Orange Bikes in Administration

[Pirahna]

What the title says.

https://www.bikeradar.com/news/orange-b ... nistrators


Job losses at Raleigh https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-not ... e-67902540

[mboy]

Yup

Fingers crossed for Orange that a successful restructure and re-evalution of their business turns them around. Far too many of us have far too fond memories of the brand for it just to disappear.

Raleigh announced back in November that they were closing the P&A part of their business, which is about 90% of it in the UK... No shock that jobs have gone, many were consulted at the start of December to say there was no job to come back to in the new year... Their HQ is a big warehouse that is now surrounded by a huge housing estate, the housing estate having grown round the Raleigh building... I expect the land is worth a bloody fortune! Certainly worth a lot more than a cycle parts business that keeps returning a loss year after year.

[weeksy]

For me, they simply forgot to move with the times, they kept on doing stuff the same without really embracing new trends. That, along with higher pricing than most other companies, meant they've never really been on my list as a bike to own. Nearly bought a P7 which was a fairly generic HT, but only because it was on offer, not necessarily because it was Orange.
If they do survive they need a re-think on where they're going and why.

I saw an article that Ebikes are outselling manual bike 9-1 at the moment.. Now i don't know what genre that's within, but i was recently trying to sell my Trek to a company like WBAC and they said "we don't buy manual bikes as we can't sell them".... they have nothing but ebikes for sale.

I'd love to know in high level MTB what the ratio of Ebike to manual is.. but i bet it's quite high like 4/1

Orange do this
https://www.orangebikes.com/bikes/phase-mx-pro/2023

Which is around the spec, motor and componentry of a fair few others like say Privateer, Whyte etc... but it's £2000-2500 more than their offerings.. But why, what does it give you over theirs... i don't really know.

[Count Steer]

I always thought Orange started in the USA (Orange County) but having rummaged I found they're made in exotic Halifax. If they still fabricate them in the UK it probably explains the premium price cf China and Taiwan (that and the name).

Nice if they tried to keep manufacture here but difficult to compete on price on like-for-like bikes, particularly when there's a downturn in the economy/demand but wage inflation keeps going.

[weeksy]

If they still fabricate them in the UK it probably explains the premium price cf China and Taiwan (that and the name).

NOt since the 80s really. They're Chinese made apparently but with many 'implied' UK connections and some clever wording

It's possible they still 'make' some in the UK, but i get the impression not so much.

[Count Steer]

If they still fabricate them in the UK it probably explains the premium price cf China and Taiwan (that and the name).

NOt since the 80s really. They're Chinese made apparently but with many 'implied' UK connections and some clever wording

It's possible they still 'make' some in the UK, but i get the impression not so much.

Yeah, they do sort of imply it rather than state it. They built a pretty good brand, so another company might mop them up just for the name?

[weeksy]

If they still fabricate them in the UK it probably explains the premium price cf China and Taiwan (that and the name).

NOt since the 80s really. They're Chinese made apparently but with many 'implied' UK connections and some clever wording

It's possible they still 'make' some in the UK, but i get the impression not so much.

Yeah, they do sort of imply it rather than state it. They built a pretty good brand, so another company might mop them up just for the name?

The problem with that idea is, there's a lot of companies that need mopping up at the moment in terms of similar, Vitus, Nukeproof, Chain reaction etc... there's only so much wealth to do that, so i'm not necessarily convinced it can or will happen.

[MingtheMerciless]

Never really took to Orange, a few mates that had them liked them but as Weeksy said they're development lagged behind everyone else and they are expensive for what they are.

Unfortunately a lot of manufacturers could be in trouble looking at the heavy discounts various brands are doing. My LBS have said sales have fallen through the floor, spares and servicing is where it's at for them.

[Mr Moofo]

I had a Patriot 66 - bought because it was an Orange. Hmm - it wasn't great - flexed so much it used to change gear on its own. Welding of the frame was great, welding on one side of the swing arm was done by a blind chimp. I bought it on spec from Lakeland because it was dirt cheap (1.4k in 2008).

The issue with Orange was not "moving with the times", as the R&D and geometry was pretty current. The problem was the looks - the industrial frame shape just didn't appeal to the Surrey Hill Brigade. The P7 was a great bike , as was the Clockwork. Just like Trek and others, the did make some right old dogs.
The simple approach to suspension of a single pivot was also unfashionable amongst the MTB hip crowd. It worked well on the trail - but if you looks at the suspension curve and leverage it just wasn't as groovy as a DW link when leaned against the Hurtwood.

In the last few years, I have no idea what was happening in the marketing department - but someone completely forgot about the calculated added value. The price of their bikes was just nonsense.
BTW - the ally bikes were sill welded and completed in Halifax.

I just hope that Hope won't be next

[MingtheMerciless]

I just hope that Hope won't be next

LBS owner was saying that Endura maybe sweating a bit as they have a large amount of stock with Wiggle/CRC. I wonder how many other manufacturers are in the same boat?

[Beancounter]

Orange do this
https://www.orangebikes.com/bikes/phase-mx-pro/2023

I really like that, especially the single pivot and the uncluttered looks, but not for £7.5k.

