Which Orange do I buy?

dhxcme · March 2008

More opinion required than advice.

I'm looking at swopping my hardtail (hitman) for something with a bit of bounce to it. I'm no good on dirt jumps and can do anything else I do locally on my 223, but when I go further afield to places lke Grizedale and Llandegla I want something more XC than DH.

My options are

1) get a 5 and beef it up abit.
2) get a patriot and put it on a celeb diet. (starve it)

I can't skimp on quality so has to be and Orange and I can't skimp on luxury so it has to be an Orange full sus.

Thought's please.

Andy B · March 2008

The 5 will take a fair bit of abuse, black XC routes with drop off's, jumps etc. no problem!

Patriot is probably too much (travel wise) for XC & trail riding

Anonymous · March 2008

how bout the st4? looks pretty cool

if you deffo want one of the other 2 though i would say its easier to make the 5 fit your profile than the patriot

grantway · April 2008

Dhxcme Go for the Orange 5 AM
Had this for about three weeks,there is one pictured on this months
MBR magazine pages 12-14

Basically looks like the Partiot but scaled down.

Great on the downs with the Fox 36 r Talas with the adjustable travel

Weight wise comes in at 29 lbs and the extra pound on the front fork
keeps the nose down when going on the steep ups.

I dont miss the third ring that much, but you could always change
this and add a third ring,

The bike has the Hope mono 4's
Great finishing kit and i find the sadle better than my Fizik

Basically i describe this bike as a bruiser on the trail.

dhxcme · April 2008

Thanks for the input. I have a few options as to weather to get the whle bike or get it in bits and swop out on my hitmanand sell what I don't use off the hardtail.

schmako · April 2008

Patriot is nearly a 224, jsut a bit more nimble! I'd say the 5 anyway.

dhxcme · April 2008

a patriot fr is getting on for 224 weight agreed but the angles and kit is more DH orientated and the travel is longer and slacker. What i wanted to do the the patriot is stick and air shock and forks on it with a small single ring up front (28 - 32 teeth) and a good range on the back nine like is mega range road cassette.

Then set the shock and forks a liile stiffer than freeride dictates and then i can do XC at places like grizedale or Llandegla but still do cannock or the freeride track at cwmcarn.

Plus I'm not a fan of he 224. It just looks like a muscular patriot. The 223 looked so much nicer like it had been made from anabolic steriods (the really good ones that get you banned from the olympics).

BlackSpur · April 2008

Just to throw something else into the mix, what about a Big T?

dhxcme · April 2008

Don't like the Big T. It tries to fill a gap where there isn't one. Also it weights a tonne compared to the patriot and ven the 224.

dhxcme · April 2008

Well i got a 2005 6.6 patriot frame which isn't exactly what is required but at the price I got i'm stoked 395 notes for the frame plus HFX9 (the king of brakes) on V8 rotors.

Shweet.

Thewaylander · April 2008

go light with some nice air bits, i think personally unless you ride like a lorry driver most noramly xc components will take fair battering. so grab the 5 with some fox's maybe. and enjoy (though not a fan of orange at the moment)

dhxcme · April 2008

Can't really grab a 5 as i went for the 6.6 but will be going all airy and light like a moose.

Thewaylander Let me guess not a fan of Orange more a Santa Cruz fan now Peaty has moved over.

fasterthanaspeedingbullet · April 2008

Go for the Five Pro!

I ride Llandegla, Grizedale, etc, and can't fault it.

I'm not exactly skinny either (15+ stone :oops: ) so it can take a bit of abuse.

dhxcme · April 2008

I feel like a parrot.
Parrot on a Patriot.
Patriot 6.6.

norco forever · April 2008

he's bought a patriot you silly silly people lol

nice frame btw what spec you thinking of? any pics?

dhxcme · April 2008

For now I'm going to swop over all the kit off the hitman in my sig and then get some more cash and then buy some fat xc forks. I'm thinking 150-160mm.

Does anyone know if the 2005 Patriot 6.6 uses a QR rear wheel.

norco forever · April 2008

i guess so as on the spec sheet (for2006) they use deore hubs which were.are QR only i believe

dhxcme · April 2008

Well thats saved me a few quid.

Also I'll be going with a new DPM camo saddle and 2.1 highroller XC tyres.

zero303 · April 2008

To lighten a Pat up - Fox 36s? :twisted:

dhxcme · April 2008

I was thinking something like 36 Vans but they may do a good job of lightening my wallet.

norco forever · April 2008

but they look amazing and you know you want to :twisted:

Thewaylander · April 2008

Nope, just hated riding my orange when i had it, and the test rig i rode was average and not great for the moeny, santa is also a bit pricey for what you get i own a specialized.. but dream of a yeti hehe

norco forever · April 2008

we all dream of yeti's except missure cheesey lol

dhxcme · April 2008

I can't afford cheapo forks this month or till I sell all my other unusables like the frame.

grantway · April 2008

I Have the Talas r 160 with adjustable travel fork
Wouldnt go for the 2007 models there's alot of changes to
the outside plus the inside of the shock

Cant find nothing these forks cant go over
Nice N stiff and gives you a false sence of security.

What Orange frame you going for?

dhxcme · April 2008

Got the Patriot 6.6 FR.

Thewaylander You reckon Orange and Santa Cruz are pricy then you'll kick the bucket over Yeti prices.

If i can get foxes for the right price otherwise I'm going for anouther pair of Manitou or Rock shox

grantway · April 2008

Nice frame you like it hard then.

Manitou for what i remember to many relibility issues with them.
Go for a set of Pikes this is what they mainly stick on them.

Not Orange mind.

Wr bouts do you ride ?

dhxcme · April 2008

delamere, cannock, Llandegla

fasterthanaspeedingbullet · April 2008

norco forever wrote:

he's bought a patriot you silly silly people lol

Should have read through the post first :oops:

Now i feel like a t**t...

grantway · April 2008

your spoilt nothing like that in London mate

Be nice to go up there, so how or what is the riding between the
downhill bike you have to the Patriot. ?

Just wondering but i have not had a chance to try my 5 AM
out in the real stuff just yet.

dhxcme · April 2008

Not got the Patriot yet. Still on it's way but I'm going to make the patriot stiff and light so can do Llandegla on it and keep the DH bike for cannock and Cwm Carn when I head down south.

Which Orange do I buy?

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