OC Squidlock RL-MP11

In the fast-paced world of mountain biking, every second counts. Demanding climbs and descents require suspension that responds instantly and precisely to the needs of the terrain. It is in this context that an indispensable tool, the Squidlock remote control, was created by the Orbea Components team.

Initially launched in 2020, the Squidlock revolutionized suspension control by offering the ability to adjust both the fork and shock, with three positions. The middle position provided perfect behavior to avoid a detriment to pedaling while still providing a degree of absorption. At that time seatpost droppers were not as mainstream, but it was designed to integrate a third lever that could activate one. This versatility made it possible to adapt the bike to any type of terrain, prioritizing precision on technical descents and comfort on more rolling sections.

The success of the first version of Squidlock was undisputed. However, the OC development team was not satisfied with what it had achieved. Through close collaboration with professional and amateur cyclists, new opportunities for improvement were identified.

One of the main goals was to integrate the seatpost dropper control into the main control, eliminating the third lever. This not only makes the design more ergonomic and compact, it also eliminates the need to raise the wrist to operate it, thus maintaining a firm and secure grip. After numerous prototypes and extensive laboratory tests, the system was optimized, ensuring perfect compatibility with all major suspension brands and intuitive operation.

The road to the Squidlock RL-MP11 was strewn with challenges. A prime example was the intermediate model, the MP10, designed to be introduced alongside the 2023 Orbea Oiz. Despite successfully passing all lab tests, the MP10 failed to advance to the series production phase. Tolerance problems in the complex components, which went unnoticed in small production runs, arose as production was scaled up. Faced with this situation, the OC team made the difficult decision to cancel the project and redesign the system from scratch, always prioritizing the reliability and durability of the final product.

This setback, while painful, served as a catalyst to redefine the design and manufacturing processes, resulting in the Squidlock RL-MP11, a product that meets the highest industry standards. Thanks to the lessons learned from the MP10, the RL-MP11 is a more robust, durable and user-friendly system. Every pedal stroke with the RL-MP11 is the result of years of research, development and a relentless pursuit of perfection.

The Squidlock RL-MP11 is the result of a meticulous development process that allows us to ensure that it is a vast improvement on the first version. Thanks to its design with different anchoring positions and the possibility of bringing the levers closer by means of an insert, it adapts to the hands of any cyclist, from the smallest to the largest.

The control offers a lever for locking and unlocking the suspension with three positions (and the possibility of adapting it to two) and another to operate the dropper seatpost.

A major difference between the MP 20 and the MP 11 is that the latter works in reverse order to the former, known as ‘push to lock’: the suspension is active at full travel and actuating the lever once shortens its travel and if actuated a second time, it is locked. The previous version, ‘push to unlock’, went from the locked position to full travel. The default setting is ‘push to lock’, because if you have a bike with dual suspension it is more beneficial to leave it open, save for specific moments of the ride when it is preferable to lock it.

OC was born from the ambition to develop the best possible bikes, covering the integration needs of Orbea bikes.