Meet Denna, Orbea’s New Mid-Drive eRoad Bike with Gravel Particular Motor Tuning

March 14, 2025

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Right this moment Orbea launches its new Denna, a mid-drive eRoad bike that has “gravel-specific help”. With large tire clearance and a body designed for a clean journey, the brand new Denna is prepared for lengthy hours within the saddle.

Orbea Denna eRoad Bike first pic — (Images / Orbea)

In terms of development, the eRoad bike phase appears somewhat off-the-back when in comparison with the opposite eBike segments. However it’s selecting up momentum, with some manufacturers providing the bikes with a sure “all-road” factor. Perhaps that’s the important thing: versatility.

Orbea Denna eRoad Bike motor and battery

Let’s see how the Denna stacks up!

The Orbea Denna

Pulling from their expertise with the Rise and Rider Synergy idea, Orbea has created a “gravel-optimized” motor, the RS Gen2 RC. This motor claims to have a “good stability of energy and torque”. Whereas utilizing a Shimano EP8 motor as the bottom, Orbea has added their very own firmware and motor tuning profile to customise the EP8 to their needs for the Denna.

Orbea calls this optimized motor their RS Gen2 RC the place:

RS – Stands for Rider Synergy. That is Orbea’s firmware for Shimano EP motors. It permits the bike and rider to work collectively for a extra pure journey really feel.

Gen2 – This implies the second era of Orbea’s RS firmware. It pops the utmost torque to 85 Nm.

RC – That is an acronym for Street Management, which is Orbea’s Denna-specific motor tuning that gives pure, highly effective help, tuned only for gravel.

The motor comes with two modes, Gravel and Gravel+. The Gravel mode is tuned for smoother surfaces, the place the rider finds it simpler to take care of larger cadences utilizing the cassette’s vary to supply essentially the most pure journey really feel.

Whereas Gravel+ mode will increase the torque restrict. This helps the motor adapt to looser surfaces by offering extra torque at decrease cadences for essentially the most traction.

Whereas most individuals have completely different interpretations of what “gravel” means, the Denna is prepared for any terrain. Some riders will hardly ever get on unpaved roads and like slim tires, whereas some search for the highway much less traveled and wish fatter tires. The Denna can match as much as a 50mm tire.

Plus, the Denna’s geo is designed to assist journey over tough terrain. Orbea affords optimized chainstay size with an extended wheelbase, an extended high tube than the Acquire, a decrease backside bracket, and a size-specific fork path.

All Denna fashions are geared up with mounting factors for fenders and two water bottles. There are additionally mounts situated below the highest tube which can be utilized to mount equipment or luggage. The spacing is wider than a conventional bottle cage mount, however Orbea talked about that they may ultimately have a bag for this mount sooner or later.

Denna Geometry

Battery/Vary

The Denna comes with a 420Wh battery that makes use of next-generation cells that supply extra energy in a smaller and lighter package deal. With the environment friendly, energy-saving RS Gen2 RC firmware, Orbea says that you would be able to climb as much as 3,500 m of elevation in Eco mode.

When you want extra vary, there may be an possibility so as to add the out there 210Wh Vary Extender. The extender is mild and smaller than a water bottle. So, you’ll be able to match it within the bottle cage proper above the plug on the seat tube.

Good Options

Orbea packed the Denna with good options that may assist make dealing with simpler. Shimano’s EP household options very correct and quick monitoring capabilities. The RS Gen2 firmware is made to make the most of and make the most of this, leading to lag-free energy that feels pure.

Orbea Denna eRoad Bike handlebar mounted controls

All the Denna fashions permit the rider to modify between help modes with the left brake lever. Plus, Denna affords the choice of utilizing the Shimano EN600 show unit, to observe the help profiles on the fly.

When you already use a Garmin machine, you’ll be able to merely pair it with the bike. This may give the rider entry to the entire data in regards to the bike’s battery and motor proper there on the pc head unit.

Easy Trip High quality

Orbea’s particular body shaping at important areas permits for managed vertical flex (essentially the most noticeable instance is the highest tube the place it thins out dramatically towards the seat tube). This helps to soak up bumps and vibrations on rougher roads. The body’s tube shapes resist lateral flex, so the Denna can keep pedaling effectivity and hold its sharp dealing with.

All the Denna fashions use OMR carbon, together with the fork. Orbea says that this affords the “finest mixture of energy, stiffness, and luxury”. Utilizing the MyO configurator, riders can choose from parts that may enhance consolation and dealing with. Objects like handlebars with extra rise, a +15 diploma stem in numerous lengths, a setback seat submit, and 50mm tires.

Denna Fashions, Retail & Spec Highlights

There are a boatload of fashions to select from. And you may customise the entire separate fashions the way you’d like. Go HERE to actually get into the weeds and choose the bike that most closely fits your wants finest. All the pricing beneath are beginning costs, customizing will usually improve costs.

All the bike fashions beneath are the “20 MPH” fashions, there are “28 MPH” fashions as effectively.