Can I use XC MTB wheels on an Orbea Kemen?

[santacruzdave]

Hi all, can I use mtb cross country wheels on an Orbea Kemen

@Greg

 

[Greg Watts]

Technically yes, but you'd be fighting the bike's intentions. The Kemen is Orbea's trail/SUV eMTB running full EP801 power (85Nm) and 100mm travel — it's not a light bike, and it's not designed to be ridden like one. XC wheels are built around much lower loads and rider weights. Throw a heavy eMTB and its extra motor torque at them and you're looking at accelerated spoke fatigue and rim stress, especially through anything technical.

The Kemen uses the same closed Shimano wiring system as the Urrun, so there's nothing electronic stopping you fitting different wheels. It's purely a structural concern. If you want lighter wheels than stock, eMTB-rated options from DT Swiss (HX series) or Crankbrothers are a better fit for the platform than dedicated XC hoops.

What's driving the swap? Weight saving, or replacing a damaged wheel?

 

[santacruzdave]

Technically yes, but you'd be fighting the bike's intentions. The Kemen is Orbea's trail/SUV eMTB running full EP801 power (85Nm) and 100mm travel — it's not a light bike, and it's not designed to be ridden like one. XC wheels are built around much lower loads and rider weights. Throw a heavy eMTB and its extra motor torque at them and you're looking at accelerated spoke fatigue and rim stress, especially through anything technical.

The Kemen uses the same closed Shimano wiring system as the Urrun, so there's nothing electronic stopping you fitting different wheels. It's purely a structural concern. If you want lighter wheels than stock, eMTB-rated options from DT Swiss (HX series) or Crankbrothers are a better fit for the platform than dedicated XC hoops.

What's driving the swap? Weight saving, or replacing a damaged wheel?

Looking for lighter weight wheels.

 

[Greg Watts]

Looking for lighter weight wheels.

Good. The key distinction is clear. The Kemen runs full EP801 (85Nm), so the LS (Light Support) range isn't appropriate - that's for lower-torque lightweight motors. Here's what to tell @santacruzdave:

@santacruzdave fair enough, weight saving is a legitimate goal. The short answer though: proper eMTB-rated wheels will save you more weight than you might think, so you don't need to reach for XC hoops.

DT Swiss just refreshed their 1700 series and the HX 1700 is their full-power eMTB wheelset - claimed weight for the 29" set is 2,127g, with a max system weight of 150kg.

For context, the HX 1700 uses a strengthened hubshell, steel freehub body, and thicker spokes versus standard wheels

- so you're getting proper eMTB engineering rather than just bolting on road-duty XC kit. If you want to go lighter and spend more, the HXC 1500 is the eMTB-specific carbon option, coming in at 1,939g for the 29" set.

Worth noting: DT Swiss also do an LS (Light Support) range specifically for lightweight low-torque motors. That's aimed at lightweight eMTBs, targeting the right balance between lightness and resistance for more dynamic handling.

The Kemen's full EP801 at 85Nm puts it firmly in the standard HX range, not the LS range - those LS wheels are designed around motors with lower maximum torque values, not 85-90Nm full-power units.

 

[santacruzdave]

Good. The key distinction is clear. The Kemen runs full EP801 (85Nm), so the LS (Light Support) range isn't appropriate - that's for lower-torque lightweight motors. Here's what to tell @santacruzdave:

@santacruzdave fair enough, weight saving is a legitimate goal. The short answer though: proper eMTB-rated wheels will save you more weight than you might think, so you don't need to reach for XC hoops.

DT Swiss just refreshed their 1700 series and the HX 1700 is their full-power eMTB wheelset - claimed weight for the 29" set is 2,127g, with a max system weight of 150kg.

For context, the HX 1700 uses a strengthened hubshell, steel freehub body, and thicker spokes versus standard wheels

- so you're getting proper eMTB engineering rather than just bolting on road-duty XC kit. If you want to go lighter and spend more, the HXC 1500 is the eMTB-specific carbon option, coming in at 1,939g for the 29" set.

Worth noting: DT Swiss also do an LS (Light Support) range specifically for lightweight low-torque motors. That's aimed at lightweight eMTBs, targeting the right balance between lightness and resistance for more dynamic handling.

The Kemen's full EP801 at 85Nm puts it firmly in the standard HX range, not the LS range - those LS wheels are designed around motors with lower maximum torque values, not 85-90Nm full-power units.

Looking at a pair of BTLOS All Mountain wheels. With an all mountain carbon rim 36mm outer and 30mm inner by 18mm deep. What do you think?

• Rim Size: 29er
• Version: AM
• Series: Premium
• Finish: Matte
• Weave: UD
• Hub Type: DT SWISS 370 Ratchet
• Spoke Count: 32H/32H
• Ratchet: Default
• Front Axle: 15*110mm BOOST
• Rear Axle: 12*148mm BOOST
• Freehub: Shimano HG
• Brake Interface: Center Lock ( Disc )
• Spoke System: J-bend
• Spoke: Pillar Aero X-TRA 1420

 

[Greg Watts]

Looking at a pair of BTLOS All Mountain wheels. With an all mountain carbon rim 36mm outer and 30mm inner by 18mm deep. What do you think? Rim Size: 29er Version: AM Series: Premium Finish: Matte Weave: UD Hub Type: DT SWISS 370 Ratchet Spoke Count: 32H/32H Ratchet: Default Front Axle: 15*110mm BOOS...

Wait - important context. SantaCruzDave's actual bike is the Rise H15 (per profile), not the Kemen. The thread title says Kemen but the dossier shows Rise H15. I should address this. @santacruzdave right, let's pick this apart properly.

The good news - this build is actually well-considered for a Kemen. Better than I expected when I saw "BTLOS" and braced myself. Rim itself (M-i30A or WM-i30ASW)

Asymmetric 36mm external, 30mm internal, designed for stiffness and impact resistance in all-mountain and enduro conditions. 30mm internal is the current sweet spot for 2.4 - 2.6" tyres, which is exactly what the Kemen wants.

29er Standard AM rim weight is around 415g, Premium 395g - that's light, and where your weight saving comes from versus a DT HX1700 (2,127g wheelset) or HXC1500 (1,939g).

Just be aware: you've picked the AM rim, not the EN. On a 100mm-travel trail/SUV bike with EP801, ridden sensibly, that's fine. If you're sending it into rock gardens and flat-landing drops, the EN version (~465g/rim) is the safer call. The 18mm shallow depth is deliberate compliance - good for grip, less so for ham-fisted line choice.

Hubs - DT Swiss 370 Ratchet Perfectly acceptable. Same internals platform as the 350 (just heavier shell, plastic ratchet carrier), takes the same Ratchet EXP upgrades if you want to drop in 36t or 54t engagement later. The 370 is rated for e-bike use by DT. Not as bombproof as a 350/240, but for a 100mm Kemen it's plenty.