
Wheelbase were lucky enough to spend some time with Basque bike brand Orbea earlier this year, riding some of their key e-mountain bikes in the foothills of the amazing Pyrenean mountains in Northern Spain. One such bike was the fabulous Orbea Wild – their full-on Enduro e-MTB featuring 160mm of plush suspension travel, sublime trail geometry and the super-efficient Bosch e-bike drive system. After a fantastic ride onboard Orbea’s top-of-the-range M-Team featuring Bosch’s new CX-R race-specific motor, tuned specifically for EWS-E e-MTB racing we were super impressed at how the bike performed on tight, steep technical trails!
As well as an account of our own riding experience on the Wild we thought it would be useful to run through the full range and pick out the key highlights of this super-fun Enduro e-MTB. So for tons of technical info and the full specification of each Wild in the range please read on…
Orbea Wild Fast Facts:
- Intended use: Trail, Enduro, Big Mountain
- Drive system: Bosch CX (CX-R on M-LTD Model)
- Battery Size: 750Wh (M-LTD and H30 feature 625Wh as standard)
- Frame Material: Orbea Wild OMR Carbon (M Models) / Orbea Wild Hydro Alloy (H Models)
- Suspension Configuration: ‘E-Optimized’ e-bike-specific suspension kinematics
- Suspension Travel: 160mm Rear / 160mm Fork (M-LTD features 170mm Fork)
- Wheel Size: 29”
The key highlights behind the Wild’s brilliant performance…
Bosch Drive Unit
All of the bikes in the Orbea Wild range feature a super-efficient Bosch Performance Line CX motor controlled by their Smart System and paired with a choice of 750Wh or 650Wh internal battery. The German brand remain at the forefront of e-bike motor design and their role in this specialist industry since the very early days of development mean that their products are some of the most sophisticated and durable in the bicycle industry.
With the Wild positioned as Orbea’s nailed-on Enduro e-bike it’s interesting to see the Spanish brand fitting their top of the range Wild M-LTD bike with the new CX-R motor, Bosch’s lightest and most powerful e-bike motor which was developed specifically to meet the demands of EWS-E, the E-MTB Enduro Racing category.
I was lucky enough to try this very model during my time at Orbea earlier this year; riding straight out of a remote Pyrenean village and up a steep, wooded valley onto a mountain-top plateau the Wild made short work of the elevation with the Bosch CX-R feeling even more responsive and powerful than the standard motor. On the way back down, as I went to stomp down on the pedals coming out of tight dog-leg turns the pick-up of the motor was instantaneous with a big injection of power.
Battery Size Options
As well as the standard specification of each Wild model listed, there’s also an opportunity to customise your own bike through Orbea’s MyO platform where you are able to configure multiple component choices and select your own custom colours (see Orbea website for more details). One such option is battery size; most of the stock Wild bikes feature the larger capacity 750Wh battery with the lighter 625Wh option only spec’d as standard on the M-LTD (race-focused) bike and the H30 alloy base model.
Orbea’s clever SBS battery system as part of overall frame design means the 650Wh battery and larger 750Wh battery options are both compatible with ALL frame sizes which is great; while most people want the freedom and security of the larger capacity 750Wh battery, those of you who aren’t so concerned with ‘range anxiety’ may prefer the lighter 650Wh option which weighs 900g less making it a great option for Enduro races.
E-Optimised Rigidity
One of the major factors behind the Wild’s supreme handling is the frame’s rigidity. Orbea’s ‘E-Optimised’ design principle helps create a frame which has been carefully tuned to be stiff enough to handle the extra forces generated by the additional weight of the motor and battery. While some other bike brands compromise the overall rigidity of their frames to accommodate removal of the bike’s battery Orbea have chosen to stow the battery internally within a completely sealed downtube with no cut-outs, calling this their ‘SBS’ (Secure Battery System) design. By engineering a straight downtube from bottom bracket to headtube without any unnecessary curves or cut-outs there are no negative effects on overall frame stiffness.
Steep & Deep – Accommodating long travel dropper posts
Orbea had previously introduced their ‘Steep & Deep’ concept on the Rallon non-e Enduro bike and it’s great to see it here on the Wild too. Despite the added complications of the location of the motor at the bottom bracket area Orbea have managed to successfully implement the same design approach. With its short, straight and steep-angled seat tube there’s enough space on all frame sizes to accommodate a long-travel dropper seatpost, allowing you to get the saddle right out of the way quickly when the trails get steep and you need to throw your weight over the back of the bike.
E-Optimised Geometry
The Wild’s carefully refined frame geometry makes a major contribution to how fun and agile this bike feels on steep, technical trails. Calling it ‘E-Optimised Geometry’ Orbea’s aim was to develop an e-mountain bike featuring geometry that wasn’t negatively impacted by the inclusion of the bike’s drive system. In fact the Wild is above all a fantastically capable Enduro bike which largely shares the ‘Evolved Geometry’ found on their non-e Rallon; it just happens to also include a Bosch drive system.
In some cases accommodating an e-bike motor at the bottom bracket area can impact chainstay length, with the need to increase their length, which in turn negatively affects the bike’s handling. It’s not unusual to see a smaller diameter 27.5” rear wheel being spec’d to work around this issue, however this can compromise rear-wheel traction and/or rider’s weight distribution on really steep climbs (I can attest to this having looped-out on just such a bike when I was riding in Turbo mode in attempt to clear a short, sharp, steep climb!). Instead the Wild has been spec’d with short 448mm chainstays which can still accommodate a large diameter 29” wheel while providing natural handling and enhanced traction.
Continuing the theme of sorted, progressive trail geometry this newest generation Wild is now longer and slacker than ever, giving you more confidence at speed; a low standover helps you move more freely around the bike when the trails get steep and techy while the straight, short seat tube which accommodates that long-travel dropper post opens up more frame sizing options allowing you to choose your preferred reach rather than sizing for standover.
When I rode the Wild on unfamiliar trails in the Spanish Pyrenees the bike’s geometry really came into its own. Our guide took use down some of his favourite local trails which he’s been crafting for years and introduced us to a steep, wooded descent featuring over 30 super-tight berms! I was taken aback by just how agile the Wild was on this terrain, allowing me to throw the bike around each turn; the responsive steering was particularly sublime!
E-Optimised Kinematics
Continuing the ‘E-Optimised’ theme which sees Orbea tuning every component part of the Wild to perform at their best when factoring in the extra forces generated by the higher speeds and weight of a e-bike, the Spanish brand have developed their own e-bike-specific suspension kinematics for the Wild.
E-bike suspension brings some unique design challenges; the addition of a powerful motor means that the suspension configuration needs to provide maximum traction to manage the extra forces transferred to the rear wheel. At the same time the Wild’s suspension needs to be able to handle the big hits that go hand in hand with the higher speeds and additional weight of an e-MTB. Orbea have carefully tuned the suspension to behave most naturally in the middle part of the bike’s travel where it spends 90% of its time helping to make the Wild come to life, giving an agile and responsive quality and preventing the suspension from anesthetizing your ride.
Concentric Boost II
Another major consideration in suspension design is the negative effect of braking heavily, with the potential for this to effectively lock out the suspension just when you need it most. Orbea have negated this with their Concentric Boost II configuration which sees a concentric pivot assembly at the rear axle that effectively decouples braking forces from the suspension’s action. Featuring on previous Orbea bikes the all-new Concentric Boost II version has fewer parts and reduces overall weight while also being laterally stiffer and more sensitive.
The Orbea Wild range marks a significant point in the evolution of the e-mountain bike, where an e-bike’s sorted trail geometry and sophisticated suspension kinematics takes precedent over the integration of the motor and battery; or to put it another way, rather than letting the e-MTB’s drive system lead the way through the design process brands like Orbea are now beginning to re-focus their efforts on designing an incredibly capable, fun and agile mountain bike that features a brilliantly integrated e-bike drive system almost as a secondary concern. As the Spanish brand say in their own marketing blurb ‘We could tell you how Wild has the most powerful motor or battery capacity on the market. But we aren’t going to. Wild takes us beyond such trivialities and into a world beyond power, where the ride is paramount, where the trails are endless and full of flow. Leave heavy, numb e-bikes behind and free your Wild.’
Orbea Wild M-LTD Was £10,999.00 NOW £6,999.00
Full Specification:
- Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX-R BDU3741
- Battery: BOSCH Powertube 625Wh Horizontal BBP3760
- Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
- Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote BRC3300
- Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V) BPC3400
- Frame: Orbea Wild OMR 2023, 160mm travel, 29″ wheels, Concentric Boost 12×148
- Headset: Alloy 1-1/2″, Black Oxidated Bearing
- Rear Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory Trunnion 2-Position Adjust Kashima custom tune 205x65mm
- Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory 170 Grip2 QR15x110 Kashima
- Wheelset: OQUO Mountain Control MC32LTD Carbon
- Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
- Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
- Shifter: Shimano XTR M9100
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR M9100 SGS Shadow Plus
- Cranks: e*thirteen Race Carbon
- Cassette: Shimano XTR M9100 10-51t 12-Speed
- Saddle: Fizik Terra Aidon X1 145mm
- Dropper Seatpost: Fox Transfer Factory Kashima Dropper 31.6
- Dropper Seatpost Lever: Shimano SL-MT-800 I-Spec EV
- Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC10 Carbon, Rise 20, Width 800
- Stem: OC Mountain Control MC10 Alu SL, 0º
- Brake Set: Shimano XTR M9120Hydraulic Disc
Orbea Wild M-Team Was £8,999.00 NOW £5,999.00
Full Specification:
- Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX BDU3741
- Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh Horizontal BBP3770
- Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
- Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote BRC3300
- Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V) BPC3400
- Frame: Orbea Wild OMR 2023, 160mm travel, 29″ wheels, Concentric Boost 12×148
- Headset: Alloy 1-1/2″, Black Oxidated Bearing
- Rear Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory Trunnion 2-Position Adjust Kashima custom tune 205x65mm
- Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory 160 Grip2 QR15x110 Kashima E-Bike Optimized
- Wheelset: OQUO Mountain Control MC32TEAM eBIKE
- Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
- Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
- Shifter: Shimano XT M8100 I-Spec EV
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
- Cranks: e*thirteen Plus Alu
- Cassette: Shimano CS-M8100 10-51t 12-Speed
- Saddle: Fizik Aidon 208x145mm manganese rail
- Dropper Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper
- Dropper Seatpost Lever: Shimano SL-MT500 I-Spec EV
- Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC10 Carbon, Rise 20, Width 800
- Stem: OC Mountain Control MC10 Alu SL, 0º
- Brake Set: Shimano XT M8120 Hydraulic Disc
Orbea Wild H10 Was £6,499.00 now £4,499.00
Full Specification:
- Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX BDU3741
- Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh Horizontal BBP3770
- Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
- Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote BRC3300
- Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V) BPC3400
- Frame: Orbea Wild Hydro 2023, 160mm travel, 29″ wheels, Concentric Boost 12×148
- Headset: Alloy 1-1/2″, Black Oxidated Bearing
- Rear Shock: ox Float X Performance Trunnion 2-Position Adjust custom tune 205x65mm
- Fork: Fox 38 Float Performance 160 Grip 3-Position QR15x110 E-Bike Optimized
- Wheelset: OQUO Mountain Control MC32TEAM eBIKE
- Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
- Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
- Shifter: Shimano Deore M6100 I-Spec EV
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
- Cranks: e*thirteen Plus Alu
- Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed
- Saddle: Fizik Aidon 208x145mm manganese rail
- Dropper Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm
- Dropper Seatpost Lever: Shimano SL-MT500 I-Spec EV
- Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC20 Alu SL, Rise20, Width 800
- Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20, 0º
- Brake Set: Shimano M6120 Hydraulic Disc
Orbea Wild H20 Was £5,899.00 NOW £3,999.00
Full Specification:
- Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX BDU3741
- Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh Horizontal BBP3770
- Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
- Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote BRC3300
- Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V) BPC3400
- Frame: Orbea Wild Hydro 2023, 160mm travel, 29″ wheels, Concentric Boost 12×148
- Headset: FSA 1-1/2″ Integrated Aluminium Cup
- Rear Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance Trunnion 3-Position Evol LV custom tune 205x65mm
- Fork: RockShox 35 Silver TK Q15x110 Solo Air 160mm
- Wheelset: Race Face AR 30c Tubeless Ready
- Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
- Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
- Shifter: Shimano Deore M6100
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
- Cranks: e*thirteen Plus Alu
- Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 10-51t 12-Speed
- Saddle: Selle Royal Vivo 145x269mm
- Dropper Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper
- Dropper Seatpost Lever: OC Horizontal
- Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC30, Rise20, Width 800
- Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20, 0º
- Brake Set: SRAM DB8 Black Hydraulic Disc
Orbea Wild H30 Was £5,299.00 NOW £3,499.00
Full Specification:
- Motor: BOSCH Performance Line CX BDU3741
- Battery: BOSCH Powertube 625Wh Horizontal BBP3760
- Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
- Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote BRC3300
- Charger: Bosch Charger 4A (230V) BPC3400
- Frame: Orbea Wild Hydro 2023, 160mm travel, 29″ wheels, Concentric Boost 12×148
- Headset: FSA 1-1/2″ Integrated Aluminium Cup
- Rear Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance Trunnion 3-Position Evol LV custom tune 205x65mm
- Fork: RockShox 35 Silver TK Q15x110 Solo Air 160mm
- Wheelset: Race Face AR 30c Tubeless Ready
- Front Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
- Rear Tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.60″ 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra Exo+ TR
- Shifter: Shimano Deore M6100
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
- Cranks: e*thirteen Plus Alu
- Cassette: Shimano CS-M6100 10-51t 12-Speed
- Saddle: Selle Royal Vivo 145x269mm
- Dropper Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20, 31.6mm, Dropper
- Dropper Seatpost Lever: OC Horizontal
- Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC30, Rise20, Width 800
- Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20, 0º
- Brake Set: Shimano MT410 Hydraulic Disc