Orbea Denna M20

The Denna M20 is Orbea's answer for a rider who already loves a drop-bar carbon gravel bike and simply wants a hand with the climbing, rather than a different kind of bike altogether. It keeps the quick, performance-oriented handling of an unassisted gravel bike and adds a proper Shimano mid-drive and battery on top, so the same routes become accessible on a harder day, or the same ride can simply go further. It's a gravel bike first, with assistance built to match, rather than an e-bike wearing gravel styling.

The motor, battery and what 3,500 m of climbing really means

At the centre of it is a Shimano EP801 motor, tuned with Orbea's RS Gen2 RC settings, paired with an integrated 420 Wh battery built into the frame. Orbea's own figure for this setup is up to 3,500 m of climbing for an average rider on a single charge. That's worth reading carefully: it's a climbing-based maximum rather than a promised mileage or riding time, so how far it actually takes you on a given day depends on the terrain, your weight and how much you lean on the assistance. Control comes through a Shimano EN600-L remote on the bar; the standard build doesn't include a separate display, so you're working from the remote rather than a screen full of ride data. Topping the battery back up is handled by Orbea's second-generation smart charger, running at 42 V and 2-4 A.

Mechanical GRX drivetrain and confident braking

Where the electronically shifted Denna M20i uses Shimano's wireless-style shifting, this M20 sticks with mechanical Shimano GRX: RX820 shifters, an RX822 GS rear derailleur, a 44-tooth chainring and a 10-45t 12-speed cassette. That's a wide enough spread to help you up steep gravel climbs even before the motor joins in, and mechanical shifting tends to mean simpler, cheaper adjustments if anything needs attention down the line. Stopping power comes from RX820 hydraulic disc brakes, which is exactly what you want on a bike that's likely to be carrying extra weight and descending on loose surfaces. Orbea fits its own OQUO Road Control RC25PRO wheels wrapped in Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H tyres at 700x45c, a sensible do-it-all width for mixed-surface riding.

Frame, tyre clearance and everyday comfort

The frame itself is carbon, with internal cable routing and a 12x142 mm rear thru-axle, paired with a rigid carbon fork on a 12x100 mm thru-axle. Orbea shapes the frame sections to add a degree of vertical compliance rather than reaching for suspension, which is the usual approach on a performance-focused gravel bike like this. There's clearance for tyres up to 50c, so if you want more cushioning or grip than the fitted 45c Pirellis offer on rougher routes, there's room to size up without touching the frame's limit. Orbea also fits its own OC Carbon Handlebar GR10 and OC Performance XP10 carbon seatpost, along with an OC Frame Bag built specifically for the Denna.

The M20 versus the M20i, and reading older offers correctly

It's worth being clear about where this bike sits in Orbea's Denna range. The M20i uses electronic Shimano shifting on the same carbon frame and motor platform; this M20 keeps things mechanical, which suits riders who prefer simpler, field-serviceable shifting or who'd rather not pay for electronic gears. If you're comparing an older M20 listing against a current one, it pays to check the equipment rather than the year printed on the label: the 2025 specification carried a 42-tooth chainring, an Easton EC90 AX handlebar and Vittoria Terreno Dry Gravel tyres, all of which differ from the 44-tooth chainring, OC handlebar and Pirelli tyres fitted to the current UK build. That fitted frame bag is a small detail that matters more than it sounds; having somewhere built-in for a spare tube, tools and a bit of food makes the longer, more adventurous rides this level of assistance is designed to encourage that bit easier to actually go and do.