The Orbea Oiz has a long history of trying new things, and not all of them worked out. But, a few years back, the brand decided to recalibrate, stop chasing trends, and focus on making the bikes they wanted to ride. They also seem to learn from mistakes, because this new, 8th generation Oiz is not only the best version of it theyve ever made, its also one of the best XC bikes Ive ever ridden.Check out my launch post for all the technical details. Here, Ill focus on ride quality, suspension choices, and the nuances that make it a winner. Pics and words below, or just enjoy this videoBased purely on aesthetics, the new Oiz wins. Honestly, I havent always loved the brands designs, but this one is a looker. Low slung, sleeker, and cleanly integrated from tip to tail.Plus, the tinted clear coat options let you add color without hiding the carbon underneath. The fact that you can customize all paint colors across the frame, handlebars, and wheels at no extra charge on the OMX models is also a big win.Speaking of their MyO custom program, the invitation to this launch included an impressive number of options we could choose from multiple tire brands and widths, drivetrains, brakes (including Trickstuff!), and more. All of which you can choose from when ordering your own bike, too.The big one, though, is suspension. So before I dive into how it rides, we need to talk aboutSuspension Choice Rockshox vs FoxYou may notice that the bike here features Rockshox suspension with Flight Attendant. Prior to the launch, Orbea gave us the choice between Fox and Rockshox. Since its a race bike, I opted for Flight Attendant.But, honestly, I was torn, so on day 2, I switched to Fox. Same bike, same everything, their tech crew graciously swapped the fork, shock, and lockout so I could compare them back to back. And heres why:Orbea uses its MyO custom program not only to give you a choice in your paint and build spec, but its also great data, letting them see what people want. While most opt for a standard build, which previously only had Fox spec, they say about 10% of the bikes headed out the door with Flight Attendant. People wanted it, so theyre offering it on standard builds with this new model. So, I figured I should test both.For pure racing, Flight Attendant is the jam. Locked out when youre hammering, and open when you need it, and somewhere in between for the rest no thinking required. Traditionally, its racers that have bought the Oiz, which is why all of the Fox bikes come with their Squidlock dual (three-way) lockout, and Flight Attendant honestly provides a much better experience here.But, for riders like me who want a fast bike but dont care about a lockout, its an expensive option that also gives you two more batteries to worry about.More than that, though, Orbea works directly with Fox when tuning the Oiz. So I wanted to ride the bike on the suspension it was designed around, despite my well-known dislike for lockout levers.Credit where its due, Orbeas custom I-Line shock provides the cleanest possible routing for a mechanical lockout. And the Squidlock is an admirable attempt at minimizing a combination dropper remote and lockout lever, using one lever for the seatpost and one to control both fork and shock, cycling through Open, Trail, and Firm modes on Fox suspension.Heres the conundrumI liked the Fox suspension better, but the Flight Attendant is a better user interface.Granted, Flight Attendant is adjustable. It also learns your patterns and adapts to your riding style, power output, and preferences over time. But out of the box, the bike just felt far more alive and fun on the Fox 34 SL and custom-tuned rear shock.Both setups were running 120mm forks, so its apples to apples there. But with Fox, the default is Open, whereas with Rockshox Flight Attendant, the default is Firm. For me, that made a huge difference in the all-day ride quality, favoring Fox. Also, the 34 SL is an absolutely amazing fork; its what Im currently riding on home trails, albeit with 130mm travel.But I really didnt like the Squidlock remote. Its a stretch getting to the bottom lever, and the position cant be adjusted as much as some third-party dropper levers. I also had to move it pretty far inboard to prevent it from rubbing the top of my thumb while holding the bar.So, heres my take: If youre mainly racing and want the most intuitive, efficient system, get the Flight Attendant. If youre rallying the bike all day, consider the Fox build and swap the Squidlock for the more compact Fox Twin Stick dual remote. Or maybe wait and see if Fox brings their Live Valve Neo to XC, which seems like a logical next step