Ben Cathro is part of the MTB Cut DH team and is the only racer on the World Cup Circuit that is 7 feet tall. Ok maybe he’s not 7 feet tall, but damn he’s a giant. Ben is here with fellow team mate Joe Barnes and is sporting the all new prototype Orange 225 bike…

Ben’s new Orange 225 Prototype is looking pretty cool. Gone are the adjustable shock mounts, and a new adjustable headtube (Via a sleeve) are in its place.

Ben runs a mixed bag of parts that seem to work well together as he’s by no means slow on the course. Shimano XTR shifter with Ultegra rear derailleur, Hope Brakes and hubs, Fox Racing Shox Suspension and custom Straitline bits are all some of what makes Ben’s bike unique. Ben wanted to be able to control the leverage ratio of the rear shock and get a longer stroke shock on the bike, so with a new linkage and the bigger shock, the bike is easier to tune and control.

Orange confirm the STRANGE bike that has been knocking around the pits at recent events is a 225 prototype!

Seen wearing a BOS stoy shock this pic appears from this weekends Fort William racing… (more…)

The rumours are rife at the moment that orange are prototyping a 225 downhill model.

These started with a version of the 224 which was seen in various race pits last year but Orange confirmed that they were not developing that particular bike.

Since then actual ‘Strange’ prototypes have been appearing, which looks far more likely as 225 development mules.

Here are some pictures from around the internet, we will keep our ear to the ground for news.

Here is Rowen Sorrell riding the same bike in the first SDA of the season on the 19th April which was held at the most northerly race track in the UK; Pitfichie: