THE 2023 ORBEA WILD FS
Words by Robert Johnston & Drew Rohde | Photos by Jeremie Reuiller
Video by Brian Niles/Treeline Cinematics
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The last generation Orbea Wild FS eMTB was awesome, taking home our “Most Versatile All Mountain eMTB” award back in our 2020 eBike Shootout, but things have been moving quickly in the eBike world and Orbea Bicycles wanted to take what they’ve learned and follow up with another hard-hitting enduro eBike. Orbea has been hard at work on the E-Enduro World Series circuit, as well as testing hard internally and we’re excited to finally have the new 2023 Orbea Wild FS beneath us for another Dissected Feature where both Robert and Drew got to spend time with Orbea representatives in Spain and the Pacific Northwest.
As with all of our Dissected Features, this is not intended to be a long term review or endorsement of a product but is instead a chance for our viewers and readers to get a deep dive look into some of the newest tech and products in the mountain bike space. We thank Orbea for the opportunity to create this feature and getting you some valuable beta on this new, Full Power Enduro eMTB.
With the tagline “Beyond Power”, Orbea has taken some of their key learnings from the development of the latest Rallon to produce what they consider to be the best descending Enduro eMTB on the market, with specific design tweaks to maximize the performance with the Bosch Performance Line CX or CX Race drive unit. Retaining 160mm of Linkage Driven Single Pivot suspension with their CB2 concentric rear axle pivot, complimented by a burly 160mm or 170mm fork, the new Orbea Wild represents a big leap in performance that has rocketed it back up to the top of our rankings for an eMTB. This was achieved through a ground-up redesign that covers everything from frame structure through to kinematics and geometry, which we’ll dive into below.
INTEGRATED BATTERY
During the development process, Orbea identified a huge area of potential gain in ride quality. By making the battery fully integrated, no massive opening in the frame’s downtube, the new Wild has a much more precise feel on the trail.. Orbea produced a prototype frame to test the theory, and the results were staggering. Cutting the hatch in the downtube for a removable battery decreased the frame stiffness by 70%, with all else remaining the same. Designing the new Wild frame around an integrated battery led to a reduction in mass of 900g, a hair under 2lbs, or (32.5%), while increasing the stiffness in desirable locations by 50% compared to the outgoing Wild.
This integrated battery is offered in 625Wh or 750Wh options via Orbea’s MyO configurator at the time of purchase, allowing customers to select their preference of maneuverability or range. Orbea made custom hardware to fix the battery firmly in place and reduce the likelihood of battery rattle, and to position the battery as close to the motor as possible to optimize the weight distribution to be as low and central as practical. Owners can remove the six bolts holding the motor in place however and drop the battery and slide the battery mount up or down to accommodate either battery size should they opt to purchase a second battery for different riding plans. We were told a motor drop and swap could be done in about 15 minutes by their E-EWS mechanics.
FULL 29ER, ONLY.
With so many riders seeking out increasingly technical climbs on their eMTB’s, Orbea wanted to achieve the most grip at the rear wheel, so they opted to design around the more traction-rich 29” wheel pairing only. This inevitably came with its own challenges, but Orbea considered them worthwhile to produce a machine that would go uphill as well as it descends, and from our time aboard the Wild so far we think they’ve hit the mark. To ensure the 29-inch rear wheel didn’t compromise the handling on the descents, they worked their frame structure to tuck the chainstays in at 448mm, sitting amongst the shortest in the category. While they’re not short in the greater terms, they feel nicely balanced and produce enough weight on the front wheel to keep it from being a handful under power.
ENDURO GEOMETRY
The geometry of the new Wild has been modified considerably to align with their Rallon enduro bike. The reach has grown 25mm across the size range to come in at 480mm on a size Large, head angle has slackened by 1.5 degrees to 64°, and the head tube length has grown by 20mm to give a taller stack for a more comfortable and commanding position. The result is a wheelbase sitting at 1,277mm in size Large, some 45mm longer than the outgoing model.
