Five v Zesty – which to sell?

I’m currently in the nice position of owning a 2010 Orange Five and a 2011 Zesty 514. Really like them both, but I’m in the difficult position that I really need to sell one of ’em. I’m having a lot of trouble deciding which one to keep – heart and ‘common sense head’ say Five, but after doing lots of back to back riding of both bikes over the same routes, for me, I think the Zesty is the better all-round performer (‘tho it’s pretty close). For anyone not familiar, the way Zesty’s can whizz up climbs is absolutely daft.

For background, the Five was a frame only custom build, and it’s currently carrying 1 to 2 pounds more weight than the Zesty; however, this is down to the OTT (for me) all-mountain wheels that are on it – with ‘normal’ trail-type wheels, I guess the bikes would be about the same weight.

The main thing I have against the Zesty is its potential long term reliability, and the multi-link pivot maintenance; also, it’s not quite as confidence inspring a descender as the Five. I built the Five with longevity in mind (Gore cables, XT etc). Things that I don’t like with the Orange are is comparative lack of perkiness on climbs, rattlier feeling than the Zesty over loose/rough ground, occasionally compromised rear braking grip, and (er..more minor!) the sinlge pivoty non-direct front mech/chain performance. Not particularly bothered about aesthetics of the bike – more interested in how they ride – anyway, IMO, my all white Five looks very nice 🙂

I realise the chances of getting an objective view on Five vs A.N.Other bike can be tricky (and can appreciate why) – but, if anyone has long-term Zesty ownership experience, or experience of owning both bikes, I’d be interested to hear your opinion.

TIA

fattatlasses – Member
I think the Zesty is the better all-round performer

Surely all the rest is secondary?

You’ll get more money for the five.

Sounds as though as you’re the one who’s in a position to ride both bikes you’re going to be in a uniquely strong position to make that decision compared to “blokes of the internet”!

FWIW I own a Zesty and don’t find the upkeep to arduous. If you REALLY hate tinkering with bikes then I can see the 5 might have an advantage but I thought most people quite enjoy disappearing down the shed for a fettling session?

What Druidh said

Which ever one you sell, you’ll regret it in a few months!

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The Orange is heads

I was originally planning to sell the Zesty, then after the back to back rides, decided on selling the Five – then I watched a DVD with a couple of the CycleActive fellas riding white Fives in the Lakes, and got all emotionally attached to my Five again……Sigh!

Which ever one you sell, you’ll regret it in a few months!

Exactly the arguement that I used to convince myself & wife that I need to keep both (bank balance means it ain’t working tho).

I had a Zesty, now I have a 5.

They both do the same thing, just in a surprisingly different way, which makes sense when you look at the numbers.

Just go with the one that suits you more.

CycleActive fellas riding white Fives in the Lakes

Contact them, they might be riding Zesty’s now 😉

2 years on a 514, blissfully happy with bike.

Seems that only you can know why you bought two similar bikes…, but having had two FS’s in the past (6″ and 4″) I can understand your problem.

Why not sell one of the frames and keep all the bits, stuff is always getting broken and you’ll have spare wheels etc.

im in the same situation apart from it being a zesty its remedy. The remedy cimbs better and descends well and when I think I have made my mind up take the orange out and it never fails to put a smile on your face on the way down. I think its all down to if you feel it is worth the extra effort on the ups to benefit from the downs

Why did you buy two similar bikes in the first place? 😕

Yeh, what grum asked!

Well if hes the same as me it was because they rode so differently and its nice to have an option of what to ride

Sell the French thing…. Renault.

Why did you buy two similar bikes in the first place?

err…Because I could at the time 😉

No, seriously – it’s a bit of a long story, complicated by the fact that my wife & I both fit the same sized bikes, which we occasionally swap. She had a Five, which I’d ridden & liked, so built up my own – she then bought another bike, sold her Five, then regretted it and wanted mine…..etc etc 🙄 …….. Sure you get the picture.

Ah ok that makes more sense now.

But you admit the Zesty is the better bike, but watching a video of some other people riding 5s made you want to keep the 5? 😕

From what you have said, keep the Zesty.

Why do you “really need” to sell one of them?
If the money you will get selling them is important, sell whichever one will give you the most cash.

Well if hes the same as me it was because they rode so differently and its nice to have an option of what to ride

There is also this. The bikes are different enough that it wouldn’t be completely mad to keep both – if I could, I think I’d bias the Zesty towards more XC-ey build and Five towards a more rock munching descender.

Sell her bikes and keep yours 😀

Why not split one of them down, sell the parts and keep both frames. Then you can swap as and when you find the urge. If you stay on one bike and think you can’t be bothered swapping the parts over to the other for a few months then sell the frame that has been neglected. You usually get more for a bike sold as bits anyway.

What are your strengths as a rider?

