Orbea Diem 20 E-Bike Review: What is New in 2024?

The Orbea Diem 20 e-bike is the latest commuter model the brand has built and recently launched in 2024. My first impression of it was, yeah, well, it seemed solid, sturdy, and elegant like the Orbea Vibe H30, but really, test riding was another story.

Diem 20 Specs Summary (basic)

My Experience Riding The Orbea Diem 20

Frame

– The composition of the diamond glide frame was fantastic. I was very impressed with its elegant design and smooth edges.

– The quality of the components used is another point gained. I know the Diem 20 e-bike weighs 25.5 kg, which is a bit heavy (not the worst, though), but luckily, the fork and other elements were made with carbon. This material is strong and lightweight.

– The last point is about the shock absorption quality. Orbea ensured the frame could absorb some road impacts, which I tested while riding on a very bumpy road.

Comfort & Maneuverability

– Even though it was signed for commuting purposes, the lack of a front suspension system was not a dealbreaker. This was mainly because of the quality of the saddle and, again, the design of the diamond glide frame.

Maneuverability was also outstanding. The long handlebar, combined with the Vittoria tires, gave me confidence when taking corners at high speed.

Motor & Controller

– It is clear to me that the Shimano EP6 motor has a lot of potency to haul heavy weights. I tested this on a 30% steep incline road, and I was amazed at how easily the motor took off from zero up to a comfortable speed below 25 km/h. I basically didn’t need to pedal hard at all.

– Another thing I noticed was the motor’s quietness. I didn’t even notice much of its sound when using the Boost mode.

– One thing that I noticed was the motor’s on-and-off behavior when reaching the top allowed speed of 25 km/h. It felt that the motor had much more power to provide during my test ride, but it was limited as required by the local regulations.

– The controller was very simple and intuitive to operate. I liked its simplicity and small size, which made it easy to manipulate with my thumb.

Braking performance

– Not many e-bikes I’ve tested before have provided a sense of safety when braking. The speed I was riding downhill was around 35 km, and considering the overall weight (including mine), it took around 4 to 5 meters to come to a full stop.

– The brakes felt solid and smooth; even when taking corners at “high” speed, the Diem felt stable with a slight touch of the brake levers.

Accessories

I have always said that a good commuter e-bike should have all the minimum components already installed so that riders can ride without worries. Orbea made this happen by offering a dedicated front light embedded in the head tube and a rear light attached to the mudguard.

– And if the front light didn’t have enough luminosity, the additional 1000-lumen LED covered other darker spots.

– Aside from the obvious rear rack, the very loud bell and the kickstand completed the combo for a good riding experience. I was glad about the kickstand location in the middle of the frame, which I think helps distribute the Orbea Diem 20 weight (25.5 kg) much better when resting on it.

The opportunities

– As I mentioned during my test ride, the front mudguard appears to be too long, restricting the fork from supporting the bike’s weight when removing the front tire. Unless you have a service stand system, it is a struggle.

– The controller colour coding for the battery charge was also not very satisfying. I understand that the green LED indicates a battery power level between 21% and 100%, but I noticed the range left after 21% was less than 11 km.

– I noticed that after reaching 25 km/h (maximum legal speed in Australia), it was really hard to gain more speed by pedaling myself. It normally would be easy to go faster, but I felt a lot of resistance.

I would’ve loved to have a more versatile rear rack. It was clearly made for specific panniers, which is not ideal if I wanted to use my old panniers (which I tried and didn’t fit). Many other brands, such as Giant with the Explore E+ 1, offer a universal rear rack.

Diem 10, 20, and Diem 30 Differences

The three (3) versions offered by the brand are very similar; however, the difference rests on the gear system and motor power.

– The Orbea Diem 10 offers an Enviolo automatic gear system and a Shimano EP8 mid-drive motor with more torque (85Nm). You can even tune the gear for better motor-gear ratio performance. It is pretty cool.

– As seen in my review, the Diem 20 offers an Inter 5 geared hub shift system operated by the rider. The motor is a Shimano EP6, which has 75Nm torque.

– Lastly, the Diem 30 offers the standard shift system (9-speed, Shimano Cues line) that we are used to seeing in most e-bikes. The motor remains the same as the Diem 20.

The Orbea Diem 20 Verdict

– I think the brand has dominated the 2024 market with this model (and its variations). It simply looks elegant, and the frame’s design is unusual. Simply fabulous.

The specs are also outstanding. The elements used to build it are on the high end, such as the belt drive system, which definitely enhanced my test ride.

– I could tell it was built for hauling heavy weights rather than speed. It was really easy to reach the max speed, even when riding on steep inclines, but it was so hard to exceed 25 km/h, even if pedaling hard. It was somehow frustrating.

– Compared to other models, such as the Giant Roam E+, I believe the Orbea Diem 20 could be a great commuter e-bike alternative if you can afford $8k, want long-term reliability, and want a sleek design that looks different.