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If I buy an Orange Five S will I regret it on every climb? It’s a riot pointing down but big climbs are unavoidable where I live. If I can afford nice wheels next year will that make much of a difference?
Having tested it I reckon it's as fast as my 26" hardtail uphill but doesn't flatter me like a 29er full sus I've tried. Unfortunately the budget doesn't stretch to the dream 29er so I am contemplating the Orange as it's a great ex demo deal.
No regrets with mine, and I like long rides with a decent amount of climbing (both technical and non-technical). As you know, it's not the fastest climbing bike in the world, but IMO it more than makes up for it everywhere else.
A five climbs just fine.
I went from a santa cruz superlight to a 26er five. Not much climbing difference in the real world and the sc was a cracking climber.
Sold my five last month after 4 happy years, iv bought an ibis, i know the ibis is a great bike but i just know im going to miss my five.
Do it you wont regret it.
if you are able to sit and spin gently then its ok but i prefer some DW or VPP linkage as i am not as smooth
Its not that bad with the right shock but there are better climbing FS bikes- which are not quite as nice pointing them downhill
Stage 4? Stage5?
Full sus 29er and good geometry.
I've had a Segment and that was very capable. I guess it depends on whether you want 27.5 or 29?
Modern 29ers really handle well!
I would love a stage 4 or 5 but the budget doesn't stretch at the minute. If anybody has a job going in Aberdeenshire let me know...
Good to hear people aren't too put off by its climbing ability.
Does anyone miss the bottle mount?
I tend to put a bottle in the backpack or use a bladder for the longer rides even though I have the option of a bottle cage at the minute. I guess it depoends if your usual riding is putting on a t-shirt and going for a blast or it's longer rides with the usual spares?
Does anyone miss the bottle mount
Nope. I do find mine a bit of a lump to pedal up though, whether that's my poor technique or bike related I don't really know. I just put up with it though as it's a great bike in every other aspect IMO
I don't think my 2017 Five is as good as my old 2011 Five at climbing, but descending it's a whole heap faster and more stable. Probably due to it being a bigger bike. More suspension, bigger (heavier) wheels, etc.
No regrets buying it though, does exactly what it say on the tin - except I can't work out where to put the files. 😉
Nick
Does anyone miss the bottle mount
Id be keen to see how that magnetic system works in real riding terms
ThE magnets work fine until you ever so slightly nudge them sideways with your knee.
The sks anywhere bottle is better.
If they are mounted on the top tube they can eat into your bollock area when not on the saddle and mounting a litre bottle would be unlikely.
If only there was another solution. ...
if you are able to sit and spin gently then its ok but i prefer some DW or VPP linkage as i am not as smooth
Is that really true? Surely it just depends on the pivot point vs the chainline and thus the anti-squat?
I can only base it on 5 years owning a 5 5 years owning a VPP bike and 2 years with a DW one. ... all times crossing over with each other
yes the orange 5 is better if you just use a one ring set up in terms of bob but a single pivot design will bob more than linkage ones.
I don't think my 2017 Five is as good as my old 2011 Five at climbing
Strange, I find my 2017 Five better than my 2010 Five. May well be due to a significantly better shock though (Fox Float X vs RP23).
I didn't find bob an issue, I think Orange are getting on top of it with the latest incarnation. It was a combination of the weight and rolling resistance that made it an okay climber but not an improvement on the 26" wheels. Hence my question about improving the wheels if funds allow.
If you’d love a Stage 4 get over to sunset mtb as they have some Segments going cheap. Around 2k with the extra 10% code. That’s what I did and it’s ace!
I can only base it on 5 years owning a 5 5 years owning a VPP bike and 2 years with a DW one. ... all times crossing over with each other
yes the orange 5 is better if you just use a one ring set up in terms of bob but a single pivot design will bob more than linkage ones.
But it depends on the pivot position on that era of Five vs the virtual pivot projected by the two DW links on that particular bike, and the chainline (mostly determined by the chain ring size).
If you design a virtual pivot bike to have a lower pivot point vs a single pivot placed just above the chainring, the former will bob more.
The only thing you can say for sure is that if you optimise a single pivot and an virtual pivot for identical anti squat (pedalling performance) at sag, then the single pivot will suffer more pedal kickback when you hit bumps.
Just got myself a segment and found it climbs rather well now the shock works properly in climb mode. Don’t get me wrong it bobs a lot more than the Specialized and Cubes I’ve previously ridden but it’s far from horrific. You just learn to be a bit smoother on the pedals!, 😆
The only thing you can say for sure is that if you optimise a single pivot and an virtual pivot for identical anti squat (pedalling performance) at sag, then the single pivot will suffer more pedal kickback when you hit bumps
I am not an engineer, and dont do any of the over technical analysis of suspension some on here like and understand, all i can tell you is my real world experience riding the bikes on the same trails.
Got an Alpine 6 which replaced my Alpine 160. The two are remarkably different when it comes to climbing. The 160 I could winch (slowly) up anything, eventually, in granny. The new ‘6 leaps up hills like an ibex.
The subtle changes in pivot position, coupled with a Fox x2 have really sorted things. It runs eagle and I’m often surprised to find that I’ve hauled myself up a slog in 2nd or 3rd where I’d be firmly in granny in the 160.
I’m often surprised to find that I’ve hauled myself up a slog in 2nd or 3rd where I’d be firmly in granny in the 160.
2nd or 3rd in Eagle is likely the equivalent of running in the granny anyway 🙂
Five's climb fine in my experience up some very big hills.
On the rare occasion I ride my Five, I swear it seems to climb better with the rear shock on Climb mode & the forks on Trail.
Having the front on Climb mode seemed to push all the movement to the back.
Not particularly stealth advert [I've got a large brand new orange segment frame in the classifieds now]
I rode a segment for a year. It was quick up and quick down hill. It never held me back on either.
I only changed as geometron came up in my size and I've always fancied a Nicolai 🙂
Thanks all and tall_martin I'll take a look.