Read the million and one posts about the 5 and know opinion is split between the posers and the pragmatists but what I want to know is how reliable your 5 is? I would be particularly interested to hear from riders in Scotland (mountains not border trail centres) on how it holds up. How does it fair in a Scottish rain and mud and just how strong is it? I am researching bikes for all day mountain epics in Scotland with long harsh descents and filthy conditions and whilst some of my multi pivot bikes over the years have been superb, they nearly all have had bearings or bushings wear out rapidly.

Not interested in debates on looks, single pivots or how it rides at a smooth trail centre but how reliable is it long term in proper mountains and harsh conditions?

Ta

I’ve had mine for a touch under 3 years and it gets ridden week in week out no matter the weather or ground conditions. I ride mostly the Lakes and Peaks, and can be out for up to 9 hours. I’ve only changed the bearings in the frame once. Infact, the frame is the only thing that is still original from when i bought it. I ride it fairly hard and i’ve upgraded the components to reflect this – coils front and rear.. R1 Brakes Saint group set, yada yada….
In all honesty i’d say its a fairly bombproof bike, maybe not the best looking out there but it more than works for me.

I bought one a couple of years ago ‘cos I wanted a very low maintenance full-sus for riding on local gritstone Peak District trails. (got sick of faffing about with previous multi-pivot bikes and/or getting beaten up on my steel hardtail). After something I could just grab, ride and chuck back in the garage with no cleaning. It went for about 10 months with nothing more than just occasional drivetrain scrubs – until I was forced to wash it to take on hols.

Invested in some Gore sealed cables for it and have been very impressed with the almost total lack of maintenance required on the bike. Main pivot bearing feel as good as new and there’s no creaks or sloppiness in the frame. Now occasionally wash the frame down to look for cracks, but no signs of anything. Stickers are a bit fragile but paintwork cleans up a treat. I keep my wheels on the ground these days, but it gets ridden through lots of rock gardens & loose crabby, steppy stuff, stream/ford crossings and lots and lots of mud. FWIW, I weigh about 13.5 to 14 stone with full gear on.

(er…s’pose I ought to service the rear shock sometime 😳 )

In summary, IME, the bike rides much better than it looks, is reliable and very low maintenance.

The frame and bearings are hard as nails with no issues whatsoever
The shock has taken 3 years of abuse up here (inc a few weeks in Canada and a trip to Spain recently) but all the damping is shot now so it will be away to Mojo in the new year.

As far as bits go I have it built fairly tough – the drive train wears out at normal rates (Rear mechs over the last 18 months have fallen to bits?? but have seem ok more recently)

3 years of hard abuse and the frame is going strong and will continue to last longer than anything I hang on to it.

Oh, FWIW, a friend went and got beasted on a shop and ‘locals’ rides at Ambleside a couple of years ago. He reckoned at least 14 of the 20 local riders that turned up were on Fives – allegedly, the popularity is because it’s one of the only bikes that has the reliability to cope long-term with the conditions.

my 2007 5 is still going strong on the original bearings, and gets a regular dirtworker blast when muddy

Of three Oranges I’ve had, I’ve only had to change one set of bearings. I’m on a 2010 Five now, but previously had a Patriot 66 (too much travel for what I wanted) and an old Patriot (cracked the main frame and bent the swingarm).

I’d say that they’re pretty reliable as designs go. Even if you do end up munching bearings, the joy of replacing two rather than the eight per bike that my Intense fleet used to need makes it easier and cheaper.

If you look after it, 100%. If you don’t…

Applies to any bike, maybe you should get a rigid SS.

Now if they did a 29er version….. 😀

Its never on time and always finds an excuse for not coming out at the last minute……oh not that kind of reliability 😳

No issues with mine over the last 6 or 7 years, if you’re concerned over bearings then an easy preventative measure is to get a motorbike innertube, make a mudflap out of it, and ziptie it to the downtube so it covers the bearing housings.Probably the most reliable full suspension bike that we’ve ever sold.

duir – a few of us in Glasgow MBC have them – been all over Argyll, Highlands, Cairngorm, plus the local gloop of Mugdock. No issues at all, great bikes. Mine is an 08 and on original pivot bearings (although I do have a hardtail too)

I’ve had mine for six years and it’s been brilliant, no problems whatsoever. It gets ridden in all conditions including frequent river crossings. I get through a set of pivot bearings a year but they are cheap and easy to replace.

Thanks folks, sounds like the 5 is up to the Highlands!

If you look after it, 100%. If you don’t…

Applies to any bike, maybe you should get a rigid SS.

