The Orbea Occam RETURNS For A Long Term Review!

So, I didn’t expect to see the 2021 Orbea Occam H30 again this soon, but I’m certainly not mad! This bike and I really got along. I’m not kidding when I say it could’ve been the best bike that I rode in 2020. The owner of the bike, Zee, has been loving it too and really has been putting it through its paces. From what I understand, he’s been pushing the bike far beyond what it was designed to do and the bike loves every second of it. He has upgraded a lot of parts on it, but none of the stock components were inferior according to Zee. He just had that burning itch to mod the bike and make it his own. I too suffer the same intrinsic desire when I own any bicycle. Anywho, in this video we will talk with the owner and analyze for ourselves what, if anything, may have gone amiss with this bike as it’s been challenged and tested for the last few months. Thanks for watching, and come chat in the comments!
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[@JaredRMorgan]

🔥LINK IN DESCRIPTION TO GET YOUR OCCAM H30🔥

[@eightlivesdownmtb]

Thanks for the video. The H30 is such a capable bike and it’s great to see my own positive experience isn’t unique. I’ve put about 1200 miles on mine since June 2020 and it has been absolutely spot-on around the hill trails by me. I have swapped the air shaft for a 150mm fork, changed the calipers/levers for MT420/501s, gone to a 200mm front disc, a 50mm stem and upswept bars and Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR tyres.

[@JaredRMorgan]

Sounds like a great setup! That’s the perfect way to upgrade the brakes. I would’ve done the same thing. Thanks for watching!

[@googlepixel9pro]

Hi. Just bought a H30 and its a great bike so far. Only small niggle is the internal cable rattle. Do all Occams rattle or just mine. Cheers

[@eightlivesdownmtb]

@@googlepixel9pro Mine only rattled after I changed the brakes over. I found that small zip ties tight over the cables at the entry and exit points of the frame stopped the rattles all but entirely.

[@Mir_Man22]

According to Fox, you cannot use bigger air shaft to increase the travel from 140 to 150mm on Marzocchi Bomber Z2. Probably because of geometry of Orbea Occam H30 on 29" wheels. It is only possible for 27,5".

[@andrejh8555]

Thanks for this video. I want to buy this bike for a long time but I wasn't sure it’s a good buy and your videos convinced me

[@JaredRMorgan]

Glad I could help out! Thanks for watching!

[@willkence7745]

That is awesome

[@frankapple4130]

I have a 20 H30 and put chris king hubs on Stan’s flow wheels, CK headset, pnw stem and bars, XT levers with SLX 4 piston brakes, XT rotors, dvo topaz, stamp 7’s, descendant 7k 170 cranks to help with pedal strikes, vittoria agarro 2.35 rear tire. all I need now is a durolux EQ fork!

[@JaredRMorgan]

Well that sounds like a bike I’d like to ride! Nice choices in components!

[@dundundata7603]

Great bike, very happy with my Occam.

[@JaredRMorgan]

Happy to hear that! It is a great bike. Thanks for watching.

[@boooost3d]

Great vid. Can wait to see if you find anything else.

[@JaredRMorgan]

Nothing found. Your baby was MINT. Just needs the bar ends and pedal pins and she’s good to come home.

[@JaredRMorgan]

Thanks for the support!

[@nilsalb]

I like it! Thanks for making this video

[@JaredRMorgan]

Thanks for watching!

[@stephenheggie4573]

Been riding a H20 since November and haven't found a fault with the bike for the price point. Only thing I am thinking of changing are the brakes. Thinking about 4 pots only because the thing is so dam rapid

[@JaredRMorgan]

Yeah so if you look closely, the brakes on this H30 were upgraded. Zee went with Magura MT Trail, and I think they work really well on the bike. I agree with you that if anything, the brakes are the weakest link. BUT, the Occam is an amazing bike. Thanks for watching!

[@stephenheggie4573]

@@JaredRMorgan agreed that it's an awesome do it machine and unless you're paying top money there are always going to be some compromises along the way

[@JaredRMorgan]

Exactly! You picked a really good one.

[@bigl2474]

Had mine a few months now and I love it even more after every ride. New brakes definitely needed. And personally for me I'm going to stick the high roller on the rear and maybe go for a assegai or minion on the front. But that's probably just me and the icy sludgy UK trails this time of year. Not sure what tyre setup to go for in the summer months??

[@JaredRMorgan]

Yeah this one has high roller rear and minion DHF front. That was an upgrade he sought out as well. Glad to hear you’re loving your bike! Thanks for watching!

[@in_10z]

[@JaredRMorgan]

Haha! Idk if I’ll ever have it in me to hit that drop. Maybe. Very very scary stuff in person. 😂

[@JaredRMorgan]

Thanks for watching!!

[@2wheelsonline]

I've just ordered a 2021 Orbea Occam H30 and hope to have it ASAP even though I can't go anywhere to ride it here in the UK at the moment due to the Covid lockdown rules. I see you've changed the brakes to Magura. I have some 4 pot Shimano Zee brakes to fit if the Shimano MT201 brakes aren't that good.

[@eightlivesdownmtb]

The MT201 brakes are crap, mate. I replaced mine with MT420 calipers and MT501 levers and haven’t looked back.

