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Submitted by
tigerwah
a Cross Country Rider
from CO
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Depends on the day | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Looks great, suspension, fast on certain trails. | | Weaknesses: | Flexy, steep head angle, heavy, overbuilt. | | Similar Products Used: | Niner | | Bike Setup: | Medium frame, XT, Bontrager Race Lite. | | Bottom Line: | I guess I'm the first not to love this frame. It's not bad but I expected more. For one the frame is too flexy. I thought I could get used to it but it just bothered me. I could feel the flex in the rear end and others I rode with could see it. It seems they overbuilt the front triangle and underbuilt the rear end. On rocky off camber climbs the rear end would not track.
Another thing is the head angle. 73 degrees is just too steep. Even backing it off to 72 would have made a difference. On steep stuff it can be quite scary. Also, it makes the front end want to plow on slow tight corners. I simply could not adjust to it.
Lastly the medium frame I had weighed 6.5 pounds. As an XC race frame it should weigh a pound less. To me it's more of a AM or trail frame rather than a race frame. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mtbbb
a Cross Country Rider
from burlington, VT usa
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Joe's Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4900.00 | | Strengths: | Marketed well. Very quick steering. Fairly comfortable. | | Weaknesses: | Just that, to weak. The pivot bolts snap like toothpicks. Intense only uses 6mm. bolts. Kinda heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | Not many. I've been a 26" wheeled rider forever. | | Bike Setup: | All high end bling | | Bottom Line: | I would strongly recommend other brands. This problem with pivot bolts is serious. They break way to easy, and to often. That leaves a bad taste in the mouth when you spend that kind of money. When originally researching the bike, everyone said the customer service was excellent. This is not the case. When I originally called Intense for new bolts they said that they would take care of it and send me new bolts that would arrive in 5 days. 7 days later......no bolts. They said they would take care of it, and they just blew me off. I finally called them again, and said that they had no way of telling if the bolts got sent out(they didn't). At this point I wanted to ride the bike right away, so I asked if they would send a bolt out red label, and they responded by saying that they couldnt justify sending a $3 part red label, and I was lectured by one of their sales guys questioning my ridding abilities, and that it was my fault and not the product. He said that the pro pedal position 3 on the rear shock should never be used, because it creates too much stress on the linkage, bolts, etc. Sounds to me like a bad design. If option three isn't to be used, why even have it on the bike. Who puts a self-destruct button on their own product? This really makes Intense look bad if they'd rather have an angry customer over parting with a $3 bolt. If considering this bike seriously, research more, you'll thank me later! P.S. check the forums. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from El Paso,TX
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | El Paso Tom Mays State Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Crazy Cat Cyclery Redd Rock | | Strengths: | Climbs strong and fast, Descends quickly, rolls over everything! | | Weaknesses: | Trouble accessing water bottle, tight fit. Downhill swithcbacks sketchy at times but still very managable | | Bike Setup: | Sram components, bontrager racelites | | Bottom Line: | This is the best bike I've ever ridden. It fits my body frame betgter than any bike I've been on. I became a significantly faster, stronger rider the first time I rode it! If you are 6'0" or taller I highly recommend this bike. I can't say enough about how fun the intense is to ride. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Beat
a Cross Country Rider
from Switzerland
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | alps | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Intense dealer in Switzerland | | Strengths: | VPP-suspension works great. Bike steers nimble | | Weaknesses: | bit flexy in the rear triangle. Expensive (in europe) | | Similar Products Used: | none (first FS 29er) | | Bike Setup: | SRAM X.O., Truvativ Stilo, RS Reba, Avid Juicy7, flatbar | | Bottom Line: | I'm tall and heavy (192cm, 95kg) an like technical singletrails in the alps. Long climbs followed by long descends, that's my favourite surrounding. I like to ride marathons and multi day rides. For that purpose, this bike is really a weapon!
My bike setup is comfortable and I really like long rides without any pain in the back or the neck and that's, what this bike delivers.
