@@JeffKendallWeed I actually thought I was responding to Tim (due to his last sentence in that comment). Haha! Thanks for responding! I admire your skills! I wanna get back some of my skills. I have some older bikes that I get on from time to time. I was always a long wheelier on my 20" bmx.... Funny thing...kids back then that couldn't pedal were not given props cuz they weren't wheelying "correctly". But now that I think about it.... These manuals can be done down a hill better than trying to keep up with cranking. Now I wanna be able to do both... Having limited funds and time (family/work) sure can put some priority pressures on a guy. Not playing the victim by any means... 😇😎 Having had a back surgery in the past. 10 yrs ago... My surgeon told me prior to the knife that I'd be able to do everything I did before again... Sad news is that within that span he was riding his road bike and got hit by a car and was unable to perform his task of surgery and ended up being a farmer instead... Sorry for the long winded comment. Would you say that a less expensive full suspension bike or a hard tail with larger tubeless tires would weigh more? Provided they are both the same size frame/material. Reason I ask is I got a good deal for an older Specialized FSR but it is actually too big for me. I have less than 300 in the bike after getting a shorter stem and lower seat...but it is still a bit too tall for me. These are 26 inch wheels. The bike it was to replace is an early 90's rigid fork/ht and although light...not comfy on the wrists after some treacherous downhill rocky terrain. This was after about 5 hrs of riding... But it was pretty crepitis. That experience got me looking for an upgrade...but I was so excited to get this late 90's fs bike...that I was only concerned if it was stolen. I normally ride a 17". This new (to me) is a 20.5" So when the weather is nice I promised this one to a a taller friend as a gift. I am debating on whether to just try to find another nice used bike or just get a suspension fork for my older school bike. Any advice? 😇😎
Great review...and overiew! We agree most of the time with our observations, and no different here. I just rode an Occam right as the COVID 19 scare hit here in Bentonville on a Mojo shop demo ride. First off...we agree on the Rekon rear tire being surprisingly grippy, and rolling really well. I was surprised by that more than anything else! :-) I covered some wet tech sections that I was surprised it made it over. I run the Aggressor 2.5 normally, and I could tell the Rekon rolled better, and it didn't seem to give up nearly the traction I thought it would. The second thing is...I felt like the cockpit was VERY similar to the RIpmo, but I described it almost exactly as you did. I felt more like I was "on the bike" instead of in the bike, like my Ripmo...probably due mostly to the BB height. But...the STA, reach, and bars felt very similar. Granted..I have the V1, so can't speak to the lower BB of the V2. I did differ from you a little on how poppy the bike was. It was poppy, but I didn't feel it was any more poppy than my Ripmo with the DPX2 shock with the biggest volume reducer. I played a little with the rebound of the shock, but in fairness...it wasn't dialed. In truth, I found myself thinking..."It doesn't seem to pedal better, and mine is just as poppy...why not have the bike with more travel?" I felt like with the Rekon on the RIpmo, it would pedal very bit as well. It definitely didn't feel as planted when descending, but I didn't expect that going in. I would probably feel the difference more after a 15 mile trail ride, in fairness. Sometimes initial impressions can be misleading. I do feel like it's a great bike that would be a little more capable than the Ripley, but based on my limited experience, I wouldn't have a reason to pick it over my Ripmo.
Demoed the Occam at Outerbike. Waiting on my Occam from Spain. Did the MyO color customization through my local dealer that’s free you just have to wait a bit longer. I’m super excited and can’t wait for my new bike!
Bought an orbea laufey a few years ago by sheer accident (my last one got stolen and was offered one as a replacement) absolutely love it. About to pull the trigger on an occam now 😁
Jeff, I love this review. I'm in awe of your one wheel balancing, I haven't watched another rider who looks so comfortable on one wheel. Thanks for the video. I hope you and your family stay healthy during this pandemic.
Excellent riding. Trials uphill, manual around a turn, nice to watch. Great display to go along with the analysis of the bike, really backs up describing it’s handling characteristics
Hey there Jeff! Ya boy just got his new Ibis Ripmo AF! I am loving it so far and ordered it from Jenson USA. I upgraded to the Jade X Coil too and I absolutely love it, first time going with a coil! I live in Colorado and will soon be moving to Washington hopefully by early next year. Cheers mate!
Congrats on the new bike Anthony! I think you'll dig it! Thanks for supporting Jenson USA, that keeps all our dollars in the sport that we all love. Congrats on the upcoming move!
Asa Hunt it’s amazing! I love it much more than my last bike which was the Commencal Meta. My last bike shredded the downhills but it was a terrible pedal bike when you had to ride uphills. The ripmo is amazing at pedaling, and it’s also amazing going down! Also, it’s my first time riding 29er and I absolutely love the change from the 27.5!
I've been looking on the Occam for a while now. As soon as I'm off my parential leave I'll get one! Awesome to see it in action, will suit my mostly flat trails perfect here in Sweden. Cheers
Right on Tomas, should be a great bike for your area! If you want to build something up that's a tad more efficient and lightweight, a Ripley is a good choice as well, but I personally liked the bigger Fox 36 fork on the Occam for my own riding style. Ripmo is great too, but might be a tad overkill for Sweden! Thanks!
Man, I could watch you ride all day Jeff! Great camera work and editing! Love your videos so much I just placed an order for a 2020 Ripmo! Keep the edits coming!
I love my Orbea Rallon M-Team, but I have to say the new Occam looks sweet as a do it all bike....you should also test the Rallon Jeff and give a comparison. *wink* *wink* Thanks for the first ride review, Jeff! Awesome content as always.
Thanks Jason, I remember when the Rallon was getting a ton of love a couple years back. Would be really cool to compare that to the Occam and to the Ripmo 2!
Jeff you're excellent on a bike!! Orbea probably have the best colours and paint jobs on their bikes, if you can could you show us more on the occam and the rallon, cheers...
