Orbea Occam TR - Review Highlights

It’s less than 12 months since we last review the Orbea Occam. Why review the same platform again? Well it’s still pitched at the ‘trail’ market but the new Occam has changed so completely that it bears little resemblance to the bike we tested before.

Where the older bike had 105mm of rear wheel travel the new Occam is offered in two variants; the trail version (Occam TR) has 120mm of travel and 29 inch wheels, while the all-mountain (Occam AM) is a 140mm bike with 27.5 wheels. Both the suspension and geometry has been redesigned too, so this bike clearly warrants a re-take.

We landed the Occam TR M30 to test; retailing for $5,199 it is the base level carbon version of this 120mm travel 29er. It shares the same full-carbon frame with the two models that sit above but runs cheaper parts to get the price down.

The running gear is pretty basic for bike at this price point; the rear derailleur is Shimano XT but it’s the older 10-speed style with SLX triggers and Deore level cranks and brakes. There’s no dropper post either, so you’ll need to factor that into the price tag too. That’s not to say the components are dysfunctional, 10-speed was the norm a year or so back but most $5K plus 2016 bikes will come with an 11-speed drivetrain. The finishing kit is good however, with a nice looking RaceFace Aeffect 35mm bar and stem combo, DT Swiss X 1900 wheels and Fox Performance level suspension all round. Note that the hubs follow the newer ‘boost’ sizing (110mm front and 148 rear) so there’s no chance of fitting older wheels that you may already own.

If you want an up-spec on the parts, you’ll need to look at the TR M10 with Shimano XT M8000 throughout for $6,999 or the $8,999 TR M-ltd which is blinged out with RaceFace Next SL carbon cranks and mostly XTR running gear.

Orbea also employs a unique system that allows some flexibility within the component spec. The options are shown online and the pricing updates as you go. Take the TR M30 test bike for example; we reckon this bike really deserves a dropper post, click on the seatpost within the specifications and you’ll see a Reverb Stealth option for an additional $428. You can upgrade to RaceFace Next SL carbon bars too (this adds $191) or Shimano XT brakes ($161 more). We’d only bother with the dropper post upgrade, as the Deore brakes work a treat, so for our spec the Occam would cost $5,627. Once ordered via your Orbea dealer, the bike will take around two weeks to arrive and it’ll come spec’d as per your request.

If you’d prefer some better components at a lower price point, the alloy framed Occam is the go. The TR H10 comes with an 11-speed XT M8000 drivetrain for $4,799 and there are two models beneath it. Pricing for the alloy Occam TR starts from $3,299.

Creative Carbon

So the carbon Occam is a pricy unit but the frame itself is an impressive piece of work. From a distance you’ll notice it’s a good looking bike; smooth carbon tube junctions combine with relatively straight lines to give the bike a simple and purposeful appearance—it’s not a curvy plumber’s nightmare like some modern frames. The thick gloss orange of the M30 certainly shouts ‘look at me’ and aesthetically this machine really warrants looking at.

According to Orbea the Occam frame is only a few hundred grams heavier than their Oiz, a world cup level XC race dually. Like the Oiz the Occam frame is almost entirely carbon with no rear pivot on the seat and chainstays assembly. Including the shock our frame tipped the scales at just 2,474g; that’s impressively light for a 120mm travel 29er. Even with the relatively low-end parts spec our bike still came in at 12.4kg (without pedals).

Beyond the sheer lack of weight, the frame has a range of neat touches. All the suspension hardware is well made, easy to service and clearly marked with the all-important torque settings (they are alloy bolts so you don’t want to get carried away when tightening them). An alloy yoke is used to connect the shock with the main suspension link – a fairly common setup these days – but where many brands use proprietary fittings, Orbea has stuck with standard shock eyes. First up, this means it’ll accept almost any standard 184x44mm shock. Additionally, retaining the regular shock eye at the yoke end allows for a small amount of rotational movement; this ensures that the shock isn’t subjected to any side loading and it also prevents creaking (something that we’ve encountered on some yoke equipped bikes).

As is the norm these days, all the gear and brake lines are internally routed. There are no internal guides and the exit ports aren’t huge, so routing the cables takes a bit of patience. The finish is very tidy however, with neat bolt-on alloy covers that help to minimise cable rattles. There’s also a good sized rubber shield under the down tube to resist rock damage, an anti chain drop guard at the bottom bracket and a port on the seat tube that’s ready and waiting for a stealth-style dropper. A full size bottle fits inside the frame too, so you’re not locked into wearing a pack with the Occam.

So it’s a neat looking and well-appointed trail bike, but the two factors that really define the new Occam are the geometry and the suspension design. Let’s consider the frame geometry first…

To read the full review pick up a copy of our May/June/July issue from your newsagent or subscribe to the digital or print magazine by clicking here.