https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/17779887/
Been looking at stage 5's and came across one on PB that looked promising, until I actually looked at the photo.
Where the top/bottom tubes meet the head tube must have been welded in the dark, tell me that's not the normal standard on Orange bikes.
Ha ha that’s my mates frame he is selling. Just come back from Orange after a respray. Thats how it came from Orange
Blimey, that is a bit expressionist!
It doesn’t look normal to me.
Look at the swingarm by comparison, that looks normal.
Has it been repaired by someone who can’t weld?
Or is it a fake frame?
Neither would surprise me these days.
But I’ve seen quite a few orange bikes, and none of them were welded like that.
Just to point out I thin the sterling silver and the light has made it look worse than it actually is. I can get him to take better photos if needed and it would help.
Friday afternoon job, or Guy Martin paid them another visit and had another go at welding, I think that particular colour makes the welds stand out more, but I totally agree with the shambolic statement, I've seen dozens in showrooms and on the trails and not noticed welds like that before.
Those are blobbier than the ones on my old 224, but far straighter. Mine was welded with the lights on, but the dude was drunk
I've never seen an orange bike leave like that and unjust echo above something isn't right .under no circumstances would that everglade qc
Big-bud I will refer to my earlier post! It’s my mates frame. He is an avid orange owner, I know the history of that frame. It had a new swing arm as per the recent issues with Orange drop outs and he had it respirated by orange and the bearings changed prior to sale. I’m riding with him tomorrow can ask him to take more pictures...but don’t let the facts get in the way of the pitch forks. I’m afraid it’s just the usual shit the comes out of the Orange factory nowadays coupled with a polished finish taken in bright light.
Didn't know Orange respirated frames.😊
Cannot believe they let it leave the factory twice!
Shameless plug alert
I'm pretty sure that must just be the result of a poor camera angle and a less flattering colour. May also be a bit less straight than expected.
heres a link to my stage 5 frame in the classifieds, I was very happy with the welds etc, I think the frame looks mint.
You can see from the angle of the shadow that the direct sunlight is making that look far worse than it should be.
regardless the rest of the welds dont look that cracking either!
Even if the light has some part to play, its still pretty poor welding. Nicolai and Liteville show how its done.
isnt that because they are done by machine
I’m sure that they aren’t..
liteville is in Taiwan
liteville is in Taiwan
I have never seen a robot welder in Taiwan.
Regardless of whether anything is welded by machine or by hand, it should be decent on a big brand. Welding by hand surely isn’t a selling point if it ends up with a worse finish than via machine?
true, i must be confused then (again)
The welding that shit on that frame it would show up in a black hole.
Didn’t know Orange respirated frames.
It really brings the trails alive!
The welding that shit on that frame it would show up in a black hole.
Eh?????
Just because a weld is not uniform does that mean it is weak though? Isn’t it a bit like everybody wanting their vegetables to be perfectly uniform?
Disclaimer: if I was paying I must confess I would be looking for tidy welds!
As long as folk will buy (and accept) that shit, why would they improve it?
Just because a weld is not uniform does that mean it is weak though? Isn’t it a bit like everybody wanting their vegetables to be perfectly uniform?
Disclaimer: if I was paying I must confess I would be looking for tidy welds!
You call into question the thoroughness of the prep work, properly mitering the Joints to minimize the gaps between the tubes, cleaning all of the weld areas, back purging the frame, filler rod, welding set, h&s, etc.
I'm shocked .
Hahaha yeah I saw that picture and thought the same.
Had an old Trek Fuel with scruffy uneven welds (no holes though) it got jumped plenty and didn't fall apart!
I wouldn't accept a new bike like that, especially at the prices Orange charge!
timbog160
Subscriber
Just because a weld is not uniform does that mean it is weak though? Isn’t it a bit like everybody wanting their vegetables to be perfectly uniform?
Well, yes and no. True that the appearance doesn't dictate the strength... And in fact true that obsessing over appearance can lead to an inferior weld. But in this sort of job an ugly or really irregular weld pretty much shows a lack of effort or competence, or issues with the layup of the metal. None of those is OK in such an expensive component even if it's perfectly functional.
(in the case of my old frame, I'd be pretty confident that the massive wobbly welds were oversized to cover up/fill in gaps)
Maybe they need to send their staff down to The Bicycle Academy for some lessons by Burf of BTR:
lets be honest its just poor quality.
I cant imagine those welds looking much better in a different light, the ones around where the top tube meets the seat tube dont look much better either.
