Orange Stage 7 LE Review: A Jaffa Smasha

The Orange Stage 7 LE is the latest bike from the Halifax metal masters to feature the brand’s new Strange Power Link system.

…

By singletrackross

Get the full story here:

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/orange-stage-7-le-review-a-jaffa-smasha/

Geometry looks great, nice to see a long rear end for a change.

If only it had water bottle mounts.

Sparkly purple = a yes from me

Any comparison to the Deviate Claymore you recently reviewed?

Looks lovely does that. Too much bike for me but I’d be interested in a more trail version.

I don’t just want to be negative about Orange bikes all the time so I’ll concentrate on the positives.

This bike is very pretty and reasonably priced.

Looks good to me and it also looks like some of the frame changes are to counter the cracking issues previous Stages have had, so that’s positive too. I wonder if it’ll struggle like previous Orange linkage bikes, people seem very tied to the simple single pivot design

🤔 if it weren’t for the fugly seat tube support and the e-bike pricing plus it being WAY TOO MUCH bike for me I’d be interested.

The ‘simplicity’ of the rear suspension setup and its neatness are good.

Bottle cage mounts?

Is it available in a really cool red? Or a stealth black? Purple 🫤

Holy chainstays, that’s a lot of chainstay…

Claymore comparision?

 

looks like there are bottle mounts on underside of top tube?

Same size chainstay on all sizes, would be interesting to ride the small that has a 10mm shorter reach than chainstay length…

I’m loving those cable clips. Can you get non branded ones

I don’t think Orange offer the Stage7 in a small, for the same reason that Starling cycles only offer the Mega Murmur in L-XXL…it unbalances the bike.

If you wanted the small you’d have to go for the Switch7 which is the mullet version,…would be great the have a comparison of the Switch 7 Vs the Stage 7. Reckon my money would be on the Switch 7 as it looks more versatile rather than just a full on race rig, but that would depending on how big you are I suppose.

dumbbot
Free Member
I don’t think Orange offer the Stage7 in a small

https://www.orangebikes.com/model/stage-7

Reaches – 458
Stayz – 468

and its not just the small either, medium still has the stays 2mm longer than the reach

I see that, and they do quote the geometry numbers for the small Stage 7 on site….but can’t order one vie the drop down menu box.

https://www.orangebikes.com/bikes/stage-7-factory/2024 – Sizes M,L,XL.

As I said, for my money(and size) the Switch 7 seems a bit more balanced, and versatile. I’m sure the Stage 7 is fast but it looks huge on paper.

I’d still love a shot on one.

Might just be that the smalls will be the last batch they make. They start with the most popular and work back from there (or used to anyway, cant imagine that changing)

£7500 for an aluminium bike. 16.5kg would be way too much for me. My carbon specialized is 14kg odd and I find that a bit heavy.

I’m loving those cable clips. Can you get non branded ones

Similar https://76projects.com/products/cable-bobbins

Amazingly, those huge stays on a size L end up at the same F-R ratio as my size M Bird Aether with its short 430mm stays: 1.8.

Too much bike? Try the Alpine Evo… I **** love mine. Outdated small wheels (which I prefer) obviously, but it absolutely flies downhill. Climbs better than my previous Spectral, is lighter, prettier and is made in the UK. Gobbled up Ard Rock this year. Not sure why there’s so much hate for Orange bikes. They’re expensive because you’re supporting small volume UK manufacturing, which has got to be a good thing, no? They’re simple but that’s not to say they’re somehow bad. Personally I wouldn’t go back to my Spectral, I don’t think the rear end was anything like as good, but that may be a DPX2/X2 thing.