ORANGE-ALUMINIUM-O-FRAMESET-

[brocklanders023]

I think it's over priced and if I decide to take a punt will go in lower then that. If the paint is almost mint I think it's worth up to about £150 though as it'd cost loads to restore a tatty one to that condition.

Never ridden an 'O' even though I've had a couple of frames ( )but reports suggest they're quite harsh. My Elite was very 'racey' and nimble.

 

[Anthony]

We're not disagreeing - things don't always raise what an enthusiast thinks they're 'worth', especially Oranges for some odd reason. It may well be 'worth' £150 if you want it, but I still say it wouldn't be likely to raise £100 if he auctioned it.

I've been reading a 1995 MBUK with a test of an E3 in it. I hadn't realised incidentally that BITD the E2 and E3 were popularly known as the Elite 2 and Elite 3. I'm not sure I've ever seen that in any Orange brochure?

Anyway they said the size 19 E3 frame weighed 1.55kg (3.4lbs) and the complete bike 22.37lbs with STX-RC groupset. My 98 E4 weighs 1.57kg for a size 17, but admittedly that might be 1.50 if it was polished like the E3. They said the E3 had been made slightly burlier than the E2, with downtube gusset and thicker-gauge down tube adding 0.15lb. So the E2 must have been quite light - I don't know how it compared to the previous Aluminium Elite, but it's a whole lot less than Ben's O.

 

[brocklanders023]

Wish he would auction it!

My Elite frame was much lighter then either of my 'O's. Had a look at a 1992 Stif ad and that put the 'O' at the same weight as the Prestige. Not sure I believe that tbh, they feel closer to the Clockwork.

I'm sure I heard somewhere that the E2 had a habit of cracking. This might be the reason the E2 only lasted a year or so before the E3 took over :?

 

[GT-Steve]

My 17.5" c-c AluO frame weighs in at 2.130 kg :shock:

 

[jonnyboy666]

i have both the O and elite, i much prefer the ride of the elite.

the elite has skinnier seatstays and they are round as opposed to be being a big flattened off gurder shape which i assume gives slightly less stiffness but more comfort, also the elite has no chainstay bridge either.

basically i can sit on the elite for quite a while and not feel beaten up, on the O it gets quite achey after a while.

also, i am running pace rc30's (the 531 version) on the elite which are way nicer to ride than the aluminium forks on my O, i bet the steel Orange forks are ok on these bikes though, they seem fine on my clockwork anyway.

 

[FluffyChicken]

also the elite has no chainstay bridge either.

neither does the 4th batch of Alu-O's, The 4th batch also had the Elites welded cable stops, compared to the earlier batches rivet version. Mine is the 3rd batch, shorter 16.5" stays, but still has the bridge. Though does have a removable mech hanger (interesting to see they sprayed that as well as in this BIN one, which is also by the looks of it a 4th batch)

The 4th batch is probably when they switched to also building the Elites ?


(mine was 5.13lb ~19" I just checked my thread, I can probably attribute 0.13lb of that to a thick plasticoat 'paint' though.)

 

[boy"O"boy]

i have both the O and elite, i much prefer the ride of the elite.

the elite has skinnier seatstays and they are round as opposed to be being a big flattened off gurder shape which i assume gives slightly less stiffness but more comfort, also the elite has no chainstay bridge either.

basically i can sit on the elite for quite a while and not feel beaten up, on the O it gets quite achey after a while.

also, i am running pace rc30's (the 531 version) on the elite which are way nicer to ride than the aluminium forks on my O, i bet the steel Orange forks are ok on these bikes though, they seem fine on my clockwork anyway.

I've got 2x "O" and an elite but to be honest, I prefer the ride of the "O"....completely the opposite of JB!
I find the elite a bit 'twitchy' compared to the "O". Both of mine are 17" frames though. JB will vouch for me here when I say I had some ride "issues" with my 19" frame at a thetford rideout. A 150mm stem didn't help matters much either.
The 17" frame with a 130mm zero rise Syncros is the perfect set up for me. The stealth black has the aluminium forks ( painted ) wheareas #20 is running RC35 AB's ( not period correct but suit the ride well )
As for weight, my retro rides are my lighter choice of bike. 26lbs feels featherweight after riding the Five. Lugging 31.5lbs uphill is great training for MM though!

Cheers.
boy" "boy

 

[jonnyboy666]

being honest Ben, having ridden (around the carpark at thetford) your 17" O, it does feel 'right' where as most of the 19" frames i have ridden including mine don't ride the same, if i can pick up another rc30 fork like i have on the elite i would try that and see how it rides, just never been convinced that the geometry on my (correct) aluminium fork works with the frame.

i like the handling of my elite and the ride quality i feel is better than the O, but considering the front end of the frames are so similar in style and geometry i can't understand why i don't like the O so much :? but between the 2 it is very obvious to me.