The 2018 Orbea Occam AM is my ultimate dream bike! It is the only bike that I have demo'd that I felt instantly that it was built for me!! I go to the Evergreen MTB fest every summer to demo bikes and have never found another bike I like better! it's just sadly out of my price range, crossing my fingers for a Lotto win soon though! lol
Amazing video Jeff. I ride a Rallon, would love to see you reviewing that in comparison to the Occam & Ripmo as they all appear to be versatile bikes. hope you & your family stay safe! Look forward to oyur videos at the other side of this!
It may not be able to happen for a while... but seeing you mess around with the 50-to-1 crew would be super fun. Seeing a Kendall-Weed/Bryceland/Loosedog jib sesh would be insane.
Dude , how come every bike you test I want to buy?, You make every bike look super awesome ! Man I think you could make a tricycle look like a "new type " of downhill bike .Just saying .
I'm looking at an Occam H20 from Jenson. I'm wondering why they went with a concentric axle pivot instead of a Horst link? The other bikes I'm looking at in my price range include SC Tallboy Alu, and Ibis Ripley AF. But their 's lspecs show those bikes at almost 34 lbs. Alu frames mean future wheel upgrades to save weight - just like in "old days" before carbon.
Been eye balling the occam for a couple weeks now! One thing I like is you can grab the occam m30 for 4k with very good components. Only thing I am skeptical of is I'm 6 feet tall and weigh about 215...not sure if I'm to big for the bike. I cant afford to got to the 36 up front either right now.
This is from another review of Occam: "I was also worried that the Performance version as well as the 34mm stanchions would be underwhelming under my 230lb starting weight. I will say that I never really thought of the fork which is good." Hope that will help you.
Great video, and amazing skills! How would you suggest sizing for this bike. I'm 185cm and in between a large and an xl. Any suggestions on what I should go for? Thanks in advance.
Really appreciate your videos, Jeff! Helps me reminisce the PNW trails...we have great trails here in Michigan, but they simply don’t compare! The Occam is on top of my list for a new bike next spring, and this video was super helpful! Anxiously awaiting the 2021 Orbea lineup. Cheers!
Hi Great video! What’s the weight of the Occam? I’m looking for a bike for this summer in Whistler but I don’t ride very aggressively or any of the crazy shit haha. I am more of an XC guy looking for a bike that can handle rougher stuff. I prefer a bike that climbs well and feels more lively than like a barge like many enduro type bikes. Would you say that the Occam is a good choice for what I’m looking for?
Hey Zach, with pedals installed, my Occam was 29.1 lbs. My Ripmo is 33 lbs, so that's a 4 pound difference right off the bat. I haven't ridden a ton of other modern enduro bikes to compare it to, but the Occam was definitely nimble and very easy to get off the ground. Give it a try!
Interesting the 29.1 lbs weight considering my pedals-on medium 2020 Occam M10 XT groupset Fox 34 with the aluminum wheels and burlier Minion DH tires came in at 30.4 lbs. That 1.3 lbs difference is not insignificant, and I'm not discounting the importance of the stiffness in the carbon rims vs weight, but I thought folks interested in weight to price factors might find it meaningful when there is about a $2.5k delta from m10 to Mteam. In any case, I love this bike and wish I could ride it like you do! Thanks for the video and stay safe out there!
Jeff question for ya...would the occam be alright to take to the bike park every once in a while? I obviously would beef up the front to the 36 but just want to make sure this sucker will be able to handle thunder mountain when I decide to go. Most of the time I will be riding typical new England trails but I need it to be able to handle the park when it comes time...thx Jeff...and great video as always.
Between the ibis ripmo af and the orbea Occam aluminum because price wise but what do you think would do better in pa single track? I heard you said Pittsburgh trails I'm on the other side and our trails are rocky and tight looking for a better climbing bike
What would be your thoughts on the bike with only the Float 34 140mm and DPS? Everything on this bike seems to have the Float 36 150mm and DPX2 , even the official Orbea videos. Almost seems like the lower models should come with a 150mm Marzocchi Z1 (lowest model has a Z2)/Float 36 Performance and DPX2 Performance.
Please don't get hurt to have to call emergency services. Emergency folks will soon be handling sick folks. They will be needed. Also, if we end up in the hospital healthy we may not make it out healthy.
Nice intro Jeff. Enviable bike control skills. 2 years as a Roadie, looking for my first full suspension MTB. Really debating between the Ripmo AF NX and the Occam H20 for the Colorado Front Range trails. Done short rides on both, but haven’t been able to really get them out on a trail because of Shelter in Place. Kona Process 134 has also been recommended. Would love your thoughts for a noob.
Hey Max thanks for the note! Ripmo and Occam are indeed different. Ripmo is bigger, more travel, more glued to the ground. Occam feels shorter and poppier. I haven't noticed any lack of efficiency in how the Occam rides, but I've only had about 4 rides on it thus far. You couldn't go wrong with either choice, really. Ripmo will make the trails feel easier, Occam will make the mellower trails more fun. The Process is probably great as well, but I haven't ridden the newer 134.
@@JeffKendallWeed Thanks for the reply. I certainly did notice the on top feeling of the Occam vs the Ripmo as you allude to in the followup at the end of the video. Easy (i.e. confidence inspiring), is appealing but I'll take all the help I can get in the climb. Far as I can tell the weight is pretty much a wash at my spec/price point. Now if only Ibis had a Ripley AF. Looking forward to your followup video(s) on the Occam.
I test rode the 2019 orbea occam last year and loved it, but didnt pull the trigger, seeing the specs and the fun you had out there on this one got me craving one again.. would have to be a lower spec'd model than this though don't have those $$$s
hey Andy- I get a little torn on the budget stuff. I really don't mind riding SLX level spec bikes at all, but at the same time, it's easy to end up getting pigeonholed as a "budget bike tester" or what not. my videos are oriented more towards the hardcore rider who is OK with spending a bunch of $$$ on a nice bike, so I gotta keep that consistent. However, I'll definitely sneak a budget bike in here occasionally. Thanks for the note!
