Orange Stage Evo , any thoughts from owners?

Currently on a HT and regularly cycle in clay/mud during winter. When I tried out mates FS I remembered how nice some squish is. Anybody got some long term thoughts?

I have had a Single Pivot SC super light some time ago and like the mud clearance and simplicity. 5’11” so it’s a large or XL?

Personally, I wouldn’t let mud clearance / number of bearings force me towards a certain bike. I had a single pivot Starling Murmur. It really wasn’t any more or less hassle than any other bike.
Yes bearing change was quick and easy, but still had to be done at similar intervals.

What kind of riding do you do and what’s the budget? At 5’11” you’re likely to be large, but you may be able to up or downsize depending on bike.

99% forests fields and woods with wheels on ground. Covering distance up and down, with very mild lumpy bits and logs and whatnot.

Defo large as its fairly stretched out as is teh fashion- should have bought mine that was advertised a few weeks ago as I ended up giving it away virtually…

Im just over 6ft with a 32 inch leg and definitely wouldnt have wanted it bigger

Great bikes by the way just dont seem to have much profile for some reason so if you go second hand you may be able to get a good deal if you are patient

Posted elsewhere but some off the top of my head…

Had Oranges before including a 2018 Stage 4 which so very close to being right, but the geo wasnt quite caught up then and it was limited in really high speed stuff by the small rear shock (Fox DPS).

Had other stuff in between including a Hightower but went from SC + Hardtail to a Stage Evo in November – its my only MTB now.

+ The paint finish, graphics and quality of the 2022 is steps nicer than the 2018.
+ The updated modern geo means that where I used to ride a large, I now ride a medium, and can run a proper decent dopper post (was limited to 100, now ride 150mm drop).
+ The old one had a Fox DPS, an XC shock. The new one has the 2022 Fox Float X, which is 5mm longer stroke, much bigger oil capacity, big soft bottom out bumper etc.
+ Its light weight (comparable to lots of carbon equivalents)
+ Now got bottle cage mounts
– They are on the downtube
– Its not cheap
– Its very hard to get a test ride or sit on one

Its not the plushest or most cosseting – thats not the point. Its ‘less is more’ and that might or might nor work for you. Its really, really fast when you stand up and sprint, it feels lively, and you can always tell whats happening under your feet.

Its a good bike to come to from a hardtail for those reaons too, it will give you lots of benefits without feeling too leaden and dull which a more competent, plusher or longer travel bike can do.

Mud clearance is also brilliant, that used to frustrat me with many other bikes, Oranges stay cleaner for longer and dont clog up. Makes a difference in Winter.

Less is more.

Echo Snotrag there. Mine is really likeable, feels like a step up from a hard tail without being too cosseting. I came from a Cotic Flaremax and this is more me and certainly lighter. I’m 5’10” and went for a large which is perfect.
No test ride, just ordered from Dales Bike Centre who I trust for advice.

I have the Stage 4 (Snotrag’s old frame) with an angleset, and if I had to replace it the Stage Evo would be top of my list.

feels like a step up from a hard tail without being too cosseting.

Spot-on, much more lively and engaging than other short-travel shred sleds I’ve owned (Smuggler, process 111).

Only downside (as with most FS Oranges) is no room for a bottle in the frame.

I posted something last week about a new bike and decided after owning 2 full sus Oranges long term now that what I wanted was a third. They match my ability to set aside time for maintenance absolutely perfectly. Just picked up my new Five Evo last night…

If you’re interested, I know someone who is going to be selling a 2019 Stage 5 (I think its a Factory) in large… Not quite as gnar as the Evos in geometry but a hell of a lot less to buy. I was tempted but at 5’8″ I would be been extremely borderline in terms of sizing…

I have the five evo’s predecessor, the four.

Cracking bike and I can’t see me ever getting rid. I’m 5”11 and riding a Large.

I strapped a fidlock to the underside of the top tube to overcome the lack of bottle bosses. Not ideal, but it works ok.

On the sizing question, it sounds like at 5′ 11 you’ll probably be on a large, but just to say I’ve got a 2020 stage 5 which has similar geometry to the current evos and at 6′ I’m on an xl. I just found the seated position too cramped on the large for my liking. That’s with a 35mm stem btw. Comparing to Cotic for example, Orange seems to size their bikes slightly differently. Their Xl sits between cotics L and Xl in terms of reach and ett so just something to be aware of.
I love my stage 5 but something I’d probably change is to have a slightly higher bb. Lots of rocks here and you have to be fairly careful when climbing not to catch pedals over rough ground, and that’s with fairly short cranks. I think the stage evo is even lower but has less travel obv. Again the bb drop on cotics are a fair bit less I think. Not sure if others find this an issue..
Good luck choosing!

Love the look of them but too expensive for me. Post some pics if you get one OP

I just got a 2021 Stage Evo LE a week ago. Only ridden it once but I’m very impressed. I’m 5′ 10″ and chose a large and it fits perfectly.
I’ve had several full sus bikes before but this is my first with 29″ wheels and progressive geo; I’m sold. I wanted a single pivot again, after loving my SC Superlight back in the early 2000s.
I managed to snag mine at a bargain 26% discount. Wouldn’t have paid full price for it. Second ride tomorrow!

This is where I got mine.

I had an orange segment for a year, in xl- I’m 6″4.

It was great for the riding you describe.

It had a tiny shock 165*38mm. It was either plushish and bottoming multiple times per ride or hard. I put this down to the very short stroke on the shock.

When I stripped it down, the rear triangle was cracked. Orange replaced the rear end under warranty very promptly and were great to deal with.

I’d have another full suss orange, but only if
– it was brand new
– it had a 50mm+ shock stroke
– it had a long reach. I have a Geometron and hello Dave with 520mm and 530mm reach.

