Orbea Gain D50 Review

If you are in the market for an electric bike, you may be put off some models that clearly favor the more athletic or younger riders. It sometimes is the case that the less expensive models are often less powerful and require more input from the rider and pedaling. While not all bikes are like this, it can be hard to tell which ones are right for you from such a large selection of manufacturers and models to choose from.

That is one thing that Orbea has been trying to address, especially with its newly updated version of its popular Gain electric bike. The d50, according to the company, is designed with riders of all ages and genders in mind, regardless of how fit they are. In the following review, that is the model I am going to be focusing on. Take a closer look at some of the key components, features and specifications that may make this the ideal choice for your next/first e-bike purchase.

Orbea may not be the first manufacturer you think of when you think about bikes or e-bikes, but the company has been steadily designing and producing high quality road and gravel-focused bikes for a number of years. It should be noted that for the basis of this review, while there are three different builds of the new Gain model available, I tested out the road-specific model.

The New Mahle X20 Motor System

One of the lightest rear hub motor drive systems available on the market, the Orbea makes use of the Mahle X20. This motor is said to weigh around 1.4kg, which is a lot lighter than most. It is a lot more compact than the previous system, the Mahle X35 that was used on the previous incarnation of the Gain. Another key difference with this model is that this motor produces more torque. Orbea has boldly claimed that it provides the best torque-to-weight ratio of any e-bike motor system.

One of the key things Orbea has done with this motor that I really appreciated riding it was that it provides a less obtrusive, more natural feel. That gives it the feeling of cycling on a normal road bike. There is a torque sensor at the bottom bracket which modulates the input from the motor.

A key motivation to do things this way for Orbea was to not help you ride hills faster, but to give you the same speed while you are exercising, so you hit a more aerobic exercise zone.

The linear power curve that the bike features not only help you gain speed, but also improves the range, which in turns makes for a better experience overall. The motor is powered by the Mahle 350Wh battery that is fully enclosed and integrated into the bikes downtube.

With this, and I really didn’t get to test this out sufficiently, Orbea has stated that you will be able to have cover for 4,000m of climbing. It takes 2 hours to charge the battery to 80% and then another 2 hours for 100%.

Upgraded Riding Geometry

Other alterations Orbea have made to the new Gain includes the fact that it has what the company refers to as “pure road geometry.”

Rather than building a frame that was designed to ride effectively on road and gravel, the company has stuck to making a high-quality road bike. It feels, and I have to agree with them to an extent, that when bike manufacturers attempt to appeal to all users, they don’t make a very good road or gravel/off-road bike.

The riding position was very comfortable and allowed me to put enough pressure on the pedals without suffering from aches or pains and while the comfort of the saddle could be improved somewhat, it was okay enough for most short commutes to and from town and even longer treks I made at the weekend.

Almost Fully Integrated Design

Similarly, to the first Gain model from Orbea, there is a high degree of integration in the cockpit, with the in-house built ICR system connected through enclosed cabling that is routed through a special sleeve and under the stem eventually connecting into the head tube.

The odea behind this design is to make it easy enough for you to alter the stem or the handlebars, without needing to disconnect any of the hoses or cabling.

The integration doesn’t stop there as the lights are integrated in the front and rear. Its front light is actually part of the computer LCD display mount. The display unit for the new Gain is also made by Mahle but realizes most will stick to using the bike’s own computer for monitoring the battery and motor levels.

Orbea have also mounted the most recently released iteration of the top tube control button system made by Mahle. With this you can change the pedal assist level and switch the motor on or off. You will also be able to see information regarding the selected assist level and the battery level. Unfortunately, and this is a pet peeve of mine – the battery level chart is represented by bars rather than a percentage, which I believe makes it less accurate to follow.

Another important change Orbea have made is because they do not believe that using the controller to change assist level is the easiest or safest solution. It takes your attention off the road, even for just a few seconds. Those seconds could be critical. Instead, the Gain features the Mahle eShifter buttons.

These buttons are mounted onto the top of the handlebars, giving you an easy solution to switching the pedal assist level down or up. Although wired, there is still enough cabling to run them in the drops if you prefer or with the brake levers.

Similarities Between the New Gain and the Orca

While taking inspiration from the previous Gain model, the new Gain also takes inspiration from the company’s Orca e-bike. This is most noticeable at the front where the bladed aerodynamic fork keys into the bike’s head and down tubes for a smooth and seamless integration. The fact that the ICR stem system sits on top of the head tube is also a nod to the Orca’s design.

The Actual Ride

When it comes to riding the Orbea Gain, I have to admit I was a big fan. I loved the original model, but this for me is a vast improvement. Like Orbea promised, it actually just feels like a normal road bike. I did not experience any significant drag from its high-powered motor, something I have noticed in other models, and it felt sure-footed and nimble. I felt confident riding it at lower and higher speeds.

I appreciated how smooth and seamless the transition in and out of the different pedal assist levels was and when it came to riding up hills, I never felt like I had to struggle or that the motor was going to cut out.

Safety Cycling at Night

Something that I was very grateful for in this newer version of the Gain that is similar to the older version, is that they kept the integrated lighting system in the front and the rear. This made it a confident, safe, and enjoyable experience cycling at night or in low light conditions. I often like to take the bike out first thing in the morning and during the winter, it can be quite dull and even dark at that time. If that is something you are fond of doing or you like evening cycling, this bike is a great choice.

When you switch to longer journeys along countryside roads, you can switch from the continuous light option to a much higher beam option.

Three Builds to Choose From

The new Gain is available in three builds. The one I tested was the road-biased one with standard 2 drivetrains and 30c tubeless road tires and the OC Carbon tubeless wheels. There is also a flat-bar version and, most interestingly, if you are looking to get down and dirty off-road, the gravel build that features 40c Schwalbe G-One tubeless tires and 1 drivetrain.

Although I stuck with the standard build, Orbea does offer their MYO customization program which means you can swap and change components to meet your specific needs and requirements.

Summary – Should You Take the Orbea Gain On?

It is not really for me to say whether or not you should definitely take on the Orbea Gain as your new or even first e-bike. I can simply give my opinion. When I tested out the Orbea Gain, I enjoyed it just as much as I did the previous incarnation, and probably more so, because the tweaks and upgrades the company have made are not just aesthetic or for posterity, they genuinely make this even better value for money and a great road bike.

As I only tested the road bike, I can only really attest to how well that performed. I imagine though, given their expertise, that the more gravel-focused bike will provide just as exciting and safe a ride.