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Bike Perfect

Lifestyle

Graham Cottingham

Orbea lowers the cost of its Rise lightweight e-MTB with new carbon and alloy models

Orbea Shimano Fox

Orbea Rise SL H20 studio picture with a black background.

Back in May, Orbea released the latest iteration of its Rise lightweight e-MTB. The fourth edition of the Orbea Rise followed the same design layout as the previous editions combining a lightweight carbon frame with an exclusive RS (Rider Synergy) tuned Shimano motor.

The initial launch saw the release of Orbea’s best e-MTB spec bikes, but now the Spanish brand has added an entry spec carbon model plus several alloy builds of the Rise

The hydroformed alloy frames have the same updated beefed-up Rise configuration, featuring an asymmetric design and added reinforcement tube to enhance the frame's stiffness. Orbea quoted that the medium unpainted carbon frame weighed 2.2kg without a shock but hasn’t provided any specific weights for the alloy frames or builds.

The Rise comes in two formats, the SL shown here and a longer travel LT version (Image credit: Orbea )

As with the carbon models, the Rise Hydro will also be available in SL and LT versions. The LT features a 160mm fork and 150mm rear suspension which is adjustable with a flip-chip and has slacker geometry that's similar to Obea’s Occam enduro bike. The SL uses similar geometry to the previous Rise and a shorter 140mm of suspension front and rear that's aimed at longer distance singletrack adventures.

Unlike other lightweight models which opt for e-MTB motors like Bosch’s SX or Fazua’s Ride 60, Orbea instead has specced a Gen 2 Shimano EP801 RS motor. This custom-tuned model is designed to give a more natural riding experience and is featured on the top-spec Rise LT H10. The entry-level carbon and alloy versions feature a Shimano EP600 RS Gen2 MC motor rather than an EP801. The EP600 is heavier than the EP801 but still delivers 56Nm of torque in the standard RS mode Both RS-tuned motors feature Orbea’s new RS+ mode which boosts power output to 85Nm at lower cadences for when you need to steep inclines.

Orbea has equipped the entry level Rise bikes with a Shimano EP600 RS Gen2 MC motor (Image credit: Orbea )

All bikes come equipped with a 630Wh battery featuring Orbea’s new generation high-density cell technology, with the option of a 420Wh Internal battery at purchase. There’s an additional 210Wh range extender available should you want to extend your ride further.

The new bikes offer a considerably lower cost entry point to Orbea’s Rise e-MTB range. On initial release, the Orbea Rise range started at $8,699 / £7,199 / €7,999 for the Rise SL M10 and $8,999 / £7,599 / €8,499 for the Rise LT M10.

Now the Rise LT M20 spec bike featuring a Fox 36 Float Performance 160 Grip fork, Shimano EP600 RS Gen2 MC, Shimano SLX groupset, and Race Face wheels is available for $7,299 / £6,299 / €6,999. The similarly specced Rise SL M20 with a Fox 34 Float Performance 140 fork will cost $7,099 / £6,099 / €6,599.

The H20 spec alloy Rise bikes also feature a Shimano EP600 RS Gen2 MC and Shimano SLX groupset combo but use Fox‘s more basic specced RAIL damper forks to lower the price further. The Rise LT H20 costs $5,999 / £5,099 / €5,999 and the Rise SL H20 will retail for $5,899 / £4,999 / €5,499. There is also a higher spec Rise LT H10 that has the Shimano EP801 RS Gen2 MC, Fox 36 Performance, and a Shimano XT groupset that will cost $6,999 / £5,999 / €6,499.