Orbea's Rise 2025 blurs the lines between a lightweight and full-power e-MTB with its uniquely tuned, second-gen Shimano motor

Orbea Rise LT pictured side on in a quarry
The new Orbea Rise LT (Image credit: Orbea)

Lightweight e-MTB's have only been a thing since 2020 but since then the category has exploded, with all the best e-MTB brands now offering their take on the lightweight e-MTB including Orbea's Rise. Orbea has now released the fourth version of the Rise, which now comes with a revised frame, SL and LT versions, and the second-generation Shimano EP801 RS motor.

When the first Rise was released in 2020, there weren't as many lightweight e-MTB motors available to manufacturers. Orbea's solution was to work with Shimano to develop an RS (Rider Synergy) tune on the Shimano motor.

The latest Rise will come equipped with the second-generation Shimano EP801 RS, an Orbea-exclusive motor system developed with Shimano. This isn't a different motor from the standard full-power EP801. Instead, it's how the motor behaves that has been modified. Orbea has tuned the motor to offer more support when the rider is working hard but backs off when soft pedaling to give a more natural ride feel and save battery.

Orbea Shimano EP8 RS motor close up detail

Orbea worked with Shimano to create the EP801 RS tuned motor (Image credit: Orbea)

One motor, two very different assistance modes

The Gen 2 Shimano EP801 RS motor has two modes – RS mode (56Nm) which is optimized to deliver power around the 70-90rpm cadence for a more natural feel. While a new protocol between the motor and battery forms RS+ mode to offer up to 85Nm at lower cadences (35-50rpm) to take on tougher climbs, this is selected through the Shimano E-Tube app.

The Rise uses a new generation 5.8Ah 21,700 cell battery, offering a higher cell density to create lighter smaller batteries with just as much power. Orbea claims the new batteries have 16 percent more capacity for the same weight.

There are two battery options, 420Wh (1.96kg) and 630Wh (2.88kg) units. There is also a 210Wh range extender, it weighs 1.03kg and is half the size of the previous version. Battery options can be chosen through the My Orbea shopping tool.

Orbea claims that in the 'Trail' assistance setting, it is possible to get 2,500m of climbing from the 630Wh battery, while the 420Wh should get you around 1,600m. The range extender can only power the Rise in Eco mode and is said to give an extra 1,100m of climbing.

Although there is no supplied screen, all bikes will come with a GPS mount and are compatible with Garmin, Wahoo, Sigma, and Bryton head units. If you prefer a smartwatch over a GPS computer, the RS Toolbox is also available on Garmin watches to show all the ride data. There is also the option of adding a stem-mounted Shimano display.

Orbea Rise being jumped on a rock slab

Increased stiffness is claimed to improve the Rise's handling (Image credit: Orbea)

Beefed up frame design

Orbea made changes to the front and rear triangles which aim to increase stiffness and make the new Rise more capable than before. The front triangle uses an asymmetric design and a new reinforcement tube from the downtube to the shock mount and is said to make the Rise between 8 to 15 percent stiffer depending on size. The rear triangle gets bigger cross-section chainstays and a new linkage to make the rear end 14 percent stiffer. 

Now that the pivot is mounted to the front triangle beam, the seat tube can be straightened so the new Rise is compatible with a 230mm dropper across all sizes.

Orbea says that it made these frame updates without adding additional weight to the frameset, quoting that a medium unpainted frame is 2.2kg without a shock.

Orbea Rise LT shock link

The LT features a a flip-chip in the linkage (Image credit: Orbea)

Rise SL and LT

The Rise will come in SL and LT model versions. The Rise LT comes with a 160mm fork and 150mm rear suspension. Geometry is almost the same as Orbea's Occam enduro bike, with only a minor difference in the bottom bracket height. A flip-chip adjusts the head angle between 64 and 64.5 degrees, making it considerably slacker than the previous Rise. The suspension has also been fine-tuned to give it a more progressive leverage ratio for increased support.

The Rise SL is aimed more at long-distance singletrack adventures. The Rise SL has 140mm front and rear suspension, swapping the 36mm fork and coil for a 34mm stanchioned fork and air shock. The Rise SL is more similar in geometry and kinematics to the previous Rise.

Both LT and SL use the same front and rear triangle, with the difference being the Rise SL also gets a longer carbon shock extender and shorter shock, instead of the flip-chip-equipped shock extender on the LT.

The EP801 motor weighs about 700g more than Bosch's SX motor so you would expect the Rise to be on the heavier end of the spectrum. Impressively, Orbea has managed to get the SL down to a claimed 16.2kg and the LT (with an air shock) to 17.8kg. For comparison, the Whyte E-Lyte 140 Works weighs 17.4kg and Trek's Fuel EXe is 17.47kg, both with lightweight drive units.

