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Submitted by
tim cokayne
a Cross Country Rider
from brighton
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | anywhere on the south downs | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | samways | | Strengths: | **update from the review below** plush & sturdy. confidence builder when it comes to aggressive XC/jumping over things. decent length top tube means you can run a 90/80mm stem. | | Weaknesses: | bob in the 4" and 4.5" settings, but a stable platform shock should sort this. high stand-over height - I have short legs. don't make em any more - gits. A manual for setup should have come with the frame. Intense and their importers are bit tight on handing them out. Samways told me intense products don't have them. | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz superlight, specialized epic | | Bike Setup: | fox rl rear shock, rock shox duke race, hope xc hubs with mavic 317s, shimano XT drive chain, hope mini brakes 90mm thomson stem, WTB saddle, egg beaters | | Bottom Line: | Tasty bike. bob in the 4' and 4.5' settings is a pain at times- makes the bike feel heavier than it is. Sometimes the bob is distracting enough to put you off your pedal stroke, you see the horizon line going up & down in front of you! I've tried every possible adjustment on the fox rl and it doesn't seem to stop it. I've increased the rebound but it just makes the back end wallow. If anyone has any advice, feel free to email me. The 3.5 setting is heaven- bob is minimal and the bike climbs like a rocket. I might look into sticking a Romic on it as I want more travel at the back for landings. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tim.cokayne@ntlworld.com
a Cross Country Rider
from brighton, united kingdom
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | anywhere on the south downs | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | samway's | | Strengths: | sturdy cross country bike. very stiff. fantastic handling. will tempt you to do silly things. | | Weaknesses: | heavy compared to my last bike, but this isn't really an issue as it's light enough. they don't make them any more. | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz superlight | | Bike Setup: | red medium frame, shimano xt, hope mini brakes, 90mm stem with layback seat post, rockshox sid 100 [please read comments below], hope xc hubs with mavic 317 rims. | | Bottom Line: | i'd wanted a tracer for some time so when i saw a frame for 400 quid off the listed price i went for it. i've been riding this bike for 3 days now and have probably done about 100 miles, so take this review as a first impression. if anything goes hidiously wrong, i will let you know.
my local terrain is quite varied, steep flint downhills to soggy grassland climbs, and i favour the 'one bike does everything' school of mtbing. i wanted a more versatile bike than my superlight and had considered the heckler but weight and single pivot brake lock were issues. you can brake very late on the tracer. there's more bob on the tracer than there is on the superlight and a smooth pedaling technique is essential. don't stand up on the tracer as this will get you nowhere- hills are best climbed seated.
i'd always thought that the vague steering on my superlight was due to the flexy sid 100's on the front. i put the sids on the tracer, with a view to replacing them soon as i get the dosh, but they now feel like a completely different fork. i can now feel exactly where the front wheel is. it appears that a flexy front end isn't always down to the fork- good frame design plays a very important role in this.
the adjustable rear end is a nice feature. it's not there to give you travel options, you only use it to tune the rear end to match your chosen fork. this means you can use an 80mm, 4 or 5 incher on it without effecting the bike's geometry.
if you're a cross country rider looking to up your techinical riding without loosing too much ground on the uphills, i recommend the tracer. it's done exactly what i wanted it to do. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TC
a Weekend Warrior
from DALLAS TX
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | SUPERGO | | Strengths: | Beautiful work of art machine. Handles like a dream. | | Weaknesses: | Frame broke after 4 years | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing is similar | | Bike Setup: | Full XT. Avid mech discs. Fox AVA shock. Marzocchi Z1. | | Bottom Line: | I have had my Tracer for four years now and I broke it this weekend. The frame cracked where the seat mast meets the seat tube right below the seat post collar. Bummer. I ride in the Dallas TX area. I am not bombing downhill or doing anything but trail riding in the flat lands. I use but dont abuse though i do weigh 210 lbs. The frame is a size large.
This has been the greatest bike of all time but four years seems like a short life span for a $1600.00 frame. Intense tells me the warranty for all of their frames is 2 years. So here is the deal. for $330.00 they will give me a new front main frame and refurbish the rear end. Now I'm at $1950.00 for this frame. I guess you could say $487.50 a year. Is this a good deal? I would like to hear from other owners to see what they think. tcmedlock@aol.com
My original rating was 5 chilis all the way. The value doesnt seem quite so good right now. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carlos
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$875.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Proven FSR design, articulated with sealed bearings. Lightweight yet strong. | | Weaknesses: | Rear derailleur slaps frame. | | Similar Products Used: | CAAD2 hardtail. | | Bike Setup: | XTR long cage reaar derailleur. F100X and Fox Float. | | Bottom Line: | I resolved the rear derailleur problem by padding the contact area with some rubber -- so am not taking off any points for that.
I have experienced better climbing ability with the Intense Tracer than with my trusty old hardtail. The Tracer semms very forgiving, and gives me a feeling of control, even in the most technical climbs. Going downhill is where the big advantage becomes clear -- the Tracer can negotiate a lot of stuff -- and it makes it look easy. The bike is quiet and lets me focus on the important stuff.
