Afternoon,
I'm looking to upgrade this year to a 29er and the Orange Stage 5 is appealing to me at the moment. I mainly ride North Wales trail centres and at 6ft 4 an upgrade from 26 to 29 is appealing! Anyone on here got one of the 2020 bike and can comment on its climbing and all day riding ability. Also interested in other recommendations?
Thanks
Chris
comment on its climbing and all day riding ability
It's fine. Single pivot, no linkage so it's (almost 100%) controlled by the shock's damping. Lock the shock out and it climbs perfectly fine.
The *only* thing is... they're expensive for what they are.
You're looking at the right type of bikes for trail centres, 130 - 140mm travel is enough to keep things fun.
They're pretty much aren't many *bad* bikes out there. Geometry is much of a muchness on most new bikes these days, you just pick a wheelsize (29er, as 27.5 is dead like 26!), pick a material (carbon, steel or alu), and pick a colour.
Just make sure you get enough reach on the bike you choose, you'll be a XL in pretty much everyone's bikes. You'll want a reach over 500mm.
Quick suggestions of trail bikes:
Cotic FlareMax
Orbea Occam
Evil Offering
Ibis Ripmo
Nukeproof Reactor
Santacruz Hightower
Specailized Stumpjumper
Trek Fuel EX
YT Jeffsy
Randon Slide
Cannondale Habit
Whyte T140
Go get yourself a test ride.
Plenty of capable 29ers out there, actually preferred the shorter travel stage 4 over the 5, for me a shorter 120-ish bike is all you need for what most ride, particularly up here in north wales. No bottle mount on the 4 though so I’ve ordered a Transition Spur
I would be looking at the Stage evo for the sort of riding you do
2020 Stage 5 owner here. They're ace and I'm quite happy to ride mine all day. They climb well too, helped by the position the steep seat tube puts you in imo. Hugely capable allrounder.
I am a big fan of 5he Stage 6 as a well rounded but DH focussed trail bike. Climbs really well and nice and lively despite the long chain stays.
Can imagine the 5 being even better as an all rounder.
“It’s fine. Single pivot, no linkage so it’s (almost 100%) controlled by the shock’s damping. Lock the shock out and it climbs perfectly fine.”
Not true. Most of the pedalling ability is down to the anti-squat and that comes down to the pivot location vs the chain line and contact patch. The recent Oranges all have plenty of anti-squat so they pedal very well. No need to lock the shock out.
Thanks gents for your comments, I'm looking into test rides at the moment but there doesn't seem to be any available anywhere due to obvious reasons. I will also have a look at the stage 4 and stage evo and a few others suggested.
Dr Nick
All the newer Orange trail bikes climb superbly (I have an S4 and original S6).
The new Stage 5 has an impressively long rear end, so should climb even better than my bikes.
They are great for trail centre kind-of riding (as well as lots more), because they have such a snappy response to pedal input or pumping the bike.
What Chakaping said ( he has my old Stage 4). I replaced mine for somethign with more travel and better on proper rough stuff however for fast, trail centre, swoopy type trails they are really good, and they sprint/pump/carve round berms really well.
Would be tempted with the Stage Evo myself if I were looking as it fixes the only mild niggles with the old Stage 4.
They also build up impressively light and 'ride light' too, which is important when everyone moans they cost the same as X or Y carbon bike.
ETA - Stage 5 frame on sale at Sunset (got mine from there) - https://www.sunsetmtb.co.uk/shop/index.php?product_id=9326&12608=59131&12609=59134&12918=60206&12919=60209&12920=60211&12610=59140&12921=60214
