Rip through backcountry singletrack, blaze new lines and feel fearless on any terrain with the playfully agile intrigue.Performance Trail GeometryThe geometry of the Intrigue’s durable ALLUX SL-Grade Aluminum frame provides a stable, capable design, making it suited to tackle any terrain.Balanced AgilityWith a versatile 150 mm/ 140 mm platform and 27.5-inch wheels compatible with up to 2.6-inch tires, Intrigue is designed for both climbing agility and downhill control.Custom Tuned SuspensionThe 140 mm of Maestro Suspension has been custom tuned by women, for women to provide optimal performance for the rider and the bike’s intended use, resulting in improved traction and control.
built to cover ground, mow over techy singletrack, and charge down aggressive terrain, the intrigue 29 prefers the rowdy side of life.Trail ReadyALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum frame, a dropper seatpost and wide, grippy tires keep you planted and help you tackle technical trails.Balanced AgilityObstacle-eating 29-inch wheels offer smooth handling and roll easily over small roots and rocks.Custom Tuned SuspensionThe 125 mm of Maestro Suspension has been custom tuned by women, for women to provide optimal performance for the rider and the bike’s intended use, resulting in improved traction and control.
Nothing is off-limits to the Embolden, a trail bike designed to conquer tricky climbs, rowdy descents, and chunky rock gardens with confidence.Wheel OptionsAvailable in 27.5- and 29-inch wheel size options, select the Embolden that best fits you and where you want to ride.Trail CapabilityALUXX-Grade Aluminum frame, tubeless wheelset, dropper seatpost, Liv Sylvia trail saddle and a 1x drivetrain allow you to tackle new technical terrain with confidence.Flexpoint SuspensionThe 120mm of FlexPoint Suspension provides an effective, lightweight and durable suspension system so you have increased control while riding over rooty and rocky terrain.
Get on the dirt and ride your way to your first singletrack. Tempt is that friend that opens a whole new world to you.Confidence InspiringPerfect as your first mountain bike, the ALUXX-Grade Aluminum frame is lightweight, capable and durable.VersatileTempt’s performance-minded yet comfortable geometry gives it the versatility for both commutes around campus and off-road rides.XC ControlA suspension fork offers control, comfort and stability over bumpy terrain. Depending on frame size, the fork comes with 80mm or 100mm of travel.
Get on the dirt and ride your way to your first singletrack. Tempt is that friend that opens a whole new world to you.Confidence InspiringPerfect as your first mountain bike, the ALUXX-Grade Aluminum frame is lightweight, capable and durable.VersatileTempt’s performance-minded yet comfortable geometry gives it the versatility for both commutes around campus and off-road rides.XC ControlA suspension fork offers control, comfort and stability over bumpy terrain. Depending on frame size, the fork comes with 80mm or 100mm of travel.
The Five Evo is exceptional. It out-performs longer travel bikes in a manner you wouldn't believe. Right at the start, we said these bikes are about geometry, and the Five Evo demonstrates how the new Evo geometry works to perfection. This is the 140/130 27.5 wheeled version. Bang on the money for rocky, twisty singletrack trails where surefooted manoeuvrability is your main priority. Its reactive response and composure are inspiring.FRAME EVOLUTIONInstantly, you can see the frames are Orange, with our distinctive layout and profiles. They are fabricated in 6061-T6 Aluminium by the craftsmen at our Halifax Frame Works. Brand new tooling and jigs were specifically built and developed for these new models, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to new frames' feature list. The laterally stiff single-pivot platform is a format we feel we own. We have more experience with this suspension system than any other bike company out there. For us, working with component manufacturers to achieve the perfect shock tunes for our frames is one of the most exciting aspects of the job. It’s a two-way street as the Orange single-pivot system is a perfectly clean platform for manufacturers to develop their shocks with too, So it’s a win-win situation for everyone. The Evo frames have all the features you would expect from Orange and a few touches you probably may not notice at first glance. To mention a few:The Evo’s offset asymmetric pivot gives us scope to run various sizes of chainring or chain-lines (hey, you never know). The geometry is designed for a reduced offset fork which allows us to lengthen the cockpit and keep the riders weight balanced in the sweet spot, while making the most of the front wheel’s grip in turns.Small details like bottle bosses, cleaner cable routing and space for piggy-back shocks - even on a short travel-platform, show we’ve been listening to our test riders’ feedback and implementing subtle changes that just make everything better.THE EVO GEOMETRY CONCEPTThe thinking behind the Evo geometry on these two models is to bring the feel and confidence of the big-travel enduro bike into the realm of the aggressive short-travel trail bike. With a lighter frame construction and audacious angles these bikes are truly eye-opening.The geometry has a familiar effective top tube length which means your cockpit is a comfortable space when climbing. Flip that gradient downwards, slam the dropper post and step-up out of the saddle to descend and the Evo comes into its own. The long reach gives the rider plenty of space to move around the bike, keeping the weight over the front wheel - this is also helped by the reduced offset fork. The slacker Evo head angle lets the fork do its job, right it in the firing line, and keeps everything stable with its long wheel base. Ultimately you will not believe this is a short-travel platform. Rapid, reactive and beautify balanced, the Evos defy logic. They are the Evolution of the trail bike as we know it.The FactsWHY THE FIVE EVO?F: 140MM | R: 130MM | W: 27.5Brand New Frame designed and built in Britain,5 year frame warranty with Limited Lifetime Crash Replacement,Single pivot suspension for the utmost performance, efficiency and reliability,New Radically revised progressive suspension frame curve,New Aggressive Evo geometry optimised for 140mm front/130mm rear travel,Bottle cage mounts,27.5 inch wheels,Boost 148 rear hub spacing,Internal dropper post routing?.
