Bike Check: Benji’s Orange Switch 6

This bike check is either the worst timing or the best timing, depending how you look at it. And what happens next.

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By ben_haworth

Get the full story here:

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bike-check-benjis-orange-switch-6/

I mean the really obvious single pivot brand would be Starling…..

It’s been said by many an internet typist, but the ‘problem’ with Orange bikes is they haven’t changed for decades. Which, in one sense is true. The brand still makes single pivot full suspension bikes. For some people, the silhouette of mountain bikes is all they look at. These people are the reason why bike brands have to reinvent themselves every three years. And have teams of marketeers permanently spin spin spinning their alternative facts as to why they’ve gone back to the drawing board.

Damn those customers with their fickle, shallow ways and those pesky ‘internet typists’.

That’s brilliant.

Comrie Croft bikes have a Stage 6 in a really lovely green glitter paint – I keep lusting, but realistically I need a shorter travel bike.

2022 Orange Stage 6 Evo Team Special Edition Custom Paint

Ah so it’s customers fault that they are having problems 😂

I think most of us would wish there was more standardisation of ‘standards’ etc

Why does the article avoid the much talked about high prices too?

Having a pop at your own customer/typists is always an interesting move

Having a pop at your own customer/typists is always an interesting move

You might think that, but you’re just an ‘internet typist’, what do you know? Next you’ll be saying that Orange bikes are expensive and a bit ugly and that Rwanda is an unsafe country 😉

Anyone with an ego so fragile as to be upset by being labelled an “internet typist” would have already found something else to flounce about.

There are two brilliant aspects to the single pivot design on this Switch 6.

The near linearity of its progression.
Insane levels of 3D traction.

I thought Orange significantly increased the progression?

They were regressive before, so they probably did

Quote from Benji’s NBD

With the New Switch 6 we have also updated the bike’s kinematics. Sporting 160mm of travel and a more progressive feel. The original Switch 6 was almost completely linear while the newest version has a real working progression of 6.2% considerably higher than the original bike (0.7%).

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/nbd-orange-switch-6-sram-apex-lapierre-e-zesty/

Sounds like marketing spiel, but what is “3D traction”?

My son has an Orange Five so if he ever says he needs a new bike, I can use this reported benefit to convince him otherwise, providing I know what it is.

I came here to say Starling, and to question what in hot hell’s name is 3D traction? But that’s already been covered so I’ll just add:

Curtis.

And to balance out the above I’ve always liked my Oranges and think it’s a damn shame.

Glad it isn’t just me wondering what 3d traction is…have I only been riding in 2d??? Has the marketing spiel not been thrown far enough away from this article?

“3D traction”

Actual LOL at that one. Particularly given it was prefaced by a moan about fashion and marketing killing a brand.

Can we have a comment about square edged hits as well to get a full house of bike journo bobbins?

Framesets from GBP2.900 … and 3d traction?

yeah starling

and pipedream

i do hope orange stick around though

“Insane levels of 3D traction [ AKA lateral compliance, chassis ‘give’; helps maintain traction on cambers etc ].”

Edited in this explanation now. It wasn’t very clear before was it? Soz! 🙂

And yeah, good shout about Starling etc. Ta!

 AKA lateral compliance,

Is that code for the back ends still flex sideways and the tyres can still rub the stays

The bike industry needs brands like Orange

Surely the bike industry needs companies that make bikes people want to buy.

Tough crowd.

There’s a lot going on with that front triangle, not a fan. The green Stage 6 posted above looks so much better.

Find it strange that people who don’t like a certain brand spend so much time following them around on the forum to comment. Bit too much time on your hands?

Not a huge fan of the down tube on this as it makes it look wonky, much like many other bikes from other manufacturers.

Yep! My Curtis. Love it.

The green frame a few comments above is lovely. I test ride a Five years ago and really liked it and they are one of those bikes that I just associate with mtb in the UK. This one does look a hoot though and nice to see a not RS or Fox build.

Comrie Croft bikes have a Stage 6 in a really lovely green glitter paint – I keep lusting, but realistically I need a shorter travel bike.

