The Uzzi VP features the next generation VPP suspension design, balanced geometry, adjustable travel from 7.0" - 7.5", 1.5" head tube, and grease fittings for easy bearing maintenance, ISCG 05, Hammerschmidt compatible. Easton propietory EA-6X tubeset with Intense 6061 aluminum CNC'd machined construction by Intense Cycles and custom monocoque top tube.
Submitted by
stepenliem
a Weekend Warrior
from antioch, ca Date Reviewed: October 23, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Black Diamond, Northstar at Tahoe
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Wrenchscience, Berke
Strengths:
Head tube and seat tube angle of 65/66 degree makes it possible to do more aggressive DH just like its pure DH bike.
Weaknesses:
None the frame itself
Similar Products Used:
Giant Glory-0
Bike Setup:
Frame: Intense Uzzi VP
RearShock: Fox DHX 4 Coil.
Fork: Totem soloair 180 1.5
Brake: Magura Gustav M
Brake: Magura Gustav-M disc brake, rear - 190mm
Brake: Magura Disc pad set, Gustav-M - 1.2 endur pr
Shifter: SRAM X.0 Trigger ESP 1:1 rear shifter, 9sp - right (sil)
Shifter: Truvativ HSchmidt/X.0-Trigger front shifter, 2x - left
Cable: Shimano Stainless
Housing: Shimano Housing
Crank: Truvativ HammerSchmidt FR
BottomBracket: Truvativ HammerSchmidt FR
Cassette: SRAM PG970 Red.
RearDerailleur: SRAM X.O
Chain: Shimano XTR 7701
Rim: Azonic Outlaw RED
Tire: Maxxis Minion-DHF UST K tire, 26 x 2.35
Tire: Maxxis Minion-DHR UST K tire, 26 x 2.35
Pedal: Crank brothers 5050
Headset: Chris King 1.5 GOLD
Stem: Transition Bikes - red
Handlebar: Truvativ Hussefelt
Grip: LizzardSkin, Transition Bikes end Cap - gold
Seatpost: Thompson Elite
Saddle: Selle Italia YUTAAK
Bottom Line:
1. Configuration:
Frame: Intense Uzzi VP
RearShock: Fox DHX 4 Coil.
Fork: Totem soloair 180 1.5
Brake: Magura Gustav M
Brake: Magura Gustav-M disc brake, rear - 190mm
Brake: Magura Disc pad set, Gustav-M - 1.2 endur pr
Shifter: SRAM X.0 Trigger ESP 1:1 rear shifter, 9sp - right (sil)
Shifter: Truvativ HSchmidt/X.0-Trigger front shifter, 2x - left
Cable: Shimano Stainless
Housing: Shimano Housing
Crank: Truvativ HammerSchmidt FR
BottomBracket: Truvativ HammerSchmidt FR
Cassette: SRAM PG970 Red.
RearDerailleur: SRAM X.O
Chain: Shimano XTR 7701
Rim: Azonic Outlaw RED
Tire: Maxxis Minion-DHF UST K tire, 26 x 2.35
Tire: Maxxis Minion-DHR UST K tire, 26 x 2.35
Pedal: Crank brothers 5050
Headset: Chris King 1.5 GOLD
Stem: Transition Bikes - red
Handlebar: Truvativ Hussefelt
Grip: LizzardSkin, Transition Bikes end Cap - gold
Seatpost: Thompson Elite
Saddle: Selle Italia YUTAAK
2. What I am looking for:
I am a XC rider who already own TURNER Flux, does a couple of amateur races a year, and mainly rides between 20-40 miles a week.
Last summer I went to Northstar at Tahoe and tried downhill biking. I enjoyed it very much and love to do more. Since I live 4 hours a way from Tahoe, obviously it will be difficult to do this alot, but if I can do at least one or two trips a year, that will be good. So, I am looking for a bike that I can use to do downhill, but not a dedicated DH bike. A bike that is more burly than my Turner, but not a DH bike that I cannot use it for trail riding. So, being able to handle Northstar and still can climb hills, are my deciding factors. After a few months of research and reading the forum at MTBR, I decided to go with the new Intense UZZI VPP.
3. My expectations:
My expectations and my review are based on 3 test conditions: downhill test, on a paved road test, and up the hill on a fire trail test.
3.1. Downhill: I have used GIANT Glory-0 freeride/DH bike before in Northstar, so my expectation is that this new UZZI should handle Northstar very close to the way Glory-0 handles Northstar. (realizing, of course, that it is not a dedicated DH bike).
3.2. Road: I don't have a lot of high expectation here. I expect that the new UZZI will be heavy and I will have to go a lot slower than my Turner. The paved road that I have to go through before I hit the off road trail park, is about 5 miles long, so I will be testing it here.
3.3. Uphill fire trail: again, my expectation is low to somewhat hopeful based on some review in this forum. I will be testing it in fire trail with inclination ranges from 10-15%, elevation to 1200 FT, distance of 5 miles. I expect that I may have to walk my UZZI through these hills.
So, after thrashing, how does my new UZZI compare to my expectations?
4. Findings:
4.1. Downhill test: Exceeded my expectation by far! I have to say that it performed just as well as Glory-0. In fact I can't tell the difference while riding it. It feels just like the real dedicated DH machine. First, I tried the easy rock garden/single track trails (Woods), then a more advance ones (Flameout, Karpiel), then the most difficult (Dog Bone--btw, I had to walk in the last part of this trail, its just way too difficult for me). After that, I tried the fast trail (Livewire). UZZI, performed remarkably amazing, it ate up all the rocks and bumps, I feel like I am riding a big cadillac, very smooth even though the rocks and the jumps are brutal. There is a part of the trail (Competition, after Woods) where you have to pedal quite a bit, this is where I thank my Hammerschmidt. It is flawless. Hammerschimdt adds significant weight to the bike, but going through the single tracks in Northstar, I can very quickly switch back and forth between drive and over-drive. Sweet! I tried these trails before using my Turner Flux also, and the big difference there is in the head tube and seat tube angle. Flus has approx 70 degree angle, while this one is about 65/66 degree. Big difference!!
4.2. Road-test: Meet my expectation. It is slower, and heavier. My average speed on this particular road using my Turner Flux is around 15-18 mph. But using the UZZI I can only go about 10 mph. Note, however, that I am using DH tire 2.35 inch (Maxxis Minion DHR/DHF), front and back. I suspect that if I change the tires to a more XC friendly, the ride will be much smoother. So, this may not even be a reflection of how the UZZI frame performs, but rather on the Maxxis Minon DH tires perform on a paved road. The difference between Flux and UZZI on a paved road is similar to the difference betwee riding a road-bike versus riding Flux.
4.3. Uphill fire trail test: Just slightly below expectation. For this first test I pick the least steep hill. On my Flux, this is very easy hill. But on my Uzzi, it has turned into a nightmare. The biggest problem I have is with the Hammerschmidt. In short, it kills me! Not only that the Hammerschmidt makes the whole bike twice as heavy, but more over, I could not find the right combination of front-back gears. I run on a granny gear in the front and back all the way up hill, and the bike still crawl. I had to walk the bike in some steep area. Walking this bike is another struggle that you have to do due to the weight. Again, this may not be a reflection of the UZZI frame, but rather the setup that I have with this bike (DH tires, Hammerschmidt). One thing I learn from this test is that Hammerschmidt is a good concept and work great in a single track/DH scenario, but don't put that on if you think you will do a long distance uphill.
5. Conclusion:
Overall UZZI does meet my expectation. I am very satisfy with it. I dont intent to use it for XC racing, or even long distance trip (more than 10 miles). My plan is to use my Flux to do the 20+miles XC trip once a week, and then the second day use UZZI to tackle some trails that has the worst DH track, perhaps around 5 miles or so. And then, of course, whenever I have a chance I will take it to Northstar.
Comment on Hammerschmidt: I have a second thought now, I should have put Shimano Saint. Unless you are doing DH most of the time with the bike, Hammeschmidt is NOT recommended.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
snakesterhk
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver Date Reviewed: October 4, 2009
Favorite Trail:
5th Horseman
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Internet
Strengths:
Pedals great, likes the berms and bottomless feel on the drops.
Weaknesses:
Flexy rear and isn't as bob free as some vpp designs.
Similar Products Used:
Heckler, SX trail, Scott, Nomad, Reign x
Bike Setup:
Totems, xt and sram drivetrain, saint brakes, deetracks
Bottom Line:
Great bike. Yeah it flex's but do you grab the wheel and pull on it while you are on the trail? You don't notice it and the rear end is very plush especially in the long travel position. It does pedal great but in the long travel position it will bob and does put the seat back on top of the back wheel. If you keep your body quiet it still pedals great. It pedals better through the rough terrain better than any bike I've been on. In the short travel position it puts the seat post further forward and stops the bobing. In the climbs the front end wanders a little but if you can get your weight forward it will steer better. In the bike park this thing is fast. It really likes the berms and is very fun in the air. It descends the steeps very well and if you extend the wheelbase it is even more stable with almost no brake jack. It's not a downhill bike and not a cross country racer but a great all round bike. I use it to climb an hour for the trails and then come down and know I can drop anything my junk will let me. This was a replacement for my heckler and It really fits well. I like the small bike feel when I'm climbing and doing single track but still has the big bike feel on the descents.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
stealthyeti
a Weekend Warrior
from Munich Date Reviewed: September 5, 2009
Favorite Trail:
A Line and the Hirschberg trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
It is a Intense, indeed!
Good quality overall, many setup options, just nice and made in USA
Great Intense sofar, great workmanship, nice CNC details, many options, good cornering feel at every speed
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
shawn_vancouver
a Downhiller
from Vancouver Date Reviewed: July 16, 2009
Favorite Trail:
a line, 5th horseman, back'n black
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Dodge City Cycles
Strengths:
Sweet as can be.... rails tight on the burms, highest pop on gaps, stable on steep descents. Pedals great on the flats or slops. rear drop out design and adjustment is a perfect design.
Weaknesses:
VPP.... the lower mrp wheel has to be droped down, would like to turn the guide forward 10 more degrees or so.
Similar Products Used:
Rmx,
Bike Setup:
Small UZZI VP, Fox 40, deemax, mrp g2, avid code 5, sram 9, truvativ How'z oct cranks.Straight line pedals, maxxis minions 2.7, raceface bars, stem, post, and FSA Extreme orbit headset.41lb
Bottom Line:
BUY IT, Its not a lite bike, But this thing will launch anything with a dh/fr set up.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jmascia
a Weekend Warrior
from Jamaica Plain, MA USA Date Reviewed: July 9, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Lynn and Vietnam
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$7500.00
Purchased At:
Wheelworks/(tweaked
Strengths:
Bomb proof, super plush and litterally climbs everything nearly as well as my Intense Spider 29 and Yeti 575. It just does it a bit slower. Hucks
Weaknesses:
Nada
Bike Setup:
Cane Creek Double Barrel with TI spring, I9 Enduro wheel set, 36 Fox Float, Chris King BB, XTR cranks, Formula R1 brakes, XTR shifters, Nevegal 2.35 tubeless
Bottom Line:
Kudos to Wheelworks for building this bike in one week while I was away on vacation and after having broken the rear triangle on my Yeti 575 for the fourth time. Can you spell "for sale". In defense of the 575 it did in fact elevate my riding to new levels in just 9 months and the bike does have soul - Kevin? I guess you could say I was a bit rough on it. Anyway the Uzzi is an absolute dream. I have it set up for AM and XC with a tightened wheel base, looser cockpit and 7" of rear travel. It keeps up with all the AM/XC bikes (too a point and this is not the bike's fault). Unless it's one of the young bucks with whom I ride that is half my age - at which point I get dusted by a younger set of lungs - Hmmmm? Fireman Mike and TL. DO NOT bother building this bike with the Fox DHX 4 unless your building it STRICKTLY for DH. The difference between the Fox and Cane Creek DB is like the difference between a 1962 VW Bug and a 2010 Carrera 4 Porche - talk about tunable. I asked Dave at Back Bay Bikes in Boston to change out the shock to a CCDB after one weekend of riding the DHX 4. I can't even begin to explain the total overall improvement. It now climbs anything and everything that my Spider 29 climbs and has nearly zero pedal bob. The new Formula R1 brakes have the most unbelievable stopping power I have ever experienced. There was a slight glitch with the install of the Formula's but once again Dave and the guys at Back Bay were right on it. I ride Magura's on my XC bikes and the Formulas are a measurable improvement. Even set up as an AM it descends like it's got a plow on it. Point and shoot. No need to pick a line with this bike. "Lines? I don't need no stinken lines". When you point this thing down it just goes. And the most amazing thing is after landing a big huck it accelerates at a scary rate of speed - thank god for the R1's. On the flats it actually feels like someone is pushing me. This is a great all day, big hit, climb anything bike that can take MAD abuse and anyone I ride with knows that I do in fact push the limits on my rides. I work to ride and this bike changed my life but my wife is pissed every night that I take it to bed with me. lmfao. You absolutely CANNOT be disappointed with this bike. It Rocks. I'll circle back after I dial it in for another month or two and recap.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
EarthChild-SS
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Monica,CA Date Reviewed: July 2, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Hectic, J-Drop, Backbone
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2300.00
Purchased At:
Bike Attack Santa Mo
Strengths:
accelerates out of corners like a raptor on crack, highly adjustable/buildable to suit different riding styles(HD Trail- light DH), pedal efficiency is surprising for 7.5" travel.
Weaknesses:
pricey, but worth every penny. takes a couple rides to get set up right.
Similar Products Used:
IronHorse Yakuza, Rocky Mountain Slayer
Bike Setup:
HD trail- 34.9# with a Travis 180 intrinsic up front,DHX 4.0 w/ Ti spring, Stroker trail's, x-9, FSA Gravity light crank, Thomson post/stem, Nevegal 2.35's
Bottom Line:
perfect bike for me. I ride 20-30 mile routes regularly, and this lets me do it all with out worrying about my bike- my 5 inch bike is great, but can't be pushed as hard on the rough stuff. Frame Geometry can be suited to rider/terrain in minutes with an allen key, and fork choices range from Lyrics to 36's to Totem's or Travis's, whatever suits your style. Intense hit this one out of the park. did I mention the pivot grease zerks for easy maintenance?. XC guys stay away, as well as the beginner- this bike is scary fast downhill...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
What's New
»
BEST OF MTBR - Check out the highest rated bikes, parts, & gear!
»
LED BIKE LIGHT SHOOTOUT 3 - We test all the newest products and latest light and battery technology in this comprehensive guide»
$ 5500.00
Overall Rating:
