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Orbea is a popular manufacturer in the e-bike market and is based in Spain, they are best known for making electric road bikes, mountain bikes and bikes for athletes.
What sets Orbea apart from others in the electric bike market are their high-quality designs with carbon model and ebikemotion bikes motors for lightweight power, these features do however come with a fairly hefty price tag.
One of the most popular bikes in the Orbea range is the Orbea gain which is a performance-orientated road bike, we have done a brief overview of Orbea's whole range below, and reviewed the new Orbea Gain M20i in more detail too to see if this bike is right for you.
Let's get reviewing!
Before we get talking about the Orbea gain M20i specifically, it's worth getting to know the whole range from Orbea to see if this range is right for the type of cycling you want to do.
We have listed each range out down below and gone over their main specs.
Now we know the rest of the range from Orbea, we can get into reviewing the Orbea Gain M20i model which is new in its range.
We have broken down the main specs and features of the bike below.
Motor-wise, the Orbea model is powered via its Ebikemotion X35 rear hub motor and provides 250W output power of motor assistance. The bike can reach top speeds of 25 km/h which is legal in terms of speeds for road use.
Its motor is integrated into the frame of the bike with 40Nm of torque, making it hard to see at first glance if the bike runs with a motor.
The motor of this e-bike by Orbea is not exceptional, but enough for road biking, and the cut-out speed is what keeps the bike legal to use on roads.
It should be noted that the rear position of the motor does cause a little drag when riding the bike, and the cadence sensor is a little behind when pedalling with the motor, but nothing too noticeable.
For the battery, the Orbea gain is fitted with an Ebikemotion 36V lithium-ion battery which is stored in the down tube of the bike underneath the bottle harder for discreet use. This ebike battery can be used with a range extender too to reduce range anxiety when riding long distances.
We like the seamless design of the battery in the downtube of the bike but its range is pretty limited and runs down quickly when using the e-bike on assistance modes.
By standard, this Obrea bike uses three assistance levels which feature LED lights on the top of the bike going between green, orange and red, with red being full assistance. There is additionally a head unit on the bike which shows metrics such as your range estimate and battery indicator.
The assistance levels on this e-bike are super easy to switch through on the head unit, we do think though the unit itself is of poor build quality however, you might struggle to see metrics in daylight from the tiny screen too.
Frame-wise, the whole design of this e-bike is super sleek and thin with its integrated battery and motor, its carbon frame keeps the bike light and has a gain carbon flat-mount fork for stability when riding on bumpy roads.
The drop-bar bike's handlebars have a drop of 125mm and you can choose your customised colour too when purchasing the bike.
We appreciate the carbon frame of this bike in terms of weight, making the bike easier to move around without assistance, its standard fork also provides extra comfort.
We wouldn't say this frame is great for taking on difficult terrains, but that's why it is sold as a city e-bike.
For gears, the e-bike by Orbea is fitted with Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic drivetrain, this allows for smooth shifting along with its 50/34 chainrings and 32t cassette which can help you handle a variety of inclines with ease.
Additionally, the electric bike is equipped with Shimano ULTEGRA BR-R8070 hydraulic disc brakes for fast stopping power and have 160mm Shimano brake rotors.
Overall, both the hydraulic disc brakes and gears that come with this bike are excellent, we can't fault the drivetrain which gives confidence when riding hills and the hydraulic brakes system makes it great value for money.
Lastly, we have the wheel and tyres. This e-bike is fitted with 42mm deep carbon wheels and uses 30mm Schwalbe tyres, you can easily switch these out for tyres of your choice however up to a size of 40mm.
We like the fact you can switch out the tyres easily on this e-bike to grave tyres or 40mm rubbers of your choice. The only downfall of this whole set-up has to be the lack of mudguard mounts which could have been useful.
When handling the M20i Orbea Gain e-bike on the road you do notice the poor torque sensor of the bike which is slightly delayed when pedalling. You can feel the motor lagging slightly when riding but the overall bike does feel balanced and stable, making it great for beginners or as a bike for leisure riders.
It's worth noting although the levels of assistance with this bike are great, they are not enough for huge inclines, and you will have to put quite a lot of manual effort in to get up steep ones.
For design, we think the Orbea gain is worth it, it's integrated motor and battery with its lightweight carbon design makes the e-bike feel premium and easy to ride with. But for mountain bike riding or people who want power, this e-bike might lack in the assistance department.
If you are fine with using some user effort to get the bike moving above 20mph and aren't planning to tackle any huge inclines with your bike you should be fine, but for long commuting we would 100% recommend buying the bike with a battery range extender too.
What is the difference between Orbea Gain M and D bikes?
You might see in the Orbea range that similar bikes start with M/D. M stands for e-bikes which have a carbon frame while bikes starting with D have an alloy frame and are a little more affordable.
How much does the Orbea Gain M20i cost?
The Orbea Gain M20i costs around a price range of €6,299.
What are some downfalls of this Orbea e-bike?
Some downfalls of this bike are its lack of motor power and torque sensor which isn't very responsive, making it a less efficient bike. It's selling price is very expensive too.
Can I use this electric bike for mountain biking?
Although this bike can handle some bumpy roads, we wouldn't use it for extreme mountain biking due to its lower power assist and small range.
