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Orange Msisle

Average Rating 4.6/5
# of Reviews 5
MSRP $
Weight
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Description:
  • Fork: Marzocchi DJ3
  • Rear Mech: Shimano Deore
  • Shifters: Shimano Alivio
  • ChainSet: Truativ Hussefelt w Chain Device
  • Brake levers: Hayes FX9XC
  • Brakes: Hayes FX9XC
  • Hubs: Shimano Deore 475 Disc
  • Rims: Sun SL1





Submitted by Prestaaan a Cross Country Rider from Wales
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2008
Favoriate Trail:Cli-Mach-X
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $1300.00
Purchased At:Local Dealer
Strengths:Lightweight, strong , everything!
Weaknesses:None so far other than price.
Similar Products Used:Kona Shred, Giant Stp, Specialized P1 but Ms Isle is in class of it's own
Bike Setup:Marzocchi DJ1s, Hope C2s, XTR groupset, Alex Rims.
Bottom Line:Awesome bike. Buy if you can afford it!
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Pete a Weekend Warrior from UK
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2008
Favoriate Trail:Brechfa (Wales)
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $592.00
Purchased At:eBay
Strengths:Very strong. Very light. 73mm BB shell is tougher than 68mm. Machined dropouts make you feel like the disc mounts will never come away doing stalls, abubacas and back-hops. Definately quality workmanship.
Weaknesses:Short top-tube for me (i'm 6'1" and ride a 16" frame). Bottom bracket is quite high. Frame construction makes it noisey!
Similar Products Used:Giant STP. Saracen amplitude. Kona Shread.
Bike Setup:Hope ProII hubs (ss-trials at rear), mavic rims, FSA Pig Headset, Rockshox Pikes, Hope Stem, Avid BB7 brakes, Hone Cranks, single-speed setup.
Bottom Line:Having used this frame for nearly two years I have become very fond of it. It does very well for an all round hard-tail bike.

The frame has some geometry issues though like the short effective TT (which is 555mm rather than the 563mm that Orange quote) on my 16" model which is a bit on the short side for lankey sods like me. However, pure dirt-jumpers may think thats a better length. The bottom bracket height is also a bit high at 335mm (I run Pikes at 100mm travel) which makes youy feel a bit purched and raises the ST and standover height.

Most annoyingly though the monoque construction makes the frame very loud amplifying every creak and rattle like a cow-bell.

However, it does have an X-factor that is missing from lots of frames these days - it makes you feel pro, and that is worth quite alot in itself.

I have focused very much on the negatives, but on balance it is an excellent bike and still worth the money. I will be sorry when I have to sell it.
Value Rating:3Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Luke a Downhiller from Leeds
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2007
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $600.00
Purchased At:local bike shop
Strengths:light well balanced
Weaknesses:unlucky
Similar Products Used:kona stuff, base bikes sj220
Bike Setup:it WAS orande msisle frame halo sas wheels, z1 forks, race face crankset stem and bars, xtr gears, hfx9 DH braks
Bottom Line:it was good but bent its top tube and BB... cup thing on the frame lame because it was over a few weekends of big jumps distroyed itself
Value Rating:3Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Mtichell Smith a Weekend Warrior from Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2005
Favoriate Trail:any decent DJs
Duration Product Used:3 months
Price Paid: $1700.00
Strengths:Strong frame, great geo, light, looks good.
Weaknesses:Price. Possibly easy to dint but i havnt had any problems yet.
Similar Products Used:Norco 125, DMR trailstar, Yeti DJ
Bike Setup:Rock Shox Pike SL, FSA X-Drive BMX cranks, Avid juice 5 6", pro taper bars.
Bottom Line:has to be the best jump bike i have ever ridden. very light frame, best geo, very stiff. if you get the chance buy one.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Matt Hoyle a Weekend Warrior from Portsmouth
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2005
Duration Product Used:3 months
Purchased At:All Terrain Cycles
Strengths:Incredibly strong frame, burly componentry, nice geometry, looks sweet.
Weaknesses:Maybe a little heavy but not really an issue
Some of the components may need replacing for competitive use.
Similar Products Used:2003 Kona Stuff
Bike Setup:Stock apart from Hope headset and Mono M4 brakes (203 front, 180 rear)
Bottom Line:I got this bike as a replacement for my Kona that was stolen a few months back, and what a difference! This bike is so much more stable, responsive and controlable. The Kona wasn't a bad bike by any means, but this is definately something else. It really is confidence inspiring, and i've already been taking bigger jumps and faster lines than i dared to before. I ride mainly dirt jumping and freeride but desperately want to try 4X now. Although it's considerably heavier than the Kona this bike feels much more balanced and sharper, meaning you can really lean into turns without needing to worry about the front end getting skittish or sliding out. The frame feels very stiff, with the massivley oversized downtube and rear triangle allowing for efficent power transfer and quick accleration. Along with the sturdy componets this makes for a bike you trust to just keep going no matter what you choose to use it for and whatever abuse you may give it. Along with all this the quality of workmanship is excellent even down to very durable paint, and the bike looks kickass, especially in Anti Radar green.
The only problem is whilst the componets are perfectly capable, some people may find them inadeqaute for heavy or competitive use, but the frame is available seperately, so you have no reason not to try this fantastic, do-all hardtail!
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5






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