Orange Bikes Four RS review: PH Fleet

[ben_h100]

I have a 2016 Five. Always wanted a FS Orange bike (since my teens) so when the opportunity came to get one I went for it. Takes everything I throw at it, pretty bombproof. Great fun on the descents and not too bad on the climbs (really have to get my weight forward sometimes to stop the foot wheel lifting though).

We have just returned from Bikepark Wales where it performed admirably. Never really feel out of my depth on it and find that the faster (or harder) I ride it the better it feels. Future upgrades will probably be wheels and brakes.

Orange recently went through some sort of management change and from what I have read they are looking at trying to break into the US market.

[Digga]

ben_h100 said:

Orange recently went through some sort of management change and from what I have read they are looking at trying to break into the US market.

Very nice bike.

The management change was, effectively, just a generational change as it is essentially now run by a relative of the founders who has actually been involved with the business for some time. I think it is great news for a great British brand and I wish them every success.

[FD3Si]

mackie1 said:

Seems a smidge lumpy when a Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5+ is £2500 with Fox fork and shock. Looking forward to having a nose around both at the NEC show tomorrow.

At the risk of a genuinely accidental crap pun, that's apples and Oranges.
One is a mass produced 5" Plus bike with low end Fox kit and base spec componentry, and the other is a high tier handmade 4" bike with upper tier suspension kit, higher end SRAM stuff, and top end hit from the likes of Renthal and Hope.

Equivalent from someone like Santa Cruz would be the 5010, which comes in at £3.8k for something with still lower tier componentry.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no Orange fanboy (single pivot isn't for me, and I've had a fair few!) but price wise for low volume manufacturers, they really aren't silly money.

[Digga]

A breakage at BPW necessitated an afternoon hire of one of their Treks. A good, capable bike though it was, and one which had clearly withstood some punishment, I didn't personally take to it in the same way as the Oranges I've borrowed. Horses for courses.

[Craikeybaby]

Bumping this as I got at Four last week. I've only had a few rides on it, but I am suitably impressed. It climbs better than my hardtail, although probably mostly due to the lower gearing, and is so much smoother everywhere. I had looked at bikes like the Trek Fuel EX and Canyons, but the price just to an Orange wasn't *that* much, especially as I was pointed to a good deal on this forum. It was pretty much my dream bike, so hopefully I won't be tempted to upgrade it for a long time.

There was a lot of mentions of PH rides out in this thread, that don't seem to have materialised. With Dan and James gone it is probably down to us to organise them. I'll be heading to Llandegla on either the 23rd or 30th July if anyone fancies joining me.

[idiotgap]

Sorry to hear JD has gone from PH. We did a few rides together when he used to live down near me.

[Steamer]

Craikeybaby said:

There was a lot of mentions of PH rides out in this thread, that don't seem to have materialised. With Dan and James gone it is probably down to us to organise them...

I missed the Cannock ride that PH did last year - But I'd be very keen to do one this year before the nights start drawing in again... or maybe a weekend?

Probably needs a new thread starting if anyone a bit more local to The Chase wanted to do the honours (I just tend to do the Dog & Monkey)

[Craikeybaby]

A Sunday morning would work best for me, as even though Cannock is my local it is still an hour away.