The best what I can say is: This bike rides absolutely neutral and unspectacular. You can concentrate yourself on the trail or on the views and don't have to worry about the bike. It works. More than that, it works great! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fisty
a Cross Country Rider
from cny
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | CBO closeout | | Strengths: | Handling! Cimbing! Descending! | | Weaknesses: | Flexy rear triangle. | | Similar Products Used: | Asylum. | | Bike Setup: | Sram xo, fox F29, MikeSee built Archs on 240s; blah blah blah | | Bottom Line: | Ok, so ya hear bout 9ers shortcomings in the tight stuff. This bike will definately counter that. It is almost as efficient as a good 6er in the tight twisty singletrack most probably due to the proper head angle giving it faster steering and a shorter wheelbase. Im still convinced peeps are a bit misled when they talk about slower acceleration on a 29; I don't feel any loss over my ole 26ers. My only peeve about this frame is the flexy rear triangle. They have raped so much metal from it in order to keep it light, it is purdy noodley under my 200 lbs. No probs with my 08 xt front derailleur rubbing. I think folks dont know to use the BB spacer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Phelps
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Porcupine Rim Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$4500.00 | | Purchased At: | Redstone Cyclery Lyons, CO | | Strengths: | Fast, smooth, and fun. Climbs like the proverbial mountain goat and decends with confidence. Despite being 4-5 lbs heavier than my Litespeed (my Spider comes in at ~27.5 lbs) it is better in every aspect. I can climb stuff that I couldn't before and decending there's no comparison (OK...the Spider is FS so that helps). Handles great...nimble and quick. Intense did a great job dialing in the geometry of this bike. Head angle looks steep on paper...but on the trail it just feels right. Build quality is second to none. | | Weaknesses: | Tight f-der space required some minor filing of the '08 XTR der to fit. Still barely rubs, but no impact on performance. Stickers on stealth black frame don't adhere very well, probably due to "roughness" of flat black finish. I requested a replacement DT sticker from Intense and they sent a full set (all stickers and even the HT badge) immediately. I took a few off, however,...adds to that stealthy look. | | Similar Products Used: | Other bike is Litespeed Ocoee hardtail...no similar FS to compare to. | | Bike Setup: | Mavic C29SSMAX, XTR cranks and f-der, SRAM XO cassette (11-34) and r-der, Easton bars, Thomson stem and post, King HS, XO Gripshift (price and weight...and I happen to like them), Juicy Ultimate 185F/160R, XTR pedals, Maxxis Ignitors 2.1, RS Reba set to 100mm, Fox RP23 shock, Flite Gel saddle | | Bottom Line: | If you can afford this rig buy it. Great all around bike and better in every aspect than my Litespeed hardtail. I spent a lot of time researching the right FS 29er and I'm convinced I made the right choice. The VPP rear suspension really does what it's designed to do and has very little pedal induced bob. I'm amazed at how laterally stiff the back end feels when out of the saddle hammering. I was expecting a little sway and bob, but this thing really puts the power down and is not wasted in frame or suspension movement. BB is low for a FS rig but aligns with Intense's design intent...to create a nimble FS 29er XC rig where you sit in between the wheels and not high up. This really shows in the handling stability. I was torn between 4 and 5 chilis for value (defintely a 5 overall)...it is expensive...but in the grand scheme of life's pleasures it's worth twice this. $2k for a frame is a lot of clams, but given the engineering that went into this and the build quality it's worth 5 chilis. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Burton Benkwith
a
from Montgomey, Alabama
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Swayback Trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Competitive Cyclist | | Strengths: | Unbelievable bike, great for tall riders, very nimble, the big hoops totally flatten out the trail. Best bike I have ever ridden | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS | | Bike Setup: | Sram X-9, Reba shock, Ritchey WCS accesories, Chris King headset, Mavic wheelset | | Bottom Line: | For a tall guy with a bad bike this bike is perfect. I was wondering if I was going to give up riding for good until I rode this bike. Now I cant seem to find enough time to ride. 29er is the real deal, and if your tall this is the bike for you. I looked at the Turner and Ventana, but I am confident I made the right choice. I have not felt any of the rumored downside of 29er bikes, every aspect of my riding experience is better on this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a
from Bend, OR
