Specialized Rockhopper or Orange G3
![Ed Pies](https://forum.bikeradar.com/applications/dashboard/design/images/defaulticon.png)
Ed Pies
Posts: 9
I have œ600 to spend on a lightweight Hardtail.
I have seen a Specialized rockhopper for œ550 with V brakes, and an Orange G3 discounted to œ599 with discs - which would be best?
As a yorkshireman the Orange is more appealing as it is made just down the road.
It is my first proper bike to use for a daily 10k commute (each way) and for weekend rides(50% on-road and 50% on-road. I have been borrowing an old MARIN hardtail for the commute with not too much difficulty.
Cheers
Ed
I have seen a Specialized rockhopper for œ550 with V brakes, and an Orange G3 discounted to œ599 with discs - which would be best?
As a yorkshireman the Orange is more appealing as it is made just down the road.
It is my first proper bike to use for a daily 10k commute (each way) and for weekend rides(50% on-road and 50% on-road. I have been borrowing an old MARIN hardtail for the commute with not too much difficulty.
Cheers
Ed
0
Comments
-
I'd go for the Orange, but then I am slightly biased................[;)][:D]
Derek.
(Where did that bloody tree come from??)
My Orange 5 ProDerek.0 -
Hi & Welcome
I'd go for the Spesh, but again I'm biased, the Spesh gets better forks at the expense of the brakes, but the rest of the spec seems that little bit better to me.
Have you tested them, that may help you decide
<center><font color="red">Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all.</font id="red"></center>
<center>My Spesh</center>0 -
Try them out, I have 2 <font color="orange">Orange</font id="orange"> bikes so could be a little biased, but I'd be leaning towards the <font color="orange">Orange</font id="orange"> as it already has discs, it would cost about œ200 to upgrade the Spesh to discs if it doesn't have disc ready hubs.
<hr noshade size="1"><font size="1"><center><font color="green"><i>Official Forum Potty Mouth 2007</i></font id="green"></center></font id="size1"><font size="1"><hr noshade size="1"><center><font color="violet">My Flickr Album, With <b>new</b> updated bike pics</font id="violet">
<font color="green">Me & My Bikes</font id="green"> <font color="orange">Orange Bikes</font id="orange"> <font color="blue">Howies© </font id="blue"><font color="black">moredirt photo gallery</font id="black">
<font color="purple">'05 C2C Pic's, </font id="purple"><font color="red"> Red Bull Soap Box Race </font id="red"><font color="black">&</font id="black"><font color="brown"> Snowboarding Pics</font id="brown"></center></font id="size1">0 -
The Spech has disc ready rims, if that helps.
Cheers for the advice so far
Ed0 -
Just looked & the hubs on the Spesh <b>are</b> disc ready [:I]
So an upgrade to discs would only cost ~œ100. (if you felt the need for more braking power!)
Try both bikes & see which one feels best for you.
<hr noshade size="1"><font size="1"><center><font color="green"><i>Official Forum Potty Mouth 2007</i></font id="green"></center></font id="size1"><font size="1"><hr noshade size="1"><center><font color="violet">My Flickr Album, With <b>new</b> updated bike pics</font id="violet">
<font color="green">Me & My Bikes</font id="green"> <font color="orange">Orange Bikes</font id="orange"> <font color="blue">Howies© </font id="blue"><font color="black">moredirt photo gallery</font id="black">
<font color="purple">'05 C2C Pic's, </font id="purple"><font color="red"> Red Bull Soap Box Race </font id="red"><font color="black">&</font id="black"><font color="brown"> Snowboarding Pics</font id="brown"></center></font id="size1">0 -
The frame on the Orange is made in Taiwan though, if that changes your "feel"... So is the Spesh though [;)]
Can't really say, never liked any of those two TBH...
Look at the Trek6000 as a nice XC machine for the money.
Marin Eldridge Grade 07
GT Avalanche 1.0 07____________________
Santa Cruz Blur XC
Marin Eldridge Grade0 -
Nowt wrong with Taiwanese frames, 90% of <b>all</b> bike frames are made over there!
<hr noshade size="1"><font size="1"><center><font color="green"><i>Official Forum Potty Mouth 2007</i></font id="green"></center></font id="size1"><font size="1"><hr noshade size="1"><center><font color="violet">My Flickr Album, With <b>new</b> updated bike pics</font id="violet">
<font color="green">Me & My Bikes</font id="green"> <font color="orange">Orange Bikes</font id="orange"> <font color="blue">Howies© </font id="blue"><font color="black">moredirt photo gallery</font id="black">
<font color="purple">'05 C2C Pic's, </font id="purple"><font color="red"> Red Bull Soap Box Race </font id="red"><font color="black">&</font id="black"><font color="brown"> Snowboarding Pics</font id="brown"></center></font id="size1">0 -
Yer, I know, just saying that it takes something of the "special" feeling out of the Orange, IMHO... The full-sus are made in England though [;)].
Orange is a bit overpriced me thinks...
Marin Eldridge Grade 07
GT Avalanche 1.0 07____________________
Santa Cruz Blur XC
Marin Eldridge Grade0 -
An upgrade to a decent fork will cost more than œ100, so it depends what more important to you, good suspension or disc brakes
<center><font color="red">Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all.</font id="red"></center>
<center>My Spesh</center>0 -
Yeah Orange do seem a little 'overpriced', but that's comparing them to Spesh, one of the largest bike companies going. It's a bit like comparing a corner shop to Tesco's!
