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EB17: Orbea Gain e-bike electrifies road bikes on the down low

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The trend in e-bikes this year has for sure been integration. But Orbea is taking that to the next level with their new family of Gain aluminum e-road bikes. In all honesty we didn’t even notice it had a motor when we first saw it. But that’s kind of the point according to Orbea. The Gain isn’t meant to be the traditional e-bike with a 250W motor, a strong power assist, and a long life battery. Instead it is meant to offer just enough motorized e-bike assist to get you up the big climbs a bit faster, while still feeling like you are pedaling a bike, not riding a motorized bike. (Something we also saw to a less stealthy degree with Focus’ Project Y concepts.)

Orbea Gain aluminum road e-bike e-road bike electric-assist road bike stealth battery motor integration Eurobike

So with that comes stealthy looks.

Orbea sees the modern integrated e-bike as being a viable way to get more people on bikes. Whether that is to overcome the stigma of riding an e-bike for cyclists who physically need the help to get up the bigger hills or for adventurous riders just looking to venture further from home, the Gain hopes to make it easier to decide to hop on a bike.

Gain goals

Orbea Gain aluminum road e-bike e-road bike electric-assist road bike stealth battery motor integration group ride

Orbea developed the Gain around some simple design targets to ensure its ridability. That meant they wanted a ride (assist) feel and look that kept a sporty impression of the bike. So no huge power surging when you step on the pedals, no dramatic lag above their 25km/h speed limiter, and no large unsightly battery or motor on the bike. Lightweight was also key, aiming to keep the bikes under 13kg/28.7lb if possible, while still keeping pricing minimal (mostly compared to the exorbitant eMTB pricing.) Battery range was kept to be sure you could get in 100km of real riding or around 1500m of elevation gain.

Tech details

Orbea Gain aluminum road e-bike e-road bike electric-assist road bike stealth battery motor integration ebikemotion system cutaway

The Gain was developed around a concept of ‘Enough Power and Enough Energy’ that means a relatively small motor output of 40Nm at 250W (that compares to Shimano’s E8000 of 70Nm at 259W) and a battery of just 250Wh at 36v (again compared to 504Wh for a standard Shimano battery.)

Orbea Gain aluminum road e-bike e-road bike electric-assist road bike stealth battery motor integration ebikemotion parts

The motor is eBikeMotion’s X35 hub motor, which at 100mm in diameter isn’t so noticeable and tucks in nicely even with a normal 11-32 cassette. The internal Panasonic battery takes away the biggest eyesore in most current e-bikes. While it only stores 250Wh of juice, it can be augmented with a secondary water bottle battery that you can drop in a standard cage for another 250Wh to double your range for bugger rides.

Together that’s how Orbea keeps things small and neatly hidden in the not so giant downtube and not overly huge rear hub.

Orbea keeps it simple in the cockpit as well, by replacing an e-bike display with a simple color coded LED Mode button on the toptube. Press it to turn on the e-bike assist and cycle through motor output modes. It’ll even show remaining charge percentage, while freeing up your bar for a standard cycling GPS.

Charging the bike is simple with a single power port above the bottom bracket, where you can also plug in to run diagnostics, or attach the extra battery. Out back a cassette lockring-based 20-magnet speed & pedaling sensor manages motor output for smooth and consistent e-assist.

Orbea Gain aluminum road e-bike e-road bike electric-assist road bike stealth battery motor integration ebikemotion app

A smartphone & watch compatible mobile app give the rider even more control of the e-bike system, plus offers a full suite of GPS ride tracking features.

Frame specs

Orbea Gain aluminum road e-bike e-road bike electric-assist road bike stealth battery motor integration d10 frameset

The Gain frames are an odd mix of new tech and old using a hydroformed triple butted aluminum frame with a straight 1.125″ headset, a 68mm threaded BSA bottom bracket, a 27.2mm seatpost, and road 130mm rear wheel spacing. They do still get modern flat mount disc brakes, but stick with open dropouts and QR axles.

Orbea Gain aluminum road e-bike e-road bike electric-assist road bike stealth battery motor integration d15 cross forest complete

The bikes are built for versatility, so the aluminum forks get hidden internal braze-ons for fenders, and the frame adds both rack & fender mounts out back. At both ends there is room for to fit in up to 40mm tires for mixed surface road riding.

