Orca M35i

The Orca lineup spans a wide price range, heavily influenced by the choice between the OMR and OMX framesets. The OMR builds serve as the entry and mid-tier options, starting with mechanical Shimano 105 and moving up through electronic Ultegra and SRAM Force groupsets. The premium OMX builds command a significant price jump, utilizing the lighter carbon layup and outfitting the bikes with flagship Dura-Ace or SRAM Red components. Models carrying the Pwr designation include factory-installed power meters.

A major differentiator for the Orca is Orbea’s MyO customization program, available on most electronic builds. This allows buyers to select custom paint schemes and specify component dimensions—such as crank length, handlebar width, and stem length—at no additional cost, eliminating the need for expensive aftermarket fit adjustments.

Rolling stock across the mid-to-upper tiers features Orbea’s in-house Oquo carbon wheels, offered in varying depths to suit different terrain. The builds prioritize standard, easily serviceable parts, utilizing a press-fit bottom bracket and a conventional two-piece bar and stem on many models to simplify travel and maintenance.

Reviewers consistently praise the Orca’s climbing efficiency, though they emphasize that the two frame tiers deliver distinctly different experiences on the road. The high-modulus OMX frame is highly responsive and visceral. Testers found it eager to accelerate, with one noting it behaves like an "excitable puppy" (Velo) under hard pedaling. This stiffness makes it a potent climber, but the front end can feel highly strung during aggressive, out-of-the-saddle efforts, occasionally "darting from side to side" (BikeRadar) and requiring a skilled hand on fast descents.

Conversely, the heavier OMR frame trades that raw edge for stability and vibration damping. Multiple reviewers preferred this layup for real-world riding, noting that it feels significantly more composed over rough pavement. One tester described the OMR's forgiving nature as a "warm hug" (Cycling Weekly) that encourages riders to push their limits in adverse conditions. Across both versions, the consensus points to a platform that "wants to carry you uphill" (Epic-cycles), sacrificing some straight-line speed on the flats in exchange for exceptional agility and a highly communicative ride.