2023 Orbea

WILD M20

The Wild combines impressive power and range with terrific handling in a stylish package. Orbea is back with the latest incarnation of their long-travel 29er eMTB, the Wild. This is version four, and it shows a number of improvements and refinements over the previous version. Let’s cover the basics before we jump into the improvements

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In 2020, the organisers of the Enduro World Series (as it was then, now called EDR – as in EnDuRo) introduced an e-bike category. At first it was dismissed as a retirement home for washed-up racers, but it has grown in stature over the last few years and now attracts a stacked field of top riders, including several former World Champions, ex-World Cup stars and a growing pool of young blood. Bike brands have also been getting in on the act, designing and building dedicated enduro race bikes to give their riders the best chance of winning. One of those brands is Orbea, and its Wild e-bike has just been ridden to overall victory in the 2023 women’s E-EDR series by Flo Espiñeira. A proven winner between the tapes, we got hold of the M-Team model to see how it stacks up against the best e-bikes on the market, and more specifically the equally race-focussed Canyon Strive:ON CFR. Read our review of the Canyon Strive:ON CFR Read our comparison test between the Orbea Wild M-Team and the Canyon Strive:ON CFR Orbea Wild M-Team need to know 29er enduro e-bike with 160mm travel Bosch Performance CX motor and choice of 625Wh or 750Wh battery Carbon and alloy frame opinions Four frame sizes 8 models with prices starting from £5,299 Customisation options through the MYO program Frame and geometry The Wild is available in both carbon and aluminium frame options, both of which share a similar profile that’s immediately identifiable by its distinctive shock struts. These reinforcing beams connect the down tube to the base of the seat tube/top of the motor housing, and double up as lower mounts for the trunnion shock. By mounting the shock vertically, driven by a rocker link, Orbea has maximised space in the front triangle to make room for a water bottle and frame strap loaded with tube and tools. And at the rear is a Concentric dropout pivot that functions in the same way as Trek’s ABP and Dave Weagle’s Split Pivot, by aiming to reduce the effect of braking on the suspension. Providing the assistance is Bosch’s acclaimed Performance CX motor packing 600W peak power and 85Nm of torque. With a dynamic response that’s highly tunable, and performance-orientated features such as extended overrun to help on technical climbs, it’s a firm favourite with both racers and weekend warriors alike. Only the rattle when coasting on descents spoils Bosch’s perfect report card. Riders can tune the weight, range, and handling, by choosing between two battery sizes: 625Wh or 750Wh, with a circa 900g penalty for the latter – choosing the smaller battery will also save you £210. Orbea has kept the top tube wafer-thin, and made a concerted effort to match the lines of the top tube with angle of the seatstays and the shock bracing. In our view the end result is an exceptionally attractive frame design with a classic side profile and impressive attention to detail. One of the key changes to the …Continue reading »

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The Orbea Wild caught a lot of attention when it was updated for 2023, mainly because the top-of-the line model was a sub 21 kg bike. That’s very light for a full fat emtb. We’re not testing the most expensive carbon version though. We’re sort of...

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The Orbea Wild has been completely redesigned for this year, and for the right rider this bike is nothing short of brilliant.

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There's a punching bag-like quality to the way the Wild absorbs obstacles – it seems to relish high-speed smashing, and can withstand some serious hits without getting hung up or knocked off line.

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