ORBEA OCCAM | $8,000

PLATINUM-CARD SPEC, GOLD-CARD PRICE AND BIG-TERRAIN ATTITUDE SQUEEZED INTO MID-SIZE PACKAGING.

- Mike Ferrentino

At first glance, Orbea’s Occam looks like a derivative portmanteau of other bikes. The rear triangle could easily be confused for a Trek ABP or a Weagle Split Pivot. The asymmetrical shock mount and frame strut invite comparison to Specialized’s Stumpjumper. But make no mistake; the Occam is very much its own bike, a mid-travel badass with superb suspension kinematics, progressive geometry, and in the case of our test bike, a top-shelf component selection that puts it at the ‘very expensive’ end of the spectrum.

About that spec. XTR is investment-level componentry, and the Occam M-LTD sports the shifters, derailleur, cassette, chain and brakes from Shimano’s highest-end parts. Wheels are DT Swiss XMC 1200, featuring 30-millimetre-internal-width carbon hoops, DT 240 hubs and a feathery 1,530-grams combined weight. The suspension utilizes the best of the Fox line—a DPX2 Factory rear shock and 150-millimetre 36 Float Factory Grip2 fork. As a result, the price tag on this bike is a hefty $8,000, which, in this instance, is a very good value. Bear with us here.