Orbea Liege

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Amarabike, San Sebas

Model Year:
2003

Bike Setup:
dérailleurs, chainrings, brake levers- Campy Centaur
cogs- Mavic
handlebar, stem- ITM
whells- Mavic Cosmos

Summary:
I bought this in San Sebastian, where some of Orbea's bikes are marketed as Zeus. This was my first road bike, and is now going on its fifth year of ever-increasing service. Overall, I've been very satisfied with everything, though there are a few shortcomings.

Firstly, the paint job started to flake and bubble before it was 2 years old. This has happened primarily around the bottle cage screw holes and head tube, but also below the bottom bracket and elsewhere. This makes the bike look kinda crappy, to say the least.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, the handlebar (an ITM 330) snapped in half as I landed from a bunny hop. Fortunately, the spill wasn't too bad, but I could see the discoloration in the crack that showed that it had been cracked for a while. Then again, I am a heavyweight, close to 200lb., so there could be an additional stress factor. Also some weeks before the break, I had flatted hard on the front wheel, downhill, in a pothole on a curve, so that may have contributed as well.

Anyhow, I just dropped in a whole new transmission and it rides again virtually like new. In fact, I'm going to go ride it right now instead of going more in depth.

Price Paid:  $1215.00 at Hollymill Cycles, Ca

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Radical road, Edinburgh

Bike Setup:
Al frame with Zeus Carbon forks. Campy Centaur throughout.

Summary:
Only had this Liege for a week before I fell off my other bike and broke my arm. Now banned from cycling for 2 months. In the short time on the Liege I've already decided this is for me - so fast and comfy. Can't say much more other than I love it and can't wait for my sentence to expire.

Strengths:
Looks, paint finish, Great on hills and Lee at Hollywood was very helpful.

Weaknesses:
Delivery mix up but nothing serious. Orbea website needs attention.
Squeak from seat /carbon tube.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at High Caliper

Model Year:
2004

Favorite Ride:
CT/MA Housatonic Valley

Bike Setup:
Ultegra Double Groupo
ITM Carbon Super Over stem
ITM Carbon Super Over bars
FSA integrated headset
Zeus (Orbea) carbon fork
Zeus (Orbea) carbon post
Orbea (Fizik) saddle
Mavic Krysium Equipe wheels
Michelin Pro Race tires
Look pedals

Summary:
I spent a lot of time and energy researching and shopping to replace my old all-aluminum Cannondale. Having learned a lot about what was available out there, I am still amazed at the quality of my Orbea frame craftmanship, the quality of the ride, and the price point with stock components. No other manufacturer had a bike where all three of those considerations even came close.

I ride anywhere from 100 to 250 miles a week depending, mostly on rolling hills with some longer climbs, so I don't spend a lot of time in the big ring. When I do I am always fired up by the response of the Lobular frame with its beefy bottom bracket. On the hills, however, is where this rig shines - you can take that from a rider who is 6'1" and 205 lbs (not exactly built like Mayo). It's such an improvement ove rmy old bike that I had to totally adjust my gearing on hills.

The stock Ultegra groupo is reliable, though I find the calibration of the rear derailleur a little fickle. The ITM Carbon Super Over bars and stem are great and fit me well, and the Orbea branded Fizik saddle is terrific. The only upgrade I'd make to the bike would be wheels - the stock Krysium Equipes are a bit heavy and get a little twitchy on long, fast descents.

Strengths:
Workmanship and ride quality. People always comment on how beautiful the Orbea's are and how great the finish is, but it really is awesome. Ride quality is superb. It's about craftsmanship.

Weaknesses:
For a guy of my size, the rear can get a little soft when I'm out of the saddle and pounding the cranks up big hills. I have to watch my cadence a bit. If I were a skinny, shor Basque this wouldn't be a problem.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale R2000
Giant TCR
Klein Q-Pro
Pinarello Galileo
Litespeed Ghisallo

Price Paid:  $2100.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
Solo rural training route

Bike Setup:
Orbea Liege
American Classic Sprint 350 wheelset
Ultegra gruppo
ITM Cabon Over bars & stem
Orbea saddle
Keywin Ti pedals

