2025 Orbea Wild Review: The Gold Standard

[@AdventuresWithClair]

Awesome job again with your review!!! Top Notch Brother

[@bikersedge]

Appreciate it! Hope you’re healing up quickly!

[@50.Baryshikov]

Your reviews are still the best. I have some money at the shop waiting for the new Wild MX configuration. I think that might be my sweet spot. Small battery. Big travel. New motor. Seems like it is checking all the boxes for me. But the Rise is compelling too. Just doesn’t quite get my blood up the way the Wild does.

[@bikersedge]

Thanks for the kind words! Best of luck in the bike search.

[@phillippedege4853]

Great video! my 2024 Wild M 20 even at 64 years old is a blast to ride ! I upgraded after market to the latest Fox 38 Grip X2 and X2 shock for a balanced ride that invite me to go faster, if I want to, with a smile !

[@bikersedge]

Amazing! Enjoy!

[@AZMTB]

I love my '24 Wild. I added an EXT e-Storia shock which made a huge difference in both downhill and climbing performance, a Grip X2 damper which made the front end more compliant and less busy, some 155mm Hope cranks (pedal strikes are now a thing of the past), and Magura MT7 calipers (on my Shimano levers) and the brakes are phenomenal now. Also switched to Continental rubber about 400 miles ago. I have about 900 miles on the bike with Strava saying I did 145k feet of climbing and have had zero issues mechanically. The bike is amazing, even descending it's still my favorite bike to be going downhill on (I also have a v2 Megatower with a bunch of upgrades). I don't feel the need to get the '25 Wild, but maybe in a few years we'll see how it's doing.

[@msjj000]

I feel the same, epic ride up and down

[@gilbenita7240]

How did you put the e storia in the wild ? I was told it does not fit !?

[@AZMTB]

@@gilbenita7240It doesn’t fit the small or medium. Mine is an XL.

[@gilbenita7240]

Figured if there is a way it's on the xl. The lg doesn't fit it as well (and not Push,vorsprunf...)

[@AZMTB]

@@gilbenita7240 weird, EXT said it would fit a large. However - It’s about the way EXT prefers you mount the shock, the canister for the compression circuit is close to the frame, but there’s zero clearance worries at all if you mount it the other way. EXT advised against it “because of kinematics” but I tried it and there was no difference in performance.

[@WM84629]

Could you review the Norco range VLT?

[@karomac]

Thank you for your great video. I am planning to buy my first e bike this year and thought about the Orbea Rise LT, because of the weight. But coming from a Rallon I think the Wild with the 600 battery would be the better choice. (by the way: the colors and the spokes of this bike in the video are awesome!)

[@bikersedge]

Can’t really go wrong with either.

[@William.N]

Biker's Edge: the gold standard in full sus bike reviews, whether analog or e-bike

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks!!

[@nicks8026]

That’s some mighty fine ass kissing!

[@graysquirreltreeservice7299]

Love your review style 👍🏻👍🏻☺️

[@bikersedge]

Thank you! I appreciate that.

[@drewyager4020]

Love my turbo levo but still looking for a n+1. Is this bike different enough to get it

[@mojo_n_sb5483]

Great vid!! Really really well done, outstanding. Is the cable routing a big deal? Head life, bearings, what makes this design a problem? Would you choose another bike because of this routing concern? Lastly, can you change out the cable routing? Thank you

[@bikersedge]

@@mojo_n_sb5483 you cant change the routing. All cables go through the middle of your upper headset bearing. More water can get into your headset causing bearing life issues. To change the bearing you have to disconnect and bleed your rear break. The spacers are proprietary and difficult to work with. There are a million reasons why it’s a bad idea. The only real benefit is aesthetics.

[@michaelgoodwin593]

All the nunbers for this thing sound spot on. Im actually tempted to replace my Levo with one.

[@bikersedge]

@@michaelgoodwin593 it checks a lot of boxes.

[@philhicks5818]

I’m in the same boat, looking for a levo replacement, keep hanging on for the next gen levo , but who knows when that’s coming , I keep coming back to the wild

[@gregparis24]

Thanks for your great review! It would’ve been interesting to have your thoughts on running it in mullet though !

[@bikersedge]

@@gregparis24 I’ll have to give it a go at some point. Personally I don’t think I’d run it that way. I prefer 29

[@dom_says]

Great review on the new Wild! I like the "official" support for MX vs the previous version. Can't agree more on the headset. I wasn't sure I'd be too affected but the spinblock breaks so easily and then there's an avalanche of issues that can come from that such as fork contacting the downtube. (I did a long term review on my 2024 Wild on my channel about this) The 23/24 MY previous gen is amazing - it seems like Orbea took something awesome and made it even more awesomer. Anyone considering this bike SHOULD look into how rear shock fitment works (it's limited), and the spinblock/headset routing stuff. However when it's dialed in and running right the bike is FANTASTIC.

[@bikersedge]

Funny you say that. I've broken every spin block I've had on the Wild. I Ride XL, so I don't fix it - the fork crown clears the downtube.

[@dom_says]

​@@bikersedge Cries in Medium :( I totally would leave it alone if I was on XL as well! Cheers & happy new year!

[@petarstoychev1210]

Thats why i am concidering Orbea as fake premium brand...

[@bikersedge]

@@petarstoychev1210 that part is designed to break if you crash. It breaks so your frame doesn’t. It’s a replaceable part that only costs a few bucks.

[@petarstoychev1210]

@@bikersedge What i mean is...misaligned frames,bad bearing tolerances and some questionable paint jobs from the MyO program.I just dont see the premium image of the brand comparing it with Santa Cruz,Yeti etc.

[@josephcoppolino9929]

Great review, as always! How does it compare to the new Pivot Shuttle LT?

[@michaeltoland4498]

Pivot shuttle lt review please?

[@bikersedge]

Sorry sports fans. We don’t carry pivot. Won’t be able to make it happen.

[@nicholashines7686]

Great review. Those wheels look cool, what kind are they?

[@bikersedge]

@@nicholashines7686 Berd. The spokes are basically really tough string. Super light.

[@mojo_n_sb5483]

Wow great video(s) when will the Vala/Wild review come out? I’m tired of replacing motors on my Levo and disappointed SP won’t help with a known issue…..it’s time to part ways and upgrade. It’s between the Vala or Wild.

[@bikersedge]

@@mojo_n_sb5483 thanks! we have a couple bikes we are waiting on before we can film that.

[@ChrisSmith-rp6rx]

Another excellent video Quick question, if you were to buy a bike out of your own money, would it be the Vala Or Wild?

[@bikersedge]

Great question. Stay tuned for the showdown. Don’t know if I could make that choice at the moment.

[@Gill2242]

Hope you get your hands on the merida one eighty 🎉

[@kickin123]

The 150mm ST version vs the Rise LT is actually what im trying to come to terms with. And as far as i can tell its basically a motor choice... Shimano vs the new Bosch (which is pretty great). The Rise uses a custom battery which might mean there is more risk of it being hard to replace down the line? The Wild uses a Bosch battery which might be easier to replace in 5 or 6 (or more?) years?

[@bikersedge]

@@kickin123 yeah I see so much overlap between those. Not really sure what to make of it.

[@tw1npe4ks]

Which one is best for bike parks, Wild/Vala/Repeater ?

[@bikersedge]

Lots of different types of riding in a bike park. What type of riding do you like?

[@broccolirob8268]

What are your thoughts on putting a coil on the previous wild to make it a little less racey and a bit more plush ? Love the reviews.

[@bikersedge]

I've ridden it with a coil. I don't think it changes it enough. At least not as much as you'd hope - that makes sense, too, because most of your bike's suspension feel is determined. by the kinematics, not the shock.

[@jonathanbeam6898]

where did you film this? Looks like Boise foothills.

[@bikersedge]

Close. Lots of SLC foothills in this one.

[@brucesavory3257]

Excellent review, I really enjoyed your style. Could you tell me the comparative weights of the Vala and the Wild? Thx

[@bikersedge]

Hey thanks! They’re both listed in the intros of each video. The bit where all the frame specs and stats are overlaid on the footage.

[@davewallace9048]

How is the reliability of Orbea in general?

[@bikersedge]

It's been good for a brand that's been growing as quickly as Orbea has. We have seen some weird quality issues, like shock bolts backing out from time to time. Orbea has taken care of all of the issues we've seen, though. They are great with warranty claims and repairs and it seems they've worked out those little bugs.

[@sullivankeel3036]

The trails look incredible 😍 Where are you riding at?

[@bikersedge]

@@sullivankeel3036 all over the SLC area. Riding is fairly limited at this time of year.

[@MntRprznt]

Can you expnd on the new gen 600w battery range? How long would you get on it in terms of kms and time, on an average day out? I cant decide which batt to go for on my build.

[@bikersedge]

I went over that in the video. I measure these in vertical feet per watt hour of battery.

[@MntRprznt]

@@bikersedge You did, but you just gave the number without what it is, so I was bit confused being on metric. Thanks!

[@bikersedge]

@ ah makes sense. Yeah feet per WH is usually how we do it. That will be for me at might weight and similar conditions. Will vary a lot for you.

[@MntRprznt]

@@bikersedge Gives me a ballpark, because they use the 5 gen smaller 600w, but older gen higher capacity battery, so weight to power ratio is hugely different. 600w seems the eay to go - I dont ride longer than 2.5-3 hrs.

[@FreerideQuebec]

@@MntRprznt As a non-ebike--guy, I'm on your side, I only understand in kms (or miles aha)

[@jdmbeaner182]

How would you say the suspension conpares to the yeti 160e? I love mu yeti but the motor is starting to feel quite dated.

[@bikersedge]

It's been a long time since I've ridden that one. Don't think I could fairly compare them.

[@jdmbeaner182]

@bikersedge :(

[@bikersedge]

@@jdmbeaner182 As far as your motor goes, I don't think the EP8 is at all outdated. It's still right in the mix.

[@johnvanmeter7791]

Will you test out the Pivot Shuttle AM and/or LT sometime?

[@bikersedge]

We don’t carry Pivot. Won’t be able to make it happen.

[@johnvanmeter7791]

@ Thank you. I enjoy your bike reviews.

[@bikersedge]

Thanks! I appreciate that.

[@mmann1897]

How is it compared to the old Yeti e160?

[@bikersedge]

I haven't ridden that one for so long. Don't think I can compare them fairly.

[@frankmonaco413]

I am 6’2’’ do you think a large frame would suit me?

[@bikersedge]

I’m 6’2” and like the XL

[@MonsterChuck]

I was hoping this bike would move more towards a Sentinel V2 feel. Sounds like it did but maybe not enough for me. I still have a Sentinel V2 because I can't stomach getting rid of it but added a Trek Rail Gen 4 last year. Have been eying the Wild though and was really interested in the refresh.

[@bikersedge]

It’s really tough to make an ebike feel like a pedal bike. They’re just so different.

[@jamesw1791]

I was wondering if you're taking any money from these companies to do this review? Meaning any compensation. I just want to understand how unbiased your reviews are. Also, I purchased a 2024 Orbea Wild and had to return it for a warranty return because there was a crack in the frame. They said it would take over a month to make a decision on the bike, so I returned the bike completely. The bike shop that I bought it from indicated that there were a lot of problems with the Orbea warranty apparatus, and they are very stingy in regards to honoring their warranties. I ended up going back and buying a pivot shuttle LT because it's made in America, and from what I read, the warranty system is much better. I felt like the Orbea handled and performed well in the trail, but I was turned off by my warranty experience. Buyer beware.

[@bikersedge]

@@jamesw1791 I don’t get paid or receive any compensation from bike brands. From time to time they will send media samples for me to ride and review. Most of the time the bikes come from our demo fleet, or from our personal bike collection. It’s a bummer you’ve had issues with Orbea warranty. I’ve always had a great experience with their warranty. Sad that’s not the same for everyone.

[@graysquirreltreeservice7299]

Love my 2024 its a 🚀

[@bikersedge]

@@graysquirreltreeservice7299 speedy.

[@graysquirreltreeservice7299]

Lol​@@bikersedge

[@tomekdenki2380]

I'm between the Orbea Wild and the new Mondraker Crafty 2025. 🤷

[@bikersedge]

Also curious about the crafty.

[@nicks8026]

Looks like one heck of a moped!

[@bikersedge]

Vroom vroom

[@davisjl1979]

Orbea's support is their downfall. I had a really bad experience with them on a support issue with my Rise that turned me off to the brand. Bike shops are dropping them because of the support issues as well, including the shop that I bought my Rise from.

[@bikersedge]

That’s a bummer to hear. Complete opposite of what we’ve experienced. They’re one of the better brands we’ve worked with in terms of warranty and dealer support.

[@rantingwrench]

Agreed, I've found they're often kinda terrible to deal with. Just as one example, I tried to warranty a broken Orbea Garmin mount that a customer purchased aftermarket recently, and they kept asking for photos of the bike and the bike's serial number. They wouldn't process the warranty on a $20 mount, purchased separately, without irrelevant details of the bike it was fitted to. Why do I have to hassle the customer for this? "Oh, but it's in the dealer T&Cs". Fuck off. After all this, they declined the claim because it was apparently user error that two shitty cheese metal bolts sheared off while riding, dumping the customer's Garmin onto the road.

[@bikersedge]

Damn. That sucks to hear. I’ve personally broken a few Orbea things over the years and it’s always been super easy. Bummer that’s not consistent.

[@erichbachman7363]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h57OXmZog6mMlbs Thats some gnarly boogeymen you're eating there!

[@bikersedge]

Good old fruit snacks. Ultimate bike nutrition.

[@ridemx323]

Headset cable routing still. Booooo.

[@bikersedge]

Agreed. I would love to see it go away forever.

[@itslobo]

Why would a racer want an e-bike??

[@bikersedge]

@@itslobo ebike categories in enduro are a pretty common thing these days.

[@kilianlindlbauer8277]

E bike world championship for example. The wild is pretty good there actually. Also they are an excellent training platform for non e bike classes as the motor allows you to remove the load spikes for your body (so really good when coming back from an accident or from a break in general, less chance of hurting yourself) and you are getting used to more weight, meaning you can throw around a pedal bike easier. Like training with 10kg dumbells and the competition is only 7,5kg ones.

[@hannes6114]

Trash your bike when the battery has degraded, great motto

[@hannes6114]

Now for real - the battery isn't removable, right?

[@bikersedge]

It’s removable. It’s integrated meaning you have to take the motor out to get the battery out. But you can remove it and replace it.

[@juanhidalgo7043]

No for me. E;extricate bikes here are dangerously. We need to ban them here in California

[@bikersedge]

We are in the process of banning ebike hate on the channel.

[@AdventuresWithClair]

Haha,the only people who hate ebikes are the ones that don't have one.

[@TheRicardoSanchez]

HA! Good luck with that. 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻e-MTB!!!🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@jamesdorsijiuhjuh6151]

🖕 California!

[@alcapone4242]

no support for haters that want to live free but want others to do not 👎🏼