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | road riding sucks | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Surf Cycle Cyclery | | Strengths: | Good all around XC bike. Seems to do everything pretty well. Descends better than the Spider XVP. Lots of mud clearance compared to the XVP. My favorite bike. | | Weaknesses: | Longish wheelbase not as "quick" as 26" wheel. This doesn't seem to matter /bc it rolls also very quickly once up to speed. What it gives up on short steep hills it gives back on the flats. Fastest mtb on the flats and gradual climbs I've ridden. | | Similar Products Used: | Spider XVP, 6.6, too many HTs to list. A few different cross bikes. | | Bike Setup: | Maverick DUC 29er, '07 XTR, Stan's Arch. Not sure of weight | | Bottom Line: | I'm selling my Spider XVP and 6.6 after riding this bike for a few weeks. It does everything I need and should be fast during long distance racing. It climbs well but long chainstays don't accelerate with short stays. To make up for the short stays it is very comfortable to stand and climb. This is a real swiss army knife of bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas Kirkpatrick
a Racer
from Ft Worth Tx
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | Telegraph Tr. Durango Co. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$5500.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Nimble Fast very plush | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Yeti ASR Yeti 575 Marin Mount Vision Dean Colnol | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR Truvative Nor Cranks with ceramic bb King hubs with Stans ZTR rims Truvative flat alloy bat Richey stem King Headset | | Bottom Line: | All I have to say is WOW! I set this bike up for my bad low back. I have been unable to even ride my 575. The combination of 29 inch wheels with the vpp suspension has made the difference. The vpp allows you to set up the rp23 shock in full open position keeping it very plush while having almost no pedal induced bob.For someone with no back problems if the propedal is turned on there will be zero induced bob but I cannot feel any effects even while standing on steep climbs. Almost as smooth as riding my road bike.
As far as handling is concerned this is my first 29er. I jumped on the first time and felt none of the 29er compromises that you hear about. It is very snappy thru the tight stuff and climbs better than my ASR. Decending is fine. I have heard other reviews saying it is sketchy on the steeps. I have my flatbars set up 3/8" taller than the saddle and have not felt this effect.
I built this to race and it is only 6 tenths of a pound heavier than my asr. I had to open the wallet a little to achieve this but you get what you pay for. I think this is a great bike if you have low back pain and want to race cross country. The expense may be overkill if this is not your sole objective. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Taint Pretty
a
from Austin
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Un-named trails of Austin | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | HammerHead | | Strengths: | Helluva a lot of fun! Amazed at how well well it climbs. Major confidence booster on big drops and hitting larger rocks and roots knowing I'm not going to be laying on the ground afterwards. | | Weaknesses: | Me and a buddy have snapped or bent FIVE derailleur hangers in the past three months. We felt like NASCAR drivers behind the wheel of a Formula One car. Compared to other hangers this is easily the thinnest I have ever seen, but with a frame this costly I can see why they want you to replace that instead of damaging the rear triangle. It appears the chain was a few links too short and this was the initial cause of several of my long walks back to the car. They should include an extra hanger with each bike. | | Bottom Line: | Other than the issue with the hanger that I will attribute to a rushed mechanic I love the bike. I have made it up obstacles that I used to flounder on with my 26” bike. Going downhill has never been easier. The bike carves it up and I just sit on top enjoying the ride.
It did take a bit to get used to the higher center of gravity on a 29er. At really slow speeds I would be wiggling like a newbie on the trail, but that passed after a few good rides. I no longer feel comfortable on 26" bike but at 6'3" I always felt oversized for most 26" bikes.
I can't ding Intense for the multiple hanger issues since this was an LBS issue, but I do think they need to add a spare hanger since it is so thin and the frame ain't cheap. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, Tx
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | hammerheadbikes | | Strengths: | Handeling, Stability, Traction, effiency, fast, fast, fast.
Climbs anything. | | Similar Products Used: | Titus horst link, Ventana faux bar. Both are awsome. | | Bike Setup: | For trail use. Quality parts. | | Bottom Line: | The suspension
I was surprised with how plush the bike felt. When I demoed the Spider before I must have had the rebound on the front and back set too fast. The Reba felt much better than my Talas or Float forks did. Nice and plush while getting full travel. My only worry about the rear was how it would perform on technical climbs while peddling. It did a very good job. It was more active than I thought it was going to be. In fact it was very active.
