[Closed] Orange 5 vs. Trek EX?

EX is a bit less chunky than the five but there is a certain amount of crossover, something a it more racey might be a better compliment to the five, a Spark or Epic maybe.
Depends on the build of the Five really, if it's a burly build then maybe but if it's built light and fast then not really worth it.

I test rode the EX8 and the Five (two weekends on each so got to know them quite well). I went for the Five as it had a lot more 'grin factor' and blew the EX away on the descents.

The EX was good though and yep a better 'all-rounder' I'd say - especially if you're not into technical descents. The suspension platform was very good under braking too. Plus, I think you could build the EX8 up fairly light as a more XC bike, which she may prefer, I reckon 26lbs with decents tubeless wheels would be quite do-able without spending a fortune.

FWIW I sold my Five a few months ago (when pregnant) and although I miss it 😥 I'm loving my lightweight HT! (Great to compensate for my lack of fitness and core strength! 😀 )

If it were me, I'd keep the Five and buy a light HT. If she's not enjoying it though, then yeah I guess selling it and replacing it with a more XC biased bike would be a good plan.

As above though, it might be worth trying some other shorter travel options first?

What kind of rider is she and what kind of terrain does she enjoy riding???

I struggling to pick between an Orange 5 and a Trek Ex 8, currently got an 06 Giant Trance and find the head angle too steep and the bike is pretty heavy as well! Heading towards an Orange at the mo - tested one and really liked it, but like to compare it to the Trek if I could find a small one for me to try!

Caspriddy - I test rode a small one from a shop in S. Wales fairly near Cwmcarn... just can't remember their name...

The two bikes ride very differently imo, so well worth test riding them both if you can. (The Five is oooddles more fun though 😉 )

Just to chuck in a balance to the discussion....

I've ridden both and prefer my fuel ex.

I love tight, flowey singletrack descending and can hold my own on the steep stuff too... however, I love going up hill too and the trek is a better climber and all day pedaller (at speed) and I like it's lively behavious on the downs.

The Orange is definitely a more entertaining play bike if you're after that. I have a SC Bullit with 160mm lyriks on the front as my play bike, so the Trek is my pedal for hours bike. I want it to be quick. I've built it up pretty light as suggested, but it's also stiff and strong where it needs to be. I've gone with 120mm forks with bolt through axle, but with light 717 rims on good stiff hubs.

Main difference over the stock build is 690 bars and an 80mm stem. This improves the down hill handling no end and means I can still hoon down techy descents after belting up the climbs. If I only had the one bike... it would probably be the five. However, if I didn't like flying down techy descents so much, the Trek would be an awesome only bike.

Hope that helps.
Here's mine BTW:
[img] [/img]

Cheers for the feedback. MountainMonkey - as far as kind of rider etc. I think it'd be fair to say that she really lacks confidence on technical terrain/descents - despite a couple of professional skills days (which is why I reckon she might be better off sticking with the Orange). She is slowly gaining confidence on descents - but I think she's read the stuff about the back suspension staying active under braking on the Trek, and thinks this will be good, because she drags the brakes on a lot during descents.

Personally, I would have thought the slacker head angle and decent brakes of the Orange is going to have a more confident feel than the steeper Trek?

I've suggested getting some lighter wheels for the Orange and maybe custom tuning the shock, but she doesn't seem convinced.

ooops...since my posting a couple of mins ago, I've just seen Stoos response. Hmmmm.....(goes off to scratch head!!)

Yeah I actually totally agree with Stooo on pretty much everything he said!

The Trek does pedal better and is more 'lively' downhill. Build wise - I like what you've done Stooo - in fact I would have done almost exactly the same as you build wise, the only difference being I'd put Stans rims on it! But yeah, all good points really well made 🙂

In terms of descending though, if she's not that confident then I would think the Five would, like you say fattatlasses, be more confidence inspiring that the 'lively' feel of the EX8. However, if she doesn't really like technical descents and enjoys more XC all day rides then better to go for a bike that excels in that and just avoid the technical descents... don't you reckon? After all, there's no point having a bike that excels at the type of riding you don't enjoy!

I put light wheels on the Five and though it was a very capable climber (and the light wheels did help) it wasn't fast.

However, if she doesn't really like technical descents and enjoys more XC all day rides then better to go for a bike that excels in that and just avoid the technical descents... don't you reckon? After all, there's no point having a bike that excels at the type of riding you don't enjoy!

Yep, this is the sort of riding she prefers, and exactly what she reckons with the Orange. I'm kinda sad 'cos she looks great on the Orange - fits her a treat and it's a beautiful looking bike (I know the Fives looks can be a bit 'marmite', but I like it anyway!).

Oh well, looks like I'm gonna have to get an advert together 😥

Ah, I'm sorry - I feel your pain! 😥

I had to sell my Five and I loved it!

Was pregnant and needed the money though, so it had to be done (they got a serious bargain!)

Ah well, just think how much fun you'll have on her EX8 or whatever she ends up with! 😉

If I were you I'd get her to try out on a Superlight - that's what I'd get if I was in the market for an XC Full Suss. Nice and er... light, simple maintenance and by all accounts ride great.

... then, when she doesn't like it anymore - flog it to me! 😀

[url= http://www.stif.co.uk/ ]Superlight and Juliana[/url] frames are cheap at the moment, reduced cos of the new SC frames.

I tested both, amongst many others, but in the end opted for an EX9. I have no regrets at all and love the feel of the suspension and general design of the bike. No need for any pro-pedal on the ups. Saying that I am more interested in 'xc' or 'trail' (as it seems to be called these days) type riding and tend to keep my wheels on or close to the ground.... The only benefits I see in single pivots are the simplicity and ease of maintenance. The full-floater system is more complex but remains pretty much fully active under braking. I have had no problems with excessive wear and you get a very good warranty from Trek....

