The Orbea Rise has always been a standout in the lightweight e-MTB game. For 2025, though, Orbea really turned up the volume. The motor has been updated to the Shimano EP801 RS Gen2, battery options are up, and the travel is longer for handling rougher terrain.
The Rise has also been split into two distinct models: The SL is the super-light version of the Rise with 140mm of travel both front and back, while the LT comes with 150mm of rear wheel travel and 160mm up front for those tackling even gnarlier terrain. Orbea’s MyO configurator also means you can dial in your build just how you like it.
So the big question: Does it actually deliver? Let’s find out from a few of those who have been lucky enough to put it through its paces.
E-MOUNTAINBIKE – RISE LT
“…the Orbea Rise LT M-Team remains a mind-bogglingly fun machine, combining a low system weight, playful handling, and strong suspension. It shines with impressive all-round capabilities, dominating flow trails while staying stable and controlled on rough terrain.”
“A podium sweep for Orbea! The Basque bike manufacturer knows how to build top-tier eMTBs – and they’ve proven it yet again! In our massive e-mountain bike comparison test, the Orbea Wild claimed the Best in Test title for two consecutive years, setting a new benchmark in the industry. And as if that weren’t impressive enough, Orbea also claimed victory in our light eMTB test with the Rise, which also earned the coveted Best Buy recommendation.
The Orbea Rise LT M-Team stands out from the crowd with its clean lines, and sleek, rectangular frame silhouette. The shock merges seamlessly into the seat stays and top tube, ensuring a dynamic, fast look…The Shimano EP801 RS motor is discreetly integrated into the frame, which also contributes to the bike’s sleek aesthetics.
Instead of adding multiple mounting points, Orbea take a more minimalist approach, opting for two cleverly integrated tools. A 6 mm Allen key is neatly housed in the thru-axle lever, while a compact multitool is concealed in the rear linkage. The 6 mm Allen key can be used to adjust the flip chip in the shock mount, which allows you to tweak the geometry quickly and easily.
Get in the saddle and feel at home – the Orbea Rise LT M-Team welcomes you on board with a comfortable, upright pedalling position, with the weight evenly distributed between the hands and saddle. On fire roads, the Rise climbs effortlessly, and for even more efficiency, you can easily access the climb switch. The Shimano EP801 RS motor delivers reliable support and plenty of oomph.
As soon as you drop into a trail, the Orbea Rise LT M-Team impresses with intuitive handling, making you feel at ease from the get-go. With a light touch on the brakes, you’ll be diving into the first corners, kicking up dirt with confidence and a massive grin on your face, picking up speed quicker than you can say. The Rise LT literally rockets down flow trails, delivering an agile and playful ride in the process. It makes it easy to lean into corners and handles quick, tight direction changes without batting an eyelid.
When you switch from a smooth, flowy trail into a rough, technical section, you barely need to back off the pace – the Rise LT inspires confidence with its low center of gravity and secure ride feel. The Orbea tracks through rock gardens with reassuring precision, always feeling composed and at the same time controlled, even with heavy impacts. The suspension is among the best in this test, striking the perfect balance between sensitivity and support. On the trail, it feels as if you had more than 160/150 mm of travel on tap, so even bigger hits are smoothed out effortlessly, allowing you to stay in control.”
Read the full review: https://ebike-mtb.com/en/e-mountainbike-test-2025-orbea-rise-lt-m-team/
Pink Bike
“…I’m at ease to report that the Orbea Rise LT is the most natural handling eMTB I’ve ridden to date, by quite a margin.”
“Orbea have worked with Shimano to tune the custom firmware they refer to as “Rider Synergy”. The big news is that the RS motor is now capable of the full 85 Nm torque, as compared to the 60 Nm it was formerly limited to. The cadence at which the maximum torque is produced has also been reduced.
I was really impressed with the Shimano EP801 RS motor. I rode most of the technical climbs in the Boost mode with the RS+ setting allowing for that maximum 85 Nm torque. It gives remarkably powerful but also very controlled assistance from a low cadence.
I felt quite at home on the bike and was comfortably up to good speed on the descents early on. The reach of 430mm in the low position, combined with a 35mm stem, gave a well balanced fit with enough room to brace and feel stable in fast, rough sections, but compact enough to make tighter sections manageable to navigate. I have struggled with the clearance of a 29″ rear wheel in the past, but on the Rise LT I had no issues whatsoever.
On the first morning, I rode with a 150mm travel dropper seat post, which was not quite sufficient to give me the clearance I needed to move around the bike. Later, I was upgraded to a 170mm post from Oquo, and subsequently the 180mm Fox Transfer. Being able to run those longer travel posts was transformative in how easy the bike was to ride. Orbea should be applauded for ensuring sufficient seatpost insertion depth for riders of all frame sizes to run a long travel dropper. You may roll your eyes at that, but it’s unfortunately true that many e-bike designers are still not prioritizing this crucial aspect of bike fit.
