Discipline:
Trail/All-Mountain MTBWeight:
Coming SoonThe Occam is a 140mm 29er with up to date spec and geometry at a great price.
Updated: 20th May 2020
Overview
Waving goodbye to 27.5” wheels, the Occam in 2020 is now a mid-travel 29er, designed for a multitude of uses. The bike was released to much acclaim in the summer of 2019, so we thought it was high time we got our hands on one to see what all the fuss was about.
Before we go headlong into the 2020 model, let us set the scene with a brief history of the Occam.
Previous iterations have carried an AM or TR prefix. The Occam AM was a 27.5" model with 150mm travel, whilst the Occam TR rolled on 29” wheels with slightly less travel (130mm). As Orbea’s enduro platform, the Rallon, gained more travel (160mm/170mm) and their cross-country XC bike, the Oiz settled at 120mm travel, Orbea decided to simplify the Occam platform into a pure 140mm travel trail bike, available only with 29” wheels. The result? A bike that’s been completely redesigned from the ground up.
Whilst we’d all love to have a bike for trail centre weekends, another bike for longer cross-country days and a best downhill bike for trips to Les Gets or Finale Ligure, most of us have only got room for one two-wheeled friend. Pipe down at the back if you’re sitting pretty with more than one!
Whilst Orbea isn’t alone in recognising this, they’ve toiled away to deliver a bike that should shine in each riding scenario we described above. Here’s how they’ve done it…
If you follow the mountain bike game closely, you’ll know of the longer, lower, slacker movement. In short, mountain bikes - in all their guises - have become longer in the top tube, their bottom brackets much lower to the ground and their head tube angles slacker.
Longer bikes, combined with a short stem, helps stability when descending whilst a low bottom bracket keeps things pinned, even under heavy braking. And that head tube angle keeps the steering reassuringly predictable.
The new frame is stunning and clearly takes some inspiration from Orbea’s enduro machine, the Rallon.
Small |
Medium |
Large |
X Large |
|
Seat Tube |
381 |
419 |
457 |
508 |
Top Tube |
565 |
592 |
619 |
649 |
Head Tube |
95 |
105 |
120 |
140 |
Chainstay |
440 |
440 |
440 |
440 |
BB Height |
336 |
336 |
336 |
336 |
BB Drop |
35 |
35 |
35 |
35 |
Wheelbase |
1165 |
1194 |
1224 |
1259 |
Head Angle |
66° |
66° |
66° |
66° |
Seat Angle |
77° |
77° |
77° |
77° |
Reach |
425 |
450 |
474 |
500 |
Stack |
604 |
613 |
627 |
646 |
Fork Length |
547 |
547 |
547 |
547 |
Fork Rake |
44 |
44 |
44 |
44 |
Stem Length |
45 |
45 |
55 |
55 |
Crank Length |
170 |
170 |
175 |
175 |
Handlebar |
780 |
780 |
780 |
780 |
Orbea’s engineers worked closely with FOX to tune the Occam’s suspension, testing over 50 options before settling on the configuration they liked the most.
Enduro-mtb.com
As with the Occam’s frame geometry, its new suspension design and kinematics (the way the wheels move in relation to the frame) is available right across the range.
The 140mm shock (Fox DPX2 or DPS dependent on which Occam build you buy) is actuated by a Horst Link system – a type of suspension that provides predictable performance across all terrain.
The most visual identifying feature of the new Occam is the asymmetric design on the frame. A curved link on the driveside of the bike supports and strengthens an area of the frame that comes under a lot of stress when riding.
Beyond increasing stiffness and reducing frame weight, the unique design offers hassle-free access to the shock and space to pop a decent sized water bottle – something you’ll be needing on that big summer XC ride you’ve got planned!
The new Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain performed flawlessly and we were grateful for its wide range on the particularly steep mountain terrain.
Enduro-mtb.com
The Orbea Occam is available in two main guises. Carbon versions are abbreviated with the letter M and aluminium versions denoted by the letter H. Orbea then follow that with a simple numbering system to denote the build quality – the lower the number the higher the componentry specification.
