Orange Bikes..has been sold on…

Just read this, I gues the owners had had enough, can’t see any huge changes coming though.

to the owner of the sheet metal company – love it 🙂

😆
Apparently TATA didn’t have the cash

Makes sense really, IIRC they’ve always been basically dependent on the metalwork company for the big sheet metal cookie cutter press things that they use to produce the basic frame parts (*)

(* this may not be the right name)

I always thought it would be a management buyout.

No carbon five now ….

Northwind – Member
Makes sense really, IIRC they’ve always been basically dependent on the metalwork company for the big sheet metal cookie cutter press things that they use to produce the basic frame parts (*)
(* this may not be the right name)

Probably easier to just call it a laser these days 😉

Links to any stories ?

Front page.

I met Lester and Steve back in the day, and first proper MTb ride was on Orange that Lester owned, at Ullswater sailing club.

I hope the future is positive and fresh for Orange Bikes

Probably easier to just call it a laser these days

The larger sheets are actually cut using a punch to make hundreds of slightly overlapping holes.
I’ve been to factory a couple of times (yes….there were filing cabinets present)

No carbon five now …

Also this….

legend – Member

Probably easier to just call it a laser these days

The “making of” vids show them being stomped out of sheet by a humungous press/sewing machine dealie.

Though, I suppose if they started from scratch, laser cutting might make more sense these days.

Front page.

Thanks @matt 😳

I hope the future is positive and fresh for Orange Bikes

Me too

If you’re doing large enough quantities, stamping still makes sense. A stamp will have a complete panel cut by the time the laser gets around the first part.

Must’ve missed the facetious button. Although a laser that can also form the tubes would be interesting…

I know a company that would make a carbon Five for anyone that wants one – may be slightly pricey though

Don’t know how I feel about this. I’m a huge Orange fan to the point of collecting many of the early bikes and knowing all about the history and roots. Part of the reason I kept buying is because they were still owned by the founders. Emotional nonsense I know but I like the heritage.

That’s gone a bit now though. I’ll be interested to see what direction they go in as I was a bit underwhelmed by this years line up. I’m in no rush to change my 5 29 but when I do I want a bike that moves things on a bit.

Must’ve missed the facetious button. Although a laser that can also form the tubes would be interesting…

I know a company that would make a carbon Five for anyone that wants one – may be slightly pricey though

Is it the same company that’s been pootling it round Ladybower?

Each time I go mountain biking abroad, I feel that Orange must really need some help on the sales and marketing side of the business. In all the times I’ve been biking in the Alps, I don’t know if I’ve ever, ever seen anyone except a Brit riding an Orange bike. Maybe this will give the impetus to overhaul things from an overseas distribution point of view. Or maybe they’re happy keeping their bikes for Brits only.

They had the chance when they sponsored Global – Minaar & Missy

And when they had Peat for years winning stuff

Will I be seeing orange branded BSOs in sports direct any time soon?

Facebook announcement

News here

Each time I go mountain biking abroad, I feel that Orange must really need some help on the sales and marketing side of the business.

Down in Oz you can count them on one hand, most are sponsored dh riders.
The price will kill exports, take away the made in the UK bit (not worth much if your not a brit) and it’s a he’ll of a premium.

It’s been for sale for a few years now, for a few reasons, but basically Lester doesn’t need to worry about it anymore and that’ll suit him just fine. I doubt it’ll make much difference- though if they’ve paid the price they were after they’ll possibly need to expand production or up prices even more. And who’d buy an Orange for more than they go for now?

IMO Orange is one of those brands which is British through and through, made in Halifax so ticks all the proud to be British boxes. The simplicity is great for the British weather. None of that carries much weight in mainland Europe where a bike which is great is really rubbish weather isn’t much of a selling point. Likewise really with Steel hard tails which most of my European friends don’t “understand” at all.

Although it’s been ‘sold’, it also sounds like a younger family member who’s been involved for years is now in charge, which is not quite as dramatic.

It’s been for sale for a few years now, for a few reasons, but basically Lester doesn’t need to worry about it anymore and that’ll suit him just fine. I doubt it’ll make much difference- though if they’ve paid the price they were after they’ll possibly need to expand production or up prices even more. And who’d buy an Orange for more than they go for now?

I noticed in the blurb that the new owner said they will look to expand the range. This worries me a bit as the range was much bigger a few years back but was paired right back which I can only assume is because most of the range didn’t make much money. Why would it work in the future?

Steve (I think) said a while back that for the made-in-uk frames Orange is right on their production capacity with some of the hardware, and that it’d be massively expensive to change that, so the range selection in the squished sheet models is mostly down to that- keeping a varied range for market presence and promotion, while focusing on best sellers and presumably best returns.

I wonder if he means a return to generic taiwanese hardtails? They sold tons of those (more than the UK bikes apparently) for pretty high prices, if they weren’t making money off it it’d be pretty impressive.

while focusing on best sellers and presumably best returns.

A few years ago they were worried the Five bubble would burst as that was so far and away their biggest seller when it stopped being hot their market would collapse. Possibly a manufacturer who benefited from the big wheel introduction as it was an easy overhaul and revamp of an existing bike.

Well, when I bought my first proper mtb in 96, it was a C16. It wa head and shoulders better than the other bikes in the shop (Specialised Rockhopper, Marin’s Various). I was sold on it’s ridability. When it was stolen, I didn’t hesitate to replace with a P7, having tried various others, including (from another shop) various Kona and more Specialised.

To me, Orange were about decent steel frames, done right – before even that awful X1 they released.

I’d be in the market for one of their Pure7/P7’s now if I was looking. I had a G2 for a bit when the last p7 was stolen, and, you know, it was alright, but it wasn’t a Steel Orange, regardless of where it came from. Even the dealer told me to buy a Whyte instead!

Don’t get hung up on the filing cabinets, there’s more to Orange than them Fives. Well, there was.

I didn’t mean P7s etc when I said generic hardtails btw! I meant the G3 and the like. I remember one of the mags said the G3 was their top selling bike, which was a bit depressing at the time since it cost about £800 IIRC but was worse than a £450 carrera. THose orange stickers were expensive! I started taking Orange a lot more seriously when they stopped milking the brand name so hard

Yeah but I’ve a G3 and everyone thinks it’s hand built because it’s an Orange so that’s worth more than the stickers 😉

Seriously though, I bought mine when I was new to MTBing and I thought I was getting a top spec bike as I didn’t know much about specs etc. For me it’s fine now as it’s got new wheels, headset, bottom bracket, pedals, grips, brakes, discs etc so basically rebuilt after falling apart after trashing it.

Still feel the geometry is fine for me.

Steel hard tails which most of my European friends don’t “understand” at all.

fair play. i’ve had four. now i ride a chameleon and it’s better than all of them. also like my 5 though. 😉

Steve (I think) said a while back that for the made-in-uk frames Orange is right on their production capacity with some of the hardware, and that it’d be massively expensive to change that, so the range selection in the squished sheet models is mostly down to that- keeping a varied range for market presence and promotion, while focusing on best sellers and presumably best returns.

I wonder if he means a return to generic taiwanese hardtails? They sold tons of those (more than the UK bikes apparently) for pretty high prices, if they weren’t making money off it it’d be pretty impressive.

I meant the bought in stuff really. They slimmed down that range and increased variety in the hand built bikes. At one point didn’t they have the r8, p7, pure 7, various ‘g’ series bikes, crush and elite in the showroom? That became just the clockwork, crush and cross bike the other year.