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My most used bike is a 2007 Orange 5. It's got 2010 ish Revs on it with the bar mounted poploc, 3x9 XTR drivetrain, 26" wheels and Hope mono Minis. 90mm stem, standard 1 1/8" headset and the bars are... I dunno... 25-26" wide?
I'm not changing it of course, can't afford it, but I wonder casually what I'm missing out on? What would one get for £3.5k nowadays? What would the difference be like in riding with all these new fashions?
The trails would come alive...
It ain't about the bike!
Whilst marketing men might like to part you from your money by tempting you with new wheel sizes, more(or less) cogs, and frames made of pure unobtainium, i think it's safe to say 95% of the performance of a person / bike combo comes from the lump of lard side! 😉
So he could get 5% betterer by changing bike? Interesting.....
I too am thinking the same thing at the moment.
I currently ride a 2005 Orange five with 'older' pikes, 711 bars, 50mm stem, mainly slx drivetrain. I have got a dropper post though so not all in the dark ages!!
Do i need a new bike??
If you like riding your bike and it suits your riding, then no need to buy a new bike. What you haven't had you won't miss.
I won't be changing my current bikes until they break, or until something truly amazing and sport changing is introduced by the industry...so when they break basically.
I thought 2007 was modern 🙁
I am with butcher on this one!
I'm not shopping for bikes btw, haven't got anything like enough money. I'll stick with what I've got as long as I can get 26" tyres and 9 speed cassettes 🙂
I'm just curious. Who's recently upgraded to a super modern bike from a more traditional one?
I thought 2007 was modern
It's 9 speed for goodness sake! 😉
Got a similar age Five to yours. Working in a bike shop I get to sample a lot of modern stuff, and don't think i'm missing anything personally (though others requirements are different). I could feasibly have the latest model every year, then sell it on with little or no financial loss, but i'm seeing more drawbacks than benefits for my riding with modern bikes, so i'm sticking with my old technology.
Now I am happy with my stable of bikes I too will be in the position, a 2009 456 inbred a 2013 Orange 5AM a ti road bike and a bits and bobs alu trip to the shops bike/ deliver post locally that can be locked up and left. I have no need or ambition to have anything else and no justification for the way I ride and trails and amount of times I spend falling off! Not to say that the latest craze or marketing hype doesn't tempt me...but I settled for a great wheel upgrade instead 🙂
What would the difference be like in riding with all these new fashions?
You'd probably go a bit faster, but IMO it's mostly the emperors new clothes. Bikes haven't come on much in the last 5-6 years.
Even though I know this I still have a 2012 stumpy evo 😆 Working in a bike shop ruins you for life.
You'd probably go a bit faster.
probably won't though.
2007 is not an old bike FFS.
Even though I know this I still have a 2012 stumpy evo Working in a bike shop ruins you for life.
2 years old?! My god man, you're lucky it's still in one piece.
I had a 2007 Epic, great bike, won a load of races on it. Replaced it with an ostensibly identical 2008 one, same build kit, and it never felt the same. Couldn't put my finger on why. Never went as fast either, although that could be training related...
A newer Five? Not much difference at all 😛
There's a fair difference in geometry with the Five from then to now. Not better or worse, just changed the focus to descending whereas it used to be more allroundy. So you're not neccesarily missing out on a thing, as long as the bike suits you.
I will tell you in a few weeks if it stops snowing. I just got a Nukeproof Mega after riding a Prophet for 5 years. There is nothing wrong with the prophet except that I did not want to break it doing bigger drops and jumps. Went out for a very short muddy ride yesterday and the shock feels a bit smoother on wash board type stuff.
I ride a 08 Patriot.
Im not changing it. Thats coming from a serial frame swapper.
Why not treat it to a pimpy respray?
2007? thats modern? 😆
This is old 
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6605911791_cc47bffef4_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/coastkid71/6605911791/ ]Mid 80`s Muddy Fox Courier[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/coastkid71/ ]coastkid71[/url], on Flickr
Agree that there will not be that much difference. There will be more difference by changing the set up. Bars, stem, dropper etc. I got a cheap second hand gravity dropper and cheap bars/stem from on-one and that refreshed up the Prophet loads.
Op, needs a photo mate...
Come on, let's see this ancient behemoth then...
Never got on with FS since I stupidly sold my 04 SWorks Enduro. 🙁
But, I do have a thing for those first kinked top tube 5's, before they went all slackened of head anglenessness.
I may take a photo one day 🙂 I know 2007 is not old, I was just wondering about the various changes that have happened to bikes since then.
TBH I would still be riding a Pace RC300 from 2001 if someone hadn't nicked it.
My forks are 2001, my frame is 2005. Its a small, i ride medium...I'd love a new bike but £££ dictates that im stuck with what I have. It's though...
I may take a photo one day
It will be black and white you know, with a bike that old...
My hard tail is a 2002 Stumpjumper, bought 2nd hand and turned into a 9kg race bike, my full suss is a 2002 Stumpjumper, bought new and updated over the years. Both fit me and I love riding them - I find it hard to believe lots would change with a new bike. Would love new bikes but I haven't broken the old ones yet!
With 26" wheels, you know "training wheels", don't you feel like you are like reeeeeeaaalllyyy close to the ground 😆
probably won't though.2007 is not an old bike FFS.
You'd probably go a bit faster, [b]but IMO it's mostly the emperors new clothes. Bikes haven't come on much in the last 5-6 years.[/b]
Just for you.
