Orange 2017 Five vs Alpine6

Who’s got what, how are you liking them and where do you ride? Anyone bought one and wish they’d bought the other? I’m torn after trying and liking both. Ta v much.

One of my mates has a Four and he likes it.

Thanks. Looking for a bit more travel/slacker than a Four though.

Now the Five is 150/140 and the Six 170/160 I’d have thought the gnarliness of your trails/riding would have made the decision easier? Six for dedicated rock munching, Five for everything else.

Got the 2017 Five – did think about the Alpine, but absolutely no regrets whatsoever. Have spent most of my time on it so far at Coed y Brenin, where I’m faster both uphill and downhill than on my old 2010 Five. It was also great at Bike Park Wales, although I didn’t ride anything gnarlier than the reds there.

I’ve got a segment.

The only place I’ve felt under biked was about 30 seconds on at afan.

So for all the trail center stuff,bike Park wales, Hamsterley, peaks and lakes 110mm at the back has been enough for me.

Five for the UK

Six for the alps and or dh uplifts.

Got 2016 five. Used all over UK natural and uplift. Used a lot in Alps for big natural days and uplift. Only thing lacking was my ability. They aint pretty but they can do it all.

The only place I’ve felt under biked was about 30 seconds on at afan.

which bit of afan did you feel underbiked on?

Haven’t got either, nor ridden them, but my local shop has one of each in stock. They both look incredible. The alpine looks a bit of a beast. I think the five is longer/slacker than my specialized enduro and the alpine is even more so.

I have a 2017 Five, wouldn’t want or need anymore bike to be honest. That said I am hankering after another Spitfire or maybe a bronson. Don’t get me wrong the Five is a great bike and the 2017 is a much better take on the previous models, just think it’s perhaps time to look something different

This thread needs photo’s, so here’s my 2017 Five …

I can’t imagine I’d want anything more for UK riding. More confident than my 2011 Five on the downs, OK on the climbs, but no rocket ship really. Only thing I don’t like is the routing for the rear brake and gear cables, as I knock them with my knees when stood up climbing.

Nick

Nick – looks good that, cheers. What size is it? Interesting that you use a laid-back seat post instead of sizing up. Doesn’t it make climbing a pain because your feet are well out in front of you?

Anyone riding their Five on super-steep techy stuff in places like the Lakes (like Rosset Ghyll etc), or epics like the Four Western Passes? I don’t ride trail centres but 90% of my riding is Pennines/Calderdale cheeky and 10% Lakes/Alps. I could ‘get away’ with either bike – just don’t want to buy the ‘wrong’ one.

It’s a medium, and I’m 5’9. That was the seatpost that I had lying around (still working out whether I want a dropper). I tend to do all my climbing out the saddle, so makes little difference to me.

It sounds like you’d be better off with the Alpine Six – it’ll weigh little more than the Five and pedal almost as well, so be fine for epic days out and the extra travel and slackness will be good on your steep rocky trails.

My bike has very similar geometry to the current Alpine, just 20mm less travel at both ends, and it still handles well on flatter twisty trails and when climbing.

Yep took my 5 on Ben Jones Mont Blanc enduro trip, white room and Italian bike parks. Bigger and steeper than anything in UK. Happy on all of it. If you can stick your arse out its a goer. Never riddden an alpine though.

It was near the end of the blade. They ran an enduro down in the next day.

It was a couple of big hits and I bottomed out hard on the second.

Other than that, it’s absolutely ace.

If you go for the alpine it will always be a bit heavier- lose a kg of yourself and the total weight will be pretty similar, plus you will have the perfect bike for the dh

Useful info thanks, folk. Keep it coming. Veering towards the Five.

It was near the end of the blade. They ran an enduro down in the next day.

It was a couple of big hits and I bottomed out hard on the second.

I took my Spitfire down there at a hell of a pace about a year ago – even Strava agreed that I was having a very good day (for me)!

I thought I read somewhere that they have moved the shock position in the 2017 alpine6 and it does not ride as well as the older ones. May I imagined it though

Not sure about the shock position thing. The one I demoed rode very well indeed. I knew it would descend brilliantly but what really surprised me was how well it climbed steep, techy stuff.

Stage 5 all the way

Or just look which one looks better upside down in the background in photos

Cupid, you’re late! What took you? I’ll buzz you soon to bend your ear.

I’m selling my Alpine but really don’t want to. It’s a fantastic bike.
It’s realistically only a fraction heavier than a Five, and the seated climbing position makes the uphills easy enough to climb. Descending it’s well planted and I’ve yet to get it out of its comfort zone, probably something to do with it being slacker than anything I’ve ridden before.
Most of the riding I’ve done on it has been around the Tweed Valley enduro stuff. I wouldn’t hesitate to take it to the Alps or beyond as it’s more than capable!

Maybe selling my 2017 Five frame in medium…norlando grey shortly. Not a stealth ad at all…just a latent plug

SteveL and russyh – cheers. How come you two are selling?

