Test: With the Orbea Terra M31-D 19, we tested a real lightweight among gravel bikes. Even with pedals, weights under 9kg can be achieved without any problems. Whether the light speedster can also hold its own in tough gravel everyday life?
Orbea Terra M31-D 19: The Facts
Frame material: Carbon
Wheel size(s): 700c
tire clearance: 40mm (700c)
Axle dimensions (v/h): 12 × 100/142 × 12
Mudguard Eyelets: Ja
Luggage carrier eyelets (v/h): No no
bottle holder: down tube up, seat tube
Weight wheels f/r (with tires, cassette and brake discs): 1.550g / 2.120g
Weight complete bike without pedals (size M): 8,71kg
Price: € 2.599
Lightweight with a wasp look: the Orbea Terra is taken off the scale with incredulous amazement. The bike from Spain, which is available in several color variants, weighs less than nine kilos with a set of light SPD pedals - a real top value. The way to get there is via a light, slim carbon frame, where the graceful rear end is particularly appealing due to the lack of a bridge above the wheel. The down tube is protected from stone chipping with a thick film, high-quality add-on parts are mounted in the form of a complete Sram Rival. The wheels could be further slimmed down, and the Schwalbe G-One mounted in contrast to the standard specification makes it easy: Tires such as Fulcrum rims can be ridden tubeless, which brings 150 to 200 grams - depending on the tube used.
Geometry Orbea Terra M31
XS | S | M | L | XL | |
seat tube (in mm) | 460 | 510 | 554 | 590 | 630 |
Top tube horizontal (in mm) | 531 | 543 | 555 | 570 | 585 |
head tube (in mm) | 122 | 137 | 156 | 182 | 212 |
chainstay (in mm) | 430 | 430 | 430 | 430 | 430 |
Wheelbase (in mm) | 1017 | 1030 | 1043 | 1060 | 1078 |
Steering angle (in °) | 70.5 | 70.5 | 70.5 | 70.5 | 70.5 |
Seat angle (in °) | 73.5 | 73.5 | 73.5 | 73.5 | 73.5 |
Reach (mm) | 370 | 378 | 385 | 392 | 400 |
Stacks (in mm) | 545 | 560 | 575 | 600 | 625 |
frame | Terra OMP |
suspension fork | Orbea Terra |
Wheels | Fulcrum Racing 600DB |
Tubes | Kenda Flintridge K1152 40mm |
derailleur | Ram Rival |
Gear levers | Ram Rival |
Crank | Ram Rival |
Front derailleur | ohne |
Brake | Ram Rival |
Seat post | Orbea OC-III Carbon 27.2 |
Saddle | Selle Italia X3 Flow |
Stem | Orbea OC-II |
Links | FSA Gossamer Compact |
The Orbea is definitely a lightweight, and that should also affect the performance. The only question is: What kind of bike is that?
"Gravel" is only the tires on the Orbea Terra. Of course, if you want, you can mount mudguards, but otherwise this is a cross-country bike with a sporty seating geometry. If you don't exactly place a spacer tower under the stem, you are on the move with a decent overhang, although the available sizes complicate things a bit: From M to XL, the "stack" grows in 25 mm increments with 7 to 8 mm more "reach" each time. . If you are between two sizes, you can choose whether you want to sit much more upright or more race-like. The gear ratio is also comparatively sporty with a 40 chainring and 11-36 cassette - models with a double chainring offer significantly more reserves on the mountain. So the Orbea Terra is probably not a long-distance tourer - the light wasp is waiting for fast drivers.
Orbea Terra M31-D 19 – Let's Gravel
With the Orbea Terra M31-D19 we had one of the lightest bikes in the test. This is not least due to the high-quality carbon frame, which could undoubtedly pass as a pure cyclocross bike with its geometry. This was also evident quite quickly on our test drive with the Terra, because it is very agile and direct for a gravel racer, which is particularly noticeable when accelerating and on steep climbs. Due to the good rigidity of the carbon frame in combination with the extremely sporty racing geometry, comfort suffers a little on extremely rough ground, but this shouldn't be particularly annoying on fast and crisp rides.
In order not to completely ignore comfort, the rear end of the Orba Terra is slightly curved in order to better absorb and distribute the impacts. You can also see from the gear ratio that the area of application is more on crisp routes with rather shorter climbs, because the Sram Rival with 1×11 has 40 teeth on the chainring (otherwise often 42 teeth on gravel bikes) and 11- 36 teeth. The Sram Rival also does a great job here and shifts quickly and precisely as usual thanks to the DoubleTap system.
The add-on parts are based on the ergonomically very good FSA Gossamer Compact handlebars and an in-house Orbea seat post including Prologo saddle, which ensures good seating comfort. With the stable and light Fulcrum Racing 600 DB on which the Schwalbe G-One sits, you are well prepared for brisk rides over gravel and forest floor, as well as on the road.
Jan Lowenau says
Nice test. The same-priced M 30 version with the new Shimano 105 R 7000 gears would have been interesting. Worth mentioning is the possibility at Orbea to create your desired paintwork at no extra charge and to configure the equipment of the bike for an extra charge.
Daniel says
According to other sites, you can very well attach a luggage rack to the Terra. Who is right now?
If it actually has eyelets for it, it would probably be my next bike...
Herbert says
Screws are on the bottom rear strut (M3), I can't answer whether these are for a luggage rack. A luggage rack can definitely only be attached to the seat post at the top (see pictures on the ORBEA homepage Terra)
I ride an M20-D 19 with Ultegra and can only confirm the report. With the Ultegra you definitely have more options. You can also order front 50/34. The bike comes with an unabridged head tube, so you can "feel your way" to the optimal seating position with spacers, the rest is about the length of the stem. The bike was one of the first to be delivered in 2019 and I have already done a few kilometers in mixed terrain and I can say "I am completely enthusiastic about the design and the handling". Carbon clinchers will come in the spring and then it will be perfect.
Alex says
@Herbert:
Interesting addition.
How much does the M20 weigh with the Ultegra group? Sounds very attractive overall. Thanks. Alex
Michael says
At the beginning of November 2018 I received the 2019 Terra M20 D19 XL Custom with Ultegra group and DT-Swiss wheels and Schwalbe G-ONE tires. The bike weighs 9300g including XC-Pro (SPD) pedals, which is probably due to the large XL frame...
Alex says
@Michael
Thank you for the info. That fits quite well with the weight specifications of the big mailers, which you can now find here and there for the M20. I only need an S frame, but the weight difference won't be that big. Anyway, I'm still hesitating a lot between the Terra and the Backroad. The geometries and weights are very similar. Unfortunately, the optics of the Backroad cannot be personalized, while the choice of components for the Terra is quite limited and also quite expensive.