Orange know what they’re doing: with rut-slapping Joe Barnes and his Hazzard Racing crew Lachlan Blair and Fergus Lamb aboard the new Orange Alpine 6, few will be left questioning the capabilities of their world-renowned signature single-pivot suspension platform. The geometry on the Alpine 6 has been reworked to accommodate the new suspension platform with a rather long 230x65mm metric shock. Details will follow, but first let’s allow David Attenborough (not impossible) to do the talking in the “Duel”, featuring Lachlan Blair on the wild trails of Scotland.
Orange Alpine 6 Enduro Mountain Bike
No one can accuse Orange of being unfashionable. The new Alpine 6 27.5″ wheel enduro bike, is bang on trend, now longer, lower and slacker than its predecessor. After the most intensive prototyping programme ever seen at Orange, a thorough rework of the geometry has resulted in something Orange say is nothing short of ‘spectacular’. Retaining its beefy 170mm travel up front, the Alpine 6 delivers 165mm rear wheel travel, an additional 5mm out back now serviced by a 230×65 metric shock suspension platform.
The revised geometry leaves the Alpine 6 a little slacker, with an extra half a degree at the head angle (64 degrees), and therefore a little lower (5mm) at the bottom bracket which now sits with a -17 mm drop from the axles. The reach is also a little longer, with 6mm added to the large frame bringing it up to 467mm. Orange say their radical revisions have resulted in a more progressive frame with a bottomless feel and improved small bump smoothness.
The chainstay has gained an extra 11mm bringing it up to 441mm. This should improve the stability and confidence of the bike at high speeds. Somehow, we don’t think this will hinder Barnes on his rut-slapping mission. The man loves back wheel.
Just like the new Orange Five also released last month, the Alpine 6 has received a bit of a makeover. Frame grommets mean that whether you run your brakes “British” or “American/Euro” you can now do so without compromising your cable routing. All the CNC parts on the frame, upper and lower shock mounts, dropouts and bearing housings have all seen revisions.
Orange offer 4 build options of the Alpine 6 starting at £4,000 (~$5,200) for the Pro build featuring Fox Performance 36 Float 170mm forks, Fox Float DPX2 Performance shock, a 12 speed SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain and Shimano SLX brakes. Part with £5,800 (~$7,540) and you’ll get yourself the Factory build with Fox Factory 36 Float 170mm forks, Fox Float X2 Factory shock, a SRAM XO1 Eagle 12spd drivetrain, 4-pot Hope Tech 3 E4 brakes, and a Stans Flow Mk3 wheelset on Hope Pro 4 hubs. Alternatively, you can pick up the frame only for £2,100 (~$2,730).
The monocoque 6061-T6 aluminium frame is designed and built in Halifax, UK, just on the edge of the Peak District National Park. As with all Orange Bikes, the Alpine 6 has a five year frame warranty.
