IMO those bikes are quote different and where you'll love one, you'll hate the other (and visa versa

Climbs, race = Oiz
Descents, chunder = Occam SL.

Because you're coming off the older Occam, I can't see you liking the Oiz for descents.
For an Orbea I'd go for the Occam SL, but maybe look at other manufacturers offerings. The new Epic Evo adds 10mm to the front (130) as does the Spark 910 and there may be something out there that has even more travel, yet still climbs really well (scor 2030?)

 

agree with the above, something 130-120 that can handle the descents but climbs well enough to do a few races. new Specialized Epic Evo or Rocky Mountain Element (my current bike) fits the bill.

 

I have both an Oiz and an Occam (2020 version). Honestly the Oiz is a remarkably good descending bike for what it is. It take a pretty rugged descent for the Occam to start ot come out ahead. I have spent probably a month riding in both St. George and Moab and my Oiz would be my bike of choice for those riding areas. Particularly since you can fit two water bottle cages on an Oiz and the benifits of that cannot be understated!

But that new Occam SL is a sweet looking bike. And it might just offer the best of both worlds (but only with one bottle . Still it does tempt me.

 

I have both an Oiz and an Occam (2020 version). Honestly the Oiz is a remarkably good descending bike for what it is. It take a pretty rugged descent for the Occam to start ot come out ahead. I have spent probably a month riding in both St. George and Moab and my Oiz would be my bike of choice for those riding areas. Particularly since you can fit two water bottle cages on an Oiz and the benifits of that cannot be understated!

But that new Occam SL is a sweet looking bike. And it might just offer the best of both worlds (but only with one bottle . Still it does tempt me.

Which do you feel like you gravitate more towards for you general riding? Not sure where you live? Yes the sl is for sure tempting, but I keep hearing how much fun people are having on the oiz both up and down and that is also tempting. I just worry my riding style downhill may change a lot?

 

I’ve a friend with a 2020 occam. He rides it all over everywhere, long 60+ mile days and lots of vert. Nice climbing bike. The weight isn’t holding you back. I know a guy that won his catagory in a tough 100 mile race on a rallon.

If you said you wanted a hardtail, well sure, but another fs just seems unnecessary. Maybe for the big days get some faster rolling tires and maybe lighter wheels.

 

I totally get this, its not the bike, the rider, get in better shape. But, I ride a lot. My rides average 15-20 miles and 1500-2500 in elevation a couple days a week and on the other days lighter rides. And I am doing longer like 20-30 mile rides with more elevation thrown in there as well. I lift, squat/deadlift etc. I rode all winter as well. I am super frustrated because I cannot figure out how to get faster uphill, and that is something I want to do. I totally get your point with not blaming the bike, but I also know that geometry changes and a lighter bike can make a difference. Probably geometry more then weight which also could mess up how I ride down I guess. I'm wanting to be increasing on all my rides, I just can't decide if I really want to jump fully to xc or what. A lot of people here do most their rides on xc bikes because the trail systems just go forever.

 

Which bike I choose really depends on the length of descents that I will be riding. I can ride my Oiz really fast downhill for about 4 minutes. After that the reality of the a short travel bike begins to hit and I have to back off.

My prefered bike is very seasonal. Right now, while the big descents are covered in the snow, I am only riding my Oiz. But as summer comes around and those 1000m+ descents open up I end up riding my Occam a lot.

Thats helpful!! A lot of my d

How much faster do you want to be on the climbs?

If you’re 200# and bike goes from 37 to 30, total weight with water, clothes, food, tools is probably decreased

(200+30+10)/(200+37+20)=240/247=97%.

Yup, those 7 pounds will make you 3% faster.

Around here the fast people finish the big 3k climb in an hour and I take 1:15-1:20.

60 minutes / 80 minutes is 75%. I need to cut weight by 25% so bike weighs nothing?

Path to faster climbing is ftp and weight loss, then tires and efficient suspension.

only weigh 130, and I’m not looking to drop weight at all.. ftp I’m sure could improve, I feel stuck how to do so. I think My bigger question is how geometry factors into climbing efficiency. And is it worth switching up bikes to make climbs more efficient and feel less sluggish if my aim is longer rides. If it changes my downhill too much I’m not so sure. My husbands Stumpjumper even though it makes it uphill around the same time as my bike sucks to climb with. It’s not fun and feels super bouncy. I’m mostly curious how downhill is on an oiz vs the occam. There have been a lot of geometry changes on both bikes since I got mine in 2020.

 

only weigh 130, and I’m not looking to drop weight at all.. ftp I’m sure could improve, I feel stuck how to do so. I think My bigger question is how geometry factors into climbing efficiency. And is it worth switching up bikes to make climbs more efficient and feel less sluggish if my aim is longer rides. If it changes my downhill too much I’m not so sure. My husbands Stumpjumper even though it makes it uphill around the same time as my bike sucks to climb with. It’s not fun and feels super bouncy. I’m mostly curious how downhill is on an oiz vs the occam. There have been a lot of geometry changes on both bikes since I got mine in 2020.

My wife rides her Oiz 95% of the time. She is an exceptional climber and descender and the Oiz is her goto bike for just about everything. She has trail bikes but just prefers the Oiz.

You could always try the used market and test it out. That way you aren't really committed. I do know of a used Oiz or two for sale.