Orange

The Velo Orange Chessie is a gravel bike from the Maryland brand that promises more than just big tires, sliding dropouts, and solid value...

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At this price point, most SL e-bikes use carbon fibre frames to save weight, or at least that’s what the marketing gurus tell us. Not at Orange, though. In fact, even the bash guard that sits under the alloy Phase Evo frame to protect the Bosch Performance Line SX motor isn’t plastic, it’s aluminium, and it’s made in Halifax too, just like the rest of the frame. – Short of time? Click here to skip to the verdict – So let’s cut straight to the chase… How much does the Phase Evo LE actually weigh? On the Orange website it claims 19.5kg for a size L, but that’s probably for the more expensive Factory build. Our “entry-level” Phase Evo LE at £8k, also in size L, weighed in at 20.84kg stock, and 20.88kg with our Continental Kryptotal control tyres fitted. That makes it the heaviest bike in our 2024 SL E-Bike of the Year test, and almost 2.5kg heavier than the lightest bike, the Specialized Turbo Levo SL. With 160mm travel, the Phase Evo LE is also the most enduro, so we need to keep that in mind. And Orange isn’t alone here, when hard hitting SL bikes like the new YT Decoy SN are nudging the 21kg mark, and that’s with a full carbon frame. Frame and geometry The folded, then seam-welded monocoque frame construction that Orange uses to manufacture its frames needs no introduction, even if its latest application – the Phase Evo – clearly does. It’s a Bosch SX powered SL e-bike with 55Nm of torque and 600 watts peak power. And if the Phase Evo isn’t that light, it sure as hell had better be capable. And the numbers certainly suggest that. With 160mm travel at both ends, the Orange clearly has the potential to be ridden hard, where the MX wheel format reflects a more bum-on-the-back-tyre attitude. And the Phase Evo LE isn’t just a big travel bike. The size L boasts a whopping 1,289mm wheelbase, super-slack 63.2º head angle and a relatively low 342mm BB height. Interestingly, Orange hasn’t gone crazy steep on the seat tube angle. At a saddle height of 740mm, I measured a 75.6º effective seat tube angle, possibly reflecting the realistic power output of the Bosch SX motor and the climbs you can realistically tackle. Or maybe it just offers a more trail-friendly seated riding position? Either way, it gives the size L Phase Evo a big-old 635mm top tube, which makes it feel super-spacious when seated. It comes with all mod cons too, including a small stash compartment, cut into the down tube just behind the head tube. But given that this “SAFE” storage option has very limited capacity, and the same could probably be achieved with a tool strap, I don’t really see the point of it. Especially if the frame had to be reinforced – read made heavier – to accommodate the cutaway. Also I don’t like the idea of having a gaping hole so close to …Continue reading »

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Ultimately, this bike truly shines on the trails you dream of riding.

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