Great video! I'm really looking at making this my first Full sus bike after 2 seasons on a Hardtail! Side note: The bright red on-screen annotations seemed a little clunky and kinda distracted me from what you were saying
I ordered a occam h10 full xt with all the options like xt 4 piston breaks, kashima 36 front and back kashima But guess what, here in Belgium everything is locked sins 18/03. So that means no bike orders coming in or what ever and cant have my new ride.
I carry a spare GoPro Karma grip and camera in there, along with 2 inner tubes, a patch kit, shock pump, tire pump, and while doing clinics I carry a full 1st Aid kit too. It's not tons of stuff but it fills the little pack quite quickly!
I'm 5'9".. Orbea puts me at the top end of a medium and the bottom end of a large. There isn't a dealer anywhere near me so I'd have to order online. What would you suggest?
Hey Ashton, I’m just over 5’8” and am happy on the medium. I can fit a 170mm dropper on there, too. For the geo on the bike, I think airing on the side of smaller than bigger is best.
@Ashton Smith did you go with the medium size? Can you share your thoughts and experince with it? I have a large with 5'9" and I'm looking for a swap with medium. Large feels kind a too big for me.
Last year while living in California, I was in between the Ripmo and Ripley. Decided on the Ripmo for the California style of riding I wanted to do. Now that I live in Kansas City I really wish I had that Ripley🤦🏻♂️ I can afford having multiple bikes, just can’t justify it🥴
Hey Crashacat, I haven't tried the smaller spacer yet, and won't. I'm going to try the next two larger spacers ASAP, as on the jumpy trails I bottom out pretty easy.
Nice video Jeff! 😀 Just wondering why Ornea specked this bile with Maxxis Maxxis High Roller and Rekon and not the ever tested Dhf/Dhr II combo. But a very nice bike 😀
Thanks Alvin! The tire choice is really good. I prefer the Highroller II over the DHF, but I don't like the thin, lightweight EXO casings. I'll go for proper Double Down or WTB Tough Casing tires as I dial this thing in.
Hey Ian, hope you are well! I don't really want to lower the BB any more, it feels really good where it is. It's higher than the Ripmo, but I kinda like it! A slightly slacker head angle might be nice, but I'll mess with the other parts before the geo at this point. The light EXO tires are gonna be the first to get swapped out.
Thanks Max!!! I am 5'8" or 174cm tall, and this is a size medium. If I were trying to race I'd probably get a large, but my going fast days are over. Now I just want to jump and play around, hence the smaller size.
Paul, I'm considering doing a deep dive video on this. The Occam has the same BB height as the Ripley (1mm higher). The Ripmo is 5mm higher. However, the Ripmo has 7mm more rear travel and 10mm more front travel. In addition, the differing axle paths change how much the BB drops. It's not a huge amount, but it's noticeable. For me, the Ripley's BB height was never as much of an issue as the Ripmo's. Now, that's all fine and dandy, but what I really need to do is to physically measure the Ripmo and Occam and compare the numbers in real life to the actual amount the BB drops during the suspension cycling.
When you said something about "bikes having diff. suspension for diff. riding style" what do u mean by that? R u reffering about the suspension travel or something else? Hope to hear more from you. Thank you.
He means different rear suspension designs have different characteristics. Some stick to the ground better, and others like the Occam have more of a platform and ride over the top of bigger rocks instead of sticking to the surface. The Occam is better for quick response, playful feel, jumps, hopping, etc.... the others are better for faster riding... more towards enduro and downhill riding.
The DT wheels are solid. Quality build, good spec throughout. All around, a good choice for the money. The I9 is a step up in quality, but also in cost. If you want ultimate performance, go I9, if you need to save some bucks, consider the lower end I9 with a custom build or the DT.
Thanks Fred! I'd love to try out a hightower, I haven't ridden one of those yet. They haven't been too popular around here for whatever reason, but they are rumored to be quite good.
Thanks Jeff!!! Folks seem split 50/50 between the two formats. Sponsorship is in flux with a few brands right now, so I'll be running this type for a while.
I'd love to ride more of the SC line up! It's been a while since I really spent some time on those bikes. I'd also love to ride the newer transitions, they are rad bikes and super good dudes over there! Their office is a couple of blocks from my office.
Joel, I never noticed any downsides to pedaling efficiency. I'm not very sensitive to that though- my own pedal strokes are already pretty smooth, and I'm more focused on descending.
I demo'd the Occam. It's nice but wasn't blown away. I also put Ibis on a pedestal!, especially the Ripley! Big shoes to fill!! My V1 Ripmo just arrived and have to dial it in. I hope I don't miss my Ripley too much!
I think I'll throw my go-to combo on here- the WTB Vigilante 2.5 front in the Tough/High Grip and the WTB Judge 2.4 rear in the Tough/Fast Rolling. Otherwise, an Assegai front in Double Down and an Aggressor rear in Double Down would be good.
@@JeffKendallWeed Thanks for the response! What do you think of using an Aggressor as a front tire for Trail/XC? My home trails are rather tame. Trying to decide between it and the DHR 2. I was surprised to learn the DHR 2 of the same size is lighter and offered in the 3C Maxx Terra compound, Aggressor only in dual.
Yeah the BB is low on paper, though comparable with other bikes. It feels slightly higher on the trail than the Ripmo, the Ripley, or even the Altitude, though the Rocky does have that super adjustable "Ride 9" shock attachment system. In the end I caught far fewer pedals with the Occam than on my other bikes.
That's awesome I have been on The Following for the past three years and everytime I watch you ride I really think it is a bike you would truly love. It maybe only 120mm of travel but it rides like it is bottomless yet still has so much pop and playfulness.
And that's on sale! They have a $2200 and a couple of $2500 versions available as well. That's about as low cost as it gets in the high end, full squish MTB world!
Yeah, I'd say that. It's fun that way. I can't get the distances that I can on the Ripmo, but it gets more height than any other 29er I've ridden in a long time! Only my 27.5 hardtail is poppier.
