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Submitted by
Peter
a Weekend Warrior
from Wales
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Nant-Yr-Arian | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Super stiff, light for its strength, versitile. | | Weaknesses: | I have friends that have cracked them around the seat stays/seat tube before Orange started to make wrap-around stays. Cost! | | Similar Products Used: | Various, other Ms Isles, Gary Fisher, saracen, Specialised P1, Giant STP. | | Bike Setup: | RockShox Pike, Hone Cranks (2 rings +bash), Saint brakes (203F/160R), Hope proII on Mavic 321disc (36h), LX GS mech (8spd). | | Bottom Line: | I have a 16" and use mine for exteme XC, street and just about everything else besides and it gets away with it all. Its a pretty good jump bike and looks like it would be good in the 4X arena, but i've never used it there.
Maybe a bit of a pricy frame for the money - I got mine from eBay for £300, but new from Orange and you will be missing no less than £500 of your hard earned cash.
Dispite my friends having problems, it looks as if Orange have sorted out their act now and all my welds are very neat and the new quattro-box wrap-around seat-stays do very nicely. Also, my housemates got 3 free frames form Orange - so their customer service is all good!
Overall - if you want a bike thats ok at everything or a 4X monster then look no futher (if you don't mind the cost.) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan Stevens
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, UK
Date Reviewed: August 8, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | 50 Acre Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Action Bikes | | Strengths: | It's damn near indestructable. I haven't broke it yet at any rate. For a 4x'er it's pretty versatile too, whilst it may not be the best for everything it manages admirably. | | Weaknesses: | No ICSG mount on the frame, but the bike makes up for it in so many other ways. | | Similar Products Used: | A fair few. KHS FR 1500, Saracen X-ESS, Scott FX-30, Saracen Havoc | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Pyslo's, Truvativ team guide, Hussefelt cranks, Shimano clipless pedals, Alex 24 rims, Avid V brakes. | | Bottom Line: | The Ms'isle is a savage piece of kit. I ride street, light downhill and freeride and aggressive XC on it and it laps it up. A change in the seatpost height lets you get away with a lot on it. However, it has it's short comings, the stiffness of the frame comes at a price, it absolutely hammers your arse. It's not the best climber on the trails, but then the geometery isn't geared towards that. Overall, a great frame, especially if you worry about shredding expensive frames, I weigh several tons and it hasn't died on me yet, and it's a tough frame that takes my weight on a six foot drop to flat on concrete. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich ?
a Downhiller
from A town near U!
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$325.00 | | Purchased At: | A bloke outside ASDA | | Strengths: | : Lightwieght to strength,
short rear triangle for quick accelaration,
UBER beefy bottom tube!!!! | | Weaknesses: | That i got 1 to big for me! | | Similar Products Used: | Handsome dog :(, planet X (jackflash), spooky..... | | Bike Setup: | Stratos MX6 on D321, laced to a hope bulb, with a hope mini on. Truvativ cranks (The best for there price) XTR shifter on XT rear derallieur, Phatso double wide rear rim :( on deore non disc hub. Magura HS33 rear bake in bright yellow. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is properly light for how strong it is, i have used it for a few DH races, i think the best hardtail out there ATM. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
milan
a
from exeter
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Very good strength to weight ratio. LOok at that downtube! Ridden by the pros. Made in england. good macheening. | | Weaknesses: | Stupid dimensions. They should do a 14' seat tube only with an option of different top tube lengths. Should be available in more colours. More options, bmx bb, horizontel dropouts etc. It doesnt accelerate as well as its been hyped up to be. Expensive | | Similar Products Used: | marin, on0one, dmr | | Bike Setup: | marzzocchi hope 3piece | | Bottom Line: | Overall i think that this is a good frame which can handle most sorts of terain. iv ridden mine from downhill to street, dirt jumping and xc. Its just the sizes dont make sense. i got a 16' purally because of top tube length but i found the bike too high. If you are happy with the sizing, appreciate britsh built, like the colours, want ultimate strength without weight penalty and like the look and have the money than by all means buy it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Neek
a Weekend Warrior
from Birmingham
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Its strengths are its strength.... stiffness, versatility, and Orange being really sound people to deal with. | | Weaknesses: | For the taller rider who still wants a smaller frame - the 14 inch frame has too short a top tube... but the 16 inch still has a tendency to feel a bit big. | | Similar Products Used: | Now riding an Arrow DSS: small frame, long top tube, 24" rear, beautifully made. Previously, a GT Zaskar. | | Bike Setup: | Allsorts... mostly Bomber Z1's, XT gears, Maguras, dmr bits, mavic/shimano wheels, ac cranks. | | Bottom Line: | This is kind of a follow-up to my first review which you'll find on the page for the '98 or older MsIsle. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of the first 5 production bikes, back in September/October 98 - before even the magazines. Back then it looked especially different to anything else around and I had to have it.