The Phase MX is our mixed size wheelset E.P.O model. With a 29” front wheel paired with a 27.5 rear wheel and 170 mm front and 165mm rear suspension travel, We think this makes the Phase MX a strong contender to be our most versatile E.P.O. model to date. The mixed 29/27.5 wheel set has settled in well with its combination of fast rolling, bump absorbing big front wheel combined with the agility of the 27.5 rear makes it a winning combination. It's not just on World Cup DH or EWS bikes, it works well for riders of all disciplines and we now have popular MX models from hardtail through to the Phase MX: Our brand new, big travel eMTB.The new Phase MX features a brand new and improved frame and the Shimano EP8 drive system with the 630Wh integrated battery, offering 25% more capacity for even longer rides.THE RIDEThe confident geometry, with its agility and stability is better than ever, and for the 2022 line up, we’ve upped the travel both front and rear, while keeping that low CofG we are famed for. With a power assisted bike long travel makes sense, climbing with extra watts in your legs or descending at speed, this bike needs to take the hits in its speedy stride.The 2022 Phase MX geometry solidly ticks its performance orientated boxes with a 64° head angle, 76° seat angle, balanced reach (483mm Size: Large), With 165mm of travel from the 230x65 metric shock and a reduced offset 170mm travel fork.THE FRAME BUILDAt Orange we never stand still. With every iteration of our models we hone our production processes to improve the frame's performance and features where needed, and this one is no different. With state of the art aluminium craftsmen who hold years of experience, we think that the frames we produce today are among the finest we've ever made and indeed probably the finest in the world. We don't know of anyone else that goes to the lengths we do to create a performance mountainbike frame.The new 2022 Phase frames have had a raft of new features, tweaks and changes. The most obvious is the re-layout of the front end, which integrates the Shimano EP8 motor more elegantly into the downtube which houses the integral battery unit. The rear swing arm construction has seen some modifications as well as a couple of details such as relocating the Shimano EP8’s wheel speed sensor into the disc rotor. The rear mech is attached using a Universal Derailleur Hanger. UDH for short and as the name implies universally available everywhere should you ever need to replace it, but has features that mean in the case of an impact it is designed to slip slightly and has the ability to “re-rail” the chain back onto the small cog, so more robust, less hanger replacing.Something that was painstakingly pored over was the suspension characteristic of the new Alpine 6, with everything we gained from that bike we wanted it to translate across into the Phase models. Revisions have been made to the shock mounts to accommodate the new metric rear shock (230x65) and the increase in travel from 160 to 165mm, we have also focussed on increasing the amount of progression in the system which has seen a substantial increase, reduced the bike's anti-squat value and decreased the amount of pedal kickback in the system.The final piece of the puzzle is ensuring the battery is easily removable for easy charging. The battery is removable using just an 4mm allen key, so no more bolts to undo or keys to lose and it take's just a matter of seconds to drop out a battery. If you've gone through a 630Wh battery and you still want more then “double battery days” are very much a reality and we have a system that means this is as easy as possible. Second batteries are available from Orange and will come with the protective cover as standard.THE 'ENGINE' SHIMANO EP8 DRIVE UNITWe have worked closely with Shimano since the introduction of the very first Electric Powered Orange model. The Shimano drive assist philosophy is very much like our own. Their system does what it needs to do, then stays out of the way when it's done its job, letting you ride the way you want to.The brand new Shimano EP8 unit is an improvement in every way to the previous model, making what we considered the best even better. The new drive unit is slimmer, sleeker and more compact than its predecessor, but don’t let its size deceive you. The EP8 packs a punch with enough power to get you to the top of any epic climb. The streamlined, integrated design not only looks the part, but it also allows for increased ground clearing for when the trail gets technical.Everything about the EP8 is designed to allow you to focus on the ride. The new unit operates with little noise, letting you to focus on the natural sound of the trails without distraction. The newly refined Trail Mode utilises all 85Nm of the EP8’s power to effortlessly and intuitively assist you on your ride. Whether tackling loose sand