Carried over from their Rallon muscular enduro bike is the “Steep ‘N’ Deep” seating geometry philosophy, with short and steep 77.5° seat tubes across the four-size range, and long seatpost insertion depths to allow for the use of long travel dropper posts. The bottom bracket has also raised 5mm, offering more ground clearance when climbing in technical terrain, which when paired with the 160mm cranks across the size range minimizes the chances of striking pedals. We’re happy to report all these tweaks have greatly improved the performance of Orbea’s E-Enduro machine up, down and along the hill.
E-OPTIMIZED SUSPENSION
Understanding that the ride dynamic of an eMTB and the requirements of an E-biker are very different to the muscular counterparts, the suspension kinematics of the Wild are optimized to achieve the performance desired. Compared with the outgoing Wild FS, the new model’s leverage ratio progression is reduced considerably, down to 26.5% through the 160mm of travel. This was done to increase the mid-stroke support and to ensure compatibility with both air and coil shocks, while still retaining adequate bottom out support for the bigger hits. The Anti Squat that gives the efficient pedaling feel of the Wild has remained unchanged, and the Anti Rise drops a few percent to roughly 62% at sag to allow the rear end to move freely when braking. The result is a more supportive ride that still offers the desired comfort and traction, and resists bottom outs on all but the biggest hits.
THE FINE DETAILS
Orbea placed a big focus on Integration and simplicity for their new Wild. All of the models are equipped with Bosch’s new Mini Remote, and the System Controller is integrated into the top tube of the frame, to reduce handlebar clutter while still allowing for the important controls to be easily accessed at all times on the trails.
Orbea also moved to a new “Sealed Internal Cables” (SIC) system to produce a cleaner integrated look but were aware of the hesitation of riders and mechanics alike to deal with such a system, and so worked to make it as mechanic friendly as possible. They identified the area of maintenance that was most difficult to handle with this style of system – replacing the headset bearings. To make this less of an issue, they spec’d the highest quality full-stainless steel bearing an OE company could supply with the goal of giving the longest life possible. Orbea feels confident that most riders will no longer own their bike by the time this high-quality bearing needs to be replaced.
The rest of this SIC system was designed to make it “As easy as ever” to change a cable. A spin-block system in the headset prevents any damage to the cables from crashing, ensuring there’s no split brake lines or kinked gear cables. The system requires the use of one of Orbea’s OC MC stems, available in two spec levels and three lengths (35, 40, 50mm). Staying on the theme of cable routing, Orbea opted to go for a fully concealed route for the brake and gear cables, which gives a very clean look around the bottom bracket.
Careful attention was paid to the operation of the charging port, which was designed to offer easy operation and good weather sealing with a carbon fiber/rubber hybrid design. To increase service intervals and generally make for a more durable, reliable, and quiet bike, Orbea added heavy duty rubber seals to the frame pivots most susceptible to water and mud ingress; added a small rubber fender to the loam shelf; and a contoured rubber chainstay protector. On the trail the sum of all these well considered details is an exceptionally quiet eMTB, which greatly improves the ride experience.
BUILD OPTIONS
Orbea is offering the new Wild in both carbon fiber “M” frames, and the Wild Hydro – a high quality aluminum offering. The Wild “H” bikes use an aluminum frame with all of their premium construction features: Triple Butted and Hydroformed tubes to optimize their weight; and High Polish welds to increase strength and give a “carbon-like” clean look at the seams. This Hydro frame comes with a higher weight and lower price tag, with three build specifications offered (H10, H20, H30), all equipped with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, and price tags from $5,699 to $6,999 (£5,299-£6,499).
The Wild Carbon frame is offered in four spec levels, from the “entry-level” M20, to the M10 and M-Team to the top-spec M-LTD. The M-LTD gets the latest and greatest Bosch Performance Line CX-R drive unit, shaving 200g off the weight and adding in the RACE mode that offers extra assistance (Still capped at 250W constant power and 85Nm torque) that gives 400% of the input power to the rear wheel. These standard “M” builds begin at $7,299/£6,999 and top out at the $11,999/£10,999 M-LTD.
