Wet but fast, loads of grip compared with when it’s greasy and drying out!!

I have a 650 frameset ( not RS) built up with fox forks dropper, hope and Stan’s crests10 speed thick thin Goldtec chainring, 27.5 lbs without pedals,
Had it a month, and it’s is probably the best Five I have had, (5 in total).
Long slack and low, given that I rode this week with guys that did a 30 foot road gap on trail bikes with summer tyres, my bike will be underused, in fact on their basis most will be!!!

Stick with it I saw one do a 30 foot road gap yesterday not an issue!!
Without doubt a good rider , but it makes you realise these bikes caperbilities, so it’s usually the rider lacking the skills!!

As far as I recall swiss air are Ok for sports equipment
or use a courier such as Piste of mind ski carriage but I think do bikes in summer, may even help out in winter as well depending on venue

I have a pair of Yowies, light weight deck great for quick ascents, now gone to splitboard but they are heavy for all day riding if your only board.
the Yowies are for sale if you wish £50 plus postage
phwill77atgmaildotcom

yep some excellent riding courtesy of “the Don” !

66 Deg
met a guy who works for Specialized (riding a carbon enduro 29er)and he indicated that Specialized are/ have looking at and prototyping 650bs.
Just wondered if that info helped?!

Burgtec

Diagnosis is of primary importance, MRI probably the most important,
Have had prolapsed disc since July , 5 months continual pain, despite 2 perineural injections, so it can take a long time to settle down. Depends very much where the problem is even with a disc protrusion. Even some of the Physio light core excercises at times were too painful and seemed to exacerbate the problem, so take care!
So I would agree with above poster

Devinci troy

My view is without prejudice, I was just interested and posted that it could be done, whether or not it should is up to the owner! I was just fascinated that people want to experiment, who knows it may make the Rocket even better!
Never ridden one in 26 form so wouldn’t know!

Didn’t ask about other rims or tyres, the shock had not been modified as far as I am aware, just interested that it could be done. Lighter tread patterns seem to work on the bigger wheeled bikes it seems, dirt mag had Ardents on their hard hitting intense big travel 29er as I recall.

Andy
Not that expensive, part ex a modest FS full bike for a frameset, selectively found and built up parts from STW, along with scavenged parts removed from the FS prior to sale, can be done. Depends how patient you are and whether you can build a bike up, simple really !!

New 650 five is slicker fitter and quicker !!!!

Yep
Had hardtail, now a 140 FS just seems to generate a bit more flow.( v subjective)

will tell you on Tuesday when I have built it up!!

Have a look at a Kona Process 134, seems to be a great take on a very modern trailbike, long front centre so shoving it down steep shutes should be ok, long slack low and stiff.
The next generation on from the Rocket IMHO.

If you have chance to follow a really good rider and I mean really good (Harry Heath, Josh Bryceland ) round a flat corner and watch the grip they generate, then look at their body position on the bike, hanging off the outside of the bike with their torso twisted to the direction of travel, maximising the load on the outside of the tyre, there is no way with the seat stuck up in the air it would be possible, so despite the obvious for up hill and downhills , IMHO it is cornering the gives the dropped post its ultimate purpose.

Andy R
I have a Proto Orange Crush 650 frameset, (think Orange Five Hardtail) 67 HA 73 SA, 16.5 inch seat tube, internal dropper post ready (30.9) long front centre so no old school over the bars feeling on descents. 140 mm fork.
650 is future proofed, as quality 26er components sadly will be out of the game shortly.
Now the deal is this, I bought this frame from Orange and I am selling it in aid of Michael Bonney ( the Ceo) of Orange Mountain bikes who had a terrible accident on a road bike leaving him paralysed from the neck down, Michael is unable to even breathe for himself. Any monies I get from the sale will go directly to MB’s trust to enable him to convert his house so he can be at home with his wife. The frame has a value, BUT look at as you get a free frame for a donation (via me) to a very worthwhile cause.
So make an offer of whatever you feel is reasonable please
Whats not to like?!!
Pics or details phwill77atgmaildotcom
PS This is a private sale not related to the company Orange MTBs
PPS AndyR the frame is bright orange so if you do stack it, rescue will see you!! I am only a couple of years your junior, and a stack is always a possibility!!

