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… Hope Dropper Lever, Cannondale Habit HT, Sixpack Headset Cable Routing System, Rocky Mountain Slayer, Saracen LSL Hardtails, Specialized Levo SL Kids.
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By ben_haworth
Get the full story here:
https://singletrackmag.com/2023/06/nbd-orange-switch-6-sram-apex-lapierre-e-zesty/
I must be getting old, what's an MX wheeled mountain bike?
It definitely looks better than the prototype . . . but still kinda looks like they've grafted a skip onto the BB area
@Ginger, it's the same as mullet, just trying for a more serious name- mx bikes have big/small wheels because you can't package a big rear wheel into them.
The only interesting thing about the switch really is if it's tough enough, let's see if they survive a few years riding better than the last 2. It's different enough that hopefully they've sorted the design failures but then they've added a bunch of complexity, and it was blatantly just where they'd tried to be clever that the last ones broke.
Ah, so MX means Mixed rather than Monstercross, Motocross or anything else that it could mean. Wonderful, just what we needed
I’m enjoying the outrage the Levo Kids bike is causing to a great many Americans.
Also, seems that Apex AXS would work fine on an MTB, for not as much money as GX, but still work the same as XX1, just heavier?
Also, seems that Apex AXS would work fine on an MTB, for not as much money as GX, but still work the same as XX1, just heavier?
I and some other people looked into this as an option (or rather, using the road mechs of the time) - seems it loses the safety feature of moving in when hit by a rock, and also the clutch isnt as strong (never saw any numbers to back this statement up)
Ah that would make sense
Lapierre in nice looking bike shocker!
That Hope lever doesn’t look too bad. And £60 seem reasonably priced compared to some of the other high end dropper levers
Ow thats awful ....... and thats coming from an Orange fan leave stuff anlone and just use as backpack !
Hope dropper lever .. take my money
£60 for that Hope dropper lever seems OK for the prettiness and compatibility with Hope stuff.
Shame I have no Hope brakes and stuff to stick it to.
The nicest looking bike there is the Saracen!
Looks like SL Kids will be the cheapest/least expensive way to upgrade to the new motor unless Spesh relent and offer it to existing Kenevo SL owners.
I like the look of orange bikes, I genuinely do....but what in gods earth has possessed them with that Switch 6?? Why,? For some storage.... cannot imagine they'll sell many of those.
The nicest looking bike there is the Saracen!
Spec choices, colour and build on this is absolutely superb - its how you'd build it if you were doing custom (e.g. Shimano everything but KMC chain, DHR on the front, cheap hubs but good rims, good grips etc...) And at £2.8 I think thats actually relatively decent value - and they will doubtless be discounted at some point.
Really, really nice that.

I like that Orange!
Also, it's interesting that everyone is commenting on the big change being the internal filing cabinet - I'm pretty certain that the popularity of in-frame storage is how they found a way to lower the front of the shock, giving them some leverage progression. The way they build bikes, they can't just bend the downtube in front of the BB - but this large box section between BB and downtube should give the stiffness and strength and the side effect is you can keep stuff inside it. Their downhill bike has the same suspension but achieves it with a pierced downtube.
And now looking again, does that leave room for a bottle within the front triangle, hanging off the top tube?
And now looking again, does that leave room for a bottle within the front triangle, hanging off the top tube?
Yes u can get a bottle in there, there's some images on their website showing a fidlock bottle from memory. Not sure of the bottle size or frame size.
90 degree cable routing through the headset? Hmmmm….
Orange are clearly taking the p. That is one ugly bike.
An e bike for kids? FFS
ebikes for kids have existed a while now, pretty sure Commencals came out 4 years ago, https://www.commencal-store.co.uk/PBCPPlayer.asp?ID=2054913 Cube also make one https://www.bikester.co.uk/cube-acid-240-hybrid-rookie-pro-400-kids-M1254553.html
Kids MX bikes have existed for decades.
can sort of see a valid reason for E kids bile (ignoring cost) will mean more little groms can keep up with dad, mum or bigger stronger siblings.
sort of like an expensive Towee.