The Alpine 160 is the longest, lowest and slackest it’s ever been, but can this simple single-pivot design still cut it in a world of multiple links and bamboozling suspension layouts?
No-frills aesthetic
The Alpine’s straight-cut looks and simple suspension won’t be to everyone’s taste, but cast an eye beyond the no-frills silhouette and things look extremely promising. The front centre (distance from BB to front axle) on the medium bike is a whopping 770mm, the reach a very respectable 446mm, and the kicked-out 64.5-degree head angle just begs to be pointed downhill.
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Details wise, the single suspension pivot means easy maintenance, as does the traditional screw-in BB. The lack of internal cable routing – apart from for the dropper seatpost – makes trail or race pit fixes that bit easier too.
Related: Orange introduces the Four, reworks the Segment for 2016
The extra length of the frame means Orange now spec the Alpine with a dinky but solidly built 35mm Hope stem. Both suspension units come courtesy of RockShox, work well and are easy to tune. The KS post performed fine for the most part during testing but did get a little sticky at times.
Comfortable climber, deadly descender
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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