Gear

Orro 2017 road bikes – first look

Orro Bikes only launched in 2014 but have quickly developed a reputation as a manufacturer of quality bicycles; a British brand known for high performance and cutting-edge road bikes.

The 2017 range is no different and includes everything from the flagship Gold gran fondo bike to the on-trend Terra gravel bike.

We’ve put together this guide to give you the lowdown on the line-up, who each bike is designed for, any up-and-coming developments to look out for, and to discover a little more about what to expect from Orro over the next 12 months.

In the shadow of Ditchling Beacon

Orro was borne of an idea from entrepreneurs Ian Wilson and Paul Butler, who wanted to build premium no-compromise bikes for the gran fondo market. And since its inception in 2009, Orro, based close to the climb of Ditchling Beacon in Sussex, has prided itself on gathering the best of British engineering know-how, as its partnership with carbon manufacturers Sigmatex demonstrates.

“It was quite simple really,” says Wilson of Orro’s genesis. “We wanted to design bikes that we would want to ride ourselves. We wanted to create the best and the most stylish bikes for serious riders, giving the best performance for real-world riders; because performance is key.

That’s evident from a quick glance at the 2017 line-up, with completed groupsets and quality components specced across the board – no corners have been cut.

Orro’s bikes are assembled in Sussex, within a short ride’s distance of Ditchling Beacon

“The Sussex Downs are so beautiful and such a perfect testing ground for our bikes,” says Butler, with Orro’s bikes assembled in Sussex and the firm’s Signature frames hand-painted in the county.

“In an age where most businesses produce their products in low cost, soulless environments, we wanted to take advantage of the huge amounts of skill and expertise we have at our disposal here in Britain,” Wilson adds.

Now let’s take a closer look at the range – Orro’s Adam Glew talked us through the line-up.

Orro Gold STC

The Gold STC is Orro’s flagship frame, taking advantage of the partnership with British carbon composite company Sigmatex with exclusive use of spread-tow carbon fibre material, which is laid up in a chequerboard pattern and said to use less resin, resulting in a lighter, stiffer yet more compliant frameset. Glew says Orro have strategically used STC to maximise these desired qualities in specific places.

“It’s designed to provide race-ready responsiveness teamed with all-day comfort – the perfect gran fondo bike – and is the ultimate expression of Orro’s approach to road bike building” says Glew. The geometry matches the all-day aspirations of the carbon layup, with a frameset shape edging towards an endurance-style bike.

The Gold STC is Orro’s flagship road bike and is available with Shimano Dura-Ace 9100 for £3,499.99

The frame is available in both caliper and disc brake formats, and if you’re after extra exclusivity can be hand-painted in-house by Orro – just look for the Signature name tag. The non-signature Gold STC is available in black only.

In terms of build, the Gold STC is available in full Shimano Dura-Ace 9100, Ultegra Di2, Ultegra and will retain one model with the new Campagnolo Potenza for 2017. All the bikes are finished with aftermarket components from prestigious brands such as Fulcrum, 3T and Prologo.

You’ll also notice the rear light built into the seatpost clamp. It has constant and flashing modes, and can be found on most of Orro’s road bikes. It’s a spring-loaded design so can be removed but is otherwise a smart, integrated nod to safety (Orro also sell the clamp as an aftermarket product).

Orro Gold STC Dura-Ace Di2 9150 – £4,499.99
Orro Signature Gold STC Ultegra Di2 Disc – £3,599.99
Orro Gold STC Dura Ace 9100 – £3,499.99
Orro Signature Gold STC Ultegra Di2 – £3,099.99
Orro Gold STC Ultegra Di2 Disc – £2,750.00
Orro Gold STC Ultegra Di2 – £2,599.99
Gold STC Ultegra Disc – £2,199.99
Gold STC Ultegra – £1,999.99
Gold STC Potenza – £1,999.99

Orro Aira

If the Gold STC was born of founders Ian Wilson and Paul Butler’s drive to provide the best ‘gran fondo’ bike they could, then the Aira, which debuted in 2016, nods to the racer in all of us with its short 993mm wheelbase and 73 degree headtube angle.

The Aira sports straighter tubing than the Gold, which helps provide its race-ready ride, and currently a standard carbon layup. As a result, it’s currently more affordable than the Gold, with both current models built with a full Shimano 105 groupset.

The Aira was a new addition to the Orro range in 2016, with an updated version slated to arrive in 2017

“However, 2017 will mark the arrival of a new model,” says Glew, “which will take further advantage of the partnership with Sigmatex. This new frame will nod to the aero market, while making the most of the carbon technology Sigmatex offer.”

