Zippy Commuter E-Bike, Packed With Tech: Orbea Diem 20 Review

There are e-bike cruisers that dabble as commuters and commuters packed with features like fat tires for off-road exploration. There are even full-tilt mountain bikes decked out with lights and racks for maximum versatility.

Among this littered field, the Orbea Diem is a much more purpose-driven machine whose components feel custom-tailored for urban commuting rather than skirting the line between genres.

I spent several weeks commuting on the Diem and darting around Austin, Texas, to grab groceries or run quick errands. The bike served as a great platform that was easy to use, simple to maintain, and confidence-inspiring in urban areas where cyclists rub elbows with cars, pedestrians, and all types of hazards.

What I appreciated most about the Diem 20 is that all the components and tech included in the bike aren’t aimed at making the bike more effective for routes for which it isn’t really intended. Instead, each part, from its integrated lights and fenders to its belt-driven gearbox drivetrain and USB-C charging port, all combine to make the Orbea Diem 20 a thoroughbred urban commuter.

In short: The Orbea Diem 20 is a purpose-driven commuting bike that thrives on the tarmac in urban areas. It is packed with new technology and features that make riding fun, safe, and well-supported.

Orbea Diem Builds and Specifications

The Orbea Diem is available in three different models: the Diem 10, Diem 20, and Diem 30. All have top speeds of 20 or 28 mph.

The bikes all include a rear rack that can carry up to about 44 pounds, fenders, integrated lights, and easy-to-use thumb-press controls. The big differences in each build come in the drivetrain they employ and its motors and batteries.

The Diem 30 marks the entry point to the Orbea Diem range. It includes a traditional chain-driven Shimano Cues groupset, along with a Shimano EP6 motor and 540Wh battery with integrated Supernova Starstream lights.

The Diem 20 ditches the chain-driven Shimano Cues system for Shimano’s belt-driven Nexus internally geared drivetrain, which requires little to no maintenance. That feature is ideal for avoiding the grit and grease that comes along with exposed chains and gears. The Diem 20 also gets the same Shimano EP6 motor but a beefed-up 630Wh battery and Starstream lights.

The Diem 10 has a belt-driven Enviolo automatic-shifting drivetrain, a more powerful Shimano EP8 motor, and a 630Wh battery. It also includes an OC Mountain Control MC22 dropper seat post, Supernova Startstream Pro lights, and a front rack with a payload of 22 pounds.

All builds come in three colors, including Spaceship Green, Ivory White, and Glitter Anthracite.

Orbea Diem Technology

Orbea outfitted me with the mid-range Diem 20, which retails for an MSRP of $4,699. This Diem made a considerable first impression with its style and flair.

Its patented Orbea Diamond Glide Frame has a unique shape that immediately stood out from other bikes. Orbea also says the design helps absorb bumps to provide a more sure-footed feeling on streets that may not be pristine.

Additionally, the bike comes loaded with Vittoria e-Randonneur 29 x 2.0 tires, which increased the cushy feeling of the ride.

Other features that immediately garnered attention included its compact and streamlined rear rack, rear fender with an integrated tail light, and integrated service and high-beam lights embedded in the bike’s frame and headset.

Unlike most of the e-bikes I’ve been on, the Diem 20 does not have a display. Its left-hand control panel includes lights that signal the level of pedal assistance and battery level, but nothing to actively monitor other metrics like speed or distance.

Instead, Orbea asks riders to use their phones and the Shimano E-Tube Ride app as the bike’s display. The brand offers a stem-mount system that requires a special phone case or mount. The Diem 20 houses a nifty USB-C charge port right under the stem so I could charge my phones while on the go.

Urban Ride Report

Whenever I ride in spaces I know I will share with many cars and pedestrians, my mind always shifts to safety. For me, any commuter bike must be predictable, reliable, and nimble.

All of the features packed into the Orbea Diem 20 made the bike feel fast and responsive on city streets. The battery, motor, and drivetrain combo gave me every bit of speed I needed to accelerate quickly with traffic, along with reliable power to charge up steep climbs with ease.

The integrated lights on the rear fender and headset, which include a high beam, gave me confidence that I would be seen by drivers approaching from the front or back,

The bike’s geometry was both comfortable and responsive. The Orbea Diem 20 put me in an upright and confidence-inspiring position while still retaining nimble characteristics. This reminded me that the bike could turn or change its trajectory on a dime if needed. In conditions where I had to stop and start constantly, the Diem 20 could easily kick itself up to speed and slow down reliably.

I was initially a bit put off by the lack of display besides my phone. However, the integrated charge port meant that I wasn’t sacrificing my battery life to keep track of my ride.

The Orbea Diem 20’s internally geared, belt-driven drivetrain provided a nearly silent and utterly hassle-free functionality. Since there is no exposed chain grinding around, the bike basically requires no maintenance.

The Shimano Nexus eight-speed shifting system provided immediate and reliable shifts even while pedaling under considerable power. The lever to change the gears was a little hard to press compared to the chain-driven electronic drivetrains I’ve used. But I never felt a second of hesitation, gear skipping, or grinding between gears that is inevitable with a chain and cassette.

Final Comments on the Orbea Diem 20

The Orbea Diem shines as a dedicated urban commuter. The Diem 20’s belt-driven, internally geared drivetrain, fenders, and lights provide a stellar commuting package that is quiet, reliable, and safe. It also removed many of the traditional hassles associated with commuting, like getting stains from chain grease on my pants or splashed by water or road grime.

Although mid-tier, the Diem 20 model felt advanced. I’d be extremely interested in experiencing the automatic shifter on the Diem 10.

My only qualm with the Orbea Diem 20 was its lack of a display. I generally don’t like to use my phone to track rides, nor do I want to have a specific case that I have to use every time I ride. That being said, I have used a ride computer for years, and in my early years of riding, I always used my phone to record rides.

So, for those who use phones on bikes anyway, that point is a non-issue. Additionally, the USB-C charge port is an attractive feature that paid dividends.

At an MSRP of $4,699 and weighing in at about 50 pounds, the Orbea Diem 20 is an attractive and interesting commuting option for city riders. The Diem 30 sells for an MSRP of $3,899, and the Diem 10 goes for an MSRP of $5,699.