or steep mountain ranges, the drive unit rapidly and seamlessly self-adjusts so that you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll always have maximum traction and control. The harder you push, the more power will be delivered to assist you, meaning that no trail is off-limits. The lightest full-power system, weighing in at just 2.6kg and with a 36% reduction in drag compared to the previous model, the EP8 will not hold you back. An improved clutch mechanism makes for a more responsive ride, with a smoother cut-off when pedalling above 25km/h. All of this puts you in complete control of the bike, with fluid pedalling and no surprises. The EP8 also offers an improved Walk Assist Mode, fully supporting you to push your bike with a one button control, allowing you to hop on and off with ease.With the E-Tube Project App you can choose from 10 levels of assistance and set the maximum amount of torque best suited to your ride style across three modes, allowing for a fully customised ride before you’ve even put on your helmet. Preferences can be saved to different profiles so that you can quickly and easily switch between them for different terrains, or if swapping from the daily commute to weekend trails.The EP8 also offers peace of mind. The smart, heat-conducting magnesium materials and a completely redesigned motor housing means that the unit handles rising temperatures on climbs easily, guaranteeing you maximum torque for longer. The new colour display is also fitted with an anti-theft mount and is optimised to be visible in bright sunlight, meaning that you can spend less time with your head down and more time enjoying what the bike has to offer.Shimano E=8000TECHNICAL SPECSHere are the technical specifications of the Shimano EP8 drive unit.PEDAL ASSIST MODESAll three support modes will assist until 16mph.ECO - Riding support while enabling maximum rangeTRAIL - Gradual support for encouraging sportive ridingBOOST - Full support for maximum boost and uncompromised climbingWALK ASSIST - As additional mode, walk assist can be easily enabled with the assist switchCOMPACT CONCEPTShort chainstays (shorter chainstay length ensuring better manoeuvrability)Narrow Q-factor of 177mm (compact and lightweight design for better handling with same Q-factor as current Shimano XT)PERFORMANCEMaximum power: 504 WNominal power: 250 WMaximum torque: 85 NmWEIGHT OF DRIVE UNIT2.6 kgGENUINE SHIMANO 8036 LI-ION BATTERYIntegrated version (630Wh)Charging: 80% after 2,5 hrs / 5 hrs from 0 to 100%Battery life: 1,000 cyclesThe FactsWHY THE PHASE MX?ELECTRIC POWERED ORANGEF: 170MM | R: 165MM | W: 29/27.5Brand New Frame designed and built in Britain5 year frame warranty with Limited Lifetime Crash Replacement Shimano EP8 Drive Assist 29 front/27.5 rear mixed size wheelsetShimano 8036 630Wh integrated battery in downtubeQuick release battery for easy chargingBoost 148mm rear hub spacingOrange trail honed geometryReduced offset forkLong top tube short stem for high-speed stabilitySHIMANO EP8 FEATURES85Nm max torque - Max assist ratio: 400%2.6kg total weight10% reduced volume (compared with E8000)36% less drag630Wh Lithium Ion integrated batterySame 177mm Q-Factor as a standard XT crankset4 Assist Modes (Walk/Eco/Trail/Boost)Mechanical Walk Assist improved to the level of Intelligent Walk Assist (Di2)
The Orange P7 S is the legendary steel hardtail from Orange, and has gone through a few changes over the years. The bottom bracket has been lowered a tad and the reach has been given a little breathing room. Other than that, the P7 S is at the standard its always been at. Key Features : Responsive Reynolds 525 frame for improved handling,150mm travel Rockshox Lyric Select forks offer enhanced control on trails,2.6" Maxxis Minion Tyres offer refined grip,Shimano Deore 12 Speed Groupset sleek shifting,Colours: Jagger Green,Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X Large,The Orange P7 S is available with 0% APR finance,.This new P7 has rebel written all over it; long top tube and slack head-angle geometry shows that this bike means business.With frame features like the bolt through rear axle for rigidity, optional hose and cable bosses where you want them, chunky tyre clearances, and internal dropper seatpost routing the P7 is ready to rock and roll.Back by popular demand in limited numbers, you may have to join the queue - Steel Yourself.All Tredz bikes are:Fully built & ready to ride,Fully checked & tested by Cytech qualified mechanics,Available with 0% APR finance on any basket over £99,UK price match guarantee,365 day no hassle returns,Free delivery in the UK Mainland on a date that suits you ,.In the box with every Tredz bike is:Free Tredz 9 key trail tool,Free Tredz pedal spanner,Free basic pedals,Tredz drawstring kit bag,16 point quality control check sheet,Basic bike setup instructions,Free Cycle Plan insurance voucher,.
The Switch 7 – the Need for Speed Enter the Orange Switch 7, taking its name from our fun, popular MX wheeled Switch 6 but going bigger, faster, and harder, this bike is taking things a little more seriously.The aim with the Switch 7 was to produce a race bike, to take everything we already knew with the addition of feedback from supported EWS racers and the newly established factory racing program and combine that to make a bike that's even more capable of competing at the sharp end of races on the toughest tracks in the world.The Switch 7 is a true representation of Orange Bikes’ capabilities in frame development and production. The frame and each individual component have seen extensive FEA analysis and 3D modelling to identify any potential issues and to optimise each structure to perform at its best.Of course, we back all of this up with real-world prototype testing and have clocked up the miles amongst the test team, Factory Racing team and a few riders who are known for being hard on bikes, validating the computer analysis and giving us the confidence in the design.FEA has been used for for both deflection and fatigue to fine tune the frame's elements for strength and optimal compliance.Although the frame silhouette is still very intentionally that of an Orange, a great deal has changed, but also much remains the same. This is a completely UK made frame, manufactured by the hands of craftsmen with decades of experience, from flat sheets of aerospace grade aluminium to individually custom-fabricated tubes, seam-welded for each specific purpose, working in harmony with CNCed components from aluminium billet meticulously modelled and analysed.This all produces an aluminium frame with a weight less than that of many ‘carbon’ frames in its category. It also means we have a product that's strong, durable and fully recyclable at the end-of-life cycle.WHY THE SWITCH 7 NOW?Orange's image in the media has always been “Those British guys who make the simple single-pivot bikes in the grim north…”Well, first up, it’s not grim up North, it’s pretty damn spectacular and we are blessed with some of the finest trails in the country on which to hone and test our bikes.Secondly, performance single-pivot is and always will be the core of the Orange Bikes philosophy; that will never change. We believe in the benefits of a single-pivot system, its performance and its unique ride feel that make an Orange Bike iconic; and that is not as simple as you think. Racing has been a part of our culture since Orange’s inception, the hunger to compete and challenge ourselves has always been part of the company’s ethos from day one. The new Switch 7 was born out of a need simply to go faster on the race track!So why now? That’s not to say that we haven’t done a linkage bike before!Over the years there have been many examples of Orange bikes using a linkage, some that we have put into production and many more which we have prototyped. At the right point in time when we find a valid reason to proceed with a linkage bike, we have done, and these bikes have been used on the UCI World Cup downhill circuit, with privateer racers as well as on your local trails for years.When we conceived the idea of a new Orange Factory Racing team to compete in the EWS the seeds of a new enduro race bike were already germinating.At Orange we are passionate about all things two-wheeled. The mix of decades of development with our unique frame construction methods, along with a race team with plenty of years under their belt, meant we had the ideal melting pot to create our greatest race platform yet.SWEATING THE DETAILS The Switch 7 is an MX wheeled enduro bike 170mm travel front and rear. It uses a link-driven 205x65 trunnion shock, mounted low in the frame helping to lower the bike's centre of gravity and allow for a more neutral weight distribution whilst riding. A trunnion mounted shock in our factory spec runs on a full complement of bearings instead of bushings, both the trunnion mount and lower eyelet, along with all the frame pivots run on cartridge bearings allowing us to achieve as low as possible break away force, providing incredible sensitivity to the initial part of the shock's stroke.The lynchpin of this dynamic bike is our STRANGE power link. STRANGE (Special Technology RANGE) has been responsible for numerous projects, from prototype frames to general components like grips, for a large proportion of Orange’s existence. It forms a huge part of our development process and has seen some pretty incredible products over the years. Some of which never saw it past the testing phases.The STRANGE power link allows us to have a considerably more progressive shock curve than we have used previously. It’s this shock curve which adds to the truly bottomless feeling that the Switch 7 delivers, but also allows the use of both high-volume air cans or coil shocks. Through the rear shock’s travel, the leverage ratio falls from 2.85 to 2.10. Looking at shock force, this means the real working progression is 36%. The curve was developed so it maintains the fun direct feel that Orange bikes have become famous for while adding the big travel requirements of a very progressive platform.With the bike’s kinematics sorted, this race machine also benefits from our lowest pivot position to minimise pedal kickback, and drivetrain induced interference, leaving the rider to do the job at hand. Anti-squat numbers for the Switch 7 in the 32/52t gearing