UPDATE: Reviews section refreshed, redesigned, searchable: Go take a look
It’s a NOS Mk 12 that they found somewhere at the back of the factory.
I’ve been looking at cheap secondhand frames for a while because I have a pile of unused old parts and wanted to get a spare bike or two sorted for staff commuting. And I was going to build my old Bird Zero AM back up for my eldest to use as she’s done that girl thing of getting much taller very quickly - which also means that a bike that fits her will also fit my wife.
Anyway, I saw this very discounted frame which fits the unused spare shock I have for my Levo and almost all the parts off the Zero, so the Zero frame (which I found great when I was in the zone and downright cantankerous when I wasn’t riding well) is being used for the staff bike and I’ve now got a 27.5 family full-sus to build up.
Ooooh interesting. Have become orange curious recently
I must weigh it before I add more parts - it feels bloody light!
Hopefully this week I’ll manage to dig out all the parts from under the stairs and figure out else I need.
I do know that I’ve already got a boost-converted rear wheel for it, because I was googling how to convert a Hope Pro 2 Evo hub and I found an old thread on here where I said I’d done it for my second Spitfire in 2018… This is not the first time I’ve found that I’ve offloaded my memory to the internet and past me has answered a question for future me!
You only held it there with a lump hammer because you couldn't find anything to clamp it down with I guess.
"Did they find it in a filing cabinet?"
I believe so. And I suspect there's a smaller one inside it, and so on. In one fell swoop I've got a Matryoshka doll whole family bike solution, right down to a tiny little one for my youngest's favourite Sylvanian.
I hate those Matryoshka dolls, they're so full of themselves.
Have you got some sort of G-Clamp fetish!!?
thats lovely. just aboujt hte right travel for all the local trails.
also - oh yes - what size is yr moxie? and can i have a go on it? I`m moxie curious
“Have you got some sort of G-Clamp fetish!!?”
That’s less than half of the clamps…
”also - oh yes - what size is yr moxie? and can i have a go on it? I`m moxie curious”
It’s a Long with a 160mm fork - probably your size as you don’t like huge bikes. And yes!
fits the unused spare shock I have for my Levo
Youll need to get it revalved.
I bought a second hand orange that (it turned out) had a shock off a Levo on it, and it was awful. Rode like a bag of spanners, super harsh. I knew it wasnt "right" because the bike was replacing an existing orange five.
Sending it off to fox, for a service (as it was a second hand bike of unknown providence) they identified it was a shock off a Levo, and no wonder it didnt work.
Rides lovely now though. Im pretty convinced thats why the seller was getting rid of it. built it up from from parts, andf it rode unacceptably poorly.
"Youll need to get it revalved."
Possibly not! My original Levo (Gen 2) shock has quite a firm compression tune and a digressive rebound, and I really like how it rides. This back-up shock (from a Gen 3) has a much lighter tune which is why I haven't used it - my LBS said that's because on more recent Levo's the most basic shock is tuned for max comfort pootling, which my older one had a tune that let you ride it hard but generally those riders bought one with a better shock or replaced the shock.
Still trying to find all the parts - does anyone know where I've put my brake adapters?
I did find some luggage scales though - frame as shown in the photo, 2.67kg (5.89lbs).
Any suggestions on a headset? It’s a 49mm head tube and obviously a tapered steerer fork. On a bike I’d be riding in all weathers I’d fit a Hope so I can ignore it for years but that seems overkill for the easier life this will have.
I've been very happy with Superstar, especially when they have a sale on
Found two Hope M mounts and one Hope B - so if I’ve got things right the M is a post mount +40mm and the B is an IS rear to 183mm. I believe my old Pike is a 160mm post-mount so an M adapter will fit a 200mm disc and the H adapter on the back will go with a 183mm.
Next job, check the old rotors stockpile…
It lives!
Good work, I'm slightly worried that I actually like the look of it.
I did have a soft spot for the alpine 6s of a few years back with the swingarms that have a kind of seat and chain stay look.
Good work with the grips
Nice! Agreed the grips are ~chefs kiss~
Luvvvvvverlllllllyyyyyyyy, a thing of beauty (and immense practicality and durability)
Thanks! The (cheap and remarkably well matched) Superstar grips are single lock-on and the outer end twists like a motorbike throttle but the colour is too nice (for now) to change them.
Cassette and chain are not shifting brilliantly but I have some spares in the stockpile so I’ll put them on. Shock is too light a tune for me with 30% sag but with less sag it’s fine and I think it’ll suit my much lighter and slower daughter!
Saddle feels horrible (I think it’s a Nukeproof DH saddle). Will try adjusting the angle and if that doesn’t work I have a part-worn Fabric Scoop to go on.
Handles great! Orange have always been ahead of the curve with geometry and I guess 2019 was about the time things settled down - seat angle could be a little steeper but it’s certainly fine.
Cassette and chain are not shifting brilliantly but I have some spares in the stockpile so I’ll put them on.
I have had two new Oranges from factor with bent mech hanger. Worth whipping off and popping on a flat edge. Orange were great and just sent new hangers FOC.
Handles great! Orange have always been ahead of the curve with geometry and I guess 2019 was about the time things settled down - seat angle could be a little steeper but it’s certainly fin
My 2023/2024(?) Stage Evo is basically same reach and stack, but achieved via slightly steeper seat angle, slightly slacker head angle and bigger wheels....
