Orbea has revealed its latest Alma cross-country hardtail, with a redesigned rear triangle incorporating the brand's X-Fader compliance technology.
The new design is said to provide a connected trail feel, while damping trail chatter and vibrations thanks to increased vertical compliance from the flexstays.
Despite the added complexity, Orbea says the new Alma weighs only 1,008g for a painted, medium-sized frame.
The Alma has also had a 10mm travel boost, with the new bike using a 110mm fork.
The bike will be available in five models from launch, with prices starting at £2,699 / $2,999 / €2,499 for the M30 and topping out with the SRAM XX SL Eagle Transmission-equipped, M-LTD model, at £8,499 / $8,499 / €7,999.
Additionally, Orbea offers its MyO customisation, which enables you to tune the configuration of the Alma to suit your needs.
X-Fader frame compliance
The Alma is the first of Orbea's fleet to feature the new X-Fader technology.
The Basque brand says the new design acts as a micro damper, with a shaped seat tube engineered to absorb energy-sapping vibrations and impacts.
It's a notable departure from the previous model, which had a silhouette much more similar to traditional hardtail MTBs.
Like many of the best cross-country mountain bikes, this damping is achieved via the use of flexstays.
Orbea says flattened chainstays and seatstays increase vertical compliance, while resisting lateral flex.
In ever greater bump-absorption endeavours, the Alma is constructed from Orbea's Advanced Carbon, which is said to reduce vibrations even further without a weight penalty.
More travel and wider tyres
The new bike also sees increased tyre widths, with the Alma now able to run 2.4in tyres.
Increasing tyre width has been a popular trend for XC racers, with many competing on 2.4in tyres for the larger air volume and increased contact area.
New cockpit
A new integrated carbon cockpit features on the pricier models, claimed to weigh 265g and provide more control and improved SIC integration compared to the previous iteration.
The frame also features Smart Clips, which see the bottle cage attach to the seat tube without metal frame inserts.
This enables you to fully insert a telescopic seatpost and can be removed for a stealthy look.
Orbea's Squidlock remote lockout features again, combining the fork lockout and dropper-post levers in one package – similar to Scott's TwinLoc design.
A new service window is located on the down tube, giving easy access to the internal cable routing.
Geometry
Orbea says the new Alma has nimble and capable handling thanks to its updated geometry.
A slacker 67-degree head angle is said to have increased stability and control, while a steeper 75.5-degree seat angle is intended to improve pedalling dynamics on steep climbs.
Even the geometry reflects the bike's bump-absorbing purpose, with a shorter seat tube now exposing more seatpost, increasing compliance.
This is also said to reduce standover height for shorter riders.
Orbea Alma spec and pricing
Orbea Alma M30
- Fork: RockShox SID SL Select, 110mm
- Brakes: Shimano MT410 hydraulic disc
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT
- Tyres: Pirelli Scorpion Sport XC H 2.4in
- Cockpit: Alloy
- Price: £2,699 / $2,999 / €2,499
Orbea Alma M20
- Fork: Fox 34 Float SC Performance, 110mm
- Brakes: Shimano M6100 hydraulic disc
- Drivetrain: Shimano XT
- Tyres: Pirelli Scorpion Sport XC H 2.4in
- Cockpit: OC Mountain Performance MP30
- Price: £3,499 / $3,599 / €3,299
Orbea Alma M-PRO
- Fork: RockShox SID SL Select, 110mm
- Brakes: Shimano M6100 hydraulic disc
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission
- Tyres: Pirelli Scorpion XC RC 2.4in
- Cockpit: OC Mountain Performance MP10 Carbon
- Price: £4,199 / $4,399 / €3,999
Orbea Alma M-TEAM AXS
- Fork: RockShox SID SL Ultimate, 110mm
- Brakes: Shimano XT M8100 hydraulic disc
- Drivetrain: SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission
- Tyres: Pirelli Scorpion XC RC 2.4in
- Cockpit: OC Mountain Performance MP10 Carbon
- Price: £5,699 / $5,699 / €5,499
Orbea Alma M-LTD
- Fork: RockShox SID SL Ultimate, 110mm
- Brakes: SRAM Level Ultimate Carbon 2-piston
- Drivetrain: SRAM XX Eagle SL AXS Transmission
- Tyres: Pirelli Scorpion XC RC 2.4in
- Cockpit: OC Mountain Performance MP10 Carbon
- Price: £8,499 / $8,499 / €7,999
