New for 2001
Combo Of Uzzi and M-1 Technology
Beefy Swingarm and Pivot Points
Fox RC Coil Over Shock
Front Derailluer Compatible
6 Inches of Super Plush Rear Travel
12mm Solid or 9mm Standard Axle
Weaknesses: Lack of replaceable derailleur hanger and cost.
Bottom Line:
Originally was looking at a Joker or Bullit (mostly due to cost), LBS gave me a deal on an '02 SLX - sold, couldn't be happier. It climbs pretty well, decends like a downhiller, and the suspension soaks up everything. This is a great do-it-all bike.
Bike Setup: '02 large frame w/5th Element, '03 Jr. T's w/QR20, Race Face cranks, BB & bar, XT, C. King headset, Hayes HFX 8" hydros, Rhyno Lite w/WTB Weirwolf 2.5's.
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Submitted by
Henri
a Weekend Warrior
from Queens, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2002
Strengths: Great all around bike. I use for cross country to downhill. Bike versatility is awesome. Built like a tank but can pedal.
Weaknesses: Need replaceable derailleur.
Bottom Line:
This is a dream come true. Best bike ever ridden. Buying decision was based on the level of service of LBS. You cant take a Ferrari to a local gas station. The man at Peak built my frame from scratch just like I wanted it. Bike is as smooth as butter. It is even great going uphill with the Jr. T.
Purchased At: Peak Mountain Bike Pro in Douglaston Queens
Similar Products Used: Rode many a bikes, but never like this.
Bike Setup: Jr T QR20 fork, Fox shock, XTR setup, Raceface crank set, Intenses hubs, Hayes hydro brakes, Rhyno Lite rims.
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Submitted by
doug johnston
a Weekend Warrior
from mt pleasant, mi, usa
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2002
Strengths: Great for big hits and freeriding. Strong frame, plush shock.
Weaknesses: x-country it is not, forget about going uphill very far on this beast, but after walking up its a great ride down. Non replacable derailer hanger, on a feeride bike, come on.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike overall as is almost any bike in this price range. If I could make the decision over again I might still go with it but consider little issues like lack of a replacable derailer hanger. My rear derailer got ripped off about a month after I bought the bike. the part of the rear linkage it attaches to was bent and not repairable which means the whole linkage (bar from back hub up to rear shock) had to be replaced. Intense was pretty cool about it and I had it in a couple days. Tried to buy and extra to have around and they wouldnt sell it to me. Over all I love my bike, its fun to ride and handles anything you through at it as far as hits and drops etc. For riding distance, I bought a racer-x. This is a free ride machine, not a trail bike. If you spend most of your time tooling around single track buy something lighter and more climable is my suggestion. If you have a history of breaking frames and crushing rims, this is the bike for you.
Similar Products Used: Don't have hands on acces to high end bikes without buying one. lol. michigan.
Bike Setup: sun light rims, chris kind hubs and head set, xt derailers, race face crank, fox vanilla float front, 5th element rear, carbon post and bar, mechanical disk brakes.
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Submitted by
Adam
a Cross Country Rider
from Lowell, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002
Strengths: Very effective travel, pedals well, climbs well, descends VERY well, much adjustability between shock & frame pivots
Weaknesses: Weak stickers, no replaceable derailleur hanger, price, needs a telescoping seat post to mix trail riding & big hits.
Bottom Line:
I've got about 600 miles on this beast. This is a dream trailbike for us big guys! The Uzzi pedals exceptionally well for it's size/purpose, and I climb everywhere with it that I used to go on my Tracer. There's less pedal bob with the 5th Element than on the Tracer with nearly twice the travel. There's lots of reserve when descending nasty, rocky sections; when in doubt, just point, pedal, and hang on. It's very stable at speed and inspires confidence on questionable sections. I haven't run a 12mm thru-axle in the rear yet, but with my 200 lbs I've no complaints on stiffness with conventional QR skewers. This is the last bike I'll ever need...
If there's one suggestion I'd make to Intense-put a beefy, replaceable derailleur hanger on this frame. After a month on the bike, I had the unfortunate experience of hitting the rear derailleur enough to tweak the threads/alignment of the strut. It works reasonably well with a dropout saver, and Intense will re-weld a new dropout on for a small fee. Better solved by having a beefy hanger that remedies the problem trailside.
I just read the review below and I have to echo Dert Berts frustration. I actually ride an Intense Tracer. Last year I sent it in for a warranty repair and waited five weeks for my bike to return. Five weeks of borrowed bikes and missed group rides! Left voicemail after voicemail and email after email trying get the status of my repairs and no one EVER called me back - I was PISSED OFF! I love the bike, but I hope to never break my bike again, because dealing with Intense is horrible.
Submitted by
Dirt Bert
a Weekend Warrior
from San Rafael
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2002
Strengths: I won't waste time here -- the performance of the bike is unbeatable. Plush, yet precise and still a strong climber. Great all-around bike. But. . .
Weaknesses: . . . customer service is the absolute worst I've experienced. Just TRY getting a hold of someone for warranty work - you'll leave a dozen voicemails before anyone calls you back. And once they do, don't expect a turnaround time of less than a month. How's a month without riding sound to you? A frame weld cracked less than 6 months after I purchased it. Sent it in and am still waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting. If you can afford two of these frames so you always have a back-up when the other's gathering dust in their shop, then go for it. Otherwise, go with another company. My buddy paid half the price for his 2002 Specialized Enduro Big Hit, and it rides almost as good as mine. And he's probably out riding right now while I'm sitting at a computer whining.
Bottom Line:
Awesome performing bikes. Average workmanship. Terrible customer service.
Strengths: tank like frame, accepts a triple, very stable
Weaknesses: kind of a orphan bike,half down hiller,part xc,but ultimately a compromise. Pedaling is fair but not great. Shock adjustment can make it pretty rigid or too bouncey but there's not much middle ground.
Intense as a company is, in my opinion rather dismal. Look at their web site and try to contact a person... hard to do. Dealers want to sell but aren't great at support.
Want a new 5th element shock for this frame? Just try to get one. I tried to and the dealer actually laughted hysterically.
Resell isn't great. Tried to get 1000 for a pristine frame which retails for 2500 and got no bites.
Bottom Line:
Above average bike. Below average treatment from company.
Similar Products Used: Big Hit, Stab Primo, Stinky DeLux, Ellsworth ID
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Submitted by
toby
a Cross Country Rider
from sacramento, ca usa
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2002
Strengths: built to last, stiff, incredible workmanship, adjustable and versatile, beautiful and no, it's not as heavy as you think.
Weaknesses: huh?
Bottom Line:
I can climb to the top of the mountain with my x-cntry pals and then say "later". My Tracer has been hanging on the wall for 6 mo.. I did have to upgrade the coil spring to 600 lbs. weighing 215, the 400 lb. spring that came with was too mushy, but now it's real stiff and ramps up nicely when landing big drops. If you got the money, this is the most awsome machine you can get in my opinion. It will win the beauty contest too. Call Dave at 123 bikes, he will customize a package and build it for less than you can do it yourself.
Similar Products Used: Intense Tracer, Ventana El Saltamontes, santa cruz bullit
Bike Setup: Foes f-1, big mammoth wheels,Maxxis,thompson post, race face next cranks, hope minis, xtr shift & derailuer, 12 mm hadley hub in rear, 30 mm foes in frt. Only 34 lbs., no sh#t!
Strengths: Stiff, Beefy, Plush, Adjustability, Made and backed by Intense.
Weaknesses: Like all Intense products...Price.
Bottom Line:
Well, after I got over just how much I paid for this bike...I'm in actual awe of it. I held off on posting a review until I really gave a solid 6 months of abuse, and well, it's 2002 and it's kicking like a pure-breed race stallion. I was up in the air for either a Joker, Bullit, RM-6/7 or SLX for a long time. I wanted a do-everything-anything ride. The Bullit and Joker where my first choices mainly because of the price and rep as solid performers...my only grip was the single pivot. RM-6/7's where looking good but wasn't really buying into the Thrust-link thing...plus they are way up in Canada. Then there was the SLX, well, it's made by Intense which should speak large volumes about it but the price. Yeah, a big ouch. After thinking long and hard about it....plus saving every nickle and dime I could muster, I went ahead and ponied up the cash and went with it...and I couldn't be anymore happier or more satisfied. I own a Foes DHS Tube and a Specialized FSR-XC, and well, the SLX is right in the middle and take the best aspects in both bikes and combines it into one. I am now selling the Foes DHS (I'm done racing) and the FSR is now owned by m g-friend. Simply put, the bike is a champion. I have done it all with this one, DHing, XCing, trail riding, urban, commuting...you name it, I've done it on the SLX. The bike is very stiff, responds very nicely, it's pretty nimble considering the weight but also very solid going on FAST downhills. A 6" fork up front like the Super T compliments it very well. I think a 5" Z1 is about the lowest travel fork you want to go on this one. All in all....if you can afford it, SLX is it. If you are a serious rider, want a do-it-all type, made by a company that will offer outstanding support, and not a wieght-weenie...SLX is the one to have.
I've drooled over this $2000 frame for quite a while until I found it as a 2001 leftover in bike shop for $1400(brand new). I typically do only XC riding, but for the price, this was a "no risk" purchase.
