Buying a new bike ? Read this first …….. Orange content

My 2 year old Orange Alpine started playing up a bit a couple of weeks ago, creaking and making generally horrible noises under power.
Flipping it over I noticed a very think black line on the rear swingarm that looked like it might have been a crack.
I chucked the bike in the boot and took it over to Orange HQ where Ben took a really good look at it and confirmed a crack. He asked how quickly I needed it back as they’d need to replace the swingarm and if I could wait they’d strip the front end to check for further cracks and I could therefore have a colour change.
Anyway, just got my bike back today, completely refinished in their new polished ally effect silver powder coat, new bottom bracket because mine was gritty and new cables.
Absolutely stunning service from Orange, exceptionally helpful throughout and a huge reason why I’ll never buy anything other than an Orange. This isn’t the first time I’ve had warranty issues with Orange and they have absolutely blown every other company I’ve ever dealt with for ANYTHING clean out of the water. They absolutely go right out of their way to make you happy. When I had an issue with my 5 year old 5 and whilst they could have shrugged and told me to sod off based on the age of the frame, they sold me a new frame for half price, chucked in a custom colour upgrade, maxle upgrade and Kashima RP23 upgrade. They also stripped and rebuilt the bike with new cables and even chucked in a new seatpost and headset.
I’ve got a 5, an Alpine and a P7. They’re all fabulous bikes and whilst they’re not the cheapest, they all ride great, are superbly simple and Orange’s backup is absolutely stunning and just makes for the icing on the cake.

but it did crack….

yes agree after sales is good 😀

So you’ve had two oranges with warrenty/frame issues and you’d still go back to buy another?!?! as you say, their customer service must be really good…… 😀

i feel ill………….. 😉

Is that an Audi?

This can’t possibly end well

So you’ve had two oranges with warrenty/frame issues and you’d still go back to buy another?!?! as you say, their customer service must be really good……

Damn right, I’d go back every time.

Is that an Audi?

This can’t possibly end well

Oh dear! I’m lost for words! 🙄

Glad the OP has had such good service from Orange, makes a pleasant change from hearing about bike manufacturers not looking after their customers at warranty claim time…

They’re still bloody expensive though, and they still have a ridiculously short warranty! (sorry, I tried, I couldn’t keep it in any longer!) 😉

And the converse:

I’ve had plenty of bikes (not an Orange) and not one of them has ever developed a crack or failed in any way, so who would I pick: a company whose frames fail, but has good service or one whose bikes don’t fail?

My old Kona Dawg is 7yrs old, not had to test the warranty 😆 Bit late now anyway 🙄
Steve Wade however is a really good/nice bloke 😀

any chance of better or bigger pictures…….

really interested to see how shiny the powdercoat finish comes out – quite fancy that for my Five……

e-mail is in profile if you’d prefer to send them there.

A

And the converse:

I’ve had plenty of bikes (not an Orange) and not one of them has ever developed a crack or failed in any way, so who would I pick: a company whose frames fail, but has good service or one whose bikes don’t fail?

I’ve cracked 5 bikes now including a Trek Liquid, Felt F5, Scott Strike, 5 and Alpine. Maybe I ride them slightly differently to you ?

any chance of better or bigger pictures…….

Definitely Andy. I’ll get some on Friday and ping them over. It’s a great colour, You’d swear it was polished Aluminium. The chain reflects in the swingarm just like polished ally. I love it.

Rs6 ?

Edit: not enough arch

I’ve cracked 5 bikes now including a Trek Liquid, Felt F5, Scott Strike, 5 and Alpine. Maybe I ride them slightly differently to you

I think it might be the way you ride * and not the bikes if you have cracked that many

* you are either rad to the power of sic or fat as **** 😉

Orange were ace with me as well. Ben is a star there…

* you are either rad to the power of sic or fat as ****

Ha definitely not the latter. I’d usually grab a top 20% spot in an enduro so I can’t be that sloppy.

Rs6 ?

I wish !
It’s on the lottery win list though.

You could have had any colour you wanted and you chose silver to go with white forks? It looks shite and 5 years old already. You could have had any nice colour and had white decals! Jeeze!

And it helps your argument if you live near the Orange HQ…if I chucked my cracked bike in the back of my car(for the second time apparently) and drive down there I’d expect a BJ whilst I waited on my replacement…oh, and about £200 for diesel…

Orange 5 + Audi estate.
STW calls HOUSE!

It was Neon green before but I fancied a change.
Post up some pics of your bikes Swede and lets see what a good job you’ve made of them.

Definitely Andy. I’ll get some on Friday and ping them over. It’s a great colour, You’d swear it was polished Aluminium. The chain reflects in the swingarm just like polished ally. I love it.

Cool, thanks!

I polished my old Five after seeing the article in Dirt magazine about lightening the Five – I loved it, it looked like a cylon-took bloody ages to do, but was awesome-shame it took so much effort to keep it looking great!

A

And it helps your argument if you live near the Orange HQ…if I chucked my cracked bike in the back of my car(for the second time apparently) and drive down there I’d expect a BJ whilst I waited on my replacement…oh, and about £200 for diesel…

You either need a new and much more economical motor (like an A6 :wink:) or need to work out how to put a frame in a box, get some help filling in the forms and present it to Parcel Force.
And as Ben would probably decline your expectation for a blowy, mabye you’re better off with a Marin anyway?

I’ve cracked 5 bikes now including a Trek Liquid, Felt F5, Scott Strike, 5 and Alpine. Maybe I ride them slightly differently to you ?

I ride with great finesse and skill if that helps? 😉

Is the kettle on?
–
I’ve got biscuits…….

misterfrostie, Just saying like. If I were to be given the choice I would have chosen something that A goes with the forks and B makes me feel like I have a nice new bike. It does look very dated. My bikes are quite plain to be honest. 3 white, 2 raw and 2 blue.

Oh lord,finesse.

Oh lord,finesse

😆 wasn’t just me then ?

+1 for Orange service (and Ben!).

misterfrostie, Just saying like. If I were to be given the choice I would have chosen something that A goes with the forks and B makes me feel like I have a nice new bike. It does look very dated. My bikes are quite plain to be honest. 3 white, 2 raw and 2 blue.

I’ll post some better pics up Friday, hopefully you’ll see the atrraction. I’m not fussed about the forks, I’ll probably replace them at some point but not just yet. They’ve got the Mega to survive first anyways 8)

Still butt ugly bike what ever colour it’s painted 🙂

That was nasty, I’ll withdraw my comment
Sorry 😕

I’ll post some better pics up Friday, hopefully you’ll see the atrraction

Not while it says orange on it. I’ve had one and found it very uninspiring. Black forks would make it look nicer though. I realise it’s not all about looks but you had a choice. Imagine it in that purple with white forks and decals. I’d have to keep getting up to press my face against it and sniff new shiny.

Now that service….unlike Giant.

I think the bike looks good. An Orange 5 is on my wish list. The Alpine looks good in any colour.

If you haven’t cracked at least one frame in your MTB career, you’re doing it wrong 🙂

UK firm offer ace customer service and all we can do is find fault?

Well done Orange

Also what kind of guy comments / critisises the colour / finish of another mans bike?

Seems a bit Gok Wang to me

The Swede earlier today.