Orange bikes, love or hate?

I’ve had 2 oranges and both where great. My one issue is that for the price you go components made from chocolate unless you get the SE version.

All these haters don’t seem to be ruining the fact they sell like hot cakes.

Its my money which I have earned through working, so I will buy whatever bike I want and I can’t be bothered what anyone thinks of my choice, I spent my pocket money on an Alpine 160 liked it that much I bought a Five, liked it that much I’m thinking of selling the 160, after its been to Morzine that is, or should I sell it and buy a 224 and take that to Morzine 😀 Pick the bones out of that one.

A mates brother recently bought a Five Pro. They swapped bikes at Hamsterley last week and my friend fell in love with it. Couldn’t believe how much better it rode than his Boardman FS. He ordered one the next day and the Boardman is now for sale!

I’m scared to have a go in case I like it more than my Helius.

I don’t really mind what colour my bike is and orange is thought to stimulate enthusiasm and creativity, so pretty well suited for a bike I guess.

I haven’t read the whole thread.

I’ve got an Orange 5. Always wanted a single pivot bike partly because Mint rode one back in the day, partly because I had Amp F2 forks once which ate bearings, partly because I wanted a single pivot bike, partly because it’s a British company but mostly because I loved its looks.

I’ve had it since 2005, I absolutely love it, ride it most weekends. I changed the pivot and bearings last year – myself – easily.

I love bikes but I’m more interested in the size of the smile that a particular bike brings to its owner/rider than the price tag/label.
£50 from Ebay or £5,000 from niche bike shop – if a person’s out riding, enjoying the day, the countryside, the company, then that makes it a great bike.

I see there’s been some stereotyping going on: here’s some more grist to the mill; I have a Specialized (X/tourer), a Salsa (H/T), Scott (700c commuter), Airnimal Chameleon (folding road) and an Oyama Manhattan (SS folder). The woman 4 garages down from mine has a trike – I am SO tempted! But I musn’t, I musn’t, musn’t buy another bike.

On that note, I must decide where I’m riding today and get my arse in gear. Good riding one and all.

They seem quite good, most owners seem happy but for me they are a bit expensive and not too pretty. I’ve no idea why anyone would ‘hate’ them. I don’t see that many out and about either TBH (mostly ride in the Lakes).

I fine it weird the way lots on here sem to have a downer on Hope and Orange. Not that I’m particularly patriotic, but I still find it good to see decent stuff being made locally, by companies that seem to actually care (Hope anyway, I have no experience of Orange).

http://fwd.channel5.com/gadgets/transport/cycle/orange-five-pro

Was this review written by a child? It contradicts itself constantly and is possibly the least inspiring 5 out of 5 review I’ve ever read for anything!

Trust the Gadget show to come up with total drivel.

neninja – Member

A mates brother recently bought a Five Pro. They swapped bikes at Hamsterley last week and my friend fell in love with it. Couldn’t believe how much better it rode than his Boardman FS.

They’re pretty different bikes by design… But also, the top-end Boardman FS costs less than a Five frame. So doesn’t strike me as the best comparison.

Was this review written by a child? It contradicts itself constantly and is possibly the least inspiring 5 out of 5 review I’ve ever read for anything!

Trust the Gadget show to come up with total drivel.

Are you for or against then?

what do you expect from a non-bike specialist website. Same as when the sunday papers review gadgets…meaningless

Are you for or against then?

I have nothing against Orange bikes. It just struck me the review does it no justice with quotes like –

“The thing we like the most about the Orange Five Pro is its beautiful damping.”
followed by
“even if it doesn’t have a high-end finishing kit or the latest damper technology.”

Then
“If you want a bike so you can brag about carbon brakes or a carbon frame, the Orange Five Pro isn’t the bike for you.”

Anyone here got carbon brakes? Motogp or F1 maybe.

The whole review is badly constructed and some of the comments are just plain daft.

They’re pretty different bikes by design… But also, the top-end Boardman FS costs less than a Five frame. So doesn’t strike me as the best comparison.

Maybe not a fair comparison for a review but this was ‘real life’. He rode each bike back to back and decided he had to buy a Five and sell his Boardman.

Cheers neninja, hadn’t taken all of it in.

Anyway, I love my 5, & my mate (who’s known as ‘Mr Set Square Desk, cos of his perfectionisms) said the other day in Swaledale, ‘I have no real criticiscms (?) of my 5’.
Which is not like him at all.

neninja – Member

Maybe not a fair comparison for a review but this was ‘real life’.

Aye, and in real life the top-end Boardman costs less than a Five frame, so it’s not the best comparison. If the Five wasn’t miles better, something’d be very wrong.

The reviews they get in French or US mags are generally a bit meh but they’re bike of the year in the UK ones. So is it great engineering to build bikes tailored perfectly to UK conditions with a fair price for such a specialised product, or great PR/marketing and a cushy relationship with bike journalists to get us to pay over the odds for a fairly normal bike?

I’ve loved them since I first saw one way back in 1989. Got my hands on a Clockwork in 1992 and have not looked back. Tried a GT XCR around 2000 and hated it so sold it on and bought another Orange (Evo4).

Had a couple of 5’s and am smitten. Tried loads of full suss bikes but nothing comes close imo. I don’t have an audi and the bikes do get very dirty.

Currently have a 2009 5 and a 2007 Clockwork. Very happy I am too!

My Sub 5 is still going strong after 10 years of hard riding. Orange have always been very helpful when I’ve contacted them with questions etc…wouldn’t hesitate to buy another Orange!

Forgot to add that their customer service is fantastic. Been over to Halifax a few times for parts, bits etc and nothing’s too much trouble. They’re quite happy to just chat about bikes. Not a reason for buying a bike but it certainly doesn’t hurt.

Love them. People who don’t like them have never had a shot one one.

will this debate ever end ?

…THE END

I don’t know why I love my sub 5, but it’s about the only thing in the garage I’d keep if push came to shove.

I own an orange a specialized and a genesis – so I can’t be pigeonholed, not like an audi driver.

I’ve got a P7. As long as I can ride,it will not be sold.

i just love orange bikes….. so many plain colors out there either black or grey or more black…..simply dont know why we dont see more orange…..so anyway put me firmly in the I LOVE ORANGE BIKES and no more plain ol colors ever again for me 8)