Orange or Yeti?

[s4avant]

I am looking for a second hand full suspension mountain bike for general trail centre use and have narrowed the search down to either an Orange 5 Pro or a Yeti 575.
My leaning is towards the British bike but has anyone any thoughts?

[ysnnim]

Carbon or Ali on the Yeti?

I have an O5, but the Yeti looks a fine piece of kit. ideally (as others will say) you need to get out and ride both... if you are buying without riding first, the O5 is a fine piece of kit, that will pretty much do anything you throw at it.

The write-ups I have read on the Yeti are glowing, in WMB there was a comparison btw the Carbon and Ali Yeti, with the Ali getting the nod.

Either I suspect won't dissappoint...

[Omaruk]

I have a yeti 575, love it! just does everything really well. Not tried an Orange 5 but again getting rave reviews, best to try I both I think and see which suits you more.
Another you may consider is the Lapierre 714

[robpearson]

I have the slightly older and shorter suspension Yeti ASR -sl in Alu. it's a stunning bike to ride, very nimble, and impressively free from twitchiness. Not yet ridden an orange, but would have no hesitation in recommending the Yeti any time. as a bonus there are Yeti meets most years, so a good excuse to get out and camp with your fellow owners, and in the past Yeti have provided the bbq :-) that said, do your best to try first as one might suit your frame and riding style better than the other.

[Gooby]

I was lent a 575 with a carbon rear triangle for a couple of weeks as a demo bike. The build was first rate. XT / XTR, Avid Elixr brakes etc etc.. Bike totaled £4.5k. It was lovely, the steering was the best I have ever ridden, the riding position was really nice and it was comfy over short to medium distance.

I didnt buy it - I purchased an Orange 5 SE.

The 575 steering was beautiful but the back end was nasty. The bike would not cross out of ruts, this would have been fine in 90% of trail centres but on every day rutted single track made the thing a pain. It was also more complex than than the '5. The five's single pivot design is reliable and low maintenance. The five is tough, reliable, easy to maintain, wonderful to ride.
The five comes into some critism for climbing ability and I agree - many bikes climb better but specify the adjustable Talas forks, when you get to a hill drop the front to 120mm or 100mm and bobs your mothers brother.
Orange 5's are a forgiving, flowy swoopy bike. Take it to Afan and you will have more smiles than you could handle.

BUT - it seems from experience the 5 is a marmite bike, give it a try. You will know pretty quickly if it is for you.

[ism123]

I too tried a Yeti - an ASR5 - and thought it was a great bike.

I always thought the Orange was a heavy beast, but am happy to be corrected.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=618857

Above a link to a ASR / 575 comparison.

It would be Yeti for me, but at this level you really have to demo both on a favourite trail before you make a decision.

[936ADL]

I'd go for the 5 myself. In fact I did.

For me a big factor was the fact that they're made in England.

[ndg]

Another happy 5 owner here, never had a go on a yeti though. Regards weight, I believe the 5 frame with a shock is 3kg (6.6lb), which doesn't seem too bad to me for such a solid frame.

N.

[Gooby]

I have gone for a rather "burley" build on my 5, it comes out at 27lbs, about the same as the 575. I have seen 5 builds as low as 23/ 24lbs but is wasnt very nice.