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I don't really have a strong like or dislike. I just refuse to believe that a single pivot with limited variables can be as effective as other suspension designs that have been developed over decades.
I've never ridden one and likely never will. I could be wrong in my assumptions, but I'm not going to lose any sleep if I am, I won't be buying a bike with that design. I'll cope
On the one hand I'd agree with everyone else that you're wrong because 90% of suspension designs are hype, marketing and trying to avoid looking like the other bike.
And on the other hand, you're also wrong because the suspension on a 222 or Sub-3 looks nothing like a ~2010 5, or 2020's bike. The pivot point's moved form halfway up the downtube to almost on the seatube. Which in reality is all the complicated suspension designs do, they've moved the location of the virtual pivot, generally backwards. The upper links used to be almost horizontal and up by the top tube, now they're closer to vertical nearer the lower pivot. 30 years of development to end up mimicking Orange's current pivot point!
Orange could have the best suspension design on earth, but I can't get over the fact they look like they've been flung together by a drunk in a shed with a welder in one hand and a cig in the other, with one eye on the bike and another on a copy of Razzle.
Owned 2 orange bikes. A clockwork which was fantastic and I loved but got nicked. I’ve had a 5 and unless you can descend without touching the brakes the rear suspension was next to useless
I never did so many bearing changes as I did when I had an orange. So much for low maintenance. There are only 2 but still. As for suspension. It wasn't the best but still got good results. Put it down to not absorbing bumps under braking, so skimming bumps rather than trying to absorb and slow down on them!
I like it and as long as I could get a bottle in the frame I'd probably be happy.
“Which in reality is all the complicated suspension designs do, they've moved the location of the virtual pivot, generally backwards”
Exactly! The “active under braking” thing that was claimed to be the big pro of Horst link designs has been quietly designed out to have far more anti-rise so it’s stable under braking, by pulling the virtual pivot point back (and also up for more anti-squat too).
If you’ve wasted enough time reading reviews you’ll have noticed that arguably the best reviewed suspension system over the last decade (ignoring minor details like if it can survive a muddy winter) is the Yeti Switch Infinity. It’s very close to a linkage driven single pivot where the pivot point moves up a bit and then down a bit more. And co-rotating short links like DW Link are similar too.
I test rode a top of the range Orange a few years back, it just felt to me that it was a bike of 2 distinct halfs. At the same time I also rode a Specialized & Trek. They both felt like complete bikes.
I did like their hardtails in the 90s, they were elegant.
Always liked and quite fancied a meat powered full suss from Orange. Especially with an under toptube fidlock.
I've ridden a few and apprecieated the relatively active suspension feel. Don't know if it was faster or not. quite like the look especially the split swing arm ones.
This however still looks just as ugly as pretty much every non-TQ powered ebike, especially from the non drive side and it looks like Orange know as they've been quite sparing of the pictures from that angle.
especially from the non drive side and it looks like Orange know as they've been quite sparing of the pictures from that angle.
Another firm that's just brought out an Avinox bike has blurred images from the non drive side, possibly ahead of tomorrow's embargo being lifted as the pic would giveaway the M2 motor.
It looks like a child drew a picture of an orange using crayons.