Just idly working my thoughts towards a new bike sometime in 2019, and Orbea's two 29ers caught my eye - Occam and Oiz.
70% of my riding is in the Dales, and totally untechnical, and while my current bike (Cotic Flare) works pretty well on this, but 140/50mm is overkill at times and I end up locking it out more than I should. I'm figuring a lighter, shorter travel 29er would help me plough through the local miles. Maybe even use for longer rides/lightweight bikepacking at a push.
What do folks reckon to the Oiz?- I'm aware the current model is aimed squarely at XC race-types (I'm no racer), and there is a trail version coming out with slightly more travel. I'd be keeping the Flare for places like the Lakes/Peaks/Wales - is the Occam a bit too close to this?
Hi Martin. I’ve ridden both and they are great. The Occam TR is a really capable bike, we rent them to our guests and they can cope with that. The AM (the slightly longer travel 27,5 version) is a fast “all mountain” type of bike, the 29” TR is more trail but on the capable side. They seem pretty sturdy so far.
The Oiz is totally different. It is fast and you need to ride it but it doesn’t have that cushion, in terms of suspension but also geometry, that the Occam TR has. For less technical trails it is perfect, it corners great and it obviously climbs great and is capable on the rough stuff but you need to work it there and you’re going to be getting bounced around more. My opinion of the OIZ is that it’s aimed at XC riders or people who like a fast bike on less technical trail type riding. I personally thought it would make a great trail bike for me when I’m not guiding and just looking to get some miles in and not push myself on the descents. I would have one in a heartbeat.
Hopefully that makes sense. I’m writing front he back of a very rough 4x4 uplift van in the Pyrenees. (With my Rallon!)
That's really helpful. Should've realised that you would be best placed to offer a view on the relative merits of Orbeas!
Finding a demo Oiz seems to be a bit of a challenge in the UK, though. Most of the dealers only have Rallon/Occam, understandably.
Can I ride a trail Occam and get an idea of sizing at least, do you think?
When i test rode an Occam, the angles felt so different compared to the Oiz, that i'm not convinced you'd gain anything meaningfull from the Occam ride.
I love my Oiz, it feels really at home on open, fast trails like the Ridgeway, or the SDW, but also on flowing singletrack like the Forest of Dean. On the occasional rocky section it holds up well, but would start to get out of shape on fast, repeated rocky technical sections (as frankly, would any 100mm travel bike with a 70' head angle). Its also awesome as an XC race bike (will be racing Tide 2 Tide this weekend on it).
If you're keeping the Flare, then the original Oiz is ideal for quickly covering rolling miles. The Occam would probably be too close in abilities to the Flare. The new 120mm travel Oiz may also be too much bike if you are keeping the Flare - if you're riding isn't technical, and you've got some skill, then you can get through the occasional highly technical section on the Oiz.
Cheers. That's sort of my thinking too. The most the Oiz would get used for are short rough sections on Lakes trade routes (eg Walna Scar) if I wanted to incorporate them into a longer full day or multi-day loop.
Where abouts are you? I ordered a medium Oiz demo of the new frame on launch week, but current delivery is March! My shop is in Edinburgh.
I'm down in north yorks. The calculator on the Orbea site suggested I might be a S, though. I'm a medium on my current bike, but who knows? Would be useful to get to sit on one at the very least at some point.
@pigyn any occam am demo bikes?
infact anyone nth east Scotland got a occam am L I can view/sit on?
getting a demo of anything orbea up here s really hard, could be another blind buy 😐
I was borderline on sizes between M and L for my Oiz, based on measurements from my old bike. Glad I went up in size to the L
Hey Martin. Drop me a mail and if I can I’ll sort it.
Cheers Doug. I'll contact you when the necessary permissions have been sought and received. Though I like the look of the MyO scheme - it means i can get one exactly the same colour as my existing bike 🙂
Looking at the new Oiz myself that or the new Canyon Lux but worried about Canyon availability & delivery dates as they are currently all over the place on the site. Like the whole MyO aspect of Orbea & the warranty set up
Just to resurrect this a bit, can anyone help me decipher some geometry speak and work out how likely I am to fit?
Current bike is a Cotic Flare with 140mm forks, reach is 437mm and stack is 591mm. Fits fine.
Proposed new bike is Oiz 29 Trail also in medium, reach being 425mm and stack 598mm.
Does the similarity of these numbers mean anything in terms of fit, or do I need to be thinking differently? Orbea's own website has me down as a S, with reach of 387 and stack 593...
Does anyone in the Monday lunchtime crowd have any thoughts on the above? Am I looking at the wrong measurements in terms of fit?
Based on the hypotenuse of reach and stack (i.e. how the reach while standing will actually feel - from bb to headset) the new bike will feel 2mm shorter and marginally more upright. Basically the same.
If the Rallon is anything to go by the smaller orbea bikes should pedal great as the rallon barely bobs when stood up sprinting, which is very unusual for a bike that capable.
Cheers - just concerned me that Orbea have me down for a small when the M is so similar to what I have now.
And it looks like delivery has gone back to July now anyhow. Maybe I should just upgrade the longer travel bike this year...
Anyone with any Orbea knowledge know anywhere which can get hold of a medium?
Mate is selling a medium or large Rallon, hardly used, if you are interested? In Somerset.
Cheers - I'm almost certainly a S/M in a Rallon. Haven't given up hope on the Oiz yet - but I guess the alternative bigger bike upgrade would be an Occam AM frame.
Try Performance Cycles in Poulton, they have occasionally had stock
No go anyway, I've checked it's a large.
I also have a Rallon for sale in S/M. It's for sale because I'm 6'1 and it's a long story how I ended up with it but it's running spot on other than superficial scratches. In Leeds and listed on ebay/facebook/pinkbike for less than any other rallon 29er I've seen for sale online
Martin - how tall are you? That would help with sizing. We have a S/M Rallon at home, so I know how it fits people.
Thanks everyone.
I'm still hopeful that I can get my paws on a 2019 Oiz before the 2020 one comes out. The Rallon is a possibility, but was wanting to get a short travel XC trail bike for summer...
I wonder if they keep them in stock anywhere in Spain? I fancy a weekend in Barcelona! (looks at cheap flight timetables...)
Try Bikeactive in Stanstead Abotts. They always seem to have a few Orbeas in stock.
Just bought this, only a couple of rides in but it seems fantastic, pedals, descends and turns better than the Transition Scout it replaced.
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Consequently can't recommend it highly enough!
Nice build. What spec is it?
I'm torn at the moment between just putting the bits from my Flare onto an Occam AM frame - and heading to the Lakes a bit more, and waiting for the Oiz for this summer's longer rides in the Dales.
Considering they launched the 2019 Oiz in August last year, perhaps they will have to start discounting them by the time they come back available.
It's the M-Team spec, as standard, except for my Hope E3 brakes I got them to swap from my previous bike. Only a couple of rides in as yet and others far more qualified than me have done better reviews but loving it so far. Taking it to a local uplift on Sunday (I am in Germany so Erbeskopf or Mehring, if that means anything). Will have a far better idea of its capabilities after that.
Right then. Think I'm about to push the button for June delivery.
Critique my colour scheme!
like.
Good luck on the delivery date...
Good luck on the delivery date…
I know. We'll see. 🙂
Looks like Chunky was right! Tried to order it, Orbea promptly pulled the model from the catalogue, so the 2019 Trail model is no more (did it ever exist, I wonder?). Shame, I reckon they could have sold a stack of them.
What are the alternatives for shortish travel, lightweight, XC flavoured but not out-and-out race bikes?
Martin, if I can help I will try and find out something. I don’t work there but I’m in and out all the time. Drop me a mail if you want.
Have you considered the Blur?
Cheers Doug, will do. Apparently the latest problem is a shortage of suitable forks for the builds.
Have you considered the Blur?
Had done. Not sure I wanted to go all the way down to 100mm for everyday Dales use. 120 seemed like the sweet spot. Wasn't convinced I could get a half decent spec inside my budget either.