Orange ST4 - any good?

[pdV6]

Starting the process of looking for a new bike and the Orange ST4-S has caught my eye, possibly with a fork upgrade.

Anyone tried one / own one?

[ratbane]

I've been tempted. MBR rated it 9/10. My LBS Orange supplier more or less said don't bother - buy a 5 Pro.

[GilesM]

ratbane said:

I've been tempted. MBR rated it 9/10. My LBS Orange supplier more or less said don't bother - buy a 5 Pro.

Exactly what I was told when I bought my 5 pro, no reason not to try one though, but I would suggest trying a 5 pro aswell, just to get a feel for the difference.

[pdV6]

I can see your point; a similarly specced ST4 and a 5 do come in very close in terms of cost.

Any idea what the relative weights of the 2 are?

Fantastic bike though it is, I've never been a big fan of the 5's looks and can't help feeling that the ST4 would possibly suit the riding that I do a bit better.

I guess the only real answer is to try both and see which feels better...

[fatwomble]

Just bought a 5, was considering the ST4 but although a bit heavier I thought the 5 would suit all the places I ride. So far I have not been disappointed.

[Gooby]

XC vs All Mountain?
'5 is the universal tool. Does everything superbly. ST4? I thought it has too little sus travel for its weight.

Bottom line is that it is an Orange, it will ride better than anything else.

Edited by Gooby on Friday 30th October 09:15

[pdV6]

Sod it. 5 Pro ordered.

[ratbane]

I went to Halfords (yes!) to look at a Boardman FS Pro. What a nice piece of kit.

Light with great kit.

On the C2W scheme I could end up paying about £800 for it!

Compared to £2500 for the O5 - that's great value.

[Gooby]

ratbane said:

I went to Halfords (yes!) to look at a Boardman FS Pro. What a nice piece of kit.

Light with great kit.

On the C2W scheme I could end up paying about £800 for it!

Compared to £2500 for the O5 - that's great value.

Yeah, I went looking for a sports car, but that prius looked great value.... it even has 4 wheels, just the same.

[ratbane]

Gooby said:

ratbane said:

I went to Halfords (yes!) to look at a Boardman FS Pro. What a nice piece of kit.

Light with great kit.

On the C2W scheme I could end up paying about £800 for it!

Compared to £2500 for the O5 - that's great value.

Yeah, I went looking for a sports car, but that prius looked great value.... it even has 4 wheels, just the same.

Ridden one? I've ridden both. O5 is a better bike, but Boardman rides like a £2k bike.

I've ridden (in earnest) O5s, Zestys, HiFis, Roscoes, Mount Visions etc etc. Broken a few too. They all have pluses and minuses.

One big difference between my TVR and a Prius is the engine. I tend to find that is the biggest difference in mountain bikes also.

I reckon many people who buy O5s would not notice much difference between it and a Pro FS.

Edited by ratbane on Monday 9th November 11:15

[pdV6]

Insurance company's paying, so cost is less of an issue than it normally would be for me!

[GilesM]

pdV6 said:

Sod it. 5 Pro ordered.

Good choice, have fun.

[ratbane]

You've gone for the right one.

[R.P.M]

ratbane said:

Gooby said:

ratbane said:

I went to Halfords (yes!) to look at a Boardman FS Pro. What a nice piece of kit.

Light with great kit.

On the C2W scheme I could end up paying about £800 for it!

Compared to £2500 for the O5 - that's great value.

Yeah, I went looking for a sports car, but that prius looked great value.... it even has 4 wheels, just the same.

Ridden one? I've ridden both. O5 is a better bike, but Boardman rides like a £2k bike.

I've ridden (in earnest) O5s, Zestys, HiFis, Roscoes, Mount Visions etc etc. Broken a few too. They all have pluses and minuses.

One big difference between my TVR and a Prius is the engine. I tend to find that is the biggest difference in mountain bikes also.

I reckon many people who buy O5s would not notice much difference between it and a Pro FS.

Edited by ratbane on Monday 9th November 11:15

The difference is obviously lost on you.

[ratbane]

R.P.M said:

ratbane said:

Gooby said:

ratbane said:

I went to Halfords (yes!) to look at a Boardman FS Pro. What a nice piece of kit.

Light with great kit.

On the C2W scheme I could end up paying about £800 for it!

Compared to £2500 for the O5 - that's great value.

Yeah, I went looking for a sports car, but that prius looked great value.... it even has 4 wheels, just the same.

Ridden one? I've ridden both. O5 is a better bike, but Boardman rides like a £2k bike.

I've ridden (in earnest) O5s, Zestys, HiFis, Roscoes, Mount Visions etc etc. Broken a few too. They all have pluses and minuses.

One big difference between my TVR and a Prius is the engine. I tend to find that is the biggest difference in mountain bikes also.

I reckon many people who buy O5s would not notice much difference between it and a Pro FS.

Edited by ratbane on Monday 9th November 11:15

The difference is obviously lost on you.

Not really. I've been lucky enough to have actually tried most of the bikes that have rated highly now, and over the last 15 years or so.

Have a go yourself. You may be surprised. I've got no time for bike snobbery.

As I've said, the OP have chosen the right bike.