The higher tier builds in both Hydro and Carbon frame materials are equipped with Orbea’s new sister wheel brand, OQUO, which allows Orbea to tightly control the stiffness-flex balance of their premium machines. Orbea’s comprehensive customization program MyO allows customers to personalize their Wild with different spec choices, including selecting the battery size and choosing from a wide range of free custom colors.
More information on available standard builds at the bottom of this page.
INTERVIEW
We took the opportunity to sit down with Markel Uriarte, Trail MTB Product Manager for Orbea Bicycles, to learn a little more about what went into its development and seek some answers to concerns ourselves and our readers may have.
THE LOAM WOLF (TLW): HOW WERE YOU INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WILD?
Markel Uriarte (MU): I was in charge of the Wild project, coordinating the team and speaking with the team riders, ambassadors and dealers to see the approach that the new Wild should have.
TLW: WHAT WERE THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT?
MU: The main goal of the new Wild was to have the same performance on the trail as a Rallon. So, starting from that point, we updated everything on the frame. The frame construction is completely different to tune the frame stiffness, also the bike is much lighter than the previous one. The geometry is similar to the Rallon, and the kinematics have been updated to have a bike that is more poppy and more fun on the trails.
TLW: YOU’VE CHANGED TO 29ER ONLY. WHY?
MU: When you compare an eMTB and mechanical bike you’ve got two major differences. The first difference is you have an 85Nm drive unit, so in order to transmit all that torque to the ground you need more traction. Also, with an eBike the uphills are super fun, and the traction is really critical, and the bigger wheels give more traction. The idea of having a front and rear 29er was very clear from the beginning of the project, and we optimized everything in order to make a 29-inch rear wheel but with the shortest chainstays possible. Therefore, the short riders can also benefit from a maneuverable bike, and when you compare with the previous version the chainstays are much shorter.
TLW: A BIG CHANGE IS THE CABLE ROUTING THROUGH THE HEADSET. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR, OR WAS IT A DECISION MADE FOR PERFORMANCE REASONS?
MU: We really see clear improvements going in that direction. First of all, the bike is cleaner. Second and most importantly, the bike is quieter because there’s no cable rattling on the handlebar. The cables are shorter so it’s a bit lighter, and we avoid the cables pulling when we turn the handlebar. We know the main concern of the consumers is the maintenance of the system, but we worked to make the system as reliable as possible to reduce the maintenance required. The cable entrances are sealed to the headset, and we are using the highest quality bearings, Enduro bearings. The upper bearing where the cables are routed is stainless steel, not only the balls but the rings too, so that way we can assure that almost nobody will need to replace the bearing.
TLW: SOME OF THE NEW WILD MODELS COME WITH WHEELS FROM YOUR NEW SISTER BRAND, OQUO. WITH THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN ORBEA AND OQUO, HOW MUCH DO YOU TALK BETWEEN THE TWO COMPANIES TO COME TO A FINAL PRODUCT?
MU: That connection is important, because when we talk about the components that have a big influence on the ride quality, one of the big ones are the wheels. By working together, we can tune the wheels in order to have a complete bike package with the performance that we are looking for.
TLW: WHO IS THE ORBEA WILD FOR?
MU: The rider who is looking for an E-Mountain Bike with the same performance level that an enduro bike can offer on the trails.
THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSION
As with all our Dissected Features, this project was made in collaboration with Orbea and is not intended to be an endorsement or full-on product review. We’ve had a few good days on the Orbea Wild Enduro eMTB so far in Europe as well as northern Oregon and Washington State. After those rides it’s safe to say we are all looking forward to lots more time on the bike before we report back with a long-term review.
What was evident from the get-go is that the new Orbea Wild is a much tighter and more refined machine than the previous model. The low-profile Bosch mini remote and integrated top tube System Controller are very sleek and let you focus on the trail ahead while still offering enough control and an adequate display of the mode and battery life to keep you informed of the important factors. From the first drop in, the quiet running of the bike, absent of any cable or battery rattling was immediately notable and pleasant, with the only noise coming from either of the test bikes being the occasional rattle of the Bosch motor freewheel mechanism, or the occasional notion of chain noise on the hardest slaps back down to earth. The effect that quiet running bikes have on the descending ride experience is significant, it really gives a sense of confidence and control in the machine beneath you.
