Orange Relaunches the Msisle as an eMTB Hardtail - Eurobike 2023

Jun 21, 2023
by Ed Spratt  
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Orange has brought back its Msisle hardtail as the brand releases its new eMTB hardtail.

The legendary bike has been brought out of retirement with the addition of a new UK-made frame and a Shimano EP801 motor. Orange has built the frame with its new dropout that allows the use of a UDH hanger and has begun using short seatube sizing so riders can run longer dropper posts.

For its Eurobike show build, Orange was showing off the bike in its most expensive build with 150mm of travel from a RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork alongside a SRAM GX AXS drivetrain. The retail price of this option will be £8,500 or €9,600. We were told that they plan on also having a Pro spec build with a cost of around £6,500.

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The new UK-made frame captures Orange's classic look.

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Orange are calling this color Yorkshire Teal

Orange is offering the new Msisle as a mixed-wheel-sized bike with sizes from S to XL. Reached extends from 435mm on a size small to 491mm for XL frames, chainstays remain at 426mm for all sizes.

You can find out more here.

Posted In:
eMTB Reviews and Tech First Looks Orange Bikes Eurobike 2023


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111 Comments
  • 89 6
 "The new UK-made frame captures Orange's classic look."
The most diplomatic way to say "this bike is an absolute pig"
  • 24 0
 as is tradition
  • 63 1
 Welded like an Oil Platform
  • 10 0
 to be fair, it does look a lot like the original ms isle with its oversized downtube
  • 7 0
 I swear they are just messing with us. Just look at that motor protector, seriously!
  • 17 0
 @trifecta: Ha. Move over filing cabinet - new sherif is in town! Welded like an oil platform…gold!
  • 3 0
 @trifecta: Should be good if its been inspected well ;-)
  • 7 1
 Usually one to defend Orange bikes are they actually look really nice in real life but they’re taking the piss here, that things is absolutely disgusting.
  • 3 1
 Edit: "Unfortunately, the new UK-made frame captures Orange's classic look."
  • 4 1
 @CarbonShmarbon: Should just place some stickers on the frame that I see on old Land Rovers here

"WARNING: MADE IN ENGLAND"
  • 2 0
 a barn door with hinges so rusted out, they're frozen.
  • 2 0
 I think this is the best looking Orange out there, which I realize isn’t saying much.
  • 33 0
 9600 Euro for a GX/NX drivetrain (NX chain) hardtail?

Who is the target audience that wants a long travel eHT?
  • 11 0
 I'm a fan of Orange Bikes but the price of this and the new Switch HT is outrageous
  • 31 0
 Rim manufacturers.
  • 27 0
 Hardtails are nice because they aren't complicated, light and comparatively cheap. This throws all that out the window.
  • 81 0
 You can't throw it out the window, it's too heavy.
  • 3 0
 @bigtim: LMFAO
  • 2 0
 @bigtim: PB comment win of the day right there!
  • 2 0
 @bigtim: lol, bravo sir
  • 3 0
 @bigtim: No, better not throw it out the window, someone might get hit. Better kill it with fire. Before it breeds.
  • 2 0
 @FuzzyL: leave it on the charger long enough and it'll do the fire part for you too
  • 27 0
 This looks like it weighs at least 500 oranges.
  • 17 0
 Well that's thoroughly gross. Question to anyone from a bike brand who might read this. When putting a name from a 'classic' model onto a new E-Bike what's the objective? Is it an appeal to nostalgia? A reminder that those of us old enough to have owned one of the originals is now over the hill, possessed of buggered knees and might as well admit it? An ironic confession that your own glory days are long behind you? Is it simply that you couldn't think of a new name? Seriously, who's idea is it to name a 50lb E-bike after a 4X frame?
  • 7 0
 But then we'd go for an Orange Clockwork...
  • 5 0
 Part nostalgia, part they already own the copyright/trademark so don't need to search for new name, etc.
  • 4 0
 But our knees are buggered; we don't want a hardtail!?
  • 4 0
 Did you see the Ford Mustang? The car that defined the pony car category turned into an eSUV?

The only reason I can think of, why companies would do that, is to annoy the heck out of people. As in „there is no bad publicity“.

