FIRST RIDES

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS

- Nick Clark

With 160mm travel up front and 150mm at the rear, the Occam LT sets out to be "fun on the climbs and a riot on the way back down". This latest version gets an aggressive and adjustable geometry update, plus integrated frame storage.

THE FRAME

The Occam LT shares its asymmetrical carbon fibre chassis with the Occam SL, which has less suspension travel and steeper geometry. It uses the same 'Fully Loaded Linkage' design as Orbea's Rise e-bike, with a concentric pivot at the rear axle, to reduce the effect of braking on the suspension, plus a rocker link to drive the shock.

This 'Long Travel' version has a 64.5-degree head angle (a degree slacker than before), which can be relaxed even further to 64 degrees using the 'Attitude Adjust' flip-chip on the shock yoke. Orbea claim this can be done in under 15 seconds. Other key figures on the medium size we tested include a 77-degree seat tube angle, 455mm reach and 440mm chainstays (all in the 'low' flip-chip position).

The down tube now features internal storage, and in the linkage pivot there's a neatly-integrated multi-tool that has Allen keys for most bolts found on the bike. Orbea's new 'Steep and Deep' seat tube design allows you to run a super-long 230mm dropper post on all frame sizes.

THE KIT