The Fly Orion BMX bike is a high-level BMX bike that will help a BMX rider achieve their dreams. This bike weighs 25.1 lbs and costs $639.
Today, we’re delving into the Fly Orion, a bike that stands out in the crowded BMX market. With so many options available, it’s challenging to be confident in your choice. That’s where this review comes in – to guide you in deciding whether the Fly Orion is the ideal bike for your BMX adventures. As a high-level BMX bike, it promises a blend of quality and performance that’s hard to overlook.
In this review, we’ll cover all the aspects of the Fly Orion, from its weight and customization options to its suitability for different BMX styles. Plus, we’ll address some frequently asked questions to give you a comprehensive understanding of what this bike has to offer.
Let’s dive into what makes the Fly Orion a notable contender in the BMX world and help you determine if it’s the right fit for you.
The Fly Orion: Overview
- Weight: The Fly Orion stands out with its relatively lightweight frame, tipping the scales at 25.1 lbs. This weight is quite impressive for a complete BMX bike, making it easier for riders to maneuver, control, and perform tricks.
- Price and Value: Priced at $639, the Fly Orion offers significant value for its cost. It’s a high-level bike that combines quality components and features, making it a worthwhile investment for serious BMX enthusiasts.
- Customization and Upgradability: This bike is highly customizable and upgradable. Whether you’re looking to change to taller handlebars, longer crank arms, or other modifications, the Fly Orion accommodates these upgrades, allowing riders to tailor the bike to their preferences.
- Accessories and Notable Mentions: One notable aspect is that the Fly Orion doesn’t come with pegs or hubguards, limiting its grinding capabilities straight out of the box. However, these can be added later for riders interested in grinding. The bike is primarily marketed as a dirt-specific BMX bike, which reflects in its design and included accessories.
- Color Options: The Fly Orion is available in a variety of color options, giving riders the freedom to choose a bike that matches their style.
In summary, the Fly Orion BMX bike impresses with its lightweight yet durable design, reasonable price point, and the flexibility it offers in customization and upgrades. Its primary focus as a dirt-specific bike is evident, making it an excellent choice for riders looking for a bike tailored to that style.
How to Choose the Right BMX Bike for You
Choosing the perfect BMX bike can be overwhelming with so many options available. To simplify this process and ensure you find a bike that matches your needs, I’ve created a special BMX matchmaking service. This service is designed to help you select a bike that aligns with your height, skill level, and budget.
To take advantage of this service, simply click on this link
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Please allow about a day for me to put together these recommendations. After you receive the email with my suggestions, you can review the bikes and make an informed decision for your next purchase. This matchmaking service streamlines the selection process, taking the guesswork out of finding your ideal BMX bike.
Remember, the right bike can significantly enhance your BMX experience. So don’t hesitate to use this free service and make your BMX journey a truly personalized one.
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Fly Orion Geometry and Sizing
The Fly Orion BMX features a 21-inch top tube, ideal for riders over 6 feet tall. This bike’s geometry significantly influences its handling, especially at high speeds.
Below is a table detailing the key geometrical features and their impact on the bike’s performance, ensuring you choose the right size for the best riding experience.
| Geometry Feature | Specification | Impact on Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Top Tube Length | 21 inches | Ideal for riders 6’0″ to 6’3″, providing stability and control. |
| Chain Stay Length | Longer than average | Enhances stability at high speeds, suitable for dirt jumps and pump tracks. |
| Head Tube Angle | Mellow | Contributes to overall bike stability, making it less prone to looping out. |
| Stand-Over Height | Taller than average | Offers a comfortable ride and better control for taller riders. |
Quality and Durability of the Fly Orion
The Fly Orion BMX bike stands out with its robust construction and longevity. With a quality score of 7.38 out of 10, it’s evident that this bike is built to last.
The bike features a full chromoly frame, handlebars, and forks with a one-piece steer tube, alongside full Chromoly 8-spline cranks and double-wall pinned rims. This marks the Fly Orion as the first in Fly’s lineup to offer such a high-quality rim specification at this price point.
