[Closed] Orange 2017 Five vs Alpine6

One of my mates has a Four and he likes it.

Thanks. Looking for a bit more travel/slacker than a Four though.

Now the Five is 150/140 and the Six 170/160 I'd have thought the gnarliness of your trails/riding would have made the decision easier? Six for dedicated rock munching, Five for everything else.

Got the 2017 Five - did think about the Alpine, but absolutely no regrets whatsoever. Have spent most of my time on it so far at Coed y Brenin, where I'm faster both uphill and downhill than on my old 2010 Five. It was also great at Bike Park Wales, although I didn't ride anything gnarlier than the reds there.

I've got a segment.

The only place I've felt under biked was about 30 seconds on at afan.

So for all the trail center stuff,bike Park wales, Hamsterley, peaks and lakes 110mm at the back has been enough for me.

Five for the UK

Six for the alps and or dh uplifts.

Got 2016 five. Used all over UK natural and uplift. Used a lot in Alps for big natural days and uplift. Only thing lacking was my ability. They aint pretty but they can do it all.

The only place I've felt under biked was about 30 seconds on at afan.

which bit of afan did you feel underbiked on?

Haven't got either, nor ridden them, but my local shop has one of each in stock. They both look incredible. The alpine looks a bit of a beast. I think the five is longer/slacker than my specialized enduro and the alpine is even more so.

I have a 2017 Five, wouldn't want or need anymore bike to be honest. That said I am hankering after another Spitfire or maybe a bronson. Don't get me wrong the Five is a great bike and the 2017 is a much better take on the previous models, just think it's perhaps time to look something different

This thread needs photo's, so here's my 2017 Five ...

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I can't imagine I'd want anything more for UK riding. More confident than my 2011 Five on the downs, OK on the climbs, but no rocket ship really. Only thing I don't like is the routing for the rear brake and gear cables, as I knock them with my knees when stood up climbing.

Nick

Nick - looks good that, cheers. What size is it? Interesting that you use a laid-back seat post instead of sizing up. Doesn't it make climbing a pain because your feet are well out in front of you?

Anyone riding their Five on super-steep techy stuff in places like the Lakes (like Rosset Ghyll etc), or epics like the Four Western Passes? I don't ride trail centres but 90% of my riding is Pennines/Calderdale cheeky and 10% Lakes/Alps. I could 'get away' with either bike - just don't want to buy the 'wrong' one.

It's a medium, and I'm 5'9. That was the seatpost that I had lying around (still working out whether I want a dropper). I tend to do all my climbing out the saddle, so makes little difference to me.

It sounds like you'd be better off with the Alpine Six - it'll weigh little more than the Five and pedal almost as well, so be fine for epic days out and the extra travel and slackness will be good on your steep rocky trails.

My bike has very similar geometry to the current Alpine, just 20mm less travel at both ends, and it still handles well on flatter twisty trails and when climbing.

Yep took my 5 on Ben Jones Mont Blanc enduro trip, white room and Italian bike parks. Bigger and steeper than anything in UK. Happy on all of it. If you can stick your arse out its a goer. Never riddden an alpine though.

It was near the end of the blade. They ran an enduro down in the next day.

It was a couple of big hits and I bottomed out hard on the second.

Other than that, it's absolutely ace.

If you go for the alpine it will always be a bit heavier- lose a kg of yourself and the total weight will be pretty similar, plus you will have the perfect bike for the dh

Useful info thanks, folk. Keep it coming. Veering towards the Five.

It was near the end of the blade. They ran an enduro down in the next day.

It was a couple of big hits and I bottomed out hard on the second.

I took my Spitfire down there at a hell of a pace about a year ago - even Strava agreed that I was having a very good day (for me)!

I thought I read somewhere that they have moved the shock position in the 2017 alpine6 and it does not ride as well as the older ones. May I imagined it though

Not sure about the shock position thing. The one I demoed rode very well indeed. I knew it would descend brilliantly but what really surprised me was how well it climbed steep, techy stuff.

