Submitted by
Hoopes
a Cross Country Rider
from Tempe, AZ, USA Date Reviewed: September 21, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Mormon/National, Gooseberry Mesa
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
Slippery Pig Bike
Strengths:
VPP, Fox Suspension, great color, very efficent
Weaknesses:
Bright red color makes me too careful for scratches when considering my next fall.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Enduro, Gary Fisher Hifi Deluxe, Specialized Stumpjumper
Bike Setup:
XT Front and Rear Deraileur, Juicy 5 brakes, Fox 32 Fork,
Bottom Line:
I broke my frame on my Gary Fisher Hifi one too many times and found this frame at my LBS. It has been a dream to ride. I love Gary Fisher but I feel like I've moved from a Camry to a nice Lexus.
On my first ride, I kept thinking the rear shock was fully engaged because the ride was so soft and I wanted to ensure efficiency. Well, to my surprise, the shock hardly moved and it was the VPP in action making the ride so smooth. My riding buddies commented that they hadn't seen me ride so well in a long time.
The bike can take drops but still ride very efficiently and comfortably. If you can pay out a little more money for this bike, you'll definitely love it. Don't do it if you are an occassional rider who will only see it as an expensive wall mount. Bottom line, I love it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
BP
a Weekend Warrior
from Fairfax, CA, USA Date Reviewed: May 19, 2009
Favorite Trail:
Marin singletrack
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$6000.00
Purchased At:
Fairfax Cycles (grea
Strengths:
Speed, flow, strength, beautiful, rare
Weaknesses:
Cost ?
Similar Products Used:
Bontrager steel and ti hardtails, Racer X, Blur, Flux
Bike Setup:
Black. Fox shocks, XTR drivetrain, Formula Oro disc, Mavic SL UST wheels, Record carbon headset, Easton SL bar, Thomson Elite setback,
Bottom Line:
Easy transition from many years on a hardtail. After more than a year, still cherry. 26 lbs for 5 + inches of cush speed. May not be "the best" cuz there are lots of amazing rides out there - but it's one of them.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim Spencer
a Racer
from Nashville, TN USA Date Reviewed: September 17, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Hamilton Creek
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Sun and Ski Opry Mills Nashville, TN
Strengths:
SUPER lightweight, beautiful paint, welding, finish and decals. This bike climbs and pedals like a dream. PERFECT. Ingtegrated headset is brilliant and makes for an easy install. (It just drops in) VPP makes you feel like you are just in a state of plushness. You have to ride an Intense to know what I'm talking about. Great power transfer to the wheels. You pedal and this things moves.
Weaknesses:
Nothing wrong with the frame, but the Fox RP23 is a bit annoying. I can never remember which setting is Pro-Pedal and when I move the lever I can't tell any difference. After riding a few months I'm noticing some creaking either from the pivots or cranks which drives me insane.
Similar Products Used:
Intense Uzzi-SLX, Intense 5.5 EVP, Rocky Mountain Element
Bike Setup:
If you go to the Intense webiste, this is basically the bike but in Stealth Black. I did ditch the XTR rear d-railer and the shifters for SRAM X0, but other than that, all XTR. There was no fork available from Manitou like the one pictured on Intense's webiste, so I got the Fox 32 Talas 140 2008 fork on there and love it.
Bottom Line:
If you are going to get a bike like this, order the parts kit from Intense. It comes with the Intense saddle, grips and tires and all the dream parts. (XTR wheels are killer!) It is about $5200 to $5500 but you will love the bike and be the envy of all your friends. I'm not just drinking Intense kool-aid, if there were weaknesses, I'd let you know. This bike is close to perfect. A large frame at 26 lbs with pedals and almost 6 inches of travel? Yeah, that's something special.
Who should buy? Anyone with a good job who wants to make their friends jealous and wants a bike capable of racing XC but doesn't want to kill their lower back.
Who should not buy? Anyone who wants to huck. To get the weight savings, no head tube gusseting was used. It's has travel I can't see this bike taking lots of drops. Compare this to the 5.5 EVP and you'll see what I mean. Compare the two at www.intensecycles.com
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jacob Yetimann
a Downhiller
from Louisville, KY Date Reviewed: August 29, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Fort Duffield
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2200.00
Purchased At:
Cycler's Cafe
Strengths:
VPP, superior welding and alignment, attention to detail. Problems with retracting suspension bolting has been corrected with the use of C-clips. All Intense frames now have integrated headsets which have proven relatively trouble free.
Weaknesses:
Someday will they anodize these frames instead of the paint and stickers?
Similar Products Used:
Intense Spider XVP & Uzzi SL. This my 3rd Intense.
Bike Setup:
Manitou Super 140mm, Fox RP-23, Mavic 819s laced to C. King's with Revolution DT spokes, Avid BB7 brakes, Thomson Masterpiece saddle, Salsa SUL stem w/ EA-70 bar. 8-speed w/ Cook Bros. cranks on an Action Tec Ti spindle. Weighs 26 lbs., light enough to handle my 135 lb. frame.
Bottom Line:
Great handling which translates to greater confidence. VPP on this frame climbs the hills like a XC hardtail and adsorbs the abuse on the downside. You should avoid this frame if you are a Clydesdale, afterall, it is a FRO.
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»
$
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating:
