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I've an Orange. It's very nice.
The guy at Orange admitted that most of their frames are fabricated in Taiwan. I was told this by my very good friend who was told this by the guy who visited the factory
Great! I love a good game of Chinese Whispers (or is that racist now?)
Im not wanting this thread to take on the form of an argument and hope it doesnt come across that way. If you look back at the start of the thread someone else also questioned their origins hence why i made my comment. You could look at it from another perspective following JB666s' comments and say that if i am disputing here with all the STWers the origins of Orange frames and that all of these individuals are working in the bike trade (and as such naturally they know far more than i ever could about anything bike related) then maybe these individuals all have a vested interest in keeping Joe Public believing that his frame is fabricated in the UK as well. If Orange admitted to one bike shop owner then whats to say that a few others know?
ScottChegg you have asked pretty much the same question i asked several times in this thread and didnt get an answer to.
If you are told something different from what you were previously told then why is it so hard to let go? Plus why is it so unbelievable?
Again made in Taiwan doesnt mean its poor quality. Quite the opposite when it comes to bike frames i believe. Im out of here anyway. This thread is boring me now.
Fwiw the Clockwork is super nice and i like the colour.
OP sorry your thread turned out like this.
This thread is boring me now.
Ah! The flounce.
I don't have a third hand tale from a guy in a bike shop who's next door neighbour's dog's has a vet who's milkman once heard something from a guy in the pub. I've been to the factory. I've seen them welding Alpines.
And it wasn't in Asia, it was in outer Halifax.
And the Clockwork looks yummy. Orange hardtails always look just right.
Haggis, have you tried calling Orange Bikes direct and asking them yourself. That way you will know first hand the answer.?
And OP, yes that does look a very nice bike. 😀
@haggis,
since you singled me out specifically twice i'll give you a little reply, i was quite polite in my post above, i wasn't rude, i wasn't offensive, i stated some facts and i explained my knowledge and experience as an example of proof that i am not just some internet forum tart.
i didn't imply you were arrogant i asked if you were, there is a difference.
you on the other hand have been quite rude or sarcastic.
i don't have a vested interest in hiding something from customers, i currently don't work in an Orange dealer, although i have just bought a new Orange 5. the reason i told you what i know is that i do know it and i know you are wrong, also frankly your argument is based on nothing other than what you have been told by a mate who obviously doesn't know either.
the thing i also find funny is that in you above post you admit that:-
"naturally they know far more than i ever could about anything bike related"
because "they" are in the bike trade, but when these same people tell you that you are wrong about something you still choose to believe your mate based on hearsay.
like i said before if your mate was having the factory tour at the assembly building they would dodge the build question as the frames are not made at that site, they have a separate location for that a few miles away.
you keep asking everyone why it would be so hard to believe the frames are made in taiwan but why do you find it so hard to believe they are made in Halifax?
regarding the original post though, i think the clockwork is a good bike, being a fan of the original versions though i'd prefer it to be steel just because of the use of the clockwork name, but being aluminium means it's probably a bit lighter, noir much in real terms though. that said i had a good look over them when i got my 5 last week and i think they look good, a little more expensive than an equivalent spec bike from the bigger brands but still a good bike. but i'd pay extra to ride an Orange anyway just because it's a bit more of an individual choice.
It was me that started the made in Taiwan thing as it's fairly common knowledge that the ht's are imported. Personally there is not that much room for brand premium in the 1k hard tail market.
though i'd prefer it to be steel just because of the use of the clockwork name
Orange have banged the steel hardtail drum longer than almost anyone. The R8 and P7 were the last and I don't think either of the last versions sold brilliantly. So, go alloy, drop the price and the lineup makes a bit more sense.
If it's a Clockwork it's more important to be orange than steel anyway!
IMHO
fairpoint about the steel, i have the 2007 clockwork and i still love it, with me it's not so much about the performance benefit of aluminium, more the tradition that it was a steel frame.
would have loved to get the 2008 prestige, i rode one and it was really nice but i couldn't justify having that aswel, also the r8 in 853 was lovely, wasn't overly keen on the paint though but with Orange and their custom option that wouldn't really have been an issue.
I did like the look of the R8; and I was 'this' close to buying one off here in summer. But I'd just bought a 2008 Prestige frame off terrahawk.
My lad has a 15" Prestige, and I'm building up the 17" to keep him company.
Anyone know if Orange will build a hardtail bike to customer spec? I'm guessing they have the frames along with all the individual components. Nothing too fancy, just different to what they spec the complete bike with. I've emailed them to ask but not had any reply. Not had time to get into a dealer to ask yet.
Just finished building up a new Crush Fwiw... [img] 
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jaffejoffer - Nice. did you buy frame only? dealer or Orange direct?
haggis - I'm about as sure as sure can be that Orange are still making plenty of their frames in Halifax. Your mate might not be lying but he could just be plain wrong.
jaffejoffer - that looks like fun!
If a frame rides as good as my P7, then I couldn't give a monkeys chuff where the physical act of sticking the tubes together occurred. What matters is what the person designing it was doing, and what the end result is.
That Clockwork looks bloody lovely. As noted already... Orange hardballs just look 'right'. And ride as good as they look.
Frame only through Leisure Lakes. i dealt with Orange direct right up to the point where i said 'ill take it' and they said i had to order through LL?
i upgraded from a raw on-one 45650b - the mrs didnt even notice 8)
Jj- how'd you communicate with Orange? Phone or email (if so which one)? I know exactly what I want, but had no reply to email. I have a localish dealer I can purchase via.
i was using this address sales@orangebikes.co.uk had no problems, very helpful infact.
Hhmmmmm... Orange don't do the Clockwork120S as a frame only or as a [i]bike builds made easy[/i] option 😥
Still like the look of it though, and i reckon it suits my needs. HopeHoops would be nice and some BC rubber.
Hope Haggis1978 is around still...
http://www.mtb-mag.com/en/orange-bikes-factory-visit-in-halifax-england/
Got one:
[img][url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/16246527928_6b0054c203_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/16246527928_6b0054c203_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qKDGJu ]2015-02-03_10-43-58[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/66651884@N00/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr[/img]
A modern twist (biggish wheels/wide bars/suspension/gears/tubeless/dropper going on soon) to my rigid 2007 Cove HJ SS its supplementing.
Looks ace!