[Closed] Why so much hatred for the Orange 5?

I found their customer service pretty good, and reading this thread most others seem to agree. Ton, I guess you had a bad experience and feel the need to reiterate it every page, but it doesn't seem representative of the majority. So what happended anyway ? 🙂

iainc, sorry mate i did not realise i had posted on every page.
i shall remove myself from this debate forthwith. 🙂

The hate for Orange is a STW thing. One of the forum king dicks repeatedly says they don't like 'X'. All their followers then agree, thread after thread after thread. Saying that, it's worse on Bikeradar but then that's a strange place. In the real world people seem to like them.

Doesn't matter how many times the usual myths are proved to be wrong, the same people will spout off thread after thread after thread. It must be important to them though and doesn't really make much difference in the long run.

ton - Member

Come on Ton, lay your cards on the table and tell us why you really hate Orange. Did some one that works for the company run of with your wife or nick your chips?

pmsl, seriously............

Yes, seriously. I don't read every thread on the site so don't know if you've stated your gripe before but it's clear they've upset you more then they've upset most others. Bit like me with Merlin really.

I didn't realise there was a lot of hatred for them.

I ride a Five, it's old now, bought it in 2006. But it still works well, I love the ride, the mud clearance is awesome - where my Salsa Moto Rapido is chain-sucking away the 5 is still churning through the mud - I love the looks (and, Mint Sauce rode a single pivot back in the day). I adore the way it descends.

I have no plans to change it, nothing wrong with it, and I'm certainly not changing it for the sake of fashion. The only thing I would change is the shock, it's a Manitou Swinger *cringes at the name*. It's never worked properly like my Fox shock did in my Juliana, but it isn't actually broken (so according to Karinofnine's Law of Saving the Planet - I can't just dump it) - I can't sell it because I can't put my hand on my heart and say to the buyer that it's ok, 'cos it isn't. Oh, the trouble with being honest!

BTW I'm not a man, not middle-aged, or overweight, not in IT and I don't own an Audi TT.

I must say though, when I was at Glentress last year, I was surprised (pleasantly) to see there were loads and loads of 5s there. I'd never seen so many in one place. It was great to see how many variations there are, in terms of colour and spec, of one basic bike. Lovely, like an Orange 5 convention 🙂

ton - was it you that broke an Orange frame a few years ago and suggested a way that they could strengthen it. They disagreed, but then added your bit in the next years model?

ton - Member
iainc, sorry mate i did not realise i had posted on every page.
i shall remove myself from this debate forthwith.

POSTED 19 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

Thank **** for that! 😆 😉

 

Oh come on. Someone had to 🙂

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Its cool to hate something thats popular. See Apple, Coke, Graham Norton etc

OK, maybe Graham Norton wasn't a good example.

iainc, sorry mate i did not realise i had posted on every page.
i shall remove myself from this debate forthwith.

...and you can't remove yourself, you have us all on tenterhooks about your tale of woe 😛

Never mind the five....I'm liking the look of the new Alpine. 😀

I think it's interesting that one bike can cause such a stir. I have one, it does look a bit clunky, but it has a charm and I enjoy riding it. I may enjoy another bike as much if I had a go on one, but my Five hasn't made me want to try another yet. We are pals.

Some bikes look like they come from the future and I'm not really keen on the futuristic things. I hate Si-Fi and all that caper.

I'm not middle aged or rotund but I may still be riding my Five when I am.

my takes on this

One thing is all this trail-AM marketing bikes bollox dunt wash with me.

160-140-150mm forks etc, bla bla bla.

cant tell much between most of these kind of bikes from the main players these days and them that do are talkin shite. 🙂

if yer a pro then maybe,otherwise just farkin ride eh.
all a bikes feel could be altered by ****in tyres to stem bars you name it,so unless you set em up exactly to that then how can you tell that much??
and if you really really can then maybe you should be making these bikes yourself eh eh. 😉

its all in the head i tell ya..marketing marketing marketing 🙄

anyways i own two Orange bikes a Patriot and new the alpine,both do the job for me and thats that..

as did my mega before and whatver other bikes before that.

those who say ohhh i just couldnt get on with the 5 most likely dont ride anyways or just ride at trail centres every weekend.
try ride em as intended and you may think diferent.

😀 8)
8)

Filing cabinet digs aside, Orange, and the 5 especially, is one of those English classics that represents the essential soul of British mountain biking.

Sneer at them all you like, but God help us when the day arrives and the hills and trail centres are full of Cannondale, Lapierre, Specialized and Cube, and there's not a Cotic, On One, Charge or Orange in sight.

Had a 5 quite liked it, but certainly not as good the bikes that replaced it (sinister and ellsworth). Both were far, far uglier to most on here, but widdled all over the orange in terms of performance on the ups and downs...and pedalled better. Not to say the 5 is a bad bike at all. But certainly it's not the amazing mountain slaying performance machine that is faved about on here.

Oh and grumpy 5 owners are the easiest to wind up by far as most take themselves very seriously, hence the plethora of pi $$ take threads. Trying to wind up single speedy niche wagon wheelers isn't as much fun as they already have no delusions of being gnar core radmeisters

I think the 5 suits more aggresive riders than trail center mincers.

those who say ohhh i just couldnt get on with the 5 most likely dont ride anyways or just ride at trail centres every weekend.
try ride em as intended and you may think diferent.

cupid stunt - Member
I think the 5 suits more aggresive riders than trail center mincers.

Cupid, you're late!

