For nearly a century, Orbea has been crafting high-performance bicycles in the mountainous Basque region of northern Spain.
Drawing on their history and pedigree in road cycling and mountain biking, Orbea’s designers have applied their expertise to urban cycling with their newest offering, the Carpe e-bike.
With a sleek, modern design that prioritizes ease of use and comfort, the Carpe looks and feels sporty, with plenty of practical elements for the daily rider.
There are three models in the lineup and this spring we were excited to test the top-of-the line Carpe 10 – the other two models are the Carpe 20 and Carpe 25.
The Carpe’s semi-upright geometry delivers good visibility in busy urban environments while minimizing fatigue. The step-through frame design makes mounting and riding the bike easy and comfortable, whether you’re dressed for a day at the office or a night out on the town.
Orbea’s patented Twin Glide Flex frame absorbs road vibrations, while the Selle Royal saddle provides the perfect blend of support and cushioning to complement the Vittoria Randonneur 700x40c puncture-resistant tires.
An adjustable urban cockpit allows you to fine-tune handlebar position and well-fitted, sturdy mudguards protect you from puddles and grit, while an adjustable kickstand keeps your bike in place when needed, without getting in the way.
The powerful Shimano EP6 motor has been customized for urban riding, with up to 85Nm of torque at low cadence for easy starts and quick inclines. A 420Wh battery is secured inside the downtube for protection from weather, bumps, and theft, and an additional 252Wh battery can be purchased to extend your range for longer commutes or all kinds of adventures.
In our test rides, we found the Carpe 10 to be quick off the mark, smoothly responding to changes in cadence and effort. The Shimano Nexus 5 internal rear hub shifts smoothly with the Shimano Di2 electronic shifting, and pairs well with a Gates CDX belt drive, and three levels of e-assist letting you get to work without breaking a sweat, or burn off some stress on the ride home.
Hydraulic brakes ensure smooth and reliable stopping power, and automatic shifting can be engaged for effortless riding. The hub can also automatically return to first gear at stoplights if desired.
A lightweight aluminum frame with carbon front fork makes for a nimble ride while allowing you to easily carry the bike up stairs, or to flip it vertically to fit into elevators or tight spaces.
An ingenious mechanism allows you to quickly rotate the handlebars 90 degrees, and the pedals fold flat too if parking space is at a premium.
An Abus frame lock on the front wheel can be activated for quick stops, and paired with a cable lock it will help make sure your bike isn’t going anywhere without you.
A wraparound running light up front on the head tube and an integrated rear light in the seat post keep you seen in all lighting conditions. It also comes with a 235-lumen Supernova Mini 2 front light that illuminates the path ahead on city streets or on trails outside of urban areas.
The Carpe 10 comes fitted with a slim MIK-compatible rear rack which can carry up to 20kg, or you can upgrade to a larger rack for a child seat or up to 30kg of gear. An optional front rack for an additional 10kg capacity is also available.
The cockpit is sleek, with Shimano’s EN500 cycle computer on the left and Di2 electronic shifting on the right, as well as an SP Connect phone mount in the centre with integrated USB-C port just below. An optional upgrade to the EN600 computer adds Bluetooth connectivity for use with the E-Tube app.
The frame also offers two sets of attachment points for water bottle cages, lock mounts, or other gear.
With their new Carpe lineup, Orbea has done an excellent job of designing a lightweight, full-featured, and fun urban e-bike. Its light weight, and high-quality components make it an appealing choice for urban e-bike adventurers.
The SRP is $5,899 and for more information please visit here.
