With 135mm of rear travel and a stout legged 140mm Fox 36 leading the way, this bike shows some serious intentions. An all-new frame design takes design knowledge and experience from building Orange’s lighter weight trail bike, the Four and rolls it out in this 29er, keeping it competitively trim. With single ring transmissions now established and here to stay, Orange have moved the pivot point to the best position, opted for 148mm Boost rear axle spacing and sweated the details on sizing and geometry.

With three frame sizes available, these UK made frames have dimensions that don’t disappoint. The Orange design crew have dropped the top tube to give good stand-over clearance and seat tube and reach measurements take into account both longer travel dropper posts and sub 50mm stems. A 335mm bottom bracket height and a 445mm rear centre and measurement we like and work well on this mid travel 29er.

The bike pictured is the LE model – the ‘Launch Edition’ and as such is dripping with premium hardware. Hope supplies the colour co-ordinated cranks, hubs, brakes etc keeping the UK theme going. The Fox fork, X2 shock and Transfer dropper post are all Kashima Factory models (adding that touch of class) on this limited edition version.

Light on its feet, with a more nimble feel, this latest 29er from Orange really feels like the years of refinement have paid off. The correct geometry, mated with three realistic sizes and the right choice of fork has resulted in a really versatile trail bike – one that we feel may well give their Segment and bigger hitting Stage 6 a run for their money.

A ‘fine tune of a fine tune’ and just like many versions of the Five looks set to become a long-term favourite. Good times ahead for Orange bikes.

[monetizer101 search=’Orange Stage 5′]