PRAISE THE LIGHT
Orca isn’t just light. It is as low as 6.7 kg of climbing technology designed to change how you reach the top
The feeling of a bike this light and efficient is unbeatable, and this instant acceleration, vibration absorption and responsive handling come from a frame which knows where it needs to be light and where it needs to be stiff.
Dominate the Climbs
Achieving Orca's light weight required many marginal gains, focusing on the details and using the best materials across the range. Considering the bike as a package means working with component and wheel designers right from the start to optimise stiffness and weight.
Pure Light
Reducing weight on a bike is all about taking care of the details. The lighter the frame gets, the more complicated it becomes to remove more weight without compromising anything. Orca's journey to lightness was about obsessing over the details.
By The Numbers
Our frame weights are an average of several production frames, randomly selected. Only by tightly controlling every process can you consistently reduce weight. Honing in on the smallest of details like coating (15 g), paint (25 g) and hardware (40 g) allows us to lower the bottom line. The sum of all parts is a remarkable 6.7 kg for the M10i LTD.
So how did we achieve that?
Not a gram wasted
Reducing weight on a bike is all about taking care of the details. The lighter the frame gets, the more complicated it becomes to remove more weight without compromising anything. Orca's journey to lightness was about obsessing over the details.
Minimal design
As well as looking great, the minimalist design of the seat clamp and derailleur hangers saves weight. It is another win-win.
Focus on the shapes
Any corner on a frame gives a space where excess epoxy can gather. Carefully designing the tube intersections to remove these sharp edges reduces the places excess epoxy can gather and means we reduce weight with no disadvantages.
Remove overlaps
Our top-level OMX frame has fewer pieces of carbon, meaning fewer overlaps and less weight. It takes much more effort to lay out the carbon, but the result is a saving of almost 300g with no change in the rigidity.
Aerodynamics in the Details
We carefully integrated aerodynamic details wherever possible—never at the expense of the bike’s ultimate goal: pure, uncompromising lightness.
Lightweight components
The perfect complement to Orca, whether you prioritise lightness, aerodynamics, or the ideal balance of both.
OQUO RA57 LTD
A versatile, aero, and lightweight carbon rim with a 57mm profile and our Q10 hub.
OQUO RP45 LTD
A great balance of aerodynamics and weight with a 45mm carbon rim.
OQUO RP35 LTD
OQUO Q10 Hub
Unmatched performance from premium materials and design: 45T with 8º engagement for instant power, ceramic treatment for precision, Sharktooth Design for reliability, and Crest-to-Crest Spring for efficient stress management. Available only on RA57LTD, RP50LTD, and RP35LTD.
Stiff Where It Counts. Light Where It Matters
It is possible to make very light bikes; however, if you lose efficiency due to a lack of rigidity, then it makes no sense. When we designed Orca, we started with a target rigidity to ensure that even the strongest climbers could be sure of efficient power transmission. Then we designed Orca to be as light as possible without compromising that number.
Size-tuned stiffness
If we were to use the same carbon layup in each frame size, it would make larger frames less stiff, resulting in a different feel. That is why we alter the carbon layup for each frame size to ensure every Orca feels the same. It is a lot more work, but these are the small details you notice when you ride.
The lower spine of the frame handles the large majority of torsional and lateral loads. The headtube, downtube and chainstays resist twisting and transmit power to the rear wheel.
Lightweight Ride Feel
The feel of a lightweight bike is unbeatable, that instant response and the feeling of acceleration on every pedal stroke. The lack of inertia means an agile, responsive ride as you carve through the corners and accelerate out the other side.
Compliant but efficient
Slim, round frame profiles offer more compliance, and the lack of vibration on less-than-perfect roads adds to the effortless feeling of riding Orca. Of course, we need to maintain pedalling efficiency, and their Powerspine maximises rigidity and resists pedalling forces.
Versatile tire clearance
With clearance for 32C tires, Orca acknowledges that speed can also be comfortable. Modern road riders have discovered the advantages of bigger tires on rougher surfaces.
Balanced handling
For a high-performance bike, one of the most important points to consider is that the bike must be easy to ride. Going fast requires precise control over the bike, and here, geometry plays a key role.