start at 130% falling to 105% at full travel. Around dynamic sag the anti-squat is at 120%, this means that the bike will be efficient on the pedals when pushing hard in or out of the saddle.An additional request from the Orange Factory Racing team was to have an option to increase the bike's bottom bracket height, we’ve done this using an additional pair of “dog bone links” which are available separately and increase the bikes BB height by 5mm with only a half-degree steepening of the head angle, giving the rider the choice when the terrain demands it without adversely affecting the steering geometry.The frame is covered in features not previously seen on our bikes and are the result of meticulous analysis and testing. The Switch 7 sports a 49/56 ZS headtube, this has helped improve both strength and stiffness at the front end of the bike, increase the surface area for welding between head tube, down tube and top tube as well giving us enough room to drop the downtube slightly to allow for a water bottle in the front triangle. To make access even easier new tooling was produced to create a recess on the top side of the down tube. The bike also uses a UDH gear hanger incorporating SRAM’s new industry standard and allowing a spare to be bought at nearly every bike shop on the planet.Technology developed on other models also plays it part, the Switch 7 has an asymmetrical swingarm design similar to the recently released Stage 6 Evo, this swingarm allowed us to increase the bike's vertical stiffness whilst tuning its lateral compliance, producing a bike with a direct feel but with buckets of grip.Focussing on chassis dynamics has been important throughout the Switch 7’s testing program. It’s easy to make a bike too stiff and effectively end up with reduced traction and a “dead” or “wooden” feel to the bike’s ride. A large part of the additional grip being produced by this bike is down to a design that isolates the shock from the lateral forces coming through the frame particularly during hard cornering and large compressions, so the shock is only loaded in a linear manner. There were a few reasons for doing this; first to ensure the best possible life of the shock and bearings, second to minimise any external input that could increase friction and hamper the shock’s performance, and third this linkage design allowed us to control the swingarm’s lateral compliance using custom designed and manufactured tubes specific for the job.Throughout the design process we were conscious of our reputation for low maintenance bikes. We made every effort to conceal the majority of our bearings within the front of the swingarm, out of harm's way and safe from jet-washers.Bikes will come with a 5 year bearing warranty for the original owner and any original owners outside of that period will receive heavily subsidised pricing.The icing on the cake is our new chainstay and downtube protectors. These keep your pride and joy looking sharper for longer, help dampen chain slap, impact from stones and are the final details on a bike that has seen an incredible amount of development.The FactsWHY THE SWITCH 7F: 170MM | R: 170MM | W: 29/27.5,Brand New Lightweight Frame machined & Handbuilt in Britain,5 year frame warranty with Limited Lifetime Crash Replacement,New Aggressive Enduro Race geometry optimised for 170mm front & rear travel,New Linkage Driven Progressive (LDP?) suspension kinematics.,More neutral pivot location allowing less drivetrain/suspension interaction,Low position Asymmetric pivot – neutral suspension feel & increased chainring clearance,Asymmetrical swingarm with increased longitudinal stiffness,New top tube accessory/Bottle cage mounts and bottle dimple in frame ,New stiffer lower profile 56mm zerostack Head tube,Geometry for reduced offset fork,New Improved dropout with UDH gear hanger,Boost 148 rear hub spacing,New Top tube accessory/Bottle cage mounts and bottle dimple in frame,Internal cable/hose routing,30 x 8 bearing mount compatible shock,205 x 65 trunnion shock for reduced friction,Adjustable BB height.
TIME TO MX UP THE HARDCORE HARDTAILIntroducing the new Orange Crush MX. It's pretty difficult not to be a fan of the mixed wheel set up, you get better traction up front from the larger wheel, coupled with better roll over and more stability. This is paired with a rear wheel which accelerates quickly, is more robust, more agile and offers incredible cornering traits, it's a match made in heaven. Welcome to the quiver: the CRUSH MX Pro. This 140mm travel mixed wheel trail slayer could be your perfect only bike or an ideal N+1. It features a 6061 custom butted aluminium frame, 64.5° head angle, reduced offset fork, 75.5° seat angle, 430mm chain stays and a reach of 480mm (size large). providing you with the stability to ride in even the toughest of conditions but not being so overkill you couldn't ride you'r local loop with a smile on your face. Additional details include a sleek tapered head tube, CNC dropper cable guides, plenty of tyre clearance to accommodate even the wildest of 2.6 tyres and a new seat stay bridge.WHY THE CRUSH MX?Brand New Frame designed in Britain,5 year frame warranty with Limited Lifetime Crash Replacement,Custom butted 6061-T6 aluminium frame,Perfected MX Frame geometry for 140mm travel fork and 29/27.5 wheels,Bolt through 12 x 148 hub spacing ,Yoked chainstay design gives clearance for 27.5 2.6 tyres,73mm BB Shell with ISCG 05 tabs,Minimal design cable & hose guides.
