[Closed] Orange Five Incoming - owner tips?

Enjoy routing your dropper cable.

If the little plastic sleeve thing is already installed in the downstube/seattube, do NOT pull it out till you've pushed a gear inner all the way through it!

Get the best rear shock possible

Protect the rear/top of the swing arm from chain slap.

Depending on how you like the bike to ride, different shocks may suit you more. I ran a CaneCreek DB Inline and it was great for my riding style, it made the bike feel like a mini-DH bike on the descents. Previously I had a well tuned Fox which was a lot more poppy, but lacked the really planted feeling of the CC.

Finally, get off the brakes! For me, the bike felt amazing when you really pushed it, committed and got off the brakes. If you are dragging the brakes then it really affects the handling of the bike - I think this applies to all full sus, but it seemed to affect the Five more than others I've ridden.

Thanks... shock is a Fox DPX2, so hopefully tuneable enough to my needs

Have asked the shop to route a dropper cable to me as part of the purchase

Have asked the shop to route a dropper cable to me as part of the purchase

Well played.

I'd consider getting it Invisiframed if you particularly like the colour.

My Stage 6 paint has held up really well but my home helitaping efforts were tatty and it's showing a couple of chips in bits I couldn't get to wrap.

I'd also pay someone else to apply it, given the awkwardness of the tube profiles and all those welds.

Be prepared for a) people telling you it’s a filing cabinet and b) people telling you it will crack 😃

If you’re on Facebook, the orange riders and the orange bike owners club groups are very useful.

Finally, get off the brakes! For me, the bike felt amazing when you really pushed it, committed and got off the brakes. If you are dragging the brakes then it really affects the handling of the bike – I think this applies to all full sus, but it seemed to affect the Five more than others I’ve ridden.

There's a reason for this which I can't really be bothered to type up. Something like, the rear axle is a pivot so when you compress the suspension the rear wheel rotates. When you clamp the brake on the rear wheel can't turn during compression and you can drag it down the trail hammering into bumps.

But yeah in a nutshell, very sensitive to rear brake useage. They roll much faster, smoother and with more grip if you lay off the rear brake, much more so than other bikes.

Very fast in the right hands obviously. I used to have a love/hate relationship with them which depended massively on the spec of whichever demo bike I could steal for a weekend. I haven't ridden one for ages.

Buy loads of orange Hope parts to attach to it, then post your immensely clean and pimped bike on the Orange owners page on facebook to allow them to froth at the mouth over it inbetween debating the merits of skinwall tyres and what shades of orange anodising match between different manufacturers.

Clean the bb threads before fitting a bb. They are TIGHT.

Also, don’t brake.

Thanks... the rear brake thing is expected, but got to be better than a hardtail right!

Better than lots of full suss bikes you mean.

Clean the bb threads before fitting a bb. They are TIGHT.

This, very much so or get the threads re-cut. I ruined the outer shell of my Hope bb installing it, they are tight like a tiger.

Cable rub isn't really a problem now they've gone internal. Maybe a bit on the head tube.

Never had a chain slap problem with a clutch. My current Stage 5 came with a type of protector anyway.

The dropper cable is a pain so well done for that. The swing arm grommet for the rear brake can be a massive ball ache to refit if the cable is wider than a gear cable (Hope are). You can try to leave it in place but I couldn't without pushing it out.

Wouldn't bother with invisiframe, just save the cash and get a respray from Orange when it's looking tatty. The paint lasts well.

I've made a mudflap from a motorbike innertube, and ziptied it to the downtube so it covers the pivot bearings, they last a lot longer with it, than without it. It's a good idea to give the frame a good shaking, and brush out the seat and head tubes before fitting anything too.

I’ve made a mudflap from a motorbike innertube, and ziptied it to the downtube so it covers the pivot bearings

Post a pic if you get a moment?

I can sort of imagine it, but I'm not sure I'm willing to make the aesthetic sacrifice.

My bearings haven't been changed in 5 years of riding and post-ride neglect. Still fine.

I got a bit less than two years out of my S6 bearings, and I should have done them much earlier TBH.

No jetwashing but I did ride it a lot. Because it's such a great bike.

£250 for a rebuild with new bearings and a choice of whatever powder coat colour you like.

Mine is standing up well so far to abuse but I'm a clean freak, so it never sits covered in shit. Yer in and bearings are spot on.

Had one 4/5 years bearings changed once and I’ve battered it through Welsh winters and all over Europe. Just nod your head when people tell you it’s filing cabinet and can’t climb and then really annoy them by chucking it in the back of a Transporter and happily heading home after a great day out.

I’ve never put frame protection on, bit of cable rub but not bad but I’m not worried about resale. Bikes should be like your face, bashed and well used or you’ve had a dull time of it.

I’ve never put frame protection on, bit of cable rub but not bad but I’m not worried about resale. Bikes should be like your face, bashed and well used or you’ve had a dull time of it.

Same. There are many, many, many things I'd rather be doing than cleaning my bike to within an inch of its life so I'll ride it, maybe spray the mud off and coat the drivetrain with oil and throw it in the garage.

That said, one of the many, many, many things I'd rather be doing is cleaning my car/van to within an inch of their lives so I guess its horses for courses 😀

How’s your face doing though? 🙂

Oh yeh, personal hygeine is low down on my list of things to do. Moreso since lockdown!

Invisframe is £80 I think, I did it and think it is well worth it. Still looks new nearly 2 years later and it's only just had it's first clean.