Weaknesses: Pricey. The area around the bottom bracket is huge and only has a couple mm of clearance with the small ring tabs on 3x9 crankset. Be advised that Race Face Deus small rings don't clear due to the mounting tabs being too long.
Bottom Line:
This is an early review and I'll expand on it later. I haven't had enough rides to make a complete review but here are my initial impressions:
- it's plush (on par with a Mojo)
- it pedals really well. Maybe it's the weight, my improved cardio or the suspension. I don't know, but all I know is that the bike begs you to pedal harder uphill.
- it's light: mid 27# with some chichi parts (XT, X.9, carbon bars), a Revelation 150 fork, tubeless wheels and a Gravity Dropper. Could easily drop to 26 if getting rid of the adjustable seatpost and going all out on the light parts.
- it downhills really well: the low BB and great geo makes the bike a complete blast to downhill. Almost too much fun.
Too bad that carbon is so expensive.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
fredjjjj
a All Mountain Rider
from North Vancouver,bc,Canada
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2012
Strengths: Stable climbing, stable descent, light weight, inspires confidence! Looks great. Shock needed below recommended air pressure, but now superb.
Weaknesses: Not enough chainline protection. Grinds chainstay paint off immediately with 22 front ring. Lower linkage carbon mountings makes contact with rocks/logs even though I have a large bash guard. I had to rig my own
plastic and rubber protective shields that work fine. Sent pics to Intense, no response, not good!
IBIS include touch up paint with their frames - hey, it's carbon!
Bottom Line:
Impressive rear stiffness even with 135 rear and light wheels - better than my Enduro, much better than the Mojo SL. Excels in rugged, rough, tight terrain, not so much for flat XC sprints! A true up and down mountain bike at 27.5 lbs with pedals and decent tires. Subtracting one Chili for having to do my own paint shields.
Similar Products Used: Lots of carbon: IBIS Mojo SL, Specialized S-works Stumpjumper, Enduro, EPIC, Cannondale Moto. Heckler, Trek Session.
Bike Setup: Large red frame, Specialized E-160 fork (great, light AM fork!), XTR drivetrain, Specialized Roval Traverse wheels, X0 brakes, Reverb seat post.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
lucianoas
a Weekend Warrior
from berkley, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2012
Strengths: handling (it's no mass-product), lightness, stiffness, low center of gravity, good on technical climbs, good downhill behavior, finish & quality
Weaknesses: pedal efficiency on flat, fragile paiting
Bottom Line:
Comparing w/ it's old "metal version" (2010 Tracer VP), the Carbine brings stiffer rear, less weight and a nice paintjob (on the red version).
There very few 6" travel all-mtn bikes w/ such riding quality that weighs only 24lbs.