I had both, and sold the Trek. it is not that I didn't like it, I really did. I just thought the 5 was more suited to the big lakey rocky stuff we seem to spend most of our time doing!

The Trek was a very capable and sure footed bike, and really just not different enough to the 5 to warrant keeping both!

I also have an Anthem, and maybe it is not the best bike for building confidence, but if she likes it she likes it (they are quite big for their size, if that makes sense!!).......the Trek however comes in smaller sizes and I can't imagine that she wouldn't get on with it. Still nice and light but would feel a lot more capable on the downs ;-D

I had both

I also have an Anthem

clareymorris - I'm trying not to be jealous of your bike collection... and failing! 🙄

I also have an Anthem, and maybe it is not the best bike for building confidence, but if she likes it she likes it (they are quite big for their size, if that makes sense!!)...

Yeah, I kinda know where you're coming from here. She's 5'10" and went for a medium mens AnthemX4 - I'm 6' and have blagged a couple of goes on it, and it feels just right size-wise. the Giant is a most peculiar bike, it looks tiny, but has a decent sized cockpit. Not sure if you have the Anthem or 'X' version, but (for its travel), I can't believe how well behaved the Anthem X is on descents, however, it definately doesn't have the 'safety margin' feel to it that the Orange has - and it doesn't feel like there's much wheel in front of you (er..if y'know what I mean). I think my wife likes the Anthem X because she finds it easier to weave round things on it than the Orange - whereas I tend to blast over & off things on my Five 😀

I suppose I should have suggested she try an EX [i]before[/i]she got her Anthem X..............DOH!! Although that would have robbed me of the opportunity of getting her an EX, that I can then (cough cough) 'borrow'.

p.s. who am I kidding thinking that she hasn't already worked out my plan.

slightly biased but get her to try an ST4, my gf had same problem, she's not super confident on technical stuff despite having a 140 proto we made and recently tried my St4 and we've ended up swapping her to that, I've got original real low BB version and she absolutely loved it, one of the problems with longer travel bikes is bb goes up and if you lack confidence that extra height can be scary, stops you gettigng your feet down when it gets technical and you might need to so despite the travel it actually feels a bit less confidence inspiring. St4 is the opposite, much lower BB, slightly less travel but it can be just as useable and 120mm fork so not quite as big a variation in head angle so less chance that you think you are pitching over bars. I'm pretty sure that if she tried an St4 she'l find its a good xc bike and one she can gain confidence with as they are amazing downhill as well, she'll quickly gain confidence with it. Test ride it back to back with an EX and I'd be very surprised if she does prefer the EX. St4 is quite small sized as well, my gf usually rides a 14 but can happily ride a 16 ST4, seattube is short and she likes the stretch , she's in a more XC race position compared to sat up on trail bike style geometry and finds it comfy. HTH

Had both a 5 and a Strange (the new ST4?) out on the Glentress red at Hawaii Tweed on Wed and didn't notice any disadvantage with the Strange, it felt lighter though. Don't know how that compares with the going you normally use.

Thanks for the info michael@orange - hmmm, hadn't though of the ST4. I think you've hit the nail on the head with the longer travel bikes, as my wife hates bikes with a 'perched on' feel - although she has said that she feels sat in, rather than on, her Five. Looks like we'll have to get a test ride on an ST4 (be quite good if we both fit the same size bike, like we do with the Fives 😉 ..ahem cough!)

18 inch St4 is what you are looking for, it'll feel smaller than a Five, dont know why but it does, dont run too much sag, I'd suggest about 10/11mm then see how much she is using, they do take a bit of time to get setup but once right it'll climb nicely and descend well, one other tip if she does run it soft to get bb down put pro pedal on going downhill to see how it feels. Early St4's are a bit lower, I kept 2 for me and missus 🙂 let me now how it goes if you do test ride one, be interested to hear how she got on.

Cheers Michael. We're both looking forward to trying one now - sounds a very interesting alternative to the current US & Euro offerings. Will let you know how we get on.

Had both a 5 and a Strange (the new ST4?) out on the Glentress red at Hawaii Tweed on Wed and didn't notice any disadvantage with the Strange, it felt lighter though. Don't know how that compares with the going you normally use.

Sorry to hijack thread but was the Strange still 100mm travel ? How did it ride ? Been told that it should be released end September / early Oct but would love to hear more about how it rode

Cheers

Simon

Thumbs up for the Fuel Ex8. Give it about 30% Sag rear, 20% Front, loosen the damping to 50% on both, drop the seat an inch below optimal leg setting and she (and you) will have a very capable all round, slack, in not on, uber ride.

How about a womens specific EX8? I've had mine for nearly 2 yrs now - best fitting bike I've ever owned. Trek change the frame shape for WSD rather than simply bringing out a pot of pink paint and a girly saddle.

Also got a mens Spark 35 which is a lot more spritely uphill and OK going down (120mm front travel) but doesn't feel as steady and secure as the EX8.

If you aren't out for speed then the EX8 is good for long days riding with some technical up and down terrain. On the other hand the Spark is great fun for quicker riding and on the twisty stuff but you need a bit more nerve to point it downhill!

I've lightened my EX8 up with a set of new wheels - the ones supplied on it are chunkier than needed by most girls. Noticed the weight difference when peddling uphill.

Have realised the flaw in the WSD bit of this suggesion is that it might limit the potential for you to borrow the bike?