It worked well on the trail - but if you looks at the suspension curve and leverage it just wasn't as groovy as a DW link when leaned against the Hurtwood.

It's along time since I was a Hurtwood regular, it seemed that Santa Cruz outnumbered other brand 2:1. I do wonder if SC is still as sought after in SH now that Pedal & Spoke has closed their Cranleigh and Peaslake shops - I know they've opened a shop/hut/whatever close by but I don't think it's got the passing trade that the shops had.

[Count Steer]

Orange do this
https://www.orangebikes.com/bikes/phase-mx-pro/2023

I really like that, especially the single pivot and the uncluttered looks, but not for £7.5k.

It worked well on the trail - but if you looks at the suspension curve and leverage it just wasn't as groovy as a DW link when leaned against the Hurtwood.

It's along time since I was a Hurtwood regular, it seemed that Santa Cruz outnumbered other brand 2:1. I do wonder if SC is still as sought after in SH now that Pedal & Spoke has closed their Cranleigh and Peaslake shops - I know they've opened a shop/hut/whatever close by but I don't think it's got the passing trade that the shops had.

The Cranleigh shop didn't last long and they seemed to be mainly about service/repair and coffee/cake (quite good coffee too, I used to drop in as an escape from the dismal experience that Costa became). It was quite a large shop really but the place seemed jinxed. It was a 'white goods' place (bought our washing machine there) then a string of other things and it's now, yet another, dodgy phones and vapes shop. I think one of the team set up in a place just off one end of the High Street doing servicing/coffee and seemed to do OK, but that went too. According to Google maps there's someone local doing servicing from home - dunno if they were involved with the above.

The nearest place that does sales and service is Beyond Bikes at Smithbrook Kilns - haven't been for a while but there's been a bikes place there for ages. It was quite a big unit with a lot of stock, dunno what it's like now.

[matt]

I can remember really ,really wanting an orange five , never did get one .Not seen an orange in the wild for ages.

[mboy]

If they still fabricate them in the UK it probably explains the premium price cf China and Taiwan (that and the name).

NOt since the 80s really. They're Chinese made apparently but with many 'implied' UK connections and some clever wording

It's possible they still 'make' some in the UK, but i get the impression not so much.

Hardtail frame manufacture moved to the far east something like 15yrs ago... Certainly not in the 1980's, though some of us might wish the 80's was only 15yrs ago! Prior to that everything was made in Halifax.

All full sus frames are still made in the UK and always have been...

Latest hardtail frame (Switch MX) is made in Halifax too, seeing them return to a UK made HT frame in their range...

[mboy]

I can remember really ,really wanting an orange five , never did get one .Not seen an orange in the wild for ages.

Their heyday was 15-20yrs ago I'd say. Half of my riding mates back then had one, or had an Orange 5, several replaced Orange 5's with Orange 5's when it was time to upgrade!

They kinda took over from the Jon Whyte designed Marins as the middle aged MTBer's trail weapon of choice, before handing the mantle over to Santa Cruz I would say...

I very nearly bought an Orange Stage Evo (basically a 29er version of the 5) frame just before Christmas, but it still irks me that you can't fit a bottle inside the frame!

[crust]

May not be the end, Facebook post by Orange:

'We appreciate all the kind words and encouragement we've received from our loyal customers and fans. It's heartwarming to see the continued support and passion for Orange Bikes.
While we can't provide many details at the moment, we want to assure you that this is not the end for Orange Bikes.
We are committed to delivering high-quality bikes and maintaining our strong presence in the industry.
Thank you again for your support, and stay tuned for more updates from Orange Bikes.'

They've always seemed a bit agricultural to me, but would be nice to have them remain, hopefully update the look of their bikes and recapture some market share.

There's lots of retro motorbikes so why not a retro mtb.

[Mr Moofo]

May not be the end, Facebook post by Orange:

'We appreciate all the kind words and encouragement we've received from our loyal customers and fans. It's heartwarming to see the continued support and passion for Orange Bikes.
While we can't provide many details at the moment, we want to assure you that this is not the end for Orange Bikes.
We are committed to delivering high-quality bikes and maintaining our strong presence in the industry.
Thank you again for your support, and stay tuned for more updates from Orange Bikes.'

They've always seemed a bit agricultural to me, but would be nice to have them remain, hopefully update the look of their bikes and recapture some market share.

There's lots of retro motorbikes so why not a retro mtb.

I hope it doesn’t end up in the hands of Sports Direct.
Looking at the Current range of Orange bikes it is ridiculous for a “boutique “ manufacturer.
They need one 120-130 front bike
One 140-150 bike
An e-bike
And make them all 29ers …

[MingtheMerciless]

I'm VERY disappointed that no one has yet made any reference to "Filing Cabinets"

[Mr Moofo]

I'm VERY disappointed that no one has yet made any reference to "Filing Cabinets"

I did in Weekly's "Why does nobody buy British anymore" thread
As an ex owner of a Halifax Filing Cabinet

[Ditchfinder]

I wonder if Hope might have a dabble. The owners were very keen at one point to have a fully UK built and equipped bike....