Stage 5 all the way

Or just look which one looks better upside down in the background in photos

Cupid, you're late! What took you? I'll buzz you soon to bend your ear.

I'm selling my Alpine but really don't want to. It's a fantastic bike.
It's realistically only a fraction heavier than a Five, and the seated climbing position makes the uphills easy enough to climb. Descending it's well planted and I've yet to get it out of its comfort zone, probably something to do with it being slacker than anything I've ridden before.
Most of the riding I've done on it has been around the Tweed Valley enduro stuff. I wouldn't hesitate to take it to the Alps or beyond as it's more than capable!

Maybe selling my 2017 Five frame in medium...norlando grey shortly. Not a stealth ad at all...just a latent plug

SteveL and russyh - cheers. How come you two are selling?

I want to try 29er and carbon! Simple as that for me. I talked myself out of it and bought another new five frame end of last year and have regretted not having the balls to challenge my norm

russyh - cheers. Just in case it helps, I've demoed Orange's Stage 5 and it's amazing. A proper fast race bike. Did three big and varied rides on it. I'd have one, but I kind of like the 650b wheel size and I've no interest in racing, just fun. Good luck with your search.

STW read my mind. Five review on here.

My alpine five is fantastic and so much quicker then my old mk1 650b five but I'm so tempted to change it for the six or even a stage 6, the new Alpine or six climbs really well a good friends been harping on about his for the last month I got to have a play. climbs like my old mk1 but so much quicker obviously pointing south, the only problem would be the stage six is just stunning..

Either or you won't be disappointed

Just remembered my 10% could snag me a stage le for 4999.....

The new alpine6 climbs well enough for it to be a non issue. Your choice is do you want the steeper head angle on the five for tight cornering technical stuff or the slack head angle on the six for high speed. I've got the alpine 6 and it feels like it's meant to be ridden fast and rough not slow and technical but that's just my opinion.

Sorry to tell you this Will, those two bikes were discontinued 4 years ago! 😆

The only reason I'm selling is to raise some funds towards a house purchase. Apparently buying your first property is more important than having n+1 bikes.
I've a few other things to sell to try and raise the cash so I'm secretly hoping it doesn't sell and I can keep it!

Do you think you are any closer to a decision?

Thought I was getting close then rode a Stage 5, which was ace. Never been in quite such a dilemma new bike-wise (although Cupid might beg to differ!). Reckon my Luddite tendencies will win out though and I'll probably stick with 650 wheels.

Anyone got anything to add on Fives and Alpines? It's decision time.

Alpine 6 for me if it's only Five v Alpine 6.

Rode the 2017 Five and Alpine 6 at a Demo day recently and the Five still has the looping out wandering front end feeling on steep climbs that my 2013 version has but the Alpine 6, just like my Alpine 160 doesn't do it. Don't know what it is about the shape of the Five. I think it's the short chain stay makes it too easy to lift the front. I know you need to use body English on the Five. The Four didn't do it either though and that's shorter back end.

It might just be me but I have put in nearly 3000km on my Five (since July 2015) and over 3000km on my Alpine (since Nov 2014). They're both great. Just the Alpine climbs technical stuff better than the Five ever does. It'll be more work to make it up and sometimes a fail on the 1kg lighter Five than the Alpine. Just my 2 cents.

I just hoped I'd like the 2017 Five more than I did. The Four was oh so capable and much faster too. The Alpine 6 felt very much like my Alpine which is to say it pedalled really well and took everything in it's stride. Of the 650B bikes the Four won it for me, just because I'd keep my Alpine if I got one.

The 29ers rocked though. The Stage 5 was awesome. Felt amazing in the air and nimble as anything.

gelert - cheers. I liked the Stage 5 a lot (to my surprise), and if I was racing or Strava-ing I'd have one. I think I prefer the smaller wheels though - still feel a bit more accurate, agile and 'fun' to me, and they don't hit my arse on the really steep descents. Interesting about the climbing - like you I was very impressed by the way the Alpine 6 got up techy climbs. You're right though, 1 kilo heavier than the equivalent Five build.

Orange five for me. Took delivery of mine yesterday. Went for the fox factory upgrade. Initial feeling is the fox 36 is better than my recently serviced but old 2014 pike. Will give it a proper run this weekend down local welsh mountains.

samuelr - sounds great, enjoy it. Feel free to add your verdict.

No problem wi. I didn't and don't notice the weight difference though. In fact the problems on the Five make it slower overall than the Alpine for everything up or down. I've proved the weight makes no difference many times. I've even fitted the exact same wheels on both and tried it down the same trails. The Alpine always wins because it's stiffer and just pedals more efficiently. The Five's lightness is only a benefit to me in the winter when it's muddy and I'm really really tired. I even set faster times on 30 minute XC 100% efforts with the Alpine and it's minutes faster on those not a few seconds.

My Five has been 12.2kg verses 13kg for the Alpine at it's lightest with no pedals. Carbon rims / bars / cranks on both.

I'm probably going to skip the whole 650B thing. There's just not enough difference between my 26 inch bikes and them to warrant dropping 3 big ones on one.

The Stage 5 surprised me too. I've tried a couple of 29er demos since I bought my 26in Oranges and the only one I'd liked at all was the original Alpine Five. I didn't like the original bendy tube Segment or the Mega290. But as soon as I got on the Stage 5 and rode it... I had to demo it again after trying the others just to make sure it was really that good. I have to say the 2017 Segment was a blast too - another surprise. But I'd get the Stage 5 because it had more capabilities and no negatives.

Trying the ride the pants off my Alpine 160 at the moment so I fitted brand new Minion DHF/DHRII 3C tyres like the demo Orange's had and I'm seeing if it can **** me off enough to want to buy a new bike. So far... it's just made me grin from ear to ear every time I ride it on my local 50km AM trails. So it's not doing very well at making me want to buy a new one although... I might still get a Stage 5 when the lower spec Pro version comes out or there's an offer on. I do really fancy one just to try a 29er.

I don't think the Five is a bad bike at all. Just having been lucky enough to own the two 26 in ones I have tested the hell out of them both so I feel the differences.

The geometry has moved on now.

I really expected to come away from the Demo wanting a Five 2017. That was my plan before going there because I knew the Four could be too little and the Alpine 6 could be too much so the Five would be the Goldilocks bike.

The Stage 5 upset the apple cart for me. It's thrown me right off plan 🙂 Ah well.

gelert - same here. Been agonising for ages over Five or Alpine 6 (demoed both) then tried a Stage 5 and it was back to square one. All said and done though, I think I find the 650b slightly more more chuckable and fun, even if it's not always quicker. Just a personal thing. Stage 5 was certainly more nimble than I expected though. Alpine 6 fitted with the X2 shock is ace up and down - probably the one for me. Have fun whatever you choose. Can't go wrong with a 2017 Orange.

First good ride on my new five. Quite simply the bike rocks! Instantly felt at home on it. Pedals up hill better than I expected. Need to keep weight Slightly forward to keep the front end from wondering. Hit some techy climbs and cleared them with ease. Standing up the bike bobs a bit with the float x fully open, but in the second position it calms the bob down and when you need to stamp on it the bike sucks to the ground giving you loads of traction to make it up the obstacle.

Down hill this bike really starts to shine. With the 36 up front and float x evol on the rear it takes everything you can throw at it, but not in a plow and hold but a skip over and jump any lip, rock or obstacle. The fox 36 factory is better than the pike I have and the float x evol is better than the monarch debonair.

Im 5,9 ish and went for a medium.
Hope this helps.

Samuelr - cheers, good info and glad you like the bike - sounds mint. I'll decide next week, Five or Alpine. Think the Alpine adds around 2lb but I can't go far wrong with either bike really.

