The Orange Stage 6 has 469mm chain stays. As someone who is normally on an XL, I'm intrigued to try one. Sadly there seems to be less places to demo oranges these days. Can anyone comment on how these ride? Are they a nightmare when it gets tight? Do they get hung up in tight catch berms or is that more just long wheelbase bikes rather than the chain stay length. Longest I've tried is 455mm to date on a very long wheelbase and that was a handful when it got tight.
I've got a Stage 5 with 461mm chain stays and can't say I've noticed it struggle when things get tight. Obviously takes a bit more lugging about and it's more difficult to get the front end up but it is such a capable bike everywhere that there's no real issue.
“Longest I’ve tried is 455mm to date on a very long wheelbase and that was a handful when it got tight.”
I’ve got 455mm chainstays on my Levo vs 435mm chainstays on my hardtail but both are the same ~1235mm wheelbase (the hardtail has longer reach). When it’s really tight I think the Levo is actually less of a handful to get around the bends.
Some links to reviews here https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/shortish-riders-and-super-long-chainstays/
It’s been said before but to repeat - don’t look at any one number in isolation.
i personally find Orange bikes to have pretty much the best balance and feel of any other bike I’ve ridden… and that’s a lot. I have every confidence that the Stage 6 evo will handle superbly, because in my opinion Orange bikes always do.
I would add that you should get some paper & draw a line 467mm long, but also mark on that line 430mm & 445mm. This will give you an idea what we’re talking about, because otherwise the numbers are actually quite abstract.
30mm/3cm WILL certainly make a difference, but I would suggest not quite as much difference as what some people/manufacturers would have you believe. I would suggest that after a handful of rides you will have adapted to the difference in geometry & have learned to live with it. Or maybe that’s just me?
I had a stage 6 and replaced it with a stage 6 evo(both large) and can’t say I’ve never noticed much issues when it gets tight.
