The Orbea Diem E-Bike: Your Questions Answered

Yes, it does have gears and there are actually three different options for you to chose from on this front. The entry-level Diem 30 comes fitted with a traditional Shimano groupset; specifically, it’s a nine-speed setup with a Cues derailleur controlling the shifting across an 11-46-tooth cassette.

On the Diem 20, there’s a belt drive coupled with an internal hub gearbox, which gives you five gears. The top-of-the-line Diem 10 also has an internal hub gearbox, but it’s controlled by Enviolo’s automatic shifting and uses a sort of bike-specific CVT. Orbea doesn’t put a number on the gear ratio you get here, but on my short ride around Germany it seemed like plenty of flexibility for flat riding and some steeper inclines.

There are two different racks to chose from on the Diem and both use Ortlieb’s QL3.1 system. The setup has three pins on the pannier, which your bags can clip onto securely. So, as long long as your pannier is compatible with this system, then you’re good to go.

When it comes to how much you can load onto the Diem’s racks, it again comes down to which one you chose. If you opt for the slim RR-01 carrier you’ll be able to load it up with up to 44 lbs of stuff. The larger RR-02 carrier gives you increased capacity as it can hold up to 33 lbs of stuff.

If that isn’t enough luggage capacity for you, a front rack can be added to support an extra 22 lbs, and you can also tow a trailer behind each model in the Diem lineup.

Despite being an electric bike, the Diem is a pleasantly surprising weight. I’m not going to say it’s lightweight, because it still weighs about 50 lbs. But, it’s not a bad weight to lug up a flight of stairs, as I did to get some nice shots of the bike.

What’s more, the frame is a good shape to get a decent purchase on it while you’re carrying, and the belt drive on the Diem 20 and 30 reduces the chance of getting oil stains on your new trousers.

Sadly there’s only mounting points for one water bottle holder on the Diem frame thanks to its interesting shape, which Orbea says was created to give it more flex on the bumps.

If you do want to carry extra hydration with you, it’s best strapped to the racks on the front or rear of the bike.

According to Jon Ander Ortuondo, urban project manager for Orbea, the belt drive on the Diem 20 and 30 is ideal for anyone “interested in utility and convenience for commuting.”

“If you are more interested in having a system that is clean and low maintenance then you will go for the belt drive,” he told Jalopnik.

“It doesn’t really require any maintenance and it has approximately a lifetime of 5,000km, but this depends on the conditions of course.”

Yes! And even better than fitting fenders, the Diem comes with them pre-installed on each model.

At the front, there’s a decent amount of coverage from the mud guards to prevent the worst of the spray from splashing your pristine work trousers on the ride to the office. The rear fender, meanwhile, comes with an integrated light that’s powered by the bike’s onboard battery.

There are actually two different motor options on the Diem, depending on which model you opt for. If you go for the $3,799 Diem 30, then you’ll be sent out onto the road with a Shimano EP600 motor that’s paired with a 540 Wh battery as standard. On the Diem 20, that same e-bike motor is paired with a 630 Wh battery.

The Diem 10, however, comes with Shimano’s EP801 motor and a 630 Wh battery pack. On each mode, an optional 250 Wh range extender can also be added.

The battery on each Diem model is built into the frame, which means there’s no pulling it out to take it inside to charge or keeping a spare battery handy whenever you need to swap. The team did, however, assure me that should any issue arise with the battery, mechanics could undo a couple of bolts and replace the unit.

When it comes to charging and the lifetime of the 540 Wh battery in the Diem 20 and 30, and the 630 Wh unit in the Diem 10, Orbea has some pretty lofty targets for it.

The cells should keep you out on the road for more than 70 miles, depending on your level of assistance. What’s more, the company says the unit has been tested across 1,000 charge cycles, which is enough to cycle almost two times around the Earth.

Each bike in the Diem range runs the same setup for its wheels and tires. That means you’ll always get a set of 29 inch wheels with rims that are roughly one-inch wide. Each wheel is tubeless-ready and comes wrapped in Vittoria e-Randonneur tires that feature a reflective stripe.

The only difference you’ll find is if you pick the Diem 20, which is the only one that comes with tan wall tires, according to Orbea’s bike builder in the U.S.