Since then it's done me proud. I've done a load of regional DH races, tons of street riding, dirt jumps, technical singletrack all over the country, even the Red Bull 24hr race.
I've had it set up with Judy SL's and xc wheels: it absolutely flew - eats singletrack for brekkie, lunch and dinner.
I've broken 3 sets of forks, 3/4 sets of cranks.. 3 rear wheels... bars... saddles... mechs galore. And through all of it, the frame was the one thing I never had to worry about. Bombproof it is for sure, immortal it ain't.
After 5 years of serious thrashing (from maybe not the smoothest rider) it developed a tiny crack in the downtube behind the headset (also flared), so it was time to move on.
Fair play to Orange though - they reckon they could fix it (buzz off the headtube, stick on a new one, heat-treat it, paintjob and stickers) for only £150.
Buy it, but try it first if you're a lanky git like me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bruv
a
from uk
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | aston hill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | framework racing,ipswich | | Strengths: | huge downtube gives you more confidence to hit bigger gaps and is folded 6061 alloy unlike standard round tubing | | Weaknesses: | only enough tyre clearence for a 2.3 | | Similar Products Used: | gt zaskar, planet x bommer, evil imperial | | Bike Setup: | shiver sc, atomlab trailpimps, azonic dw, roox danny, m4s,middleburns,dmr,trailkigs | | Bottom Line: | for jumping and thrashing round the street this is the ultimate bike ever heard of one snapping ? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tony
a
from kingston
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | recycle | | Strengths: | the frame as a whole , the geometry is spot on , the strength is not reflected in the weight which i thing is amazinf for what it is | | Weaknesses: | poor seatstay mud clearance - i had a prototype frame model | | Similar Products Used: | sidekick | | Bike Setup: | bomber Z3, Hope big Un and bUlb pyramid /5321 rims, Xlite stem and bar, Middleburn and goldtech chainset, XT raceface post | | Bottom Line: | i got mine resprayed form the stock colours in a custom metallic blue - it is sweet, i love it and dont think i would ever want another frame for this type of riding , happy to keep riding it for ever - buy one, new paint jobs look awfull though | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James Phelan
a Racer
from Bournemouth
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Any trails and BMX / BSX track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | Stif | | Strengths: | Solid, No flex, can be used for a cruse in the woods ( can do everything) High BB lots of clearence, original, nice dropouts and headtube. | | Weaknesses: | Sometimes too stif, and you get kicked up, be smooth and you will be ok. | | Similar Products Used: | Club roost stinger. | | Bike Setup: | Bomber z1's, hope disks, XT, azonic, DMR, Mavic. | | Bottom Line: | I think its the best bike ever, ment to be ridden hard, hardcore xc or jumps can do it all. Custom colour and sizes for all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Liam Mark
a Downhiller
from Southampton
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Any with a drop off | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | GA Cycles | | Strengths: | This frame is damn strong. Its super stiff and you can do anything on it | | Weaknesses: | Well, It is a tad on the heavy side, But did i mention its strong. A small price to pay. | | Similar Products Used: | DS1, X-ile, Ruckus | | Bike Setup: | Z1's, Deore(why spend alot when its gonna get broken), V12, Maguras, 521's and faithfull nokian gazzalodi's | | Bottom Line: | Wow, this is one hell of a bike, It may not be the lightest bike about, but when you got speed and a take off, then weight doesnt really matter much. What matters is it wont brake. (You can also ride into cars). I wouldnt swap it for anything. If your into jumping, duel or just hammering your bike then this is the frame for you. Its long top tube feels comfortable and not cramped and its short rear end makes it accelarate quickly, buy one | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
martin pearce
a Downhiller
from dorset
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | very strong atracive light brilliant | | Weaknesses: | bb threads | | Similar Products Used: | quake 9 snapped | | Bike Setup: | ms isle,hope,xvert,halo,xt, | | Bottom Line: | best hard tail | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
martin p
a
from poole
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | very strong, nice, mud clearance, extra gussets if u buy an ex-team animal, made in uk not that crap taiwan stuff | | Weaknesses: | bb threads | | Similar Products Used: | p3, quake9, airo | | Bike Setup: | XT, halo, v 12, answer, manitou, | | Bottom Line: | great | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Higham
a Downhiller
from Surrey
