Orbea's 2027 Rise LT: The Lightweight eMTB That Refuses to Quit

Robert Wilson · 2026-11-05

All the assistance you need and as much mountain bike as possible: that’s still the brief for the third-generation 2027 Orbea Rise LT. Shimano’s new EP810 RS motor brings up to 100 Nm and 600 W of peak power, alongside revised suspension and Orbea’s own batteries. But does a familiar formula give the Rise a fresh sense of purpose? Orbea Rise LT M-LTD RS | Shimano EP810 RS/420 Wh | 160/150 mm travel (f/r) | 41.4 lb in size L | $11,999 | Manufacturer’s website The 2027 Orbea Rise exists for a different reason than the bike it replaces. As the Basque brand sees it, the eMTB market isn’t converging; it’s pulling apart. Full-power bikes keep getting stronger, but plenty of riders still want less assistance, as long as it’s delivered intelligently. Selling the first Rise was easy. It weighed considerably less than a full-power bike, yet its torque came close to what those bikes offered at the time. Peak power trailed behind, but the assistance was ample and the package agile, and on the trail that combination was hard to beat. That was then. Full-power bikes now make far more power and torque while also getting lighter, which makes low weight a much harder selling point. Is there still room for the Rise between categories? The new Rise comes in two variants: the SL, which combines 140/140 mm of travel, and the LT with 160/150 mm, each with a spec to match. Both use the new Shimano EP810 RS motor and batteries developed in-house by Orbea. The RS profile delivers up to 85 Nm and 400 watts of peak power, with as much as 100 Nm and 600 watts available when you need it. For Orbea, though, the real focus remains on the tune. Assistance should complement your own effort and preserve the active riding experience that has always defined the Rise. Orbea quote starting weights of around 37.5 lb for the Rise SL and 39.7 lb for the LT, which varies slightly depending on the spec. Our test bikes weigh 39.9 and 41.4 lb respectively, EXO+ tires and bottle cages included, which still undercuts many current full-power bikes by a comfortable margin. With Orbea’s MyO configurator, you can pick not only the paint finish and components but also battery capacity and the cable routing system. All that choice costs money: our Rise LT M-LTD RS lists at $11,999, and that’s with the smaller 420 Wh battery. ### The new 2027 Orbea Rise LT in Detail The look is unmistakably Orbea: clean, angular lines, a slender main frame and nothing that doesn’t need to be there. The details are well sorted, too. Cables enter through neatly clamped ports, any unused openings get proper covers, and a chain guide comes as standard. Neatly integrated and easy to reach: the FLP multitool is tucked away inside the suspension link, and includes 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm Allen keys. Clamped cable ports hold the cables securely in place. Matching covers seal the unused openings. A large, stick-on chainstay protector prevents chain slap, while a small flap between the main frame and the swing arm stops dirt building up in the gap. The charging port cover is sturdy and is easy to use, even while wearing gloves. For trailside fixes, there’s a small multitool tucked into the suspension linkage, plus a 6 mm Allen key in the rear axle. Another welcome touch: Orbea mark every bolt on the Rise with its tightening torque. That saves you hunting for the correct figures whenever you pick up a tool and shows real attention to detail. Nice! ### The new Shimano EP810 RS motor system in detail On the climbs, the Rise relies on Shimano’s new EP810 motor, running Orbea’s own RS tune. RS stands for Rider Synergy, and the thinking behind it is simple: you, not the motor, should shape the ride. That’s why Orbea’s software goes well beyond capping maximum output. The tune also governs how quickly assistance kicks in, how much power it delivers, and how smoothly it fades out. It’s a philosophy that pays off on tight, technical trails where you want the bike to feel like an extension of your body, not a runaway train. The EP810 RS is quiet, too, with none of the whine that plagues some full-power motors. And because Orbea uses its own batteries, you can choose between 420 Wh and 540 Wh capacities, depending on how much range you need versus how much weight you’re willing to carry. So, does the 2027 Rise LT make sense? If you’re the kind of rider who values agility and a natural feel over raw power, absolutely. It’s not the cheapest option out there, but it’s one of the most thoughtfully designed eMTBs we’ve ridden. And in a market that’s constantly chasing bigger numbers, that counts for something.