[quote=DaveyBoyWonder ]Its cool to hate something thats popular. See Apple, Coke, Graham Norton etc
Orange 5's aren't [i]that[/i] popular. In fact, they are pretty niche. How many do you actually see outside of the UK - that aren't owned by UK-based riders? If they were [i]that[/i] good, you'd be seeing them everywhere. Like British cars, they are bought on the basis that they have a "heritage" quality that just doesn't travel well. That doesn't make them bad bikes though.

Loads of Alpines in Switzerland and Spain.

'Heritage' status had nothing to do with me buying one. I'd have bought one if it was built by a Taiwanese robot. Just love the way it rides and know it will work well day after day, in winter weather and gritty northern sludge. Same goes for lots of folk I know who bought one.

If they were that good, you'd be seeing them everywhere

Unlikely to happen unless Steve & co retire or sell the business. The Orange philosophy is to keep the brand niche by keeping production levels low, in-house(for 5)and therefore sell at a premium price due to perceived "rarity" value 💡

I did not like the one I test rode, finding it draggy uphill and nervous downhill. It did have horrid conti tyres. It might also have been too small. I supposed you can get used to any bike really.

It's looks are a bit Volvo cross bred with trabant. I do like the custom colours mind.

I always take the piss with five riders that I see out (good natured).

I dont think I've ever met a orange rider who cant ride/doesnt ride alot.

I've never seen a five at a trail centre

I've never seen a five at a trail centre

Five owners would get an easier ride if they didn't try and insist that it's the best bike in the world and the only one that will work in the UK.

I dont like gritty kitty hardpacked catlitter trails or a conveyor belt/production line experience.. 'you are here/going in this direction'.

Soz

I think if it feels nervous downhill then maybe that is more down to the rider.

Apparently it's the bike northern based UKIp voters prefer. If this it true then that would explain the hate. Apparently a Mr Bloom spends many an hour on his 5 down Yateholme and Honley Wood. 🙂

I supposed you can get used to any bike really.

yep

I think if it feels nervous downhill then maybe that is more down to the rider.

yep

I can't fault orange customer service , my 6 month old five had a freehub problem last month , took it to my local orange dealer , 2 days later new freehub , gear set and chain was supplied and fitted free of charge, I was shocked and expected them to put it down as wear and tear item ,
Doubt I'd get a service like that from any other manufacture

I've never seen a five at a trail centre

I rarely visit trail centres (not because I dislike them, they're just miles from where I live) but I have never ever seen so many Orange Fives as I did at Llandegla - the place was full of them!

Not that that's a bad thing, I like the design, its simplicity is rather elegant and they clearly do what they're meant to do.

Unlikely to happen unless Steve & co retire or sell the business.

Imagine if they did sell up to a bigger manufacturer. This place would go nuclear.

I've never seen a five at a trail centre

I've visited trail centres with Five owners many, many times, we do hide if we see you though.

we do hide if we see you though.

I dont think I've ever met a orange rider who cant ride/doesnt ride alot.

no, we have never met I don't think!

Nervous downhill, a Five? WTF?! Only if you're comparing it to a 322.

Orange bikes have that instantly "familiar" feel to them, like you have been riding one for years on your first ride. I've ridden lines on a 5 I just couldn't manage on other bikes I have tried. They just fit and are very flattering and confidence inspiring. I only say they are not made so well made because i've had 2 orange bikes with off frame alignment. 1 sub5 (Ok we all knew they were terribly made) and 1 2011 ST4. The Rocker and shock were so out of line that the bearing was pulled from its seat. A few washers later and it's fine. I doubt untechnically minded riders would notice some of the frame alignment issues. They feel so much smoother is everything is running perfectly inline. I think I would like to see the next one in the flesh before I bought it. I got my last one online. Would definately buy another.

Grumpy 5 owner, earlier:

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I've never seen a five at a trail centre

You've obviously never visited a trail centre. 😉

I live in Halifax and don't actually see many fives about.

I've never seen a five at a trail centre

It did have horrid conti tyres.

You don't think it's maybe the tyres rather than the bike that made it feel nervous downhill? And that it would affect any bike? I despair at they're continuing to spec OEM contis but their argument is that most owners fit what they want anyway.

It was never a problem when I got my Five as the dealer was happy to swap them out. Gyro was quickly sorted with a Hans Dampf/Nobby Nic but I guess it should come specced with better.

I think there's two sides to Orange, I think the frames are great and I'm comfortable with the value and I think the frame weights are competitive (light even) for what they do. Despite perceptions, whenever I get on one, it always feels like an inconvenient truth when it comes to more sophisticated designs. I'm not saying they're magic or anything, but I very rarely find other bikes to be any funner, faster, as responsive or more balanced to ride than an Orange.

However, the full builds highlight a small company struggling to match big gun suppliers. But selling full bikes in authorised dealers is a key part of their strategy and it works for them. Personally I'd always build a frame up though…

I also think they pedal brilliantly if your technique is good and you're fit enough – the chain growth can really help if you work with it.

@Gary: Are you still planning on doing a comparison between the Gyro and Five29 ?

This whole thred has cracked me up. How can you have "hatred " for a bike he he.

I'm on my second 5 and I love it even more than the 1st....but hey I'm a sweaty northerner (adopted admittedly) 😀

they just don't pedal very well.

Ontop of this I've got a Patriot with a DSP Dueler ti coil shock and even when I stand up/pedal it doesn't move much (I'm 100kg's). So I think you can sort this issue out with tuning as with any frame really.

Its not hatred its ribbing and a hint of 'it is bloody expensive for a single pivot bike'. THAT I can understand. Saying this - Buy a Liteville - Will it be twice the frame for almost twice its cost?

Doubtful.

sweaty or sweary?

or both 😯