Orange Five or Orange Alpine 160?
Discussion
Following on from a previous thread on here, regarding my boyfriend who is looking to replace his Norco Six Three.... the question is, Orange Five or Orange Alpine 160?
He is a tall guy, and not lanky either, at 6'6" so height and weight is an issue. Also quite an aggressive rider, been biking for 17 years. He enjoys trail riding, Fort Bill, Glentress etc. and freeride parks, jumps and dropoffs etc, yet would still like to be able to keep up with his biking buddys on a more XC based route.
He has a friend who works in a specialist Orange and Scott bike shop. He doesn't want a Scott but that leaves the Orange range which he could get a nice discount on. He originally wanted to spend no more than £2000, and that would be all on a loan. so its pushing it a little when it comes to being comfortable spending the cash. but with his friends discount he could get either:
- a new Orange Five with upgraded forks for £1790
or
- a new Orange Alpine 160, no upgrades, for £2200.
The Alpine I feel would be a sturdier bike for him, and probably last a bit longer judging on what he enjoys riding.... for the freeride side of things. but a little over budget, and doesn't have a 3rd chainring for extra pedalling uphill to keep up with his XC friends a little better. He has pootled around on both and both feel comfortable but hasn't had the chance to test either on the rougher stuff.
Which would you go for?
He is a tall guy, and not lanky either, at 6'6" so height and weight is an issue. Also quite an aggressive rider, been biking for 17 years. He enjoys trail riding, Fort Bill, Glentress etc. and freeride parks, jumps and dropoffs etc, yet would still like to be able to keep up with his biking buddys on a more XC based route.
He has a friend who works in a specialist Orange and Scott bike shop. He doesn't want a Scott but that leaves the Orange range which he could get a nice discount on. He originally wanted to spend no more than £2000, and that would be all on a loan. so its pushing it a little when it comes to being comfortable spending the cash. but with his friends discount he could get either:
- a new Orange Five with upgraded forks for £1790
or
- a new Orange Alpine 160, no upgrades, for £2200.
The Alpine I feel would be a sturdier bike for him, and probably last a bit longer judging on what he enjoys riding.... for the freeride side of things. but a little over budget, and doesn't have a 3rd chainring for extra pedalling uphill to keep up with his XC friends a little better. He has pootled around on both and both feel comfortable but hasn't had the chance to test either on the rougher stuff.
Which would you go for?
Orange 5 is more than man enough to handle all of the above.
I actually have a 2009 '5 for sale, very little use, it is a pro with loads of extras, xt kit, thompson finishing kit, monley lite bars, hope brakes, talas forks....
£3600 new, I want £2100.... PM me if you are interested.
The geo on the 2009 model climbed better than current!
I actually have a 2009 '5 for sale, very little use, it is a pro with loads of extras, xt kit, thompson finishing kit, monley lite bars, hope brakes, talas forks....
£3600 new, I want £2100.... PM me if you are interested.
The geo on the 2009 model climbed better than current!
Aside from Gooby trying to sell you something.
If he is doing jumps, DH, FR and such like the Alpine would be a better option. A Five would be to compromised if most of their riding is the aforementioned.
That said, he should ride both and see which one he prefers as he's going to be riding it.
If he is doing jumps, DH, FR and such like the Alpine would be a better option. A Five would be to compromised if most of their riding is the aforementioned.
That said, he should ride both and see which one he prefers as he's going to be riding it.
Louisa911 said:
He originally wanted to spend no more than £2000, and that would be all on a loan. so its pushing it a little when it comes to being comfortable spending the cash.
Am I right in saying this is still to replace a bike that needs a new bottom bracket? Taking out a £2000+ bank loan... you must be the most understanding girlfriend in history!! Are you getting a sparkly ring for your left hand in return?? I'd be way too suspicious if I was him...
At the risk of sounding like a broken record...
http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/dealers/demoday.php
Lot's of demo days around the UK. Get him to take you away for a night of sex and a day of riding
http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/dealers/demoday.php
Lot's of demo days around the UK. Get him to take you away for a night of sex and a day of riding
Gnarlybluesurf said:
Louisa911 said:
He originally wanted to spend no more than £2000, and that would be all on a loan. so its pushing it a little when it comes to being comfortable spending the cash.
Am I right in saying this is still to replace a bike that needs a new bottom bracket? Taking out a £2000+ bank loan... you must be the most understanding girlfriend in history!! Are you getting a sparkly ring for your left hand in return?? I'd be way too suspicious if I was him...
Louisa911 said:
Gnarlybluesurf said:
Louisa911 said:
He originally wanted to spend no more than £2000, and that would be all on a loan. so its pushing it a little when it comes to being comfortable spending the cash.
Am I right in saying this is still to replace a bike that needs a new bottom bracket? Taking out a £2000+ bank loan... you must be the most understanding girlfriend in history!! Are you getting a sparkly ring for your left hand in return?? I'd be way too suspicious if I was him...
In that case, if there is still movement it's probably the cartridge bearings / bushes in the rear triangle that are worn. If the BB is failing regularly, then it's either - the BB shell needs facing so the BB sits parallel to the frame correctly, or he using a jet-wash to clean his bikes with. A jet wash can kill a set of bearings in about a month if you're out regularly.
rhinochopig said:
Louisa911 said:
Gnarlybluesurf said:
Louisa911 said:
He originally wanted to spend no more than £2000, and that would be all on a loan. so its pushing it a little when it comes to being comfortable spending the cash.
Am I right in saying this is still to replace a bike that needs a new bottom bracket? Taking out a £2000+ bank loan... you must be the most understanding girlfriend in history!! Are you getting a sparkly ring for your left hand in return?? I'd be way too suspicious if I was him...
In that case, if there is still movement it's probably the cartridge bearings / bushes in the rear triangle that are worn. If the BB is failing regularly, then it's either - the BB shell needs facing so the BB sits parallel to the frame correctly, or he using a jet-wash to clean his bikes with. A jet wash can kill a set of bearings in about a month if you're out regularly.
Digga said:
As can spraying them with WD40/GT85 after washing. I've just done my top rear shock bush in under 3 months that way.
What do you base that conclusion on ? I use a small amount of lube on the linkages and haven't seen any problem so far. Seems counter-intuitive to blame the WD40 ? Possibly if you use a large amount directly into the bearings you could wash out the grease, but other than that I can't see the connection.rhinochopig said:
Louisa911 said:
Gnarlybluesurf said:
Louisa911 said:
He originally wanted to spend no more than £2000, and that would be all on a loan. so its pushing it a little when it comes to being comfortable spending the cash.
Am I right in saying this is still to replace a bike that needs a new bottom bracket? Taking out a £2000+ bank loan... you must be the most understanding girlfriend in history!! Are you getting a sparkly ring for your left hand in return?? I'd be way too suspicious if I was him...
In that case, if there is still movement it's probably the cartridge bearings / bushes in the rear triangle that are worn. If the BB is failing regularly, then it's either - the BB shell needs facing so the BB sits parallel to the frame correctly, or he using a jet-wash to clean his bikes with. A jet wash can kill a set of bearings in about a month if you're out regularly.
Louisa911 said:
rhinochopig said:
Louisa911 said:
Gnarlybluesurf said:
Louisa911 said:
He originally wanted to spend no more than £2000, and that would be all on a loan. so its pushing it a little when it comes to being comfortable spending the cash.
Am I right in saying this is still to replace a bike that needs a new bottom bracket? Taking out a £2000+ bank loan... you must be the most understanding girlfriend in history!! Are you getting a sparkly ring for your left hand in return?? I'd be way too suspicious if I was him...
In that case, if there is still movement it's probably the cartridge bearings / bushes in the rear triangle that are worn. If the BB is failing regularly, then it's either - the BB shell needs facing so the BB sits parallel to the frame correctly, or he using a jet-wash to clean his bikes with. A jet wash can kill a set of bearings in about a month if you're out regularly.
- Loose / worn / or wrongly fitted (or even the wrong size) bearings in the rear triangle / swing arm.
- Knackered rear hub bearings or broken hub.
- Possibly worn shock bushings, depending on shock linkage.
It should be fairly easy to track down the source of the movement just by wiggling and listening.
Just a word of warning re bike shop mechanics. They don't tend to get paid very well, which results in some being bloody clueless.
If he wants a new bike then great (can't criticise that at all), but he'll sell his Norco easier if it's fully fettled.
Multi link bikes can be trouble some, being 6ft6 and heavy set will just speed up ware.
Is he a "heavy" rider, worked in a shop as a teen, you could get two people same weight, same bike, same speed, same trail but one would be in all the time with broken or bent stuff due to a heavy (clumsey??) riding style
ether way sounds like the alpine with hope hubs would be a safer bet, the shop should be able to change the crank set up for a tripple
my 2004 Sub5 on hopes is still going strong (but i'm only 6ft1 & 12st), with just a frame / hub bearing change. fox forks are a bit sloppy tho
custard
Is he a "heavy" rider, worked in a shop as a teen, you could get two people same weight, same bike, same speed, same trail but one would be in all the time with broken or bent stuff due to a heavy (clumsey??) riding style
ether way sounds like the alpine with hope hubs would be a safer bet, the shop should be able to change the crank set up for a tripple
my 2004 Sub5 on hopes is still going strong (but i'm only 6ft1 & 12st), with just a frame / hub bearing change. fox forks are a bit sloppy tho
custard
BOR said:
Digga said:
As can spraying them with WD40/GT85 after washing. I've just done my top rear shock bush in under 3 months that way.
What do you base that conclusion on ? I use a small amount of lube on the linkages and haven't seen any problem so far. Seems counter-intuitive to blame the WD40 ? Possibly if you use a large amount directly into the bearings you could wash out the grease, but other than that I can't see the connection.If you spray oil at/on them, it tends to pull in all the s
t and helps to wash out any grease that waent in on assembly. This I did not know unitl I was told by a mate who definately knows his stuff. Now I think about it, what he says does make sense though.Digga said:
BOR said:
Digga said:
As can spraying them with WD40/GT85 after washing. I've just done my top rear shock bush in under 3 months that way.
What do you base that conclusion on ? I use a small amount of lube on the linkages and haven't seen any problem so far. Seems counter-intuitive to blame the WD40 ? Possibly if you use a large amount directly into the bearings you could wash out the grease, but other than that I can't see the connection.If you spray oil at/on them, it tends to pull in all the s
t and helps to wash out any grease that waent in on assembly. This I did not know unitl I was told by a mate who definately knows his stuff. Now I think about it, what he says does make sense though.About the only spray stuff I use is the stuff that evaps leaving teflon, and then not on bearings.
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