Orange 2009 - Evo 8 or Crush

davomrmac

OK, so I have been around these forums for a few days and in that time have discounted the Trek (unsure about it, so not a buyer), the Marin (nice, but seemed to be style over form) and decided happily on an Orange Evo 8.

Then, I went into the shop to order and had second thoughts... I always do this, I over-research things.

So back on the internet, onto the Orange website, even watch a factory video which made me even more brand confident.

Now I am unsure on the Evo 8 or Crush (both 2009 models). They both look great, and in my amateur eyes the Crush looks more chunky and stronger, but lower specced (slightly) and the Evo 8 looks quite fragile (though I am sure it is not.

My riding use will be to accompany my son on XC rides, adventure, through the woods, maybe a couple of little jumps (for me :oops: ) and the rest of the time on country lanes, muddy fields, maybe some small events. No big jumps for me (too scared), but the odd trunk jump might be nice to give my son some competition.

So, which will be best for me?

supersonic

Crush is the stronger of the two. Have you tried out the bikes for size and feel?

The evo will be happy with small drops and ramps, landed nicely ;-)

zero303

The crush is for proper hooning about - my gut feeling is you'd regret the weight penalty...

As supersonic says - try em for fit...

davomrmac

Tried both for fit and they are equally as comfy.

Sure can feel that the Crush is stronger and would take bigger hits, hence the 140mm at the front end.

My only worry is that the Evo8 will snap if I do jump it. And trying to find out from actual owners has taken a lot of searching with nowt showing on google.

the article don

I hired a Crush for a day and regretted the weight penalty. Having said that, it was awesome downhill.

I asked about an Evo8 elsewhere on this forum - one memorable quote said "you'd be off your t*ts to spend £900 on that". If anything, out of these two, it's the Evo8 that's underspecced, not the Crush.

dave_hill

iainm73 wrote:

I hired a Crush for a day and regretted the weight penalty. Having said that, it was awesome downhill.

I asked about an Evo8 elsewhere on this forum - one memorable quote said "you'd be off your t*ts to spend £900 on that". If anything, out of these two, it's the Evo8 that's underspecced, not the Crush.

You'll find that most Oranges are expensive for the money - I only bought one because I found a good deal which brought it to within "ball-park" of my budget.

The Evo 8 is more of an all-day trail bike, where the Crush is more "all-mountain". The Crush is built stronger than the Evo and as such will have a more rigid frame - the Evo has slightly curved seat-stays which will help to take the sting out of the trail and make it a little more comfortable.

The Crush also has slacker geometry - it will feel more confidence inspiring at speed and you'll be able to corner pretty purposefully on it but the Evo will feel more "immediate". The Crush will be sluggish on climbs (if my SubZero is anything to go by) but because the frame is pretty rigid, more of your effort will be transfered into driving the thing forward.

Of the two, I'd opt for the Evo for the type of riding that you intend to do. Undoubtedly the Crush will be a real hoot to ride but by the sounds of it the Evo will prove the more suitable.

grantway

Sorry what about a P7 ? upto 140 up front and a bit in between the two.
But is a springey steel frame but some people prefer it

grantway

How many forums/threads do you need :?

shin0r

evo

GT Destroyer

I own an '08 Crush and I'd recommend it to anyone it is 8) . From reading your intended riding style though I think you might be better suited with the Evo. Your intended style doesn't seem too aggressive, and the Crush is aimed at just that.

But you also mention you are worried about the frame snapping if you do take on some jumps. I would be very, very surprised if either frame did that, just out of curiosity are you a "big boned" guy, if you are I'd recommend the Crush, if not then the Evo.

If you start out riding small, then you want to progress to more aggressive stuff and bigger drops/downhill then the Crush will allow you to do that better than the Evo.

Look at that - I just changed my mind in a few sentances :shock: . Its tough deciding which bike, you have to think of the present but also the future, as your riding style could well change, and you need a bike that can allow that transition.

Oh and here is the complimentary picture of my Crush,



but my Crush is still the bees knees so I can actually vouch for it being good.

I must also say - Shiner, your Evo looks very nice indeed!

shin0r

Thanks GT - it was an awesome bike. Alas the bike is no more, I succumbed to a bargain Orange 5 on ebay and transferred all the bits across. The frame is sitting in my shed.

davomrmac

Well, I am medium build... about 10st.

I don't intend big jumps or very thrashing riding as I suffered a knee injury a few years back, so would never push that hard. So it sounds like the Evo is pretty well suited.

I had considered a full suspension, but felt a good spec hardtail is the right way to start.

Thanks everyone... oh and nice pics too, like both the Evo and the Crush a lot.

marinman1

i would go for the crush if i was you, i'm considering getting one myself just now and have taken one on a test run, it feels like a really good bike and not as a lot of people say a challenge to get up hills, i was actually surprised how light it was. dont know much about the evo, but if both bikes are similarly priced i think you should get the crush.

zero303

marinman1 wrote:

i would go for the crush if i was you, i'm considering getting one myself just now and have taken one on a test run, it feels like a really good bike and not as a lot of people say a challenge to get up hills, i was actually surprised how light it was. dont know much about the evo, but if both bikes are similarly priced i think you should get the crush.

No disrespect but you've basically invalidated your own opinion...

grantway

Dont know how tall you are but Orange are selling an 18 inch ex demo for £ 699

harveyg77

Hi,

New here, but reading this thread got me to sign-up.

My opinion is that a good XC bike will do most things for most people. If you have a particular perversion then you can get a bike more specific to your needs.

I rode a Trek 8000 (light, fast XC bike) around Dalby Forest and it was far more than riding my 08 StumpJumper FSR (now gone) around Coed-y-Brenin and Penmachno. I also tried a Scott Racing Expert (XC bike) around the Marin Trail and North Face and it was more of a hoot than the Stumpy.

When I go away I could end up riding a trail centre or a long track such as Scarborough to Whitby and back (45 miles). A good XC bike is flexible enough to do it all for me. Its not as good down hill or on rock gardens/jumps as a bike designed for them i.e. a Crush. But then again a Crush wouldn't be as comfy or efficient for longer distances. I have to say crashing and ragging down rock gardens etc. on the Trek 8000 and I never worried about it breaking. A mate has ragged a Trek 8500 for several years on all courses including most of the Seven Stains and bar normal wear and tear has never had problems.

I currently run a Specialized Epic, but am hoping to trade and get an 09 Trek 8000 and an 09 Orange Five Pro.

I would say that for general riding the Evo8 would possibly be a little more flexible in its abilities and efficient in its riding. But that is just my pennies worth ;-)

Whatever you do, ride it and enjoy!
Harvey