“OMG! Which MTB…?” The search for the right mountain bike can be really difficult – the market is huge and the selection even larger. For many, especially with full-suspension bikes, the end of the line comes at the latest when looking at the price tag.
Therefore, the question arises: Is a good MTB, especially a full-suspension, always expensive? Fortunately not, because there are manufacturers like Octane One that offer really affordable complete bikes. But are these mountain bikes really suitable for unbridled fun on the trail? We tried it out and tested the Octane One OMG Enduro for around 2000€ intensively.
Please note: Our test was conducted with a model in an older configuration, updates have since been made!
General information about the Octane One OMG
Before the test ride comes the purchase – or in this case: the order. As mentioned… the price is pleasantly affordable. But what awaits us in the shipping box?
Rather slender tubes and a fairly clean appearance… the OMG from Octane One is quite a sight!
From a distance, the OMG makes a high-quality impression, it really doesn’t look like a mountain bike you pay less than 2,000€ for! For many MTBs, you pay significantly more, but since Octane One has already managed in the past to bridge the gap between affordable and stylish bicycles with its products, we were really excited for the first few meters after unpacking…
Octane One is the specialist for affordable bicycles
Octane One is not a familiar name to you yet? We can change that! The company is a typical by-mountain-bikers-for-mountain-bikers shop based in Poland. In addition to affordable full-suspensions and hardtails Octane One now also offers gravel bikes and a lot of bicycle parts. Naturally, the proprietary parts also adorn the OMG Enduro bike and they offer a clear advantage: The manufacturer was able to construct an excellent overall product without having to buy many parts and still install a high-quality suspension on the overall affordable full-suspension bike.
Our test OMG is completely black and impresses with a modern look, but there are other paint options. The hydro-formed aluminum tubes appear nicely discreet and are not adorned with excessively large company logos. Thus, the overall impression is first of all nicely clean and there is still enough space for individual design, for example with frame protection films, frame bags, or individual decals.
General information about the Octane One OMG at a glance:
- The Octane One OMG costs around 2000 euros, often significantly cheaper in sales.
- Octane One is a Polish brand known for high-quality, affordable bikes
- Aluminum frame
- clean overall impression
But can an affordable Enduro also convince on the trail? We tried it out, here is our detailed test report.
The Octane One OMG: Our Test
We tested the Octane One OMG with 130/140 mm travel on various home trails, in the trail park, and in the bike park - uphill, downhill, and over rough and smooth.
Here are some facts about our equipment variant of the Octane One OMG:
1. The Geometry of the OMG
Octane One has specifically designed the OMG for 29-inch wheels and given it a very modern geometry overall. Even during the first test rides in the parking lot, it becomes clear that this bike is well balanced and the seating position is nicely centered in the frame.
For our 180 cm tall test rider, size M was absolutely suitable, as with an effective top tube length of 631 mm and a reach of 455 mm, the OMG is relatively long overall. The test repeatedly confirmed that our choice of size was the right decision - the bike impresses with stability and simultaneously allows effortless pressure on the flat cockpit. The long wheelbase of 1215 mm and the 65.5-degree slack head angle provide stability, but the OMG remains sufficiently agile with its 438 mm short chainstays and can be playfully maneuvered over the trails.
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The combination of 29 inches + geo rolls effortlessly over obstacles on demanding and fast trails and remains well under control. |
The geometry is modern, convinces with a good balance between stability and agility, and positions the rider very centrally on the bike - perfect for really letting it rip on the trail. Overall, the geometry of the Octane One is a successful mix of ride enjoyment and agility, a well-functioning full-suspension indeed.
How does the OMG perform uphill?
But even when going uphill, the OMG impresses with a rear suspension that only bobs slightly, but the slight bobbing of the damper can of course be blocked with a lockout. The seating position is also comfortable uphill, and you get enough pressure on the pedals to master even steeper climbs.
- Designed for 29-inch tires
- Great smoothness
- Good mix of stability and agility
- Climbs pleasantly
The drive of the OMG is a mix of components from different manufacturers – perfect for a successful price-performance ratio.
2. The suspension of the OMG
The OMG offers with its Manitou air suspension 130 mm travel at the rear and 140 mm travel at the front. So the enduro bike is perfectly equipped for all types of trails and can easily withstand a weekend visit to the bike park.
In the price range of MTBs under 2,000€, air suspensions are not commonplace, so it was all the nicer that we could perfectly adjust both the Manitou Machete Comp fork and the Manitou Radium Expert damper to the rider's weight on the OMG. No complicated screwing actions needed, the exchange of springs for a suitable hardness is eliminated. Another advantage: The suspension can also be spontaneously adjusted to the trail while on the go .