Especially since with this Orange, noone who actually remembers the original is even remotely in the target group for this iteration…
  • 1 0
 @FuzzyL: they just couldn't think of a more effective way to give it some kudos/credibility, that's all.
  • 5 0
 You should probably avoid Santa Cruz Hecklers and Bullits for a while too
  • 3 2
 Agreed. How are they still in business, who is buying these bikes??? Brexitears singlehandedly keeping Orange afloat...
  • 1 0
 @Tambo: But that‘s kind of my point, the crowd to whom these names could signal „credibility“ are a) almost extinct by now anyway and b) will only hate them for that.
  • 1 0
 @FuzzyL: I agree, but folk still buy the "Mustang"... Makes no sense!
  • 2 0
 @Tambo: The question is, if any of the buyers of a modern day „Mustang“ are still envisioning a 1960s coupe. And if giving it any other name would have actually influenced sales figures in any way. Probably just the legal department being lazy and recycling an already registered trade mark…
  • 1 0
 Yeah its a piss off for me. Missy giove ruined alot of dreams on the original msisle lol
  • 1 0
 @FuzzyL: As a Mustang driver the "Mustang" Suv is an abomination. That thing has Lee Iacocca rolling in his grave. Although later on he did design some bikes and I did own a commuter ebike that he designed.
  • 1 0
 Reckon they just called it Msisle because at that price only Governments sending armament packages to the Ukraine can afford it.
  • 15 0
 17,486.62 New Zealand Dollars hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahhhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
  • 6 0
 hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahhhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
  • 3 0
 @bikes-arent-real: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahhhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahhhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
  • 12 0
 Is there really a market for £6500 e-bike hardtails?? You can grab a turbo levo for that money
  • 2 4
 Price increase due to Brexit?
  • 6 1
 Seems to me orange has completely lost its credibility or whatever it had left by realising this , it is absolutely awful. The welding is horrendous and honestly, who would buy a hard tail emtb at £8500 , you could buy a much much better bike for that money or even a lot less money!
  • 7 0
 Just like my taxes, electronic filing
  • 3 0
 Very curious how this rides. Ebikes tend to feel quite nice on the trail under full suspension, and commuter ebikes don't need it. A hardtail mountain ebike sounds.... unpleasant to be upon. Hope I'm wrong!
  • 2 0
 As someone who has owned four different Orange bikes over a period of 9 years up until 2020, I’ll always have a soft spot for the brand, as it was on those bikes that my passion for biking really grew.

But, this new model just doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest and even if I were looking for an ebike, there are definitely more appealing options out there.