Hi cliff- it is awkward indeed, but FTC guidelines require it. I've also seen more and more support from followers by explaining my whole deal. I had a really polished pre-roll done up, it was around 20 seconds long, and I got so many complaints that I decided to try something different. Also, the new deal with Ibis is hard to quickly explain.
Chris Rouleau MTB when Jeff doesn’t list all of is sponsors people bitched about him not being upfront with who was paying the bills. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. Always got to be someone complaining about something.
@@shawnomeara22 You're right about that. I just feel that the balance has shifted into more commercial and less riding. P.S. I bought a Ripmo in part because of Jeff...so it works but seeing the bike and hearing him be candid about it was a better sales pitch to me than anything now.
@@radagascar1 I do, I think Jeff is a terrific rider and I love seeing him ride..and the places he rides. The downside is that I want to switch off ht video or just fast forward until I see what I want. Other riders who went down this route (further and way more annoying) I unsubscribed from them.
Who would be interested in hearing the story about Orbea bicycles?
I'll bite - spill it
Yes!!! I'm riding a 2018 Orbea Occam and I LOVE IT!!!
Sure, I considered it when looking for something new.
Let's hear it Dr J!
If the story is as poppy and playful as you...👍
Chasing Jeff and keeping him on-screen has got to be the 2nd hardest job in the world. Fixing Jeff after crashes still ranks first.
Hahaha that made me laugh Tim! Thanks man!
Are you a surgeon?
@@mrupholsteryman Hahaha I'm no surgeon and luckily have only had to get a finger repaired after all these years of crashing!
@@JeffKendallWeed I actually thought I was responding to Tim (due to his last sentence in that comment). Haha!
Thanks for responding!
I admire your skills! I wanna get back some of my skills. I have some older bikes that I get on from time to time. I was always a long wheelier on my 20" bmx.... Funny thing...kids back then that couldn't pedal were not given props cuz they weren't wheelying "correctly". But now that I think about it.... These manuals can be done down a hill better than trying to keep up with cranking.
Now I wanna be able to do both...
Having limited funds and time (family/work) sure can put some priority pressures on a guy.
Not playing the victim by any means... 😇😎
Having had a back surgery in the past. 10 yrs ago... My surgeon told me prior to the knife that I'd be able to do everything I did before again... Sad news is that within that span he was riding his road bike and got hit by a car and was unable to perform his task of surgery and ended up being a farmer instead... Sorry for the long winded comment.
Would you say that a less expensive full suspension bike or a hard tail with larger tubeless tires would weigh more? Provided they are both the same size frame/material.
Reason I ask is I got a good deal for an older Specialized FSR but it is actually too big for me. I have less than 300 in the bike after getting a shorter stem and lower seat...but it is still a bit too tall for me. These are 26 inch wheels. The bike it was to replace is an early 90's rigid fork/ht and although light...not comfy on the wrists after some treacherous downhill rocky terrain. This was after about 5 hrs of riding... But it was pretty crepitis.
That experience got me looking for an upgrade...but I was so excited to get this late 90's fs bike...that I was only concerned if it was stolen. I normally ride a 17". This new (to me) is a 20.5"
So when the weather is nice I promised this one to a a taller friend as a gift. I am debating on whether to just try to find another nice used bike or just get a suspension fork for my older school bike.
Any advice?
😇😎
Great review...and overiew! We agree most of the time with our observations, and no different here. I just rode an Occam right as the COVID 19 scare hit here in Bentonville on a Mojo shop demo ride. First off...we agree on the Rekon rear tire being surprisingly grippy, and rolling really well. I was surprised by that more than anything else! :-) I covered some wet tech sections that I was surprised it made it over. I run the Aggressor 2.5 normally, and I could tell the Rekon rolled better, and it didn't seem to give up nearly the traction I thought it would. The second thing is...I felt like the cockpit was VERY similar to the RIpmo, but I described it almost exactly as you did. I felt more like I was "on the bike" instead of in the bike, like my Ripmo...probably due mostly to the BB height. But...the STA, reach, and bars felt very similar. Granted..I have the V1, so can't speak to the lower BB of the V2. I did differ from you a little on how poppy the bike was. It was poppy, but I didn't feel it was any more poppy than my Ripmo with the DPX2 shock with the biggest volume reducer. I played a little with the rebound of the shock, but in fairness...it wasn't dialed. In truth, I found myself thinking..."It doesn't seem to pedal better, and mine is just as poppy...why not have the bike with more travel?" I felt like with the Rekon on the RIpmo, it would pedal very bit as well. It definitely didn't feel as planted when descending, but I didn't expect that going in.
I would probably feel the difference more after a 15 mile trail ride, in fairness. Sometimes initial impressions can be misleading. I do feel like it's a great bike that would be a little more capable than the Ripley, but based on my limited experience, I wouldn't have a reason to pick it over my Ripmo.
You have amazing bike control.
Demoed the Occam at Outerbike. Waiting on my Occam from Spain. Did the MyO color customization through my local dealer that’s free you just have to wait a bit longer. I’m super excited and can’t wait for
my new bike!
Way cool! Congrats Michelle!!!
Bought an orbea laufey a few years ago by sheer accident (my last one got stolen and was offered one as a replacement) absolutely love it. About to pull the trigger on an occam now 😁
Jeff, I love this review. I'm in awe of your one wheel balancing, I haven't watched another rider who looks so comfortable on one wheel. Thanks for the video. I hope you and your family stay healthy during this pandemic.
Thanks Eric! I appreciate that. Fam and I are (mostly) just chilling at home!
Excellent riding. Trials uphill, manual around a turn, nice to watch. Great display to go along with the analysis of the bike, really backs up describing it’s handling characteristics
Thanks Marshall!!!
Bought my first Orbea last year. I think I'll be around for a good while, love it.
Congrats man!!!
Hey there Jeff! Ya boy just got his new Ibis Ripmo AF! I am loving it so far and ordered it from Jenson USA. I upgraded to the Jade X Coil too and I absolutely love it, first time going with a coil! I live in Colorado and will soon be moving to Washington hopefully by early next year. Cheers mate!
Congrats on the new bike Anthony! I think you'll dig it! Thanks for supporting Jenson USA, that keeps all our dollars in the sport that we all love. Congrats on the upcoming move!
Dude! I'm riding the Front Range and considering the Ripmo. How is it for the ride around here?
Asa Hunt it’s amazing! I love it much more than my last bike which was the Commencal Meta. My last bike shredded the downhills but it was a terrible pedal bike when you had to ride uphills. The ripmo is amazing at pedaling, and it’s also amazing going down! Also, it’s my first time riding 29er and I absolutely love the change from the 27.5!
I've been looking on the Occam for a while now. As soon as I'm off my parential leave I'll get one! Awesome to see it in action, will suit my mostly flat trails perfect here in Sweden. Cheers
Right on Tomas, should be a great bike for your area! If you want to build something up that's a tad more efficient and lightweight, a Ripley is a good choice as well, but I personally liked the bigger Fox 36 fork on the Occam for my own riding style. Ripmo is great too, but might be a tad overkill for Sweden! Thanks!
Man, I could watch you ride all day Jeff! Great camera work and editing! Love your videos so much I just placed an order for a 2020 Ripmo! Keep the edits coming!
Awesome! Thank you Paul! The Ripmo is a great bike, I hope you enjoy it!
Rode the Occam at Sedona Mtn Bike fest! It did the sketchy Sedona climbs like a champ. I was really impressed!
Good to hear van dude! I can picture the Occam as being a great Sedona bike.
I love my Orbea Rallon M-Team, but I have to say the new Occam looks sweet as a do it all bike....you should also test the Rallon Jeff and give a comparison. *wink* *wink* Thanks for the first ride review, Jeff! Awesome content as always.
Thanks Jason, I remember when the Rallon was getting a ton of love a couple years back. Would be really cool to compare that to the Occam and to the Ripmo 2!
No comparison. I have both the Rallon and the Occam. The Occam is nimble and poppy, not the ultimate plow like the Rallon.
Jeff you're excellent on a bike!! Orbea probably have the best colours and paint jobs on their bikes, if you can could you show us more on the occam and the rallon, cheers...
Thanks MC! I'd love to try out a Rallon, would be a great comparison to the Ripmo v2!
oh boy did i ever need to see some good riding. Ive been inside for a couple days now, and I needed to see some loamy goodness. Thanks Jeff.
Thank you! We have stockpiled a ton of footage that we'll be posting over the next month, so stay tuned!
Best ever Tree footage... chezzz Jeff kendall weed those trails... dang near as good as my Colorado flow... 😉 lol.. Hammer on young man...
Hahaha we are spoiled with these lush trails up here!
Great Stuff Jeff 👌 nice drop down the Side of the cliff great fun trail 😜 like the Orbea 🚴 🤘🤘😉
Hahaha that cliff is SCARY!
Absolutely loving the M10 with Fox36. Lightweight with tons of pop and can chuck it at (mostly) anything.
Which rear shock do you have?
You are very good fider. sooo smooth. great review. Greetings from Poland Tatra Mountains
The 2018 Orbea Occam AM is my ultimate dream bike! It is the only bike that I have demo'd that I felt instantly that it was built for me!! I go to the Evergreen MTB fest every summer to demo bikes and have never found another bike I like better! it's just sadly out of my price range, crossing my fingers for a Lotto win soon though! lol
Right on Gary! There's a $2500 build of the Occam available as well.
Jesus Jeff you are so talented... Awesome video
Thank you Colin!
Amazing video Jeff. I ride a Rallon, would love to see you reviewing that in comparison to the Occam & Ripmo as they all appear to be versatile bikes. hope you & your family stay safe! Look forward to oyur videos at the other side of this!
Oh man skid, I'd love to ride a Rallon and do exactly that! As for now, I can't wait to publish all the fun stuff we shot before the lockdown!
It may not be able to happen for a while... but seeing you mess around with the 50-to-1 crew would be super fun. Seeing a Kendall-Weed/Bryceland/Loosedog jib sesh would be insane.
That would be amazing! Those dudes are such good riders.
Dude , how come every bike you test I want to buy?, You make every bike look super awesome ! Man I think you could make a tricycle look like a "new type " of downhill bike .Just saying .
I'm looking at an Occam H20 from Jenson. I'm wondering why they went with a concentric axle pivot instead of a Horst link? The other bikes I'm looking at in my price range include SC Tallboy Alu, and Ibis Ripley AF. But their 's lspecs show those bikes at almost 34 lbs. Alu frames mean future wheel upgrades to save weight - just like in "old days" before carbon.
Been eye balling the occam for a couple weeks now! One thing I like is you can grab the occam m30 for 4k with very good components. Only thing I am skeptical of is I'm 6 feet tall and weigh about 215...not sure if I'm to big for the bike. I cant afford to got to the 36 up front either right now.
This is from another review of Occam:
"I was also worried that the Performance version as well as the 34mm stanchions would be underwhelming under my 230lb starting weight. I will say that I never really thought of the fork which is good."
Hope that will help you.
Amazing video and review, congratulations!!! I´m 174cm height, which of the Orbea Occam size would you recomend? M or L size?? Thanks!
Great video, and amazing skills! How would you suggest sizing for this bike. I'm 185cm and in between a large and an xl. Any suggestions on what I should go for? Thanks in advance.
I'm in the same situation, 187cm.
Tomorrow I will go to a local dealer that has an Occam L size.
Really appreciate your videos, Jeff! Helps me reminisce the PNW trails...we have great trails here in Michigan, but they simply don’t compare! The Occam is on top of my list for a new bike next spring, and this video was super helpful! Anxiously awaiting the 2021 Orbea lineup. Cheers!
Cheers Dylan! I want to ride the UP one day, but it's a long flight from the PNW!!!
Jeff Kendall-Weed Definitely get out to Copper Harbor and/or Marquette trails if you have the opportunity!
Hi Great video! What’s the weight of the Occam? I’m looking for a bike for this summer in Whistler but I don’t ride very aggressively or any of the crazy shit haha. I am more of an XC guy looking for a bike that can handle rougher stuff. I prefer a bike that climbs well and feels more lively than like a barge like many enduro type bikes. Would you say that the Occam is a good choice for what I’m looking for?
Hey Zach, with pedals installed, my Occam was 29.1 lbs. My Ripmo is 33 lbs, so that's a 4 pound difference right off the bat. I haven't ridden a ton of other modern enduro bikes to compare it to, but the Occam was definitely nimble and very easy to get off the ground. Give it a try!
Interesting the 29.1 lbs weight considering my pedals-on medium 2020 Occam M10 XT groupset Fox 34 with the aluminum wheels and burlier Minion DH tires came in at 30.4 lbs. That 1.3 lbs difference is not insignificant, and I'm not discounting the importance of the stiffness in the carbon rims vs weight, but I thought folks interested in weight to price factors might find it meaningful when there is about a $2.5k delta from m10 to Mteam. In any case, I love this bike and wish I could ride it like you do! Thanks for the video and stay safe out there!
Jeff question for ya...would the occam be alright to take to the bike park every once in a while? I obviously would beef up the front to the 36 but just want to make sure this sucker will be able to handle thunder mountain when I decide to go. Most of the time I will be riding typical new England trails but I need it to be able to handle the park when it comes time...thx Jeff...and great video as always.
Between the ibis ripmo af and the orbea Occam aluminum because price wise but what do you think would do better in pa single track? I heard you said Pittsburgh trails I'm on the other side and our trails are rocky and tight looking for a better climbing bike
It's funny you mentioned Pittsburgh. I was thinking that bike would be fun to ride at Brady's in Beaver, PA when I visit my friends there.
I did a whole video in Pittsburgh- check it out!!! It;s one of my faves from all 2019: ua-cam.com/video/XA53LNijy8I/v-deo.html
Hey Jeff, when you tested the Occam, was it was a 150 fork or 140? If 150, how was it on climbs and technical obstacles?
What do you think the Occam H20 vs Canyon Neuron CF 7?
Occam has more travel
Hey Jeff , what's your height?
I'm 5'10 and I'm not sure if I should be on a medium or large on the Occam. What you think?
I have that exact bike. Its amazing!
Right on Henry!!!
What would be your thoughts on the bike with only the Float 34 140mm and DPS? Everything on this bike seems to have the Float 36 150mm and DPX2 , even the official Orbea videos. Almost seems like the lower models should come with a 150mm Marzocchi Z1 (lowest model has a Z2)/Float 36 Performance and DPX2 Performance.
Cool bike, but your riding style is way cooler! First video I saw of yours. Subscribed.
Thank you- I appreciate that!
Most stylish rider on UA-cam. 👍
Thanks Tarik!
JKW’s spirit animal is a Kangaroo - oh, wait - we are in NORAM so I suppose a Cougar....
Would love to be able to ride like him........ one day!!!
LOL a cougar?! I've always been pretty small and needed to float more than smash, hence the hoppy style!
That Occam looks sweet. How tall are you on the M size frame?
Quarintine to trails people keep yourself healthy with mother nature & stoke
Hahaha that's the plan!!!
Please don't get hurt to have to call emergency services. Emergency folks will soon be handling sick folks. They will be needed. Also, if we end up in the hospital healthy we may not make it out healthy.
Nice intro Jeff. Enviable bike control skills. 2 years as a Roadie, looking for my first full suspension MTB. Really debating between the Ripmo AF NX and the Occam H20 for the Colorado Front Range trails. Done short rides on both, but haven’t been able to really get them out on a trail because of Shelter in Place. Kona Process 134 has also been recommended. Would love your thoughts for a noob.
Hey Max thanks for the note! Ripmo and Occam are indeed different. Ripmo is bigger, more travel, more glued to the ground. Occam feels shorter and poppier. I haven't noticed any lack of efficiency in how the Occam rides, but I've only had about 4 rides on it thus far. You couldn't go wrong with either choice, really. Ripmo will make the trails feel easier, Occam will make the mellower trails more fun. The Process is probably great as well, but I haven't ridden the newer 134.
@@JeffKendallWeed Thanks for the reply. I certainly did notice the on top feeling of the Occam vs the Ripmo as you allude to in the followup at the end of the video. Easy (i.e. confidence inspiring), is appealing but I'll take all the help I can get in the climb. Far as I can tell the weight is pretty much a wash at my spec/price point. Now if only Ibis had a Ripley AF.
Looking forward to your followup video(s) on the Occam.
Great video !
I'm 185cm and in between a large and an xl (90cm). What would you suggest? thanks ;)
I test rode the 2019 orbea occam last year and loved it, but didnt pull the trigger, seeing the specs and the fun you had out there on this one got me craving one again.. would have to be a lower spec'd model than this though don't have those $$$s
hey Andy- I get a little torn on the budget stuff. I really don't mind riding SLX level spec bikes at all, but at the same time, it's easy to end up getting pigeonholed as a "budget bike tester" or what not. my videos are oriented more towards the hardcore rider who is OK with spending a bunch of $$$ on a nice bike, so I gotta keep that consistent. However, I'll definitely sneak a budget bike in here occasionally. Thanks for the note!
Great video! I'm really looking at making this my first Full sus bike after 2 seasons on a Hardtail! Side note: The bright red on-screen annotations seemed a little clunky and kinda distracted me from what you were saying
I ordered a occam h10 full xt with all the options like xt 4 piston breaks, kashima 36 front and back kashima
But guess what, here in Belgium everything is locked sins 18/03. So that means no bike orders coming in or what ever and cant have my new ride.
