“OMG! Which MTB…?” The search for the right mountain bike can be really difficult – the market is huge and the selection even bigger. For many, especially with a full-suspension bike, 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 one, always expensive? Fortunately not, because there are manufacturers like Octane One who 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 intensively for around 2000€.
Please note: Our test was conducted with a model in an older configuration, updates have since been made!
General Info 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 slim tubes and a fairly clean appearance… the OMG from Octane One is impressive!
From a distance, the OMG makes a high-quality impression, it really doesn't look like a mountain bike for which you pay under 2,000€! You pay significantly more for many MTBs, but since Octane One has already succeeded in the past in bridging the gap between affordable and stylish bikes with its products, we were really excited for the first few meters after unpacking…
Octane One is the specialist for affordable bikes
Octane One not familiar to you yet? We can change that! The company is a typical by-mountain-bikers-for-mountain-bikers store based in Poland. In addition to affordable full-suspension and hardtail bikes, Octane One now also offers gravel bikes and a lot of bike parts. Of course, the proprietary parts also adorn the OMG Enduro bike, and they offer a clear advantage: The manufacturer was able to construct an excellent overall package without purchasing many parts and still install a high-quality suspension on the otherwise affordable full-suspension bike.
Our test OMG is entirely black and impresses with a modern look, but there are other paint options. The hydro-formed aluminum tubes look nicely discreet and are not adorned with excessively large company logos. Thus, the overall impression is firstly nicely clean, and there is still enough room 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 available much 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 an overall very modern geometry. Already 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 180cm tall test rider, size M was absolutely fitting, because with an effective top tube length of 631 mm and a reach of 455 mm, the OMG is overall relatively long. The test repeatedly confirmed that our size choice was the right decision – the bike convinces with smoothness, and at the same time, it's easy to apply pressure to the flat cockpit. The long wheelbase of 1215mm and the 65.5-degree slack head angle provide stability, but the OMG remains sufficiently agile with its 438 mm short chainstays and allows playful movement over the trails.
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The combination of 29 inches + geo also rolls effortlessly over obstacles on demanding and fast trails, staying perfectly under control. |
The geometry is modern, convincing with a good balance between smoothness and agility, positioning the rider very centrally on the bike – perfect for really hitting the trail. Overall, the geometry of the Octane One is a successful mix of rideability and agility, a well-functioning full suspension indeed.
How does the OMG perform uphill?
But even on the uphill, the OMG impresses with a rear suspension that only slightly bobs, but the slight bobbing of the shock can of course be blocked with a lockout. The seating position is comfortable even on the uphill, and you get enough pressure on the pedals to master steeper climbs.
- Developed for 29-inch tires
- Great smoothness
- Good mix of stability and agility
- Climbs comfortably
The drive of the OMG is a mix of components from various 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. Thus, the enduro bike is perfectly equipped for all types of trails and easily withstands 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 were able to perfectly adjust both the Manitou Machete Comp fork and the Manitou Radium Expert shock to the rider's weight on the OMG. No complicated screwing actions needed, the exchange of springs for a suitable hardness grade is eliminated. Another advantage: The suspension can be spontaneously adjusted to the trail at any time 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 Kwik compression damping. We were able to perfectly adjust the fork's suspension behavior, and the test showed... a real gain for the ride behavior! The OMG uses the full suspension travel with the correct suspension setup, and the progression of the suspension travel increases steeply towards the end. Thus, the fork responds gently in the first third of the suspension 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 Shock!
With the Radium Expert shock, it is similar. The shock responds gently and then provides sufficient reserves. Additionally, it also features a lockout that blocks the shock – optimal for longer uphill passages.
Overall, we would describe the suspension as very balanced. Fork and shock harmonize and provide a homogeneous riding feel. The frame geometry allows the suspension elements to respond gently, so you maintain control even on challenging trails.
Precise control on any terrain: The frame damper absorbs roots, stones, and drops with confidence.
3. The OMG relies on a drive mix
The Octane One is delivered with a 1x11 drive composed of components from various manufacturers. The Zeron crankset 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 fast gear changes and clean shifting. The KMC chain occasionally slipped off the front chainring, but after shortening the chain by two links, there was enough 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 still hydraulic Shimano MT-200 disc brakes. The 2-piston brake offers really good performance on the trail. It is sharp and can be well modulated, even if the brake lever could be a bit more delicate for three fingers. On descents several kilometers long, where one naturally brakes a lot, it becomes noticeable that the stoppers reach their limits and no longer decelerate as strongly as before. On our home trail rounds and also on most bike park tracks, the MT-200 is completely 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 of use, so we had to remove the wheel and tighten the nuts once.
On the rims are Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires mounted, which performed excellently on summery dry soils. Both on hard and soft soils, the fresh Nobby Nics provided decent grip and were also easy to control in the limit range. On wet ground, 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 plus when going uphill – you just make good progress!
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 update here and put on more robust tires.
The tire of the OMG does a solid job, at least on dry ground.
Components
The cockpit comes directly from the house of Octane One. The handlebar is 760 mm wide and the stem is 45mm long. This combination allows you to apply decent pressure on the front wheel, so we had full control at all times. For our taste, the handlebar could be a bit wider, especially if you mainly ride downhill, but of course, that is a matter of preference.
The X-Fusion Manic telescopic seat post is mechanically controlled with a remote lever from the handlebar and has 125 mm of travel. With a correctly selected frame height, this is sufficient to almost fully sink the seat post and achieve an optimal seating position with the post extended. The mechanism works flawlessly and the height of the saddle can be adjusted steplessly with little effort.
Our conclusion 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 convinced us in the test not only in terms of price-performance but also regarding functionality. |
For around 2000€, you buy a fully-fledged trail and enduro bike, with which you can have real fun on various terrains. The geometry is modern and fully designed for both downhill and uphill use. Of course, the components are not high-end, but they offer a good and solid base. With small updates here and there, you will certainly still enjoy this bike in a few years.
Overall, we can recommend the MTB with a clear conscience. The Octane One OMG is not just a pure entry-level bike, even advanced riders with a smaller budget will really have fun with this full-suspension bike!
More tests in the BMO Bike Blog:
