Review | Orange Crush MX Pro LTD hardcore hardtail

Do the mixed wheels of the Orange Crush MX make this THE hardcore hardtail to own in 2021? Andi climbs on board to tell all.

The continued evolution of the Orange Crush means that this alloy hardtail is now available in every flavour from 29er to 27.5in and, for this year, a mullet party mode.

What is the Orange Crush MX?

The Orange Crush has long been the hardcore hardtail for alloy frame fans. Over the years Orange has kept on refining the Crush to keep it in touch with the current crop of frames and that has seen the bike grow from 27.5in to 29in wheels. For 2021, and thanks to a lot of World Cup racing hype, Orange has taken the best of the 29er bike and mixed it with the 27.5in wheeled frame to create the Crush MX. The MX runs the larger wheel on the front for grip and that ability to roll over obstacles, with a smaller wheel on the rear for faster acceleration and cornering.

Frame

Like the rest of the current crop of Orange hardtail frames, the Crush MX isn’t manufactured in the UK but it is designed here and judging by the updates to the Orange website you’ll soon be able to get your MX powder-coated at Orange in the colour of your choice.

Orange designed the Crush MX to only run mixed wheels. The space in the rear triangle is more than enough for the 27.5 x 2.6 Maxxis Rekon tyre with plenty of clearance for mud and grime, but I wouldn’t think a 29er would fit in there not unless you were willing to run some extremely skinny rubber.

Many of the new school Orange range have adopted modern, long, low and slack geometry figures and the Crush MX is no different. This Limited Edition brushed alloy bike is a large and sports a reach of 480mm with an effective top tube of 652mm. I’m 178cm tall and the large size is great for flat-out fast local runs, but I’d be tempted by the medium with 460mm reach for flickable fun.

The low seat tube gets a classic tower brace on from the top tube and measures at a static 75.5 degrees. That might not sound so steep but remember that this is a hardtail and once the fork is compressed the seat tube angle does steepen up, in my case the seat angle is closer to 77 degrees with the fork sagged.

Up front, a Fox 34 fork is plugged into a 64.5-degree head tube which in turn is neatly welded to the top and down tubes with ample gussets for strength. The MX’s aggressively sloping top tube almost lines up perfectly with the seat stays, a look that many hardtail fans really appreciate. Orange tends to go for longer chainstays for its full suspension range, but for the MX Orange have gone for shorter 430mm across all sizes (Small-XL).

With a BB height of just 306mm the MX sit firmly in the low end of the hardtail spectrum, and to keep us Brits happy the BB shell is threaded and comes with chain device tabs too. I also like that the frame uses external cable and hose routing too, it just makes things a little easier come maintenance time.

Orange Crush MX Geometry

Components

This is the Limited Edition build of the Crush MX and comes with a nice mix of smart component choice, nothing too fancy but everything usable and reliable.

Burgtec’s new OE bar and stem come fitted to the MX out of the box. These items feature a different finish and branding to the aftermarket parts we’re used to seeing but come with the same style design, and so far performs just as well as the aftermarket kit.

The dropper post is an SDG Tellis model with 150mm of drop, but even on the large bike, I could probably get away with a 170mm dropper. The Tellis is cable operated and uses an under bar remote fitted to the bars. On top of the dropper is a WTB saddle, and WTB also supplies the mismatched size rims.

A Fox 34 sits up front with 140mm of travel. This is the Performance Float version of the 34 with black stanchions, adjustable compression, rebound and a 44mm offset. It’s not as flash as a Kashima covered Factory, nor as burly as a 36, but I’m always pleasantly surprised with the 34.

Shimano’s 12-speed SLX is a great drivetrain, even if the SLX shifter isn’t quite as nice to use as an XT equivalent. The wide range cassette is the larger 10-51T model for added winch-ability. It’s a shame that Orange hasn’t fitted a matching SLX chainset as it’s a much nicer looking item than the rather basic Race Face item fitted.

Brakes are also Shimano but from the more affordable Deore family. These are basically the same as SLX two piston brakes, only you’ll need to use tools to adjust the lever reach. Power and modulation are good, but at this price and on this type of bike a pair of SLX, perhaps even four pots would have been nice.

