[dvdslw45]

Anyone out there riding the OTSO Waheela C that can give me some feedback as to ride quality compared to other bikes on the market? I had a 2021 Warbird that was a very smooth riding bike, especially with some 700x47mm tires but it was a bit too relaxed for my liking. The OTSO clears up to a 700x2.1 tire with the rear flip chip in the rearward position, has a suspension corrected fork length which is handy if I ever plan to experiment with a gravel fork, and the frame is a touch less relaxed than the Warbird. I would love to get some feedback on this bike in road mode with some 700c x 32's, 650b x 2.4's, and 700c x 2.1's if possible. Seems like maybe some light and wide carbon rims paired with some 700x48 Oracle Ridge tires would be a killer gravel setup.

Other bikes I'm looking at are the OPEN WIDE which is probably a better riding bike than the OTSO but its 1x only, press fit BB, and 1k more than the Waheela frameset. I also found a 2022 Stigmata CC which will only clear 700c x 47's but has that more upright geo and quite a bit lighter than the others. Please let me know if there's anything else to consider keeping in mind I want huge tire clearance and a carbon frameset.

I will add that I test rode the 2022 Checkpoint yesterday and it was a tank, couldn't wait to get off it.

 

[bitflogger]

Only a brief dealer on property look. It seemed nice.

That said, any 47 - 55 mm tires will make for "tank" feel. We have 2 steel bikes and a Moots Routt 45 where I don't think many would call it a tank. I've tried my light plastic wheels on steel and titanium bikes. Tried same wheels on a plastic Trek. The big tires serve a purpose but change behavior of the bike.

If you thought the Checkpoint was a tank it might have had lower level wheels or you might be in for disappointment with other bikes.

It's probably more money than the Otso, but I found titanium solved press fit bb crap, fit, and is great for how you can and should use a gravel (sh_tty road) bike. There was a moment of sticker shock getting the Moots this past summer but about 2000 miles in I have no regrets.

All the ti bikes I tried and tested were nice but they're not created equally. Many seem to use a same size tube set. The Moots has amazing responsiveness the plastic frames had but even nicer ride.

If you don't want too slack, be aware lots of gravel bikes are going that way. If you don't want "tank" you don't want big tires or any wheels that are not rather top shelf. The best aspect of all the tests or trials I did might have been trying same Bontrager Aeolus wheels and GR1 tires with 4 different bikes.

 

[dvdslw45]

Only a brief dealer on property look. It seemed nice.

That said, any 47 - 55 mm tires will make for "tank" feel. We have 2 steel bikes and a Moots Routt 45 where I don't think many would call it a tank. I've tried my light plastic wheels on steel and titanium bikes. Tried same wheels on a plastic Trek. The big tires serve a purpose but change behavior of the bike.

If you thought the Checkpoint was a tank it might have had lower level wheels or you might be in for disappointment with other bikes.

The Checkpoint I test rode was a top end SL7 with E-Tap, Aeolus Pro 3v Carbon wheels, and top tier 40mm tubeless tires. I was really surprised just how bad the bike felt compared to my previous Warbird with Zipp 303s wheelset and 47mm Teravail Rutlands.

 

[smoothmoose]

What size are you? Larger 29er x 45mm+ wheels on dropbar aren't really for anyone shorter than a size 56/58 or Large IMO. Too much toe overlap. I get toe overlap on my size 50 - 650b x 2.2.

 

[Funoutside]

I can't speak for the carbon version, but I do have the steel version in a medium with 29x2.1 tires & really like it. Less so on road vs 43mm, but that's to be expected. The carbon Lithic fork is a bit stiff & I hear the optional fork(which I think is the Enve fork with the mounts) is supposed to be a bit less stiff, while offering the same clearance. This steel almost feels like a forever bike with hot versatile it can be. Like in the short mode with 38mm tires it was good as an endurance road bike. With 29x2.1 tires in long I have done some chunky & dry fire-roads that I personally wouldn't do on anything less than 48mm tires(pref 29 for the rollover).

I've yet to try in 650b/27.5 but I think max there is 2.25 & undersized 2.3s. With 29x2.1 on i25 wheelset it looks like I can fit 29x2.2 fork & in the rear 2.1 would be the max. My local riding area rarely sees mud & is just dry. But if I did see mud I probably wouldn't go larger than 29x2.0 front & 48mm rear.

 

[dvdslw45]

What size are you? Larger 29er x 45mm+ wheels on dropbar aren't really for anyone shorter than a size 56/58 or Large IMO. Too much toe overlap. I get toe overlap on my size 50 - 650b x 2.2.

I'm 6'4 and ride an XL or 60-61cm.

 

[dvdslw45]

I did just go look at an OTSO Waheela C in stock at a local shop and its a beautiful bike in person. The one they had was a 1x GRX, XL frame, DT 1600 wheels with 240 hubs, and was lighter than I expected at 20lbs even. That's with crappy tires, stock saddle, aluminum bars, and aluminum seat post. Odd that the Lithic Fork has external routing but not a deal breaker.

 

[Funoutside]

The only routing on the fork is for the dynamo setup, at least that's how it is on mine. I know there is a newer version of the fork with 3-pack mount, but I'm not sure what else they changed for the update.

I have the base steel version(2x Shimano) with the DTSwiss C1800 & 43mm SK+ tires setup tubeless came in at a little over 24lbs. So 20lbs for the carbon model is very good.

 

[Volsung]

I ran 29x2 in my stainless Warakin which had similar geometry. It got feeling pretty tall since there's a pretty retro BB drop. Fine for going in straight lines though.

 

[bitflogger]

The Checkpoint I test rode was a top end SL7 with E-Tap, Aeolus Pro 3v Carbon wheels, and top tier 40mm tubeless tires. I was really surprised just how bad the bike felt compared to my previous Warbird with Zipp 303s wheelset and 47mm Teravail Rutlands.

I doubt weight (you said "tank") was much different but I'm certain the Trek and Salsa would feel very different via very different top and seat tube style, steeper, and they had long stems too. The Checkpoint was not for me but not a tank. My 1966 Schwinn Typhoon and Fargo are tanks.

 

[Funoutside]

I can't speak for the C as I have the steel. But both can fit 29x2.1 tires in 440mm, which has been great on rough gravel for a bike that's relatively light. I am sure with a steel fork it would be a bit closer to a tank for me, but the fork feels stout enough to not have me too nervious.

 

[dvdslw45]

Thanks for all the replies, ended up buying a 2022 Stigmata frameset to build up.