The climbing position on the new Wild is notably upright and centered, feeling very much like a modern enduro bike, as you would expect given that it shares the same numbers as their Rallon. This upright position makes technical climbing and tight uphill switchbacks very pleasant and manageable, weighting the front wheel effectively whilst retaining the agility to pop the front wheel up for a power wheelie to clear a step. Combined with an efficient feeling platform and the CX RACE motor on our M-LTD test rigs, this makes for a rocket ship on the way up the hill, but it isn’t as comfortable as some, with a slightly firmer off-the-top climbing feel thanks to that high anti squat figure. On rougher technical climbs this can result in a slightly more feedback through the bike, but it helps to further improve the already impressive ground clearance produced by the short 160mm cranks and mid-height bottom bracket, making pedal strikes much more manageable than many of the ultra-slammed eBikes populating the market.
Onto the way down the hill, and the Wild packs all of the good traits of the Rallon enduro bike but avoids the slightly harsh feeling that some of our testers noted in our Enduro Bike Shootout. The weight distribution and balanced geometry; supportive but not harsh suspension platform, and fine stiffness balance let you charge as hard as the best of them. As we hop from acoustic bikes to eMTB’s and back so often, there’s usually an adjustment period to get used to the slightly different approach to riding a motor-equipped MTB, but the Wild’s trail mannerisms sit as close to the non-powered siblings as we’ve yet to experience in a full-power eMTB on the downhills.
We’re very excited to put more trail time in on this full powered Enduro eMTB to really figure out where it shines and where it fails, and to see how the long haul affects its quiet running. We’re also excited to spend more time on the Bosch Race motor, as it definitely has a learning curve that we weren’t quite able to dial in over such a short ride time. The Over Run of power delivery is notable and while it can absolutely be useful, we foresee some crashes and mishaps when the mode is being used in certain types of trail conditions. For that you’ll have to stay tuned for the long-term review, but we’re quite confident to say that this is one of the best all round eMTB’s on the market right now and we can’t wait to put it to task in our 5th Annual eMTB Shootout, coming soon!
Read more of our Orbea reviews or learn more by visiting Orbea.com.
ORBEA WILD | M SERIES BUILDS
Standard Builds | Options and Upgrades Available when ordering through Orbea.com
ORBEA WILD M-LTD
Price: $11,999
Frame: Orbea Wild OMR Carbon 2023, 160MM
Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory GRIP2 | 170mm
Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory | Custom Tune
Drive Unit: BOSCH Performance Line CX-R
Battery: BOSCH Powertube 625Wh
Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC10 Carbon 800mm | Rise 20
Stem: OC Mountain Control MC10 ALU SL | 0º
Shifters: Shimano XTR M9100
Brakes: Shimano XTR M9120
Saddle: Fizik Terra Aidon X1
Seatpost: FOX Factory Transfer 31.6
Wheels: OQUO Mountain Control MC32LTD Carbon
Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Rear Tire: Maxxis Minion DHRII | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Derailleur: Shimano XTR M9100 SGS Shadow Plus
Crankset: e*thirteen Race Carbon | 34t | 160mm
Cassette: Shimano XTR M9100 | 10-51T
Chain: Shimano CN-9100
ORBEA WILD M-TEAM
Price: $9,599
Frame: Orbea Wild OMR Carbon 2023, 160MM
Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory GRIP2 | 160mm
Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory | Custom Tune
Drive Unit: BOSCH Performance Line CX
Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh
Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC10 Carbon 800mm | Rise 20
Stem: OC Mountain Control MC10 ALU SL | 0º
Shifters: Shimano XT M8100
Brakes: Shimano XT M8120
Saddle: Fizik Aidon
Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20 31.6
Wheels: OQUO Mountain Control MC32TEAM eBike
Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Rear Tire: Maxxis Minion DHRII | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
Crankset: e*thirteen Plus ALU | 34t | 160mm
