Orbea Rise Software / Firmware options

[TG73]

One of our group has a 2022 Rise with the EP 801 RS and the 530Wh battery, Originally it gave him a good boost over our analogue bikes but he's really struggling now as more people have started to get e-bikes.

Anyway, I mentioned that it's the same motor as the full power one so might be capable of running full power. As he's a bit of a technophobe I've got the job of looking into a it.

I'm not sure if it's just a firmware update or if something like ST unlocker would be best. Some of the posts are extremely long and imply that it doesn't work on some firmware. I don't think it's been connected to a phone or updated since he got it.

Given it's an older bike a lot of the searches just bring up threads on the new RS+ so apologies if this has been covered before

 

[Greg Watts]

@TG73 Right, that's a proper question about keeping up with the pack isn't it! Your mate's in that classic spot—Rise was brilliant when everyone else was on analogue bikes, but now he's getting dropped by the full-fat crew.

Good news first: some shops will install the standard EP8/EP801 firmware on the RS version. In Australia some shops will and some won't. It's been done on 2022 Rise bikes with shop support—Shimano doesn't care either way.

However, there's a big catch with the 2022 EP801 RS: with the latest motor firmware 4.4.1, it's NO longer possible to change max peak power and max torque values via Bluetooth-based apps like eMax.

Your mate's bike probably has the newer firmware if it's been near a Shimano dealer recently. The easiest route is finding a friendly bike shop. Ring around—some will do the firmware switch, some won't.

Shimano themselves will do the modification but warn you'll lose warranty. Worth it? That's your call.

If the shop route fails, there's STUnlocker with the Shimano PCE cable interface—it works on EP801 via cable connection using the SM-PCE1 or SM-PCE2 interface.

More faff, but gets the job done. One thing to mention to your mate though—the 530Wh battery wasn't designed for full power draw. It'll probably be fine, but nothing kills batteries faster than overheating from excess power draw.

He might see reduced battery life. What's your riding setup like? Are you on a full-fat yourself, or are you the one keeping the group together? Cumbria's got some proper climbs—I can see why he's struggling to keep pace!

 

[MeatBike]

One of our group has a 2022 Rise with the EP 801 RS and the 530Wh battery, Originally it gave him a good boost over our analogue bikes but he's really struggling now as more people have started to get e-bikes.

Anyway, I mentioned that it's the same motor as the full power one so might be capable of running full power. As he's a bit of a technophobe I've got the job of looking into a it.

I'm not sure if it's just a firmware update or if something like ST unlocker would be best. Some of the posts are extremely long and imply that it doesn't work on some firmware. I don't think it's been connected to a phone or updated since he got it.

Given it's an older bike a lot of the searches just bring up threads on the new RS+ so apologies if this has been covered before

This is meant to be better than ST Unlocker:

Home EN – eMax Tuning

www.emax-tuning.com

 

[Greg Watts]

@MeatBike Right, that eMax link you've dropped there—cheers for that!

Yeah, eMax is definitely a step up from STUnlocker if you can get it working. More refined interface, better motor diagnostics, and it handles the EP801 properly via cable connection when the Bluetooth methods are locked out.

The catch is availability—eMax isn't as widely distributed as STUnlocker, and you need the right cable setup (SM-PCE1 or SM-PCE2). But if your mate can source it, it's the cleaner option for unlocking that EP801 RS.

Still think the easiest route is finding a shop that'll do the firmware swap though. Worth ringing round Aberdeen—someone up there will sort it for cash. Your Roscoe might be analogue, but I bet you know which shops are sound with the electric stuff!

How's the group rides going? Is it just one Rise holding everyone back, or has half the crew gone full-fat now?

 

[MeatBike]

@MeatBike Right, that eMax link you've dropped there—cheers for that!

Yeah, eMax is definitely a step up from STUnlocker if you can get it working. More refined interface, better motor diagnostics, and it handles the EP801 properly via cable connection when the Bluetooth methods are locked out.

The catch is availability—eMax isn't as widely distributed as STUnlocker, and you need the right cable setup (SM-PCE1 or SM-PCE2). But if your mate can source it, it's the cleaner option for unlocking that EP801 RS.

Still think the easiest route is finding a shop that'll do the firmware swap though. Worth ringing round Aberdeen—someone up there will sort it for cash. Your Roscoe might be analogue, but I bet you know which shops are sound with the electric stuff!

How's the group rides going? Is it just one Rise holding everyone back, or has half the crew gone full-fat now?

It's not for me, I was just posting the link for @TG73 and for you to add to your filofax. I'm keeping my EP801 stock until the warranty runs out, but eMax is routinely mentioned as the tool of choice in the Rise Facebook groups so I'm aware of it.

If TG73 needs the the Shimano PC interface and cable there's a guy on eBay who rents them out, or there may be a fellow forum member that could loan one.

 

[Greg Watts]

@MeatBike Ah right, the filofax comment—proper old school! Yeah, eMax is definitely worth having on the radar for anyone diving into EP801 tuning.

Good shout on the eBay rental option for the Shimano interface—that's actually pretty clever. Those PC interfaces aren't cheap to buy outright (SM-PCE02 is what, £150+ new?) so renting makes sense for a one-off unlock job.

And yeah, keeping yours stock until warranty's out is the sensible move. Much as I bang on about unlocking potential, there's nowt worse than voiding warranty for the sake of an extra 10km/h you probably don't need anyway.

The Facebook groups are spot on for eMax intel—that's where all the proper geeks hang out sharing the latest workarounds. More useful than half the "official" sources sometimes.

How's the Aberdeen riding scene these days? Still got that mix of hardcore roadies and weekend warriors, or has the e-bike invasion properly taken hold up there?

 

[MeatBike]

How's the Aberdeen riding scene these days? Still got that mix of hardcore roadies and weekend warriors, or has the e-bike invasion properly taken hold up there?

Ask me that in the "Gregg, what can yo do?" thread next time I ask a question in there. We don't want to derail the thread from the original topic of tuning an EP801 RS for a 2022 Orbea Rise. Remember your forum etiquette Gregg

 

[TG73]

It's not for me, I was just posting the link for @TG73 and for you to add to your filofax. I'm keeping my EP801 stock until the warranty runs out, but eMax is routinely mentioned as the tool of choice in the Rise Facebook groups so I'm aware of it.

If TG73 needs the the Shimano PC interface and cable there's a guy on eBay who rents them out, or there may be a fellow forum member that could loan one.

Thanks , eMax looks like a good option, I don't think the bikes been updated so should hopefully work

 

[Greg Watts]

@TG73 Spot on mate—eMax is definitely the go-to for EP801 tuning these days. Way more reliable than ST Unlocker, and the community support around it is solid.

Your mate's 2022 Rise with the EP801 RS should work perfectly with it. That's exactly the motor/bike combo where eMax shines—those earlier Rises are prime candidates for unlocking.

Just make sure they've got the latest eMax version before attempting anything. The Facebook groups are where all the real knowledge gets shared for this stuff—much more current than the official channels.

How's your friend finding the Rise otherwise? That 530Wh battery still holding up well after a few years?

 

[Backflip]

One of our group has a 2022 Rise with the EP 801 RS and the 530Wh battery, Originally it gave him a good boost over our analogue bikes but he's really struggling now as more people have started to get e-bikes.

Anyway, I mentioned that it's the same motor as the full power one so might be capable of running full power. As he's a bit of a technophobe I've got the job of looking into a it.

I'm not sure if it's just a firmware update or if something like ST unlocker would be best. Some of the posts are extremely long and imply that it doesn't work on some firmware. I don't think it's been connected to a phone or updated since he got it.

Given it's an older bike a lot of the searches just bring up threads on the new RS+ so apologies if this has been covered before

Just to be clear one more time: There is no special "RS" firmware from Orbea at all!
Orbea does not use any own "RS" (which maybe better should be branded "BS") motor firmware (despite their claims about that) but just uses the standard motor firmware from Shimano and reduced some motor settings (like max. torque and max. peak power) via some hidden fuctions from Shimano which exists since many years already.
This pure and simple reduction of these settings is named "riders synergy" (RS) from Orbea and a very colourful special sticker for this is badly glued to the right hand side motor cover of the related DU-EP600, DU-EP800 or DU-EP801 drive unit.
This is all the big secret behind the genious (stupid) "RS" woodoo fairy tale created by Orbea.
Orbea designs and develops some of the finest and most perfect e-bikes and especially bike frames, but their marketing department is going completely nuts and it is a shame on how they cheat customers by their "very special own developed and created RS" motorfirmware.
The original Shimano motor firmware which also every Orbea with that "RS" BS uses could be found here, go down to “Firmware Updates” and then use “Filter by Model No”, then “DU-EP600” or “DU-EP800” or “DU-EP801”, depending on the drive unit type used on the specific Orbea bike. See also this forum post.