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I know we did 5 vs 6 recently, but has anybody ridden the Stage 4 and 5 ? Presumably the 4 is a little more eager on the climbs, a little more playful, but requires a bit more care over line choice on the way back down. But is any of that actually significant or do you just pick the one you like the look of most ?
Also, does anybody know how picky Orange would be about fork length in the event of a warranty claim? Obviously, if I call them they'll say 120mm is the longest fork I can use (since that's the maximum on the website), but I've got a 130mm Pike. I can't really be bothered changing the air shaft for the sake of 10mm, but there is no point buying a new frame with a warranty then invalidating it on day one.
if it gets them out of validating a warranty then they'll be very picky! why wouldnt they?
but how would they know if you took it off before you sent the frame back?
if it gets them out of validating a warranty then they’ll be very picky! why wouldnt they?
Because unless it had any real influence on the damage done they'd come across as arseholes and struggle to justify their reputation for being a trustworthy British based MTB company selling good items but at a relatively high price? In business, just because you don't pay, doesn't mean it doesn't cost you.
if it gets them out of validating a warranty then they’ll be very picky! why wouldn't they?
Because a reputation for good customer service may mean more to them than the cost of a frame. As you say, it's academic really. If I buy a frame and break it I'd just return the frame and I've never actually broken a frame in my life anyway. The way I mince down stuff it would have to be pretty defective to break. It's just good to know how picky they tend to be if you do break things.
Edit: Damn, beaten too it. Yeah, that 🙂
Because a reputation for good customer service may mean more to them than the cost of a frame.
My own personal experience of Orange in their latest ownership is the polar opposite of that!
I have not even seen a stage 4 in the flesh as yet, but have ridden my friends MK1 and 2 Segment and is a fantastic bike! He has his built light and its a great climber he runs his forks at 130mm (maybe 140) and the bike is certainly not holding him back. He will hit anything the rest of s will on much bigger bikes (including a stage 6) Its a vastly underrated bike much more capable than you would ever think it to be. I can only imagine the Stage 4 is an improvement. Mainly with things like proper shock sizes etc.
One thing i will say is as my above earlier comment Orange customer service and quality has taken a dip in recent years (my own experience) They have also been pushing the boundaries in terms of bike weight and design and i have seen more failures and shoddy workmanship than ever before. I sold my last Orange a year ago after owning 6 of them (still got the hoody and T-shirts) i will never buy a new one off the back of my own experience. Sure there are 000's others with positive experiences but i would rather spend my hard earned on a brand whom values its loyal customer base.
My Stage Four should arrive in the next week or so..
I've had a go on a couple of Stage 5's, and only a sit on the Stage Four.
The Stage Five felt very good, and light for the travel, however I had to bear in mind the one I tried was a Factory spec with all the best kit - so it WILL be light.
The Four is fractionally longer, size for size, than the Five.
Mine will be replacing both my rigid, steel 29er, used for local MTBing, parks, canal paths etc, and my 140mm Travel 27." Trail bike, used for Peaks, Trail Centres etc.
My reasoning for going for the Four over the Five are thus:
- Its replacing both bikes.If it wasn't, I might have got the Five.
- The larger wheels should negate some of the effect of less travel.
- I want something that I could race on. - by which I mean just about every type of racing other than DH!
- Even with middle-of-the-range kit, I should still be able to build it nice and light.
- Its better to buy a bike that's right for 90% of the time, leaving me wishing for a bit more travel 10% of the time, not the opposite.
- The limitations of a single pivot design are less obvious on shorter travel bikes.
I tried and considered a few other bikes too, all short-mid travel 29ers with 'modern' geometry. I liked the Orange pair for their great mud clearance, simplicity, good looks and admittedly a decent amount of 'Made in Yorkshire' effect.
Note: Getting hold of a Stage Four Demo bike is nigh on impossible. Lots of Stage Fives about at various shops though.
@snotrag I thought yours was due last weekend. Are they having trouble supplying these ? I know what you mean about Demos. My closest would be almost a ten hour round trip and I'm not sure I can be bothered.
@russyh I had heard that things might have changed a bit in the customer service area. They always used to be great. As you say, they are pushing things a bit in terms of light/stiff as well, so warranty may be a bit more important than it was with the older bikes.
I’ve got a stage 4 and I’m very happy with it. Way way more capable than I expected it to be. Mine is an xl and it’s a lively ride and it feels really eager to go forward when your pedalling out of turns. I’ve got a cane creek on mine and it feels so planted and offers loads of grip, I’d highly recommend one. Mine has 130mm fox 34’s on it and it handles great.
Thanks. I guess you are not too worried about the warranty situation with the 130mm fork then?
Not overly worried, I would probably be economical with the truth if the worst was to happen. Frames are pleasingly lightweight to, my xl was 6.14lb with shock.
Sounds good. Do you have any issues with pedal strikes? The BB looks to be very low.
Good question and that’s something I was eager to find out before I bought it but there’s no info out there sadly. So I swap between flats and clips pretty much 50/50 and whilst riding flats I’m very aware that it’s quite low and without a bit of thought you do get pedal strikes (30mm sag 170mm cranks) have no issues when riding clips, I say it’s better that my patrol c and similar to my mega 290.
I have the last of the Segments (before the name change) and previously had a 5 29 (chap on the other thread had had one and said his new Stage 5 was very similar).
The Segment is much more responsive and lively + really makes you feel involved in the ride. The 5 29 was ace but just steamrollered everything in a way the shorter travel bike doesn't. I ride the same lines as I did on the longer travel bike with the Segment every bit as capable. The 5 29 some times seemed to get bogged down by it's travel but was super comfy. As a self confessed 'mincer' I'd be going Stage 4. Saying that, I'd love to try a 5 or 6.
My Segment went back for a re-paint due to the lacquer cracking and they were their usual helpful selves. No mention of what fork length was run.
Theres a Large Stage 5 - either full bike or frame and shock only in the For Sale section if you're interested like 🙂
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/905/40740748245_0196240e13_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/905/40740748245_0196240e13_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2557Z4T ]Stage Four[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/simonholehan/ ]simonholehan[/url], on Flickr
Won't be finished for a few weeks but it looks ace!
Looks great.
I went the other way in the end and have ordered a FlareMax frame. Of course, now I've placed the order, I'm convinced that I made the wrong choice and should have bought the Stage 4 instead. But that would have been the case whatever I ordered.