there was a demand from us, the buying public, for kinked top tubes because we believe they look modern and give more standover clearancenows thats ****ed up, if the public want something thast doesn't make functional sense the manufacturers should tell JoeP to stick it. Aesthetics should never interfere with engineering, make it work then make it look good....assuming you can or can even be bothered
Ignore me
nows thats ****ed up, if the public want something thast doesn't make functional sense the manufacturers should tell JoeP to stick it
Funny you should say that because it's almost that is exactly what I've heard from someone closely involved in the design of Orange bikes. 
Apart from being able to use 'standard' stems
EDIT
Ignore me
OK, but actually the point still stands:
The point being made was that a straight 1.5" HT allows you to run anything and everything with the appropriate reducer cups so why limit your options with a system that is harder and thus more costly to make as with tapered?
I should imagine there's a marginal weight saving geetee but only really an issue on xc bikes (where tapered forks may be overkill anyway) rufty tufty bikes like the 5 should get 1.5 i agree....or is it actually a pretty big weight difference?
I like how this thread has one group saying how outdated the orange design is and another saying most design tweeks are done for marketing reasons. From seeing the videos of the new patriot I would say there is not much wrong with the basic single pivot design, it is not holding the rider back much. I think the orange single pivot bikes look great. Could not afford one though and got a prophet.
Yes I think i read that tapered offers a marginal weight saving but it's in the weight of the top cup of the headset rather than the tube. And from memory it's pretty marginal.
geda I don't think I said most design tweaks are marketing Kona and others have been doing more nads clearance dropped top tubes for 20+ years no need to fanny about with the tubing just slope it down and run more seatpost, if you can do curved tubes with little or no strength/weight compromise (carbon?) go for it. Tapered headtubes seem a bit of a half measure, OK for weightweenies but the 5 certainly aint that - definitley not with that new top tube, 1.5 is much more versatile, or hey just stick with 1.125" eh?
Edit - I've nowt (much) against marketing btw but it shouldn't adversly affect the product and extra weight is adverse on a mountain bike you pedal, less of an issue on the gravity brigade
DONK absolutely. Not sure the 1 1/8th needed fixing much anyway. The larger formats were developed to address the design challenges of 180mm single crown forks anyway.
The thing with the 5 is that it has evolved over the years but remained close to the original concept. When changes have been made they may have been made for marketing rather than engineering reasons. And before any one gets over excited I am not an engineer!
The change to a kinked top tube was probably marketing lead but subsequent changes to a thicker 30.9 seat tube and tapered head tube seem more about increasing strength. They may just be putting the strength back that they lost with the kinked top tube but these latest changes coincided with the increase from 2 to 3 years warranty on the frame.
It would seem that Orange 5's are the ultimate Marmite bike, you either love them or hate them. I love mine as it does every thing that I want it to do and it is British made. Multi pivot bikes may suit others better but for me it's a case of if it ain't broke don't fix it, just upgrade it.
One last thing. A good few years ago I bought a brand new sports car. A few years later a new model came out but I still preferred the original although I then had to sell it. Fast forward another few years to the point where I no longer own or have an emotional attachment to the original model, I now think I prefer the later one.
Matt24k - Member
...but subsequent changes to a thicker 30.9 seat tube and tapered head tube seem more about increasing strength.
I think the thicker seat tube is mainly to accommodate people who want a rufty tufty dropper seatpost. 30.9 gives them more choice.
The only carbon orange are doing is a road bike........ 29er five and 29er hardtail
https://twitter.com/chipps/status/108818264708231168
Also if you look on biketarts Facebook page then there is a teaser photo.
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