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Wedgie | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Second Hand Full Bike | | Strengths: | A good strong bike. You look down and it fills you with confidence and makes you feel like you can ride anything. Good short back end so sprints hard, longish top tube and no flex in the backend with huge stays. | | Weaknesses: | Weak bottom bracket threads esp. when using a chain device. A bit on the heavy side of light. Bit pricey but I got mine second hand and besides it well worth it. | | Similar Products Used: | Azonic DS1, Mission Trialstar, Coyote, DDG Shooter, Kona Chute | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi JR T's, 24seven cranks, Shimano DX pedals, Tioga, Shimano, DMR, Mavic. | | Bottom Line: | A kick ass bike thats reinforces confidence and makes you ride bigger. The weight isn't really an issue for me and I think the geaometry is spot on for the taller rider. Buy it if you want an all round performer. Hand Built in England, what more could you ask for? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pope
a Downhiller
from manchester
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | delamere | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | its strength ride like my patriot feels like my patriot but its a hardtail | | Weaknesses: | heavy if your week little maggot | | Similar Products Used: | azonic ds1, patriot dmr ect | | Bike Setup: | standard 2001 off the shelve model psylos xc deore single chainring | | Bottom Line: | If you want a strong responsive hardtail for sreet dirt or dual then you can't go far wrong. If you ride an orange downhill full sus like a 222 or a patriot and want a dual bike then this is perfect, it handles virtually the same as the patriot unless your riding over really bumpy terrain obviously. Strong contender worth considering from the great nothern company, well done orange. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tony
a
from kingston
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Strengths: | the whole frame, both the heatube and rear triangle are fully reinforced. THere are gussets on the seattube seatstay join and chainstay seatstay join, making the rear triangel very strong. The frame rides nicely but is best suited to proper jumping and duel | | Weaknesses: | poor tyre clearance on the seatstays
| | Bike Setup: | halo combats , pyramids , middleburns , DMR , | | Bottom Line: | BUY IS , SINCE MY LAST REVIEW IVE RIDDEN IT PRETTY HARD AND ITS STOOD UP TO IT WELL | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark spencer
a Weekend Warrior
from wyre forest UK
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | wyre forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$325.00 | | Purchased At: | www.backontrack.co.uk - very good!! | | Strengths: | Strength, rock solid build quality and neutral balanced handling | | Weaknesses: | weight. But strength to weight is always a compromise. I want the strength! Feels lighter due to excellant ride qualities. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona chute, roast. Jamis Komodo etc. | | Bike Setup: | DMR 3P cranks, 38t chainwheel. Z1 Marz 5", goldtec hubs (brilliant), mavic 512's from wheelpro (the best), azonic bars/stem. Michelin 16/24 (fantastic grip) and formula b4 brakes. | | Bottom Line: | Absolutely wicked, the best of it's type. Buy this for serious duel racing, jumping and hardcore trail riding. Also Orange are a really good company to deal with IMHO.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Will Beare
a Downhiller
from Wiltshire
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Strengths: | Strong, Good looking, Gussets everywhere, great to jump, | | Weaknesses: | Possible a bit heavey but I don't care. | | Bike Setup: | Halo intensity combat wheels. Z1 Drop-offs. | | Bottom Line: | Brilliant jump bike. I love everything about it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tony
a
from london
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | well strong and beefy , the rear can take all the stacks and bad landins as can the front , which is well hench , can take tri clamp, perfect jump slalom frame
box tuding everywhere reasonbly loght for the strench, guissets everywhere, it will never break | | Weaknesses: | tire clearance at the seattube top tube weld is tight especialy in mud
cable guides for hydralics are dodgy | | Similar Products Used: | ds1 zaskar evo II | | Bike Setup: | d521 spesh evil twins XT drivechanin, Middleburn rs7 cranks ringgod, tomacs azonic pyramids roox danny stem z3 flylights ( broken ) dmr sidekicks meanwhile | | Bottom Line: | smart arse frame, buy it for jumping , but you can still ride satreet on it as i do The gometyr feels just right and very kickable , its heavy but the strength makeds up for it
wathc out for dodgy colours though | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Barnett
a Downhiller
from Yorkshire
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Dalby Forest (the whole place rules!) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Totally indestructable so far. Looks amazing - like nothing else out there which is just what I want. ITS MADE IN YORKSHIRE!!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | Slightly heavy but lets face it, who cares! Tad pricey but I got mine with £200 of the RRP. Bargain! | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Chameleon, GT Zaskar, Pashley 26Mhz | | Bike Setup: | Z1 CRs/Hope Pro discs/XTR/MRP/Azonic/D321 CDs/Tioga | | Bottom Line: | If you want to ride dh & trails and just muck around and don't fancy bouncing about on 6 inches of up and down, get one. Plant a pair of long travel forks on the front and ride through things! And just look at the thing! Its just the nicest looking bike anywhere (well mine is anyway).
