Orbea RISE H20 Review

As a component giant, Shimano is mostly known for its dominant position in bicycle gears. But with the EP 6 RS, the Japanese are clearly showing that they can look beyond their own plate too. At steep sections, the somewhat weak Shimano motor requires a lot of initiative from the biker. The Shimano EP 6 RS gives off a natural riding feeling. Fans of XXL tours are greatly restricted by the RISE H20 with only an average range. The battery is securely attached to the down tube and cannot be removed for charging or storage.

Rough descents take away some of the fear thanks to the average chassis. The mid-range brakes from Shimano do their job but could be a bit firmer. The power of the four pistons setup with small 180 brake rotors is only average. The average shifting components and accessories leave some tuning potential open. For most e-bikers, this should be an acceptable point. When it comes to the geometry, Orbea does not go completely crazy. The head tube angle and reach values were chosen with care. The result: A balanced riding behaviour with a good combination of playfulness and straight-line stability. The low bottom bracket height is a party pooper for the handling on the trail. On other bikes, you are more centrally located behind the handlebar. Short chainstays and make the front end light in steep climbs. To keep the front wheel on the ground, you need to consciously lean forward. Hell yeah, the geometry is killer! Here the know-how of the Orbea developers is videly visible.