The 2020 Orange Alpine 6 is Totally Overhauled - But Looks Exactly the Same
Photos: Andy Lloyd
Orange hit on a bit of a snag with the new Alpine 6. How do they appease a legion of fans who don't want it to be changed, but update it to keep in line with modern trends and developments? Well, they've untied the Gordian knot of their own making with the most intensive prototyping program they have ever run to create the new Alpine 6.
There are obviously no changes as far as the single-pivot suspension design is concerned.
While it sticks with a classic Orange silhouette, every tube on this bike is totally new, apart from the seat tube. This has allowed Orange to make a bike with more travel, a revised suspension curve and new geometry. Check it out in action in the edit below:
The new Alpine six grows to 165mm of rear travel with the introduction of a 230mm metric shock. There's also a revised shock tune to go with it that Orange claim will, "be more progressive to retain a bottomless feel and improve small bump smoothness". Up front, a 170mm fork keeps things under control.
The bottle bosses are new for the 2020 model, but definitely in the line of fire for mud (or worse).
Reworked cable routing now works for “British” or “American/Euro” brake set ups.
A cleaner graphical update comes along with the revised chassis.
Made in Halifax
The geometry of the Alpine has also been under the microscope and is claimed to result in more "agility, stability and confidence at speed". As always, it's a case of evolution not revolution for Orange, but they're hoping some incremental changes will add up to big performance benefits. The head angle is now half a degree slacker than its predecessor, the BB is 5mm lower and they’ve added 6mm to the reach (Size L). In addition, Orange have added 11mm to the chainstays, which will help centralize the rider's weight on the bike.
The model pictured here is the second from top-spec Factory, which comes with Fox suspension and seatpost, a SRAM XO1 Eagle drivetrain and Hope brakes. It retails at £5,800.
The model pictured here is the second from top-spec Factory, which comes with Fox suspension and seatpost, a SRAM XO1 Eagle drivetrain and Hope brakes. It retails at £5,800.
2020 Orange Alpine 6 Details
• Intended use: enduro
• Brand new monocoque 6061-T6 aluminium frame built in Britain
• Five year frame warranty
• Single Pivot suspension design
• Reworked longer and slacker geometry
• 170mm front/165mm rear travel
• Boost 148 rear hub spacing
• Four spec levels
• Prices from: £4,000 ($5,275.12USD)
• orangebikes.co.uk/
• Intended use: enduro
• Brand new monocoque 6061-T6 aluminium frame built in Britain
• Five year frame warranty
• Single Pivot suspension design
• Reworked longer and slacker geometry
• 170mm front/165mm rear travel
• Boost 148 rear hub spacing
• Four spec levels
• Prices from: £4,000 ($5,275.12USD)
• orangebikes.co.uk/
The Alpine 6 will be available in four model specifications from today:
Alpine 6 Pro starting at £4,000
Alpine 6 RS starting at £4,950
Alpine 6 Factory (above) starting at £5,800.
Alpine 6 XTR at £6,500.
Each of these bikes is available in a choice of 10 colours. Orange and black are always free, with the other eight costing an additional £100. There are also three decal options to choose from.
As usual, all other upgrade options are also available. Please see the Orange website for details.
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Reach and head angle were made more modern, they had the chance to push the envelope further and didn’t , they kept it exactly the same as the previous model
This bike keeps its 74 deg STA regardless of seat height while bent STs end up steeper for shorter riders and slacker for taller guys with literally one single seat height that gives the claimed angle.
And the layer of sheep sh@t promotes regular bowel movement
"Yeah man, condoms are only like 99% effective."
"WHAT? THEY SHOULD WRITE THAT ON THE BOX!"
Predictably, Orange get stick for their designs (still using single pivot ang going nowhere near carbon), but if you're a fan, as I am, you'll appreciate what they do well.
I've had my Alpine 6 for nearly 18 months, best bike I've ridden and owned, hands down. Climbs more than adequately and is massive fun when you point her down hill. Intrigued about how the refinements have improved the handling, but not in the market for a new one as I'm more than happy with mine.
And whoever says the bikes are loud haven't ridden a new one yet.
Simple single pivots though... That's just medieval.
Proudly made in the United Kingdom rather than made in Taiwan .
There employing people in there own country instead of making China and Taiwan a bigger monopoly than it already does .
The labour is much more expensive and so are there overheads .
There a much smaller outfit then people think and turn over a lot less bikes than similar brands so have less buying power on components.
There trying hard in a difficult market to compete so I don't understand some of the venom used above .
No one is forcing you do buy it .
Good god the polygon\marin monstrosity didn't get as much flack and I won't ride that with yours .
As for the intolerance issues raised above I would like to see evidence of this .I simply don't believe it .
Guy Martin's video might of got some people up in arms when the builder he belted the swingarm but the factory has moved the design imo is exceptional and I just don't get all the hatred .
Yes my mega 290 rides better than my stage 6 but the older stage 6 didn't have fused with Wrong loctite pivot bots or bearings that grinded if it was wet outside or paint that flaked off if you coughed near it .
The stage 6 still looks like it rolled out the showroom and the mega is already looking twice it's age .
Brake jack .it's single pivot so it's managable but improve your technique and you hardly notice it .
Lower, slacker , longer, blah blah
Still ugly as f*ck, made of girders and single pivot susceptible to brake jack.
I'm out
The fully loaded sack tickling *i>insert any Alu four/faux bar brand/i>* is under that, with cash to spare for gear, local trail memberships, responsible investing, etc.
MBGA!!
"Another article about the new Santa Cruz?"
At least for the media bike they actually have some decent welds.
Must have fired the 10 year old welder and hired a 20 year old welder
The front triangle looks stunning.
Swing arm still looks like shit, also arent those some pretty small pivot bearings?
10/10 would rather ride a foes than that, and I wont buy one of those either.
If i was running any MTB website or mag I'd simply refuse to feature it. You can't just keep pumping out the same crap year after year. "oh it's not the same... We've moved the pivot or we've put a kink in the top tube" Get the f**k oughta here with that $hit!
I guess if you happen to have enough cash for a carbon dream machine but would rather drink muddy water then have at it... WTF Orange! Seriously WTF?
Ever read a review of or ridden a nomad V3? Will my next enduro bike be a SC? Unlikely but I’ll it will definitely be something a lot more cutting edge and reasonable priced than the the tatt orange are pumping out!