[Closed] Anyone regret buying their Whyte T130 or Orange Four

I have nothing to compare it to, as the last full suss I had was a 2009 Heckler, but I love my T-130s I got last month..
It's batshit mental if I'm honest, more bike than I'll ever need, but it climbs well, and decsends even better.
Well, it would if it had a decent rider on it, but hey.
Love it.
And afaik, it's only ladies that will tell you an inch makes a lot of difference..

Can I throw a coin in the ring for the Orange Four ,

I recently had a similar 'problem' picking a new bike- check the thread [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/stuck-on-next-bike-cotic-flarerocket-orange-five-or-whyte-t130g160/page/2 ]HERE[/url].

In summary, I love the T130. Fantastic bike- more nimble than the T129 it replaced and I've already tackled some bigger drops/jump than I ever dared before. Easy climber and descender with good build quality. Owned for 1 1/2 months now and my ridings come on leaps and bounds. Short back end and long TT make the bike playful without being too much of a compromise for longer XC rides and steeper climbs. Originally looked at the G160 too but decided it was too much travel, and I don't regret going for the 130/140mm. Great bike!

If you ever venture towards Reading, feel free to have a go. Medium T130.

Edit: Both fantastic bikes, just buy the one that feels better (mixture of spec, geo & suspension platform)

Can I throw a coin in the ring for the Orange Four , Ive owned a G150 and ridden a 130 and four . I have to say my own take is both are fantastic bikes but the four just edged it ..so much so my best mate picked up a close out rs four from Orange 2 months ago , a very light, capable bike , we call it a cheat bike as the numbers don't match up, Climbing its like a hardtail , descending its more than capable of keeping up with bigger travel bikes, my take is 140mm up front and it would be all the bike you would ever need. Only the 130carbon would make my money go Whyte way over Oranges

Ment to edit but work is calling

You won't regret the T-130 if you get one... The only problem is getting hold of one!

I've got 1 T-130S left in Large in stock in my shop, and though I've preordered more, it's the last one I can get hold of til January I'm told!

Find one in your spec in your size, buy it...

Alternatively I can suggest that the G-160 is not as sluggish on the tamer trails as you might expect it to be, in fact it's a very capable climber to be fair. The T-130 edges of course, but the G-160 does of course win points back on the descents...

5 climbs really well on mega climbs and carry in Alps and UK also great descending. Not a 4 though so no help. Ah well lunch over.

[i]Im thinking of taking the plunge on a new bike. My 2013 stumpy evo is great but while i can (family stuff) I'm gonna get something newer.[/I]

What's actually wrong with the Stumpy and/or what do you think will be better with the Orange/Whyte?

If nothing, then probably better to just buy some nicer bits for the Stumpy.

Four will be great, but the 2017 Five looks and sounds amazing.

I sold my old 2010 Five to a mate and replaced it with a Four in July. I was actually chuckling at myself the other night as I thought that just a few years ago I would have turned my nose up at the 'skill compensation' characteristics of the Four. However as I flew down through a greasy rock garden in the dark, with barely a bobble from the bike.....it made me laugh, I'll take all the skill compensation I can get thanks! 😛

Not so sure about the modern gearing though, this whole '1x10' malarky. My new bike (Thelma), certainly seems harder to drag up steep stuff, as if the gearing, even with a 40t ring on the cassette, isn't quite as easy on my old legs as my Five's 3x9 setup.

I'm on my way back from a nasty tumble at the start of the year, so I'm still a bit shy on the bike. Even so, I've ridden technical, rooty and rocky sections of my local trails, harder and faster than I ever did on my old Orange Five. The way that it skips over roots and rocks, rather than ploughing through them, means that the speed it picks up on the descents is phenomenal! I get a very distinct feeling of being sat in the bike, rather than on it. Which gives me a level of confidence that I've not experienced since the good old days of my 2000/01 Patriot.

I've been mountain biking for nearly 27 years now, and I'd honestly say that Thelma is the best bike I've ridden in that time, it's a brilliant piece of kit.

C.

I've got a T-129 and totally love it, but a friend went from the T-129 to the T-130 and didn't get on with it. Nothing wrong with the bike as such but the geometry and set up just didn't work for him. He's stuck it out for a few months and can't quite put his finger on what's the problem but it's not for him.
I'm tempted on changing next year though.

[quote=wl ]Four will be great, but the 2017 Five looks and sounds amazing.

have they refined the bag of spanners sound for 2017?

have they refined the bag of spanners sound for 2017?