Summary:
Dang! After riding about 600 miles in the last three weeks, I have to submit this review! This bike is wonderful. I've been riding and racing for 30 years, and this is the first bike I've had that truly amazed me. I trashed my hip last year, and had it rebuilt in March, so my racing for 2004 was shot. My "old" bike, a two-year old Specialized M4 crit rocket, seemed pretty harsh, and I wanted to try either a full-carbon bike or something with carbon stays and fork. I've tried Trek and Giant carbon bikes, and they're comfy, but uninspiring. The Orbea feels alive under me, like the bike and I are riding together. I know it sounds weird. This frame feels very, very compliant, with a smooth, plush ride, but the pedal response is instantaneous. You can spin up climbs effortlessly (sort of!) My major daily hill (1 mile @ 7% grade) goes under me about 1 mph faster than usual. All my training/commuting rides have been MUCH faster than on the M4, with the same perceived effort (or less). The Orbea is a perfect blend of supple ride quality, lively, responsive acceleration and cornering, with a unique Basque coolness. The shaping of the tubes on the Lobular frame is really cool, and the Zeus carbon stays/fork give a liquid ride. I love this bike!

Strengths:
You don't see 13 identical bikes at the club ride! No stickers...it's all paint. Super compliant ride, yet still feels alive under you. Amazing on climbs, rock solid on descents. Ultegra stuff works just fine.

Weaknesses:
Totally horrifying squeak that seemed to be coming from everywhere. Finally discovered that the cool Orbea carbon-fiber seat was squeaking, even after I lubed it! It's OK now. It's actually a nice saddle.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized M4 with DA, Giant TCR Team, Merlin Extralight, Falcon Race, Stella Semi-Pro

Price Paid:  $2400.00 at Sim's Cycle and Fitn

Favorite Ride:
Faster than YOU

Bike Setup:
Orbea Liege (Lobular Carbon frameset)
Full Ultegra Grouppo
Selle Italia Saddle
Speedplay X2 Pedals

Summary:
You might as well use this as your review since the 3 previous reviews are NOT for an Orbea Liege. The Liege is an Ultegra equipped bike. They may have the lobular carbon frame, but the gruppo is Ultegra, not Campy. I also must give a shout out to the folks at Sim's Cycle in Medford, OR. The fit you, then fit you again. Set up many test rides and LISTEN to what you want/need. They don't try to sell you what you don't need and steer you towards your needs. Very, very patient and helped me with all of my questions. I researched this bike for 3 intense months. Sim's treats you wonderfully and I got a fantastic bike.

This bike is fantastic. Best of both worlds for me. My previous Giant OCR3 was a great fit and ride, but too much road vibration made my longer rides a torture session. The extremely lightweight aluminum frame is very stiff (which is great for my current 210 lb. body). I looked at the Giant TCR composite 1, and it was a lot more flexy than the Liege. Now, the bonus...the carbon fiber front fork, seatpost, seat and chainstays dampen road vibration nearly as well as a full carbon bike! With the added stiffness at the BB, it is a win-win for me. Very responsive and The geometry of the relatively compact frame is very comfortable and practical but still aggressive enough for racers.

Strengths:
I got the Black, Red, Yellow Liege paintjob. Each Orbea has several available colors. This bike is sexy! It rides like an absolute dream and begs to climb. I upgraded from Kysrium Equipes to Kysrium Elites. The new '05 elites aren't black bladed spokes and rims, they are aluminum/alloy and look almost exactly like the SSLs! The Ultegra groupps is very smooth. Unless you are 2% body fat and need to shed weight for racing, save your money, get Ultegra its just fantastic. The frame and graphics are very well done and the handpainting and care that the Spaniards put into their bikes definately shows. Dont know why, but this bike was supposed to come with an Orbea saddle. My bike was shipped with a Selle Italia saddle which I thought I would hate, but thus far has been the best mix of cushion and stiffnes (for what that's worth). Lastly, I don't know much about Orbea's customer service in the event of a bike problem per se, but before I bought my bike, I emailed their technical people on their website and each time received a reply immediately the next day, or if I wrote in the morning, by the end of the same day. Made quite an impression. Try to email Giant. You can't!

Weaknesses:
For what you pay for a Liege, Ksyrium Elites should be STANDARD! The Equipes are fine, but are being stuck on entry level bikes. $2500 for a bike should warrant an upgrade in wheelset. The next bike up gets SSLs. From Equipe to SSLs seems to be missing a step there.

Similar Products Used:
Fully Stock Giant OCR3

Test Rode a Giant TCR1 Composite, and a Specialized Roubaix, nice bikes as well, but for me a bit more flex out of the saddle. The Orbea has stiffness, vibration dampening and it has a soul, unlike the dead, all carbon bikes.