Currently, the Aira is available in two versions: the Orbis II 35, which features Orro’s full carbon Superlight II fork, a Shimano 105 groupset and the 3T wheelset it’s named after, and the Racing Sport, which features the same build but with shallower Fulcrum wheels that again give the model its name.

Orro Aira 3T Orbis II (Shimano 105) – £1,499.99
Orro Aira Racing Sport (Shimano 105) – £1,399.99

Orro Pyro

If you’re after a sportive bike without breaking the bank, then the Pyro is the machine to go for in the Orro range. “The frameset uses a very similar geometry to the flagship Gold STC, allowing all day comfort without the high-performance edge of the Aira frame,” says Glew.

The Pyro frame is also made in both disc and rim brake formats, while the spec sheet boasts a full Shimano 105 groupset, and maintains Orro’s insistence on using premium aftermarket componentry. This means a 3T stem, handlebar and seatpost, Prologo Kappa Evo saddle and Continental Ultra Sport 25mm tyres, along with Fulcrum’s Racing Sport wheelset.

However, it’s certainly not toothless, with sharp handling afforded by Orro’s Superlight II carbon fork, and a smart red-flecked black paintjob to give the bike a premium look.

Orro Pyro Disc (Shimano 105) – £1,350.00
Orro Pyro 105 – £1,299.99

Orro Yara

“The Yara is Orro’s female-specific carbon frameset, and is specifically designed with the female shape in mind,” says Glew. As a result, it features a shortened toptube and lengthened headtube that plays to these specific requirements, with the rest of geometry aimed squarely at the sportive market.

The Yara is Orro’s women’s-specific bike

Orro’s designers have also been busy in the bottom bracket area, ensuring that the position was adjusted compared to its other bikes to compensate for the changes in weight distribution unique to female riders, and the inevitable impact this has on handling and control.

The bike is available with Shimano’s 105 groupset, plus TRP Spyre Dual Piston disc brakes shod to Fulcrum Racing Sport Disc wheels. Elsewhere, the Yara receives the same aftermarket treatment as its siblings, with finishing kit from the likes of 3T and Prologo.

Orro Yara Disc (105) – £1,399.99

Orro Terra

The Terra diversifies the Orro range, with an aluminium frame available in three different guises as a road, gravel and urban bike.

The Terra Via is the pure road version and uses the same geometry as the Gold STC bikes. It has rim brakes and the latest version of Shimano’s fourth-tier Tiagra groupset, complete with four-arm chainset. This makes it, on paper, Orro’s entry-level bike and is ideal for first-time buyers.

The Orro Terra comes in road, gravel and flat bar guises

There are also two gravel versions, Glew says: an entry-level model with Shimano 105, TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes and Fulcrum Racing Sport Disc wheels, and a premium version, again with a Shimano 105 groupset, but you also get hydraulic disc brakes and upgraded 3T Discus Pro wheels.

Both bikes are specced with 28mm Vittoria Zaffiro tyres and have a more relaxed, stable geometry better suited to cope with the range of riding thrown upon a gravel bike.

We can also expect a new carbon version of the Terra for 2017, with an even higher specification and modified geometry to bring greater performance to Orro’s gravel range. While the range is designed with flexibility in mind, the geometry is set so it’s at home both on and off road.

Finally, the urban model differs through its adoption of a flat handlebar, which provides an upright position ideal for city and town riding as well as offering greater control for off-road exploits.

Orro Terra 105 Gravel SE Disc – £1,350.00
Orro Terra 105 Gravel Disc Bike – £999.99
Orro Terra Flat Bar (Shimano 105) – £999.99
Orro Terra Via Tiagra – £899.99

Orro Ferrum

Orro’s range wouldn’t be complete without a nod to the steel market – and that’s where the Ferrum comes in. It makes use of premium Reynolds 853 tubing, and, as a result, Glew says it offers a smooth and luxurious ride quality.

“This is not your run-of-the-mill bike,” claims Glew. “We’ve considered our groupset choice carefully, opting for full Campagnolo Veloce in order to maintain the classic look of the overall bike, while providing smooth and crisp shifting.”

The Orro Ferrum has an Italian flavour with components from Campagnolo, Deda and San Marco

The Ferrum is completed with bars, stem and seatpost from Deda, while the saddle is a San Marco Concor Supercorsa to continue the Italian theme.

The bike is designed to see you through all weathers, hence the use of Continental Gatorskin tyres for additional puncture protection, teamed with robust Fulcrum Racing 7 hoops.

Orro Ferrum Steel – £1,599.99

Website: Orro Bikes