On paper, the Orbea Wild ST is a bit confusing. It has the same travel as a Rise LT but rides nothing like one. And it shares the exact same chassis as the full-travel Wild, yet doesn’t come close to the Wild’s big-mountain capability. It sits in this weird little gap where you naturally wonder, “Why does this bike even exist?”
Turns out it’s not a Rise, and it’s not a mini Wild — it’s a firm, sporty take on the Wild platform. The way it rides is interesting, and it starts to make sense quickly once you get it on the trail.
The Wild ST is essentially the shorter-travel, sport-focused version of the Wild. It’s stable, corner-hungry, and powered by the excellent Bosch CX. For the right rider, it has a clear personality, even if the spec sheet doesn’t show it.
What You Should Know About the Orbea Wild ST
The 2025 Orbea Wild ST is a shorter-travel, sport-focused variant of the full-travel Wild eMTB. It runs 140mm of rear travel paired with a 150mm fork, built on Orbea’s aluminum Wild chassis and powered by the Bosch Performance Line CX motor with a 750Wh PowerTube battery. While it shares its frame architecture with the bigger Wild, the ST delivers a firmer, more direct ride feel designed for riders who want a stable, efficient, corner-hungry full-power eMTB without the ultra-plush suspension of the long-travel model.
The Wild ST is available only in aluminum and comes exclusively with the 750Wh battery. Unlike the longer-travel Wild, there are no carbon or smaller-battery options. All models use a 29” front and 29” rear wheel configuration.
I rode a Size Extra-Large. I’m 6’2″.
Geometry (Size XL)
- Head Tube Angle: 64.5°
- Effective Seat Tube Angle: 78.4°
- Reach: 509mm
- Chainstay: 448mm
- Wheelbase: 1302mm
- BB Drop: 28mm
- Stack: 645mm
Specs (H20 Build)
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX
- Battery: Bosch PowerTube 750Wh
- Display/Remote: Bosch LED Remote / System Controller
- Fork: Fox 36 Float AWL HD Sport 150 Rail 2.0
- Shock: Fox Float Performance Trunion 2-Pos Evol LV custom tune 205×57.5mm
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore SLX
- Brakes: Shimano M6120 4-piston (203mm rotors front and rear)
- Wheels: Race Face AR 30c Tubeless Ready
- Tires: Maxxis Dissector 2.40″ 120 TPI 3C MaxxTerra Exo+ TLR
- Dropper Post: OC Mountain Control Dropper
- Weight: 53.6LB
Setup Notes
- Rider weight: 195 lbs
- Sag: 30% rear / 15% front
- Tire pressure: 28 psi front / 29 psi rear
Orbea Wild ST: TLDR SUMMARY
What it is.
A shorter-travel, firmer, sportier version of the Orbea Wild. It sits awkwardly between the Rise LT and the full-travel Wild on paper, but rides much closer to a trimmed-down Wild than anything else.
Who it’s for.
Riders who want Bosch CX power in a stable, grounded, trail-bike package and don’t mind a firmer suspension feel or less traction in rough terrain.
Why you should buy it
Buy it for the Bosch motor, stability, and fast cornering. Skip it if you want plushness, traction, or Rise-level playfulness.
Orbea Wild ST : Ride Review
Drive Unit: +2
Bosch CX Still Sets the Standard for Full-Power Motors
The Bosch CX is still the gold standard of full-power motors. It’s reliable, natural, quiet, and strong across a wide cadence range. Compared to Shimano’s RS+ mode on the Rise LT, the CX delivers full-power torque at almost any input level.
Big Battery, Big Range—But With Handling Tradeoffs
The Wild ST comes with a 750 Wh battery. The range is solid, but you do give up some handling precision due to the extra weight. I still go back and forth on this, but for my riding style, I lean toward improved handling over extra vertical feet. Just like the full-travel Wild, you’re getting about 5.5 to 6 feet per watt-hour in Boost at around 195 pounds. On this bigger battery, that works out to a little over 4,000 feet of climbing on a single charge.
DJI Avinox Teaser: The First Motor That Makes Bosch Feel Slow
Quick teaser: the new DJI Avinox motor actually makes the Bosch CX feel a touch slow, and we’ll talk about that in the next video. But for now, the CX remains the benchmark.
Climbing Performance: +1
Stable Front End Helps Technical Climbing
Climbing is a mixed bag. The good news is the front wheel stays planted, there’s no wandering, and the Bosch CX provides plenty of snap. The Wild ST leans toward firm and sporty, which helps efficiency on steeper climbs.
Firm Suspension Limits Traction on Loose Climbs
The tradeoff is traction. The firm suspension doesn’t offer as much grip on loose or technical climbs. You often end up sitting, weighting the rear wheel, and relying on the motor. The chassis and motor make it a good technical climber, but the suspension keeps it from being a great one.
Downhill Capability: 0
Predictable and Stable, but Not Plush or Forgiving
The Wild ST is fine on descents. It’s stable at speed, predictable in corners, and moderately confident in rough terrain. But because the chassis is borrowed from the full Wild, you expect more comfort and control than you get. It doesn’t smooth out rough terrain the way many full-power eMTBs do, and you don’t get that super-plush e-bike effect.
Handles Moderate Terrain Well, Struggles in Real Chunk
This is not a bike for bombing chunky terrain. It thrives on smoother blues, flow trails, and moderate blacks. Once the trail gets especially rough, it runs out of comfort. You can ride hard terrain on it, but you’ll need more skill and more body English to make it work. It’s fast and predictable, but out of its depth in real chunk.
