British manufacturer Orange Bikes has a new electric mountain bike with DJI’s powerful Avinox motor on display at Eurobike.
At the end of 2023, Orange appointed administrators because of rising costs and market trajectory.
However, it was soon bought by owner Ash Ball, which also acquired the lauded brand’s frame manufacturing partner.
What we know so far
The new electric mountain bike sticks to classic Orange form with prominent hand welding and a frame built from flat sheets of aluminium at the brand’s factory in Halifax. It also features Orange’s distinctive elevated chainstays.
Exhibited at Eurobike’s hand-built display, this new eMTB is far from complete, with no cranks or DJI display in the top tube to speak of.
But speaking to BikeRadar at Eurobike, the brand said this is the final production frame, and that we can expect the bike to be available from September.
Intended for trail and enduro riding, the bike has 150mm of travel at the rear and a 160mm-travel fork.
The bike is arguably a continuation of the Orange Phase Evo, an eMTB Orange said would change your mind about assisted pedalling thanks to its ‘do-it-all’ potential.
However, Orange told BikeRadar this bike doesn’t have a name just yet – and, in fact, it might not get one.
A DJI Avinox motor
Name or no name, people will quickly call out the DJI Avinox motor on this new Orange.
DJI is best known for making drones, but it released the Avinox electric bike motor last year.
The motor grabbed headlines thanks to its 850W power output, which was then boosted to 1,000W in a move that some suspected was linked to ebike regulation debates in the EU.
Our technical-editor-in-chief, Robin Weaver, called the Avinox the best ebike motor he’s ever ridden, and it is now cropping up on more eMTBs.
This week, Commençal launched the new Meta Power SX DJI ebike, for instance. The motor also features on bikes from Forbidden, Steppenwolf, Unno and DJI’s own Amflow bike.
Now Orange is joining the DJI club, which will pique plenty of people’s interest – not least because this firmly signals the historic company’s return.
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