The Gains are available in a wide (for e-bikes) five size range from a 46cm XS to 61cm XL, probably thanks to their alloy construction.

Models – eRoad, eAllroad & eUrban

Orbea Gain aluminum road e-bike e-road bike electric-assist road bike stealth battery motor integration riding shadow

Orbea says that bikes give riders freedom, and wanted to develop an e-bike that could give that freedom to more potential cyclists, whether it was helping them make the choice of a bike over a car for city commuting or for getting a proper road or adventure bike to get out and ride more for fun. Nine total bikes make up the Gain family of bikes.

Gain e-road

Orbea Gain aluminum road e-bike e-road bike electric-assist road bike stealth battery motor integration Gain D10 road

For proper road riding there are three bike – the Orbea Gain D10, D30 & D40 (D is for drop bars.) The 3400€ Orbea Gain D10 gets a 6800 Ultegra road compact double groupset & 11-32 cassette with hydraulic disc brakes and 19mm internal Orbea wheels wrapped with 25mm Kenda Kriterium tires.

The Gain D30 drops the price back to 2600€ with a 10 speed Tiagra double and the same wheel/tire combo.At just 2000€ the Gain 40 is the lowest cost of entry on the road with a compact Claris 2×8 11-32 and Shimano mechanical disc brakes.

Gain e-allroad

Orbea Gain aluminum road e-bike e-road bike electric-assist road bike stealth battery motor integration Gain D15 allroad

For more off-asphalt builds there are two more drop bar complete bikes, both with 1x drivetrains & 40mm Kenda Flintridge tires – the Gain D15 & D20.

For 3400€ the Orbea Gain D15 gets a SRAM Force 1 Hydro group with a 40T ring & 11-36 cassette and the same Orbea Airline Corsa Disc 19mm wide found on all the Gain family. The Gain D20 steps back to a Rival 1 Hydro group for an otherwise identical build for 2900€.

Gain e-urban

Orbea Gain aluminum road e-bike e-road bike electric-assist road bike stealth battery motor integration Gain F10 urban commuter

For the city commuter there are four flat bar road e-bikes – the Gain F10, F20, F30 & F40 (F being for flat bar.) The bikes share the same frame, fork & wheels as the drop bar bikes with more commuter setups.

The Gain F10 at 2500€ gets a 1×10 Shimano Deore drivetrain and hydraulic brakes, 38mm reflective strip Kenda urban tires, plus a Brooks Cambium saddle, a Tubus Fly rear rack, SKS fenders, and Spanninga front & rear lights. The 2400€ F20 gets a road compact 105 double with M315 hydraulic discs, but drops the rack & fenders to get the price down. The F30 then goes for a Claris 2×8 with mechanical brakes for 2000€, and the F40 a Altus 1×9 with M315 hydraulic discs for 1900€.

The new Gain bikes are available now in Orbea’s website configuration tool to ship to your nearest dealer. For the time being this road e-bike family isn’t coming to the US, but Orbea assured us that is only temporary.

Orbea.com

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Travis Moody
Travis Moody
7 years ago

might wanna change the website name to “motorcyclerumor.com”

ShtTlkr
ShtTlkr
7 years ago
Reply to  Travis Moody

Meh. Go back to PinkBike if ya wanna hate on E-Bikes. I personally love getting to and from work or errands sweat-free, getting out farther to explore than I could before and in less time, enjoying a more casual ride with assist, squeezing in a loop in less time so I can get on with my day, or keeping up and enjoying a ride with my buddies who are more fit climbers than I without slowing them down.

Lyford
Lyford
7 years ago

A lot to like, but why is anyone making new disc brake frames with QRs?

Marin
Marin
7 years ago
Reply to  Lyford

Probably 5 euro cheaper per bike

JNH
JNH
7 years ago
Reply to  Marin

Until the lawsuit drops on their doorstep, which it will when some Fred has his front wheel pop out under braking. Then some clever soul will declare a QR wheel wholly unsuitable for the extra load applied by E-bikes and the lawyers will appear over the horizon in a scene resembling The Lord of The Rings.

mwagner
mwagner
7 years ago

Great, just want we need..camouflaged E-bikes that all the amateur racers will start using in crits and cyclocross.

TomM
TomM
7 years ago
Reply to  mwagner

Exactly. In a year or three they will be even more camouflaged and no one will be able to detect them. Then racing as we know if will be over.