I want to try 29er and carbon! Simple as that for me. I talked myself out of it and bought another new five frame end of last year and have regretted not having the balls to challenge my norm

russyh – cheers. Just in case it helps, I’ve demoed Orange’s Stage 5 and it’s amazing. A proper fast race bike. Did three big and varied rides on it. I’d have one, but I kind of like the 650b wheel size and I’ve no interest in racing, just fun. Good luck with your search.

STW read my mind. Five review on here.

My alpine five is fantastic and so much quicker then my old mk1 650b five but I’m so tempted to change it for the six or even a stage 6, the new Alpine or six climbs really well a good friends been harping on about his for the last month I got to have a play. climbs like my old mk1 but so much quicker obviously pointing south, the only problem would be the stage six is just stunning..

Either or you won’t be disappointed

Just remembered my 10% could snag me a stage le for 4999…..

The new alpine6 climbs well enough for it to be a non issue. Your choice is do you want the steeper head angle on the five for tight cornering technical stuff or the slack head angle on the six for high speed. I’ve got the alpine 6 and it feels like it’s meant to be ridden fast and rough not slow and technical but that’s just my opinion.

Sorry to tell you this Will, those two bikes were discontinued 4 years ago! 😆

The only reason I’m selling is to raise some funds towards a house purchase. Apparently buying your first property is more important than having n+1 bikes.
I’ve a few other things to sell to try and raise the cash so I’m secretly hoping it doesn’t sell and I can keep it!

Do you think you are any closer to a decision?

Thought I was getting close then rode a Stage 5, which was ace. Never been in quite such a dilemma new bike-wise (although Cupid might beg to differ!). Reckon my Luddite tendencies will win out though and I’ll probably stick with 650 wheels.

Anyone got anything to add on Fives and Alpines? It’s decision time.

Alpine 6 for me if it’s only Five v Alpine 6.

Rode the 2017 Five and Alpine 6 at a Demo day recently and the Five still has the looping out wandering front end feeling on steep climbs that my 2013 version has but the Alpine 6, just like my Alpine 160 doesn’t do it. Don’t know what it is about the shape of the Five. I think it’s the short chain stay makes it too easy to lift the front. I know you need to use body English on the Five. The Four didn’t do it either though and that’s shorter back end.

It might just be me but I have put in nearly 3000km on my Five (since July 2015) and over 3000km on my Alpine (since Nov 2014). They’re both great. Just the Alpine climbs technical stuff better than the Five ever does. It’ll be more work to make it up and sometimes a fail on the 1kg lighter Five than the Alpine. Just my 2 cents.

I just hoped I’d like the 2017 Five more than I did. The Four was oh so capable and much faster too. The Alpine 6 felt very much like my Alpine which is to say it pedalled really well and took everything in it’s stride. Of the 650B bikes the Four won it for me, just because I’d keep my Alpine if I got one.

The 29ers rocked though. The Stage 5 was awesome. Felt amazing in the air and nimble as anything.

gelert – cheers. I liked the Stage 5 a lot (to my surprise), and if I was racing or Strava-ing I’d have one. I think I prefer the smaller wheels though – still feel a bit more accurate, agile and ‘fun’ to me, and they don’t hit my arse on the really steep descents. Interesting about the climbing – like you I was very impressed by the way the Alpine 6 got up techy climbs. You’re right though, 1 kilo heavier than the equivalent Five build.

Orange five for me. Took delivery of mine yesterday. Went for the fox factory upgrade. Initial feeling is the fox 36 is better than my recently serviced but old 2014 pike. Will give it a proper run this weekend down local welsh mountains.

samuelr – sounds great, enjoy it. Feel free to add your verdict.

No problem wi. I didn’t and don’t notice the weight difference though. In fact the problems on the Five make it slower overall than the Alpine for everything up or down. I’ve proved the weight makes no difference many times. I’ve even fitted the exact same wheels on both and tried it down the same trails. The Alpine always wins because it’s stiffer and just pedals more efficiently. The Five’s lightness is only a benefit to me in the winter when it’s muddy and I’m really really tired. I even set faster times on 30 minute XC 100% efforts with the Alpine and it’s minutes faster on those not a few seconds.

My Five has been 12.2kg verses 13kg for the Alpine at it’s lightest with no pedals. Carbon rims / bars / cranks on both.

I’m probably going to skip the whole 650B thing. There’s just not enough difference between my 26 inch bikes and them to warrant dropping 3 big ones on one.

The Stage 5 surprised me too. I’ve tried a couple of 29er demos since I bought my 26in Oranges and the only one I’d liked at all was the original Alpine Five. I didn’t like the original bendy tube Segment or the Mega290. But as soon as I got on the Stage 5 and rode it… I had to demo it again after trying the others just to make sure it was really that good. I have to say the 2017 Segment was a blast too – another surprise. But I’d get the Stage 5 because it had more capabilities and no negatives.

Trying the ride the pants off my Alpine 160 at the moment so I fitted brand new Minion DHF/DHRII 3C tyres like the demo Orange’s had and I’m seeing if it can **** me off enough to want to buy a new bike. So far… it’s just made me grin from ear to ear every time I ride it on my local 50km AM trails. So it’s not doing very well at making me want to buy a new one although… I might still get a Stage 5 when the lower spec Pro version comes out or there’s an offer on. I do really fancy one just to try a 29er.