Took the new ST4 up to Brechfa for a scoot round the Black on pretty dry, fast trails in the sun.
I've been impressed with it everywhere I've ridden so far, but it properly excelled at the fast swoopy bermy flow riding that is Brechfa.
Everything the original frame promised, but amplified + pared down to make attacking riding a total joy.
LOTS stiffer back end, much less reliance on the pro-pedal and comfortably sitting into the travel + groveling for traction on steep / technical /off piste climbs, but still stiff enough to cope with fireroad slogging and out of the saddle efforts. The magic, tardis-style bottomless feel to the suspension is so good, pushing into corners, making body english really pay dividends. I don't care if it really is much faster, but it feels it in a 100% engaging way. Feels allot more capable than the previous design + ends up out classing the forks (Reba, team maxles) which I never felt on the old bike.
Not an XC super light, efficient map crossing bike, but i've not ridden a more engaging trail bike.
Next years plans are changing. I now want to spend as much time as possible on the ST4 marinading myself in endorphins thinking holy ****.
Finished the ride supping very fine coffee + munching Ian's magic flapjacks at the Drop-off bus, shaking slightly + grinning in the sunshine. Ace day.
No pics as the digi camera has given up the ghost + there was no way I was stopping anyhow.
3000£ for SLX Speced bike? It really has to be brilliant in every way to be even considered.
i think someone has swallowed the bike reviewers manual, so many over used cliches in that lot
still, glad you liked it 🙂
3000£ for SLX Speced bike?
?????
My LBS has a full XTR equipped aluminium framed hardtail with nice carbon finishing kit, a top end fox fork and high spec wheels for £2500. Even adding a bit more money to change to an aluminium full sus frame, how does that happen??
You know what I'm glad you like it, we invest a lot of money on our bikes so ENJOY.
Gaz
I like mine very much as well Alec. We've both had the "old" 2010 replaced with the 2011. It's a lot of money to pay for a frame, but it is absolutely brilliant to ride.
The old one was good but flawed. This one is just good. In terms of "value", well every time I ride mine I find myself giggling like a loon.
And Orange don't have the buying power of the big brands. Mine's a frame only, no idea what it cost to build, but it's worth it. x2 🙂
Orange proportionally put allot back into MTBing, treat their staff decently (I'm told) and have great customer support. I guess that stuff could be cost saved to put out cheaper bikes, but I'd prefer to pay a bit more + support a company thats trying to do the right thing.
Rubbish phone pic.
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It looks like a Saracen
I think the new one looks much better than original. I thought all the parts of the linkages seemed to overwhelm the frame somehow. I'd definitely be tempted if I had the cash, though a Trek Fuel would give it a close run.
What happened to your 2010 frames? I got mine in April and love it!
Looking at the 2011 model other than shock/linkage positions it all
looks very similiar.
I'm hoping they do the ST5 sort of thing that's knocking about as a Strange at the moment.
Looks a lot of fun...
If I could afford it I would have one to go along with my Five..
Loving my new ST4 too. Big thanks for Orange and All About Bikes at Evesham for sorting out the warranty.
Changes from the 08 frame seem to be a much stiffer rear end which was definately "twangy" - For the first few rides with that twang missing I wondered if that contributed to the fun feeling of the old frame. But now a few more rides in I've sorted the re-bound damping a bit, replacedd the summer tyres and started to get over the new bike fear of binning it into the trees and starting to love it.
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rickos,, please elaborate or even pics!!!!!
ST5 ???
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Try to do it with a decent sized image! ....and failed. How do the above get them full size....goes over to help section
making body english really pay dividends
Someone explain this drivel please.
Nice.
Moving around on the bike to make it go betterer. HTH
Fastest I've ever been round Y Wall today. Ace bike
So basically your just riding the bike?
glad you like your new bike
im happy to slum it with last years 🙄
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my budget was a lot less but half price frame helped
i do hope my fat ass does not break it !!!!!!!!
p.s djglover you are a sarcastic man!!!
i suppose my build will look like a DAWES 😯
[rickos,, please elaborate or even pics!!!!!ST5 ???]
Thread here
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/2011-orange-5-evo
pix from orange
http://my.orangebikes.co.uk/showgallery.php?cat=510
Orange are a great company in terms of supporting riders and developing out the MTB culture. I'm not that big on single pivots, the st4's and other similar frames are a step in the right direction if you ask me.
maxsatnav - see here on page 66 - http://wideopenmag.co.uk/the-magazine
and here for some shots - http://my.orangebikes.co.uk/showphoto.php?photo=3233
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Even worse value than the five! There are tons of bikes out there now that (at least look) almost identical to this. I know a lot of people will evangelise the usual orange/buying british stuff but you could get a scott spark 20, fuel ex9 or a trance x1 and 900 quid in your back pocket.
There arn't many bikes around with the Geometry VS Travel of the ST4... Orange are ahead of the pack.
Really you have to ride one to appreciate how good they are, on paper its ONLY 100mm travel, doesnt look that great etc etc.. but it is a unique bike at present.. That said, I think there are couple of other companies joining the Short Travel Slack geometry train.
The changes to the 2011 model do address the issues that some had with the older ST4 though and all good steps in the right direction, even the Trek fuel took a few years to get it right.
The magic, tardis-style bottomless feel to the suspension is so good, pushing into corners
groveling for traction on steep / technical /off piste climbs
I now want to spend as much time as possible on the ST4 marinading myself in endorphins thinking holy ****
but amplified + pared down to make attacking riding a total joy
I you wrote all this claptrap with your tongue in your cheek then bravo, if however you did not i feel really sorry for you...
Despite all of that flannel I still hate most is 'it rides like a bike'
Inane and pointless. And it appeared at least twice in the last STW mag.
at least he's not refered to it as "Stead"... most hated term for a bike.
pedlad, you used the thumbnail version of your image. drop the th_ and the bit after.jpg and it'll look like this... and very nice it is too, congrats.
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I'll admit I've never been a fan of Orange bikes or the daily ****athon threads gushing over them that seem to appear on here... but... dang it... that ST5 looks quite nice...
That is sweet. Wonder if a student loan would cover it...
Looks like very much like the SC blur family...
Looks like a Zesty. Only less French. Very nice.
simonm- didnt commencal do this format first?
It does sound like a sponsored MBR style review. Next bit will be about the bars being a bit too wide or something.
What really does my head in stuff like this
LOTS stiffer back end, much less reliance on the pro-pedal and comfortably sitting into the travel
I'm sure someone wrote a review last year about how much stiffer the back end was, how much better the pro-pedal, how it used the travel more effectively etc.
So last years bike was sh!te then?
Twin - I think it's known as 'new bike syndrome'.
Like a less burly version of this
[url= http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1384/5105464410_bf3012410c.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stue1/5105464410/ ]IMG_3433[/url]
oooooohh! more pics of the ST5! didn't spot those around the web, thanks very much Rickos!
simonm- didnt commencal do this format first?
No, they were both more travel.
Commencal meta 4 was a 100mm - singletrack did a comparison a few years back and basically said the st4 followed the commencal design
I thought they said the meta 4 was a more XC orientated bike and the ST4 more fun DH... The ST4 is 68 degree head angle, the Meta 4 69.5.. much more XC.
Re-read here.. It doesn't say comme did it first, merely they systems as similar.
My point is the ST4 has more relaxed DH Geometry, and really is the first bike with a slack head angle and short travel.
I would say the first paragraphs do say the commencal contact system was around first but take your point on the differing nature of their intended use
I cant remember which ones, but there are a few new frames around this year following the ST4 format.