With its Carpe, Orbea unveiled its latest urban e-bike this year. And, as is to be expected from other models by the Spanish brand, the Carpe 20 tested here also features a number of special details not found on other bikes. Add to that a comparatively low weight and a powerful motor – on paper, that sounds like a rather interesting combination. But how well does the concept work in everyday use?
Design
Even at first glance, the Carpe 20 makes it clear which direction it’s heading in. The lines have a sporty feel, the tubes of the aluminium frame are pleasantly slender, and on our test bike, the gleaming metallic finish in Mars Red makes for a rather eye-catching appearance. Thanks to the slender down tube, you’d hardly notice that there’s a battery inside at all.
Designed as a unisex model, the frame offers a low step-through without looking like a classic low-step bike. At the same time, the seat tube is designed to offer extra comfort thanks to a little flex. We’re already familiar with a similar approach from the Orbea Diem, which we’ve also reviewed here. The fact that the Carpe is priced slightly lower is more evident in details such as the exposed welds.
In other respects, however, the bike boasts some real highlights. These include, for example, the position light integrated into the headset, which ensures greater visibility on the road and is an Orbea in-house development. The tidy cockpit with internally routed cables is also a plus – and offers yet another clever feature: thanks to the folding stem, the handlebars can be swivelled to the side, allowing the bike to be parked in a particularly narrow space.
Another eye-catching feature is the tiny rear light integrated into the seat post – a solution that is as discreet as it is elegant. The rims, with their taller profile, are among the features that give the bike its sporty look. At the same time, the Carpe is also well-equipped for practical use, with front and rear luggage racks.
Features
It’s worth taking a closer look at the spec, as some of the components on our test bike are optional extras and clearly demonstrate just how versatile the Carpe can be configured by Orbea.
On the Carpe 20, for example, the rear luggage rack comes as standard and is fitted with a MIK interface – this allows baskets or boxes, for instance, to be easily clicked into place; the maximum load capacity is 20 kilograms. Orbea also offers an optional larger rack with a load capacity of up to 27 kilograms, which, thanks to MIK HD, is even suitable for mounting a compatible child seat.
The front luggage rack on our test bike is also an optional extra and can carry a load of up to ten kilograms. A securing net is included. The folding stem, folding pedals and frame lock on the front wheel are also optional extras. Our test bike therefore comes almost fully equipped.
This makes the weight we measured – 21.9 kilograms – all the more astonishing. For a fully equipped urban e-bike with a powerful mid-drive motor, this is quite remarkable, especially as a standard stem, normal pedals and the omission of a front rack would certainly save a further two kilograms or so.
It is particularly impressive because, despite its moderate weight, the electric drive does not require any major compromises. It features Shimano’s EP6 mid-drive motor, which, with 85 Nm of torque, ranks among the more powerful units. Orbea hasn’t skimped on the battery either: whilst its 420 Wh capacity isn’t huge, it is more than adequate for typical city riding. There is, however, a potential drawback in the design, as the battery is permanently fitted inside the frame. Anyone wishing to charge it must therefore be able to bring the entire bike close to a power socket. For additional range, Orbea offers a range extender in the form of a water bottle, which provides a further 252 Wh of capacity.
On our test bike, the electric drive is operated via a compact button and Shimano’s EN600 colour display. This is also an optional extra, as the Carpe comes as standard with the monochrome EN500 control unit, which now looks a little dated.
For the drivetrain, Orbea has opted for Shimano Cues with eleven speeds and a cassette ranging from 11 to 46 teeth. The hydraulic MT200 disc brakes are also from Shimano. These aren’t high-tech components, but they are tried-and-tested standard technology that is well suited to the Carpe’s intended use.
The lighting system, on the other hand, is somewhat more unusual. A Supernova Mini 2 headlamp is mounted on the handlebars, whilst the compact TL3 Mini rear light is fitted at the back. Both are complemented by the position light mentioned earlier, located near the headset. There is also a USB-C socket there for charging a smartphone – and to go with it, an SP Connect mount for the phone is fitted to the stem.
Contact with the road is provided by Vittoria Randonneur tyres, 42 millimetres wide, complemented by matching aluminium mudguards. A bicycle bell and side stand round off the everyday-ready specification. An optional frame lock can also be fitted to the front fork.
Operation
The fact that Shimano’s current drive system is no longer brand new is particularly evident in the user interface. Even with the more modern colour display on our test bike, the interface now looks a little dated and cannot quite keep up visually with newer systems. Fortunately, this is hardly a problem in everyday use – after all, what matters most is that everything can be operated intuitively, and that is precisely what continues to work well.
