Orange 5 owners ex owners

I got a Switch 6. Still miss the agility of the 5 though. It was a medium 2018 version, but bikes have grown and become almost too stable.

I got an alpine 6.
I prefer it for enduro & uplift days. Trying to pedal it round the Torridon lollipop nearly broke me though.

Had a 2011 five, 2016 five now on a stage 6 evo. Absolutely cracking bike! Similar to the five in ways, but can handle a whole lot more. Even corners better!

I'm on a Stage 5 now after a fair few 5's. Mega stable and huge fun, just feels like a grown up 5!

Had a couple of 5s and an Alpine 5 too .. Great bikes but I changed firstly to a Whyte g160 then to a Santa Cruz Mega. Both a little more messy with more bearings in Northern slop. But both were are quicker, the latter brilliant in almost every way both Up and down and more so happy in the Alps or smashing 40 milers in the Lakes. Now is the time to score a bargin too or at worst yet a demo booked ... Best bike ive ever had

Went from a 2011 5 to my current Cotic Rocket (Gen3 27.5"), has a similar feeling when smashing through the rough stuff but is better at climbing and just spinning along. Would consider another 5 at some point but my God are they spendy!

Spendy.That's the price of paying blokes in England a reasonable wage (who then pay taxes in the UK that pay for teachers, nurses etc) rather than paying peanuts to workers in cheap Asian countries whilst watching the trade deficit continue to climb and climb and the UK economy get worser and worserer.

There is that but then when I was looking at the Cotic I also had an Alpine on the list but the price difference between the two for near-identical specs was nearly £2k. That's a big difference between two UK brands. It was even more surprising when you factored in that the frame-only price for each was within £200 of each other. Would happily buy another Orange bike but only if their prices were back to being competitive.

Went from one of the last 26" Fives which was an epic bike to a 27.5 Alpine 160 which was also great. Ran that for 5'ish years as I just didn't see anything else I was willing to spend my money on that'd do the job as well. Then had a go on a '22 Five and I was smitten. So now ride a 22 (Strange) Five and its fantastic. Doesn't feel as able to plough through the rough stuff like the Alpine did despite having similar travel but the Alpine was just as capable than 8" travel downhill bikes I've owned in the past. The Five feels like a rocket...

now on a stage 6 evo. Absolutely cracking bike! Similar to the five in ways, but can handle a whole lot more. Even corners better!

I was thinking the other day the S6 Evo looks like the modern-day 5. 140mm travel and probably the most-versatile bike in their range.

How do you find it goes on flatter trails, trail centres etc?

Sunset MTB have some ace deals on 5's and Alpine's atm for those in the market.

Thanks all, I batter it through Spanish Enduro trails, Dyfi etc so guessing I'd like the Stage 5 as not after a massive big hitter.

Stage 5 is discontinued.

Stage 6 Evo is the effective replacement.

And no, I don't know why they didn't call it the Stage 5 Evo - since it has 140mm travel.

To be honest, don’t think I’ve ridden it on much trail centre at all. Mainly natural, steep trails where it is cracking. Never really feels like I want more travel at all.

Still riding my 2016 Orange 5. I still like the geometry and components so will just keep it rolling.

Yep douchebag the Five is great and never felt underbiked on it and hammered down EWS and test tracks in Spain but just got new bike itch. Evo is sounding good as Five big brother as said above.

Stage 5 is discontinued.

Stage 6 Evo is the effective replacement.

And no, I don’t know why they didn’t call it the Stage 5 Evo – since it has 140mm travel.

Nah, Stage Evo replaced the Stage 5 although the figures place it nearer the old 4. Stage 6 replaced by Evo 6. Worth pointing out only because the original Stage 5 and 6 were different beasts and if that's still the case with the current two it would be worth having a go on both to decide which the OP prefers. The Stage 5 was the allrounder, like the 5, the Stage 6 a heavier steamroller, like the Alpine.

Won't help any one but this thread just reminded me of my old Five!

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After that I had a Commencal Meta AM then a break from FSers now have a Nukeproof Reactor.

Nah, Stage Evo replaced the Stage 5 although the figures place it nearer the old 4. Stage 6 replaced by Evo 6. Worth pointing out only because the original Stage 5 and 6 were different beasts and if that’s still the case with the current two it would be worth having a go on both to decide which the OP prefers. The Stage 5 was the allrounder, like the 5, the Stage 6 a heavier steamroller, like the Alpine.

I'm not really arguing with you, as the Stage Evo did replace the Stage 4 and 5, then they dropped the Stage 6 and brought out the S6 Evo.

But if you look at the bikes now, the S5 is 135mm travel and the S6 Evo is 140mm - so that's what I meant.

I know they said the Stage 6 was an enduro bike, but I had one and it was much more of a long-ish travel trail bike. Very light and lively. Bit of a handful on gnarly stuff.

Isn't the switch 7 their enduro bike
https://www.orangebikes.com/bikes/switch-7-se/2023

Yeah, I'm talking about the S6 in the past tense. It used to get touted as an enduro bike.

The S7 definitely looks enduro. Would love to try one.

I've had two 26" Fives and a 27.5" Five, all of which i loved. Especially the last one with the CCDB inline shock. I moved to a Cotic Rocket after this which was subtly different but made me realise i like pure single pivots (EDIT - i know the Rocket is a linkage driven SP) and i've now got a Starling Murmur.

I have one of the last iteration of the stage 5's, the 2020 model. It's very close to all the numbers on the current stage 6 Evo, especially if you stick a 150 fork on it. Really liked the bike but I then bought a trek slash frame as I wanted no excuses on the rougher stuff/jumps/drops plus I want to learn to manual and the chain stays on the s5 are unusually long, perfect for pretty much everything apart from manualling! Tried to sell the s5 frame on but have had little interest so might build it up with light parts and fast tyres to put as much distance between it and the slash. Really liked it.

Tried to sell the s5 frame on but have had little interest so might build it up with light parts and fast tyres to put as much distance between it and the slash. Really liked it.

It would make a great second bike with a Slash, but you just might end up riding it most of the time.

😀

Unfortunately my riding time is fairly limited so it seems a bit excessive to have 2 full squishes! But the 2nd hand market seems to have nosedived now and I don't want to sell it for less than I think it's worth so I might well build it up again. I thought the stage Evo would probably make a slightly better companion being even shorter travel but it would mean selling/buying a new (second hand) frame. Probably not worth the hassle. Any thoughts on shortening the shock strock to reduce the travel? Worth a play? Any benefit?

still going strong on a 2001 Sub 5 rofl

Had a 2010 26er Five and a 2014 Five29, Love the simplicity of them aswell as supporting the 'home team' living 5 mins away from where they are bolted together. Wanted a Stage 5 for ages but ended up with a Privateer 141 as it was a nice change not to mention much better value! Still fancy another filing cabinet but cant justify 2 full suss bikes that do the same job.