Zippy Commuter E-Bike, Packed With Tech

There are e-bike cruisers that dabble as commuters and commuters full of options like fats tires for off-road exploration. There are even full-tilt mountain bikes decked out with lights and racks for max versatility.

Amongst this littered discipline, the Orbea Diem is a way more purpose-driven machine whose elements really feel custom-tailored for city commuting slightly than skirting the road between genres.

I spent a number of weeks commuting on the Diem and darting round Austin, Texas, to seize groceries or run fast errands. The bike served as an important platform that was straightforward to make use of, easy to take care of, and confidence-inspiring in city areas the place cyclists rub elbows with automobiles, pedestrians, and all forms of hazards.

What I appreciated most in regards to the Diem 20 is that each one the elements and tech included within the bike aren’t aimed toward making the bike more practical for routes for which it isn’t actually supposed. As a substitute, every half, from its built-in lights and fenders to its belt-driven gearbox drivetrain and USB-C charging port, all mix to make the Orbea Diem 20 a thoroughbred city commuter.

In brief: The Orbea Diem 20 is a purpose-driven commuting bike that thrives on the tarmac in city areas. It’s full of new expertise and options that make driving enjoyable, protected, and well-supported.

Orbea Diem Builds and Specs

The Orbea Diem is out there in three totally different fashions: the Diem 10, Diem 20, and Diem 30. All have prime speeds of 20 or 28 mph.

The bikes all embody a rear rack that may carry as much as about 44 kilos, fenders, built-in lights, and easy-to-use thumb-press controls. The massive variations in every construct come within the drivetrain they make use of and its motors and batteries.

The Diem 30 marks the entry level to the Orbea Diem vary. It features a conventional chain-driven Shimano Cues groupset, together with a Shimano EP6 motor and 540Wh battery with built-in Supernova Starstream lights.

The Diem 20 ditches the chain-driven Shimano Cues system for Shimano’s belt-driven Nexus internally geared drivetrain, which requires little to no upkeep. That characteristic is good for avoiding the grit and grease that comes together with uncovered chains and gears. The Diem 20 additionally will get the identical Shimano EP6 motor however a beefed-up 630Wh battery and Starstream lights.

The Diem 10 has a belt-driven Enviolo automatic-shifting drivetrain, a extra highly effective Shimano EP8 motor, and a 630Wh battery. It additionally consists of an OC Mountain Management MC22 dropper seat put up, Supernova Startstream Professional lights, and a entrance rack with a payload of twenty-two kilos.

All builds are available in three colours, together with Spaceship Inexperienced, Ivory White, and Glitter Anthracite.

Orbea Diem Know-how

Orbea outfitted me with the mid-range Diem 20, which retails for an MSRP of $4,699. This Diem made a substantial first impression with its type and aptitude.

Its patented Orbea Diamond Glide Body has a singular form that instantly stood out from different bikes. Orbea additionally says the design helps take in bumps to supply a extra sure-footed feeling on streets that is probably not pristine.

Moreover, the bike comes loaded with Vittoria e-Randonneur 29 x 2.0 tires, which elevated the comfortable feeling of the experience.

Different options that instantly garnered consideration included its compact and streamlined rear rack, rear fender with an built-in tail gentle, and built-in service and high-beam lights embedded within the bike’s body and headset.

Not like many of the e-bikes I’ve been on, the Diem 20 doesn’t have a show. Its left-hand management panel consists of lights that sign the extent of pedal help and battery stage, however nothing to actively monitor different metrics like pace or distance.

As a substitute, Orbea asks riders to make use of their telephones and the Shimano E-Tube Journey app because the bike’s show. The model affords a stem-mount system that requires a particular telephone case or mount. The Diem 20 homes a nifty USB-C cost port proper beneath the stem so I may cost my telephones whereas on the go.

City Journey Report

Each time I experience in areas I do know I’ll share with many automobiles and pedestrians, my thoughts at all times shifts to security. For me, any commuter bike should be predictable, dependable, and nimble.

The entire options packed into the Orbea Diem 20 made the bike really feel quick and responsive on metropolis streets. The battery, motor, and drivetrain combo gave me each little bit of pace I wanted to speed up rapidly with site visitors, together with dependable energy to cost up steep climbs with ease.

The built-in lights on the rear fender and headset, which embody a excessive beam, gave me confidence that I’d be seen by drivers approaching from the entrance or again,

The bike’s geometry was each comfy and responsive. The Orbea Diem 20 put me in an upright and confidence-inspiring place whereas nonetheless retaining nimble traits. This jogged my memory that the bike may flip or change its trajectory on a dime if wanted. In situations the place I needed to cease and begin consistently, the Diem 20 may simply kick itself on top of things and decelerate reliably.

I used to be initially a bit postpone by the shortage of show apart from my telephone. Nevertheless, the built-in cost port meant that I wasn’t sacrificing my battery life to maintain observe of my experience.

The Orbea Diem 20’s internally geared, belt-driven drivetrain supplied a virtually silent and totally hassle-free performance. Since there isn’t any uncovered chain grinding round, the bike mainly requires no upkeep.

The Shimano Nexus eight-speed shifting system supplied quick and dependable shifts even whereas pedaling beneath appreciable energy. The lever to alter the gears was somewhat laborious to press in comparison with the chain-driven digital drivetrains I’ve used. However I by no means felt a second of hesitation, gear skipping, or grinding between gears that’s inevitable with a series and cassette.

The Orbea Diem shines as a devoted city commuter. The Diem 20’s belt-driven, internally geared drivetrain, fenders, and lights present a stellar commuting package deal that’s quiet, dependable, and protected. It additionally eliminated most of the conventional hassles related to commuting, like getting stains from chain grease on my pants or splashed by water or street grime.

Though mid-tier, the Diem 20 mannequin felt superior. I’d be extraordinarily taken with experiencing the automated shifter on the Diem 10.

My solely qualm with the Orbea Diem 20 was its lack of a show. I usually don’t like to make use of my telephone to trace rides, nor do I need to have a selected case that I’ve to make use of each time I experience. That being stated, I’ve used a experience laptop for years, and in my early years of driving, I at all times used my telephone to report rides.

So, for many who use telephones on bikes anyway, that time is a non-issue. Moreover, the USB-C cost port is a lovely characteristic that paid dividends.

At an MSRP of $4,699 and weighing in at about 50 kilos, the Orbea Diem 20 is a lovely and fascinating commuting possibility for metropolis riders. The Diem 30 sells for an MSRP of $3,899, and the Diem 10 goes for an MSRP of $5,699.