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Finally succumed and got me a big wheeler
Not sure if this is the right spot, but thought I'd post up my recent purchase. I've been building this for some time, finally got it out the other night for a proper ride. I freakin love it! I got it as an XC race bike, as I mainly do enduro type events and wanted a dually and a 29 that is race orientated but still fun to ride, particularly on the downs. This was the only logical option and boy am I glad I got it.
I was expecting the steering to be a bit lazy like a couple of other 29rs that I've ridden, but holy crap, this thing is more nimble than my 160/150mm 26" Rallon and felt a lot like my Cannondale carbon Rush as far as turn in goes. It handles techy AM type riding with ease and pedals like a true race bread pedigree should. The CTD works real well too, keeping the bike plush a smooth over the rough stuff, yet making it super efficient on the climbs.
I have modded it a bit from stock, adding a host of XTR and carbon parts, including XTR Race cranks, brakes, shifters, and front mech (rear to come when finances allow). Edge (Envy before it was Envy) bars and Thomson seat clamp. I also changed the brand new bearings from the standard chinese bearings to top quality Japanese jobs (last and perform heaps better).
I love the attention to detail Orbea put into thier frames.
The frame came in the matte finish which looked great, but it didn't show off the raw carbon enough, and I am a massive carbon whore and love the raw look of carbon no matter the layup. So I stripped the bike down, removed all the parts and bearings and clear coated the frame in PPG ceramic clear (hardest and best wearing clear on the market). I'm pumped with how it came out. 
Future mods include, XTR rear mech, carbon rims, Envy stem and a Reverb seat post if I decide to go that route (just for that extra confidence to puch harder on the downs and have more fun in the air) or a envy post if I stay fixed.
Can't wait to smash it out on it's first 7hr enduro.
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Did you go 120mm fork on the front?
I've done a test ride on a Scalpel 29er and loved it but would be keen to try one of these. Pricing is quite attractive too.
I've also ridden a Whyte T-129 but found the suspension harshly over-damped to the point of being wooden, even though it was supposedly a 5" travel bike.
Yep, it's the S30X with the 120mm fork. The good thing is, this fork can be lowered (If my research serves me properly) internally in about 10 mins if it's not racey enough.
I had a Marin Mount Vision 5.7 (has the Whyte suspension system), I found it's suspension amazingly active whilst pedalling and climbing. It was awesome!, but decents did let it down, it did the job, but missed something.
If you want to have a pedal on it, let me know. I've just had a bub, so I don't get out much, but might be able to work something out. The Occam is a really fun bike, shows you can actually have fun and fast describing the one bike.
Hi Hawkeye
was the whyte t129 the "s" version and what did you see as the main issue with the suspension... I am looking at getting one so any help would be appreciated
cheers
Sorry about the thread hijack muvo
The Whyte just felt ridiculously over-damped. It absorbed the bigger hits well but you could feel every little stone and tree-root you ran over like you were on a rigid ... no small-bump compliance.
The fork I just couldn't get right. I've previously ridden brand-new Rockshox forks and found them to be pretty good. With this one, trying to get the pre-load (suspension sag) right defeated me. Using the pressure chart recommendation for my weight, the most travel I could use was about 2 of the 5 inches available. Setting it to 25% sag would feel a little better on the small stuff but blew through the travel on any drop bigger than a street kerb. Tried adjusting gate and rebound without improvement. Damping was still super harsh.
The rear shock matched the fork. So you could I suppose say it was well-balanced. And it did pedal very well. Very little bob. As you'd expect.
Now it could have been the fork was faulty, so I'd recommend taking one (a different one) for a spin before you rule it out. The other possibility is the fork will loosen up with use as the bushes and seals wear in, but to my mind this fork was so far off that's not a chance I'm taking.
Pity, on paper it looks like a real good buy and the four-bar rear end I quite like from my couple of months on the Ellsworth Evolve 29er.
I will have to try this new baby at the next race , you been keeping this in the bag haven't you ? Catch up at the next race enjoy the ride & welcome too the dark side lol........
Your Hawk-eyes would have noticed though that the Whyte wheelpath is significantly different to the Evolve, as well as the shock linkage giving extremely different leverage rates. Not that I'm biased or being defensive at all as an Evolve owner.
Sorry for the off topic Takis.
I'm disappointed that nether of my Occam riding buddies has offered me a ride on theirs yet. Probably because they are too busy raving about what fantastic bikes they are. I really dig the stealth bomber looks of the angular tubes.
Yep the Ellsworth I got on with immediately despite its status as an Ugly Bike Award finalist. It rode so well. Why the buggers designed the frame so you can't get a bottle cage in there beats me
Looking forward to taking one of these Occams for a spin
If they ride half as well as they look...
Re not fitting a bottle in there - had similar prob on FS Epic small frame - so used a side entry cage - solved problem so maybe worth a try. A few Epic riders have found that they kept altering the setting on the shock rebound as they used their bottles, results were some interesting suspension activity.
HTH.
Bottle cage fittings in the triangle on mine (Medium SST) as standard, though a 750 ml big neck bottle rubs on the hose and cables beneath the tt. A friend with pre SST M also has bottle cage mounts...
As to looks 'function over form' any day, though the Orbea, supposedly under discussion in this thread, apparently gets both in spades!
I never really saw an Obea that I liked until now.
I like your no compromise race reliable spec & like your mods.
The clear coat looks great.
Now time to get it dirty!
THAT might explain why the rebound on my Rize seems to have a mind of its own... and you're right the results are "interesting"
On the Elsworth Evolve there were no bottle cage bosses provided and the top tube was so low you'd be lucky ro squeeze in a pump. Ellsworths response when queried was to shrug shoulders and make an inane comment about it not being a problem in the good ole US of A.
I hadn't noticed that the SST (which I ride) and SST2 (which you reviewed) Evolves had such differences in the rocker arm length. The SST2 must run significantly lower spring pressure than the SST (which for my 78kg only requires 100 psi for 25% sag)...... The top tube appears about 15-20 mm lower at the seat tube too. I suppose the price of progress is the loss of bottle mounts.
On the website Ellsworth mention having rivnuts installed by your LBS if you desire a bottle cage ...... At least T. Ellsworth isn't backward in letting you know what he thinks.
Thanks Tony, I love the Orbea frame shapes at the moment. The Rallon (150mm AM) has a very similar shape, and thier new Oiz is thier 100mm 26" race bike (frame weighs in at 1.1kg or something stupid like that for a dually). I was going to get an Oiz, but decided it was time for a 29" bike.
That photo really doesn't do the bike justice either. I'll get a better shot out on the trail.
Hey O&S,
I have the same problem on my Camber with the bottle cage. I went to a left side entry, as I'm a lefty, and I also have the problem with altering my suspension settings as well. Just need to double check that I haven't moved it after replacing the bottle otherwise you end up with a hard tail while trying to do drops. Not nice when you aren't expecting the bike to bounce up at the rear end.