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I'm 15 stone kitted up and back to back tested a maxle version with QR. I couldn't tell the difference. I think the rear wheel spoke tension makes more difference to the rear end stiffness on these bikes. Also, I've never had a qr fail - have you?
THE ONE UPGRADE YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY DO IS XM819 TUBELESS!!!!!! SERIOUSLY FOR 100QUID OR WHAT EVER IT IS,ITS WELL WORTH IT!!!!!!
i even wrote in capitals thats what i think of them, seriously get them over the performance pack - 819 ust rims are the best tubeless wheels out there on pro 2 hubs FACT 😆
the bars and thompson stuff are nice though - upgrade to flows on pro 2 later like im doing now.
HERE, HERE!
THE ONE UPGRADE YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY DO IS XM819 TUBELESS!!!!!! SERIOUSLY FOR 100QUID OR WHAT EVER IT IS,ITS WELL WORTH IT!!!!!!
I agree - got them on mine and have ridden in the Alps, in Spain, Wales etc. etc. with barely a murmur. Very good rims.
I bought a 5S and upgraded everything meaning plenty of reasonable kit to stick on my hardtail. Not done the forks yet but wanted RS 150s, it would cost far less to do the forks as a factory upgrade! For razzing XC stuff and proper climbing it does feel a bit slack so winding down to a shorter fork would be great.
I am 6'2 85kg and would have the maxle next time, I can feel a bit of flex (running a new set of Hope Hoops, Flow rim and tubeless 2.4" Nobby Nic) also a good selling point when you come to sell it.
Cant see any reason why you shouldnt have a 5, it can do everything and confidence in the bike helps you through most situations.
The biggest question is what size as like me you will be split between 18 and 20. I had a 2006 18" and bought the new bike in 20". This means I can get a reasonable stretch for proper pedalling but still have a 50-70mm stem to keep control of the steering. Cant get in quite the right position for mega steep stuff in the Italian Alps but it feels a whole lot better for pedalling up them which is where the pain is.
I've gone foe a 20 inch demo bike....
819's are an extra £120 - are they really worth it....
Will report back 🙂
chef - Member
"819's are an extra £120 - are they really worth it...."
It depends. TBH it's a bit of a sod. The 317s/Comps/Pro 2s are too nice to consider an instant upgrade... But not IMO good enough for the overall package or well chosen generally. But £120 for the UST kit is a bit steep too. Honestly I think it's a choice between 2 non-perfect options and really it's a shame you don't get more choices. I think I'd get the upgrade but I'd also consider just flogging the stock wheelset. Either way I wouldn't stick with stock.
cupid stunt - Member
"The Maxle light is a pile of shit and has been replaced with a non tapered version.
The maxle light can snap the inside of the hub on Hope Chris King and D.T Swiss. "
I think what you mean is, some hubs are too weak to support themselves and will snap if they don't have a full thickness axle to make up for it 😉 Hope's 12mm adaptor is basically just the 10mm adaptor with less metal in, nobody should be surprised it's not strong enough.
All depends on what grade of metal/metals used, as you can have less
metal but still be stronger.
I thought it was the type of Maxle used that was the problem
so see how the new one turns out to be like.
A friend I ride with as the problem type Maxle and rides hard
with 8 ft offs but not had any problems.
grantway - Member
"All depends on what grade of metal/metals used, as you can have less
metal but still be stronger."
Yup, but in this case you don't have that. When you look at the hub and the maxle side by side it's obvious why it breaks really. You've got the middle bearing running on a thin part of the hub axle, and no spindle underneath it to prop it up.
([img] 
[/img], credit Messiah from on here)
Just a noncomplimentary design really and you can work round it easily enough but it's another thing to consider.
Anyone done a 10mm bolt-in or bolt-through in a Five? I've only ridden QR Fives and never felt any lack of stiffness. I'd expect the standard wheels to be an issue way before the rear QR. Then again I am skinny.
The new Maxle have gone back to non tapered now i think.
The problem is with the Maxle and nothing to do with Hope.
Hope have been great replacing the broken parts when the problem is caused by Rock Shocks.
I've done a 10mm bolt through on a five. It's a good compromise between stifness and ability to remove wheel easy for cars etc.
cupid stunt - Member
"The problem is with the Maxle and nothing to do with Hope."
I mean this with the greatest of respect, but, what a complete load of s**t 😆 As much as I like Hope, you can't blame this on the maxle, it's their part that fails and it's because their part lacks the strength to work without outside assistance. (not just Hope of course but it's Hope that's relevant here). It's not Rockshox' job to make a part that fixes other company's parts for them.
Had a look on the Orange site & the new maxle isn't tapered...
So there shouldn't be a problem........right 🙂
Good stuff, nothing to worry about then... Need to remember that, got a mate who'll want one.
I mean this with the greatest of respect, but, what a complete load of s**t As much as I like Hope, you can't blame this on the maxle, it's their part that fails and it's because their part lacks the strength to work without outside assistance.
Hope made a part to a standard, 12mm constant diameter axle, Rockshox diviated from from that standard by thinning the middle. Hope designed the axle to be fully supported and therefore didnt build in un-necessary strength, how many hope axles have you seen fail on solid 12mm axles?
Fair play to rock-shox, trying to advance design, just a shame they went too far.
edit: oh, and hope Pro2evo hubs use 17mm bearings not 15mm, so the axle on those should be stronger. Someone invents a new standard, they develop a new product to match it (ie. stronger because 12mm axles are getting lighter/weaker)
"Hope made a part to a standard, 12mm constant diameter axle, Rockshox diviated from from that standard by thinning the middle. Hope designed the axle to be fully supported"
Well exactly. They built their part to be totally dependant on another company's part, which then changed. That's not a fault of the other part is it? Unfortunate for Hope but still their problem. And yes, they do break on solid axles, just not as often. (I don't know the history of the Pro 2 but from an engineering point of view it looks like a QR product that they tried to adapt to a maxle)
But it's not really a big deal, there are plenty of workarounds. It was a bit poor of Orange to sell the tapered maxle along with Pro 2s though I think, they should have specced a solid axle. But that's by the by and fixed now apparently.
Has anyone tested 10mms vs 12mms in a Five btw? Intrigued to know how much of a difference it makes.
Well chaps i can confirm my 2011 five pro came with the same maxle as pictured above (the tapered one) it is on hope pro2 hubs.
Not had any probs so far but time will tell i guess.
Thanks for the pic Northwind
Intresting dont think the hope sleeve would work
unless you had a one piece sleeve. But you still
have a gap around 3 to 4mm gap in the internal circumfarence
between the middle of the sleeve and middle of the Maxle
which could still lead to problems.
So I would recommened a Maxle with a continuous circumference
through the length of the Maxle to be used and not the
tappered Maxle, therefore any sleeve would work
which I think Orange now use.
Regarding the Hope Pro 2 being a quick release only would be wrong
to say
Being the Hope Pro 2 will have the same forces going through it
being a Maxle or Quick release system out on the trails.
Its the Tappered Maxle and the Three part sleeve that dont work
as theres no support in the middle between the two surfaces
which leads to the collapse.
The Hope axle [i]is[/i] a one-piece. Just that in the pic, the one on the left has become a 2-piece 
Orange make a 12mm bolt-through for the Patriot but I don't know if it fits a maxle Five. BETD do one as well, and I think Superstar. Or there's full-fat maxles. Lots of ways to sort it.
So to summarise, a UK built single pivot bike with mostly SLX groupset and own brand components, but with a good fork/shock, h/set and mediocre wheels for just over £3000?
This sums up the problems with Orange bikes to me - they may be great bikes to ride (even on the South Downs 😉 ) but you can get a lot more bike for your money if you do a quick search of the end of year sales.
I'm not saying this to start an argument because I've considered buying one a few times over the years, but each time my mean streak kicks in and says "Why not buy 'Bike X' which is £100s less with better componentry and lets face it rides almost as well, if not equally as well."
I see but again the tapper section is the problem
with having a gap between the two surfaces
and i think the sleeve and Maxle should be flat the same as
say FOX 36 Maxle.
Regarding the Patriot and the Five
From 2005 the Orange 5 shared the same rear swing arm But the
5 always was one year behind until 2007 and 2008 where it was
the same swing arm But the Patriot in 2008 was offered the
Maxle upgrade, so yes will be fine.
BETD would be probably the best place to start even bike companys
turn to them for answers
To add my pennies worth, I own a 5 pro and the main upgrades I'd go for are the Fox 36 Talas 160's and better/stronger rims.