[@2wheelsonline]

@@eightlivesdownmtb Thanks for that! I had some Shimano Deore brakes on a 2016 Stumpjumper and they were pretty good but the MT201 does look like a crap brake.

[@JaredRMorgan]

Yes that’s the biggest drawback of the platform is the stock brakes. This bike is not my own, but if it was I would’ve upgraded them in a similar fashion to DB....that way I could reuse the factory runs of shimano hose. Pulling the magura hoses through was tricky.

[@2wheelsonline]

@@JaredRMorgan That's the good thing about me having better Shimano brakes... not having to route the hoses! My 2016 Stumpy was all external cabling, etc. The internal stuff is OK on roadies for the aero side of it but sucks on MTBs. I can bleed brakes dead easy but it's just the hassle :-( I'll see how it goes with the MT201s as I haven't ridden off road for over 12 months and have been road cycling so the disc brakes will feel good at first. I have some spare pads for them as well :-)

[@JaredRMorgan]

I agree with you. My 2020 Devinci Troy is all intelligently clean external routing. That was a feature I wanted for the ease of working on the bike. Most people who work on bikes are not as big on internal routing lol.

[@rengamz]

Is it fast enough as well on urban riding, commuting, tarmac, etc, ill use this as all-around bike, but mostly we start from the door to the mountains or forest for local riding. Thanks

[@JaredRMorgan]

I would say yes considering the tires included on the bike are not super knobby. They are good all around tires.

[@rengamz]

Thanks for getting back, just had email earlier that this is available now ... cheers!

[@SPECIALIZED95711]

...but it's really not an H30, as it has a bunch of great upgrades, thanks for the vid.

[@JaredRMorgan]

I had no control over what he did to his bike over time. However, you can still at least apply the review to the frameset which is still the Orbea Occam H30.

[@Unchartered_Outdoors]

Another banger 💥

[@JaredRMorgan]

Thanks bro!

[@neilmartin6989]

Love my Occam H20. The upgrades on that bike make it really stand out. Can I ask what pedals, and headset are on it? Thanks. Loving the videos 🤟🏻

[@JaredRMorgan]

On this one he’s running one up composite pedals and it’s the stock headset but with a wolf tooth bling kit.

[@JaredRMorgan]

Thanks for watching!

[@neilmartin6989]

@@JaredRMorgan great thank you. Looks awesome with the orange highlights

[@JaredRMorgan]

Both products come in a variety of colors so you can make a theme of your own. 👍

[@TheMrLiPi]

Hey really nice reviews of this bike, it helped me a lot to choose one. Any owners at 175 cm height? According tables i fit to both M and L, but lean more towards L. I already paid , shop has both M and L but i cant go and try due to covid restrictions. Any experience hints appreciated.

[@JaredRMorgan]

I always vote go smaller when you’re between the two. Having an mtb that’s too big can be very intimidating and hard to control. Thanks for watching! Glad I could help!

[@TheMrLiPi]

@@JaredRMorgan the thing is that the L size bike comes with better brakes at same price (very specific case, also availability in2021 in EU is a thing), and the brakes seems to be the only con pointed out by most reviews. I tried to compare the geo with my current ht, canyon 5, and L seems to fit those parameters of M grand canyon. Im really torn , but this weekend I might get to try that L occam. In canyon tables of hardtails i had similar problem and was recommended to go for bigger and i feel very comfy..will give feedback on occam.

[@JaredRMorgan]

Yeah lemme know what you decide! Better brakes are definitely a nice thing!

[@TheMrLiPi]

@@JaredRMorgan got the bike at L and its awesome. I dont use full range of telescop but M felt small. My friend jumped on my hype train and took M, so i could compare.

[@jasons407]

@@TheMrLiPi I'm between M and L and decided to go with L too and glad I did. The M just felt a little tight in the cockpit even with adjustments and had me a little too far forward for my tastes. The Occam is a slightly smaller running bike for the size category so the L feels more like an M/L in other companies.

[@alexbooth4593]

Just wondering how big is the seat clamp

[@JaredRMorgan]

I actually have the bike here with me still. Let me check...

[@JaredRMorgan]

34.9 and or 35.

[@alexbooth4593]

@@JaredRMorgan yes I tried 34.9 seems to be too small

[@va1e]

What size is that bike?

[@JaredRMorgan]

This one is a medium.

[@bimmerfan729]

Keep an eye on the headset with these. Muck and grime like to get in these and kill them early.

[@JaredRMorgan]

Interesting! Haven’t had any issues here but likely due to having changed forks about half way through. While the fork was down, I serviced the headset.

[@eightlivesdownmtb]

Mine went after four months and approx 500 miles.

[@JaredRMorgan]

Good information. Was yours not greased from the factory?

[@eightlivesdownmtb]

@@JaredRMorgan I don't know exactly, but when the shop took it apart the headset pretty much disintegrated and the bearing were apparently very rusty. That wasn't a result of reckless pressure washing, either, and this took place over the summer months. The trails here (Surrey Hills, UK) aren't exactly super-gnarly, either, although there are plenty of drops and jumps.

[@JaredRMorgan]

@@eightlivesdownmtb wow yeah definitely something to keep an eye on.

[@tobydufrene9294]

Hey Jarred send me a link!

[@JaredRMorgan]

Oh hey man! Glad you found the video! Here's the H20 I told you about: alnk.to/hDkFkKg