With clearance for 29 x 2.1″ or 27.5 x 2.25″ tires and loads of mounts, the Otso Waheela C is an interesting beast with lots of bikepacking potential. The 2020 Waheela was just updated with new colors and specs. See more here…

We first saw the carbon Waheela C at last year’s Sea Otter event. With adjustable geometry and nearly unrivaled tire clearance for a gravel/road bike, it’s quite an interesting drop bar machine. Plus, it has a few extra mounting points for bottles and racks, and now has a new look with two new colors and upgraded builds.

  • 2020 Otso Waheela C
  • 2020 Otso Waheela C
  • 2020 Otso Waheela C
  • 2020 Otso Waheela C
  • 2020 Otso Waheela C

The most impressive spec on the 2020 Otso Whaeela C is its tire clearance. Most gravel bikes can fit wide 650b tires, and some can fit 27.5 x 2.1″ tires, but most stop there and can’t quite squeeze in 700c tires over 45mm wide. Despite its gravel-oriented geometry, the Waheela C has room for full 29” x 2.1” (700c x 53mm) or 27.5 x 2.25″ tires. And for those muddy Midwest gravel races, there’s a lot of extra room when it’s shod with 700c x 42mm rubber.

2020 Otso Waheela C
  • 2020 Otso Waheela C
  • 2020 Otso Waheela C

Aside from the tire clearance, perhaps the most interesting feature on the Waheela C (just like the Warakin Ti Lucas recently reviewed) is Otso’s patented Tuning Chip rear dropout, which allows you to to adjust the bike’s geometry based on terrain and riding style. In effect, the Tuning Chip lengthens or shortens the wheelbase by up to 20mm (which also raises or lowers the bottom bracket height by 4mm). The system consists of two chips with three positions—the rear position is for long rides that require stability and comfort, and the front position makes the bike more nimble for use on twisty trails. Then there’s a middle position for something in between. Unlike a sliding dropout, there’s no positioning screws to fiddle with.

2020 Otso Waheela C
  • 2020 Otso Waheela C
  • 2020 Otso Waheela C
  • 2020 Otso Waheela C

Between the Tuning Chip, mounts, and tire clearance, the Waheela C looks to provide a lot of options. It’s available as a frame, fork, and headset for $2,550, or as a complete bike with Shimano GRX for $3,600. Further details can be found at OtsoCycles.com.

  • 2020 Otso Waheela C
  • Otso Waheela C Geometry
  • 2020 Otso Waheela C

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