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I love how any thread that mentions Orange Five's turns into a mass argument.
So Orange refines their models whilst everyone else just reinvent the wheel? Thanks for the unbiased view LOL A bike saved by a better shock 😉 (throws in bait)
AS your right no changes to Zesty in 2011, some refinements in 2012 - sorry - reinventing the wheel. I have been down the frame only route and I think its the best and cheapest way. If I could get Zesty only frame I would go that route. Had my ESX70 frame only since they came out. Technology had definitely moved though after some 7 years.
Given the OP, IMO, out of the three, the Zesty would be the best bet. This is based on owning and riding an 2010 Orange Five, a 2011 Zesty and now a 2011 Stumpy FSR (and demoing shed loads of others!). For anyone who hasn't ridden a Zesty, they really are in a different league uphill - as close as I've got on a FS trail bike to the performance of my sub 25lb Anthem X. The set-up I had on my Five meant that it climbed more rapidly than my current Stumpy and previous Five I owned, but the Zesty's really are good. Having said that, the down side is that IMO, the Zesty felt more XC 'perky' downhill than the bulldozer like performance of the Five 🙂 Personally, I feel that the Zesty is a bike that rewards a little bit of rider finesse, as it's got quite a 'sporty' feel - very nice for popping off little jumps and pumping speed though. As most of my riding is in the Northern half of the Peak District (and I have old creaky knees), I prefer a plusher bike to give the option to just plough through stuff if I'm getting tired.
Oh, and just to chuck a spanner in, given where most of your riding is, have you considered a Spesh Camber or Giant Anthem X? Both are amazingly capable bikes (if the Cambers came in a posher build, I'd have got one).
Thanks everyone for your advice and opinions.
Why not rent a five in the alps and buy a 120 travel bike that might better suit UK riding?
I'd say a 2012 Zesty, hopefully they won't break around the bottom bracket shell like the 2011 ones. Whatever you do don't get a Heckler, get a Five 😆
Went for the Zesty after testing Pitch and a Trek remedy. So glad i did!! Amazing bike, climbs so well and so assured.