First Look: Orbea Occam M10 LT

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Occam LT is the wilder Occam. More aggressive geometry, Fox 36 forks. 10mm more travel at each end. Bigger rotors, from Galfer no less. 4-pot brakes.

This particular model we’re delving into here (the Occam M10 LT) comes with a Fox DHX coil rear shock. The Occam LT looks to be a very handy burly trail bike.

Trail riders who love Orbea’s asymmetric design have been able to pick up the 140mm Occam for a while now, but Orbea has made updates to the design meaning more aggressive riders can bump the rear travel to 150mm if they want, with the Occam LT.

The Occam LT bikes are finished off with burly Fox 36 150mm forks, more durable EXO casing tyres and powerful 4 piston brakes. In comparison, the standard Occam runs a shorter shock for 140mm travel, a Fox 34 140mm fork, 2 piston brakes and lighter-weight trail-ready tyres.

Because the frame and linkages are the same for both Occam and Occam LT bikes, customers can build an LT from any Occam on the Orbea website, and with options that cover both air and coil shocks everyone from epic long-distance trail riders, to enduro smashers should be easily covered.

Both the alloy and the carbon frames share the same geometry and riders have the option to personalise their bikes with the MyO customisation system, which Orbea claims offers over one million combinations.

A thoroughly modern MTB

Modern trail bikes are used for a variety of terrain and need to be adaptable. The Orbea Occam LT is designed to work with 150mm front and rear travel. The moderately progressive suspension is supple and active with great traction and then ramps up to control the inevitable bigger hits. The progressive curve, at 22%, means the bike works with either an air or a coil shock.

This Occam LT M10 frame is a carbon monocoque construction; a complex and painstaking process which results in this most sophisticated frame. The bike has fully internal cable routing, using silicon plugs at the frame entry and exit points and clever conduits linking the front and rear triangle so the cables and hoses are fully protected.

That funky asymmetrical frame design. Instead of using a ‘shock tunnel’, the Occam LT offsets the shock to the left side of the frame, allowing the right-side support to be more central and more efficiently deal with the forces acting upon the front triangle. This solution enabled Orbea to tune the stiffness of this high-stress area without adding unnecessary weight.

Avoiding an interrupted seat tube gives more space for dropper posts, improves access to the shock controls and leaves room for a water bottle. The Occam LT uses a new two-part linkage design. Greater rigidity and a lower chance of something working loose.

Orbea has created a space in the linkage pivot axle and filled it with a handy multi-tool which is held securely in place with magnets. Orbea has updated their successful Concentric Boost 2 rear suspension assembly at the rear axle. The new Concentric Boost 2 design has fewer parts and reduces weight. Enduro Max Black Oxide bearings throughout give unmatched durability and small bump sensitivity.

Versatility is the name of the game

The Occam LT is very capable but also arguably more versatile than a full-on enduro bike with a more efficient feel for all-day rides. Some rides will see the Occam LT rack up hundreds of metres of ascent on epic rides. Other days out may be spent weaving in and out of trail centre trees or bike park jumps.

The Occam LT is first and foremost a trail bike. It has trail bike geometry. Balanced geometry that’s fast, efficient, and above all fun on a wide variety of trails.

We’ll have a full review of the Orbea Occam M10 LT online soon!

Learn more about the Orbea Occam range here

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Story tags

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

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