If you’re a strong climber then keep the bike which id the better for descending, and if you’re are better on the way down then keep the best climber.

From what you’ve written above it sounds like you should keep the Zesty.

watching a video of some other people riding 5s made you want to keep the 5?

Yes, come to think of it, I find it quite ridiculous myself 😆 I think the ‘problem’ is because the video features two skilled MTB instructors and it really shows off the full potential that the Fives have, and I’d got into that stupid thing of “wow, the bikes make tackling that terrain look really easy and fun….cor, that looks just like my Five (& by implication…me)” – rather than the more obvious thing that they’re very experienced/skilled, strong & aerobically fit riders who are 100% familiar with the terrain, AND they probably had a few takes to get it looking easy (well, I hope!)

Thanks for forcing me too analyse things more objectively.

Thanks for forcing me too analyse things more objectively.

I was just being a cock actually. 🙂

I totally get what you mean though – what DVD was it BTW?

I think the ‘problem’ is because the video features two skilled MTB instructors and it really shows off the full potential that the Fives have, and I’d got into that stupid thing of “wow, the bikes make tackling that terrain look really easy and fun….cor, that looks just like my Five (& by implication…me)”

I’m sure if you search out some videos of Nico Vouilloz you could find the equivalent for a Zesty 🙂

EDIT;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IX6LOIy7ag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo0HI5eHurg

and he’s in the Trans Provence videos in the front page articles over there —>

Sell the 5 before it breaks. 😉

What are your strengths as a rider?

Hmm..yes, that’s a good way of looking at it that I hadn’t thought about (thanks).

I’m officially middle aged next year and am definately not as aerobically fit as I used to be, so any advantage on ascents is welcome.

Also, now you’ve made me think – after a huge off a few years ago, and now self-employed (i.e. no sick pay!), I definately take a more conservative approach to descents. Realistically, I’m not getting the potential out of the descending ability that the Five has got, and there’s only been one ‘twitch moment’ on the Zesty where I’ve though the Five would have been better.

watching a video of some other people riding 5s made you want to keep the 5?

They’d have looked just as good on the Zesty.

Maybe try watching some videos of the Zesty in action.

YouTube: Sam Blenkinsop and Nicolas Vouilloz riding their Lapierre Zesty and Lapierre Froggy at Megavalanche 2010, Alpe d’Huez…

http://youtu.be/Wo0HI5eHurg

Heehee…just watched some of the Nico Vouilloz footage 😀 I’ve got the feeling that someone like Steve P or Nico et al could ride an old beadstead down stuff better than me tho!

I guess when I’d said the Five is the better descender, it’s all relative – must admit, on a recent holiday in France (on the Zesty) I tried to stop at the bottom of one fast rocky descent and massively overshot the turning where my wife was waiting. When I said “I think the brakes might need bleeding”, she said “there’s nothing wrong with the brakes you idiot, it’s the freakin’ speed you were going!” 😯
The bike did feel remarkably composed on the descent…er…well, until I tried to stop 😆

Lend me your zesty for a while, see if you miss it. and then it will make my mind up whether to buy one or not 😀

Don’t compare yourself to the Cycleactive guys… they’d be ace on anything!
FWIW they used to ride Trek Remedy’s and they rate the Alpine Fives as amongst the best bikes they’ve ever ridden…

what DVD was it BTW?

Just the freebie one that’s with the current ‘What Mtn Bike’ magazine. All right for a freebie – much better video than I was anticipating, and quite like the way it’s shot (‘MTB Cut’ production I think).

It didn’t teach me anything I didn’t know of course……ahem…cough cough 😳

Right, that does it, accounts can wait! – all this talk of bikes means that it’s time to sneak out of the office for a couple of hours, now…..which bike shall I take?……Doh!!

Cheers for all the advice & comments.

The Five takes a 160mm fork OK but the Zesty doesn’t (IME), if that’s something you might consider in future?

I would keep the cool one assembled by your fellow countrymen, rather than one chucked together in a shed next door to a White Flag factory.

My zestys held up well for well over a year now. Only thing sounding ropey is the pressfit bb, but its the original and I used it all last winter so I dont think thats too bad. The zesty probably can take up to 160mm forks – hotlines apparently told a customer that as long as a shop fits the fork it would be covered under warranty. They can certainly cope with 150mm forks. I’m really impressed with mine, it gets ridden reasonably hard and so far hasnt complained.

rather than one chucked together in a shed next door to a White Flag factory.

Is that the one next door to the unused ammunition dump?

The zesty probably can take up to 160mm forks

I used one for a while and it didn’t snap the headtube off but the handling was a bit rubbish.

150mm was spot on (different fork so possibly more A-C difference)

If I was you I’d get rid of the Zesty frame as its showing your support for gritty northern engineering by keeping the Orange.

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