Enter the Orange Switch 7, taking its name from our fun, popular MX wheeled Switch 6 but going bigger, faster, and harder, this bike is taking things a little more seriously.The aim with the Switch 7 was to produce a race bike, to take everything we already knew with the addition of feedback from supported EWS racers and the newly established factory racing program and combine that to make a bike that's even more capable of competing at the sharp end of races on the toughest tracks in the world.The Switch 7 is a true representation of Orange Bikes’ capabilities in frame development and production. The frame and each individual component have seen extensive FEA analysis and 3D modelling to identify any potential issues and to optimise each structure to perform at its best.Of course, we back all of this up with real-world prototype testing and have clocked up the miles amongst the test team, Factory Racing team and a few riders who are known for being hard on bikes, validating the computer analysis and giving us the confidence in the design.FEA has been used for for both deflection and fatigue to fine tune the frame's elements for strength and optimal compliance.Although the frame silhouette is still very intentionally that of an Orange, a great deal has changed, but also much remains the same. This is a completely UK made frame, manufactured by the hands of craftsmen with decades of experience, from flat sheets of aerospace grade aluminium to individually custom-fabricated tubes, seam-welded for each specific purpose, working in harmony with CNCed components from aluminium billet meticulously modelled and analysed.This all produces an aluminium frame with a weight less than that of many ‘carbon’ frames in its category. It also means we have a product that's strong, durable and fully recyclable at the end-of-life cycle.WHY THE SWITCH 7 NOW?Orange's image in the media has always been “Those British guys who make the simple single-pivot bikes in the grim north…”Well, first up, it’s not grim up North, it’s pretty damn spectacular and we are blessed with some of the finest trails in the country on which to hone and test our bikes.Secondly, performance single-pivot is and always will be the core of the Orange Bikes philosophy; that will never change. We believe in the benefits of a single-pivot system, its performance and its unique ride feel that make an Orange Bike iconic; and that is not as simple as you think. Racing has been a part of our culture since Orange’s inception, the hunger to compete and challenge ourselves has always been part of the company’s ethos from day one. The new Switch 7 was born out of a need simply to go faster on the race track!So why now? That’s not to say that we haven’t done a linkage bike before!Over the years there have been many examples of Orange bikes using a linkage, some that we have put into production and many more which we have prototyped. At the right point in time when we find a valid reason to proceed with a linkage bike, we have done, and these bikes have been used on the UCI World Cup downhill circuit, with privateer racers as well as on your local trails for years.When we conceived the idea of a new Orange Factory Racing team to compete in the EWS the seeds of a new enduro race bike were already germinating.At Orange we are passionate about all things two-wheeled. The mix of decades of development with our unique frame construction methods, along with a race team with plenty of years under their belt, meant we had the ideal melting pot to create our greatest race platform yet.SWEATING THE DETAILS The Switch 7 is an MX wheeled enduro bike 170mm travel front and rear. It uses a link-driven 205x65 trunnion shock, mounted low in the frame helping to lower the bike's centre of gravity and allow for a more neutral weight distribution whilst riding. A trunnion mounted shock in our factory spec runs on a full complement of bearings instead of bushings, both the trunnion mount and lower eyelet, along with all the frame pivots run on cartridge bearings allowing us to achieve as low as possible break away force, providing incredible sensitivity to the initial part of the shock's stroke.The lynchpin of this dynamic bike is our STRANGE power link. STRANGE (Special Technology RANGE) has been responsible for numerous projects, from prototype frames to general components like grips, for a large proportion of Orange’s existence. It forms a huge part of our development process and has seen some pretty incredible products over the years. Some of which never saw it past the testing phases.The STRANGE power link allows us to have a considerably more progressive shock curve than we have used previously. It’s this shock curve which adds to the truly bottomless feeling that the Switch 7 delivers, but also allows the use of both high-volume air cans or coil shocks. Through the rear shock’s travel, the leverage ratio falls from 2.85 to 2.10. Looking at shock force, this means the real working progression is 36%. The curve was developed so it maintains the fun direct feel that Orange bikes have become famous for while adding the big travel requirements of a very progressive platform.With the bike’s kinematics sorted, this race machine also benefits from our lowest pivot position to minimise pedal kickback, and drivetrain induced interference, leaving the rider to do the job at hand. Anti-squat numbers for the Switch 7 in the 32/52t gearing start at 130% falling to 105% at full travel. Around dynamic sag the anti-squat is at 120%, this means that the bike will be efficient on the pedals when pushing hard in or out of the saddle.An additional request from the Orange Factory Racing team was to have an option to increase the bike's bottom bracket height, we’ve done this using an additional pair of “dog bone links” which are available separately and increase the bikes BB height by 5mm with only a half-degree