Big thanks Postierich! – thinking of trying an XL (I’m 6ft) as my large hardtail geo is more like the XL of the evol

Hey Postierich

Oooh, have you demoed an Evol – what size frame and what were your impressions?

Cheers,

Bootsy

Same as ST really. Had an email from Paul: ‘We just have a few more details to iron out on the Flare and it should be ready in a few weeks.’

Will have had my P7 29 for nearly a year soon. Its a beast, fast and stable. Longish, slackish and lowish but not in the way you think – it has unfashionably long chainstays… its not poppy, you have to work at it to get air. It wants to keep you on the ground and keep you fast. It climbs well with no front wheel wanderings. It isn’t lightweight either but with decent kit it’s not too bad (remember it’s designed for Enduro use as well). I run mine 1×10, 140mm fork, 29er in the winter but this summer has been with plus tyres 2.6 on back, 2.8 on the front which has slackened the head angle a bit more. I don’t have any problems mixing it with my full sus mates. It has a muted ride feel from the steel frame which I really love. The Bike radar review isn’t wrong, but with decent kit on this bike steam rollers on. Did I mention its bloody fast – I sold my Orange Four after riding this thing!

Agreed. Billions wasted simply in administering this freak show of self harm. Now that could have gone to the NHS.

P7 29 power transfer is fine. With good quality wheels and grippy tyres it gets you up, down and along things very well indeed. I run it 29 in the winter, 27.5+ everywhen else. Its not a ‘sprightly’ frame but then you wouldn’t want a pingy lightweight either. The longish chainstays are brilliant for climbing (no wandering) and whilst its no mountain goat, it just gets there with no fuss. Handling through the twisties is great – goes where you point it. It has quite a steep seat tube so it puts you a little more forward in the attack position. The long wheelbase allows for very fast descending, you can really throw it down stuff. I can outpace my mate on his full susser down certain trails.

Its solid, stiff and certainly no lightweight (so I would say ideal for high power output) yet the steel does make it more comfortable. I would say the Bike Radar ‘dull under power’ criticism is down to the shock absorbing nature of the fame material (a good thing) and poor wheel and tyre choice. In the real world it works a treat. For me anyway.

Orange P7 29 – hard as nails Reynolds steel 29er ( I’ve been running mine 27.5+ ) for 130mm forks

Great geo – 640mm top tube with a 1200mm wheelbase (in large) makes it very stable. 125mm dropper works fine.

Just a thought…!

Hi Guys,

Had mine delivered and built up a week ago (by Rob ‘Box’ Cooksley at Bad Ass Bikes) but have only had a chance to get out on two rides (3rd today!). Transferred all the old parts from my Salsa El Mariachi. Initial impression are that it instantly handles way better than the old bike as you would expect from the modern geo, with the length of the front end really helping here. Its surprisingly agile given the length of the chain stays too. I couldn’t get the El M to pop off anything where as this thing encourages you to boost off the smallest trail bump which is fun. Stability at speed is very good.

It doesn’t ride harsh although I’m running some carbon hoops on my 29 wheels rather than the ally ones on my 27.5 wheels and plus tyres which does make a difference in trail communication. In all this effing mud its fine as the soft ground helps (showing my age as comfort is a consideration for me ;-)the 29 tyres cut down to the traction, the plus tyres would be next to useless in this cr+p until it freezes or dries up.

Talking of wheels, Rob was able to use a kit to adapt the non-boost wheels to the boost rear end of the frame and along with a little re-dish of the wheels it runs a treat. Fantastic!

Only slight negative is that I’m currently running a 120mm fork so head and seat angles are a little steeper than I would like. Maybe Santa will help out with this…

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Bootsy

The road to hell is paved with assumptions

It is what it is, we are where we are, its what you do next that matters

Timing is everything

Oh no, here I go again. Admittedly it did take me a while to get used to my Orange. I was very lucky and had one on long term loan so was able to test on my local trails, enough to convince me to press the button. Then somehow I effed up the suspension settings and nearly sold it on cos I couldn’t get it right. Reset everything, started again and noted down all settings and bingo! I am now a fan of short travel 29ers.

I built up with a set of carbon wheels and this made a mahoosive difference – no rub on the swingarm and improved the ‘stiffness’ issue immensely. Expensive way to go though.

Slack head angle, 51mm offset Pikes & dropper post has turned it into a very fast trail bike indeed!

So to answer the question: try one (you may have to upgrade it as you go) you might like it!

Hope you don’t mind me chipping in. I’ve run 2.25 Nobbly Nics no problem (on carbon wheels so maybe less flex/rubbing on swing arm) on my large Gyro.

Just to throw something else into the mix, I’m running Pikes with a 51mm offset crown and boy does it work. It allows you to run a slacker head angle but keeps the steering precise. It feels like it puts the wheel right out in front but still flies up tricky, techy steeps and fairly steams along the single track. Maybe its the best of both worlds?

In terms of fast handling and CS length I think a dropper post has made a massive difference here so again best of both worlds: longer more stable back end but with a dropper you can really lean your bike/body and get your centre of gravity lower – in my experience a long CS bike will go round anything you can get a short CS bike round with appropriate bike handling or is that body English (does anyone say that anymore? :-). Just a thought.

Saying that, everyone I know that has a Kona Process thinks they are the best thing since….

My Outdoor Life by Ray Mears? (Signed ones available on the Woodlore website)

Or more sensibly, Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett 😆

I don’t normally post on this forum but thought I would add my thoughts!

I’ve owned an El Mariachi for over 2 years and can confirm much of what the others have said here. I had a Cotic Soul before and the El M is far more comfortable.

It is more xc orientated but I have run it with a 1.5 degree Works Components angle headset and what a difference it makes. With the extended front centre it turned it from a fast but stable xc into a full on trail bike. I’ve kept up with and mullered my mates on their so called ‘big bikes’ no trouble and the low bottom bracket helps it really carve the turns. Add a 120mm bolt thru fork run with plenty of sag and you are laughing.

The 27.2 seat post only adds to the comfort as the smaller diameter post really does help with the lower back. I run mine tubeless with Hans Dampf tyres for the extra grip and large air chamber comfort. I’m happy with the extra weight as the trail benefits out weigh (‘scuse the pun) this.

The only real issue is whether to go for the medium or large!

I hope this helps!!

Oooh, can’t resist this:

Richie Blackmore
Eddie Van Halen
Brian May
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
Yngwie Malmsteen

Sorry, I can’t count either 😀

Similar story to many here really. Been using 717’s for years and they are great as long as you don’t expect too much out of them and run fairly small tyres e.g. 2.1’s. They are perfect on my Cotic Soul with 120mm forks and Conti tyres. Ditto the deals on Merlin! Go for EX’s if you are at all concerned.

This post might be a little late but….

I’ve just gone from and Orange ST4 which instantly felt ‘right’ to a 2010 large spot – it now has a Works Components 1 deg headset (making the frame 68 deg head angle same as ST4) with 140mm forks, 70mm stem no stackers and very low riser bars.

I recommend more sag in the rear shock, this will make you feel more ‘in’ the bike rather than ‘on’ top – it worked for me!

Just a thought!!