Enduros have long been regarded as the perfect all-round bikes. But in recent years, these all-rounders have increasingly become specialists. Sticky rubber compounds and weights above the 15-kilo mark massively restrict their suitability for touring. The new Orbea Rallon follows this trend and, in its latest version, caters more for racers and bike park shredders than downhill-orientated touring bikers.
Mini tool in the new rocker
The Basques want to close this gap with the LT ("long travel") version of their All Mountains Occam. Until now, the Occam could be equipped with either a 140 mm or 150 mm suspension fork in the configurator. The rear suspension always provided 140 millimetres of travel. Now Orbea the Occam a new rocker and a slightly modified main frame (sizes S and M). Depending on the shock stroke (50 or 55 millimetres), 140 or 150 millimetres are available. The rear suspension kinematics remain unchanged. A positive side effect: there is space for a small tool in the new rocker.
In order to differentiate more strongly between the "normal" and LT models, the Basques have adapted the equipment accordingly: The Occam comes with a Fox 34 suspension fork (140 millimetres), Float shock without reservoir and faster tyres. However, a Fox 36 suspension fork with 150 millimetres and a different front tyre can also be selected in the configurator.
Occam LT as an option with steel spring
The Occam LT comes as standard with a 150 mm Fox 36 fork, a Fox Float X damper with reservoir or a steel spring damper and chunkier tyres. The longer suspension fork flattens the steering angle (65.5 degrees) and seat angle (76.6 degrees) by half a degree each.
We remember the Test of the Occam M-LTD with Fox 36, shock with reservoir and DT Swiss carbon wheels: The test bike weighed in at 12.9 kilos. This means that the Occam with lighter suspension components should be well under 13 kilos (at least in the top version) and therefore also be a lot of fun on long tours.
Depending on the equipment, the Occam LT should weigh a good 13 kilos and be significantly more suitable for touring than current enduro bikes. The Occam M10 LT costs 5699 euros, the M30 LT 3999 euros. The sensitive suspension of the Occam was convincing in our BIKE test. Whether the steel spring shock is the better choice than the Float X air shock (both configurable) in the Occam LT remains to be seen. According to Orbea, the rear suspension kinematics have not been changed and even with the air shock, our test riders criticised the somewhat low progression of the rear suspension. The linear characteristic curve of a coil shock would exacerbate this problem.
Conclusion on the Orbea Occam 2022
Orbea customises the All Moutain Occam in detail: The normal Occam is aimed at touring bikers, while the Occam LT, with its slightly more powerful suspension, aims to be a real all-rounder - from touring to bike park, everything should be possible. However, it is not intended to be a "mini-Rallon". As before, the Occam will also be available in aluminium or carbon in 2022 and can be customised in the MyO configurator.