steepening of the head angle, giving the rider the choice when the terrain demands it without adversely affecting the steering geometry.The frame is covered in features not previously seen on our bikes and are the result of meticulous analysis and testing. The Switch 7 sports a 49/56 ZS headtube, this has helped improve both strength and stiffness at the front end of the bike, increase the surface area for welding between head tube, down tube and top tube as well giving us enough room to drop the downtube slightly to allow for a water bottle in the front triangle. To make access even easier new tooling was produced to create a recess on the top side of the down tube. The bike also uses a UDH gear hanger incorporating SRAM’s new industry standard and allowing a spare to be bought at nearly every bike shop on the planet.Technology developed on other models also plays it part, the Switch 7 has an asymmetrical swingarm design similar to the recently released Stage 6 Evo, this swingarm allowed us to increase the bike's vertical stiffness whilst tuning its lateral compliance, producing a bike with a direct feel but with buckets of grip.Focussing on chassis dynamics has been important throughout the Switch 7’s testing program. It’s easy to make a bike too stiff and effectively end up with reduced traction and a “dead” or “wooden” feel to the bike’s ride. A large part of the additional grip being produced by this bike is down to a design that isolates the shock from the lateral forces coming through the frame particularly during hard cornering and large compressions, so the shock is only loaded in a linear manner. There were a few reasons for doing this; first to ensure the best possible life of the shock and bearings, second to minimise any external input that could increase friction and hamper the shock’s performance, and third this linkage design allowed us to control the swingarm’s lateral compliance using custom designed and manufactured tubes specific for the job.Throughout the design process we were conscious of our reputation for low maintenance bikes. We made every effort to conceal the majority of our bearings within the front of the swingarm, out of harm's way and safe from jet-washers.Bikes will come with a 5 year bearing warranty for the original owner and any original owners outside of that period will receive heavily subsidised pricing.The icing on the cake is our new chainstay and downtube protectors. These keep your pride and joy looking sharper for longer, help dampen chain slap, impact from stones and are the final details on a bike that has seen an incredible amount of development.The FactsWHY THE SWITCH 7F: 170MM | R: 170MM | W: 29/27.5,Brand New Lightweight Frame machined & Handbuilt in Britain,5 year frame warranty with Limited Lifetime Crash Replacement,New Aggressive Enduro Race geometry optimised for 170mm front & rear travel,New Linkage Driven Progressive (LDP?) suspension kinematics.,More neutral pivot location allowing less drivetrain/suspension interaction,Low position Asymmetric pivot – neutral suspension feel & increased chainring clearance,Asymmetrical swingarm with increased longitudinal stiffness,New top tube accessory/Bottle cage mounts and bottle dimple in frame ,New stiffer lower profile 56mm zerostack Head tube,Geometry for reduced offset fork,New Improved dropout with UDH gear hanger,Boost 148 rear hub spacing,New Top tube accessory/Bottle cage mounts and bottle dimple in frame,Internal cable/hose routing,30 x 8 bearing mount compatible shock,205 x 65 trunnion shock for reduced friction,Adjustable BB height.
The Phase MX is our mixed size wheelset E.P.O model. With a 29” front wheel paired with a 27.5 rear wheel and 170 mm front and 165mm rear suspension travel, We think this makes the Phase MX a strong contender to be our most versatile E.P.O. model to date. The mixed 29/27.5 wheel set has settled in well with its combination of fast rolling, bump absorbing big front wheel combined with the agility of the 27.5 rear makes it a winning combination. It's not just on World Cup DH or EWS bikes, it works well for riders of all disciplines and we now have popular MX models from hardtail through to the Phase MX: Our brand new, big travel eMTB.The new Phase MX features a brand new and improved frame and the Shimano EP8 drive system with the 630Wh integrated battery, offering 25% more capacity for even longer rides.THE RIDEThe confident geometry, with its agility and stability is better than ever, and for the 2022 line up, we’ve upped the travel both front and rear, while keeping that low CofG we are famed for. With a power assisted bike long travel makes sense, climbing with extra watts in your legs or descending at speed, this bike needs to take the hits in its speedy stride.The 2022 Phase MX geometry solidly ticks its performance orientated boxes with a 64° head angle, 76° seat angle, balanced reach (483mm Size: Large), With 165mm of travel from the 230x65 metric shock and a reduced offset 170mm travel fork.THE FRAME BUILDAt Orange we never stand still. With every iteration of our models we hone our production processes to improve the frame's performance and features where needed, and this one is no different. With state of the art aluminium craftsmen who hold years of experience, we think that the frames we produce today are among the finest we've ever made and indeed probably the finest in the world. We don't know of anyone else that goes to the lengths we do to create a performance mountainbike frame.The new 2022 Phase frames have had a raft of new features, tweaks and changes. The most obvious is the re-layout of the front end, which integrates the Shimano EP8 motor more elegantly into the downtube which houses the integral battery unit. The rear swing arm construction has seen some modifications as well as a couple of details such as relocating the Shimano EP8’s wheel speed sensor