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The Orbea Rise M20 eMTB is an e-bike that is garnering a lot of attention on the shop floor, and for one obvious reason, it doesn’t look like an e-bike! Yes, this sleek mountain bike does indeed possess an e-MTB motor and internal battery. It’s just so discrete it really is a case of blink and you’ll miss it. From the first minute you lay eyes on the Rise it’s obvious that Orbea have set out to do something entirely different to the normal understanding of what a contemporary e-mountain bike should be.
Blink and you’ll miss it. Yes, folks this is indeed an e-mountain bike.
Orbea’s design brief was simple for the Rise – create an e-MTB that was less ‘e’ and more ’bike’. A lightweight e-MTB that’s more agile and maneuverable but can accommodate a full day of riding, helping riders to push the limits without conceding to an overly powerful motor and heavy battery; aspects of a conventional e-MTB that can sometimes take some of the fun away from a long ride on the trails. In a nut-shell Orbea gives a more authentic ‘acoustic ride’ feel with just the right amount of pedal assistance to help you reach more epic locations and strike out on longer mountain bike adventures; this is a whole new e-MTB riding experience and will suit a great number of mountain bikers who so far have been put off by the extra weight penalties of a typical e-MTB.
A lightweight OMR carbon frame and stripped-back drive system brings the Rise M20 closer in looks and ride-quality to its acoustic cousins.
At the heart of the Orbea Rise is their unique Rider Synergy (RS) Concept. The Orbea design team wanted to deliver a new riding standard – ‘less e delivers more bike’, helping the riding to become more natural with a motor which enhances the ride, without dominating it. Orbea call this sentiment ‘rider synergy’ (RS), reflecting a design approach which sees range, power and interface being considered as one.
Orbea’s Rider Synergy (RS) concept has been specifically developed with Shimano to echo authentic pedaling cadence input.
The RS motor was developed in partnership with Shimano and consists of the already popular EP8 e-MTB motor but with modified hardware. The unique Orbea RS firmware means the motor responds with more power; when you pedal harder the Shimano motor responds with more power giving full assistance in the right places at the right times. It’s smooth rider assistance responding to rider force with no lag or drag, just and elastic, natural pedaling feel. The unique RS firmware has changed the behaviour of the EP8 motor with a smoother power band and responsive echoing of cadence input, especially in the 75-90rpm range.
Orbea have worked closely with Shimano to tune their popular EP8 motor with modified hardware.
When you pedal harder the Shimano motor responds with more power giving full assistance in the right places at the right times.
The Shimano EP8 motor’s Orbea RS firmware provides a subtle yet powerful 60Nm of torque (limited from the motor’s standard 85Nm) so that the RISE feels completely natural, giving an enhanced feel of your body’s own engine. Orbea developed their own RS battery, creating the lightest, smallest and most discrete battery out there; because of the bike’s light weight battery consumption is greatly reduced; a greater reliance on your legs means battery range is extended, with 4 hours of riding on one charge or for even longer rides you can use an Orbea range extender and give an additional 612Kw of power for up to 8 hours of riding and more than 8,000m of climbing in Eco mode. The low weight of the RISE also makes it feel agile and sporty, and battery consumption is significantly reduced. And with RISE you can keep pedaling for longer as the bike is designed to take you further. The total ride time with the onboard battery and portable range extender is 8 hours and more than 4,000m of climbing in Eco mode.
Discretion is the name of the game when it comes to the design of the Rise e-MTB, with the inclusion of the drive system being very neatly integrated into the frame.
When it comes to the connection between bike and rider the Orbea Rise RS Interface is sleek and simple. Orbea were clear at the outset – they didn’t want any unnecessary displays, sensors, extra wires or glowing buttons; a traditional, uncluttered bike was what the designers were aiming for and this was critical for their RS concept. There’s a compact button shifter on the left of the handlebar allowing you to toggle between Eco, Trail and Boost modes along with two tiny LEDs to broadcast data.
A super-compact button shifter on the left of the handlebar lets you toggle between Eco, Trail and Boost modes.
A tiny LED display integrated into the Rise’s electronic cable lets you know how much power you’ve got left on your ride.
Orbea’s charging port sits near the motor, with its ‘Clean Clip’ sealing securely with their RS Range Extender battery (bought separately) it you’re using one.
The Orbea Rise M20 boasts 140mm of plush rear wheel travel, making it a capable motor-assisted trail bike.
The rear Fox Float DPS Performance shock has been custom tuned to keep up with the demands of aggressive trail riding.
It’s quickly become the standard; 148mm boost rear spacing for a super-stiff junction between the rear triangle and wheel.
The Rise M20 features progressive trail geometry including a suitably slack head angle.
Seamlessly matching the rear of the Rise M20 a pair of Fox Float Performance forks upfront feature 140mm of travel to take the big hits.
