|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Peter Tollan
a Cross Country Rider
from York, England
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything in North Yorkshire | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Direct from Orange | | Strengths: | Superb frame.
Excellent components.
Great handling.
Excellent weight for the price! | | Weaknesses: | Availability, my bike a few creaks, the brakes weren't great. | | Similar Products Used: | Merin Malt one and a kona cindercone | | Bike Setup: | duke xc's, deore, easton bars and stem, mavick x157's and irc tyres. | | Bottom Line: | This is a truly great bike. It has everything you could need for general riding or cross country, its relativley cheap, has a fantastic frame and is British. There are a few niggles though and its these that make me think that a merlin malt 1 could be slightly better. But really, you won't go far wrong with this!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gomez
a Weekend Warrior
from Edinburgh
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Glentress | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$940.00 | | Purchased At: | Sandy Wallace Cycles | | Strengths: | Frame. Show me another 600 quid "entry" level bike with a frame this good. (dream on Kona, Specialised, Marin...)
British!
Design detail: crud catcher bosses, front facing seat QR, rear disc mounts.
Steering. | | Weaknesses: | It pains me to concede this weakness cos the bike is easily the best hardtail in it's price range but the pedals offer little grip. C'mon Orange you can do better. | | Similar Products Used: | Could've been a contender Charlie: Rockhopper A1, A1 Disc, Comp; Marin Palisades Trail, Bear Valley; Rocky Mount. Fusion; Kona Nunu, Cinder Cone; Norco Storm. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with upgrade to 100mm Judy SL's. (The beauty of buying Orange is the ability to purchase the bike in rigid form and save 100 quid and instantly upgrade from Manitou Comps) Plus if you deal with a quality bike shop they might even be able to save you the cost of the rigids too! | | Bottom Line: | This is my first MTB and my remit was to find a serious bit of kit to deliver the summertime adrenaline rush until it's boarding season again without turning to crime to fund it.
If you're UK based accept no substitute, buy Orange. Import tax and trader mark up can't produce VFM like Orange unless you buy inferior in a sale. If you're anywhere else you'll probably suffer like wise in return.
Argh stuff it, no matter where you are if you have 5-600 quid to spend, save your time and don't even bother trying any other bike. I've had mine over a month now, but I've had the benefit of riding and "chasing" 1500 quid North Shore full sussers. Yes they're sweet, but pound for pound the Gringo is fast, extremely capable and more than matches my original criterion.
Plus none of the competition above handle or feel like a Gringo. It isn't stretched out, nor is it cramped. I'm 6'3", 195lbs and opted for the 19". Big enough to climb, small enough to yank round the tightest berm and, "can you fly Bobby!?".
Marketed as a trail bike, the Gringo will glide you thru pastures soft and serene should it be your want, but have no fear, the Gringo is well able to take you on a scare ride you won't want to come off.
Upgrade to a decent fork at purchase and if Orange haven't sorted the pedals out, spend a few quid on sorted flats and the Gringo truely will be all the "trail" bike you ever need. Right, where are the pedal reviews. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$