Spesh are a bit cheaper/better specced?, but Orange have a little more 'exclusivity', even though they are a little bit more expensive/lower specced, I'd still choose Orange...
...Twice [;)]
<hr noshade size="1"><font size="1"><center><font color="green"><i>Official Forum Potty Mouth 2007</i></font id="green"></center></font id="size1"><font size="1"><hr noshade size="1"><center><font color="violet">My Flickr Album, With <b>new</b> updated bike pics</font id="violet">
<font color="green">Me & My Bikes</font id="green"> <font color="orange">Orange Bikes</font id="orange"> <font color="blue">Howies© </font id="blue"><font color="black">moredirt photo gallery</font id="black">
<font color="purple">'05 C2C Pic's, </font id="purple"><font color="red"> Red Bull Soap Box Race </font id="red"><font color="black">&</font id="black"><font color="brown"> Snowboarding Pics</font id="brown"></center></font id="size1">0 -
Doesn't make any difference at all, choosing something just because its popular, just shows that they are good at what they do.
<center><font color="red">Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all.</font id="red"></center>
<center>My Spesh</center>0 -
Spesh isn't too cheap either. And it is hardly their fault that they can use economies of scale. I get what you mean, I also got my bike due to it's exclusivity, but it is preeeetty and the frame is very light. I just don't see the point of an aluminium Orange hardtail. I do love the P7 and the Orange 5 though! Same thing with the Evo8... Uninspired, if you ask me...
Marin Eldridge Grade 07
GT Avalanche 1.0 07____________________
Santa Cruz Blur XC
Marin Eldridge Grade0 -
weight is a big issue - I am already 14 stone!
Any idea which is lighter?
thx0 -
You! [:D]
Are you thinking of taking the bike on more serious off roads too?
With the discount maybe the Orange would be the best option... The kit is good, apart from the fork which is a bit heavy... Still, both gonna be heavier than more XC bikes like the Trek6000 or Giant XTC (Do they still do the XTC?)
Marin Eldridge Grade 07
GT Avalanche 1.0 07____________________
Santa Cruz Blur XC
Marin Eldridge Grade0 -
0
-
I have discovered that the Stainburn Singletrack course is less than 5 miles away from where I live ... looks tempting!
The main use is getting ou and about and enjoying myself.0 -
Well, that's the spirit! To be honest, most reasonable bikes at this price range are going to weight about the same... It is a good deal more important how you feel on the bike. The orange seems nice for the price, œ100 off is very good for an orange! At some stage you would get fed up with the V's on the Spesh and will want to change them... As said, for the money also look at Carrera Fury, GT Avalanche 1, Trek 6000 and Giant XTC. Potter around on the carpark for a minute or two and go for the one that fits best. All good frames (maybe the Carrera a bit less, but just cos it's Halfords own brand... The kit is excellent!) worth upgrading in the future.
Marin Eldridge Grade 07
GT Avalanche 1.0 07____________________
Santa Cruz Blur XC
Marin Eldridge Grade0 -
Mm.. I'd probably go for the Orange out of the two, given that it's got a decent discount.0
-
For trails like Stainburn I'd seriously think about Disc brakes.
Also feel free to ask on here too, SingletrAction-Yorkshire's trail builders not as many members, but good local advice, since you're up in Harrogate
<hr noshade size="1"><font size="1"><center><font color="green"><i>Official Forum Potty Mouth 2007</i></font id="green"></center></font id="size1"><font size="1"><hr noshade size="1"><center><font color="violet">My Flickr Album, With <b>new</b> updated bike pics</font id="violet">
<font color="green">Me & My Bikes</font id="green"> <font color="orange">Orange Bikes</font id="orange"> <font color="blue">Howies© </font id="blue"><font color="black">moredirt photo gallery</font id="black">
<font color="purple">'05 C2C Pic's, </font id="purple"><font color="red"> Red Bull Soap Box Race </font id="red"><font color="black">&</font id="black"><font color="brown"> Snowboarding Pics</font id="brown"></center></font id="size1">0 -
Off to check out the orange tommorow - thanks for your advice!0
-
Thanks for the 411:)
"Punctured bicycle on a hillside desolate/can nature make a man of me yet?"-The Smiths"With just a little luck
A little cold blue steel
I'll cut the night like a razor blade
Till I feel the way I wanna feel"
[Cheap Trick]0 -
ive got a spesh rockhopper disc its the dogs pal highly reccomended0
-
Gone for the orange but a G2 (the G3 frame was the wrong size).
Now I have to wait for the cycle to work 'voucher'...grrrrrrr.0 -
Me thinks the G3 is worth it over the G2... But that is cos I am no big fan of Sram gears and hayes brakes... Couldn't they order a G3 for you?
Marin Eldridge Grade 07
GT Avalanche 1.0 07____________________
Santa Cruz Blur XC
Marin Eldridge Grade0 -
No they only have two bikes each with œ100 off.
The LBS were adamant that I neede a 17" frame (g2) and that a 19"(g3) frame would be too big. I am 5'9".0 -
A 19" <b>would</b> indeed be too big. I had a 19" Orange Evo 4 and I'm 6'1".
Derek.
(Where did that bloody tree come from??)
My Orange 5 ProDerek.0 -
Fair enough, if the G2 comes with œ100 off as well it is a good bike for the money.
Marin Eldridge Grade 07
GT Avalanche 1.0 07____________________
Santa Cruz Blur XC
Marin Eldridge Grade0