My 5 year old orange clockwork 120 is doing sterling service with a kids ride shotgun on the front

@tall_martin this was still a problem with the later Stage 4, especially with the dinky inline Fox DPS.

As per my comments above, this is now completely resolved, at least if you choose the Float X. It’ll be partially the stroke, and partially the much, much better shock.

It now has a much wider window of operation, I can run plenty of sag but also absolutely tw*t it off stuff without the metallic clanging bottom out of the old bikes. It was much easier to get in the sweet spot of tuning too, and the two way climb switch works great for tarmac sprints.

They are much further down the LLS avenue nowadays too (though not geometron-like!).

I’ve changed that DPS for a cane creek inline air now, it’s bloody amazing and so much more supple and grippy.

I didn’t really mind the DPS as I liked the “hardtail with a bit of give” feel, but the CC shock and pike have made it a far more capable bike.

@snotrag

Glad that’s changed! It was absolutely awesome for the tame/ distance stuff near me. Just not for the more jumpy stuff

I’ve found the megneg a useful upgrade for tuning the suspension on my stage 5 if you go down the rockshox route.

Love mine, defintley firmer under pedal than the Smuggler I had, and to me, its a perfect balance between speed and compliance.

Just looking to replace the Pike with a new factory 34. To finish it off. 😉

I bought it as ‘1 bike does all’ IMO its pretty good at filling that Niche 👍

Untitled by eastham_david[/url], on Flickr

Thank you for all contributions. Will keep an eye out for a large over the next months.

IMG_20220730_110841333_HDR by Will Jenkins[/url], on Flickr

I’ve found the megneg a useful upgrade for tuning the suspension on my stage 5 if you go down the rockshox route.

Shock stroke (45mm) on the Stage Evo is too short for a megneg aircan I believe

Hi @wally, bit of a thread bump! Did you get a Stage Evo in the end? I’m tempted by one to replace my ageing Orange Four and interested I feedback from long term use.

Anybody else? Love my Four but want ‘more’! Local singltrack or FOD are my main haunts, withsome trips to Wales planned later I the year.

If you are missing a bottle mount, I put a frame bag on my segment and that fitted a 2L water bladder.

I’ve PMed you Fettlin

Love mine, although I am not using it as much as I would like 🙁

I have one, owned it for a year or so. I love mine, had a stage 4 once and didn’t get on with that. Geo and shock eye2eye makes it infinitely better imo. I have mine at 140/130 as I have removed 5mm of spacers, had no issues and the ha at 64.5′ Is bang on. Taking mine to Madeira next week and I have no doubt it’ll be spot on

Got a Stage 4 as my out of season bike. I absolutely love it. It may be my favourite bike I’ve ever owned. It can get out of it’s depth in steep choss, but it’ll still get me down. I can’t think of a trail round here (Les Arcs!) that I wouldn’t happily take it down. Otherwise, I love the speed and the positivity of it. It just always wants to GO.

I joined the Stage Evo club, bought as a not coil sprung Enduro weapon and a replacement for my hardtail that I was just no longer enjoying riding….

I also really really loved my short travel Swarf Contour and this is much in the same vain.

Only had 1 ride and well I’m impressed, cable routing was a bastard mind.

Welcome to the club, you will not regret it 😉

1. 
   Here’s mine; amazing fun

I joined the Stage Evo club, bought as a not coil sprung Enduro weapon…

it’s funny that you say that – I did see a French guy riding one at this years Megavalanche.

I’ve had mine just over a year and was immediately struck by how capable it was. The geometry is pretty much perfect for me & really encourages a bit of daftness. The Cane Creek Helm forks are superb at 130mm and match the Fox DPX2 at the rear.

Lovely build, looks fantastic in that cherry red.

Second ride this morning and I continue to be impressed, it just wants to go, so much fun to stomp on the pedals and the geometry means I am able to do a big day on the enduro bike yesterday and jump on the Stage Evo today, no adjustments to my riding required. I really struggled to adjust between bikes before.

I had the Cane Creek helm MK2 coils on a previous bike and they are top, but was keen to try the new Rockshox 23 stuff..the shock has hydraulic bottom, HSC,LSC and you can also tune it with different aircans. The Rockshox stuff seems to suit the bike, somewhat firm at low speeds…but once you getting going it feels great.

Only just managed to get a 180mm One up dropper in there on a medium…

How are you all still enjoying your Stage Evo’s…?

Anyone weighed a frame only out of interest?

Looking at one as an alternative to both a winter hardtail and an XC bike (though should stipulate the likelihood of it being raced are minimal)… Have a full build kit ready to go on, 2 sets of wheels/tyres (XC and trail), choice of forks etc… Just need to pull the plug on a frame!

Large with super deluxe was 3.6kg including seatclamp and axle

@tomtomr that’s a typo right…? That’s heavier than my Geometron G15 frame including hardware and Float X2 shock was!!! In fact, that’s heavier than many/most 160mm travel Enduro bike frames available right now…

I know it’s ally, but that’s got to be a mistake… Back in the days of 26″ wheels being relevant, Orange always used to get praised for the 5 frames being lighter than their peers. I wasn’t expecting 1800g like an Epic Evo weighs, but even a Geometron G1 only weighs 3.9kg including a coil shock and it comes with an unlimited warranty for use and owners! Not to mention much more travel and a massively overbuilt frame…

Are you sure that figure was correct…?

This is where I got mine.

Posted 1 year ago

The Stage 6 with Ohlins on that link is a bargain. £3700 from £6400

The 

It was possibly with the headset as well, so could be a couple of hundred grams lighter than that. I managed not to make a note at the time I weighed it. Built up with carbon bars, gx drivetrain, fox transfer, hunt trailwides and maxxis exo tyres it came out around the 30lb mark (no pedals)