Bought one today - did'nt need a test ride - just read this thread 😉
There are two things that make a Five so special.
The first thing is the geometry, which ensures that when it comes to trail bikes there is little to compete against it. Before anyone starts going on about climbing if thats your concern get an xc bike, the five is at its best going along and down, the fun stuff.
The second thing that makes it so special is its UK proof-ness. The frame, bearings and paint job will still be tip top long after other bikes have had to have bearings replaced and are starting to look tired from all the paint chips. Basically these things will generally out last everything out there.
My main concern when buying a trail bike is how well it goes downhill, my next concern is that it will last more than a couple of seasons, my third concern is now well it pedals up hill, my final concern is how it looks. Other people will prioritise in a different order which will obviously lead them to a different bike.
What makes the five so special? Everything...or nothing...it just depends where your riding is coming from.
sailor74 - Member
There are two things that make a Five so special.The first thing is the geometry, which ensures that when it comes to trail bikes there is little to compete against it. Before anyone starts going on about climbing if thats your concern get an xc bike, the five is at its best going along and down, the fun stuff.
The second thing that makes it so special is its UK proof-ness. The frame, bearings and paint job will still be tip top long after other bikes have had to have bearings replaced and are starting to look tired from all the paint chips. Basically these things will generally out last everything out there.
My main concern when buying a trail bike is how well it goes downhill, my next concern is that it will last more than a couple of seasons, my third concern is now well it pedals up hill, my final concern is how it looks. Other people will prioritise in a different order which will obviously lead them to a different bike.
What makes the five so special? Everything...or nothing...it just depends where your riding is coming from.
Well said
DeeJay - Member
Bought one today - did'nt need a test ride - just read this thread
You definitely won't regret it. I'm waiting from mine to be delivered, I hate waiting!
Regarding the nonsense about replacing all the bearings on multi-link suspension designs: A set of bearings on a Giant typically last ~2 years. Although a set (10) costs more to replace than on a Five (2), the initial price difference of the bikes would fund replacing bearings on the Giant for ~40 years.
So stop putting up the "single pivot's are better because they have only 2 bearings" argument - it drivel IMO.
A fair criticism of Giant FSs is how awkward the design makes for cleaning.
+1 for Buzz.
I await comments that we don't ride enough.
🙄
It goes to show how good the Five is when people who own other brands feel the need to comment on the thread defending their bikes and justifying their purchase.
😆
Thats a bit rich Flow when we have 6 pages justifying an Orange....
In terms of climbing, my '10 Five cleans technical climbs that my old ('07) stumpy and '07 Enduro just couldn't.
Far better downhill too 🙂
Holyzeus - Member
Thats a bit rich Flow when we have 6 pages justifying an Orange....
No need to justify something that does what it should so well. Go ride one and see for yourself.
I've had one since 2004, so longer than most on here 😉 It's just a bike. To be frank, I can't even remember why I bought it in the first place. I like to think it rides well, and all the people who've had a crack on it have enjoyed themselves, but it's the only FS I've owned so ignorance may be bliss.
The british built factor does resonate for me, since I also work for a small UK manufacturer in another fairly specialist field. I'd happily pay more for UK made product, which is odd since I'm not a patriotic type at all! I think they're especially popular in the UK for that reason, many other countries will have a similar manufacturer.
Well said Rich. Indeed a bikes a bike.
I have an '07 Five. Love it to bits and seems to be a great all rounder. Reasonably light for 140mm FS, climbs well, descends well, seems quick in a straight line, good mud clearance, simply maintenance, good looking bike, UK made, etc. I could go on but won't. I'm sure everyone thinks this of their own bike. Horses for courses.
I bought mine after riding a Stumpy FSR Pro that was my first FS after many years of riding hardtails. It was slightly too small for me (17.5" medium). The 18" Orange fit me perfectly. I wanted an '06 Five but couldn't afford one at the time. I read an MBR review that used the same components on 4 different frames in Feb '07. The Five shined so I decided to try one. Had it for a bank holiday weekend. Rode it everyday. Loved it. Bought one straight away.
Isn't the fact the we all enjoy riding and all love the bikes we ride more important. Not sure I understand the Five haters. It's just a bike. By no means do I think the Five is the best bike, or indeed something special. But it does have a little bit of something that appeals to a great deal of riders.
