Orange Five Review
There’s a reason Ridebike stock Orange bicycles. It’s a simple one. They’re very, very good. Hand built in Halifax from high-quality aluminium and chromoly steel, Orange has established a reputation over nearly a quarter of a century for no-nonsense trail bikes that perform straight from the box. In a market flooded with cheap imitations, Orange remains a premium brand. Which is why we stock them. (Isn’t this where we came in? - Ed).
Rather than insisting you take our word for it, we added a sparkling 2011 Orange Five Pro to our demo range. And not just any Five Pro. Our demo machine is sprinkled with shiny pieces from Orange’s Performance Pack. Did someone say Easton? Thomson/Fizik finishing kit, anyone? Hope brakes? Suit you, sir…
Arguably the standard by which other trail bikes are judged, the Five Pro is a piece of mountain bike lore, a machine so close to perfect in its first incarnation that subsequent models have changed little. Evolution not revolution has marked the Five’s development, and the monocoque frame that lies at the heart of the 2011 bike differs little from the 2010 model. The same Reynolds 6061 T6 oversized aluminium tubing, the same outrageous, box section downtube, the same uber functional rear swing arm. Orange, it seems, have taken the glut of gushing reviews that greeted last year’s offering and wisely decided not to change a winning formula.
The huge 2.5 inch headtube provides a positive junction with the fork crown, allowing the slack, 67 degree head angle to deliver stable, predictable steering, placing the front wheel where you can see it - always a bonus. The none-simpler swing arm is kept in check by a Fox Evolution RP23 shock, with three Pro Pedal settings that all but eliminate pedal bob. We blasted the Five around the Purbeck trails and found the middle setting to be suitable for almost anywhere. The fully open setting came into its own rocketing down Godlingston Hill, and we were fully locked on the road for the pedal back to the shop.
The Fox Float 32 front shock is a monster, boasting a whopping 140mm of travel, or to put it another way, more than you’ll need this side of the Alps. That said, additional travel is a huge confidence booster and we used its air sprung nerve tonic to hurtle down Frank’s Tank as if our shorts were on fire. The Float 32s laughed in the face of drop offs and sniggered at sections of rock-strewn bridleway. The 15mm bolt through axle enhanced tracking, while a conveniently placed dial on the right side of the fork crown made locking out the shock while pedaling a piece of cake.
So much for going fast, how about slowing down? Well, the Five Pro features Hope Tech X2 units. Both lever and caliper are CNC machined from a solid billet of 2014 T6 aluminium (that’s the stuff they use for aircraft), so they look very tasty. But how did they perform? Very well, since you ask. The confidence inspired by the Five’s handling and travel would soon evaporate if you couldn’t slow down. The X2s worked effectively, biting without locking, and releasing as quickly as they’d been applied. The rotors spun freely, clearing quickly after brief trips through the few muddy sections we encountered on our July workout. The two-finger levers were comfortable and well positioned, responding with a light action to a minimum of pressure. No back-to-the-bar nonsense here.
And for the rest? Well, you can guess from the cut-no-corners spec that the components perform as well as the frame. A Shimano XT rear mech is united with LX shifters to deliver precise, reliable shifting. The huge Easton Haven carbon bars (a giant 711mm) only add more stability to the Five’s unhurried steering. Saddles are a personal choice, but the Fizik Gobi is a popular number and we found enhanced a level of comfort that comes with 140mm of plush travel. And the wheels (Mavic XM317 rims on Hope Pro II hubs) rolled smoothly and without complaint, the Pro II’s positively singing on freewheeling descents. Maxxis Advantage 2.25 tyres were sufficiently knobbly to churn through light mud without slowing us down on dusty fire road.
The Five Pro is widely recognised as a design classic and rightly so in our opinion. While other staples from other brands have undergone complete reinvention to match the pace of development, the Five has needed only minor tweaks. It’s been a favourite at Ridebike.co.uk for many years and remains so. Come and try it for yourselves.
Timothy John
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