Whilst it’d be easy to gush about how good the carbon version looks (the blue and orange version does indeed look very fancy!) it’s the aluminium models that grabbed our attention. The frames have been hydroformed, a production process that can produce complex shapes, whilst retaining excellent strength and weight properties. The Occam’s headtube area is a shining example of this process.
The black model pictured throughout this article is the Occam H20. This bike is a mid-priced option equipped with Fox 34 Float Performance forks, Fox Float DPS Performance rear shock, 1x12 Shimano XT/SLX gearing, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and an Orbea dropper post.
H30 |
H20 Eagle |
H20 |
H10 |
M30 |
M30 Eagle |
M10 |
M-LTD |
|
Frame |
Triple butted alloy |
Triple butted alloy |
Triple butted alloy |
Triple butted alloy |
OMR carbon |
OMR carbon |
OMR carbon |
OMR carbon |
Fork |
Marzzocchi Bomber Z2 |
Fox 34 Float Performance |
Fox 34 Float Performance |
Fox 34 Float Performance |
Fox 34 Float Performance |
Fox 34 Float Performance |
Fox 34 Float Factory |
Fox 36 Float Factory 150mm travel |
Shock |
Fox Float DPS Performance |
Fox Float DPS Performance |
Fox Float DPS Performance |
Fox Float DPS Performance |
Fox Float DPS Performance |
Fox Float DPS Performance |
Fox DPX2 Factory |
Fox DPX2 Factory |
Brakes |
Shimano MT201 |
Shimano MT501 |
Shimano MT501 |
Shimano MT501 |
Shimano MT501 |
Shimano MT501 |
Shimano XT M8120 |
Shimano XTR M9120 |
Dropper seatpost |
OC2 Dropper |
OC2 Dropper |
OC2 Dropper |
OC2 Dropper |
OC2 Dropper |
OC2 Dropper |
OC2 Dropper |
Crank Brothers Highline |
Wheels |
Mach1 Maxx 25 |
Mach1 Maxx 25 |
Mach1 Maxx 25 |
DT Swiss M-1900 Spline 30 |
DT Swiss M-1900 Spline 30 |
DT Swiss M-1900 Spline 30 |
DT Swiss XM-1650 Spline 30 |
DT Swiss XMC-1200 Spline 30 |
Tyres |
Maxxis High Roller II 2.50" Dual Exo TR Front and Rear |
Maxxis High Roller II 2.50" Dual Exo TR Front and Rear |
Maxxis High Roller II 2.50" Dual Exo TR Front and Rear |
Maxxis High Roller II 2.50" Dual Exo TR Front and Rear |
Maxxis High Roller II 2.50" Dual Exo TR Front and Rear |
Maxxis High Roller II 2.50" Dual Exo TR Front and Rear |
Maxxis High Roller II 2.50" Dual Exo TR Front and Rear |
Maxxis High Roller II 2.50" Dual Exo TR Front, |
Groupset |
Shimano SLX 12 Speed |
SRAM NX Eagle 12 Speed |
Shimano SLX 12 Speed |
Shimano XT 12 Speed |
Shimano XT/SLX 12 Speed |
SRAM NX Eagle 12 Speed |
Shimano XT 12 Speed |
Shimano XTR 12 Speed |
An option that’s been around for a few years now, which doesn’t make it any less appealing, is Orbea’s MyO programme. Your chance to paint your dream bike in a range of colours! Using the builder function on Orbea’s website allows you to change the main colour of the frame, the secondary colour, as well as the decals and other bits and bobs! You can even put your own text on the seatstays. Cool, right?
Beyond changing the colours of the frame and logos, the MyO programme offers the opportunity to spec your new Occam as you see fit. Lock in a 150mm fork (All stock Occam builds come with a 140mm option), swap out the bars or maybe even change the tyres – it’s all possible with MyO.
Like the sound of that? Learn more about the process on our Orbea MyO guide.
In total, there are over one million colour combinations to choose from. This is an awesome way of adding a personal touch to your ride, but we wish it were available for all models, not just the high-end versions.
Enduro-mtb.com
If you’re after a capable trail bike in 2020, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better full suspension option on the market than the Occam. From the aluminium models through to the higher-end carbon bikes, you’ll be hitting the button on a modern, clean-looking bike that’s ready to perform on a wide variety of terrain.





