I’m saving up my pennies to buy a second hand Alpine 160. Do I need to buy a ‘newish’ one – or will an older version be fine. Are there key differences or things to avoid know before deciding?

Do the older ones only have a 27.2 seatpost – or were they always bigger (better for droppers)?

Is there any significant weight difference?

What about headtubes?

What about the adjustable shock mount (why would I even want that)

You know the sort of thing….

Very latest one is a fair bit lighter and has more adjustability- to be fair I think everyone who’s ever been given a geometry-adjustable Orange has immediately put it into slack as **** mode and left it there, I did…

Believe they went to 30.9 and tapered headtube in 2011? Looking at frames myself just now, think it’d be a mistake to go for an older one tbh.

“Old” Alpine 160:
Up to, and including, 2010 model year:
27.2mm seatpost – difficult to get a dropper post
Straight 1 1/8″ head tube – can’t fit tapered forks

2011 model year onwards:
30.9mm seatpost – good for droppers
Tapered headtube – easier to get forks for

“New” Alpine 160:
Fine with droppers and tapered forks.
Lighter in weight.

Brilliant – so it’s 2011 onwards (unless I luck into some money and can buy a new one!)