The fork in use
The Machete Comp fork offers, in addition to the air chamber, the possibility to adjust the TPC rebound and the Kwik compression damping. We could perfectly adjust the fork's suspension behavior, and the test showed... a real gain for the riding behavior! The OMG uses the full suspension travel with correct suspension settings, and the progression of the suspension travel increases steeply towards the end. Thus, the fork responds gently in the first third of the travel and becomes increasingly progressive to absorb larger impacts well without bottoming out.
No impact remains unresolved – the fork turns the trail into a carpet.
OMG! What a damper!
The Radium Expert damper behaves similarly. The damper responds gently and then offers sufficient reserves. It also has a lockout that blocks the damper – optimal for longer uphill sections.
Overall, we would describe the suspension as very balanced. Fork and damper harmonize and offer a homogeneous riding feel. The geometry of the frame allows the suspension elements to respond gently, so you maintain control even on demanding trails.
Precise control on any terrain: The frame damper absorbs roots, stones, and drops confidently.
3. The OMG relies on a drive mix
The Octane One is delivered with a 1x11 drive that consists of components from various manufacturers. The Zeron crank with chainring from Suntour is combined with a SRAM Power Spline bottom bracket and a Sunrace 11-46 cassette. A Shimano SLX derailleur and an SL-M7000 shifter are used as the shifting unit. And the test shows: The combination works flawlessly. It provides both downhill and uphill quick gear changes and clean shifting. The KMC chain occasionally came off the front chainring, but after shortening the chain by two links, there was sufficient chain tension in the lower gears.
Drive overview:
- 1-11 speed drive
- Suntour Zeron crank + chainring
- SRAM Power Spline bottom bracket
- Sunrace 11-46 cassette
- Shimano SLX derailleur
4. Brakes
Octane One relies on the affordable yet hydraulic Shimano MT-200 disc brakes. The 2-piston brake offers really good performance on the trail. It is sharp and easy to modulate, even if the brake lever could be a bit more delicate for three fingers. On descents several kilometers long, where you naturally brake a lot, it becomes noticeable that the stoppers reach their limits and do not decelerate as strongly as before. On our home trail rounds and most bike park tracks, the MT-200 is fully sufficient.
Your workspace in close-up – the cockpit of the Octane One OMG.
Solid wheels & tires
To ensure optimal rolling properties, Octane One has opted for 29-inch wheels and adjusted the frame geometry accordingly. The Solar-Trail wheels come from the company's own production and are tubeless ready. In the test, the wheels performed well with conventional tires. Even after several impacts down to the rim, no defects or imbalances are visible. The rolling properties are good, only the cone nuts on the rear wheel had slightly loosened after a week in use, so we had to remove the wheel once and retighten the nuts.
Mounted on the rims are Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires which performed excellently on dry summer soils. Both on hard and soft grounds, the fresh Nobby Nics provided plenty of grip and were controllable even at the limit. On wet surfaces, the grip noticeably decreased, but the bike could still be controlled well at an adjusted speed. The rolling resistance is very low, which is a real advantage uphill - you can make good progress!
However, with an adrenaline-charged enduro or bike park use, the Nobby Nics are somewhat overwhelmed and more prone to punctures or flats. Depending on what you plan to do, you might consider an upgrade here and opt for more robust tires.
The tire of the OMG does solid work, at least on dry ground.
Components
The cockpit comes directly from Octane One. The handlebar is 760 mm wide and the stem is 45mm long. This combination allows you to put plenty of pressure on the front wheel, so we had full control at all times. In our opinion, the handlebar could be a bit wider, especially if you are mainly downhill, but of course, that's a matter of taste.
The X-Fusion Manic dropper seatpost is mechanically controlled with a remote lever from the handlebar and has a travel of 125 mm. This is sufficient with a correctly chosen frame height to almost fully lower the seatpost and achieve an optimal seating position with the post extended. The mechanism works flawlessly and the height of the saddle can be adjusted continuously with little effort.
Our verdict on the Octane One OMG
If you buy a Golf, you shouldn't expect a Porsche... with this motto, we tested the Octane One OMG and didn't have too high expectations. When a complete full-suspension bike costs the same as just the suspension fork elsewhere - how much fun is possible without a crash landing?
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Our test really surprised us: An affordable bike can indeed be a capable trail companion. The Octane One OMG not only convinced us in terms of price-performance ratio but also in terms of functionality. |
For around 2000€, you buy a full-fledged trail and enduro bike, with which you can have a lot of fun on various terrains. The geometry is modern and fully designed for downhill as well as uphill use. Of course, the components are not high-end, but they offer a good and solid base. With minor updates here and there, you will surely enjoy this bike for years to come.
Overall, we can wholeheartedly recommend the MTB. The Octane One OMG is not just a beginner's bike, even advanced riders with a smaller budget will really have fun with this full-suspension bike!
More tests in the BMO Bike Blog:
