Orbea’s Wild FS is the Basque company’s first contribution to the eMTB full-suspension world. Its lifelong frame warranty, the interesting individualisation options of the online configurator, and its very attractive price made our hearts beat just a little faster. But can the Wild FS impress on the trails?
The Orbea Wild FS is available in four spec options with a choice of either 29” or 27.5+ wheels and a starting price of € 3,999. We had a great time testing the FS 10 29S, the high-end version with 29” wheels, gorgeous Kashima suspension, and a price tag of € 6,499.
“Honey, I shrunk the kids” – at first glance the Orbea Wild FS looks somewhat squashed. The frame appears rather short and weirdly tall for a 140 mm trail bike, while the massive downtube is way over-proportioned against the slim top tube. Seen from one side the aluminium frame is tidy and clean, but once you look at it from a different perspective the harmonious picture changes. Even though the cables are all internally routed they’re unlovingly crammed into a tiny opening right above a big battery flap.
Orbea deliberately opted for Shimano’s external battery and integrated it deep into the downtube. This trick allowed engineers to drop the centre of gravity and lower the weight of the Wild FS. The battery is accessible via a large magnetic flap placed on the downtube and can be easily charged on the bike. The power button, however, is accessible via a small opening in the downtube; this might be a quick and practical solution, but unfortunately it looks a little shoddy and quite frankly ugly. The reason for this is the cheap-looking, soft plastic that Orbea uses.
A wild ride on the Basque bull – the Orbea feels tame and good-natured on flowy trails, but on more demanding terrain it will try to get you off its back.
The engineers at Orbea seem to care a lot about the reliability of their bikes. Proof of this is the massive Jeep-style skid plate that covers the motor, protecting it from impacts and flying debris. The new Shimano speed sensor on the disc rotor is another welcome addition, as it is much harder to lose than a conventional spoke magnet. A quick inspection of the rear end reveals that the Wild FS also comes in a version with plus tires – and judging by the generous tire clearance, even chunky 2.8″ tires shouldn’t be an issue.
The Orbea wild FS 10 29S in detail
Fork FOX 34 FLOAT Factory 140 mm
Shock Fox FLOAT Factory DPS EVOL 140 mm
Motor/Akku Shimano STEPS E8000
Brakes SRAM Guide RE
Drivetrain SRAM EX1
Seatpost Race Face Aeffect 125 mm
Stem Race Face Ride 35 50 mm
Handlebars Race Face Ride 35 760 mm
Tires Kenda Nevegal2 Pro EMC 29” x 2,4”
Wheelset DT Swiss H 1700 SPLINE 30
Weight 22.47 kg
Price € 6,499
The spec of the Orbea Wild FS 10 is truly impressive. To start with, the superb FOX Factory Kashima combo with a 34 fork and FLOAT DPS rear shock leaves nothing to be desired. The DT Swiss H 1700 SPLINE wheelset combines high quality with great reliability; the wide rims with a 30 mm inner width and the Kenda Nevegal2 Pro tires generate tons of traction and inspire a great deal of confidence in combination with the powerful four-piston SRAM Guide RE brakes. Orbea combines the Shimano STEPS E8000 motor with a SRAM EX1 groupset, which is known for its robustness and was specially designed to withstand the high stresses of eMTBing; however, the large gear steps are not everyone’s cup of tea. For the cockpit and dropper post, Orbea relies on proven Race Face quality. Unfortunately, the dropper remote is placed upside-down since its usual place is taken up by the remote of the Shimano motor; the awkward position makes it hard and fiddly to operate.
The external battery hides under a magnetic flap which protects it from mud and water.
The Kenda Nevegal2 Pro tires on 29” rims generate tons of traction and offer outstanding roll-over performance.
The dropper remote should be bottom-left – in the top right position, it doesn’t convince us at all.
The massive motor protector works like a mighty shield and looks like it’s coming from a Jeep – and weighs just as much.
The Orbea Wild FS on the trail
Once you’re sitting on the Orbea Wild FS, the mystery of its odd aesthetics is solved. The mix of a high front end and a short top tube make for a very relaxed riding position, and together with the powerful Shimano motor even long and challenging climbs can be playfully mastered. Only very steep sections require a more active riding style to prevent the front wheel from lifting off the ground. Having said that, you shouldn’t worry about the traction on the rear-end too much; the combination of the 29” Kenda tires and the efficient suspension generate tons of grip, allowing you to conquer the most challenging of climbs.
Once you point its nose downhill, the Orbea rapidly changes its personality and turns from relaxed tourer into fun trail bike. Thanks to the low centre of gravity and the short wheelbase, the Orbea Wild FS reacts to each steering impulse with clinical precision and strikes with its superb agility. The Wild FS feels at home on flowy, twisty trails, but doesn’t shy away from roots or rocks either: thanks to the outstanding rolling characteristics of the big 29″ wheels and the plush FOX Factory suspension, the Orbea steamed through some of the root carpets and small rock gardens we threw at it during our test. However, with bigger impacts and fast, consecutive hits, the rear end of the Orbea reaches its limitations. When the trail gets steeper the high front end makes the Wild FS feel sure-footed and inspires a great deal of confidence. Over the bars alarm? Negative! The short reach pushes your body back into a passive riding position, forcing you to stand right above the rear wheel. Unfortunately, in this position your feet and calves end up rubbing on the massive seat stays and chainstays. At high speeds, the bike becomes increasingly nervous and makes you feel more like a passenger than the guy who is actually in charge of things. Fast rough trails and Alpine scenarios are not the natural habitats of the Orbea Wild FS.
Conclusion
With the Orbea Wild FS even long, challenging tours become a pleasant experience. At the same time Orbea’s first electric full-susser proves to be a fun, agile trail bike and impressed us with its nimble handling, especially on flowy trails. However, the rear end lacks reserves on demanding terrain, and together with the compact geometry the Wild FS quickly reaches its limitations.
Uphill | Downhill | Stability | Agility | Value for money
Top
– Very comfortable riding position
– Efficient climber
– Direct and agile handling
Flop
– Wide seat- and chainstays.
– Position of the dropper remote
– Nervous at high speed
For more info head to: orbea.com
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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl
