Review of Orbea Gain M30

The Orbea Gain M30 electric road bike is light, fast, and fun even with the motor off. It’s now completely redefined for 2021. Hint: It’s still a pleasure to ride.

Orbea Gain was one of the first electric road bicycles that hit the market and managed to win a place in many roadies’ hearts. At first glance, it looks like any regular road bicycle with drop bars. At a closer look, however, you realize that there’s more to it—a Mahle Ebikemotion motor and battery to help you ride longer, go faster, and enjoy more.

• Full internal cable routing and integrated lights.
• Fully integrated Mahle Ebikemotion motor and battery achieve a streamlined look.
• Simple iWoc ONE control interface and display let you control the pedal-assistance.
• Advanced pedal-assist sensor with an option to adjust assistance based on heart rate.
• Fully customizable prior to purchase—colors, decals, components, and fit.

 

Orbea Gain M30 is designed with the “Enough Power” concept in mind, which aims to enhance the riding experience rather than take full control. The result is a weight of ~26.5 lb. (12 kg), a range of around 60 miles, and a 20 MPH maximum speed.

• MSRP: $4,300
• Class: Class 1 pedal-assist bike
• Motor: Ebikemotion X35 Plus
• Battery: Ebikemotion 36V/6.9A 248Wh ANT+
• Range: 60+ miles (100+ km)

 

Orbea Gain M30 Carbon Frameset and Geometry

Orbea Gain M30 comes with a smooth carbon frameset that’s obviously inspired by Orca OMX and OMR. In particular, this is Orbea’s carbon OMR monocoque frameset with an integrated seat clamp, integrated lights, and integrated cable routing.

The front end of the bicycle is suitably aerodynamic, so Gain is fast and efficient even without any assistance from the motor. The stock color scheme includes grey, red, and turquoise colors that look very elegant and attractive. However, if you don’t like these, you can personalize the colors with Orbea’s MyO interface.

Orbea has upped the tire clearance on Gain, which now accepts up to 40mm tires. Therefore, Gain can serve as a gravel bicycle as well with the right set of tires.

Geometry-wise, as we’ve mentioned, there are a lot of similarities to Orbea Orca. However, Gain’s reach is slightly shorter and the stack is slightly higher. As a result, you’ll be in a more endurance-focused riding position and slightly less aero.

Thanks to the MAHLE motor, you’ll be able to ride longer, so it’s good news that Orbea Gain M30 has room for two water bottle cages.

 

Orbea Gain M30 Motor and Battery

Orbea Gain M30 features an upgraded MAHLE Ebikemotion X35 Plus rear hub motor and an integrated Ebikemotion battery unit. This is a Class 1 e-bike, so the maximum pedal-assist speed is 20 MPH.

The 250W motor has a 40 Nm maximum torque output. Therefore, when necessary, it’s more than capable of doing its share of hard work up a steep hill. But that’s not necessarily what it’s built for—rather, it’s made to enhance the ride.

As Orbea states, the Gain motor is the heart of the bicycle and the key component behind the “Enough Power” concept. The pedaling-assistance is smooth and natural, so it will improve your rides without making them too easy.

Gain’s 36V Ebikemotion X35 battery is fully integrated into the downtube and delivers a 250Wh capacity. That does not sound like much, but thanks to the “Enough Power” concept, the estimated maximum range is 60+ miles. However, you will likely have to charge the battery after every ride.

When it comes to the controls, there are now two ways to control Orbea Gain’s assistance. You can do it using the unique iWoc One button on the top tube or the Pulsar One head unit.

The Pulsar One head unit is mounted on the handlebar and supports ANT+, so you can connect it to a power meter or a heart rate monitor for more data. However, it does not support GPS.

Pulsar One’s out-front mount is compatible with Garmin and other similar computers, so you can mount your own device to track metrics and keep track of battery charge and assistance with the iWoc One controller.

 

Shimano Components

The idea behind the Orbea Gain e-bike is to be equally fun and satisfying to ride even with the motor off. Therefore, the M30 build comes with very good components that promise high performances and an excellent riding experience.

Gain M30 boasts a full Shimano 105 2×11 drivetrain with an 11-32T cassette and a compact crankset. Therefore, the gear range is more than suitable for climbing. It comes in combination with Shimano R7070 hydraulic disc brakes that stop on a dime, as the bike is very lightweight.

Gain M30 also gets FULCRUM E-Racing 900 wheels and Schwalbe ONE 700x30mm tires, but these are parts that can be customized. If you’re willing to pay more, you can get an OC2 Carbon 42 wheelset and a different set of tires.

You can also choose a Fizik saddle instead of the stock Selle Royal Asphalt GR, go for a different cassette, or even swap the stock handlebar for a carbon one.

Some of these customizations come with extra dollar signs, whereas others, such as tires and the cassette, are free of charge.

Overall, Orbea Gain M30 gets mid-range components that reflect the overall price. You will feel as if you’re riding a normal road bike, though with a few added pounds.

 

Integrated Lights and Cables

The new edition of Orbea Gain comes with integrated lights and fully internally routed cables. The front light is integrated into the out-reach mount and the rear light is integrated into the seat post clamp. These draw power from the battery, so you don’t need to worry about charging them.

However, the lights do not have a flashing mode. They only feature a continuous mode and an optional high beam mode which will improve your visibility at nighttime and daytime.

A neat feature is also the so-called ICR Plus, which stands for Internal Cable Routing. All of the cables are carefully and neatly routed from the cockpit under the handlebar, through the frame, and only reappear when they reach the components.

As a result, Gain M30 looks clean and smooth and has improved aerodynamic properties.

 

Orbea Gain M30 Assembly

The assembly process for Orbea Gain M30 is quick and simple. If you have basic knowledge of bike mechanics and experience with bike maintenance, you will be able to do it without any issues.

Keep in mind that since the M30 model is carbon, it’s advisable to use a torque wrench to make sure you don’t overtighten the bolts and damage the components.

If you decide to assemble the bike on your own, you will need to attach the handlebar, insert the seat post into the frame, attach the front wheel, and attach the pedals (these don’t come with the bike).

However, the assembly process can differ depending on the dealer and their packaging process. The description above is the “worst” case scenario.

All in all, if you have the right tools and some basic knowledge, you can assemble your Gain M30 and head out for a ride in less than 30 minutes.

 

You Might Also Ask

• Where are Orbea bikes made?

Orbea bikes are manufactured and assembled at Orbea’s factory in Mallabia, Spain. However, the framesets are made in China to keep the costs down. This way, Orbea has full control over the quality of the final product and the shipping process.

• Is Orbea Gain M30 worth the money?

Orbea Gain M30 offers good value for the money considering the quality class of the components you get with the bike and the electrical parts. This is a mid-range bicycle with a high-quality motor and battery, and a price that reflects the average price of similar e-bikes on the market.

• What is Orbea Gain M30’s range?

Orbea Gain M30 offers 60+ miles of range, depending on how you ride and how much pedal-assistance you use. If you ride in high pedal-assist levels, the range can drop down to around 20 miles. But there is no precise answer as there are too many factors to consider.

• What top speed does Orbea Gain M30 have?

Orbea Gain M30 has a 20 MPH maximum pedal-assisted speed. This is a Class 1 e-bike, which means that it doesn’t have a throttle. Moreover, the fact that the motor has a 250W power, Orbea Gain is fully legal in Europe, the USA, the UK, and other parts of the world.

• Who makes Orbea Bikes?

Orbea bikes are manufactured and assembled by Orbea at the company’s factory in Mallabia, Spain. The company is a co-op and is owned by the Mondragón Cooperative Corporation, which owns numerous other co-ops.

 

Orbea Gain M30 Sizes

Orbea Gain is available in five frame sizes suitable for riders of different heights. The company provides a complete size guide and a geometry chart that will help you find the right size.

Here’s a simple size table that you can follow:

• X-Small: 4’11” – 5’3″ (150 – 160 cm)
• Small: 5’3″ – 5’7″ (160 – 170 cm)
• Medium: 5’7″ – 5’10” (170 – 180 cm)
• Large: 5’10” – 6’3″ (180 – 190 cm)
• X-Large: 6’3″ – 6’7″ (190 – 200 cm)

 

In addition to size recommendations, Orbea also shares crank, stem, and handlebar dimensions for each frame size, as well as detailed information about geometry. Therefore, finding the right fit is pretty simple.

 

Other Orbea Gain Models

In addition to the Gain M30 model, there are many other Orbea Gain models that you can choose from. All Gain e-bikes have the same Ebikemotion motor and battery, but the other specs differ. Some have aluminum frames, whereas others come with carbon. The groupsets and quality classes differ greatly as well.

If Orbea Gain M30 does not fit your needs, check out the list below to find a model that’s more suitable.

• Gain D50 — $2,900
• Gain D40 — $3,200
• Gain D30 1X — $3,500
• Gain D30 — $3,500
• Gain D20 — $3,900
• Gain M30 Flat Bar — $4,300
• Gain M30 1X — $4,300
• Gain M20 Flat Bar — $4,800
• Gain M20 — $4,900
• Gain M20 1X — $5,000
• Gain M20i — $6,000
• Gain M10i — $9,300

 

Bottom Point: Ride or Pass?

Orbea Gain M30 is an exciting electric road bike that comes with very few compromises. At 26.5 lb., it’s extremely lightweight for an e-bike, so it offers a natural and enjoyable riding experience.

Gain might have been imagined as an e-road bike, but it is actually more of an all-rounder. It has clearance for up to 40mm tires, so it can confidently tackle gravel roads as well. With a 60+ mile range, it can even do centuries and Gran Fondos.

If you feel like Orbea’s “Enough Power” approach suits your pedal-assistance needs, you’ll easily fall in love with Gain M30. Especially if you go the MyO road and customize it to your liking.

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