King of E-Enduros?

Orbea Wild Review

170 mm of travel, full Bosch power, and a race DNA straight from the Downhill World Cup. The Orbea Wild is set to claim the throne of hard-hitting e-enduros. We’ve put the Spanish high-end rig through its paces in the dirt to find out: Is it just a pretty face or the new benchmark?

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Orbea has earned a reputation as a driving force of innovation in the industry over the past few years. While its little sibling, the Orbea Rise, redefined the Light-E-MTB segment, the Wild makes no compromises. Orbea itself calls it the “Yes Machine” – a bike that doesn’t shy away from any drop or steep section.

Especially intriguing: The geometry and suspension were predominantly developed on the downhill tracks of Fort William. Under professional rider Martin Maes, the chassis had to prove itself in the World Cup (without a motor). The result is a speed machine with a definitive downhill DNA.

Orbea Wild Test — The Orbea Wild is the uncompromising downhill machine in the Orbea EMTB lineup.

Orbea Rise LT — The Orbea Rise LT has less weight yet offers more range. Trail riders will be happier here than with the hardcore downhill beast.

Orbea Rise LT — Choosing between the two models is not always easy for consumers.

Specs & Customizing: The MyO Program

A genuine unique selling point of Orbea is the MyO Program. While competitors like Radon or Rose focus on price, Orbea scores with individuality. Our test bike came with a color scheme and setup that you won’t find “off the rack.” The Spaniards are exceptionally professional with their paintwork and assembly in Spain, surpassing many competitors in terms of process control.

The MYO Program offers the following options:

Customization: The online configurator not only allows you to select parts like brakes or tires, but also to customize the entire frame design.
Components: With Fox Factory suspension (38 fork, X2 shock) and Shimano XT groupset, the Basques are reaching for the top shelf, but individual components can be swapped out at any time.
Brake Tuning: A fine detail is the optional Galfer brake rotors, which provide maximum stability on long descents due to their large surface area.

Orbea MYO Program — The paint job is applied to the carbon frame in Spain and can be customized.

Galfer brake rotors — Tuning Baby: Even details like the brake rotors can be customized in the MYO program.

Maxxis DH tires — No half measures: Our test bike rolls on true downhill tires. No need to fear flats here.

Orbea Wild Experience — The rougher the terrain, the more at home the Orbea Wild feels. For those who don’t want to tackle such trails, the lighter Orbea Rise LT is often a better choice.

Drivetrain & System: Bosch Power

At the heart of the beast beats the Bosch Performance Line CX (Gen 5). Together with the DJI-Avinox system, it currently sets the benchmark for full-power units.

Motor control: The power delivery is reliably confident. Thanks to the precise handling, even the most technical uphill sections are conquered without annoying jolts.
Integration: The Kiox display is elegantly integrated into the top tube. In combination with the Shimano XT Di2 drivetrain, the system also offers smart features like Auto Shift or Free Shift (shifting without pedaling).

Bosch CX Gen 5 Motor — Germany's favorite: The Bosch CX Gen 5 motor is the most sophisticated motor on the market.

Bosch Kiox 400 C Display — The integrated Kiox 400 C display can also handle navigation.

Shimano XT Di2 — The Shimano Di2 drivetrain, in combination with the Bosch motor, even features an automatic mode.

On the Trail: Dynamics Despite Extra Travel

The biggest surprise comes from the rear triangle. Many bikes with 170 mm of travel tend to dive into the travel and feel “stubborn.” Not so with the Wild.

Orbea uses the same rear suspension technology across all its bikes. The special feature: The rear bearing in the chainstay precisely encircles the rear axle. This way, braking influences on the rear triangle can be eliminated.

Rear suspension pivot — The pivot point of the rear suspension aligns precisely with the rear axle.

Orbea rear triangle — The main bearing is secured against loosening with an additional clamp.

Fox 38 suspension fork — The Fox 38 fork is beyond doubt when it comes to trail performance.

Descent: Grip meets counterpressure

Thanks to a high leverage ratio in the first half of the travel, the bike provides pleasant resistance. Riders who actively maneuver and push through berms will be rewarded with plenty of pop. When things get really rough, the Fox X2 shock opens up the reserves in the second half, as expected from an enduro. Here, the leverage ratio curve runs significantly flatter than at the start of the travel. The slack head angle of 63.5° ensures a stability that instills confidence when other bikes become jittery. When it gets serious, the DH World Cup gene of the Orbea Wild comes out.

Orbea Wild on flowing trails — The Wild has plenty of travel but remains surprisingly nimble even in undulating terrain.

Uphill: A climbing maestro

Despite its downhill-oriented geometry, the Wild climbs excellently. With a weight of 22.8 kg (in frame size M with a 600-Wh battery and downhill tires), it is among the lighter models of its kind. Those who need more range can opt for the 750-Wh battery or a range extender, but at the expense of agility.

Orbea Wild Uphil — No mountain too steep. The Bosch CX Gen 5 provides serious power.

Orbea Wild weight — We weighed the size M without pedals, but with downhill tires.

Orbea Wild Weight — 22.8 kilograms. Considering the downhill-oriented specs, this is a very good weight.

Criticism

Where there’s light, there’s also shadow: The valve of the Fox-X2 shock is inherently difficult to reach because the shock pump attaches to the bottom of the frame stay. Setting it up requires some patience and finesse.

The brake line on the rear triangle needs to be precisely routed and secured. If this is neglected, it might occasionally brush against the spokes.

Moreover, the Wild is not a bargain – you’ll struggle to get a top-spec model for under €8,000. Opting for the larger 750 battery slightly undermines the Wild’s good weight. The 750 battery from Bosch is a bit outdated since it comes from the Bosch CX Gen 4 era and uses older cells. This makes it roughly as heavy as the current 800 Wh battery from Bosch, despite its lower capacity.

Shock valve — The design brace below prevents access to the valve with shock pumps that have long connectors. With a short connector, it works perfectly.

Bosch 600 PowerPack — The installed 600 battery is lightweight. The optional 750, however, is not from Bosch's latest development cycle and is therefore heavier.

Pro

Outstanding rear suspension kinematics
Customizing via the MyO program
good weight despite massive downhill tires
Bosch motor

Contra

Shock valve hard to reach
High entry price
non-removable battery

Orbea Wild Conclusion — This is where the Orbea Wild feels at home. Steep terrain with gnarly ledges.

Conclusion: Who is the Orbea Wild for?

The Orbea Wild is not a tame touring bike – that’s what the Spaniards have the Rise for. The Wild is a tool for enduro enthusiasts who are looking for a no-compromise bike for bike parks and technical terrain. The combination of excellent rear suspension performance, immense customizability, and the proven Bosch drive makes it one of the best e-enduros you can currently buy.

About the author

Ludwig Döhl

... has spent more than 100,000 kilometers in the saddle of over 1000 different mountain bikes. The bottom line from many hours on the trail: mountain bikes are awesome if they match your personal preferences! With this insight, he founded bike-test.com to help bikers find their very own dream bike.