Plus Orange are a cool company to deal with. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Philip Courtois
a Weekend Warrior
from Copenhagen
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Furesø-stien | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | STRONG - FUN - COOL LOOKING - FUN - FAST - FUN - Handmade in Halifax... and fun! | | Weaknesses: | Hmmmm...? | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Z1-QR20, Mavic D521 Ceramic, Magura HS33, Syntace bar (THE STRONGEST OUT THERE), RPM headset (COOLER THAN THE KING!!!), DK BMX-pedals, Fi'zi:k Atlas saddle, Conti Vertical Pro 2.3" Tires | | Bottom Line: | I got this frame in january 2000 for a silly low price at only £350. Like all Oranges, it included stem, bar, saddle, seatpost and grips.
This little hardcore lady is the true definition of FUN. I can't tell you how cool it is to lend her to a roadie and see him instinctly start to make bunnies.
She flies, berms and controls like a dream on the dual cirquit, but will also keep up in the wood. Take her to town, and she will find the way to the biggest stairways all by herself. Even on the the street, the roadies are desperately trying to keep up with her. I just find myself doing everything with her. Guess that you call it freeriding.
If you hate that people goes "Is it a motorbike?" or "What a cool fully!" because of the HUGE monocoque down-"tube", then don't buy this frame.
But if you want the ultimate hardcore hardtail - look no further!
To all you Danes: Kom og se den i Road Bike Shop i Vanløse (Skjulhøj Allé 57A) og spørg efter Phil! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian Grimwood
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | penshurst | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | looks great, everyone looks at it, exellent handling (but that also depends on the setup)i can jump it, super strong,looks it to, and very strong thick paint. | | Weaknesses: | bit heavy for people who can't jump, i don't mind the weight, it don't seem that bad, everyone who picks it up thinks its light, but i know there are lighter dual/jump bikes, tad pricy | | Similar Products Used: | azonic ds1 jack flash orange patriot | | Bike Setup: | rear mavic d521 rim, front planet x BMF rim, hope sport front disc, middleburn cranks, goldtec chain device, rock shox judy xlc's, sram chain, fsa pig headset, dmr v8 pedals, raceface chainring and maxxis tyers | | Bottom Line: | this bike rules, strong, if race dual or like jumping buy it, possible the best hardtail jump bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Jones
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Dartford Heath | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Very strong, makes people look. Virtually indestructable (so far anyway!). Good to jump. | | Weaknesses: | Disgusting colours and graphics. Heavy. Very expensive for a little amount of frame. | | Similar Products Used: | Azonic DS | | Bike Setup: | Judy XLC's. D521's. Hope front disc. | | Bottom Line: | If you have a lot of money to burn - buy it. If you want performance looks and strength - buy the Azonic DS1 for half the price. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan Shah
a Weekend Warrior
from W-S-M,N.Somerset,U.k.
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Porc dual track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | VERRRY STRONG AND ONE OF THE BEST HANDLING HARDTAILS OUT THERE. | | Weaknesses: | HEAVY (AS IF YOU CARE) | | Similar Products Used: | COYOTE SLALOM+AZONIC DS1 | | Bike Setup: | AC CRANKS,ESP9.0 V's,JUDY XLC,bULB HUBS.
| | Bottom Line: | IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AN INDESTRUCKTABLE HARDTAIL JUST GO AND BUY IT YOU WONT FIND ANYTHING BETTER. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian Grimwood
a Weekend Warrior
from London
Date Reviewed: October 31, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Dartford Heath | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
feels strong looks strong is strong, very easy to jump | | Weaknesses: |
err, none, some might think to heavy, but thats better | | Similar Products Used: |
Patriot | | Bike Setup: |
Rock shox judy xlc forks
mavic d521 rims tioga dh tires | | Bottom Line: | exelent jump bike, and you can give it a bashing and not worry, super strong | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rickard
a Weekend Warrior
from Stockholm Sweden
Date Reviewed: March 27, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Amasa back (Moab) | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Looks cool!!!!, and strong. | | Weaknesses: |
If you care much about weight... | | Bike Setup: |
Crosslinks, Hope discs, Bomber Z1 ´99, IRC Kujo, World Force risers... | | Bottom Line: | First impressions:
Amazing! This bike is a very nice ride. I wanted a rigid doeverythingbike and I could not have done better. I´ll be back later when I´ve ridden it more, to fill you in on any weaknesses. | | Overall Rating: |
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