I spent most of my time on the Fox Float X air shock, with 30% sag and all compression and rebound adjustments wide open. The tune felt fantastic, with no evidence of the shock packing down over fast successive bumps in the trail. I was impressed with the performance of the Fox 36 with the Grip X damper (also set up with damping wide open). Overall, the bike felt well balanced from the off. It’s rare for a first ride of any bike to feel this good, let alone a first ride of an e-bike.”
Read the full review: https://www.pinkbike.com/news/first-ride-2025-orbea-rise-lt-more-torque-more-travel.html
E-MOUNTAINBIKE – RISE SL
“Just swing your leg over the saddle, and the Rise will make you feel at home from the very first corner and slap a massive grin on your face, opening up endless new possibilities in the process, regardless of whether the trail points up or downhill.”
“The Rise pedals efficiently, generating plenty of traction without the need to reach for the lockout lever, regardless of whether you’re on an air or coil shock. The Rise implements steering input willingly without having to actively weight the front wheel, even on technical climbs. On the very steepest climbs, you’ll need to put some pressure on the bars to keep the front wheel on the ground, but if there aren’t any gnarly, steep climbs on your local trails, the new Rise will cope well even in the low setting.
The Shimano EP801 RS motor packs a punch but is still easy to modulate and control, although it can’t quite keep up with the powerhouse Bosch CX motor which comes standard with the Orbea Wild, for example. However, the Shimano drive fits in with the Rise’s sporty character far better, making for a coherent overall package. The minimalist information – provided you don’t use a bike computer – isn’t an issue either, as the LEDs on the handlebar remote provide everything you really need to know.
The new 2025 Orbea Rise makes you feel at home, integrating you nicely between its wheels, with the weight evenly distributed between the front and rear. As a result, it inspires huge amounts of confidence, encouraging you to let loose and open the taps. Even when things get wild, with the rear wheel slinging huge chunks of dirt out of berms and the rotors glowing bright red, the Rise is easy to control, implementing steering input directly without getting twitchy. The progressive rear suspension makes it easy to pop off ledges and invites you to throw shapes in the air when you take off.
One thing we’re particularly impressed with is the ride feel of the frame itself: it’s stiff enough to feel precise, without feeling harsh, and the bike generates tons of traction, despite the sometimes very slippery conditions. Switching to carbon wheels or carbon handlebars provides even more feedback, allowing you to generate huge amounts of speed on flowing trails by pumping through berms and rollers. However, most riders will get on better with the alloy wheelset, especially when you spend lots of time on demanding trails, because a stiff bike also requires more physical effort and a vigilant riding style.
The new Orbea Rise 2025 shines in many respects and stands out as a damn fine all rounder. To start with, Orbea’s MyO online configurator offers a huge selection of components, allowing you to customise your bike down to the smallest detail, regardless of what type of rider you are. On the trail, it’s tons of fun, both up and downhill, and proves an excellent companion for newbies and seasoned trail bums alike, regardless of whether you’re embarking on an epic Alpine crossing, or simply hitting your local woods for a quick post-work lap.”
Read the full review: https://ebike-mtb.com/en/orbea-rise-2025-test/
Singletrack World
“The Orbea Rise LT M10 may have a full-fat motor but it’s still the lean, mean, mile-munching mid-power machine that it always was.”
“Aesthetically, the Rise remains one of the prettier ebikes out there. Which is a big reason why it is so popular with experienced ‘traditional’ MTBers.
…the Shimano EP-801 still feels like the most natural and unobtrusive of motors. You don’t really need to ‘learn’ the EP-801. It feels like it’s working in synergy with your inputs.
The Rise LT is one of the most engaging and rewarding ebikes currently available. It doesn’t feel like it makes everything easy. Obviously, any power assist makes things easier but the Rise LT never makes things too easy.
Nor, you could argue, does it make anything overly relaxing. This is a demanding bike to ride in the sense that you very much get out of it what you put into it. You can’t be a passenger. This feels very much like a rally car. Amazing when taken by the scruff of the neck and attack attack attack.
…The Rise LT really is a bike that you ride like a regular mountain bike. I’m always totally rinsed when I come back from a ride on the Rise. It doesn’t like for your heart rate to drop below 160bpm. I end up just as tired out as a normal bike. Only I’ve covered about twice the amount of ground.”
Read the full review: https://singletrackworld.com/charged/2024/10/the-midpower-marvel-orbea-rise-lt-m10-review/
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