E-bikes are now being designed with new technologies which is making them more interesting than before. They no longer have the standard bike design, you can now use them as cargo bikes, commuter bikes, road bikes, or even beach cruisers. You can now enjoy cycling in many ways and the Orbea Rise is one of those versatile bikes.
I have always loved cycling outdoors but since covid, I have opted to do most of my exercise indoors and occasionally venturing outside to go to the gym or the opened parks once a week. To fully utilize the short riding time outdoors, I opted to look for an e-mountain bike with more power and speed. The Orbea Rise is a good choice with its light frame and unique motor.
Orbea Rise M-Team breakdown and Review
The Orbea Rise is an incredibly light e-mountain bike and has a unique new Shimano EP8 motor to deliver a solid performance on the trails. This bike has been designed to shine on fast-paced trail sessions and long sporty rides. The Rise looks more or less like the Occam when it comes to its OMR carbon frame and swingarm and similar suspension designs. There are also similarities in the geometry for both bikes and like the Occam, the Rise gives you a choice between the 140mm or 150mm fork, the same with the seat tube and head tube angles, 140mm rear suspension, and stack numbers and roomy reach. However, the Rise has a longer chainstay of 445mm than the Occam 440mm.
What we liked
- Incredibly light bike
- Powerful motor
- Well balanced geometry
What we didn’t like
- Loud clunking noise inside the motor
Specification
| Features | Specs |
|---|---|
| Weight | 18.18 kg |
| Motor | Shimano EP8 RS 60 Nm |
| Battery | 360Wh + 252Wh range extender |
| Fork | Fox 36 factory grip2 |
| Tires | Maxxis Minion DHF/dissector 2.5"/2.4" |
Features
Motor and battery
The Shimano EP8 motor is a very light motor with a 60 Nm torque and a 75 to 95 rpm along with a 360Wh battery. It will deliver a very natural riding experience and when combined with the low weight and agile handling, you’ll ride through technical climbs using your riding skills instead of relying on the raw power of the motor.
Geometry
The Rise and Occam have similar geometry apart from the 5mm longer chainstay. The 150mm front fork travel and the 140mm at the rear are enough to get you almost anywhere.
Drivetrain
The 1×12 Shimano XTR drivetrain with 12-speed will provide fast, accurate, and reliable shifting even when the motor is under full load.
Who is it best suited for?
The Orbea Rise is a great trail bike for aggressive trail riders who want to go downhill faster without paying the penalty of traditional e-bikes.
Are there alternatives?
| Model | Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo | Trek rail 9.9 X01 |
|---|---|---|
| Motor | Specialized 2.2 | Bosch performance line CX |
| Battery capacity | 700Wh | 625Wh |
| Torque Nm | 90 | 85 |
| Fork travel | 160mm/150mm | 160mm/150mm |
Verdict. So, should you buy the Orbea Rise?
Yes, you should because it’s a great trail bike that has a powerful motor and battery, balanced geometry, great suspension, and is more agile.
FAQ
Is Orbea a good bike brand?
Yes, it is. The bikes are made from advanced carbon and aluminum and quality components.
Is Orbea better than Trek?
Orbea has a better head angle while trek is too steep. Orbea has more stack, is more comfortable, and is better for steep slopes.