Hello, j'ai le mien début juillet, et commandé il y a une semaine, h20
man your backback is absolutely stuffed. What's in it? Mostly camera gear?
I carry a spare GoPro Karma grip and camera in there, along with 2 inner tubes, a patch kit, shock pump, tire pump, and while doing clinics I carry a full 1st Aid kit too. It's not tons of stuff but it fills the little pack quite quickly!
I'm 5'9".. Orbea puts me at the top end of a medium and the bottom end of a large. There isn't a dealer anywhere near me so I'd have to order online. What would you suggest?
Hey Ashton, I’m just over 5’8” and am happy on the medium. I can fit a 170mm dropper on there, too. For the geo on the bike, I think airing on the side of smaller than bigger is best.
@@JeffKendallWeed Awesome! Thanks for the reply. I'll be picking up a medium one in the next couple of weeks. Ride safe, friend.
So at 5' 6.5" (lol) a S compared to M? Their chart puts me in the middle of a Med. Trying to decide if the H20 is worth the upgrades over the H30.
@Ashton Smith did you go with the medium size? Can you share your thoughts and experince with it? I have a large with 5'9" and I'm looking for a swap with medium. Large feels kind a too big for me.
@@ddejc I did go with the medium! My legs, torso, and arms are all pretty proportional in size and this bike fits me excellently. I hope this helps!
Bike looks great. Hey Jeff, how tall are you?
I am 5'10 and I can not decide in between M and L.
Last year while living in California, I was in between the Ripmo and Ripley. Decided on the Ripmo for the California style of riding I wanted to do. Now that I live in Kansas City I really wish I had that Ripley🤦🏻♂️ I can afford having multiple bikes, just can’t justify it🥴
Buy a Ripley V4 frame and fork, swap everything over, and sell the ripmo frame. Easy.
Thanks for reviewing this bike. Would you say the larger volume spacer for the rear shock makes a big difference on smooth mellow trails?
Hey Crashacat, I haven't tried the smaller spacer yet, and won't. I'm going to try the next two larger spacers ASAP, as on the jumpy trails I bottom out pretty easy.
Nice video Jeff! 😀 Just wondering why Ornea specked this bile with Maxxis Maxxis High Roller and Rekon and not the ever tested Dhf/Dhr II combo. But a very nice bike 😀
Thanks Alvin! The tire choice is really good. I prefer the Highroller II over the DHF, but I don't like the thin, lightweight EXO casings. I'll go for proper Double Down or WTB Tough Casing tires as I dial this thing in.
@@JeffKendallWeed you're welcome Jeff. Ride safe always and God bless your Family 😊
If you keep the bike I would look at offset bushing and maybe shorten the shock a bit to lower the BB....
Hey Ian, hope you are well! I don't really want to lower the BB any more, it feels really good where it is. It's higher than the Ripmo, but I kinda like it! A slightly slacker head angle might be nice, but I'll mess with the other parts before the geo at this point. The light EXO tires are gonna be the first to get swapped out.
Nice vid, just subscribed to your channel.. would you mind sharing how tall you are and what size frame did you get?
Thanks Max!!! I am 5'8" or 174cm tall, and this is a size medium. If I were trying to race I'd probably get a large, but my going fast days are over. Now I just want to jump and play around, hence the smaller size.
great review and great riding, incase you have the oiz around a review would be helpful
Thanks Bharat! No plans for the Oiz yet, but maybe one day.
I like the stack height!
I'm digging it too.
Hey Jeff, do you ever go slow and just enjoy the trail:)?
Totally! Just not when filming.
Hey Jeff, when will Ibis come out with something in between the Ripley and Ripmo?
Who knows
I'm confused. Does the ripmo actually have a lower bb? According to the geometry charts, the bb on the occam is lower.
Paul, I'm considering doing a deep dive video on this. The Occam has the same BB height as the Ripley (1mm higher). The Ripmo is 5mm higher. However, the Ripmo has 7mm more rear travel and 10mm more front travel. In addition, the differing axle paths change how much the BB drops. It's not a huge amount, but it's noticeable. For me, the Ripley's BB height was never as much of an issue as the Ripmo's. Now, that's all fine and dandy, but what I really need to do is to physically measure the Ripmo and Occam and compare the numbers in real life to the actual amount the BB drops during the suspension cycling.
@@JeffKendallWeed That would be a really cool video. Thanks for the explanation. Love your channel!
Sweet riding!
I ride ORBEA Occam too :)
Right on man!
How would you rate this to the Santa Cruz Tall Boy?
How would you compare this bike to the Ripley/Ripmo for longer days in the saddle / long alpine style climbs?
Lars, I haven't had a super long ride on the Occam yet. I'm looking forwards to getting out for some though.
how does this compare to the ripmo af?
When you said something about "bikes having diff. suspension for diff. riding style" what do u mean by that? R u reffering about the suspension travel or something else? Hope to hear more from you. Thank you.
He means different rear suspension designs have different characteristics. Some stick to the ground better, and others like the Occam have more of a platform and ride over the top of bigger rocks instead of sticking to the surface. The Occam is better for quick response, playful feel, jumps, hopping, etc.... the others are better for faster riding... more towards enduro and downhill riding.
How do I know what's working for me when buying my first mtb?
JKW, what do you think of the DT swiss wheels vs the I9's? TIA
The DT wheels are solid. Quality build, good spec throughout. All around, a good choice for the money. The I9 is a step up in quality, but also in cost. If you want ultimate performance, go I9, if you need to save some bucks, consider the lower end I9 with a custom build or the DT.
Dude is a next level shredder
2020 high tower review would be awesome
Thanks Fred! I'd love to try out a hightower, I haven't ridden one of those yet. They haven't been too popular around here for whatever reason, but they are rumored to be quite good.
I like the lite version intro you did compared to the more loud intro announcing your sponsors.
Thanks Jeff!!! Folks seem split 50/50 between the two formats. Sponsorship is in flux with a few brands right now, so I'll be running this type for a while.
