Possible Orange Project?

[PeteMCornwall]

Hi
Just wondering what opinions are over this frame https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255026996765?hash=item3b60cb261d:g:-qMAAOSwi8ZgyflQ. I have never built a retro bike but fancy having a go.

Also wondering how it would compare to an old Specialised Rockhopper Comp that I bought last year just to get me riding again. I had hoped to get an Orange P7 but they seemed to sell for more than I wanted to spend.

Thank you for your thoughts!

 

[DrGooGoo]

Cool frame.
Go for it
I like the wishbone seat stays.
I'd build up that frame with a rigid fork and canti brakes.

 

[Carge]

That looks like an O2 - which IMHO is a lovely frame.
1 1/8th headtube and 27.2mm seatpost - Canti or V brakes.
I have mine built with Pace RC31 forks and more modern 3x9 SRAM - bl**dy lov it

 

[PeteMCornwall]

That looks like an O2 - which IMHO is a lovely frame.
1 1/8th headtube and 27.2mm seatpost - Canti or V brakes.
I have mine built with Pace RC31 forks and more modern 3x9 SRAM - bl**dy lov it

Hi
Just wondering what opinions are over this frame https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255026996765?hash=item3b60cb261d:g:-qMAAOSwi8ZgyflQ. I have never built a retro bike but fancy having a go.

Also wondering how it would compare to an old Specialised Rockhopper Comp that I bought last year just to get me riding again. I had hoped to get an Orange P7 but they seemed to sell for more than I wanted to spend.

Thank you for your thoughts!

Thank you both.

Thinking about it, am I correct in thinking that Orange bikes have frame numbers that can be checked?

 

[rwm1962]

Aye - they do. For Taiwan built ones (except for very early ones) format is usually a letter or 2 to denote which plant made it followed by one number for year & 2 numbers for month. Rest of numbers likely the number made in a given period.

eg A707004353 Made by A Pro (A) 1997 (7) July (07). This frame number was for a 1998 season bike although it was made in Taiwan the previous year. The catalogues in the archive can sometimes help confirm.

 

[Carge]

Mine has a MT804nnnn serial on it - which would right for '98

 

[PeteMCornwall]

Mine has a MT804nnnn serial on it - which would right for '98

View attachment 551867

Nice looking bike Is it fairly light? I'm not as strong as I once was and lifting my old steel Specialised Rockhopper Comp onto the roof of my Rav 4 is getting tricky at times, as it's a real stretch for me.

I think you may be right about the ebay one being an O2. I've been looking at old brochures, and the only 'Series 14' I can see is for the evO2. It's obviously not one of them, but the evo2 seems to be a slightly beefed-up version of the O2?

I'm assuming the O2 is a better frame than the Gringo?

All the Gringo's seem to be series 12 or 12.5?

I've mssged the seller but no reply yet.

Ah just found this: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/orange-catalogue-pricelist-spec-1998.394710/ which seems to confirm Series 14 is the O2?

 

[brocklanders023]

Yeah, the Gringo was always the basic, cheap frame so the O2 should be better. The 'E' bikes were the best though. The Evo's are what the O became, so mid level.

 

[Carge]

There's another one here - CODA cranks - can't make out the rest.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15450499...rentrq:54f4c84b17a0a44d21bcb8caffed03ce|iid:1

Yeah - the O2 is pretty light. I've got it built with various Tune and Syntace bits.
According to the '98 catalogue the 17" O2 frame is 1560g - which is 320g lighter than the P7 - and only 80g heavier than the E4

 

[PeteMCornwall]

There's another one here - CODA cranks - can't make out the rest.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154504999944?_trkparms=aid=111001&algo=REC.SEED&ao=1&asc=20160908105057&meid=727e73755f854ab8a5916912bbae1585&pid=100675&rk=1&rkt=15&sd=154504999944&itm=154504999944&pmt=0&noa=1&pg=2380057&brand=Orange&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci:ad5773ef-d868-11eb-8563-ba57eca33b54|parentrq:54f4c84b17a0a44d21bcb8caffed03ce|iid:1

Yeah - the O2 is pretty light. I've got it built with various Tune and Syntace bits.
According to the '98 catalogue the 17" O2 frame is 1560g - which is 320g lighter than the P7 - and only 80g heavier than the E4

Thank you. Seems there are potentially several aluminium Oranges on Ebay at the moment. Although most don't say the size, so I have to enquire.

There is also an 'E2 which is the right size for me https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154505183938?hash=item23f93a02c2:g:5QMAAOSw~WBg1KqK. Obviously older but I assume the E2 would be similar to the E4?