The UK's favourite trail bike gets 2013ed.
The Five has become ‘the’ definitive Orange bike, ten years in the making, a masterpiece of evolution and subtle refinement. Countless days and nights have been spent thinking about (and riding) the many tweaks and refinements needed to keep it at the forefront of the trail-riding scene. Our 'new' version continues to push the boundaries with a few choice additions complementing recent developments in mountain bike components. A state-of-the-art pièce de résistance, or a trail tool of simplicity? Whichever, nothing is more fun to ride...
The 2013 Five stays true to its roots as a low-slung, fast handling trail bike which can play gently in the Dales or storm a black graded trail. The mix of Monocoque construction and custom butted 6061-T6 Reynolds tubes keep weight down with a new tapered headtube adding stiffness. A 30.9 mm seat-tube adds compatibility for more 'dropper' seat-posts and we've added ISCG mounts for securely fitting a chain device. The same single pivot position continues to keep the suspension balanced between sensitivity and efficiency with the bearing system promoting stiffness and reliability. The Five has already become a classic, and it just got better.
2013 sees the introduction of the new Climb-Trail-Descend (CTD) integrated ride dynamics system from FOX. All Five models now feature CTD technology with models above the S featuring CTD on both fork and shock. The new CTD system provided unparalleled on the fly adaptability to any trail conditions. FOX’s new system, combined with our now legendary Five frame, renowned for it’s trail efficiency and technical ability, continues to push the boundaries.
Mid-July will see the release of the 2013 Five range (Five SE due September) in similar price brackets to previous years. Specs have changed to reflect the latest from FOX, Rock Shox, Shimano, Hope, amongst others. All models bar the SE will have 3 standard colours, the SE has a single standard hue, our new “Sterling Silver”. Maxle is now standard on all Five models.
All 2013 Fives are now 10 sp transmission and come with Shimano’s new Shadow Plus rear derailleur. A friction clutch inside the mech working concentrically with the cage pivot reduces slack in the chain between the rear derailleur and the chainring. The end result is a far smoother shifting action and a spookily quiet bike when negotiating the rough stuff. Our new direct mount hanger (availability TBC) removes the need for the B-bracket on the rear derailleur stiffens the mech and further promotes crisper shifting and longevity.
Five Pro
Important updates to the Pro-level offerings from FOX and Shimano ensure the Five Pro remains at the front of the pack. The Fox fork and shock sees the CTD compression stack ensures the bike can adapt even better to the trail as it happens. The Shimano RDM786 rear derailleur features the clutch mechanism that feeds down from the previous year's XTR offering. The Hope Pro II EVO hubs are now laced onto slightly wider Mavic XM319 rims. Hope's new EVO line of brakes deliver 15% more stopping power in all conditions.
- FOX Float 32 140mm Performance FIT CTD 15QR Tapered fork
- FOX Float Evolution CTD shock
- Shimano XT RDM876 Rear Derailleur
- Hope Tech EVO X2 brakes
- Mavic XM319/Hope Pro II EVO wheelset
- Maxle-only swingarm
Five AM
The Five AM is still the hard-hitting, go anywhere animal and will suit the more agressive rider. A lighter 34mm FOX fork with no less travel brings a livelier front end to the fold. The new CTD technology from FOX ensures the shock and fork adapt effortlessly to any trail conditions.
- FOX Float 34 160mm Evolution CTD 15QR Tapered fork
- FOX Float Evolution CTD shock
- Maxle rear swingarm
- Hope Pro II EVO/Mavic EN321 wheelsets
Five S
The Five S remains the entry-level option for a customer looking for a Five. The Rockshox Sektor Solo Air provides plenty of stable tracking and grip while perfectly matching the performance of the FOX Evolution CTD rear shock. The Shimano SLX Shadow features the same trickle down effect as the XT derailleur on the Five Pro and now has clutch mechanism for a smoother, quieter ride.
- Rockshox Sektor TK Solo Air Maxle Tapered fork
- FOX Float Evolution CTD shock
- Shimano SLX RDM675 10sp Shadow Rear Derailleur
- Maxle-only swingarm
Five Diva Pro
Important updates to the Pro-level offerings from FOX and Shimano ensure the Five Pro remains at the front of the pack. The Fox fork and shock sees the CTD compression stack ensures the bike can adapt even better to the trail as it happens. The Shimano RDM786 rear derailleur features the clutch mechanism that feeds down from the previous year's XTR offering. The Hope Pro II EVO hubs are now laced onto slightly wider Mavic XM319 rims. Hope's new EVO line of brakes deliver 15% more stopping power in all conditions.
Diva geometry positions the rider's centre of gravity to balance the suspension and make the most of our custom tuned Fox CTD shock. Air forks keep weight down and aid manoeuvrability with other female specific spec highlights making the Five Diva intuitive to ride. No flowery graphics and no marketing puns, the Five Diva is the most solid trail bike for the way you ride, women's bikes don't have to be girly...
- FOX Float 32 140mm Performance FIT CTD 15QR Tapered fork
- FOX Float Evolution CTD shock
- Shimano XT RDM876 Rear Derailleur
- Hope Tech EVO X2 brakes
- Mavic XM319/Hope Pro II EVO wheelset
- Maxle-only swingarm
Options
We've now phased out the QR swingarm, so this has been dropped from the options list.
The usual suspects still remain with a few new additions. FOX 34s occupy the middle ground in weight but the upper end of travel, something lighter than the 36s; the Hope Race EVO M4 replaces the Race EVO X2 in our line of Hope stoppers; Cane Creek Double Barrel Air and Coil offer the very best in rear wheel damping; the Rockshox Reverb continues to be a massively popular upgrade along with the remaining available top-of-the-line parts and accessories.
Availability July 2012
The 2013 Orange Five is available in S, Pro and AM spec with immediate effect.