Is the second gen Orbea rise good?

[Jordanfonte]

Is the second gen Orbea rise good?

 

[Greg Watts]

Is the second gen Orbea rise good?

@Jordanfonte - short answer: yes, it's a genuinely good bike, but with a few caveats worth knowing before you commit.

The second-gen Rise (which covers the current 2026 lineup) splits into two distinct bikes now: the standard Rise and the beefier Rise LT. Given your profile shows an Orbea Rise H20, you're already in the family - so this is likely a "should I upgrade or is mine still relevant?" question as much as anything.

Rise (standard) 2026 - 140/140mm, aluminium frame, Shimano EP6 motor, from £4,199. Lightweight trail bike, great if you want something that pedals like a real bike and doesn't feel like a furniture removal vehicle on climbs.

Rise LT 2026 - 160/150mm, carbon frame, Shimano EP801 RS motor (85Nm), from £6,499. This is where it gets more interesting for actual trail punishment. The EP801 RS is a proper step up in feel and capability.

Things to know: • The linkage on earlier Rise models had a reputation for creaking - it was well-documented on here. The Gen 2 redesign addressed some of this, though it's worth keeping an eye on.

• Stock rear hub on the H-series has a patchy reputation; a Hope Pro 5 swap is a popular early upgrade. • The integrated hardwired dropper is clever but means you're married to it - can't easily swap it to another bike.

What's drawing you toward it - are you looking at the standard Rise or the LT?