2007 Chameleon and 3x9 here too.
Since all the standards have changed, its pretty much "all or nothing" as far as upgrades go. I've gone for the "nothing" option.
MTB is 2006, road bike is 2003, both with 9 speed at the rear. Both fit perfectly, and everything works. Don't feel like changing them. I do fancy a new set of handlebars on the MTB, but the over sized standard means I need a new stem as well.
Most modern bike is a 2 year old Pompetamine. Not exactly cutting edge.
I do quite fancy one of those new disc braked road bikes though.
I last bought an MTB in 1999. It did last year's Passportes absolutely fine. My mate's even older bike was fine too.
I'm guessing it's going be a sepia photo anyway...
2002 (maybe 2003?) Cove Stiffee here.
Can't really do much with it in terms of upgrades cos pretty much everything on it is obsolete!
ISIS BB, Dual Control shifters, 9sp, RS Psylo's (the frame is actually designed around 80-125mm adjustable forks), wheels held on by these quaint old fashioned things called quick release skewers...
So replacing any one item would pretty much require new stuff elsewhere.
It still works although occasionally I wonder if I'm missing out on the trails being less alive than they might otherwise be. 😉
I had a 2006 5 that I changed for a 2009. The 2009 had the same geometry as the 2013 5. Much prefered the 2009 as it was more laid back but just as good uphill. Regardless what trolls on here say the 5 has evolved over the years. Forks and shocks are better now as well so that makes a difference. I have a 5 29 now and although it's ace I couldn't honestly say it's better then the 2009, just different.
You've no need to change but if you do go 2009+ as they're great. 8)
I've recently upgraded to a new Carbon frame beast... The difference is utterly amazing, faster all around more fun, better looking... It is an absolute pleasure in every sense.!
You've got a Poplock?! Pffft. That's so 2009. Crown adjust is where its at.
And a 90mm stem? Who are you? Lance Armstrong? Get with the programme, its 70mm for xc duties and 50mm for AM/enduro/trail.
Seriously though, anyone that tells you their new bike is soooo much better than their old one is deluded. I must have had 20 bikes in 3 years, none of them were significantly better than the others. I've got big wheels and small wheels, they're just different bikes, they're all good, its riding.
Whats new?
Materials - Carbon making lighter stiffer bikes (unless you stick with orange)
New "Standards" - choice on dropper posts with a 30.9 Post, accepts all modern forks with a tapered head tube
Chain Guide Mounts? Not sure
Ability to run something more than a 32t mille ring (again unless you stick with orange)
Different Geometry - not saying better just different
Stiffer back end with a bolt through rear
It's what you do with it that matters.
Don't listen or believe any of the marketing BS and bollox that seems to be getting more and more evident in the media.
I have an old'ish bike - 2008 S-Works Enduro.
However, it has 2013 170mm forks with a 20mm axle, dropper post, carbon frame, 50mm stem, 780mm bars - the geometry (with the exception of an inch longer wheelbase) is pretty much identical to a current Trek (Slash???). I don't feel I'm missing out when someone wheels out a brand spanking 160mm AM bike.
I also have a '97 Lava Dome - that thing has never been right 😉
I switched from a 2006 to a 2013 Five.
I much prefer the 2013, but I think that's mainly because it is a bit bigger (20" vs 18") and fits me better.
The forks and shocks are a bit better too but they could have been changed.
I do prefer the slacker geometry, but I put a set of offset bushes and an angle adjusting headset on the 2006 model, which made the angles pretty similar to the newer model with the same length fork anyway.
Compatibility with a wider range of droppers is nice, but to be honest the old gravity dropper turbo that I had worked just fine (even if it did look awful).
So, I'd say that you don't gain much and fit is much more important than how old the bike might be.
molgrips - Member
My most used bike is a 2007 Orange 5. It's got 2010 ish Revs on it with the bar mounted poploc, 3x9 XTR drivetrain, 26" wheels and Hope mono Minis. 90mm stem, standard 1 1/8" headset and the bars are... I dunno... 25-26" wide?I'm not changing it of course, can't afford it, but I wonder casually what I'm missing out on? What would one get for £3.5k nowadays? What would the difference be like in riding with all these new fashions?
I'd try wider bars and shorter stem. You might like it, you might not. But for the most part, anyone I know who's tried them has liked them. Similarly, newer brakes are generally better. You might find you're more confident with them, and go faster as a result, and maybe have more fun. Or maybe not. You can apply the same argument to better suspension, dropper posts, etc.
"There's nothing wtong with that I have so I'm not changing it" is a perfectly valid attitude. "I'll give that a try, why not" is also a nice attitude to hav.
I thought 2007 was modern
Other than dropper compatibility and thru-axles, it's pretty hard to see anything setting the world on fire.
1997 seems a long time ago, but 2007 doesn't.
🙂
EDIT: I've just spent a bit of time checking how old my Chromag Samurai is. Gordymac sold it to me more than 3 years ago and it wasn't new then. So 4-5 year old 26" hardtail, running similar age Pikes, wide bars, short stem, big brakes, big tyres. Feels thoroughly modern, but approaching obsolescence due to 27.2mm seatpost and 1 1/8th headtube.
My favourite bike at the moment is a 1999 hardtail which I've rigidiggidified and SSSSSSSSS'ed
It makes me do this: 😀
It's quick, too. I'm hoping to take second at SSUK this year.