Orbea Alma Review
Orbea Alma range features an interesting bunch of cross-country mountain bikes with a variety of premium set-ups.
What all these bikes share in common is the OMR / OMX carbon frame, 12-speed drivetrain, and a 100mm suspension fork (except on the M LTD which features sort of a collectors-item type rigid carbon fork known as the Orbea Spirit).
- OMX – Orbea Monocoque X
- OMR – Orbea Monocoque Racing
Orbea Alma Series Review
- Alma Carbon OMR / OMX Frame
- 100mm fork / Rigid
- 12-speed drivetrain
Orbea Alma M50
MSRP: $2,099
Head angle – 68 | Seat angle – 74.5 | Chainstay – 430mm
- RockShox Judy Silver TK Remote Solo Air, 100mm
- Orbea Alma Carbon OMR Frame
- Shimano XT M8100 derailleur, 1x12speed
- 29×2.2″
At just over $2,000, the M50 is the most affordable model in the Alma range. However, like all bikes in the range, it still benefits from a top-class Orbea Carbon frame with internal cable routing. This is complemented by a RockShox Judy Silver Air fork with 100mm of travel – ideal for speedy trail or XC riding.
With the Alma range, Orbea hasn’t resorted to lower-cost components to save pennies. Even the affordable M50 comes with a quality Shimano XT drivetrain, featuring a 12-speed cassette running off a single front ring.
The wheelset is relatively standard but still decent, including 2.2″ Maxxis Ikon tires wrapped around Orbea’s own 29″ OC1 tubeless-ready rims. These are fitted with Shimano’s tried-and-tested MT201 hydro disc brakes. Overall, it’s a solid combination of parts on a well-priced XC bike.
Alma M50 Eagle
MSRP: $2,099
For those who prefer SRAM components over Shimano, Orbea has also released an ‘Eagle’ version of their M50 bike. This comes with an SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain, running a 12-speed cassette off a single 32T SRAM Stylo crank.
Interestingly, Orbea has chosen to keep Shimano’s MT201 disc brakes on this version, with all other components also remaining the same.
Orbea Alma M30
MSRP: $2,699
- Frame – Orbea Alma Carbon OMR
- Fork – RockShox SID Select RL remote
- Brakes – Shimano M6100 hydro brakes
- Derailleur – Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
- 29×2.2″
Next up in the Orbea Alma XC MTB range is the M30, an upgrade to the M50 that includes better suspension and braking. The RockShox SID Select fork has 100mm of travel and remote lockout, perfect for tackling the varied terrain commonly found in cross-country riding.
Add to this a pair of Shimano M6100 hydraulic disc brakes and you have a solid set of safety components that instill confidence in the rider.
The M30 also benefits from a quality 12-speed Shimano XT drivetrain, only this time with an upgraded Shadow Plus derailleur, ensuring no damaging chain-slap in turbulent conditions. Orbea’s Carbon OMR frame makes up the body, finished off with its own OC1 rims running 2.2″ Maxxis Ikon tires.
The M30 represents a mild upgrade from the M50, with parts that are less stock-standard and deliver a more professional feel. Experienced riders will likely find the extra expense worthwhile.
Orbea Alma M25
MSRP: $3,199
- Frame – Orbea Alma Carbon OMR
- Fork – Fox Float 32 SC Performance, 100mm, Remote Plush-Unlock QR 15×110
- Crankset – Shimano XT M8100, 34t
- Brakes – Shimano M6100 hydraulic disc brakes
- Derailleur – Shimano XT M8100 SGS, 10-51t 12-speed
- Wheels – DT Swiss X-1900 Spline
The M25 is the next step up in the Alma range, with some small yet significant improvements that will impress the more discerning rider. The 12-speed Shimano XT drivetrain with Shadow Plus derailleur and M6100 hydro brakes remain the same as the M30, as does the Carbon OMR frame.
However, you get a considerably better fork: a Fox 32 Float SC Performance 100. Now we’re talking professional-level suspension and although travel remains at 100mm, experienced riders will know the spectacular capabilities of this world-renowned remote-lockout fork. Another nice touch is the change to DT Swiss X-1900 rims. These durable, lightweight TLR rims carry the DT Swiss quality guarantee and are once again wrapped in 2.2″ Maxxis Ikon tires – albeit with the FB 120 Exo upgrade.
A few other minor upgrades include a 34t XT crankset, Acros headset, and Fizik saddle.
Orbea Alma M Pro
MSRP: $4,599
- Fork: Fox 32 Float SC Factory, 100mm
- Shimano XT M8100 crankset
- Shimano XT M8100 hydro brakes
- Derailleur – Shimano XT, SGS Shadow Plus derailleur
- Wheels: DT Swiss X-1900 Spline 25c
- 29×2.35″ Maxxis Rekon Race, 120 TPI Exo TLR
The Alma M Pro is the first in the series to use the more advanced Orbea Carbon OMX frame, designed with high-end carbon fiber for the lightest, most rigid feel. Like previous Alma models, the M Pro features a top-class Shimano XT drivetrain running a 1×12 setup with an SGS Shadow Plus derailleur.
However, this time you get an entire XT M8100 groupset – cassette, crankset, shifters, and hydraulic disc brakes, the complete package.
On the front you get that excellent Fox 32 Float SC fork with 100mm of travel, only this time slightly upgraded to the superior ‘Factory’ version. Wheels are a combination of DT Swiss X1900 rims, this time fitted with fatter 2.35″ Maxxis Rekon Race tires.
With the upgraded frame, Factory fork and race-orientated tires, it’s clear to see the Alma M Pro is a competitive bike with an eye for the podium.
Orbea Alma M Team
MSRP: $5,899
- Frame – Orbea Alma Carbon OMX
- Fork – Fox 32 Float SC Factory, 100mm Fit 4
- Crankset – Race Face Next-SL, 34t
- Brakes – Shimano XT M8100 hydro
- Derailleur – Shimano XTR M9100, SGS Shadow Plus
- Wheels – DT Swiss XR-1650 Spline, 25c, Star Ratcet, boost, TLR CL
- 29×2.35″ Maxxis Rekon Race, 120TPI Exo TLR
Orbea’s Team model of the Alma M series takes competitive XC racing to the next level. As with the M Pro, it features the advanced OMX carbon frame and Fox 32 Float SC Factory fork.
The Shimano XT M8100 groupset remains largely intact, although with a minor upgrade to a Race Face Next-LS crankset and XTR M9100 Shadow Plus derailleur. This derailleur delivers incredible shifting performance even under extreme pressure, ensuring consistently smooth gear changes without interruption.
For tires, Orbea has once again gone with the superb Maxxis Rekon Race and upgraded the rims to DT-Swiss XR-1650 with Star Ratchet upgrade for better power transfer. There’s very little to criticize about the Alma M Team – it’s a top-class bike built for Pro Team riders.
Orbea Alma M LTD
MSRP: $8,599
- Frame – Orbea Alma Carbon OMX, 12×148 boost, PF BB, Internal cable routing
- Fork – Orbea Spirit Rigid Carbon, 15×110
- Crankset – SRAM XX1 Eagle Dub, Grey Boost 34t
- Groupset – SRAM XX1, Shifters, Cassette, Derailleur, Chain
- Brakes – SRAM Ultimate Carbon Stealth-a-majig Black, Hydraulic disc brakes
- Wheels – DT Swiss XRC-1200 Spline 30c, TLR 15/110mm CL
- 29×2.35″ Maxxis Rekon Race, 120 TPI Exo TLR
- Battery – SRAM Powerpack
As with most Limited Edition bikes, the Orbea Alma M LTD is a bike for the overly obsessive fan, melding together the best of the best components with no concern for cost. The Alma M LTD features a rigid Orbea Spirit carbon fork, suggesting its intentions as a purely speed-focused MTB (although an upgrade to the Fox 32 Float Factory is available for an extra $549).
It also comes with a 12-speed SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS groupset, possibly the best MTB groupset available, paired with SRAM Ultimate Carbon hydro disc brakes. The chain guide, seatpost, saddle, handlebar, and stem are also all carbon, so you can imagine how light this bike must be.
The wheels consist of a top-of-the-range set of DT Swiss XRC-1200 rims paired with 2.35″ Maxxis Rekon Race tires. A bike of this quality is an absolute beauty to behold – that is, everything but the price tag.
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