Orbea gives their versatile Gain road & gravel ebike a lighter and stealthy power boost with an upgrade to the Mahle X20 – the “lightest e-bike drive system on the market”. With claimed complete ebike weights as low as 11.5kg, it’s only the 2023 carbon models that get the X20-powered upgrade.
But those premium ebikes now get a lighter motor in the rear hub, more than a 30% boost in peak torque, two internal battery options, the options for a lighter external range extender battery, and some other functional updates…
2023 Orbea Gain X20 road & gravel ebikes
The upgrades to the 2023 Orbea Gain carbon X20 road & gravel ebikes are almost all imperceptible from the outside compared to the 2021 model. The fully-integrated & sleek premium OMR carbon frameset is virtually unchanged – all except a new motor power button with an improved LED power display that’s built into the top tube. But the real upgrades are inside the newer X20 rear hub and the batteries that make it go…
What’s new?
The Mahle X20 ebike powertrain debuted last spring, with a slightly smaller diameter 250W rear hub motor that stepped up to a 55Nm equivalent peak torque output (up from 40Nm with their previous generation X35). Inside, the new Gain also gets the option for the same iX250 250Wh hidden internal battery, which is the lightest option. Or, pick a new larger iX350 350Wh internal battery that claims a larger pedal-assist range to cover up to 400m of climbing on one charge. Plus, the upgraded X20 system also swaps to a smaller, lighter e185 Range Extender external bottle battery (an extra 185Wh) that can be plugged into a more standard bottle cage.
We’ve ridden the new X20 system, and it is indeed noticeably smoother in its natural power delivery, and more powerful overall.
More versatile ebike geometry
The updated 2023 Orbea Gain X20 also gets tweaked geometry, with a more balanced Stack & Reach combo, shorter wheelbases, 5mm shorter 415mm chainstays, 2mm extra bottom bracket drop, and new all-road e-bike specific fork Trail. Plus, Orbea adds a new sixth frame size, stretching out from XS-XXL now.
Frameset Tech Details
The carbon Orbea Gain itself is for the most part, otherwise unchanged. It has a road-going focus and endurance road geometry, plus clearance for up to 700 x 40mm tires – bleeding it over through all-road and into light gravel riding, as well. Although, the biggest that Orbea actually specs are 35mm tires, suggesting there isn’t a ton of extra space.
It features a 1.5″ tapered headtube with FSA ICR fully internal routing, flat mount disc brakes, a 12mm thru-axle (front & rear, now), a BB386EVO bottom bracket, and a round 27.2mm seatpost with an integrated wedge-style seatpost clamp, plus an integrated taillight up top and a 60lumen headlight integrated into an out-front GPS mount.
2023 Orbea Gain X20 – Pricing & options
All six of the Orbea Gain ebikes with an OMR carbon frame come with the upgraded Mahle X20 motor and bigger capacity battery standard. The smaller internal battery is available via MyO custom builds, and the extra external battery through your local dealer.
The 2023 Gain M30 is the most affordable road ebike to get the X20 system, with a Shimano R7000 105 2x mechanical groupset and alloy wheels with 30mm Pirelli P Zero Race TLR slicks for 5500€, or step up to the M30i for 6300€ with 105 Di2.
A 6600€ Gain M31e 1x shifts to a gravel focus with a SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 1x group and alloy wheels with 35mm Pirelli Cinturati Gravel H tires.
The 7500€ Gain M20i upgrades to Ultegra Di2 and carbon wheels with 30mm slicks.
While a 7600€ Gain M21e 1x opts for a Force XPLR AXS 1x with alloy wheels & gravel tires.
And at the top, the 2023 Orbea Gain M10i goes all in with X20 on the road for 9999€ with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, 42mm deep carbon wheels, and 30mm P Zero Race TLR slicks.
