Orbea – Big Quality in a Small Package

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Spanish brand Orbea is well known to keen cyclists and it holds a solid reputation both on the road and off. What you mightn’t know is they also have an impressive selection of high-performance kids’ bikes—the sort that enthusiasts would be stoked to see their kids on.

Incorporating features such as disc brakes, dropper posts, quality suspension and progressive geometry, they’re much more than regular kids’ bikes; they’re like a performance Orbea MTB, just in a smaller package.

While their junior range includes a broad selection of models, they are divided into two main lines; MX and Laufey. With the MX line, the focus is on lightweight simplicity that’s geared towards smaller riders. It covers wheel sizes from 12 through to 27.5 inches and all feature size-specific parts such as brake levers, saddles and so on. The Laufey models are geared towards trail riding and come with real MTB tyres, 1X drivetrains, disc brakes and many have dropper posts. They’re packed with big-bike features and offered in three wheel sizes; 20, 24 and 27.5.

Stand-out models include the MX12; a featherweight run-bike that features a magnesium frame and fork, alloy rims, alloy hubs and a one-piece aluminium bar/stem combo. Aside from its high-tech superlight construction, it also looks amazing!

The MX line keeps things simple and the MX20 Team is a great example. It features an alloy frame with formed and shaped tubes, internal cable routing and a matching alloy rigid fork. The wheels are also alloy, with quick release axles and 2.2-inch wide Kenda tyres. Compact alloy brake levers are sized to suit smaller hands while the V-brakes keep things light and simple. The eight-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain is also spec’d with simplicity in mind, providing a respectable 11-34 gear spread. You’ll also find a range of quality inclusions; lightweight two-bolt seatpost, quick release seat clamp, an integrated alloy bar/stem combo and so on—it’s a sharp-looking ride for the $769 retail price-point.

For the hardcore off-roader – or the child of a hardcore mountain biker – the Laufey line-up is hard to go past. With a model like the Laufey 24 H10, you get Shimano MT410 hydraulic disc brakes, a Deore 10-speed drivetrain with a 10-42 gear range, a Manitou Machete suspension fork and a 75mm travel dropper post. It even has 2.35 wide Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres and tubeless-ready rims! The 24 H10 retails for $1,699.

Step it up to a 27.5 wheel model like the $2,199 Laufey 27 H10 and you’ll get a thru-axle equipped triple butted alloy frame with a 120mm travel Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork and a 1X12 Deore drivetrain. It’s not just the parts spec that’s cool, the frame geometry is very contemporary too. Using the Laufey 27 as an example, it has a relaxed 65.5-degree head angle, a steep 75-degree seat angle to keep the front end weighted when climbing and a proportionately long 389mm reach with a short 60mm stem. The smaller wheeled platforms appear to be equally well considered too.

The Orbea junior line spans a broad range of models and price-points. Check all the details at: https://www.orbea.com/au-en/bicycles/junior/laufey-junior/