News: The new Orange Alpine 160 – Yorkshire born, Alps bred.

The Alpine 160 is our no-nonsense take on a bike designed to be ridden and raced on the most brutally demanding trails in the world, so we make no apologies for putting reliability, rider control and predictable suspension performance top of our list when it came to designing it. We’re not interested in making a bike that will only last a week of uplifts, we’re interested in making a bike that will last season after season, all the while delivering that trademark Orange ride.

This latest update to the 2015 Alpine 160 is its most comprehensive with a lot of changes but a lot of staying true to what we do best too. The most obvious change is the inclusion of 27.5inch wheels and internal dropper routing, but the big change comes in the new geometry.

Orange Bikes has long had a tradition of pioneering progressive geometry. We’re always looking at how to improve your ride, putting you in complete control of your bike. While others have been slowly making their bikes longer, lower and using more relaxed angles we’ve been doing it for years. Now we’re moving things on again.

The new Alpine 160 uses a longer front centre than before to help make the bike more stable in the high-speed environment it’s designed for, yet, combined with a short 35mm stem the Alpine 160’s handling stays sharp and involving. This same longer wheelbase also gives greater stability on the climbs, and with 160mm of travel to play with traction is never a problem.

Geometry

Unless otherwise indicated all measurements are in mm. Frame angles are measured static, without rider sag. Bottom bracket height measured from ground with 715 mm Ø tyre.

As you’d expect from an Orange the Alpine 160 uses an ever-dependable fuss-free single pivot suspension design to achieve its 160mm of travel. Coupled to a properly tuned damper there simply isn’t a better way of producing the same level of performance and reliability.

You won’t find any proprietary components on the Alpine 160. We believe in making frames that can be easily specified, adapted and upgraded to each rider’s needs, rather than locking people into one way of thinking. With a standard threaded BB, 1.5″ headtube, 142 x 12mm rear axle, 30.9mm seatube and 215mm shock length, the Alpine 160 frame guarantees you options and upgradability in the future, rather than restrictions and evolutionary dead-ends.

Frame highlights:

• Handbuilt in Halifax
• Unique monocoque aluminium and Reynolds tube chassis
• Single pivot suspension for performance, efficiency and reliability
• 27.5″ wheels
• 160mm of rear travel
• 49mm (1.5″) straight headtube
• 142 x 12mm rear axle
• ISCG OLD
• Alpine-trail honed geometry
• Increased length toptube and wheelbase coupled to a shorter stem for high-speed stability
• Internal dropper routing
• Available in Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large sizes

Alpine 160 RS

Longer, lower, faster. With its 1×10 set-up, internally-routed dropper post as standard and the superb RockShox Pike and Monarch suspension set-up the Alpine 160 RS is built for when the going gets tough.

2015 Alpine 160 RS specification highlights:

• RockShox Pike 160mm fork
• RockShox Monarch Plus
• RaceFace Respond chainset with RaceFace 30t narrow wide chainring
• MRP chain device
• Shimano Zee/XT drivetrain
• Shimano XT brakes, 203/180 rotors
• RockShox Reverb Stealth seatpost
• Hope Pro II Evo hubs with Mavic 319 rims
• Kore Torsion 35mm stem and 800mm wide bars

RRP: £3,800

Alpine 160 AM

All mountain, any mountain. With its double and bash crankset, the AM keeps your options open and lets you tackle whatever you find wherever you roam.

2015 Alpine 160 AM specification highlights:

• Fox 34 Performance 160mm fork
• Fox Float Evolution CTD shock
• RaceFace Respond double chainset
• Shimano SLX drivetrain
• Shimano Deore brakes, 180 rotors
• Kore Torsion 35mm stem and 800mm wide bars

RRP: £3,000

Alpine 160 Frameset

The definitive big-mountain frameset for those who are looking for reliability, performance and no-compromise fun.

2015 Specification highlights:

• Fox Float Evolution CTD shock
• Sterling Silver paint
• RockShox Monarch Plus shock and
• Hope seatclamp are optional upgrades

RRP: £1,700

Upgrades

As always we offer a comprehensive range of optional upgrades for the Alpine 160. These include:

• Fox’s new 36 RC2 forks
• Fox Float X Rear shock
• Hope 40T-Rex cassette ratio expander
• SRAM X1 1 x 11 drivetrain
• Stan’s NoTubes Flow EX rims / Hope Pro II hubs wheelset
• Maxxis Minion/Highroller tubeless tyres
• Renthal / RaceFace / Hope cockpit
• Hope brakes
• Choice of 12 paint colours

Availability

The AM will be available from mid-July 2015.
The RS will be available from late-July 2015.
Framesets are available now.

26inch?

For 2015 we will continue to offer the 26″ Alpine 160 in 2014 RS and AM specs along with a frameset.
Prices for the 26inch Alpine 160 are £3,200 for the RS, £2,500 for the AM and £1,300 for the frameset.

More information on www.orangebikes.co.uk

Words & Pictures: Orange PR

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