Thoughts on Orange P7 29 S?

Hi All, I’m looking for peoples thoughts on the 2023 Orange P7 29S. Anyone got one?

I’ll be in th UK in June and am thinking of treating myself. Funds are tight n I prefer a steel frame n Sunset have it a a good discount.

I bought one of these two months ago at a slightly higher price than Sunset have it at now, mainly for the frame and fork. The drivetrain and brakes are pretty low spec and heavy and I swapped them out for SRAM stuff off my last frame. Wheels are basic but ok and the tyres are good. Seat, I didn’t get on with but is a decent model. Never tried the dropper as I swapped it out for my One Up. Bars are heavy but decent shape. Nothing is unusable but frame definitely warrants better parts.
I love mine. It’s really comfy, handles well and with a few upgrades it’s not too heavy. Took it to Tarland trails on Friday and with the saddle dropped it feels like a giant bmx. With the saddle up it’s a comfortable mile muncher.

I like the look of them. Got a Clockwork Evo 29 myself so not a direct comparison.

For the money I think there’s better out there though. Reynolds 525 is near as dammit just 4130 steel. Orange want £650 for a frame which puts it in the same price bracket as a Taiwanese Stantons which have a nicer heat treated triple butted steel and better paintjobs.

Not sure what kind of a deal you’re getting but I’d be wanting a good one to sway me.

That being said Ive also got a Nordest Britango 2 which is 4130 steel and although quite heavy rides really nice.

Its a buyer’s market just now so shop around.

I’d a Clockwork bitd, though always wanted a P7. Eventually I got one, well a Pure 7. And i was rather excited opening the box.

Until I lifted it out. it was considerably heavier that the Clockwork was, seriously I initially thought it had been constructed using gas pipes.

Not too shabby if it comes with a Lyrik

Brilliant HT. I had a 2019 p7 that i bought from sunset. Immediately upgraded pretty much all the components, but frame was superb. It’s about the same weight as any other hardcore ht. It will be about 31lb complete, which sounds a lot for a HT, but it never really bothered me. Used it for long xc days (did sdw in less than 10hr on it), enduros, dh. Used a number of times in alps.

Still have the frame for sale if interested? Medium. Message me if you are.

I really licked my 2017, it was ace fun and I can’t imagine they’ve got worse? Don’t reckon it was any heavier than my current 853 framed Pace either?

Didn’t lick it but liked it!

I bought one in January.  It was certainly purchase made with the heart and not the head but I have no regrets. There are better value bikes for sure, like the Big Trail 700, but I can’t see myself ever changing it. As mentioned some components are low spec and I upgraded cranks, bars and brakes almost immediately.  I will upgrade gears and wheels in due course. It is hefty, but makes more sense as it gets steeper. I’m really enjoying it.

I’ve literally had one arrive yesterday.

Used it to commute to work today and hitting the trails for the first time on it after work.

My previous experience of steel was an On One Big Dog – This is lighter than I expected.

Feels snappier and more lively than my 29″ Nukeproof Scout, and the lyriks feel really good.

It looks fantastic, the colour really pops in the sunlight.

Spec wise, I only ever run low end stuff due to budget. My Alpine has SRAM NX, the Deore gearing feels better.

The Clarks brakes are budget, but they are adequate for now until I can afford an upgrade.

I’ll feedback on my thoughts later – I live on the edge of Cannock Chase so it’ll be off piste trails and may try a couple of runs at Stile Cop too.

Did an 18 mile loop on the Chase last night.

I loved it – Not ridden a hardtail since December, but after the first couple of trails i’d dialled back in. It’s fast and poppy. The chainstays feel shorter than my Nukeproof Scout and it’s easier to manual over trail features. I tried the steepest climb I could find as I expected the front end to wander a little due to this, but it climbed well.

As an aside, the Clarks brakes were far better than I expected, so it’ll be an upgrade at some point, but not deperately. (I run Sram Code’s on my Alpine, they obvously aren’t as good, but more than good enough for trail use).

Didn’t do the downhill at Stile Cop, but did some OP drop offs and steeps and it felt good.

For for trail use and the XC bits in between, it felt great.

Happy owner here.

Thanks for your input people. I prefer a steel frame n love the candy red look on it. Good to know it’s a decent ride.

The chainstays feel shorter than my Nukeproof Scout and it’s easier to manual over trail features

scout has 10mm shorter chainstays.

oranges are normally terrible vfm but that looks a good build for the price. Personally I’d go for something else as don’t want the weight penalty but it sounds like this will do you good 👍

Just had a look, my Scout 290 was an 2021 model, chainstay was 440mm. It is 430mm on the P7.

I’ve ridden it a couple more times since, it’s my favourite hardtail i’ve had. Hit some decent gaps on it, hit Stile Cop too, I love it.

My hardtails have been:

Carrera Kraken

Voodoo Bizango

Voodoo Bokor

Orange Crush 27.5

On One Big Dog

Nukeproof Scout 290 (2021)

Orange P7S

The P7 is my favourite so far.

Absolutely LOVE mine, it’s a superb ride. Fox forks are spot on. Had to relearn how to ride a hardtail fast on the rough stuff, stay loose, works a treat and probably a good technique full stop. Slx brakes are terrible/lethal in the wet, I need to upgrade them.

I kept banging on to my mate how good a ride it is and he bought one too!

Check the 2nd hand market, we both got immaculate nearly new p7’s cheap as chips, my mate especially since his is dripping with hope.

Hope you enjoy it. I’m struggling to take the full suss out that I just bought because the p7 is so ace. Obviously it’s way more engaging than a full suss but that’s part of the attraction, makes the trails come alive again

Anyone have the 27.5 version of this bike, I’m strongly considering getting one I, took a Jagger green medium round the block at a local bike shop today it felt nice never had a hardcore hardtail before, my current MTB is a Sanderson life 26″. I feel I’m too short for 29ers only had bare minimum clearance on the medium 27.5. 29er feel like getting on a horse to me 🙂

I’m 5’10 and on a medium 29er. How tall are you?

5’7″

Ah I see. Probably makes sense to go for 27.5 then. I’ve never ridden 27.5, went 26 straight to 29

Anyone have the 27.5 version of this bike

Yep bought it 2020. It’s brilliant and as said above, I find I’m taking the P7 out more than the full bouncer.

Well I got the 27.5 medium P7s my first thoughts were I feel my weight is very forward with the seatpost at climbing position like I could go over the bars very easily. Then I had a go at some light downhill (nothing steep) single track  and dropped the seat a little with the dropper, wow it just felt great. I have no experience with a Long low and slack geometry or dropper posts but I’m glad I do now. Cant wait to get out on it again 🙂

I took delivery a week ago and just thought I’d up date this thread. Great service from Sunset, they did a thorough job of prepping The bike, well packaged n good setup instructions.

As for the P7 itself, just what I expected from a steel hardtail, nice n lively, rewards rider input n not to harsh in the rear. Weight is better than I expected. Overall a great bike for having fun on. Can’t wait to get it on my home trails in The Redwoods.