Tinybits
Same as your prolapsed disc, 16 weeks ago 2 MRI scans in for 2nd peri neural injection next week, wake up in pain go to bed in pain, very fatiguing

Iolo
given that a new frame set is £350, this is a proto frame made this year, includes a spare hanger, and you would own a unique frameset and helped a fellow injured biker, I am sure you can do any maths required!!
make an offer
Catvet

Got a 650 hardtail, and it seems to work well, putting the bike along side a 29 er and a 26 er, aesthetically it looks right!! The 29er wheeled bike looks slightly odd, the 26 er wheeled bike look too small in comparison.
The running gear on the 650 is identical from a Cotic Soul (9 speed , 32 front) and it does outclimb the Cotic, however it may not be wheel size but frame geometry that provides the difference ( longer front centre, longer seat stays) but it is a slacker angle bike.
It does not seem to stall in Mud holes quite so much as the 26 er hardtail but its very subjective.

Perhaps Cy is designing the next generation of the Soul in 27.5 !!!

Orange Crush 27.5
Kona explosive
DB Alpine
BTR fabrications
Commencal Meta HT

Saw a Kona explosive 27.5 , looked fab and rode well . Albeit the guy on board was a good fit lad, the conditions wet lumpy and tricky up around Macc Forest

Five has longer top tube, longer front centre as well, therefore with same 50 mm stems the five will be probable have better weight distribution for climbing, I am same size as you, and find my soul a little short, but a large would be huge.
120 mm fork seems best on the Soul

Commencal, Orange crush, alloy 140 mm
Steel DB alpine, soul before loads
In fact loads out here in 26 27.5 and 29 er to suit

Not sure of big Oranges are the best, I have a 27.5 hardtail proto that is a Better bike than the Soul it replaced, albeit the proto geometry alone is more up to date,never mind the wheel set!!

Kona Process 153 is very highly rated

Mine used with 9 speed and Non clutch mechs.

58, riding an Orange 650b prototype. Barnstormer of a bike, but not as quick or forgiving as my FS for my getting older bones!!

BETD goldtec make them in 32, 34, 36 so far

got one on a hard tail, no problems, one did 10 uplifts on an Orange Five at the week end, no chain drop.

prolapsed a disc L3/4 first week July,(had MRI and injection plus physio) still have some discomfort daily, burning sensation in muscle on hip left side and down front of Quads.
How long did anyone else take to settle down to become pain free entirely, I have also lost 1.5 ” in circumference on my left thigh, any ideas if it will come back, if so how long?
thanks

Andy
Not owned one but rode one at an Orange demo day Cwm Carn.
Rocket ship, very fast, mullered everything in sight, need good brakes to slow it down!!
went over 2 berm lips as going so fast without realising it!
Only difficulty I found was sharp downhill hairpins, but since then ridden with a gravity Enduro who races a 29 er and he has no problem, all related to a different technique, which I did not have at the time!!
oh and good wheels as you are going to hit things fast and hard!!
hope that helps

Get Orange to send you down their demo Five 29 er through your LBS

Pine tree
My post said 650 for 576 and an option of an SB in 650 as well !

I think Yeti are going 650 with the 575 and the SB as options, see Eurobike edits

I have an Orange orange Strange frameset 650b

Alpine has angles really based on a sagged 140 fork, Cotic seems to work best with a 120 fork, longer slackens the seat angle out a little more which may make steep seated climbing a little more tricky ( ie front end lifting)

L3/4 disc herniation 8 weeks ago, agony unable to move. MRI ( get it if you can) to determine diagnosis (important)
Injection into area of local anaesthetic and steroid,pain relief was instant, Physio must be manipulative ( not machine led) to free up muscle spasm and improve mobility, the thing that staggers me most is the weight loss on my left leg. Neurogenic loss as result of incorrect and impulse overload to
Muscles,
Rode bike gently and swam every other day.
8 weeks later not bad, but some low grade discomfort otherwise strava times not too shoddy !!
Heal well, no one really knows how long it takes for the prolapsed disc material to be reabsorbed, it does not go back in contrary to popular misconception. Surgery is last resort based on massive intractable pain and disability