for them, no?2027 Orbea Oiz Ride ReviewIts a race bike, so yes, it absolutely hammers when your legs give it the juice. Thats the bar any XC bike needs to hit, and the new Oiz meets that minimum standard quickly and easily.With the suspension set to Open, or even Trail, I did notice enough pedal-induced movement that racers will still want a lockout. It wasnt excessive, especially in Trail mode, and it certainly made the bike more comfortable, but worth noting for the racers here.It also climbs very well, with a lot of credit going to excellent weight balance. The geometry had me in the sweet spot of rear tire traction without letting the front end wander or lift, even on really steep inclines. I never felt the need to shuffle on the saddle as terrain undulated beneath me, and thats a big energy saver when racing.When fully locked out, I did notice that it would skip a bit over rough climbs, especially when standing. Putting the suspension in Trail mode eliminated this issue and kept the rear tire stuck to the ground.Where the bike really starts to shine is when things get rough. Some ultralight XC bikes can feeldainty. The Oiz doesnt.Thats not to say it feels heavy, but it feels planted and solid. That instills a lot of confidence ripping through rocks and roots, or bombing down chunky terrain youve never ridden before. Its an XC race bike, but it bombs downhill like a trail bike, and that makes it a lot more fun.Our test days were on the tail end of a lot of rain in the Basque region of Spain. While the ground did its best to soak it up or shake it off, there were spots that were slick.The Oiz felt solid throughout, even when it got knocked about, slipping between roots. As long as I kept the front wheel rolling, it did an admirable job of going where I pointed. Orbea admits that geometry has gotten so well dialed across most major bike brands that its hard to differentiate there, but Id say theyre setting a good example nonetheless.Days were wet and overcast, but dang if that didnt create great photo conditions and this sweet rainbow.Despite the mud, the rear tire never got bogged down. Theres a small flap covering the gap between the seat tube and chainstay yoke (shown in the video) that keeps crud from getting between them, too. It seems to work, and while it may look like it would create a shelf for mud to sit on, that never happened during our two full (long!) days of testing.Where many modern XC bikes advertise themselves as fast downcountry bikes that you can also race, the Oiz feels exactly like the pure race bike they built it to be, but one you can also rip like a light trail bike. Its a fun combination that makes for a great all-around short travel performer that makes no compromises when the start gun fires.Small Details Add UpBeing able to fit two water bottles on all frame sizes is a big bonus, with Medium, Large, and XL bikes able to fit larger/taller bottles on the downtube. Youll want side-entry cages, but they fit well and are easy to reach while riding.I ride with top tube bags on virtually every bike I own. And for press trips, its where I stick my action camera and phone for quick access. So, I asked Orbea to build the bike with a few spacers, and found out what color the bike was, so I could match it.Even with 20mm of spacers under the stem, the bike still looks sharp with the bag removed. But theres also just enough room for a Velcro strap to wrap around and stabilize a bag. For marathon and epic events, bento bags are perfect for snacks, so for me, being able to add one here without killing the bikes aesthetics is a big win. Also, that Oveja Negra Snack Pack matches the gold bike logos perfectly. I mean, cmon. Sick.I also really like that the tinted clear coat lets the carbon fiber show through. When the sun hits it just right, its quite pretty.Lastly, the bike is easy to carry when needed. Theres room to grab around the shock area and lift or hoist, or slide your arm through to carry it cyclocross-style.The Wrap UpYou never know what race day may bring. But after two days of riding the Oiz in challenging conditions with tons of climbing, fast descending, and a technical mix of flow and natural trails, I think the bike is ready for anything you throw at it.Its not just fast, its fun. Handling is dialed, fit, and weight balance is excellent. Other than making a hard decision about which suspension and lockout I want to live with, nothing about the bike felt like a compromise. This is a race bike I could live with year-round and love every day on it.Orbea.comThe post First Rides! New Orbea Oiz Favors Bold Lines, Strong Legs appeared first on Bikerumor.