Orange 5 advice

1981miked

Afternoon all, i put a deposit on an Orange 5 pro on Saturday, it hasn't been orderded yet as i have 2 decide on a few things yet. Hoping you guys and dolls can help me out and point me in the right direction. I am definately having it in Chrome grey, was swithering over what forks 2 put on it but for my riding etc i reckon the 32's will suffice. It will be at trail centres mainly, some bigger mountains nxt year and the odd trip up 2 Fort William for the red and a run down the dh course. Do u agree with the fork choice? The 36's look better but £320 is alot of cash 2 look better! Also, i am a dizzy enducing 5ft 5/6 and test rode an 18 as that's all they had and it felt fine, i could move my weight arounf no problem, get right off the back for decents etc, wasn't overstreched and could straddle the frame with maybe 3 inches to spare. I know i fit into the 16" category but just concerned it may be 2 cramped as the top tube is 20mm shorter. I had a 16" Giant Vt and felt a bit cramped on that so swapped it for a Cove handjob in 17.5" and it feels perfect (how i love my steel hardtail), the measurements are quite similiar for the 17.5" Cove and the 16" Orange.. Also, im having the hope kit upgrade, headset and bb, i have heavier duty rims with gunsmoke hubs to put on the orange as ill put the standard hoops on the cove. I want 2 add a bit of colour without making it 2 flash, dnt think the 5 needs it. I thought blue may look nice, I have the cove pimped out with gunsmoke kit so fancy a change. Any ideas would be appreciated as always, any pics 2 would be smashing. Thanx, Mike. P.s i may be asking 4 silver thomson seatpost and stem if that helps ur creative juice 2 flow. ; )

supersonic

If going to run the forks big at 160mm, and take on some meaner terrain I'd get that Fox (and save money on fripperies such as the Hope BB, headset and Thomson kit)

The Spiderman

I`m 6ft and test rode an 18" .Are you sure its not to big? :shock:

1981miked

Yeah, it honestly felt fine, that's why i am swithering on the size, i posted this on anothe forum and pretty much everybody said i should get a 16, just wanted to put it too a different audience.
It won't see that much of the really gnarly stuff to be fair, mainly trail centres etc, i think i am set on the 32's now though, i don't think my slender 11 stone would do the 36's justice.

The Dirty Downhiller

The new 2010 Fox 32 forks are available with a 150mm travel option this year, a good compromise and cheaper, handle very well witht he 15mm QR.

Shorty12

I'm 15 stone and i ride 32mm forks and there fine. Once you get the 5 you wont regret it

Shorty12

I'm 15 stone and i ride 32mm forks and there fine. Once you get the 5 you wont regret it

Mancunianfightingcat

I'm 5'11", my Five (pic in signature) is an 18" frame and fits fine, well it does now I've put a 70mm stem on it, it felt a bit stretched before so I'd be surprised if an 18 will feel right to someone who is 6 inches shorter!

Anonymous

1981miked wrote:

could straddle the frame with maybe 3 inches to spare

:shock: OOOOOH! That sounds too close to the knackers for comfort if you have a "moment" or do a drop.
I'd much rather have a ton more clearance than that.

RealMan

I'm 5 foot 6 or 7 ish and I ride an 18". Not much top tube clearance, probably less then an inch.

But I ride spds all the time, so I don't think its a problem.

As for the bike, its perfect. Fits me absolutely spot on. Had a bike fitting done, and just followed the advice from that, and it suggested to go for an 18" instead of the 16" santa cruz recommended, and it was right.

Anonymous

see, I'm somewhere between 5'9" and 5'10" depending what time of day it is, and I ride a 17", and would happily go smaller. Length of the frame is fine.

robertpb

I'm 5' 5" and I had a sit on a 5 18" and it was far too big, they didn't have a 16" to try.

I have a Meta 5.5 16" and I changed the stem on that to a 40mm from a 70mm.

Looking at the geometry of the 5 I would probably go for a 40mm stem on that if I bought one.

1981miked

Thanx 4 all the advice guys. Much appreciated. I was looking into it again last nite and the 5 shares or has very close dimensions 2 my Cove. So 16 it it, would be better 2 have phe piece of mind with the standover height if nowt else. Ill let u know when it arrives, i like ur bike mancunianfightingcat....alot. That is the pic i have saved 2 my phone 2 look at when i need a fix. Im not getting the 36's though. Think im settled on the blue hope kit 2. Any other pics going?

GilesM

I've got an Orange five, I'm 5ft 10" and ride an 18" frame, I currently have a 90mm stem on and I am thinking of changing it to a 70mm, I also have the Easton Monkey lite bars which are quite wide. I would be surprised if the 16 would be too cramped for your size.

As for the forks, I went for the 32 talas, the adjustable travel does help reduce front wheel lift on the very steep climbs, and for British weather, the Hope headset and bottom bracket is a good idea.

Enjoy, the Orange 5 really is an amazing bike.

paul.skibum

Sounds like you have made your mind up but for what its worth I am 5 5/6 depending on who you talk to and I rode a 16" Patriot which was a little larger than I'd have liked and tried my mates 18" 5 pro and thought it was too big as well - not enough safety stand over and too long - for what its worth I ride a 15.5" Handjob too.