Robin
Robin
7 years ago
Reply to  TomM

Hah! That’s funny” “no one will be able to detect them.” Detection is easy. Whether any organization will be willing to spend what it takes to detect electric motors is another matter. The problem is not going to be a an OEM e-bike going undetected at a race.

TomM
TomM
7 years ago
Reply to  Robin

They will be undetectable because the local industrial park crit promoter and the one local USCF official won’t have the equipment.

Robin
Robin
7 years ago
Reply to  TomM

Oh well. We should all have great fear I guess.

zipp23
zipp23
7 years ago
Reply to  TomM

Cycling is changing from a sport to a hobby where the physical aspect and the pride of achievement which came from cycling is no longer appreciated. When they doped, at least they where pedaling themselves… For me, the tsunami of e-bike pushing by the industry and media outlets is alienating me from cycling.

JBikes
JBikes
7 years ago
Reply to  zipp23

come now, there’s an app for whatever ails you

Robin
Robin
7 years ago
Reply to  zipp23

No it’s not. Your biased view does not a fact make.

Marc Fortier
7 years ago
Reply to  zipp23

Yep, we’re looking at a societal issue here – everyone wants to make cycling easier and more accessible, just like everything else in life. In an evolutionary way of thinking, it makes total sense that the industry would develop this way. For myself and many others though, cycling being hard is the whole point : no pain – no gain, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, etc. There is joy and satisfaction in climbing that mountain on your own power. What’s next, e-boots for hikers so they can climb faster ? Where does it end ?

MIrwin
MIrwin
6 years ago
Reply to  TomM

TomM “No one will be able to detect them… Then racing as we know if will be over.”

Hey Panicky Pete, you need wa-a-ay more assumptions for your severely biased crystal ball. The frames have lights on them FCOL. And even if a few get through, it’s not like local races are Olympic qualis. It’s a low powered e-bike, not Ebola.

Rider X
7 years ago
Reply to  mwagner

If you are getting dropped at 25 kph in a crit, you are already screwed!

Robin
Robin
7 years ago

I really don’t see what there is to be upset about here. Granted, no shortage of people will be upset, but I can’t see why I should be upset about what someone else rides. Ignoring all the excellent and justifiable reasons someone might have for using an e-bike, an e-bike isn’t a car, and if someone s on their e-bike instead of in a car, that’s great.

zipp23
zipp23
7 years ago
Reply to  Robin

Why is that great? For me as a cyclist it means more traphic on cycling lanes. Please let them keep riding in their cars..

Robin
Robin
7 years ago
Reply to  zipp23

Cars are a much bigger hazard to bikes. E-bikes? Not so much, especially given the limit on their power. People almost always overestimate risk, and I’d wager that applies to the risks people are imagining about e-bikes.

James Fryer
7 years ago
Reply to  zipp23

I knew cyclists could be elitist, but damn, you take it to a whole new level!

Yeppers
Yeppers
7 years ago
Reply to  zipp23

Actually if you could stop using the bike lanes and just get into the road and become traffic yourself, it would make more space for me. I’m not sure I feel safe sharing a lane with your inflated sense of self worth and inability to spell properly. Man, I sound like a jerk right now.

MF
MF
7 years ago
Reply to  zipp23

That’s a whole new level of hate… no e-bikes because you don’t want too much people on bike lanes? really? I wish more people drove theirs because sometimes sidewalks get crowed. And those stupid moms with baby strollers… ugh… please don’t have babies because you take to much space in sidewalks too …

Andrea
Andrea
7 years ago

Shut up and take my money. Or maybe the fine gentlemens up here can share their secret for their ethernal youth.

JBikes
JBikes
7 years ago

I like the concept, especially for commuting. Not really sure the point outside that but I’ll let others choose for themselves.
As for bringing in new cyclists…maybe, but I wouldn’t hang my hat on it. Most people don’t cycle because they are too scared or view cycling as a kids activity. I’ve never heard someone say its because its too hard UNLESS its for commuting purposes. And at that point this either needs to be much cheaper than more powerful options, or cater to what I think is a very small section of buyers that will have this for their single commuter/fun/do-it-all bike.

tyler
7 years ago

nice, clean, functional, at realistic price points. nicely done for a commuter-type bike. pretty sick honestly. this would get me to ride to the office more and be able to afford a second bike to do so in the first place.

dockboy
dockboy
7 years ago

130mm? come on now, if you aren’t doing thru axles (you should), at least stick with accepted-standard disc hub spacing!

