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See Our Best Short Travel Mountain Bike Review 2021 Article HERE!

The Bike

Orbea has really redesigned the Occam to be a trail bike, but it will also hold its own against some of the shorter travel XC bikes. The rear suspension was redesigned, and the sag was reduced by 7% to make for a more efficient pedaling platform on steep climbs. On a large frame, there is 474mm of reach with a 440mm chainstay across the sizes. The Occam also comes with a 44mm offset fork as do most of the bikes in this category.

The seat tube angle is 77-degrees, steeper than the Ibis Ripley, with a head tube angle of 66-degrees, which is slacker than most bikes on our list. The geo does make you feel very comfortable while climbing but also keeps things well under control when the front wheel is pointed downhill and you’re picking up speed. The Occam also has a downtube guard, a chainstay guard, and internal cable routing to keep the ride quiet—always a nice feature.

Climbing

With the improved sag ratio in the rear suspension, Orbea has made the Occam a climbing machine. During some tests, some riders had it second in time only to the Trek Top Fuel, essentially an XC racer, which is definitely not bad for a trail bike. The wildly steep seat tube angle on the Occam helps to keep a lot of traction in the front wheel while powering up steeps and keep the rider in a very strong position to put power into the pedals. With a 28 pound frame on the carbon models, it is light and will keep your legs fresh for long days in the saddle. It feels very comfortable over a whole day of riding and seems to be able to go for miles and miles.

Downhill

On the downhills, the Occam is well mannered, and the extra travel helps you pick the lines that you want to ride. The bike comes with a large volume spacer for the rear suspension if you want more progression, and some areas of riding may require it.

A lot of testers have said that it is best to go with the 150mm fork right off the bat because this bike will get you going fast on those bumpy downhill areas, and you’ll want the extra suspension. While it is a great all arounder and perfect for a generalist biker, the downhill riding does feel generic and not as steady in certain areas. It is a poppy bike and will inspire confidence on some of the bonus trail side kickers, so enjoy the air time.

Build Options

There are several build options for the Occam. Starting at the top of the line, the M-LTD model will set you back $11,499. This includes Shimano XTR brakes and drivetrain on their carbon frame. The Occam M10 is $7,599 still carbon with Shimano XT components. There are a variety of models after that ranging from $5,999 down to $3,499, helping a lot of riders have the chance to get on an Occam if they choose.

The Bottom Line

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