Orifix Mountain Bike Map Board (one model)
Drawing from other popular designs, this Portuguese map board’s ring and claw system is one of the beefiest among the group. Orifix have been making map boards for adventure racing since 2010 and this, their most current design is beloved by many for its stability and sturdiness during long expedition races and MBTO events
Report Card
Side view of mounting frame
Installed weight
Among the heavier boards, the Orifix setup weighs 440 grams installed
Board material
The Orifix board is made of the same 1/16” semitranslucent white acrylic that we see on the Miry and Kanpas products
Top cover type
The top cover is made of a similar polyvinyl material to all the other map boards. It attaches to the board itself with four 3-inch velcro closures. The size of the top cover is slightly larger than the others though which may provide better protection for the maps inside as the flaps affix quite far onto the back of the board. Like many of the other boards in this review, the Orifix top cover is completely removable.
Bike attachment components (materials, design)
Here we find another variation on the ring and claw design made out of a similar machined, powder coated aluminum. This setup feels the strongest of the four ring and claw mount map boards with the thickest metal parts used. It comes disassembled though and you will need a philips screwdriver to put it together. Once attached to the board itself, the mount allows for full 360 degree rotation that feels quite free and smooth. The claws are universal and you will need an allen key (not included) to tighten and loosen them. This board also does not come with rubber handlebar protection so to avoid scratching the paint on either the mount or your bike, we recommend adding some tape or similar protective measures when installing. Available thumbscrews make installation on bike handlebars tool-less.
Durability
This map board feels just as durable as the other similar ones. The metal ring and claw attachment feels very solid once assembled and fits tightly to the board.
Cost
105.00 EUR
Ships from / availability
Made in and ships from Portugal. Ordering information at orifix.pt
Expert trail test:
This model requires a tool to mount and remove, which takes time and is a little cumbersome
The map cover has large flaps with velcro closures that feel user friendly and facilitate map-flipping on the go. During testing, we noticed that a flap might occasionally get caught under the map during map flips, but it was generally not too difficult to fix and get the flap fixed back under the board.
This board is sturdy, and performed well in testing, with minimal bouncing of the map. It’s quite similar to the Miry model we tested, though a bit more sturdy.
Wild card
The manufacturer offers a limited lifetime replacement warranty for the metal mounting rack.
Overall impressions
This map board bears a definite similarity to others in this study but significant design modifications and material upgrades push the Orifix to a higher level, and price point. The mounting rack feels properly solid and the whole assembly can come apart to pack down flat - a feature that may be of special interest to anyone who routinely packs their bike for airline travel. Just don’t forget to order the optional thumbscrews that allow for tool-less installation.
Top view
Underside view