The only slight annoyance is that the system does not remember the last driving mode selected. Every time it is switched on again, the Carpe initially starts without assistance and the desired mode has to be selected once more. The lighting controls are also a bit unconventional. Whilst the lights can generally be controlled via the control panel, this only switches the rear light on and off. The front headlight, on the other hand, has a separate small button on the stem. In everyday use, you’d probably just leave it switched on permanently – which isn’t a bad idea in city traffic anyway.
A sturdy plastic flap above the motor protects the charging port for the permanently integrated battery. Overall, the Carpe fortunately follows a simple principle when it comes to operation: switch the bike on, select the assistance level and set off, without having to spend ages fiddling with riding modes or display settings. The Shimano system still manages this very well today. The same applies to the Cues gear-shifting system, which makes changing gears straightforward and operates precisely and quickly enough.
In everyday use, the optional folding stem proves surprisingly handy. This isn’t just the case when you need to store the bike in your flat to save as much space as possible, for example, but also at crowded cycle racks. With the handlebars turned to the side, you’re much less likely to get in the way of neighbouring bikes.
To unlock the mechanism, you use a quick-release lever on the stem, although this does require a fair bit of manual force. The handlebars can then be rotated freely in both directions. However, there is no locking mechanism for the straight central position. Before setting off, you should therefore take a moment to check that the handlebars are indeed properly aligned again. The pedals, which are also foldable, create a little extra space – but it is the stem that makes the biggest difference.
The carrying solutions also make the Carpe a versatile bike. Typical bike panniers can be attached to the rear rack, whilst the MIK system allows for the quick fitting and removal of compatible accessories. The front rack does not feature such a system; instead, it has a hexagonal platform with a stretching net. However, due to the slightly raised edge, it is not ideal for laying larger items flat on it. The rack is designed more for compact or flexible luggage – such as a cloth bag, a jacket or similar items.
Another positive feature is the position of the kickstand, which is set well back on the frame. This ensures the bike stands firmly and can still be manoeuvred easily when parking, even with the stand extended, without the pedals and stand colliding.
Ride impressions
What the technical specifications already hint at is confirmed on the road: thanks to its moderate weight and powerful motor, the Carpe 20 is fast and surprisingly nimble. This is complemented by the riding position and the almost straight handlebars, which offer a successful blend of sportiness and sufficient comfort for everyday use.
It’s actually a shame that the combination of a Shimano drivetrain and an urban bike isn’t more common these days – because the powerful EP6 is still great fun to ride! Its performance is more than adequate in city traffic, and, particularly when paired with the derailleur gears and their wide range of gear ratios, even steeper climbs can be tackled with ease.
The motor offers three assistance levels: Eco, Trail and Boost. As the name suggests, Eco provides a fairly moderate level of assistance and is ideal if you want to ride as efficiently as possible. In our view, however, the most interesting is the Trail mode. It responds directly to pedal pressure and adjusts the assistance accordingly – whether you’re just cruising along at a leisurely pace or want to accelerate with a vigorous pedal stroke. Boost, finally, provides constant full assistance and is therefore particularly suitable when you want to exert a little less effort yourself. Although the motor remains audible at all times, its deep, slightly grinding sound is not unpleasant.
Ride comfort is also quite good for a bike without suspension. This is remarkable, as the 42-millimetre-wide tyres aren’t exactly the most voluminous compared to some of the latest urban bikes. It’s difficult to assess in isolation just how much of this is actually down to the slightly flexible seat tube. In any case, the overall result is spot on – especially for a bike that’s positioned towards the sportier end of the urban segment.
Conclusion
The Orbea Carpe is a superb urban e-bike for anyone looking for a bike with a sportier focus, but who doesn’t want to compromise on practicality for everyday use or the performance of a powerful electric motor. It is precisely this combination of relatively low weight, an 85 Nm mid-drive motor and versatile features that makes it such a joy to ride on a daily basis.
Another particular strength lies in the extensive customisation options. The folding stem and matching folding pedals, the unusual lighting concept and the various luggage rack options give the Carpe a number of features that are rarely found in this form on other urban e-bikes.
All in all, this adds up to a highly attractive overall package. The biggest drawback, ultimately, depends on your personal usage scenario: anyone who doesn’t have a power socket available at their parking space is likely to find the permanently fitted battery a nuisance. Those who can live with this, however, will find themselves with a lightweight, powerful and pleasantly self-sufficient urban e-bike.
Our top recommendations for customisation are the folding stem and the front rack – both of these extras offer real added value in everyday use. With this specification, the price would be around 3,500 euros. The standard Carpe 20 starts at 3,299 euros, whilst our test bike, with its extensive range of optional extras, comes in at around 3,700 euros. Further information on the various Carpe models and the available specification options can be found directly from Orbea.