I can understand what none Five riders are referring to though. The latest Five is not cheap, it's not as light or spec'd as well as similar 140mm bikes and it's an old single-pivot design. Either way, if you rode one and liked it, these facts pale into insignificance, you'd just bloody buy one!!
since everyone is adding something here )
5's rule.
I've just bought a 5 today - second hand 2008 model with lots of top spec kit, can't wait to stick some devilles and a ccdb on it and head out for the Alps in the summer!
I think the best thing I can add is that I love mine.
Coming from years on enduro and motocross bikes and having recently suffered a mammoth road (motor)bike crash I have now had to start back at the beginning on a MTB. I ride fairly hard in spells and like almost all of the motorbikes I've owned I reached my talent ceiling before the bike's at full stretch, which makes you become a better rider. Got to praise that.
Try before you buy. They are totally hyped, If I worked at Orange I would have started this thread. They are pretty savvy when it comes to using 'trendy' media.
I've also got a Schwinn Moab that has needed no new parts aside from brakes n tires for about 8 years. Does'nt make it the best bike in the world tho.
My Trance X bearings were shot in 6 months, I thought it was the best bike in the world until I got my new one...now that is the best and it only has 2 bearings 🙂
I had some spare cash & fancied a new bike. The 1st bike I demo'd was the 2011 5. I didn't try any others cos I just knew there was no point.
I've had my 5 since September & ****ing love it.
esselgruntfuttockI had some spare cash & fancied a new bike. The 1st bike I demo'd was the 2011 5. I didn't try any others cos I just knew there was no point.
Perhaps if had demo'd some other bikes you might have found a better one?
.
I've had my 5 since September & ****ing love it.
But is it any good?
only read the 1st page of this .. I own a Tracer VP, 10 months old, riding a 2.35 rear tyre ... I love it, soaks up everything (I love in the Lake District), the bike has never let me down (touch wood) and I totally abuse her 5 days a week. Obviously having only read the 1st page I don't know if u have purchased the Intense, but seeing as though every man and his dog owns a Orange it would be nice to see more Intense riders on the trails
Gary Lake - "What makes the Five so special is the fact that it simply does exactly what you ask of it. Nothing more, nothing less"
If you rode something other than a single pivot you would find that it actually DOESNT do everything what you ask of it.
"The rest is up to you!"
It certainly is,thank god i have a choice!
"And you can spin it's weak points however you want."
I cant be arsed repeating what a lot of folk are talking about thats making this thread so long.
sailor74 - "There are two things that make a Five so special.
The second thing that makes it so special is its UK proof-ness. The frame, bearings and paint job will still be tip top long after other bikes have had to have bearings replaced and are starting to look tired from all the paint chips. Basically these things will generally out last everything out there."
If a measly pair of 2rs bearings is the do all and end all of how good a bike is,then i dont know.As for the paint being a factor in how special the five is,thats one of the last things i look for in a mountain bike.who cares if it chips or scratches easily if its one of the best riding bikes on the planet?! A company owner/frame designer once replied to one of the customers that bought a very high end,expensive,niche custom build from a shop i used to work at.."Its a mountain bike for christsakes..just ride it!" in reply to his gripe over the finish of the paint.Great riding bike-shit paint.who cares.
Flow - "It goes to show how good the Five is when people who own other brands feel the need to comment on the thread defending their bikes and justifying their purchase."
Just because something is talked about,doesnt mean its the best thing since sliced bread,Flow.Take Katie Price as an example.
To finish up.Why have Santa Cruz and Orange decided to move on from their single pivots over the years? If their single pivots did everything it says on the tin,they wouldnt have bothered.
Why have they kept their single pivots? Because they are cheaper,easier to maintain,will accelerate and climb better than some (most?) brands more intricate designs but will never,EVER be the best overall design for going up and down a mountain.
Trolling is so much fun!
esselgruntfuttock - MemberThe 1st bike I demo'd was the 2011 5. I didn't try any others cos I just knew there was no point.
Textbook 
"I know it's the best bike for me by virtue of having tried nothing else"
What this thread really needs is a bit of Grantway- "My Orange Five is best, it can do 3 foot drops, no other bike can do that, I rode it round the red at Climachx once lololol"
I had a hardtail with a good fork on it but found that braking into loose, rocky corners at speed a bit unnerving, as the back end skipped about a lot. (Compared to friends on full suss)
I decided it would be better to use full suss in such places as a result. I didn't chose a single pivot bike as I didn't want the suspension lock-out effect (brake jack) which supposedly would arise in these situations.
