Have I bought an Orange E3? Help please!

[EarlofBarnet]

I bought a frame off ebay recently to finish a build off and get me back off road again. The seller thought it was a Kona, but from the pics I could tell it wasn't. However, getting it home I think it may be an Orange. Can anyone help in identify it?

It weighs 1,850 grams and is aluminium. Cable stops on top tube look like they would on an Orange, as does rear seat stay assembly. It has a chain hanger on the inside of one of the seat stays too. Aluminium-O? E3?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[marc two tone]

Re:

I've only had one E3 and it was different to that, '96 iirc. The E3's from that year had a gusseted down tube and 1" steerer tube, and a replaceable rear mech hanger. 29.8 seatpost.

Maybe alu-o then? Or earlier Elite 3 as the gusset was an anti-crack measure,I think 'o' have a 1.1/4" headtube.

Serial numbers typically start with A.

Someone will add to that hopefully soon!

 

[EarlofBarnet]

Eeep, hope it's not 1 1/4"! Best check!

Serial number is A5*4AO153

* not sure if it's a space or a faded 0

 

[EarlofBarnet]

Phew, it has a 1 1/8" aheadset fitted.

 

[EarlofBarnet]

Tried a few parts on the frame yesterday. It looks to take a 34.9mm front mech and a 30.9 (or slightly larger) seatpost.

 

[northerndave]

I'd say it was an E2 judging by the drop outs. If it's a 1 1/8 head tube that rules out it being an Orange though. E2 and E3 both 1 inch.

 

[EarlofBarnet]

Thanks Dave. Thought it was a little good to be true. I bought it thinking it was something cheap, but with it being pretty light and having Orange-esque seat stays there was a glimmer of hope that it'd be something more. Not to worry though

 

[TrevorKershaw]

Re:

Yours looks like it could possible be a late model E2, though as notherndave states early Orange bikes had 1 inch headsets. The table below is from the Orange bikes site.

Model Year: From Year: To Seat-tube Seat-post Seatpost Clamp Front Mech BB Shell
E2 1994 June 1995?
E3 1995 1998 30 27.2 +shim 34.9 34.9 68
E4 1998 1999 26.8 26.8 31.8 31.8 68

There were no stats for the E2, above, but they could be the same as the E3.

My E3 has a "noodle" around the seat tube to guide the rear brake cable. It also has a gusseted down tube and replaceable rear mech hanger. see pics.

 

[EarlofBarnet]

Thanks for the reply.

Looking at your frame above, the dropout on mine is none replaceable and the gear cable frame stops on the rear seat stay are below the tube rather than above.

That looks one heck of a finish you got to your frame in the first picture, amazing. I was tempted to paint mine, but could be swayed to strip the lacquer off and polish.

 

[TrevorKershaw]

Re:

I used paint stripper to get the lacquer off, but wish I'd have left the seat tube stickers on, as they are like rocking horse poo to find. Then I rubbed down the whole frame with scotch brite to get rid of the bits of lacquer, following that up with very fine wire wool and finally polished with Mother's Cream. The cream gives some oxidisation protection but regular applications are needed to keep the finish.
The pic below is the almost finished bike. Just got the cables and outers to fit along with the front brake bosses and XTR V-Brakes. Oh and the E3 stickers on the top tube.
I must say you frame appears to have decent chunky welds on it, which should come up nicely when polished.