Cassette: Shimano CS-M8100 | 10-51T
Chain: Shimano M8100
ORBEA WILD M10
Price: $8,299
Frame: Orbea Wild OMR Carbon 2023, 160MM
Fork: Fox 38 Float Performance GRIP | 160mm
Shock: Fox Float X Performance | Custom Tune
Drive Unit: BOSCH Performance Line CX
Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh
Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC20 ALU SL 800mm | Rise 20
Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20 | 0º
Shifters: Shimano SLX M7100
Brakes: Shimano M6120
Saddle: Fizik Aidon
Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20 31.6
Wheels: OQUO Mountain Control MC32TEAM eBike
Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Rear Tire: Maxxis Minion DHRII | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
Crankset: e*thirteen Plus ALU | 34t | 160mm
Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 | 10-51T
Chain: Shimano M6100
ORBEA WILD M20
Price: $7,299
Frame: Orbea Wild OMR Carbon 2023, 160MM
Fork: Rockshox 35 Silver TK | 160mm
Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance EVOL | Custom Tune
Drive Unit: BOSCH Performance Line CX
Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh
Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC30 800mm | Rise 20
Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20 | 0º
Shifters: Shimano Deore M6100
Brakes: SRAM DB8
Saddle: Selle Royal Vivo
Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20 31.6
Wheels: RaceFace AR 30C
Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Rear Tire: Maxxis Minion DHRII | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
Crankset: e*thirteen Plus ALU | 34t | 160mm
Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 | 10-51T
Chain: Shimano M6100
ORBEA WILD | H SERIES BUILDS
Standard Builds | Options and Upgrades Available when ordering through Orbea.com
ORBEA WILD H10
Price: $6,999
Frame: Orbea Wild Hydro 2023, 160MM
Fork: Fox 38 Float Performance GRIP | 160mm
Shock: Fox Float X Performance | Custom Tune
Drive Unit: BOSCH Performance Line CX
Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh
Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC20 ALU SL 800mm | Rise 20
Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20 | 0º
Shifters: Shimano Deore M6100
Brakes: Shimano M6120
Saddle: Fizik Aidon
Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20 31.6
Wheels: OQUO Mountain Control MC32TEAM eBike
Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Rear Tire: Maxxis Minion DHRII | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
Crankset: e*thirteen Plus ALU | 34t | 160mm
Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 | 10-51T
Chain: Shimano M6100
ORBEA WILD H20
Price: $6,299
Frame: Orbea Wild Hydro 2023, 160MM
Fork: Rockshox 35 Silver TK | 160mm
Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance EVOL | Custom Tune
Drive Unit: BOSCH Performance Line CX
Battery: BOSCH Powertube 750Wh
Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC30 800mm | Rise 20
Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20 | 0º
Shifters: Shimano Deore M6100
Brakes: SRAM DB8
Saddle: Selle Royal Vivo
Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20 31.6
Wheels: RaceFace AR 30C
Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Rear Tire: Maxxis Minion DHRII | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
Crankset: e*thirteen Plus ALU | 34t | 160mm
Cassette: Shimano CS-M7100 | 10-51T
Chain: Shimano M6100
ORBEA WILD H30
Price: $5,699
Frame: Orbea Wild Hydro 2023, 160MM
Fork: Rockshox 35 Silver TK | 160mm
Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance EVOL | Custom Tune
Drive Unit: BOSCH Performance Line CX
Battery: BOSCH Powertube 625Wh
Display: BOSCH System Controller BCR3100
Remote: BOSCH Mini Remote
Handlebar: OC Mountain Control MC30 800mm | Rise 20
Stem: OC Mountain Control MC20 | 0º
Shifters: Shimano Deore M6100
Brakes: Shimano MT410
Saddle: Selle Royal Vivo
Seatpost: OC Mountain Control MC20 31.6
Wheels: RaceFace AR 30C
Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHF | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Rear Tire: Maxxis Minion DHRII | 29×2.60″ | 120 TPI FB 3C Maxx Terra EXO+
Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100 SGS Shadow Plus
Crankset: e*thirteen Plus ALU | 34t | 160mm
Cassette: Shimano CS-M6100 | 10-51T
Chain: Shimano M6100