Handling
Oh my god is this bike nimble. Not twitchy, not sketchy, just nimble. The bike turns on a dime at slow speeds, all while staying balanced and upright. High speed cornering was spot on. The wheels, traction, and geometry worked together very well to make this thing corner like it is on rails. Because the bike is so nimble, I was able to make it go exactly where I wanted it to. Where this helped most was during the technical sections. I was able to steer away or toward the desired obstacles. I thought nimble was just about cornering, boy was I wrong. I preferred the nimbleness for the technical sections.
Stability
The short wheelbase and steep HA had me worried here. I can honestly say that this bike is every bit as stable going down obstacles as my 5”, 69 degree HA, long wheelbase 26er. On high speed downhill’s it was not as plush of course but it was very stable. The big wheels and larger gyroscopic effect made high speed downhill’s very stable. If I hit a rock the wrong way or came to a sketchy corner, the bike was easy to keep upright.
Climbing
I cannot see things getting any better. I was able to climb things today that I have never climbed before. Much of it was the monster traction I had. Much of it was the big wheels rolling up and over rocks with ease. Much of it was the nimbleness. And much of it was the VPP. When you put all of that together it is magic. This bike can climb anything. It is nice when the limiting factor for climbing is leg strength and endurance. But you do not need as much leg strength with this bike. The added traction lets you run a lower gear without having to worry about slipping. And the VPP is so efficient. I really don’t know what else to say.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a Cross Country Rider
from colorado
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | colorado trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | redstone cyclery.com | | Strengths: | big wheels on a really good suspension design. This bike can out desend a 6" travel bike and out climb a 3" bike. | | Weaknesses: | My only complaint is the water bottle mounts. Neither one can be used. One is too close to the shock and the other hits the front wheel. | | Similar Products Used: | One-one 29er singlespeed. Specialized epic. | | Bike Setup: | Reba fork, american classic wheels, avid juicy brakes, all xtr drivetrain. | | Bottom Line: | I consider myself a cross country racer who is now spending more time riding the super technical trails of Lyons Colorado. This bike works for anything I can throw at it. Dave at Redstone Cyclery hooked me up with one of the first Spiders produced. Thanks Dave! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris rion
a Racer
from concord nc
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | sherman branch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | black sheep cycles (charlotte) | | Strengths: | vpp on 29 wheels | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | own a rig. tested racer x 29. | | Bike Setup: | xtr drive train , easton , hayes mag plus, king hubs on stans wheels built by dave thomas. works non-color | | Bottom Line: | this bike rocks. i all ready knew about the 29 advantage ,but this almost feels unfair. tight east coast single track is like riding on a greeway. downhills are scary. i am still working on climbing traction but i do not have shock set up right yet. i have a white bros magic 100 on order , am running reba right now. plenty of tire clearance. 25 ld build. spend the $ and get the best ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charles Coker
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX USA
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | D: all of the above | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | hammerheadbikes | | Strengths: | fast | | Weaknesses: | not for DH shuttle runs! | | Similar Products Used: | all | | Bike Setup: | X0, Race Face, king, I9 wheels, 07 Martas, etc.. etc.. all the good stuff | | Bottom Line: | Why do I like this bike so much?
well.. it gives you the benefits of the 29" wheels with no downsides that a lot of "non believers" think about 29ers (most haven't even ridden one, much less this one)
I have the first production Spider 29er built up
My first ride and I was instantly hooked.. it rails corners, slices through the tight singletrack, climbs up and over ledges, rocks, roots with ease. amazing traction.
It overall just feels FAST, I don't race any more but it would be at home on any race course, tight, open, whatever..
it excels at being a technical trail bike
it feels very confident dropping down steep stuff, dropoffs, etc.. in fact, I think it's easier to roll down some steep stuff than longer travel 26" wheel bikes
some out there question the steep headangle, but one ride on the dirt and it just feels "right"
I can be right on the rear wheel of my buds with 6" travel bikes on rocky descents.... and it handles ultra tight switchback climbs with ease... in fact, the first ride out I cleaned a few things with remarkable ease that I had struggled with before.. just like "wow, that was easy"
I am thoroughly impressed
my med has a 23.75" eff tt with a 42.5" wheelbase (reba 100, 73/73 angles, measured by me.
If you crave a fast and nimble 29er this bike delivers in spades. It is definitely QUICK in all regards, but never at all feels squirrely (most of my riding is slower speed tight technical riding with the occasional big ring descent)
for pix:
www.hammerheadbikes.com/pix/spider29
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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