Rise LT 2026

The Orbea Rise LT 2026 is the longer-travel sibling to the Rise SL, a carbon trail eMTB sitting in Orbea's distinctive "lighter than full-power but stronger than mid-power" niche thanks to the Shimano EP801 RS motor with Orbea's bespoke firmware. Headline numbers: 160 mm fork, 150 mm rear travel, EP801 RS at 85 Nm and 500 W peak with three rider-configurable overrun modes (a 2025 Gen2 MC firmware update), 630 Wh battery, a 64.0 degree head angle, reach 430 to 505 mm across four sizes, 440 mm fixed chainstay and €9,989 base price. The community verdict, from @TorAtle's real-world weighing of the Rise LT M10 2025 Large at 20.6 kg with Maxxis Minions and a Fox dropper, is that this is one of the lightest 85 Nm bikes you can buy without going custom.

Drive system and range. The Shimano EP801 RS is Orbea's restricted-output Shimano EP801, with reduced peak power and torque versus the standard EP801. The 2025 Gen2 MC firmware update gives riders three overrun-time choices and configurable cut-off (a feature now present on the standard EP801 too). @levity, an 80-year-old 165 lb rider on the Rise LT M20 with 630 Wh battery, reports "about 35 miles and 3,500 ft climbing with high assist settings, 40 miles/4,000 ft is achievable with lower assist settings". That is exceptional range for an 85 Nm full-power-ish bike at 20.6 kg, and is the reason the Rise platform has built such a loyal community.

Geometry and handling. The 64.0 degree head angle is bang on category-norm. Reach progresses 430, 455, 480 and 505 mm across S to XL with a fixed 440 mm chainstay and wheelbase scaling 1203 to 1288 mm. The Rise LT geometry is more aggressive than the SL (140/140 mm) but still skews toward trail/all-mountain rather than full enduro. The 440 mm fixed chainstay is on the shorter side, which keeps the rear-centre nimble across the size run at the cost of some climbing grip on XL.

Build and value. Base trim at €9,989 is the M-Team or M10 level, with H10/H20/H30 alloy variants sitting in cheaper price points. @MeatBike's recent Rise LT H10 purchase from MTB Monster is the kind of UK retail experience reported as excellent. Standout is the EP801 RS Gen2 MC firmware with three overrun modes, plus the option to spec via Orbea's MyO programme. Questionable is the Rise's controversial restricted EP801 RS power output, with @Backflip noting the "RS" marketing narrative remains contentious: Orbea has historically claimed a bespoke motor when in practice the unit is firmware-limited, and not everyone is comfortable paying premium money for less peak output than the stock EP801.

Community-verified strengths. First, real-world weight: @TorAtle's 20.6 kg with proper Minion tyres and aluminium wheels is genuinely class-leading for an 85 Nm bike. Second, range: @levity's 35-40 mile real-world figures on 630 Wh are excellent. Third, the Rise platform is heavily customisable: @levity documents fitting a Marzocchi Bomber Z1 coil fork and a Fox DHX1 coil shock, and @Inde_Si documents a full custom H10 build with OneUp E-MTB bars, Oak Components Eternal stem, Hope Tech4 V4 brakes, Magura MDR-P 203 mm rotors and Reverse rims.

Caveats and known gripes. The headset cable routing is the consistent flag. @skizzian notes "headset cable routing which can be problematic, requires special handlebars that accept cabling under the grips", and @levity separately notes "multiple cables running through the headset". @skizzian's 2023 Rise had a rusty nitrided bottom bearing requiring early replacement. The premium €9,989 price for the M-Team trim is firmly at the top of the segment. And the EP801 RS firmware-limit topic continues to divide buyers per @Backflip.

Verdict. The Rise LT 2026 is in current production and remains a benchmark in the "premium lightweight 85 Nm-class" segment, with the 2025 Gen2 MC firmware adding genuinely useful overrun customisation. Buy it if you want a 20.6 kg, 160/150 mm 85 Nm bike with class-leading range, deep customisation options via MyO, and an active community knowledge base. Look elsewhere if you object to firmware-limited motors on principle, prefer headset routing that does not require special bars, or want full-fat 100-plus Nm power. The Rise platform is genuinely loved, but it asks a premium price and asks you to live with its idiosyncrasies.