There’s something beautiful about a bike where someone has carefully selected each component. Like a perfect mixtape, it all comes together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
Stock builds from the manufacturer are fine, they’re cheaper and they work. But if you have discerning taste, then there’s no other option than to start with the frame and build it up to be your own. That’s how this Orbea Occam AM mountain bike came into being. Not satisfied with a stock build that could potentially mirror anyone else’s on the trail, the previous owner went the extra mile to customize the components and make it one of the most lust-worthy mountain bikes we have for sale.
Orbea is unique among cycling brands, having been established over 175 years ago. They began in 1840, manufacturing guns in Mallabia, Spain, before switching to the more peaceful pursuit of building bicycles in 1930. Though they’ve been more well known for their road bikes and race hardtails, their bigger travel mountain bikes are now becoming global challengers, earning numerous glowing reviews.
The Occam AM is Orbea’s 27.5” full-suspension trail bike. It utilizes a solid rear triangle with flex stays rather than pivots, that flex up to 25mm to give the bike an ample 140mm of travel (2018 has 150mm).
The feature of this particular Orbea Occam that draws the most attention in the shop is the flashy DVO suspension. The previous owner decided to go all out, with a DVO Diamond 150mm fork, DVO Topaz rear shock, and a matching DVO Garnet dropper seat post. DVO is a relative newcomer to the suspension game, but they are quickly making an impression with their quality products and bold green colors.
The Topaz rear shock borrows frictionless bladder technology from motocross shocks, while the Diamond fork utilizes an adjustable “Off The Top” negative spring to make it one of the plushest forks through its initial travel that I have ever had the pleasure of squishing.
The previous owner continued the anodized green theme with a Race Face Atlas bar, green KMC X11SL chain, and matching decals for the wide Stan’s Flow MK3 rims, which are laced to Hope’s bombproof Pro 4 hubs.
To finish it all off, the cassette uses a OneUp components Shark Sprocket. This gives the Shimano cassette a massive 50t granny gear, which is shifted into with the help of the OneUp Shark Cage on the rear derailleur.
The Occam’s green accents might be a bit loud and garish, but for me, it harks back to the over-the-top anodized bling of 90s mountain bikes. I miss bikes like that. In a sea of modern matte black bikes, flashy touches like this help the Occam shine like a peacock’s tail, blue and green, and full of pride. It’s a bike that will stand out, on the trail and off.
See our Orbea Collection.
Bruce is a writer who loves getting his bikes dirty, trying new tech, and riding tough trails that make him suffer for hours at a time.
