea mountain bikes in general? Give us call during business hours, or send us an email any time to info@contenderbicycles.com.