Bump for any more opinions.

A Stage 5 would be an excellent choice. I recently tried both versions at a local demo day and although the 6 is my preferrence the 5 was a bit more playful and agile.

Yeti - cheers but it's a Five or Alpine 6. Not in the market for a 29er right now, even though I know the Stage 5 is a great bike.

There was a new five at the Macavalance with a snapped swing arm this year, never seen that before.

I'm just waiting on my new 2017 Five to be delivered

Had a 2012 model which I LOVED! But then I had a wobble and wanted to try the carbon 29er thing..2014 Stumpjumper Expert Carbon - now the Stumpjumper truly is an amazing bike, 140/135 travel and I felt like I could hit anything on it and climbs like a goat

But, I just miss my Five, yes I know it'll be heavier, harder work on the climbs, not as active and tbh I'll struggle to see how the five will be much faster going down, the Stumpy is very confident and very fast - erm, why am I getting rid of it!?!? Honest answer...I'm getting married next year and with all the financial commitments coming my way I thought I'd best get a new bike now as I can't see a new one happening again for another 5 years

Anyway, rambling there - I'm dithering whether to pick up the phone and get the Fox 36 put on instead of the Pike (I've already plumbed for the Fox Evol X rear shock)

So, not hijacking the thread as I'm sure the OP will be interested - what are peoples thought on the Factory Kashima 36 v Pike RCT3 on the Five (I'm bothered about weight/front end lifting/suddenly having an 'enduro' machine rather than a Lakes thrasher)

yoshimi - no worries re hijack. I demoed a Five with 36s and it was mint - it's the spec I'd get. The frame is designed around 150mm fork, which is what the 36 is on a Five, so the handling is spot on. I have that same Pike on another bike and I prefer the 36 - more controlled on really rough ground. Stiffer too, although the Pike was stiff enough for me. The 36 probably isn't that much heavier either, really. I totally get why you want a Five even though the Specialized was great - Fives are just incredibly fun to ride - I had the 2013 version. Unless you're racing or obsessed with Strava, it's not alway just about flat out speed. Having said that, Fives are still bloody quick.

I'm just waiting on my new 2017 Five to be delivered

Had a 2012 model which I LOVED! But then I had a wobble and wanted to try the carbon 29er thing..2014 Stumpjumper Expert Carbon - now the Stumpjumper truly is an amazing bike, 140/135 travel and I felt like I could hit anything on it and climbs like a goat

But, I just miss my Five

Have you tested the latest Five?

I've also got a 2013 Five, which I love. Despite owning a Smuggler which is a far better bike by any objective measure I could never bring myself to sell the Five and ended up selling the Smuggler instead! The thing is though, I had a demo on a Five a year or so back and it seemed to have changed a fair bit. More downhill focussed and less of an all-rounder I thought. I decided that, if I wanted a modern Orange the Segment was a better replacement for my Five than the new Five. But that was a year or so back and they've probably changed again since then.

rover - the new Five is great. I demoed one for three big and varied rides in the Pennines. My only problem is that I also demoed the Alpine 6 and that was mint too. Now I'm in a dilemma. Even tried and really liked the Stage 5, but I'm not after a 29er. New Five is back to being a fun bike but probably a better all-rounder than the previous version (lighter, better shock position, stiffer frame).

Sounds perfect 🙂

I have a friend who has recently sold his Mojo Idris HD3 because he couldn't get on with it and was always moaning it never felt right (bad workmen always blame their tools, that type) 😉

He has since bought an Alpine 6 and swears it's the best bike he's ever ridden but a quick look at Strava suggests otherwise (industry standard comparison tool), He's considerably slower uphill and no quicker down hill than he was on old Idris HD3 and on that evidence alone i'd buy a Five, but only if I was made to. 😀

He's put a review on Youtube "Orange alpine 2017 mtb first impressions. Very informative.