Orbea Rise being ridden on dusty singletrack

SL and LT versions cater for different riders needs (Image credit: Orbea)

Orbea Rise pricing and specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0 Orbea Rise LT High PositionHeader Cell - Column 2 Header Cell - Column 3 Header Cell - Column 4 Orbea Rise LT Low PositionHeader Cell - Column 6 Header Cell - Column 7 Header Cell - Column 8
DescriptionS M L XL S M L XL
ST length405415430460405415430460
Top tube (EFF)569595622637570596623642
Head tube9510011012095100110120
Chain stay440440440440440440440440
BB drop2626262634343434
Wheel base12011228125812871203123012591288
Head angle64.564.664.764.864646464
Seat angle77.577.577.577.577777777
Fork offset - rake4444444444444444
Reach435460485510430455480505
Stack614617623637619623633642
Fork length575575575575575575575575
Max post insertion 295305320350295305320350
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Header Cell - Column 0 Orbea Rise SLHeader Cell - Column 2 Header Cell - Column 3 Header Cell - Column 4
DescriptionSMLXL
ST length405415430460
Top tube (EFF)610614620647
Head tube95100110120
Chain stay440440440440
BB drop37373737
Wheel base1193122012491279
Head angle65.565.565.565.5
Seat angle78787878
Fork offset - rake44444444
Reach440465490515
Stack609614623632
Fork length554Row 12 - Cell 2 Row 12 - Cell 3 Row 12 - Cell 4
Max post insertion 295305320350

Orbea Rise LT M10

Orbea Rise LT M10

(Image credit: Orbea)
  • Frame: OMR Carbon
  • Motor: Shimano EP801-RS GEN2 MC
  • Battery: 420Wh (optional 630Wh)
  • Fork: Fox 36 Float Factory GripX, 160mm
  • Shock: Fox Float X Factory, 150mm
  • Drivetrain: Shimano XT
  • Brakes: Shimano XT
  • Wheels: Oquo MC32 TEAM
  • Price: $8,999 / £7,599 / €8,499

Orbea Rise LT M-TEAM

Orbea Rise LT M-TEAM

(Image credit: Orbea)
  • Frame: OMR Carbon
  • Motor: Shimano EP801-RS GEN2 MC
  • Battery: 420Wh (optional 630Wh)
  • Fork: Fox 36 Float Factory GripX, 160mm
  • Shock: Fox DHX Factory, 150mm
  • Drivetrain: Shimano XTR / XT Di2
  • Brakes: Shimano MT9120
  • Wheels: Oquo MC32 LTD
  • Price: $11,999 / £9,599 / €10,999

Orbea Rise SL M10

Orbea Rise SL M10

(Image credit: Orbea)
  • Frame: OMR Carbon
  • Motor: Shimano EP801-RS GEN2 MC
  • Battery: 420Wh (optional 630Wh)
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float Factory Kashima Grip X, 140mm
  • Shock: Fox Float Factory Kashima, 140mm
  • Drivetrain: Shimano XT
  • Brakes: Shimano MT8100
  • Wheels: Oquo MC32 Team
  • Price: $8,699 / £7,199 / €7,999

Orbea Rise SL M-LTD

Orbea Rise SL M-LTD

(Image credit: Orbea)
  • Frame: OMR Carbon
  • Motor: Shimano EP801-RS GEN2 MC
  • Battery: 420Wh (optional 630Wh)
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float Factory Kashima Grip X, 140mm
  • Shock: Fox Float Factory Kashima, 140mm
  • Drivetrain: SRAM XX T-TYPE
  • Brakes: Shimano MT9120
  • Wheels: Oquo MC32 LTD
  • Price: $12,999 / £10,999 / €11,999
Graham Cottingham
Senior reviews writer, Bike Perfect

Graham Cottingham joined the BikePerfect team as our senior tech writer in 2020. With over 20 years of riding experience, he has dabbled in downhill, enduro, and gravel racing. Not afraid of a challenge, Graham has embraced bikepacking over the last few years and likes nothing more than strapping some bags to his bike and covering big miles to explore Scotland's wildernesses. When he isn’t shredding the gnar in the Tweed Valley, sleeping in bushes, or tinkering with bikes, he is writing tech reviews for BikePerfect.

Rides: Cotic SolarisMax, Stooge MK4, 24 Bicycles Le Toy 3, Surly Steamroller

Height: 177cm

Weight: 71kg