O'Neal Session SPD MTB ShoesWith all the features you need for a great mountain bike ride, the O'Neal Session SPD MTB Shoes offer impressive comfort, efficient pedalling and tough construction to meet the demands of the roughest of trails. From high-speed turns to technical chutes to steep rock rolling trails, the Session SPD MTB Shoes keep you firmly and comfortably planted on the pedals. The PU upper with mesh ventilation zones gives you the very best combination of durability and ventilation. There's also a neoprene ankle sock, locking out dirt and debris from your shoes. And for those rock series and hidden tree stumps that can hit toes, the Session shoes fend it all off with reinforced toe and heel zones. Dial in the ComfortWhen you're mountain biking you don't want a sloppy fitting shoe. Not a problem here, the Session shoes use an Atop dial to make sure there is no sloppiness in the fit.A simple twist of the dial gives you incrementally increasing pressure, letting you get the fit just as you like it and holding your foot secure when pedalling. It's a quick, fuss-free way to get the right fit. Hexagon Honey Rubber® SoleThe SPD compatibility and Hexagon Honey Rubber® construction make sure you'll always pedal efficiently. The Hexagon Honey Rubber® allows you to get a reassuring pedal purchase, even if you can't immediately clip in.A nylon skank reinforcement offers excellent power transfer once you're clipped in, perfect for bursts of speed out of berms and attacking uphill sections of trail. Cleat GuidanceThese MTB shoes are compatible with MTB pedal systems, which use cleats with SPD standard (2-bolt standard), e.g.: Shimano SPD, Time ATAC, CrankBrothers, CrankBrothers Race, Look MTB, Xtreme MTB, Wellgo MTB, Ritchey MTB. FeaturesHexagon Honey Rubber® sole compatible for SPD cleatUpper shoe construction includes a neoprene gator sock to keep debris out of your shoeDurable and lightweight PU upper with mesh side ventilationDial ratchet closure system for a more secure fastening and rapid openingRemovable and interchangeable foot-bedReinforced toe cap and heel for added protectionAdditional side outsole stitching for reinforcement and increased durability2-bolt cleat compatible (cleats not supplied)Buy O'Neal Footwear from Chain Reaction Cycles, the World's Largest Online Bike Store.
O'Neal Session SPD MTB ShoesWith all the features you need for a great mountain bike ride, the O'Neal Session SPD MTB Shoes offer impressive comfort, efficient pedalling and tough construction to meet the demands of the roughest of trails. From high-speed turns to technical chutes to steep rock rolling trails, the Session SPD MTB Shoes keep you firmly and comfortably planted on the pedals. The PU upper with mesh ventilation zones gives you the very best combination of durability and ventilation. There's also a neoprene ankle sock, locking out dirt and debris from your shoes. And for those rock series and hidden tree stumps that can hit toes, the Session shoes fend it all off with reinforced toe and heel zones. Dial in the ComfortWhen you're mountain biking you don't want a sloppy fitting shoe. Not a problem here, the Session shoes use an Atop dial to make sure there is no sloppiness in the fit.A simple twist of the dial gives you incrementally increasing pressure, letting you get the fit just as you like it and holding your foot secure when pedalling. It's a quick, fuss-free way to get the right fit. Hexagon Honey Rubber® SoleThe SPD compatibility and Hexagon Honey Rubber® construction make sure you'll always pedal efficiently. The Hexagon Honey Rubber® allows you to get a reassuring pedal purchase, even if you can't immediately clip in.A nylon skank reinforcement offers excellent power transfer once you're clipped in, perfect for bursts of speed out of berms and attacking uphill sections of trail. Cleat GuidanceThese MTB shoes are compatible with MTB pedal systems, which use cleats with SPD standard (2-bolt standard), e.g.: Shimano SPD, Time ATAC, CrankBrothers, CrankBrothers Race, Look MTB, Xtreme MTB, Wellgo MTB, Ritchey MTB. FeaturesHexagon Honey Rubber® sole compatible for SPD cleatUpper shoe construction includes a neoprene gator sock to keep debris out of your shoeDurable and lightweight PU upper with mesh side ventilationDial ratchet closure system for a more secure fastening and rapid openingRemovable and interchangeable foot-bedReinforced toe cap and heel for added protectionAdditional side outsole stitching for reinforcement and increased durability2-bolt cleat compatible (cleats not supplied)Buy O'Neal Footwear from Chain Reaction Cycles, the World's Largest Online Bike Store.