Shepdon - interesting, but did he claim it was the quickest bike, or the best? The two aren't necessarily the same - they depends on the rider's priorities.

It's funny that he's so impressed with the climbing if Strava says that he's "considerable slower". I guess that shows the difference between perception and reality.

Except the Alpine does climb well. Perhaps not particularly quickly, but I borrowed one and rode it up one of the steepest, techiest, hardest (although short) climbs in Calderdale and it went up like a rat up a drainpipe. Quicker than my P7, 2013 Five or the 2017 Five I demoed. It surprised me a lot, and it wasn't a matter of perception as this is a climb that's either ride or push - timings don't come into it.

It's a lot about the feeling. I proved that with my back to back testing doing 10 laps on 7 different bikes. I could lap the 10 minute demo loop within 5 seconds all day but the feeling of each bike whether it "felt quick" or was quick on the clock was very different. Depends what you want from a bike.

I felt less effort to ride on the Stage 5 and was the fastest up and down. I felt like an absolute animal on the Four and it felt like the quickest bike by far. It wasn't though. It's just a feeling.

For balance the Five 2017 with it's horrid wandering front end got to the top quickest by a shade but was dead last coming back down. I ride a wandering Five 2013 and an very planted Alpine 2014.

The Alpine 6 and my Alpine 2014 both climb superbly. They're not slow either going up. They just grip like hell. The Five's aren't a patch on the Alpine's for climbing IMHO. I've got some really techy climbs on my local loops and time and time again the Alpine kills the Five on them.

Have you tested the latest Five?

Based on wl advice, 36's have been added 🙂

You should definitely test ride them properly. It's amazing how good a bike can feel in the shop / car park verses actually riding them as I found with the Large not working for me on the trail but feeling great static. It's a big mistake to make.

But yeah... the Five be reet 🙂

Great bikes. I'm splitting hairs about the climbing thing just because I have back to backed them so much. Lots of people don't care about climbing at all.

Yep, you'll be reet. I put around 15 hours on the Five demo bike and it was a great all-rounder. Main thing is, it's a very fun bike to ride IMO - not a sledge, but responsive, agile and rewarding - a very quick trail bike. Plenty of mag reviews on Orange's website if you go to the Five page and scroll down. 36s are the way to go I reckon - make it a bit more aggro for Lakes/Alps and suit the geometry perfectly.

Sorry to hijack this thread but I'm struggling for help...I'm actually torn between the Four and Five. However, here is my dilemma - I live in the Alps but aiming to ride less 'downhill' and more trail!
Do you think the Four is man enough or am I better staying with the Five??

Four is a good bike but if I lived in the Alps I'd defo want a Five or Alpine 6. A Five if I was more xc/trail orientated. They still pedal well but it would be fine for the steep and techy or fast and flowy stuff the Alps is famous for (and I don't mean DH courses). You want slacker angles for the Alps, defo, even if the Four has enough travel. If you're just talking about robustness and reliability, I reckon any current full-sus Orange frame would be ok.

I've got an alpine 6 and it is incredible. I was in the same dilema and demoed both. I find it climbs alot better than the numbers suggest and down hill it's ridiculous. Was coming of a 120mm 29er that was alot of fun. The five would of been a great option but was feeling silly so went for the alpine.

Ride gisburn, whinlatter, degla bike park wales and lots of natural stuff in the lakes.

Quick update: went for the Five and no regrets - it's mint and will defo handle anything I ever want do on it in the Pennines, Lakes or Alps. Alpine6 is a great bike, but I don't race and I don't ride massive mountains every week, so it would have been overkill 99% of the time. I'm happy with 'small' wheels too, so the Five suits me better than the super-fast Stage5 I tried.

Great stuff wl...but we need pics

yoshimi - will if I get chance, or Norlando grey with all black parts and decals in case I don't. Looks ace. BTW, 36s were such a good move. For me they're defo a notch up from the Pikes I had on my last Five.