A lock-out on the top of the fork lets you firm up your ride when you’re pedalling back uphill.
The Rise M20’s groupset is predominately made up of Shimano SLX components.
A 12-speed Shimano SLX rear derailleur keeps gear shifting smooth and predictable.
Shimano’s SLX trigger shifter provides light, precise gear shifting at your fingertips.
Orbea have spec’d a durable chainset from e*thirteen, with a 32T chainring.
The e*thirteen Plus Alu crank is built to cope with the extra forces incurred from an e-bike motor.
Shimano have a great reputation for producing powerful, easy to modulate hydraulic braking in all riding conditions.
Compact Shimano BL-M6100 brake levers feel great, with just the right amount of lever-pull delivering ample braking power.
Canadian brand RaceFace make durable, lightweight and fast-rolling 29er wheels that are perfectly suited to the Orbea Rise M20.
Pre-empting the sort of high-speed, technical terrain you’re bound to seek out on the Rise, Orbea have spec’d a pair of gravity-focused tyres from Maxxis.
A Maxxis Rekon on the rear provides plenty of traction under power while still being fast-rolling thanks to a sophisticated tread pattern.
Upfront a substantial 2.40″ Maxxis Dissector keeps you in control when the Ride M20 is pointed downhill.
Those aggressive side-knobs will provide plenty of grip on tight, loose turns.
Rounding out the Rise M20 is a collection of own-brand Orbea OC1 components including the stem and handlebar.
Nice wide 780mm handlebars give you plenty of control, helping you to wrestle your Rise through the most technical terrain.
Beyond the Orbea’s carbon chassis and Shimano drive system the Rise M20 features a confidence-inspiring 140mm of plush suspension travel on the front and rear, provided by market leaders RockShox. A brilliantly functional mix of Shimano components make up the groupset, with a reliable SLX trigger shifter and 12-speed rear derailleur providing light-touch, precise gear selections in any riding conditions. Slowing down this super-fun e-MTB needs to be immediate and effective, with the Rise’s progressive trail geometry and capable suspension platform pulling you ever nearer to the edge of control every time you ride. Shimano BR-M6100 brakes will scrub off speed in an instant, keeping you in control when your riding gets really rowdy, with those classic compact Shimano brake levers feeling great in your hands with just the right amount of lever pull.
We love the Orbea Rise M20 e-MTB; it signifies a bold approach from the Spanish brand and promises a more authentic ride feel with a sensible amount of assistance and a really natural ride quality. With its sleek, lightweight carbon chassis, beautifully integrated drive-system and modern trail-focused geometry the Rise looks and feels just like an acoustic 140mm-travel mountain bike ready for fast, frenetic riding on your favourite singletrack. The almost invisible, nearly silent Shimano EP8 RS motor will enhance your ride rather than completely dominate it; the EP8 RS motor simply amplifies the power that you put in, keeping you riding for longer and more efficiently, thus making your precious riding time that much more enjoyable.
An e-MTB with a more authentic ride feel, we’re big fans of this latest development from brand-leaders Orbea.
Orbea Rise M20 2022 RRP £5,899.00
Full Specification:
- Frame: Orbea Rise OMR 2021 140mm travel 29″ C-Boost 12×148
- Rear Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance 3-Position Evol custom tune 210x55mm
- Fork: Fox 34 Float Performance 140 3-Position QR15x110
- Motor: Shimano EP8-RS
- Display: Shimano EW-EN100 Junction
- Remote: Shimano E700
- Battery: Orbea RS Internal 360Wh
- Charger: Orbea RS Charger (36V-2A)
- Crank: e*thirteen Plus Alu
- Chainring: e*thirteen e*spec Direct Mount 32T Boost
- Chainguide: Orbearise
- Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed
- Chain: Shimano M6100
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano SLX M7100 SGS Shadow Plus
- Shifters: Shimano SLX M7100 I-Spec EV
- Handlebar: OC1 35mm 12mm Rise 780mm
- Grips: OC1 Lock-on
- Stem: OC1 3D Forged 35mm interface 7º
- Headset: Acros Alloy 1-1/8 – 1-1/2″ Integrated
- Brake Levers: Shimano BL-M6100
- Brakes: Shimano BR-M6100
- Wheels: Race Face AR 30c Tubeless Ready
- Front Tyre: Maxxis Dissector 2.40″ 60 TPI 3CMaxxTerra Exo TLR
- Rear Tyre: Maxxis Rekon 2.40″ 120 TPI 3CMaxxTerra Exo+ TLR
- Saddle: Fizik Taiga S-alloy rail Consult other components
- Seat Post: OC1 Mountail Control MC20, 31.6mm Dropper
- Seatpost Lever: Shimano SL-MT500 I-Spec EV
Written by Johnny Dodgin
Photos by James Vincent
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