It's not a Ducati 916 clutch !

Ha, meant sounds as in reports. New Oranges are very quiet in fact, not that the noise of older ones bothered me much anyway - it helped to warn walkers.

Nothing wrong with stumpy tbh. Just fancy something a little newer. I'm trying to pick a few options and keep an eye out for on eBay or on here.

The idea of a Non Usa designed bike is great. My bearings last no time at all if it's wet.

I typically use the full 150mm on my 26" pikes and 150mm rear. Do you think that the wheel size increase to 27.5 and the 130mm would similar in performance. Daft question really

Would definitely look / demo a 2017 Orange five. Mine has blown me away. Only had 1 ride in it mind.

Why not wait just a short while and demo the 135mm 29er from Orange , as for me the 160mm 29 looks like a do everything bike ,and if its anything like the Alpine five a real rocketship downhill

Anyone tried an Orange Segment?

Cannot comment on the t-130 but did demo the 4 a while back...it is a bike that will put a smile on your face particularly if you prefer descending where I felt somehow the position on the bike inspired confidence and the bike somehow eeked ability out of the travel on offer (defo made me smile/whoop going down). I found it to be a very confident descender.
I would not have classified it as a lightweight (though p'haps the boundaries in this respect are changing) and climbing required judicious use of the rear shock to get the best out of it depending on the terrain being covered...was more acceptable than exceptional in this respect in my personal opinion though playing with the shock as I say definitely helped however it was still a bit bobby esp. where you wanted to put the gas down a bit.

If you can afford a 28lb G-160, I'd go for that. It climbed and covered ground better than many 120mm travel trail bikes of older vintage that I have ridden. To the point that I wouldn't even bother with a short travel bike these days.

Another happy 2017 T130S owner, almost 🙂

I got it then was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder, so not enjoying it as much as I should.

Only downside I have found is that with the new wider rims for 2017 and 2.3 and 2.4 tyres it only just fits on my bike rack #how big are these tyres ?

Like all bike purchases a Demo is what you need.

Shaungero - you got the new Five with Boost etc? Sounds like you picked a winner. How is it and what did you have before? Really interested in this bike and I have a demo coming up (loved the new Alpine6 but want to compare). How's the sizing? Cheers.

I have an Orange Four...

Went to the Leisure Lakes demo day in march at cannock chase with the intention of finding something to replace my 2015, well used, Orange Five. Was thinking of getting something bigger around the 160ish travel mark so tried the Cube Stereo, carbon Nomad, Enduro and even the Nicolia Geometron. Got to the Orange stand to try an Alpine but all they had at that point was the Four RS and said if you wait 20 mins we should have one back. I took the four out just because i couldn't be bothered to wait as it was near the end of the day at this point.

Up to taking the four out the Geometron was top of the list but after the first fast bit of the test loop i was blown away with how much fun i had. It felt so responsive and stiff and you could really pump it round the berms and it felt really stable on the jumps. It was by far the fastest, most fun bike tested. Once back at the stands i quickly went to the Whyte stand to try the t130 but they were all out so tried a carbon Habit instead which i also found to be fun.

Fully understand the test loop was better suited to shorter travel bikes but since my purchase of the four in april I've had loads of fun at trail centres and been able to push my limits. Its just so stable at speed (boost front and rear) and a better climber than my five meaning more energy for the downs.

The demo day was excellent and very useful for me. I will never buy a bike if I've not tried it.

You won't regret the T-130 if you get one

i know where there's a 2015 in medium at a good price

Like DJP above I went to the demo at cannock and rode several T-130's and also the Four. Rode 2 alloy T130's (large RS and XL S) and a Carbon Works in Large. Also rode the 4 in a Large. Admittedly I was absolutely fubarred by the time I rode the 4 but overall while I was impressed it didn't feel as nbice as the Whyte to me. The Whyte felt lighter, livelier and just felt plain better in most areas. Don't get me wrong the Four felt good (this coming from someone who has a bit of a dislike for Orange, although admittedly price rather performance related!) but the Whyte totally won me over. Now I'm the proud owner of a 2017 T130C RS and it is absolutely chuffing awesome! Spec is awesome it looks great and rides like a dream.

Anyone tried an Orange Segment?

Yep, just got one. Super bike, really enjoying it. Having come from a 140mm Alpine 5 I think the Segment is the sweet spot.