Let's see you on SC Megatower. Maybe some Transition bikes :)
I'd love to ride more of the SC line up! It's been a while since I really spent some time on those bikes. I'd also love to ride the newer transitions, they are rad bikes and super good dudes over there! Their office is a couple of blocks from my office.
@@JeffKendallWeed what?! Just a few blocks away! Can't wait for the transition video!
How does she pedal? As efficient as the Ibis?
Joel, I never noticed any downsides to pedaling efficiency. I'm not very sensitive to that though- my own pedal strokes are already pretty smooth, and I'm more focused on descending.
Logan, you may be allergic to cedar trees like me..... I have hardly been able to ride for the past 2 weeks with that same issue. Cheers!
Hahaha!
LOL your cameraman seemed to be struggling today. Lots of grunts
I think he had had a big ride the day before!
i ride rallon...and i love it
Right on Seth!
Super rad🤘
Thanks Thomas!!!
@@JeffKendallWeed no problem 🤘
Nice bike and riding skills!
Thanks! This was fun!
Nice vid. How'd you get orbea to send you a bike?🤙
Thanks! And I didn't. Jenson USA sent me the bike! I have no relationship or affiliation with Orbea.
Sweet! Looking forward to more vids
So did you buy the Orbea or is it a demo?
This is a loaner bike. I'll be sending it back in a couple months after riding it a bunch more.
I demo'd the Occam. It's nice but wasn't blown away.
I also put Ibis on a pedestal!, especially the Ripley! Big shoes to fill!!
My V1 Ripmo just arrived and have to dial it in. I hope I don't miss my Ripley
too much!
Congrats on the Ripmo- also a great bike!!!
@@JeffKendallWeed Thanks Jeff. I have a few questions. I'm going to send you a message.
😱 8:04 💪🏽💪🏽
That one hurt! My ankle is still complaining about that!
@@JeffKendallWeed oh boy!! get better soon.
Manual for days!! Nice vid
Thanks Shayne!
What is your ideal tire combo for the Occam?
I think I'll throw my go-to combo on here- the WTB Vigilante 2.5 front in the Tough/High Grip and the WTB Judge 2.4 rear in the Tough/Fast Rolling. Otherwise, an Assegai front in Double Down and an Aggressor rear in Double Down would be good.
@@JeffKendallWeed Thanks for the response! What do you think of using an Aggressor as a front tire for Trail/XC? My home trails are rather tame. Trying to decide between it and the DHR 2. I was surprised to learn the DHR 2 of the same size is lighter and offered in the 3C Maxx Terra compound, Aggressor only in dual.
BB seems low on paper. Makes me wary to consider with the rocks I ride.
Yeah the BB is low on paper, though comparable with other bikes. It feels slightly higher on the trail than the Ripmo, the Ripley, or even the Altitude, though the Rocky does have that super adjustable "Ride 9" shock attachment system. In the end I caught far fewer pedals with the Occam than on my other bikes.
@@JeffKendallWeed thanks Jeff 👍
You need to check out Evil bikes
Hoping to do that as soon as the state lockdown is over! Thanks Jeremiah!
We've been dreaming up some plans!
That's awesome I have been on The Following for the past three years and everytime I watch you ride I really think it is a bike you would truly love. It maybe only 120mm of travel but it rides like it is bottomless yet still has so much pop and playfulness.
Lost me at 7 grand
And that's on sale! They have a $2200 and a couple of $2500 versions available as well. That's about as low cost as it gets in the high end, full squish MTB world!
Jeff Kendall-Weed that’s much more realistic, thanks Jeff! Either way, new bike day is on hold indefinitely until this covid crisis passes.
750mm barz?!
Yeah man, keep a poppy bike poppy!
Worst job: camera man for Jeff Kendall weed while trying to keep up with him on a mtn bike
There are lots of way worse gigs out there! hahaha!
I’d say I’m compensated fairly for the suffering he puts me through
Logan Nelson wow! Just joking, I saw your bag and Jeff, as you well know is a crazy fast rider! Cheers bro!
JKW can climb over stuff with a bike that I can't even do on foot.
Ha!!!
What’s with the eye chart? Are you a mountain biker pretending to be an eye doc? I am an eye doc pretending to be a mountain biker...so it’s all good!
I thought it'd be a fun decoration! Hahaha super random indeed!
Bikes are getting way to ridiculous, 8k for a bike??
I love mtb... but this is just..
poppiest trail bike you ever tried?
Yeah, I'd say that. It's fun that way. I can't get the distances that I can on the Ripmo, but it gets more height than any other 29er I've ridden in a long time! Only my 27.5 hardtail is poppier.
I think it is weird how you explain your strange sponsorship program. Is all that necessary?
Hi cliff- it is awkward indeed, but FTC guidelines require it. I've also seen more and more support from followers by explaining my whole deal. I had a really polished pre-roll done up, it was around 20 seconds long, and I got so many complaints that I decided to try something different. Also, the new deal with Ibis is hard to quickly explain.
Sucks that you pretty much have to be rich to have a bike like this
First 1/3 is all commercial.
Dude's helping us all out with this info. Let him get some sponsor money!
Sooooo much talk of sponsors and having to mention everything. I'm watching an infomercial with some riding tossed in. I miss the good old days. :(
Chris Rouleau MTB when Jeff doesn’t list all of is sponsors people bitched about him not being upfront with who was paying the bills. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. Always got to be someone complaining about something.
You get value out of his free videos, let him make some money and keep living the dream.
@@shawnomeara22 You're right about that. I just feel that the balance has shifted into more commercial and less riding. P.S. I bought a Ripmo in part because of Jeff...so it works but seeing the bike and hearing him be candid about it was a better sales pitch to me than anything now.
@@radagascar1 I do, I think Jeff is a terrific rider and I love seeing him ride..and the places he rides. The downside is that I want to switch off ht video or just fast forward until I see what I want. Other riders who went down this route (further and way more annoying) I unsubscribed from them.