It’s essential to understand the difference between high tensile steel and chromoly. High tensile steel, while affordable, is heavier and less durable. Chromoly, on the other hand, is stronger, lighter, and generally cracks at welds due to its robust tubing construction. This makes chromoly a superior choice, especially for riders over 160-170 lbs.
Considering the quality materials and construction, the Fly Orion is particularly suitable for riders who need a bike that can withstand rigorous use and progression in BMX.
| Component | Material |
|---|---|
| Frame, Handlebars, Forks | Full Chromoly |
| Cranks | Full Chromoly 8-spline |
| Rims | Double-wall pinned |
Fly Orion: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Dirt Specific Design: The Fly Orion is a rare find in the BMX world, being specifically designed for dirt riding with features like a 29:9 gear ratio.
- High-Quality Components: It boasts high-quality parts, including a strong CNC machined sprocket and a robust 510 chain.
- Customizability: Offers various options like left/right hand drive and the choice between brakes or brakeless, allowing for personalization.
Cons
- Low-Rise Topload Stem: Despite being a topload stem, it has a surprisingly low rise of only 12 mm, which is atypical for dirt riding.
- Uncomfortable Grips: The grips on this model may be less comfortable, based on personal experience.
Overall, the Fly Orion excels in its niche as a dirt-specific BMX bike, offering high-quality parts and customization options. However, aspects like its stem design and grips might require attention or upgrades according to personal preference.
Fly Orion Riding Style: Park, Street, or Dirt?
The Fly Orion BMX bike is tailored predominantly for dirt riding, as reflected in its scoring system: it scores 8.4 for dirt, 4.64 for park, and a lower 2.19 for street riding.
| Riding Style | Score |
|---|---|
| Dirt | 8.4/10 |
| Park | 4.64/10 |
| Street | 2.19/10 |
Its design, including a longer chain stay and mellow head tube angle, contributes to its dirt-specific performance. The 29:9 gear ratio and cassette setup enhance its suitability for dirt tracks. While it excels in dirt, its larger and more mellow geometry can make technical street riding challenging, and it’s not ideally equipped for street riding right out of the box, lacking pegs and hub guards.
For riders looking to customize the Fly Orion for varied styles, consider adding pegs and hub guards for street and specific modifications for park riding to improve its versatility.
Top Three Upgrades for the Fly Orion
- Taller Handlebars: Upgrading to taller handlebars can enhance rider comfort and control, especially for taller riders.
- Longer Crank Arms: Longer crank arms provide more leverage, improving pedaling efficiency and making it easier to perform certain tricks.
- Pegs and Hubguards: Adding pegs and hubguards will enable street riding and grinding, expanding the bike’s versatility.
Each of these upgrades serves a specific purpose in enhancing the performance and feel of the Fly Orion. Taller handlebars offer better control, longer crank arms increase efficiency and trick capability, and pegs and hubguards open up new possibilities in street riding.
Warranty
Does the Fly Orion have a warranty? Yes, all Fly bikes, including the Fly Orion, come with a 2-year warranty covering manufacturing defects. This ensures that if any issues arise due to manufacturing faults within this period, Fly is committed to addressing them.
However, it’s important to differentiate between manufacturing defects and normal wear and tear. Damage from accidents or misuse, like nose casing, generally falls outside the scope of this warranty. It’s a reminder that while bikes are robust, they’re also meant to be treated with care.
When purchasing a BMX bike, choosing a trusted retailer is crucial. That’s why I always recommend Danscomp for their exceptional customer service and reliability in handling any issues that might arise.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Fly Orion BMX bike presents a strong value proposition for mid to high-level riders, especially those interested in dirt riding. Its quality and features, including the full chromoly build and double-wall rims, make it a solid choice at its $639 price point. While not without its limitations, such as the low-rise topload stem and less comfortable grips, the Fly Orion’s dirt-specific design and customization options make it a commendable option in its category.
As the BMX market evolves, it’s important to stay informed about potential changes and offerings from other brands. For those still deciding, remember the free bike recommendation service at BMX Nerds to help narrow down your choices. And if you have any further questions about the Fly Orion or BMX in general, feel free to join the discussion on the BMX Nerds Discord or the Community Page.