It looks like the weld is just piled up on top the joint rather than penetrating jnto it, they look like the sort of welds you get when you give somebody that has just started a welding course a piece of scrap plate and ask them to run a bead across it!
Be interesting to see close ups though.
If it helps wave the torches and pitch forks I am happy to ask my buddy for some more pictures.
But as a former Orange Fanboi and now self professed hater thanks to their shoddy customer service over a supplied wonky frame. It really isn’t as bad as it looks in the photo. In fact it just looks like all the others...but don’t let first hand experience get in the way of things.
edit: I found a picture of the frame when it was new and in its original Orange paint ***if I can upload a picture on the forum
I love all the armchair welding experts on here, judging a weld from a photo taken 5 metres away. Yes it's not as pretty as some, but it's pretty complex geometry, it's bound to be a bit wiggly. Alu welds are bigger than the pretty steel welds in the shot, I'd still rather not drag a steel full sus frame about the place, pretty as it looks. And yes there are fancier, probably better peforming, processes that give nice smooth welds, and that's fine, but it doesn't mean this is somehow sub-standard.
TL;DR, do I desire an Orange? No.
Do I think this one id somehow dodgy? No.
Is my lack of desire for an Orange to do with how their welds look? Also No.
Just looks sub-standard!!
philjunior
Member
I love all the armchair welding experts on here, judging a weld from a photo taken 5 metres away. Yes it’s not as pretty as some, but it’s pretty complex geometry, it’s bound to be a bit wiggly. Alu welds are bigger than the pretty steel welds in the shot, I’d still rather not drag a steel full sus frame about the place, pretty as it looks. And yes there are fancier, probably better peforming, processes that give nice smooth welds, and that’s fine, but it doesn’t mean this is somehow sub-standard.
TL;DR, do I desire an Orange? No.
Do I think this one id somehow dodgy? No.
Is my lack of desire for an Orange to do with how their welds look? Also No.
It's a 2 grand frame, I don't anything about welding to comment on the strength. I assume it is really perfectly fine in that regard. But personally on a 2 grand frame I'd want it to look neat too!
When I was looking the price of the frame up for this post, I looked at a few press pics of the frame and must say those don't look neat either. So I guess it's just how they are rather than this particular one being a friday-nighter.
Original pic doesn't look like a problem to me.
I always figured they were supposed to look like that to be honest. Orange seem to have an agricultural machinery vibe going on. Sort of “Hand made in West Yorkshire” vibe. Everything in West Yorkshire is a bit shabby looking and I should know as I was born there and look very shabby.
edit: I found a picture of the frame when it was new and in its original Orange paint ***if I can upload a picture on the forum
Glad you mentioned the colour. The blue one is miles better.
Glad you mentioned the colour. The blue one is miles better.
Took me a second but 😂😂
I'll hold my hands up to being totally wrong now I've seen that original picture of the frame, that first picture does make it look bad but it looks pretty good in the other one.
lets not let facts get in the way of a good rant.
its still poor
I recall being told about welds that if they look good then they can still be crap but if they look crap, then they definitely are crap.
From the original pic, that one sits in the second group.
It's not for looking at, and it won't break. Wouldn't put me off buying if I wanted a Stage 5 (which I would, if I didn't have a Five).
That headtube welding admittedly looks pants , i thought it was expanding foam at first
Light grey matt paint job doesnt help either , you wouldnt notice any of it if it was gloss black.
Knowing it was to be resprayed i'd have been tempted to flatten & polish smooth alot of those welds , but thats probably because i dont have a girlfriend and have oodles of spare time lol
I love all the armchair welding experts on here, judging a weld from a photo taken 5 metres away. Yes it’s not as pretty as some, but it’s pretty complex geometry, it’s bound to be a bit wiggly. Alu welds are bigger than the pretty steel welds in the shot, I’d still rather not drag a steel full sus frame about the place, pretty as it looks. And yes there are fancier, probably better peforming, processes that give nice smooth welds, and that’s fine, but it doesn’t mean this is somehow sub-standard.
You can make pretty aluminium welds, takes time and practice. It's a 2k frame, it should look right, those welds don't. If you can't weld straight, cheat and use a jig to guide the torch...
You don't need fancy equipment, it's practice and a methodical process. Make sure the fit up is perfect, the surfaces are clean, good shielding and hours of practice.
PS, I used to weld a fair bit 😉
If I saw that...I would he going ..hell no!!..I work in the motor trade and seen a fair bit of painted welding..I would return that asap..its possibly ecsabibated by color and light but those welds look to be done too hot hot and fast...not structurally dangerous but to need that much weld..my guess..bad penetration..