into the disc rotor. The rear mech is attached using a Universal Derailleur Hanger. UDH for short and as the name implies universally available everywhere should you ever need to replace it, but has features that mean in the case of an impact it is designed to slip slightly and has the ability to “re-rail” the chain back onto the small cog, so more robust, less hanger replacing.Something that was painstakingly pored over was the suspension characteristic of the new Alpine 6, with everything we gained from that bike we wanted it to translate across into the Phase models. Revisions have been made to the shock mounts to accommodate the new metric rear shock (230x65) and the increase in travel from 160 to 165mm, we have also focussed on increasing the amount of progression in the system which has seen a substantial increase, reduced the bike's anti-squat value and decreased the amount of pedal kickback in the system.The final piece of the puzzle is ensuring the battery is easily removable for easy charging. The battery is removable using just an 4mm allen key, so no more bolts to undo or keys to lose and it take's just a matter of seconds to drop out a battery. If you've gone through a 630Wh battery and you still want more then “double battery days” are very much a reality and we have a system that means this is as easy as possible. Second batteries are available from Orange and will come with the protective cover as standard.THE 'ENGINE' SHIMANO EP8 DRIVE UNITWe have worked closely with Shimano since the introduction of the very first Electric Powered Orange model. The Shimano drive assist philosophy is very much like our own. Their system does what it needs to do, then stays out of the way when it's done its job, letting you ride the way you want to.The brand new Shimano EP8 unit is an improvement in every way to the previous model, making what we considered the best even better. The new drive unit is slimmer, sleeker and more compact than its predecessor, but don’t let its size deceive you. The EP8 packs a punch with enough power to get you to the top of any epic climb. The streamlined, integrated design not only looks the part, but it also allows for increased ground clearing for when the trail gets technical.Everything about the EP8 is designed to allow you to focus on the ride. The new unit operates with little noise, letting you to focus on the natural sound of the trails without distraction. The newly refined Trail Mode utilises all 85Nm of the EP8’s power to effortlessly and intuitively assist you on your ride. Whether tackling loose sand or steep mountain ranges, the drive unit rapidly and seamlessly self-adjusts so that you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll always have maximum traction and control. The harder you push, the more power will be delivered to assist you, meaning that no trail is off-limits.The lightest full-power system, weighing in at just 2.6kg and with a 36% reduction in drag compared to the previous model, the EP8 will not hold you back. An improved clutch mechanism makes for a more responsive ride, with a smoother cut-off when pedalling above 25km/h. All of this puts you in complete control of the bike, with fluid pedalling and no surprises. The EP8 also offers an improved Walk Assist Mode, fully supporting you to push your bike with a one button control, allowing you to hop on and off with ease.With the E-Tube Project App you can choose from 10 levels of assistance and set the maximum amount of torque best suited to your ride style across three modes, allowing for a fully customised ride before you’ve even put on your helmet. Preferences can be saved to different profiles so that you can quickly and easily switch between them for different terrains, or if swapping from the daily commute to weekend trails.The EP8 also offers peace of mind. The smart, heat-conducting magnesium materials and a completely redesigned motor housing means that the unit handles rising temperatures on climbs easily, guaranteeing you maximum torque for longer. The new colour display is also fitted with an anti-theft mount and is optimised to be visible in bright sunlight, meaning that you can spend less time with your head down and more time enjoying what the bike has to offer.Shimano E=8000TECHNICAL SPECSHere are the technical specifications of the Shimano EP8 drive unit.PEDAL ASSIST MODESAll three support modes will assist until 16mph.ECO - Riding support while enabling maximum rangeTRAIL - Gradual support for encouraging sportive ridingBOOST - Full support for maximum boost and uncompromised climbingWALK ASSIST - As additional mode, walk assist can be easily enabled with the assist switchCOMPACT CONCEPTShort chainstays (shorter chainstay length ensuring better manoeuvrability)Narrow Q-factor of 177mm (compact and lightweight design for better handling with same Q-factor as current Shimano XT)PERFORMANCEMaximum power: 504 WNominal power: 250 WMaximum torque: 85 NmWEIGHT OF DRIVE UNIT2.6 kgGENUINE SHIMANO 8036 LI-ION BATTERYIntegrated version (630Wh)Charging: 80% after 2,5 hrs / 5 hrs from 0 to 100%Battery life: 1,000 cyclesThe FactsWHY THE PHASE MX?ELECTRIC POWERED ORANGEF: 170MM | R: 165MM | W: 29/27.5Brand New Frame designed and built in Britain5 year frame warranty with Limited Lifetime Crash ReplacementShimano EP8 Drive Assist29 front/27.5 rear mixed size wheelsetShimano 8036 630Wh integrated battery in downtubeQuick release battery for easy chargingBoost 148mm rear hub spacingOrange trail honed geometryReduced offset forkLong top tube short stem for high-speed stabilitySHIMANO EP8 FEATURES85Nm max torque - Max assist ratio: 400%2.6kg total weight10% reduced volume (compared with E8000)36% less drag630Wh Lithium Ion integrated batterySame 177mm Q-Factor as a standard XT crankset4 Assist Modes (Walk/Eco/Trail/Boost)Mechanical Walk Assist improved to the level of Intelligent Walk Assist (Di2)