The Clockwork is back !

[raymondluxuryyacht]

That thing is an overpriced heap of crap and an insult to clockworks. They have lost the plot. I don't know why they bothered, except perhaps opportunism to sell based on the name.
Saddened that Orange has fallen so far.
Re: steel bikes, there is a market for them but it's somewhat different now. The way I understand it is the regulations changed years ago and meant higher strength was needed than before so to maintain the same weight but have higher strength meant a mass move to aluminium or using higher spec steel at much increased cost. Or of course just using thicker tubes...but then frame will be heavier. A crude analysis, I know.
I think the r8 was on to something, but it was just too expensive. I went off the p7 as soon as they fitted iscg tabs. I wouldn't use them and didn't like the idea of having these steel fixings in a place that sees a lot of mud and water. They'd be a bugger to clean. I think xc bikes that are meant to double as trail bikes need a better solution to chain retention that doesn't put off fussy people like me who don't want mounts on the bottom bracket.

 

[beagle]

Hmmmm...

Right - take the decals off and its 'Generica Commonista' - I see a lady riding to work on a Trek version of this.

To be honest, I'd imagine the Trek is much better quality.

Orange's cheap stuff has been naff for years.

 

[Dick Scruttock]

I've no problem with the bike and I'm sure it's very nice close up. Also not bothered about the generic look as they've been doing it for years with the Far East built bikes as has every other company. In fact, how much difference was there really in the mass produced bikes we used to buy bitd? Most of them looked pretty similar bar the paint to me. My only problem with it is the name on an aluminium bike.

As for the lack of steel in the line up I can only guess it doesn't sell. Orange have always been a flag bearer for steel with a P7 being produced every year since 1993, until now. They tried a top end steel bike a few years back (R8 ) and did a limited run steel Clockwork in '07 and Prestige in '08. There must simply not be the demand for the bikes

I Totally disagree with only one point.....and thats that steel No Longer Sells.

It may have totally slowed down for Orange, or they Chose to consolidate there range for economic reasons. But Steel not selling....i disagree. i think its actually been on an increase for quite sometime.

I think however, IF Orange wanted to Pursue this segment of the Market, it warrantied a little more understanding of STEELS current consumer base. As it was i think to my mind they misunderstood it, and sadly now have passed up a great opportunity for achieving the success of years gone by....Again.

I have just ridden the Rocket for the first time, and to be fair to cy, it really did surprise me.

Interesting you should mention the Cotic Rocket, I have been looking at one of these, they look nice and have had some brilliant reviews. I think Cotic are what Orange were back in the day.

 

[brocklanders023]

The thing that dissapoints me with this..

We've all seen when the bigger companies get hold of a smaller company and after a settling down transition the larger company sells dross for a while using the smaller companies well earned name

This is where I feel orange is at ...it's like instead of being innovative and a small company punching above its weight..it's becoming another blah company that will if they carry on with this path..will either be bought up by a large company to dissapear or dissapear on their own doing

From what I hear they're doing just fine so having survived this long they'll be good for a while yet. I still think they punch above their weight and I still buy their bikes, which are ace. Just don't think this should have been called Clockwork. For me it's the hand built stuff that keeps the tradition alive what with all the options you can choose. just like bitd when they offered most groupsets or a mix on any frame.

Spoke to a dealer and they said that Orange brought this out because it's what the market want at that price range. No point being left behind I guess. Orange have also stated that they might bring some steel back, just not this year.

 

[brocklanders023]

…late to the party My first proper bike , like many was a clockwork, 89/90 model,was great , Ive owned 4 clockworks to date, my current is an 07 and I love it. I understand peoples dislike to the 2013 Clockwork, I agree with the fact they should have come up with a new name for a new bike, but I like it, i'm tempted, though sadly the S is in white only.Things have moved on and with the current crop of 29ers I will certainly give one a test ride with a view of buying one,it would sit nicely between my 07 Steel Clockwork and my 5.

Has anyone ridden one yet ?

Bet you could get the S in either colour if you asked mate. If your dealer says no just ring the factory. I'd be very suprised if they won't sort you out.

 

[Dick Scruttock]

…late to the party My first proper bike , like many was a clockwork, 89/90 model,was great , Ive owned 4 clockworks to date, my current is an 07 and I love it. I understand peoples dislike to the 2013 Clockwork, I agree with the fact they should have come up with a new name for a new bike, but I like it, i'm tempted, though sadly the S is in white only.Things have moved on and with the current crop of 29ers I will certainly give one a test ride with a view of buying one,it would sit nicely between my 07 Steel Clockwork and my 5.

Has anyone ridden one yet ?

Bet you could get the S in either colour if you asked mate. If your dealer says no just ring the factory. I'd be very suprised if they won't sort you out.

I would imagine the new Clockwork is mass produced and painted, probably assembled as well in the far east direction. I bet there is not as much flexibility as there once was.

 

[beagle]

…late to the party My first proper bike , like many was a clockwork, 89/90 model,was great , Ive owned 4 clockworks to date, my current is an 07 and I love it. I understand peoples dislike to the 2013 Clockwork, I agree with the fact they should have come up with a new name for a new bike, but I like it, i'm tempted, though sadly the S is in white only.Things have moved on and with the current crop of 29ers I will certainly give one a test ride with a view of buying one,it would sit nicely between my 07 Steel Clockwork and my 5.

Has anyone ridden one yet ?

Bet you could get the S in either colour if you asked mate. If your dealer says no just ring the factory. I'd be very suprised if they won't sort you out.

I would imagine the new Clockwork is mass produced and painted, probably assembled as well in the far east direction. I bet there is not as much flexibility as there once was.

They've long done custom colours/ltd edition runs of their Taiwanese made stuff - it's only a case of a powdercoat, which they've got the facilities to do. I wouldn't be surprised if they charged you though.

 

[taffy]

Having read this and also ebing on the lookout for a new modern (err funds pending!)

this is by comparison (to me at least!) a bargain and also really nice.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bre ... e-ec032193

Steel, top spec and lovely too look at as well as true to it's heratige.

 

[rosstheboss]

Yes it should be steel and have 26" wheels but I have to say that, for a start , the orange colour scheme does it absolutely no favours whatsoever. Click on the link again and have a look at the frame only page. It looks a thousand times better in white imho, it's also a £350 frame (that trek is £850rrp fully built up) so the quality should be there.
The market for a mid range steel frame is crowded and the quality is pretty bloody good too, adding another one the mix would be foolhardy, why not go where the fashion dictates? Makes sense to me...

Also, slightly off topic, what is it with manufacturers always speccing black components all the time? What's wrong with silver or just a bit more colour?