Orange P7 & C16-R differences?

[Anthony]

The C16R ran at least from 1995 to 1997. Maybe even into 98 according to Orange, and some owners believe they have a 94 C16R.

My 1995 frame is one of the lightest steel frames I've ever weighed, even though it's a size 19, and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't say that about a P7 of any year, so I still think the C16R was lighter than the P7 in most if not all years.

Size-wise, they come out quite small. An Orange size 19 feels no bigger than a Kona size 18, even though the top tube is higher.

 

[D_XZ]

The c16r/clockwork is a tad heavier the the p7

Wrong way round according to Orange. The P7 was specifially not built to be light but to be strong and is actually a little heavier than the Clockwork.

Check out the '97 Orange catalogue which lists the weights and dimensions:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3372

 

[Wold Ranger]

P7

The P7 was always built as an expedition bike, for "round the World" and cross continent expeditions tours and was sold as such, clockwork for trail, Prestige for racing.
It was way heavier and stronger than the Clockwork frames. Tubing was larger diameter too. As currently it's their only main stream steel model (limited editions excepted) it may well be somewhat lighter than of old though. I have a late original Clockwork with the inch and eighth head tube and over all the tubes are larger diameter than the older models that I have owned. I have had a couple of C16r's and they were very light and flexy compared to the 97 one I have.

 

[OrangeRetro]

The P7 is above the clockwork/C16r in the range.. the reason why?.. because its a nicer built frame with better detailing, for instance the reinforced bottle bosses, nickle finish, nicer canti hanger etc.. The tubes are also a larger diameter and therefore the bike is as stronger, a more do it all trail bike that is not adverse to a bit of hucking.. did I really just say that on a retro forum :shock: ...

The P7 I had was light.. very light. I believe that the C16r might be lighter as the tubes appear to be skinnier, and if Anthony has weighed his, I believe his claims. I suppose its a bit like some kilaueas being lighter than explosifs.. sometime these things just happen. For me, they are both nice frames which I would be more then happy to own, but theres still something about tange infinity and prestige that draws me to the earlier frames. :|

 

[dyna-ti]

The c16r/clockwork is a tad heavier the the p7

Wrong way round according to Orange. The P7 was specifially not built to be light but to be strong and is actually a little heavier than the Clockwork.

Check out the '97 Orange catalogue which lists the weights and dimensions:

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3372

I should have known that ,i just mixed it up
the specs i've got reads the p7 40grams heavier [98 model]

 

[Anthony]

I wouldn't dispute that the P7 is probably the better frame, like I said earlier you've just got to get away from the light=good thing.

Let's face it, the P7 has been in production from 1994 to date following basically the same design vision all the while, just updated to keep in tune with developments in forks, brakes etc. To have kept on selling all that time, it has to be a true design classic. Certainly *the* all-time classic British mountain bike.

 

[OrangeRetro]

Let's face it, the P7 has been in production from 1994 to date following basically the same design vision all the while, just updated to keep in tune with developments in forks, brakes etc. To have kept on selling all that time, it has to be a true design classic. Certainly *the* all-time classic British mountain bike.

Couldn't agree more. The P7 definitely holds a place in the UK's greatest bikes hall of fame. Its not the flashiest or the most spectacular, but when it comes to just being a great bike, it ticks all the boxes.

 

[cornholio's RC200]

Despite the F7 being a great rigid fork, the rules on here state that any '90s Orange must be fitted with Pace forks...

Just remember that when you consider your build and everything will be just fine

 

[fingers]

Let's face it, the P7 has been in production from 1994 to date following basically the same design vision all the while, just updated to keep in tune with developments in forks, brakes etc. To have kept on selling all that time, it has to be a true design classic. Certainly *the* all-time classic British mountain bike.

Couldn't agree more. The P7 definitely holds a place in the UK's greatest bikes hall of fame. Its not the flashiest or the most spectacular, but when it comes to just being a great bike, it ticks all the boxes.

Hear hear

 

[Wold Ranger]

Despite the F7 being a great rigid fork, the rules on here state that any '90s Orange must be fitted with Pace forks...

Just remember that when you consider your build and everything will be just fine

Which was never an option, Manitou's were the Suss option over rigids. The early Pace forks are totally all wrong for the frames though, as 90's Oranges always had fairly slack head angles and as Pace Forks also had their own rake built into the crown, this makes for some really sloppy flip flop handling indeed.