My bikes are probably the best looked after bikes of anyone I know. I do all my own meching and my bikes are stripped and serviced once a month including bearings, bushings and suspension and any worn parts replaced so I guess you could say I look after it 100%! I wouldn’t have any interest in a rigid single speed as to me it’s an utterly pointless niche sillyness (no offence SSers!) and totally useless where I ride. Besides I gave up my hardtail after 6 years in spring because a viral infection of my spinal muscles left my back unable to cope with rigidity.

Don’t strip it and rebuild.

My 2005 is on it’s original bearings (although I have other bikes). Ridden in anything, occasionally pressure washed, but more normally chucked in the garage. Currently doing child carrying duties (we’re 20st with two on the bike all kitted up) – been to Les Gets (in the wet – now that’s mucky) like that and we’re Dalby regulars.

Leave the bearings alone and they’ll work fine for a long time.

duir – where you based ?

I’ve had mine since September but I’ve only ridden it once.

I’m in a ‘fibbing’ mood.

had mine for one year.Ridden lots.very reliable indeed.

Mine’s 2004. Ridden lots, cleaned not so much. Original bearings. Headsets, cranks, drivetrain are all thats ever worn out on it, frame is bombproof.

Leave the bearings alone and they’ll work fine for a long time

if only………
My current “mountain” bike runs on bushings and axles rather than bearings so periodic maintenance is required. I personally find that home servicing things like shock air sleeves and fork lower legs and keeping BB bearings clean and greased etc etc helps things to last and run smoother for longer so I think I will stick with it.

ianc

duir – where you based ?

Aberdeenshire so ride a lot in the Cairngorms/Grampians and several trips a year to the north west and places like Torridon and Skye as well as local evening rides at the usual haunts. Few trips per year to my old stomping ground in T’Lakes to vist my missus folks and ride with Max. When the snow is gone I try to ride 3-5 days a week so you can see that my bikes take a hammering and really I am looking for a machine that will stay in one piece and not have multiple bearings fail in the middle of a 6 hr Scottish epic!

Get a hardtail

My Orange 5 was really reliable for the year that i had it but rode like a bag of crap.I’d rather change the bearings of my present multi pivot bike every year than ride a 5.
Buy something that you enjoy riding as its normally the components on the bike that fail first rather than a frame if its from an established manufacturer.

duir – based on what you are riding, I’d say the 5 would be ideal and hard wearing. Can you get hold of a demo one ? Alpine are Orange dealers so their Aberdeen shop should be able to sort you out for a weekend trial.

A mate who is a ‘quick hose down and scrubbing brush’ post-ride kinda guy (i.e. the bearings have seen zero TLC), has had no probs whatsoever with his in 3 years.

I’m impressed with it – loads of clearance at the bike for mud to drop through, pivot and shock well out of the way of flying crap, stiff, carry-able for all day rides inc. up stupid steep mountains….

Just changed the bearings on my 4 year old Patriot and it has had a tough 4 years, originally belonging to Endless Ride out in the Alps. It’s a 5 minute job to change them and if you get them from a bearing shop, cheap as chips as well.

Best bit of advice I could give is that if you need to change the rear brake hose or gear cable, before removing it from the swingarm (internally threaded), slide an old cable inner down it first, then pull off, and then thread the new outer / hose over the inner and hey presto, it easily threads through the internal guides.

I say this as I once watched a bike mechanic pull the lot out and then try for ages to thread the brake hose back through.

My Orange 5 was really reliable for the year that i had it but rode like a bag of crap

. Could have been down to tune and/or simply air pressure of shock. I’ve ridden two 2010 Fives with differing rebound/velocity and boost valve tunes on the OE RP23, and the difference in ride was very noticeable (even with the same air pressure). The bike with the later standard tune climbed about 2 or 3 lbs lighter – if that makes sense.

A proper clean, lube and check after each ride and most £500+ bikes will be reliable. Chains, cassettes, chainrings, brake pads etc wear out regardless of the frame you hang them on.

That said, a Five would probably fair better than average i’d say due to the unfussy design.

Had mine 4 years (but 2nd hand) , changed bottom shock bush twice, and pivot bearings twice, I mainly ride in the Lakes on pretty rough tracks and tend to get air a lot and ‘sometimes’ land a bit crossed up, so its probably about right.
The San Andreas I had previously faired in a similar fashion.

Stopadoodledoo – Member

Just changed the bearings on my 4 year old Patriot and it has had a tough 4 years, originally belonging to Endless Ride out in the Alps. It’s a 5 minute job to change them and if you get them from a bearing shop, cheap as chips as well.

Best bit of advice I could give is that if you need to change the rear brake hose or gear cable, before removing it from the swingarm (internally threaded), slide an old cable inner down it first, then pull off, and then thread the new outer / hose over the inner and hey presto, it easily threads through the internal guides.

I say this as I once watched a bike mechanic pull the lot out and then try for ages to thread the brake hose back through.

Another method is poking a coat hanger/stiff wire through the rear hole, and push it down the brake line/gear outer. You can then easily guide the cables out through the hole.

Guys, a crazy mad thought has occured to me 💡 , I have bearings for the orange 5 and sub 5 frames. I’ve been testing them for about 4 months now.

However, since it’s xmas and I wouldn’t mind giving some away for free, who wants to check their 5’s bearings and if they need replaced, I’ll give you some bearings to test?

I think the bearings I have will last about 3 to 4 years, that said there is noly one way to find out 😀

Emails in the profile if anyone is interested!

Duir, about 5 of Maxs mates have 5’s. I’m sure you could have a go 😀

Before I start I love my Orange 5, but I thought I’d share some teething problems I’ve had with it…….I bought a 2011 5 pro in September. In October my left pivot bearing disintegrated and was told by Orange that they’ve had a batch of faulty bearings appear on 2011 models. In addition my SLX pedal arm fell off whilst riding three times. The use of thread lock appears to have solved this issue! I’ve also snapped my rear hanger, snapped my chain and mashed my rear mech. Maybe I’ve been unlucky, but I still can’t help being chuffed to bits with the bike every time I venture out!!

why would a frame with one set of bearings last any longer in dirty conditions than a multipivot frame?

isn’t the sealing the issue? or is it size of bearings?

Duir, about 5 of Maxs mates have 5’s. I’m sure you could have a go

but Max doesn’t! However he does have a single pivot and would have an orange if he could afford it.

I have ridden several peoples 5s but really I am interested in opinions on long term durability rather than the ride. I know the ride can be sorted with correct components and a well tuned shock. I am guessing they bought the orange as it’s the right machine for T’Lakes and not because the shop they work in get’s them cheap!?!

why would a frame with one set of bearings last any longer in dirty conditions than a multipivot frame?isn’t the sealing the issue? or is it size of bearings?

That’s a good question! In my experience it’s due to poor frame build/alignment, undersized and inferior quality bearings. For example my Coves bearings lasted 2 years of intensive downhill and only some needed replacing when i rebuilt it but a specialised I once had lasted a few months. Also bearing placement can have a huge impact on life and usually the systems that are more shielded from the flying mud last longer.

Get a hardtail

As I said earlier I had to give up my last hardtail as it was too uncomfortable for me after a viral infection damaged some of my back muscles. That’s the second comment of it’s kind but the thread is specifically about the long term durability of the 5 as part of some research I am doing, not the merits of other designs.

Thanks anyway

I’ve had two 5’s, an ’05 one that I bought in December ’04, and an ’11 one that I’ve had since June ish.

Most of my riding is done around Kinver which is a big lump of sandstone and the soil conditions are a pretty abrasive. I’m not the best when it comes to cleaning bikes in the winter either, a quick rinse with a garden hose and a bit of lube on the chain is as much as I’m prepared to do on a dark evening.

When I got the first one, it was my only bike and got ridden 2 – 4 times per week for at least a couple of hours at a time. Thats around 40-80 miles per week. In that time the bearings never had any play in them so I left them alone, but it did get through 3 sets of shock bushes.

It cracked on the weld between the seat tube and the BB shell about 2 weeks before the warranty ran out and was repaired FOC by Orange. They re-welded the cracked section and it was returned with a shiny new coat of paint and new pivot hardware.

Following that it was fine until April (ish) this year, the frame was actualy ridden for longer in its repaired state than before hand. It was at this point that I spotted a big open crack in the opposite side of the repaired weld that extended into the downtube, another crack through one of the drain holes at the drop out end of the swing arm and the start of another small one in the drive side of the swingarm above where it clears the chainset.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it had covered a good 5 figure mileage, all with 15st of fat bloke sat on top of it, so I didn’t feel like it really owed me much.

I called Orange after finding the first crack to see if they had an old front triangle they’d be willing to part with, and on the off chance that they might be interested in looking at the photos. They hadn’t got anything that would fit but did sort me out with a crash replacment discount on a new one.

I hope it lasts as long as the 1st 🙂