OMG that’s sensational.

Have you had a look at the Stage Evo? Such a great fun bike and surprisingly light.

Have you had a look at the Stage Evo? Such a great fun bike and surprisingly light

You ranggg??

My Large Stage Evo. More fun than a barrel of monkeys..! Every time I ride it, which up until December was most days, it amazes me how capable it is – definitely punches above its weight. Probably the  only thing I’d swap it for is a Stage 6.

Sounds like marketing spiel, but what is “3D traction”?

I strongly suspect its marketing spiel, aka bollocks.

My Large Stage Evo. More fun than a barrel of monkeys..!

My medium. What a stunna eh?

I was ready to buy an Orange frame in 2022 but constant reports of them cracking put me off, nothing to do with fashion.

Orange’s USP is their simplicity, they need to stop chasing lighter weights, instead make them durable as hell, slim down the range and keep on top of geo and suspension design, nothing wrong with single pivot.

@mildred ‘s frame above looks so much cleaner – is the awful downtube on the Switch purely for the storage box? Price not worth paying if it is.

Storage and space for water bottle.

Yep, I’d rather go without both and keep the frame style I currently have.

The seat tube is also quite a lot shorter on the newer frame design by the looks?

Personally I prefer the visuals of the previous incarnation, but the ability to have a bottle on the frame and to have more standover are not insignificant benefits. Storage box in the frame I’m less convinced about but maybe it’s actually ace.

common sense from Benji as always, i am lucky enough to have four bikes for different disciplines, like most of the readers i am involved in a variety  of out door activities , kit needs maintaining and i want to be doing stuff, the orange works its simple and reliable, the good design allows more time for fun. Perhaps a more positive attitude from some contributors would be more realistic, at 70.5 i think i have some experience of what works and what does not contribute. x Griffo

Current bikes allow a bottle under the down tube, i thought? Even if not, wouldn’t be that hard to accommodate one with a few smaller tweaks.

Insane levels of 3D traction [ AKA lateral compliance, chassis ‘give’; helps maintain traction on cambers etc

I’m surprised to read this, because (as a big Orange fan and Stage 6, 4 and Evo owner in recent years) I’ve found them very much on the tighter side in terms of chassis compliance.

That’s part of the appeal because they’re fast, fun and very engaging as a result, but they are chalk and cheese with my Starling – which genuinely does smooth things out when it’s leant over.

So you think this new frame design significantly increases chassis compliance Ben? Or are you benchmarking against even-stiffer carbon bikes?

Personally I prefer the visuals of the previous incarnation, but the ability to have a bottle on the frame and to have more standover are not insignificant benefits. Storage box in the frame I’m less convinced about but maybe it’s actually ace.

I agree, the previous version is better looking. Regardless if I were buying I’d go for bottle and storage, appearance be damned

. Regardless if I were buying I’d go for bottle and storage, appearance be damned

I’m very curious how much weight has been added to get water bottle space and storage though.

And whether that eeb-esque downtube now allows a longer stroke shock as well, or any other claimed benefits like that.

Maybe Ben could ask Orange?

I can’t find it now but there is/was a video of Steve Peat, Hans Ray and Danny Mac riding Torridon trails. Danny was on an Orange. Slo-mo of Danny riding over some bumpy stuff – the back wheel is twanging all over the place side-to-side…I’m not sure I’d describe it as stiff by any means – you don’t tend to see it at normal speed, but I bet a single arm to a wide mounting point in the middle is going to twist quite a lot when it is bouncing over variable terrain.

That Torridon video must be 10+ years ago now.

The split swingarm design feels pretty tight IMO.

Probably the most cringey, over defensive thing I’ve ever read on here. And that pink thing is utterly hideous.

It reeks of “everyone who doesn’t like me is a hater.”

Survival of the fittest Orange, make stuff people want to buy and sell it at a competitive price, don’t go into administration. Simple.

Disclaimer: I have owned 4 Oranges. In the old days when basically everything was crap, Orange had the advantage of being simple and reliable. Now there are too many other far superior options and far more acceptable prices.