There are rumours of a DJ bike in the pipeline, which would tick a box or two.
  • 2 0
 Would make a great rack n panniers bike for lugging tools & kit around for those of us lucky enough to have good off road commutes, shame about the motor. Stick a pinion motor in and call it £4k and we got a deal!
  • 3 1
 Why would anyone buy that for £8500 or even a lower cost model for £6500. You can buy a decent full suss emtb for £6500, which would be way more comfortable to ride than an E hardtail.
  • 3 0
 LOL an ebike hardtail? hardtails already suck, now you just made one of the best arguments for a hardtail (lightweight, simple) irrelevant!
  • 4 0
 Maybe if they dressed it all in black it wouldn't look so porky.
  • 4 0
 Front rotor is on the wrong way round...
  • 7 0
 Actually the rest of the bike is on the wrong way round?
  • 1 0
 hmmm
  • 2 0
 You ain't gonna be racing 4x or dual on this though are you. The Global Racing team are turning in their grave. I had an original. Feeling offended by this joke.
  • 1 0
 Saw Orange in the title and immediately readied the barf-bag. Then I saw it was a hard tail that didn't look pants and was pleasantly surprised.
  • 4 5
 It looks pretty sick to me, makes me want to have my first e-bike. I'm probably an outlier, but I've always liked the looks of orange, owned a 222 for a short period, always wanted one of their dh bikes but haven't pulled trigger yet
  • 1 1
 Pretty impressive they manage to keep the chainstay this short with a straight seattube and a motor. Despite the motor and battery there still is something classic about this bike. Must be the mighty big headtube gusset.
  • 8 2
 Or the shite welds.....
  • 5 0
 @darkstar66: I'm not one to judge a weld by a picture on the internet. I always thought it was daft Cannondale used to smooth all their welds. Why bother? If the tubes stick together, I'd ride it.
  • 7 2
 @vinay: I think if your going to buy a bike north of £8500 you'd prefer the welds to be uniform and less pigeon derived bro
  • 1 0
 @darkstar66: Nah, I'd be super perfectly fine with pigeon derived bro welds but I would like to see full ISCG05 tabs. Should be on the motor unit I suppose with these kind of systems. Do you know whether they have them?
  • 1 0
 @vinay: yeah for sure, Cube, Orbea and Nukeproof have chain guides, think Orbea is proprietary on the shimano powered bikes
  • 2 0
 @darkstar66: Alright, seems fine then. These welds wouldn't bother me I'd say. It is just that out of their catalog, I think I'd rather just have a Five. I'm happy with my hardtail and there are a good few other British hardtails which I'd choose over theirs.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: I'm thinking BTR......
  • 2 0
 @darkstar66: That's what I'm riding indeed. (Ranger, 26" wheel specific, large standard geometry but with the seattube down to 400m so with a lowered, more sloping top tube to match, ISCG05 tabs, RAL6001M)
  • 2 0
 @vinay: vimeo.com/216675782
  • 1 0
 @vinay: I'd kill for the last pinner.......
  • 1 0
 @vinay: sick
  • 2 0
 @vinay: The ground welds did look cool though. Certainly suckered me into the Prophet.
  • 3 0
 My old Orange MsIsle must be turning in its grave.
  • 2 0
 Sad day... Sad day
  • 2 0
 What the hell is that Motor Cover? They couldn't come up with something cheaper looking if they tried.
  • 3 0
 On-bike storage box = "The filing cabinet". Please?
  • 1 0
 Im a big Orange fan, had a MsIsle and many other oranges. This will I'm sure be a great ride but I have no idea who's in the market for a bike of that spec, at that price.
  • 1 0
 Love orange bikes but in the middle of whatever the f is going on in the world who has 8.5k to spend on a hartail with a motor I don’t know
  • 2 0
 It looks exactly the same!
  • 2 0
 The non-assisted version, the Switch, is more interesting for me.
  • 1 0
 Seems odd they called the eBike “MsIsle”, rather than using “Switch”Which would have been more appropriate as you switch on a motor.
  • 2 0
 Intense razer then this, all the old glorious names will be sacrificed?
  • 1 0
 Came here for the welding experts insightful opinions. Was not disappointed.
  • 1 0
 I think it looks rad honestly. Glad it exists, hope someone gets to ride the shit out of it.
  • 1 0
 Nice one to ride with the dogs on the dirt roads, but make it 2-2.5K pounds
  • 2 0
 The answer to a question that was never asked.
  • 1 0
 Maybe orange are just trying to see how high they can push inflation in the UK?
  • 1 0
 I love how they say "short seat tube" and the size large still has a 460mm seat tube. That's not short.
  • 1 0
 Would buy this in "Yorkshire teal", slap a Yeti decal on it, and putter up and down blue trails on the Front Range.
  • 2 0
 £8500???
  • 5 0
 Must be the Canary Wharf bankers bonus version
  • 3 0
 @scottlakesmtb: As seen chickening out on Barry Knows Best soon...
  • 1 0
 They should have called it “the shredder”
  • 1 0
 A good looking Orange bike I see
  • 3 4
 Yeah it’s cool. These people knocking it are fkin retarded
  • 1 0
 @KeithShred: Knocking the price mate. f*ck all these expensive bikes, they're slowly price creeping people out of the market. Last I looked a high end full sus E bike cost that much.
  • 2 1
 Msisle seems like a typopo
  • 3 0
 Type of poo. Fixed it
  • 2 0
 Just No
  • 2 0
 Nobody was asking
  • 2 1
 Any yet another ugly Orange
  • 1 0
 Wrong it’s the best yet from them. It’s like a Transition fs frame but not from 2060
  • 1 0
 i cant believe a hardtail eeb is 8.5k. and its got short chainstays.
  • 1 0
 If Orange made a stainless steel P7 I could be interested.
  • 1 0
 Coming soon....the E-Stumpjumper
  • 2 0
 Who buys this stuff?
  • 1 0
 The metal sanitary towel is a bold bit of bike design
  • 1 0
 The silver motor cover with the orange logo looks cool.
  • 1 0
 It's a hardtail so it will be cheap right?
  • 1 0
 Stupid
  • 1 0
 BANANA!
  • 3 4
 If you judge the welds by British dental standards, then those welds are great
  • 1 0
 Doooooope!!
  • 1 0
 Why?







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