As for rubber, well Orange supplies the lock-on grips, while white label Maxxis tyres wrap around the WTB wheels. The Rekon on the rear is a 27.5 x 2.6in tyre for fast-rolling, and comfort, but I found the low tread less than ideal for wet and muddy climbing. The front DHF is also better for drier conditions and soon loses its path in the mud.

Riding the Orange Crush MX

Climbing

Climbing is good on the Crush MX, the modern geometry places the rider in a comfortable position for winching up climbs, and the taut alloy frame ensures all the power from your legs is efficiently transferred to the rear wheel and turned to forward motion. The fast-rolling Maxxis Rekon tyre aids when climbing on the road or on hardpacked surfaces, but once it gets wet and slippery you’ll want to swap for something with more grip.

All this said though, the stiff alloy frame is no match for a full-suspension rig for ultimate uphill traction. Hardtails in general require a more careful approach to climbing and even the larger volume rear tyre is no substitute for a full sus frame. Choose your line carefully and keep your power smooth and consistent then the MX will get to where you point it.

Descending

My local trails are a good mix of technical rocky descents, loam covered corners, smooth singletrack and the odd bridleway thrown in for good measure. I don’t have too many super steep muddy tracks to play on, but I feel this is where the Orange Crush MX might shine. The long reach geo and smaller rear wheel make for a hardtail that you can tuck into corners and switch lines quickly. The low standover and BB of the MX makes for a low-down centre of gravity and in fast flow sections, the Orange picks up speed and holds its line very well.

Keep the trails flowing, fast or loam filled then the Orange Crush MX is a pure fun machine that drifts around tight corners and hops into the air like it’s second nature.

As loam and mud turn to rocks and roots the tight alloy frame and compact rear triangle start to feel a little jarring. Playing around with the pressures of the large volume rear tyre can improve things, but this fast alloy frame doesn’t feel as comfortable as a steel frame and it’s nothing like a full-suspension bike (obvs).

A lot of my time on the MX was spent riding the same trails I tested the Kona Honzo ESD on, and while the steel Kona surprised me at how well it handled rock gardens, the Orange feels a lot more skittish.

Of course, riders with a lot more skill than I have will be able to iron out those bumps and ruts, but I need my frame to give a little. Steel does this better than alloy, a full-suspension bike even more so.

3 things that could be better

• Price. We’ve seen a few good looking hardtails launched for 2021 all with great looking frames, but prices are creeping up.
• Spec. For this type of money, I would like to see a set of four piston brakes and a more up-market chainset.
• Stiff rear triangle. The bike is precise and direct which is translates into razor-sharp handling on groomed trails but quickly feels rough on rocky natural tracks.

3 things we loved

• Beautiful finish and really nice welds. The Crush MX is a beautiful bike to look at.
• Mullet rear-wheel flicks this long bike through the corners nicely.
• Great climbing position.

Conclusion

If you have the terrain for it then the Orange Crush MX is an amazing hardtail to own. The modern geometry and mullet configuration make it a riot on steep forest terrain. I would have loved to have taken it around the Surrey Hills, the MX would be a hoot to ride in those loamy turns.

Fast rocky conditions aren’t what this Orange is after, so if your trails are more like full-speed rock gardens you’ll be better off with something that can help tame the trail for you.

Orange Crush MX Specifications

• Frame: 6061-T6 Custom Butted OS Aluminium Tube. Wheel Size: 29/27.5.
• Fork: Fox Performance 34 Float 140mm 29
• Headset: FPD 44mm For Tapered Steerer
• Stem: Burgtec Enduro Black 42.5mm
• Bars: Burgtec RideWide Enduro DB 800mm
• Grips: Strange Grappler Lock-On
• Seatpost: SDG Tellis 150mm
• Brakes: Shimano Deore 6100 203/180
• Rear Mech: Shimano SLX 12spd
• Shifter: Shimano SLX 12spd
• Cassette: Shimano SLX 10-51T 12spd
• BB: Race Face
• Chainset: Race Face Ride 32T
• Chain: KMC 12spd
• Wheelset: WTB ST Light i30 on Strange 29 + 27
• Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 3C 29 / Rekon 2.6 27
• Price: £2300 LTD bike £550 frame only

Review Info