Quality steel hardtail - Orange P7 Pro / Cotic Soul
paulswilliams2
Posts: 137
Looking for some advise on these two bikes / frames. I am looking to replace my old Marin Full sus with a hardtail primarily to better support mtb touring with panniers. This means all day trail riding; comfort and lightweight is important - more important than XC efficiency.
However, I am 5"11' weighing 13.5 stone, though ride fairly smoothly with no DJ and I am a bit of a p*ssy DH. How would people categorise and differentiate between these frames?
Therefore, I think these choices are appropriate though would be grateful for other opinions and other UK suggestions.
However, I am 5"11' weighing 13.5 stone, though ride fairly smoothly with no DJ and I am a bit of a p*ssy DH. How would people categorise and differentiate between these frames?
Therefore, I think these choices are appropriate though would be grateful for other opinions and other UK suggestions.
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Comments
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They are similar in many ways I would say - both designed to be used with 100-130mm of travel for hard trails and AM. However the construction is somewhat different - the Soul uses 853 tubing which is twice as 'strong' as standard cromo and builds into a lighter frame. The soul is a pound lighter than the P7. However a little more to it than this, I'd try and test - the geo does differ, the p7 being somewhat slacker, and the stiffness may be different too.0
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Hiya,
Cant speak for the Cotic models, but I have test ridden the P7 and loved it! Its durable and feels very light for a steel frame. Its also very comfortable and your not stacked up over the handlebars, like on some models.
At present, the only fly in the ointment is availability. Black frames are in stock, but other colours are not (this is speaking with orange direct).
Also the frame is being changed for the 2008 range which should be available as of now.
Great bike though!0 -
I have a marin full sus frame and I too was looking for a steel hard tail, a friend has a P7 and I was very interested in the cotic soul but then HC above butted into my thread as well and mentioned an on-one inbred 456 so thats what I've got and so far its holding up well and I think its great.0
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Cheers for the advice. I was put off the Cotic due to the 2+ month waiting list for them, I really could do with the bike earlier. I am visiting Wensleydale Sat to take a demo p7 out, and am keen to see the on-ones in the flesh. Have other people seen them prior to purchase - obviously I will ask directly but just wondered. Also, I only just noticed that the Brant @ on-one was Brant Richards - what a blast from the distant past!0
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I've got an '06 P7 (same as the '07), and I love it. The ride is very good, I like the position, the head angle is slack, which took a bit of getting used to. It's also pretty tough. It has mounts for a bob trailer (and probably panniers). The test I have on it proclaims it britains toughest bike, and was said to be the sort of thing the mtb guide type chap would use for going out in the wilds. That said, the frame is the only part on it that hasn't been replaced. It's a case of Triggers broom...
The frame is going to go at some point. You see, i'm more into hurling about tight singletrack that touring, though i'd love to give it a go.
The bad points are that it really isn't all that light (mine started as a P7 S, and was 32.5lbs, It's now similar in spec to a 'Pro' with some definite upgrades, and weighs in at 28.5lbs), and as supersonic suggests, there are better grades of steel with which to constuct a frame. Lighter, tougher etc. etc.
The Cotic Soul is a beautiful piece of equipment. Very light, and with proven, award winning geometry (71 deg head). Also see their BFe (69 deg head) model, if you think you might start liking the downhills and jumping at some point. Not as slack as the P7 (68 degree Head).
Also look at the Cove Stiffee (Very stiff alu frame, 67.5 degree head angle) Probably not too hot for mtb touring though.0 -
Decision made.... After a couple of weeks of religious contemplation, and poring (is that right???) over magazines, websites, reviews etc, I have decided on the P7 Pro. Took out a brand new 08 Pro for a test ride last weekend in the Yorkshire Dales. Its been years since riding a hardtail and I was worried about the rocky trails. Luckily, this was a decent testing ground, not a full on boulder field, but certainly some decent rocky descents and climbs, and finished it with a climb up Buttertubs.
Initial thoughts were that it felt a little heavy on first receiving and looking over the demo bike. However, I was immediately comfortable once perched on it. All riding was funny, and the bike was lively and the forks started to settle in during the later stages of the ride. Thoroughly enjoyed some grassy singletrail to Hawes - perfect for this bike.
I am going to order tomorrow and now, the only decision is whether to wait about a month for a white frame, or plump for the quicker black (may get it with 10 days) and whether to upgrade to Hope Mono Mini for 150 squids...
Cheers for the advice all.0 -
Isn't the upgrade to Mono M4's (according to the Orange Website)
I personally prefer Hope to Avid, can you test a bike with the Hope's on, so you get a feel for them?
PS, Nice choice, I'm an Orangista
Bike pics here...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_b/set ... 05/detail/
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Andy,
Thats a very good point, and I did originally wonder why the cost of 150 rather than the 110 seen on the generic upgrades page. The generic page suggests 110 pound upgrade from Juicy 5s to Mono Mini, then a further 40 pounds to go to M4 which are more than I need. I have tried Mono Minis on a mates bike and they were great, much better than the avids though that could have been because the avids hadn't worn in properly.
It also baffled me why they were so expensive when the cost of Mono Minis isn't vastly different to Juicy 5s from shops. Will enquire tomorrow when ordering - humans are often more useful than websites.
Cheers for the heads up.0