I upgraded to the Talas and first thought they were a bit overkill. I've changed my mind now though. I wind 'em down on the ups and it climbs pretty well all things considered. On technical, steep downs, I wind 'em up to 160 and the bike flies. Really, you get the best of all worlds with that fork. Stock rims on my bike bent very easily and have now changed both for Mavic 321's which have been straight and true for over a year of fairly hard riding. The 317's are fine for XC but if you use the bike for anything close to what it can do, the stock rims are too weak. If you intend to ride that bike hard, then forks and rims buddy!
Had another look at the options photo's on the orange site & the Maxle shown there isn't tapered.......have a look......mmmmmmmm
ps I am going to do forks & rims - thx & a few other things ;-D
i didnt go for the talas ones, no point, i still do hard steep climbs with 160 no probs, dont need to wind em down, save ya cash and put more effort in xD
Had another look at the options photo's on the orange site & the Maxle shown there isn't tapered.......have a look......mmmmmmmm
Yes i can see the pics, but i can assure you my 2011 orange five pro (delivered late september) came with a tapered maxle.
You'll probably find Orange only changed the Maxle recently
Still mulling the options....
Anyone upgraded the shock to the cane creek double barrel...
Looks expensive as a £400 upgrade when they cost £535 new mmmmmm
But are they anygood - they look proper!
I've had a 2011 5 pro since August and I regret not taking the maxle option as I can feel movement of the back end with the standard QR. Is there anything I can do retrospectively to stiffen up from the standard QR? BTW I only remove the rear wheel when I get punctures!!!!
Bolt-in or bolt-through conversion
Grupper205 Orange recommened using a Shimano quick release
as you can tighten them up more than the Hope.
Tried the 5 at Stanmer Park & on the downs & it was fantastic, great on open fast trails - I see what they mean now about the way it carries speed - so composed, you can cane it big time 😀
Tried the 5 at Stanmer Park & on the downs & it was fantastic, great on open fast trails - I see what they mean now about the way it carries speed - so composed, you can cane it big time 😀
the maxle upgrade may slow it down fairly seriously...weve had two on order for over 4-5 weeks now..
defo go for the perf pack knocks off some weight...get in touch if you need any other questions answering
scotlands biggest orange dealer 😆
The deed is done - after all the really helpful advice I said I'd let you all know what I bought.....so here it is....
Order placed with Freedom Bikes in Brighton (very impressed with them!)
>Five Pro in punchy yellow (£100) as per the Alpine 160 review on the orange site
>RLC Forks (not talas)
>Performance pack
>Hope stainless bottom bracket
>Hope M4 brake upgrade
>Hope pack (mainly for the floating discs upgrade)
>Hope ZS tapered headset
>Maxle
>Mavic 819's ust rims
Did some research on Hope & really impressed with them too
Also demoed a Santa Cruz Blur LT Carbon & the Orange was miles better both in terms of ride and component quality esp hope brakes even in std - the blur did climb well though - but the way the 5 carries speed downhill or on a trail was what clinched it & the price difference!
All my mates hate me now
Actually not sure I have any mates left lol
I will probably be riding alone so if you see a lone yellow 5 at Stanmer park or at Bedgebury that will be me 😀
ps - Didn't go for the CCDB - at £400 for the upgrade it's too expensive as the full retail is £535 and an rp23 is £350!!!!
May get it later but not sure I need it
All worthwhile options but i wouldn't of chosen the UST option. Could the shop not have done a deal involving a set of Hope Hoops on Flow or Crest rims?
They're wider and lighter than the Mavics and give you the option of using any tyre you like.
I've had 2 Orange 5's...great bikes.... but prefer linkages now 😉
Enjoy!
Cool, that yellow is the best colour they do IMO.
Nice spec and a rare colour.
Enjoy it.
Thanks
Yellow is epic!
Yeah - the ust options was the only one I wasn't 100% on - but decided to go for it & see how I go
Don't know much about Hope Hoops on Flow or Crest rims so just went with the option offered - if I don't like them then I'll swop them next year & keep these as spares
Picked it up yesterday!
First ride tomorrow - can't wait!
Had it for a month now
Epic bike, great in the mud, Mud X's fitted - very good, no regrets on any of the options other than....
Tubeless - not sure I can tell the difference....not bad but no benchmark so hard to work out if that option was worth the money
Still epic
Quick update
Had Bontrager Mud X tyres on over winter - very good
Got rid of the big ring and fitted a Gamut bashguard in its place so I stop catching it on logs!!
You've owned this bike for two months, and no pics. Shocking 😉 Show us the yellow