I would be interested to know how you guys on single pivots find situations like that or if it's just BS.
[b]martinxyz[/b]
One word, marketing. If companies didn't have the latest amazing multi pivot suspension technology to talk about, how else do you think they tempt people to buy one, especially if it doesn't ride as well as a
"useless" single pivot?
Why do you think that people who have ridden multi pivot bikes for years who try a single pivot like the Five or Heckler are amazed how well they ride compared to multi pivot bikes? Its not an inferior design, people are made to think it is through marketing of "better" products.
Orange haven't moved away from single pivot, the Blood and ST4 are linkage driven single pivot. Orange have stuck with what works, and why not.
It sounds to me like you need to try one, you have obviously been brainwashed with marketing so much you think you know it all.
[b]Northwind[/b]
I know exactly what esselgruntfuttock is on about, I did the same thing. Obviously I haven't spent the last 16 years riding the same bike, I know what works and feels right.
[b]Duntstick[/b]
Its not BS, single pivot bikes do suffer from brake jack, but they are't the only design that do, Dw link and four bar also suffer.
Put it this way, after owning an EX9 for just over a year, I found very little difference between that and the Five in terms of brake jack, even though the EX has all sorts of supposed "advantages" such as ABP. I didn't just test the Five round a car park either, I rode it for 7 hours at GT.
people who have ridden multi pivot bikes for years who try a single pivot like the Five or Heckler are amazed how well they ride
A sweeping generalisation! Compared with the Maestro system, I was underwhelmed by the suspension on the Five I demoed in a head-to-head test. Uphill its sucked up a lot of pedal energy. Downhill it didn't feel active or grip well; if you like the feel of a hardtail, ride a hardtail.
Admittedly, I only rode it around Triscombe for a few hours, and I cant rule out that the shop set it up badly or it was the wrong size. So I'll give the benefit of the doubt.
A few years ago a fancied a single pivot bike.
Couldnt afford an orange 5 so chose a Commencal Meta.
After 6 months all the bearings were shot and the frame cracked. Sold the Warranty replacement and moved on . Should I have saved for the 5?
*(for the record, bought another meta frame since. Had it welded, fitted heavy coil shock and some tough bombers - completely different to my original meta and actually ACE )
My brother had a Trance 2 years, this is why I said Heckler as he just bought one and prefers it muchly. The Trance felt dead in comparison with hardly any feedback whatsoever through the rear. Fine if you want a magic carpet feel, not so good if you want to know what the rear of the bike is doing round corners, like losing traction etc
I suppose people want different things, some people want super plush and to not feel any bumps at all, others like some feedback.
WTF
Orange 5 frame £1429
Santa Cruz (with RP23) £1023
these bikes are essentially the identical, but that 5 frame is soo expensive
my money would be on the proven Heckler, then you can spend a bit more on fork, wheels etc.
yes i know the Heckler has a slightly steeper HA, but the Heckler is a proven single pivot (as is the 5) but £400 cheaper.
The geometry is totally different, therefore they don't ride anything like each other.
Heckler a has steeper HA, shorter wheelbase, shorter rear end, higher BB, shorter TT.
The only thing thats the same is they are single pivot, and even the position of that is different.
I know what you are saying though, you are essentially paying £400 for it being handmade in the UK, some Reynolds tubing and sorted geometry.
how many folk on here own both a single pivot and a complex pivot one?
I have a single pivot Orange 5 and a VPP Intenses Spider [they have different trave - so not like for like
I agree you need to pedal differently uphill - no standing up and stomping on the Orange which you can do on the VPP - the VPP makes it feel like the cranks are Biospace /egg shaped when you first ride them uphill with some pressure. Orange needs nice smooth pedalling. if you watch someone ride uphill on an Orange it does not seem to bob much tbh and it is hard to tell whether it is crank bob or bump absorbtion.
Not sure which I would describe as better tbh but they are different. The Orange is much more forgiving on descents [ I am not sure this is just due to mor etravel but cannot be sure]
Re brake Jack not sure how much of an issue this is - never noticed on any bike tbh just brake better surely?
Its nice to have an opinion from someone who has experience of single and multi pivot bikes instead of someone "thinking" they know what they are on about.
I must say my EX didn't bob as much as the Five I tested, but again it has less travel. The EX also had a firmer compression tune on the shock which probably made quite a difference.
The Five absolutely blew the EX away downhill though which is what I'm more interested in 😀
i have owned a Heckler, now have a Butcher - essentially they are both single pivots but the Butcher is a linkage driven single pivot and the difference is very noticeable.
Orange 5's are great bikes in terms of performance, it is just down to personal preference I guess and I just prefer the Heckler over the 5, And this 'buy british' lark is just hype - sorry but the majority of stuff we buy in this country is not british-made, it a shame but just a reality and a sign of the manufactiuring demise in this country.
Why is buying British hype?
I think supporting a decent product and keeping a British business in business is a good thing surely?
my opinion mate, 'im buying an overpriced damn ugly bike that was built in a shed' cos its british!
lol
if the Orange had the 5's made in the far east.... would they be as good???? YES of course they would but cheaper!
good advertising (again) is this old thread 😀
Opinions don't really count when you don't even know the difference between the geometry of two bikes
😆
I think supporting a decent product and keeping a British business in business is a good thing surely?
Yes I agree, but they could just have the outsource the frames in the far east, then finish paint/decals in Halifax - surely from a business aspect they must of looked at this?
The upshot of this that the customer benefits.... £1429 for a single pivot frame is too much!
And for the record the 5 is a great bike, Im not disputing that.
Opinions don't really count when you don't even know the difference between the geometry of two bikes
The biggest difference is the HA on the 5 is slacker, the other differences are negligible. Im not purporting to dismiss the 5 - it is overpriced and does not need to be!
And yes I have ridden a 5 and I enjoyed it, but I enjoyed the Heckler more.
Some guys have had dozens of different types of bikes and talk of the different characteristics of each and their perceived benefits and drawbacks. They are usually last down the hill*. Sometimes they find a bike that flatters them and it becomes the best bike ever. Doesn't mean it actually is.
* It doesn't matter if you are a riding gawd or bimbler, but if you're gonna talk the talk...
.....and who really gives a toss about geometry, if say you only have £2 - 2.5k to spend, which will still give you multiple options on a number of great bikes.
I would go as far as to say that 85% of this forum cant ride as good as the reviewers, the experts and the Rowan Sorrel types of this world, oh and those who constantly bang on about gemetry. Therefore geometry, single pivoting etc....is of complete irrelevance if you cant drop anything bigger than 1.5` and you ride through the middle of a berm with the brakes rammed on.
I do like 5s, as above I had one, I am also from Halifax but I am concerned over the way forward for them, people have less cash to spend, and will have for the next 5 years!. The en mass purchasing of the 5s was partly due to the great reviews from the MBR over 20 editions but now the prices have significantly increased people will surely start looking past this as a reason to buy.
There are still people with cash to spend who want to make a statement rather than look at the performance of the machine.
I know of 3 people who live close to me who all bought brand new Orange 5's,and 2 of them had never ridden an mtb before.None of them are even average riders and one is disabled and walks with the aid of a stick.
But it gives them an air of a little bit of superiority outside the cafe as people will look at a strange shaped bike with Union Jacks on it.
I've had a 5,didn't like it,and i think there are better specced bikes out there for a lot less money.
Any of the Orange brand loyalists ready for a road bike next year?
This thread really is getting boring, Flow, thanks for pointing the obvious out to Northwind. I mean I've only been riding for 21 years so how would I know what's right for me?
Why would I keep demo'ing when I've found what I know feels spot on? (for me)
I can honestly say that I can climb stuff better than on any other bike I've had (or tried)I generally run out of legs or lungs before I run out of gription or steering & I know by the virtue of the fact that my mate is now a fair bit slower than me on descents, (a situation which has taken 21 years to reverse)
Plus I like the headtube badge.
What makes it so special - it's made in Yorkshire, end of. 😉
Ive just read through all of this thread (being a five owner)
and why is there so much girlie bitching ?
if you dont like it or like the ride it gives dont buy one simple as
im really at a loss as people feel the need to attack everything on a forum
ive not long been a member here having moved from elsewhere due too petty attitudes and crazy arguments but at this rate i think its just most forums in general
i just cant figure it out .
My bike is harder than your bike and my dad can fight your dad!
End of 🙂
That wont be hard my dad passed away when i was 17 .
