Orbea Mitis 2

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at Bicycles Unlimited P

Model Year:
2004

Favorite Ride:
anything outside

Bike Setup:
Mitis double-butted 7005 aluminum frame – Zeus AC carbon fork, carbon seat and chain stays. Kalloy carbon seat post, Selle Italia Pro-Link gel saddle. Shimano Ultegra front and rear derailleurs – 9 speed and Ultegra brakes. FSA carbon pro-elite compact crank. ITM Millennium stem. Easton EC90 Equipe Pro carbon handlebars. Ultegra pedals. Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheel set with Michelin Pro-Race tires.

Summary:
I am new to this sport and spent quite some time reading and asking questions. Early on, I decided I would avoid aluminum bikes. The all-carbon bikes had a comfortable feel. Believing that I should buy a bike from the LBS limited my decision a bit. I test-road this bike and liked it immediately. The 56cm size and the compact design fit me perfectly. The bike started out as a Mitis 4. The LBS did a great job of helping me customize. Changing out the aluminum bars to carbon was their idea. Upgrading to the FSA carbon crank was mine. We also switched the Zeus brakes to Ultegra and upgraded the saddle to the Pro-Link gel. I can feel the road more than on an all-carbon bike, but this is a very comfortable ride with a slightly livelier feel. Regardless, it’s a very smooth ride. The bike climbs better than I do. It feels like it wants to go faster too. I recommend al least adding carbon bars to this aluminum bike. This bike will suit me fine for a long time.

Strengths:
Climbs great. Seems fast. Very light. Frame appears well-made. Nice paint.

Weaknesses:
none yet

Similar Products Used:
2004 Trek OCR Elite (aluminum)

Price Paid:  $2800.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
anything without stoplights

Bike Setup:
2004 Orbea Starship Carbon frame with Mitis 2 package, Campy Chorus & Centaur group, Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels, Michelin Pro Race Caarbon tires

Summary:
This is a comment on the Mitis 2 but with the Starship Carbon frame instead of the stock frame. LBS could not get the bike with the stock frame and gave a great deal on the excellent and way more expensive Starship Carbon. Orbea bikea are beautifully finished as others have commented. Very nimble and light, almost nervous, but the precision of the handling and the stiffness of the frame impel me to go much faster than ever before (e. g. pedaling hard around downhill turns). Quiet and silky ride and very kind on the uphills. It seems as though the power transfer is almost immediate. Lots of fun, a joy to ride.
Campy components (Chorus and Centaur) a good deal at this price level.

Strengths:
Light, responsive, fast, and strikingly good-looking. Great components for the price.

Weaknesses:
Stock Wippermann chain, although said by all to be terrific, didn't fit well - changed to Campy chain.

Similar Products Used:
Colnago Asso & Master X-light, Bianchi Giro & SL3

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at Mob Cyclery-Denver

Favorite Ride:
anything in the Rockies

Bike Setup:
Orbea Frame is a "small"--I usually ride a 50cm frame in traditional. This frame is a compact design; Columbus tubing with full Campy Centaur; Mavic Open Pro 32H; 3T stem and handlebar; Selle Italia Flite Gel; speedplay zeros

Summary:
This review is for an earlier frame with the same geometry/fame materials. Orbea makes a wonderful product. These frames are handbuilt in the Basque country in Spain and that regions devotion to cycling shows through in the details. This bike is relatively light (17.7 lbs), stiff enough to transfer the power of your pedal-stroke to each wheel. Climbs responsively and begs to ridden fast. I am noticably faster on this rig compared to my previous rides.

Strengths:
Quick; stiff; responsive; very light

Weaknesses:
I can't think of any...even after a year. It seems a bit twitchy up front but that is most likely lack of skill on my part.

Similar Products Used:
Wilier Lavarado; Schwinn Fastback; some Trek I test-rode