O'Neal Session SPD MTB ShoesWith all the features you need for a great mountain bike ride, the O'Neal Session SPD MTB Shoes offer impressive comfort, efficient pedalling and tough construction to meet the demands of the roughest of trails. From high-speed turns to technical chutes to steep rock rolling trails, the Session SPD MTB Shoes keep you firmly and comfortably planted on the pedals. The PU upper with mesh ventilation zones gives you the very best combination of durability and ventilation. There's also a neoprene ankle sock, locking out dirt and debris from your shoes. And for those rock series and hidden tree stumps that can hit toes, the Session shoes fend it all off with reinforced toe and heel zones. Dial in the ComfortWhen you're mountain biking you don't want a sloppy fitting shoe. Not a problem here, the Session shoes use an Atop dial to make sure there is no sloppiness in the fit.A simple twist of the dial gives you incrementally increasing pressure, letting you get the fit just as you like it and holding your foot secure when pedalling. It's a quick, fuss-free way to get the right fit. Hexagon Honey Rubber® SoleThe SPD compatibility and Hexagon Honey Rubber® construction make sure you'll always pedal efficiently. The Hexagon Honey Rubber® allows you to get a reassuring pedal purchase, even if you can't immediately clip in.A nylon skank reinforcement offers excellent power transfer once you're clipped in, perfect for bursts of speed out of berms and attacking uphill sections of trail. Cleat GuidanceThese MTB shoes are compatible with MTB pedal systems, which use cleats with SPD standard (2-bolt standard), e.g.: Shimano SPD, Time ATAC, CrankBrothers, CrankBrothers Race, Look MTB, Xtreme MTB, Wellgo MTB, Ritchey MTB. FeaturesHexagon Honey Rubber® sole compatible for SPD cleatUpper shoe construction includes a neoprene gator sock to keep debris out of your shoeDurable and lightweight PU upper with mesh side ventilationDial ratchet closure system for a more secure fastening and rapid openingRemovable and interchangeable foot-bedReinforced toe cap and heel for added protectionAdditional side outsole stitching for reinforcement and increased durability2-bolt cleat compatible (cleats not supplied)Buy O'Neal Footwear from Chain Reaction Cycles, the World's Largest Online Bike Store.
O'Neal Session SPD MTB ShoesWith all the features you need for a great mountain bike ride, the O'Neal Session SPD MTB Shoes offer impressive comfort, efficient pedalling and tough construction to meet the demands of the roughest of trails. From high-speed turns to technical chutes to steep rock rolling trails, the Session SPD MTB Shoes keep you firmly and comfortably planted on the pedals. The PU upper with mesh ventilation zones gives you the very best combination of durability and ventilation. There's also a neoprene ankle sock, locking out dirt and debris from your shoes. And for those rock series and hidden tree stumps that can hit toes, the Session shoes fend it all off with reinforced toe and heel zones. Dial in the ComfortWhen you're mountain biking you don't want a sloppy fitting shoe. Not a problem here, the Session shoes use an Atop dial to make sure there is no sloppiness in the fit.A simple twist of the dial gives you incrementally increasing pressure, letting you get the fit just as you like it and holding your foot secure when pedalling. It's a quick, fuss-free way to get the right fit. Hexagon Honey Rubber® SoleThe SPD compatibility and Hexagon Honey Rubber® construction make sure you'll always pedal efficiently. The Hexagon Honey Rubber® allows you to get a reassuring pedal purchase, even if you can't immediately clip in.A nylon skank reinforcement offers excellent power transfer once you're clipped in, perfect for bursts of speed out of berms and attacking uphill sections of trail. Cleat GuidanceThese MTB shoes are compatible with MTB pedal systems, which use cleats with SPD standard (2-bolt standard), e.g.: Shimano SPD, Time ATAC, CrankBrothers, CrankBrothers Race, Look MTB, Xtreme MTB, Wellgo MTB, Ritchey MTB. FeaturesHexagon Honey Rubber® sole compatible for SPD cleatUpper shoe construction includes a neoprene gator sock to keep debris out of your shoeDurable and lightweight PU upper with mesh side ventilationDial ratchet closure system for a more secure fastening and rapid openingRemovable and interchangeable foot-bedReinforced toe cap and heel for added protectionAdditional side outsole stitching for reinforcement and increased durability2-bolt cleat compatible (cleats not supplied)Buy O'Neal Footwear from Chain Reaction Cycles, the World's Largest Online Bike Store.