Suspension Performance: -1
Firm, Sporty Feel on Smooth and Fast Trails
This bike is defined by its firm suspension. On smoother, faster trails, it feels sporty, supportive, and efficient. It matches well with trails like Lost Lad where you can pump for speed without the bike absorbing all your energy.
Limited Small-Bump Sensitivity and Ground Tracking
On rougher trails, it gets rattly. The suspension isn’t very active, and traction and small-bump sensitivity are limited. It doesn’t track the ground as well as other eMTBs.
Strong Big-Hit Support but Very Little Plushness
Big hits are handled surprisingly well thanks to the stout frame and progression. Just don’t expect plushness. The best analogy is a sports car on a rough road: fast, supportive, eager, and harsh.
Handling: +1
Low, Sporty Front End Creates Sharp Cornering Feel
Handling is one of the Wild ST’s strengths. The front end is low and sporty. For clarity, the frame is identical to the full-travel Wild. The lower front end on the ST comes from the shorter fork, not a different front triangle.
Precise and Predictable in Corners
Cornering is predictable and fast. The bike holds a line well thanks to a stiff chassis, and if you love smooth, fast corners, this is one of the better eMTBs you’ll ride.
Grounded, Not Playful
Where it struggles is playfulness. It’s hard to unweight, hard to get off the ground, and takes a lot of effort to pop. Speed helps generate lift, but the suspension isn’t giving you much help. This is a grounded bike, not a lively one.
Versatility: 0
Capable Across Greens to Blacks, but Not a Do-Everything Bike
The Wild ST covers a decent range of terrain from green to black, but the firm suspension keeps it from being a true do-everything machine. The build options are limited: alloy frame only and a 750 Wh battery only. No lighter builds, no carbon option, no smaller battery. It’s versatile enough, but it doesn’t change personalities easily.
Intangibles: 0
Clean Frame and MyO Lite Options, With a Few Annoyances
MyO Lite is a nice touch, though limited compared to Orbea’s full customization. The frame looks clean and the build quality is solid. Headset cable routing is still annoying, but some riders like it. Nothing stands out and nothing offends.
Orbea Wild ST: Comparisons
The Orbea Wild ST sits in a strange middle ground, so it’s worth looking at how it stacks up against the two bikes it’s most often confused with: the full-travel Wild and the Rise LT. On paper, it appears to borrow traits from both, but on the trail it behaves much closer to one than the other. Here’s how it truly compares.
Orbea Wild ST vs Orbea Wild
The full Wild is much more capable. It’s smoother at speed, more comfortable in rough terrain, and handles big bumps better. The handling DNA is similar, but the Wild ST is firmer and harsher. Interestingly, the Wild ST can feel more precise in corners because it holds a clean line and feels snappier mid-turn, even though it’s not playful.
If you want capability, get the Wild. If you want speed and efficiency, get the Wild ST.
Read my full Orbea Wild Review
Orbea Wild ST vs Orbea Rise LT
Before riding the ST, I expected it to feel like a Bosch-powered Rise LT. That’s not the case. The Rise LT is more playful, handles better, has better traction, and is more fun everywhere except steep, technical climbs. Range is similar due to the Rise’s efficiency.
If you want fun, get the Rise LT. If you want Bosch power and a grounded feel, get the Wild ST.
Who is the Wild ST for?
The Fast Rider
Who they are: A rider who values stability, efficiency, and direct handling. They prefer a bike that stays high in its travel and responds quickly to inputs.
Why they’ll enjoy the Wild ST: The firm, supportive suspension matches their riding style. It rewards steady pressure, maintains composure at speed, and doesn’t waste energy on unwanted movement.
The Road/Gravel Crossover Rider
Who they are: Someone coming from road, gravel, or XC backgrounds who likes a bike that feels tight and sporty rather than plush. They’re used to efficiency and don’t mind a firmer ride.
Why they’ll enjoy the Wild ST: The Wild ST’s firm initial stroke and supportive feel make it predictable and efficient. It offers a familiar, direct response that makes climbing and general pedaling feel precise.
The Momentum-Focused Descender
Who they are: A rider who stays off the brakes and uses speed to smooth the trail. They prefer a bike that stays composed when things get fast.
Why they’ll enjoy the Wild ST: At higher speeds, the bike feels calm and controlled. The firm suspension keeps the chassis predictable and resists diving or wallowing, letting them stay confident in fast terrain. Caution in rough terrain.
Orbea Wild ST faq
Is the Orbea Wild ST just a shorter-travel Wild?
Sort of — but it doesn’t ride like a mini Wild. The geometry and chassis are identical, but the firmer suspension and shorter fork give the ST a much sportier, harsher feel. It’s quicker and more precise in corners, but nowhere near as plush or capable in rough terrain.
How does the Wild ST compare to the Rise LT on the trail?
The ST is more grounded, more stable, and significantly less playful. The Rise LT pops easier, holds traction better, and feels lighter everywhere except the steepest climbs. The only reason to choose the ST over the Rise LT is if you specifically want Bosch CX power.
Does the Wild ST feel heavy with the 750Wh battery?
Yes — especially in slow-speed handling and pop. It’s not unmanageable, but the bigger battery absolutely contributes to the ST’s grounded, less playful feel. The tradeoff is range, which is solid, but there’s no option for a smaller battery to sharpen the handling.
Is the Wild ST good for rough black-diamond terrain?
It can handle it, but it’s not where the bike shines. The firm suspension limits traction and comfort, and it takes more skill and body English to ride fast through chunk. Smoother blues and flow trails are where the ST feels most confident.
Who is the Wild ST actually for?
Riders who want Bosch CX power in a stable, sporty, supportive chassis. If you prefer firm suspension, fast cornering, and a grounded feel — and you don’t care about pop or plushness — the ST is a great fit.
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