Orange Crush Pro review: Fun trail predator

Test: Over in the UK, trail hardtails have long since become mainstream. Of course, the guys from Orange Bikes also have a few models in their range - for example the Crush. With 150 mm and lively 650b wheels, it should provide a lot of fun on the trail.

Orange Crush Pro: The Facts

Frame material: Aluminium
Suspension travel: 150 mm
wheel size: 27,5 inch

Price: € 2.700

Orange Bikes from Northern England is undoubtedly a special bike manufacturer. The Brits have been able to stick to their principles over the years, which have meanwhile been active primarily in the MTB sector. Many might associate Orange with the almost iconic single-pivot rear triangle, but hardtails have also been part of the range for some time now; the crush is the cheapest entry point. Available as a 650b (Crush) and 29er (Crush 29), the bike is based on a modern aluminum frame that reflects the experience of the English in many small and large details. On the one hand there is the fact that – apart from the dropper post – all lines and cables run on the outside of the frame. Old school? You can see it one way or another: Orange proves that it has a heart for mechanics, because this saves valuable time on maintenance and repairs. In addition, nothing can rattle inside the frame - so what may not look quite as elegant makes everyday biker life easier. It's also nice that the Crush has a full ISCG 05 mount on the bottom bracket, where you can attach a full-size chain guide. Even if the modern chainrings hardly produce any drops, we really appreciate this option, especially on the hardtail.

Our Crush Pro test model comes with 650b wheels and a 150mm fork up front. The latter already shows that the Crush is not a touring hardtail suitable for trails, but a trail hardtail suitable for touring - this is also proven by the generous tire clearance: Orange says there is room for 2,6 inch tires in the rear triangle, our eye says that even more would be possible. Anyway, even with a decent mud pack, you don't have to worry about the tire getting stuck somehow.

In line with the overall orientation of the Orange Crush Pro, the geometry is also clearly tailored to trail use and demanding terrain. The very slack 64° steering angle is complemented by a spacious main frame, which has a reach of 465 mm in size L and thus offers plenty of room to move. The very high stack is striking, with which you don't sit too stretched out despite the length of the frame - the only question is whether you can put enough pressure on the front wheel if necessary.

The Orange Crush Pro we tested is the "mid-range" model of the Crush series; in view of this and also in view of the aluminum frame, the price of 2.700 euros seems quite sporty. On the other hand: Orange is not necessarily a manufacturer that reaches its fans through a low price. Instead, you get a solid and well thought-out equipment from A to Z with one or the other highlight. The Fox 34 fork in the performance version is an old friend and can score with a simple setup and convincing performance. The fact that, in contrast to the higher-quality versions, the damper performance is a bit lower should – hand on heart – only be noticed by very few on the trail.

When it comes to the drive, there is solid home cooking: the GX Eagle rear derailleur is operated by an SX Eagle shifter. The chain changes the sprockets on an SX Eagle cassette, which unfortunately offers a little less range at 11-50 than "full-grown" Eagle variants and is also very heavy. Given the price, we would have wished for at least a GX Eagle cassette. On the other hand, the light wheels with in-house hubs and WTB ST Light i30 rims are pleasing. The latter are tubeless-capable and, with their 30 mm internal width, also reliably hold wide tires. Speaking of tyres: the Brits make few compromises here and treat the Crush to a grippy Maxxis Minion DHF with a width of 2,6″ at the front. So that pedaling is not that difficult, a somewhat tamer tire is used on the rear wheel with the Rekon+.

The Crush also doesn't show any weaknesses when it comes to braking. The 4-piston variant of the Shimano SLX brings a lot of power, especially since it is combined with a large 203 mm disc on the front wheel. A small highlight for us is the Tellis post from SDG, which offers 150 mm of adjustment and whose remote lever can be operated with almost no resistance.

Orange Crush Pro: On the trail

Long, flat and deep - that's what bikes are known from on the British Isles. And that's how the Orange Crush Pro welcomed us at first sight. Then came the first surprise: 27.5 inches! How the "small" wheels affected the driving behavior was to be seen quickly.

After getting to know each other for the first time, the setup was quickly found. Adjusting the Fox 34 Performance was child’s play: select sag (negative spring travel) via the air pressure, adjust rebound (rebound stage) and off you go. Depending on personal preference, the characteristics can then be adjusted using the pressure level adjuster: from supple-soft to firm with a good amount of feedback (assuming strong forearms). All testers felt at home on the Orange right away; the seating position is sporty and modern, without appearing strange to beginners. So let's go uphill!

After just the first few meters it was clear: the Orange Crush Pro climbs damn well! On steep slopes you rarely have a "rollover feeling" and you can still put a lot of pressure on the front wheel even with the quite long fork (150mm spring travel). The tire choice is a good compromise between traction and rolling resistance - even on slippery surfaces. Orange forgoes maximum traction at the rear and reduces pedaling resistance with the easier rolling Maxxis Rekon+. The 12-speed drive from Sram was flawless and spoiled us with crisp shifts. Too bad: Orange saves on the cassette and uses a Sram SX Eagle. Due to the slightly lower bandwidth, you sometimes miss a gear at high speeds and the "entry-level cassette" doesn't quite match the RRP of almost. 3.000 euros.

In the downhill, the Orange Crush Pro then showed strong parallels to the Marin El Roy and you could tell straight away that having fun is definitely the priority! The geometry conveys a high level of security, even or especially when the speed increases a little. agility? This is where the initially curiously examined 27.5 inch wheels come into play! Because despite its good directional stability, the Crush changes direction willingly and literally puts a grin on your face on technical trails. As already mentioned, the choice of tire is a compromise between rolling resistance, damping properties and traction. Anyone who consistently chooses the direct line without considering losses should think about a rear tire with a more stable carcass and thus better puncture protection and damping properties. The 34 Fox Performance consistently absorbs bumps and its damping can only be pushed to its limits at absolute high speed; then the "rigid" rear end of a hardtail has long since reached its limit. The 4-piston stoppers from Shimano, on the other hand, were consistently positive and were convincing in terms of braking power, stability and controllability.

Similar to the Marin El Roy, the Orange Crush Pro is trimmed for maximum driving pleasure. Due to the less extreme geometry and the tamer (smaller) tires, it doesn't shy away from touring. A great fun device with all-round properties!

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