From high-speed turns to technical chutes to steep rock rolling trails, the Session SPD MTB Shoes keep you firmly and comfortably planted on the pedals. The PU upper with mesh ventilation zones gives you the very best combination of durability and ventilation. There's also a neoprene ankle sock, locking out dirt and debris from your shoes. And for those rock series and hidden tree stumps that can hit toes, the Session shoes fend it all off with reinforced toe and heel zones. Dial in the Comfort When you're mountain biking you don't want a sloppy fitting shoe. Not a problem here, the Session shoes use an Atop dial to make sure there is no sloppiness in the fit. A simple twist of the dial gives you incrementally increasing pressure, letting you get the fit just as you like it and holding your foot secure when pedalling. It's a quick, fuss-free way to get the right fit. Hexagon Honey Rubber® Sole The SPD compatibility and Hexagon Honey Rubber® construction make sure you'll always pedal efficiently. The Hexagon Honey Rubber® allows you to get a reassuring pedal purchase, even if you can't immediately clip in. A nylon shank reinforcement offers excellent power transfer once you're clipped in, perfect for bursts of speed out of berms and attacking uphill sections of trail. Cleat Guidance These MTB shoes are compatible with MTB pedal systems, which use cleats with SPD standard (2-bolt standard), e.g.: Shimano SPD, Time ATAC, CrankBrothers, CrankBrothers Race, Look MTB, Xtreme MTB, Wellgo MTB, Ritchey MTB.
The robust Omm Fusion Gloves are made with extended cuffs, windproof top layer and softshell fabric to ensure you stay warm and distraction free. Featuring a grippy silicone grip in the palm and an e-tip on the index finger to allow you to operate your smartphone or touchscreen device without having to expose your hands to the elements.
The O'Neal Session SPD Shoe Hi-Viz are completely new for 2018, SPD cleat compatible shoe, Durable and lightweight PU upper>Key Features:Strategically placed vent holes on side and front,Micro-adjust closing system for a perfect tailored fit,Lycra ankle gaiter to keep stones and soil out,Additional Velcro closure for a secure and snug fit,Nylon sole insert to increase outsole strength and improve pedaling efficiency,O’Neal Honey Rubber® sole compound,Removable and interchangeable foot-bed,Reinforced toe cap for added protection.
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 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.
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.
ARE YOU THIS RIDER?Do your friends ask if you intend to ride the chairlift when you invite them out for a ‘few’ park laps? Do your top routes frequently involve pushing up and down trails that aren’t on any map? Do your favorite rides begin or end with headlamps, an ice chest and great friends? Does your bike have to do everything well to get you there and back again? If you think you might be this rider, then Occam should be your bike.LINKAGE UPDATEOccam uses a new two-part linkage design. Fewer pieces mean fewer interfaces, greater rigidity and a lower chance of something working loose.ASYMMETRICAL DESIGNInstead of using a less-efficient "shock tunnel," the Occam offsets the shock to the left side of the frame.YOUR SUSPENSION, YOUR WAYThe best modern trail bikes are used for an impressive variety of terrain and need to be adaptable. OCCAM is designed to work well with 140mm or 150mm front and rear travel and the progressive rear suspension works well with either an air or a coil shock.
ARE YOU THIS RIDER?Do your friends ask if you intend to ride the chairlift when you invite them out for a ‘few’ park laps? Do your top routes frequently involve pushing up and down trails that aren’t on any map? Do your favorite rides begin or end with headlamps, an ice chest and great friends? Does your bike have to do everything well to get you there and back again? If you think you might be this rider, then Occam should be your bike.LINKAGE UPDATEOccam uses a new two-part linkage design. Fewer pieces mean fewer interfaces, greater rigidity and a lower chance of something working loose.ASYMMETRICAL DESIGNInstead of using a less-efficient "shock tunnel," the Occam offsets the shock to the left side of the frame.YOUR SUSPENSION, YOUR WAYThe best modern trail bikes are used for an impressive variety of terrain and need to be adaptable. OCCAM is designed to work well with 140mm or 150mm front and rear travel and the progressive rear suspension works well with either an air or a coil shock.