Meanwhile, I’ll be over on my bike that only quits when I do.

MIrwin
MIrwin
6 years ago
Reply to  dockboy

Pssst, if the battery runs out, you can still pedal it just like a bike. That’s why the call it an ‘ebike’ and not a ‘motorbike’.

Jon
Jon
7 years ago

To me looks like one of the first properly integrated bikes. Like the look and idea of reducing the amount of pedal assist. I can totally see this as the way ebikes will be going for non commuter bikes. Good bit of innovation. For all the people complaining, go ride an ebike first and then comment.

JBikes
JBikes
7 years ago
Reply to  Jon

that last sentence…it’s sloppy debate.
How will you deflect their comments if they ride e-bike and have the same complaints?
You are prefacing any complaint against e-bikes as coming from a stance of ignorance (rather than debating the point) as well as inferring everyone that rides an e-bike will become an advocate.

-Rizza
-Rizza
7 years ago

When bicycles become motorcycles, you can expect to be treated like a motorcyclist: required licence, insurance, taxes and DOT helmets..

ShtTlkr
ShtTlkr
7 years ago
Reply to  -Rizza

Ahhhh, the rancid smell of ignorance. You realize the assist cuts out at 25mph… I pedal faster than that on my assist-less commuter on a regular basis. Reaaaallly don’t understand the American hate for getting people out of cars and onto green, two wheeled assisted transportation.

barael
barael
7 years ago
Reply to  ShtTlkr

Small correction, that’s 25 kph. Commuting at over 25mph would be pretty epic.

Dalton
Dalton
7 years ago
Reply to  barael

Trek super commuter does 28mph. That said it’s a class 2 Ebike not a class 1 so it’s not allowed on most bike trails.

luddite
luddite
7 years ago

Looks great, but when the battery is toast you need a new frame???

MF
MF
7 years ago
Reply to  luddite

ahahah no… the batery comes off very easily. I’ve seen it in person

Jon D
Jon D
7 years ago

Awesome. I’m a little concerned that there appears to be no way to replace the battery but I’ll wait until I see more.

James Fryer
7 years ago
Reply to  Jon D

It looks like there is a cutout at the bottom of the down tube to access the battery.

ascarlarkinyar
7 years ago

Hide the motor and battery to fool people into thinking you are fast. Great. Cheaters will cheat. The ebike (motorcycle)industry is insulting bicycle riders. Why would anybody needing pedal assit need this to be so undercover other than to cheat, manipulate, lie and disguise the fact that they are not using (even though they are), motors. Straight up fraud.

No to motorcycles (ebike) to be treat the same or in the same category as bicycles.

Robin
Robin
7 years ago
Reply to  ascarlarkinyar

Someone might want an e-bike like this because they might think it looks better than other e-bikes. Seems pretty obvious, doesn’t it?

Cheating? It’s only cheating if you’re competing and there are rules that one agreed to when they signed up. There’s no cheating when you’re not racing.

It is funny to see how panties get so knotted over e-bikes.

MF
MF
7 years ago
Reply to  ascarlarkinyar

Maybe I want to ride an ebike because my knees could use some less effort and I want a nice looking bike like all the cyclists. Not everyone rides to compete. Some of us just ride because they like to…

RMS
RMS
7 years ago

Man it really feels like this whole ebike thing is being crammed down our throats by all forms of media lately. What’s the agenda?? The negative comment always outweigh the good on any of this stuff yet it still keeps a comin…

Steve
Steve
7 years ago

I don’t see what the problem is, it’s easy enough to see the motor if you really look. I’m a 51 year old life time runner / cyclist, i can imagine may be having something like this in 10 years time. I like the emphasis on assist rather than letting it do it all for you. There was no mention of weight, hopefully it’s light enough to pedal completely unassisted.

Tim
Tim
7 years ago

Every time an ebike sells, a little piece of a cyclist’s soul rusts

Steve
Steve
7 years ago
Reply to  Tim

Unless the person that bought that ebike never was a cyclist, still better than a car!

gofunkyourself
gofunkyourself
7 years ago

Ah, now the bike companies are making America great again by disguising motors in their bikes. That way we can all ‘go faster’ and sweat less while exploring more. That’s what it’s all about, right? Unfettered growth with minimal–minimal!–input. God forbid we accept that not everyone gets to win, and not everyone gets to go farther or faster, and that only one person gets to win.

Good grief. It’s like we’re trying to dumb down and disqualify all achievements. That way everybody can win, and nobody has to feel the pain of losing, right?

Paul
Paul
7 years ago
Reply to  gofunkyourself

Surely they see a market, but there is a market because people want to enjoy life; and do it in many ways. None of which effects you AT ALL!

Why does this bikes ability to prolong my ride and my enjoyment and my health threaten you so much?

Roddy
Roddy
7 years ago

Like it or not ebikes selling really well. Old folks has deep pockets.

Larry Larson
Larry Larson
7 years ago

I’m a 61 year old, former Cat. 3 road racer and ultra marathon cyclist. I have heart failure. I have aproximately 30% of my original heart function. I purchased a road ebike a few months ago. Every ride I go on still feels like a wonderful dream to me.

Now, before you say, “well in your case an ebike is fine”, I want you to think about the all the people you have met in your life. Some are very intelligent, and many are not. Some are very athletic, and many are not. If you think that the unintelligent and unathletic people are all just lazy…. well, we will all know which mental capacity category you most likely fall into. Check your young, healthy, athletic, privilege, and leave the people who want to ride an ebike alone. The don’t need your permission or opinion.

No matter how immortal you feel today, always remember, none of us get out of life alive, and none of us get out unscathed. Not even you.

Paul
Paul
7 years ago
Reply to  Larry Larson

I’ve been searching for your post, so I didn’t have to type or myself. 2000 VT Cat 3 Crit Chxmp here, but now 46 years old with a cardiac output of 30%.

I can not wait to get one!!!!

As a bike racer of 20 years I can tell all the self centered bike racers that “IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT YOU”.

Larry Larson
Larry Larson
7 years ago
Reply to  Paul

The Giant Road E with the Yamaha centerdrive motor I have operates so smoothly, after 10-15 minutes, you won’t even know its there. Watch your heart rate and don’t be afraid to click up the power when you go out of the zone recommend by your cardiologist. Your heart rate will quickly drop back into a safe range, and you can turn the power back down. It can be pretty hard on you, and you’ll think it was no big deal until a little later. I was also told no more than 2 hours on the bike. That turned out to be good advice also, but I’m still here 🙂
Just wish I could custom program the controller. Smaller finer increments of power assist would be really nice! Hear that Yamaha!

Mike Staufert
7 years ago

Tru axles . . a no-brainer , please

John Kirby
John Kirby
6 years ago

I’ve cycled since I was 12 years old, next birthday will be my 75th. OK with you guys if I get an E bike so I can keep going until I’m 85 or will it upset your sense of fairness?????

Marie L
Marie L
6 years ago

At 60 and recovering from a serious health challenge, I have rediscovered how much fun it is to ride while commuting. An ebike will be the deciding factor if I keep riding when it is >90F this summer and I am not feeling my best. Then it occurred to me that I could also ride with my racing friends on the weekends, …. and keep up with them! I have always imagined what it would be like to ride with them.

Penny Cossburn
Penny Cossburn
6 years ago

I can see that most of the comments made here are from young, by my standards, fit males. I’ve done it all, raced, climbed mountains with and without fully laden panniers, and ridden long distance cycling events in excess of 500km. I’ve now reached 72 and want to continue climbing the mountains – an e-bike that gives a gentle “push” is just what I need. I just wish that people who are lucky to have the right physiology would “shut up” and think of all the others out there who are not so privileged.

Nicole Wojtasiak
Nicole Wojtasiak
6 years ago

Why does it bother people so much who rides a e bike. E bikes put people that cannot ride a regular bike as well anymore the freedom to still get out there and enjoy a activity. They are still getting some form of exercise as they are out doing something not just sitting on the couch. I love my e bike. I have a slipped disc in my back and hills are just to hard for me. My e bike allows me to ride with my husband who bikes every day. I wish the hatters would educate themselves more about a e bike. We do not have throttles, we are using a pedal assist. When it is you who needs or wants a e bike remember how much you hated on those for using one.

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