Despite recommendations, I put on my existing 80MM front fork, and it still offers quite the ride. The head angle comes out at 71.5 degrees unweighted, which isn't outrageous for XC riding. Everything else was a breeze to setup.
First couple of cold weather rides were great. I did have a problem with the rear derailleur cable initially, but a quick cable tie fixed that. (Occasionally the cable housing would bind inside the frame loop and cause ghost shifting. A cable tie around the housing at the top of the loop stopped this)
I'm not a big fan of cold weather riding, but this bike could make me one.
Strengths: Made in the USA Nice welds Looks awesome Plush travel, lots of adjustability
Weaknesses: Expensive May elicit envy
Bottom Line:
I used to ride a Kona Stinky with BETD plates, which claimed 6.5" of travel. I never was completely satisfied with its feel, however. Now, on this sweet beast, with matching 6" of travel front and rear, I can say that my search for the ultimate bike for my style of riding is over.
One nice touch on the frame is that you can adjust not only the shock mounting position (which changes how quickly the rate rises in addition to altering the BB height and head angle) but also the chainstay length. With the frame in the steepest setting, and at the short chainstay setting, the Intense is a trailbike that just happens to go downhill like a pro.
Similar Products Used: Kona Stinky (previous bike), Giant Warp (at Northstar)
Bike Setup: 2001 Super T, Chris King, XT all around, Race Face NS, WTB SST
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
bill
a Downhiller
from Louisville, KY
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2001
Strengths: Adjustability, plushness, bomb-proof.
Weaknesses: Price, ouch!
Bottom Line:
Wow. This should explain things.
The other night I was doing some urban riding. I came up on a set of stairs. The bottom set was about 16ft high. Behind that is another set of stairs, approx. 4 feet high. Well, since I love my bike so much, I didn't want to do anything too big. But, when I got my bike to the top of the stairs, I noticed that the landing between the small and big set was painted concrete. Usually not a big deal, but it had been raining all day, and was drizziling at the moment. So, I got up some speed, hit the first set(small steps) and landed real squirrley, cause the paint being slippery, anywho, I wasn't planning on doing the big set, (new bike), but after my first landing I was squirrley, and it was so slippery, that I couldn't stop the bike. Hell, I couldn't even slow it down, I flew over the big steps. HOLY KRAP!!! I have never done anything that big, much less on pavement. But when I landed, the suspension didn't even bottom. I had over an inch left in front!
Bike Setup: Azonic ultr-cross bars, shorty stem, king h-s, 2002 Jr.T 7" fork, hopey damper, mavic d321 rims, irc kujo 2.65 f&r, XTR drivetrain, thompson s-p, wtb seat, odi grips, profile dh cranks & b-b, easton cully pedals, wipperman chain, hope bulb hubs, hope mini discs. You can wipe off your chin now.
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Submitted by
Justin Wilson
a Weekend Warrior
from Bakersfield
Date Reviewed: December 10, 2001
Strengths: IT's an Intense Very strong, Nimble The ride is excellent I compare it to a M-1 in the 6" setting.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
This bike is great for downhill racing and hard core freeriding. It rides like an M1 but you can pedal it back up the hill (slowly) the 6" of travel is perfect. This bike is the ultimate fun bike unless you are a gram counter.
Similar Products Used: Intense M-1s, Intense Tracer and Sl. Kona Stinky, Santa Cruz Bullit, Turner RFX
Bike Setup: 2002 Jr-T forks, Xtr cranks, Azonic Pyramid wheels with Sram 9.0 SL disc brake hubs, Xt disc brakes, Azonic shorty stem, Azonic bars, Chris King head set, Thomson seat post, SDG seat, and Sram 9.0 Sl shifters and derailleurs.
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Submitted by
Craig Bromley
a Downhiller
from England
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2001
Strengths: Absolutely solid freeride beast, versatile and tracks really well.
Weaknesses: No replaceable hanger.
Bottom Line:
Wow its awsome. Very strong. I use mine for DH only and its ideal for UK courses, tracks really well and takes some monster drops even for a fat boy like me (over 200lbs, well I like kebabs alright). I took it to Les Gets on the World Cup course with the gear above and it was excellent. I struggled a bit over 40+ MPH with the rocks and rutts as really I needed more travel front and rear. I crashed twice during the week once ripping the mech out of the strut (hence the non replaceable hanger comments) and once on the Dual course breaking my leg!!! However it performed as well as bigger travel bikes and I was well impressed. You do feel like you only have 4" of travel due to the rising rate suspension but you get used to that. I am getting the new M1-SL 2002 soon and then I will convert the SLX into a cross-county/free-ride weapon. A solid credible work house worthy of it's monsterous price tag (wife disagrees!) ah what does she know.
