[Closed] Orange vs specialized

I had a 2017 Enduro. It was on its fifth warranty shock when I finally got rid. No exaggeration, 4 ****ed shocks and still on the original chain and cassette.

I had an orange segment ex demo from orange. I cracked it after less that a year, they replaced it. After that I noticed a few warranty replacement orange frames for sale.

I'd have an orange again, but not second hand.

Nb, I've broken quite a few frames in the last few years, possibly I should have bought something heavier duty than the 110mm orange.

has 170, which seems more adequate for casing.

Can’t help with your actual question but my 27.5 Nicolai has 155mm of travel and has allowed me to get away with some embarrassingly bad casing with a shrug and a grin.  So I wouldn’t choose based on 160 vs 170

I had a 2018 Enduro comp and loved it. Spent a month in Whistler with it and it was faultless, well apart from me smacking the rear mech. I've had single pivot bikes and personally much prefer the FSR.

Can't comment on the Orange, we have had a few Enduros over the years both 29 and 27.5. All carbon ones. Still have a couple of the latest 2020 ones.

Never had a problem with any of the shocks and ran both Ohlins and Rockshox. So much so we still have two new shocks that were never needed and are now surplus to requirements.

If I was to buy again it would be the same.

Yeah, my 6yr old enduro is still on the shock i had when new (CCDB coil) And i'm Heavy!
great bike.

I've a 2019 Enduro,and TBH it's been boringly reliable. I've changed bits of the drive-train over the couple of years that I've owned it, and the command post eventually died, but I haven't done anything to frame and shock mounts apart from checking the torque, they're all still original. Cracked the rear wheel, but that was my fault for being a clumsy oaf.

I wouldn't swap it for an Orange, that's for sure.

If you buy secondhand you have no idea if your frame is gonna break, but you do know it won't be covered by warranty.

I'd think the failure rates between Specialized and Orange are pretty close. Specialized did have a problem with side loading of shocks from the yoke, so heavy or hard riders would destroy them.

Orange, 2017... The didn't really have many issues with failures. It was the most recent where they reduced the tube thickness.

Anyway. They're both very different bikes to ride. I've ridden both.

I wouldn't based my decision on what's gonna break. I'd base it on how I want it to ride.

The Orange is more involving, and feels more active. The Enduro feels more cushioned and plush.

The orange goes faster when you brake, the Enduro slows down very controlled.

Both are good bikes. But, they're very different.

Based on what you've said about both handling characteristics and the tubing thickness decrease, the orange is looking like a better option. Having never personally ridden an alpine 6, I think I should to see for myself. My friend has a 2017 orange 5 hope edition, which I can ride whenever I want, but that's a small, and I'm 5'11, so I'm kinda in between getting a medium or a large, which is why I need to try one myself, but what would you say about size wise for me? Riding my friends one gives a good idea on how the single pivot sus works

I’m 5’11, so I’m kinda in between getting a medium or a large

I'm 5ft 8in and ride a large Stage 4 & Stage 6 from that generation.

You'd be best on a large or XL, IMO

And they're 29ers. How do they feel like playful wise and are they pretty nippy?

They are very nippy compared to other bikes with similar geometries - newer Oranges are very responsive and the frames are surprisingly light.

I've had a quick go on an Alpine 6 of the age you are looking and that also climbed incredibly well for a bike of it's travel. They're good on flatter stuff too.

The large frames I am on are roughly equivalent to the current medium ones, if that shows where I'm coming from with the sizing comment above?

Don't know anything about either the Alpine 6 or the Enduro, but I have owned a Stumpjumper (2004) and Five (2008) and enjoyed them both. The Five was a hooligan and a lot of fun but over time I started to notice the inefficiency of the single pivot when climbing. It was a great bike but I've scratched that itch.

Specialized always felt a bit main stream to me, despite making lovely bikes, but I'm about to replace my 2012 ASR-5 with a Stumpy. Maybe I'm getting old, but the reliability and heritage that comes with a Specialized bike are a big draw for me these days - I can't be bothered tinkering for hours/weeks/months to get the perfect ride, and I know that a Spesh will just work.

If breaking frames is your thing, then a 2 year warranty is not to be sniffed at.

And they’re 29ers.

Orange Alpine is not a 29er, older enduro had the option of either wheel size. I had a 2011 enduro and was advised/convinced to buy the medium when I was unsure on sizing. I'm around 5'8 and after a few rides I knew it was too small and wished I'd ignored the shops advice and bought the large, a mate had similar issues with a Cube but frames have got longer every year since then. No chance I'd buy a 2nd hand full suss Orange tho

Wasn't clear about that. I meant the stage 6 and 4 are 29ers. Alpine 6 is 27.5. Looking at what people have said, it's coming across to me that oranges have a slightly similar way in sizing like Santa cruz, where the large is on the small side, keeping the playful side alive. So based on this, a size large orange will be playful for my size because it's technically a medium?

So based on this, a size large orange will be playful for my size because it’s technically a medium?

I'd agree with that, yes.

The large is 461mm reach (same as my S6), which is now on the short-ish side for a large rider.

Also the suspension is really interactive, which enhances the fun & playfulness anyway.

See if you have a mate with a similar reach frame and that might give you an idea of fit?

I do have a friend with an orange from 2018, but the only problem is, it's a small, and it's a 5. Massively out of the size scale. Hes the only friend I know with an orange, but that at least will give a feel for the single pivot system. If only I just had an orange dealer near me...

I love my Oranges - had 3 in a row now but I've read very mixed stuff about them breaking and the after sales service.

For what I guess you're paying for a newish Orange/Specialized, I'd go for something like a brand spankers Privateer/Bird/Airdrop/Nukeproof/Vitus etc. I'm guessing they'd be a similar'ish price.