What do we think of the Orange Five?
Discussion
996 sps said:
Gooby said:
I am a '5 fanboy. I am on my second and I have a top spec SE. It is utterly fantastic. I do however ride plenty of other bikes and some very exotic and incredible bikes are in some ways better. I have just spent a week on a Carbon Fibre Blur LTC in full race spec, a build costing over £7k. What a rocket, went up hills so blindingly fast it incredible. Do I want it - oh f
k yes! Would I choose it over my 5 .... no.
The 5 is an all mountain all purpose bike that paints a huge grin on your face. I have ridden Afan and loads of crazy hills in Wales. The 5 goes up, rockets down, makes you very happy and does not break down. I have ridden enduros against far more suited machinery and after 100 miles of the south downs in one day it was ready to go back (rider was broken)
The design is not old, it has evolved over many generations since the beginning of mountainbiking and it keeps on getting better. It has been trail bike of the year MANY times.
It is however a marmite bike. I love it, many dont. You can exploit many different characteristics with careful component choice. Mine is reasonably light (just under 27 lbs, when clean). I have ridden CF bikes at 22lbs and the lightness does make a huge difference. You couldnt ride the 22lb bike 100 miles and you couldnt ride it all winter long. Simply because of components mine feels lighter than it weight suggests and feels far more "racey" than a pro model.
It does however come down to what you want to do on the bike. If you want to win races all day long, there are more competitive bikes out there. If you want to ride all day and grin at every oppertunity then you wont find better. It "feels" great. If you want to ride all day, every day and not have to take it to the LBS for repair after repair then the 5 is for you. If you want something that is tough enough to bounce off black, blue and red runs, throw it in the back of the shed, then ride it around the local woods next day then bag a 5.
There are a few myths;
1) 5s dont climb.
Rubbish. they climb very well for a bike with downhill geo. To make it easier spec talas forks and just drop the front end at the bottom of the hill and hey presto.
2) the rear end has loads of slop.
NO WAY, they are built from girders. If you think it is a problem then spec the maxle rear end and have a very rigid bike.
3) Loads of pedal bob.
Yeah, there is stacks of it if you cant set up the shock properly. RP23 has a pro pedal button, this isolates most of the bob when you are simply pedaling and if it still bobbing you have set it up wrong (same as any bike)
If it feels lazy then swap out for a short stem.
The only problem is that it is a very forgiving bike to ride that inspires loads of confidence. So much confidence it can make a rider feel invincible and lead to silly accidents.
If it is marmite and you dont get it then... so what. Love your ride whatever it may be.
Cheers for this my obsession with 5's begins again!!k yes! Would I choose it over my 5 .... no. The 5 is an all mountain all purpose bike that paints a huge grin on your face. I have ridden Afan and loads of crazy hills in Wales. The 5 goes up, rockets down, makes you very happy and does not break down. I have ridden enduros against far more suited machinery and after 100 miles of the south downs in one day it was ready to go back (rider was broken)
The design is not old, it has evolved over many generations since the beginning of mountainbiking and it keeps on getting better. It has been trail bike of the year MANY times.
It is however a marmite bike. I love it, many dont. You can exploit many different characteristics with careful component choice. Mine is reasonably light (just under 27 lbs, when clean). I have ridden CF bikes at 22lbs and the lightness does make a huge difference. You couldnt ride the 22lb bike 100 miles and you couldnt ride it all winter long. Simply because of components mine feels lighter than it weight suggests and feels far more "racey" than a pro model.
It does however come down to what you want to do on the bike. If you want to win races all day long, there are more competitive bikes out there. If you want to ride all day and grin at every oppertunity then you wont find better. It "feels" great. If you want to ride all day, every day and not have to take it to the LBS for repair after repair then the 5 is for you. If you want something that is tough enough to bounce off black, blue and red runs, throw it in the back of the shed, then ride it around the local woods next day then bag a 5.
There are a few myths;
1) 5s dont climb.
Rubbish. they climb very well for a bike with downhill geo. To make it easier spec talas forks and just drop the front end at the bottom of the hill and hey presto.
2) the rear end has loads of slop.
NO WAY, they are built from girders. If you think it is a problem then spec the maxle rear end and have a very rigid bike.
3) Loads of pedal bob.
Yeah, there is stacks of it if you cant set up the shock properly. RP23 has a pro pedal button, this isolates most of the bob when you are simply pedaling and if it still bobbing you have set it up wrong (same as any bike)
If it feels lazy then swap out for a short stem.
The only problem is that it is a very forgiving bike to ride that inspires loads of confidence. So much confidence it can make a rider feel invincible and lead to silly accidents.
If it is marmite and you dont get it then... so what. Love your ride whatever it may be.
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