What separates the Tracer from other full suspension bikes is the execution of a proven design. The sealed bearing and super strong costruction execute the FSR design flawlessly. Add the best components, and you will end up with a serious XC machine that will impress you with its performance for many years. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rassie van Aswegen
a Weekend Warrior
from Mechanicsburg, PA
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$930.00 | | Purchased At: | Classifieds | | Strengths: | Build Quality, versatility, balance and overall handling. | | Weaknesses: | Difficult to set up right with an AIR shock in the rear. Decals are crap and have started to bubble. | | Similar Products Used: | GT LTS, Santa Cruz Bullit | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi Bomber Z1, LX shifters, crank and disk brakes. Bontrager Race Light wheels. Fox Vanilla R rear Shock. | | Bottom Line: | At first I hated this bike for 2 reasons which I contribute to a lack of knowledge about the setup of the bike. First I bought it with the Uzzi SL link and set it at the 5 inch travel setting which made it handle really badly with the weight bias way towards the front and the ride hight way to high. This was the first mistake. I will not recommend this to anyone, stick with the standard 3 to 4 inch link. If you want more travel by a different bike. Set up for 5 inches in the back this bike does not work period even with the 5 inch travel fork up front. Second I bought it with a supposedly upgraded rear shock which was a Rockshox SID Air. I could not get this shock set up to work with this bike period. I even had the pressure (+ and -) in the shock way up over 200psi at one point even while I am only about 175 pounds. I eventually went for a Fox Vanilla R coil shock which has made all the difference. The bike now handles like a dream and I keep it in the 4 inch setting in the rear. This setup balances nicely with the 5 inch Marzocchi Z1 front fork. I now love this bike after almost selling it due to incorrect setup in the beginning. With a stable platform Rear Shock this bike will be the ultimate trail riding machine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Blake Roberts
a Downhiller
from Houston,tx
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | steep and fast | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | light the one i rode weighed 20 lbs | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | full old stronger xtr | | Bottom Line: | awesome i used it for a dh race becouse my dh bike brakes failed. i came in first and still had the energy to carry it back up its so light get one i rode about a mile of trails on it it is awesome. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darin Chester
a Weekend Warrior
from W. Sacramento
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Clementine Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1499.00 | | Purchased At: | River Rat | | Strengths: | Plush, responsive, climbs excellent, design, warranty, adjustment friendly. | | Weaknesses: | Derailleur slaps frame and is noisy, not portage friendly, decals are ugly, makes it tough to mount on hitch rack due to top tube design. | | Similar Products Used: | Super V | | Bike Setup: | Marz '03 MX Pro w/eta, XT disc brakes/levers, Sun/XT wheels, Race Face BB, cranks, post, stem, risers, XT fr/rr der., frame is red w/ all black/silver parts. | | Bottom Line: | The weaknesses are moot, after researching every other frame in it's category/price range, this was the obvious choice. Intense created a standard of how XC full suspension frames will be made (Blur, Spider). They have been designing frames for other makers for a while, which tells you that the industry standard will be built around them.
The Tracer is light, nimble, and is an excellent climber. With the lock out on the Fox RC Float climbing becomes even easier. Depending on your rider compartment setup, you can adjust the geometry to best fit you. I haven't messed with it but it is there if you need it.
The magazines even said the Tracer is the best XC frame. Now that the Blur and Spyder are out, it makes the Tracer stand out as the one that started the new era of frame design. C'dale wasn't innovative, they just dabbled too much and never got it right. Intense got it right the first time. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Nelson
a Cross Country Rider
from Crested Butte CO
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Doctors, Two Elk, Teo Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | 123 bikes | | Strengths: | BB clearance, stiffness, geometry options, lowered top tube is good for those steep dismounts *#%! | | Weaknesses: | Dented with light rock compression(my fault), paint, stickers, der slap, rear der cable routing? | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth Truth, Kona Bear, FSR, Racer X, Superlight | | Bike Setup: | 2002 tracer, Fox RLC 100, Hope Minis, king headset, Race face cranks, thomson post, stem, Mavic x3.1, | | Bottom Line: | This bike sends shivers down my spine. I've never felt so comfortable in the saddle for so long. (over thirty miles) It corners well, it climbs great, it takes the drops and sucks em right up. It even does well enough on the road approaches and exits. Sure it's no XC racer but neither am I. If you're looking to charge it and want to go for the all around dream bike, give the Tracer a good look. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kit
a Cross Country Rider
from Plano, TX
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Bar H Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Lonestar Bikes (www.lonestarbikes.com) | | Strengths: | Stiffness, Geometry, adjustability | | Weaknesses: | Rear Derailer hanger seems a bit week but other than that nothing. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first dual suspension though I have spent a little time on a Superlight, Racer X, and FSR | | Bike Setup: | Frame: 2002 Intense Tracer with Fox Float RLC shock
Fork: Fox Talas
Derailers: Sram X.0 rear derailer, Shimano XT Front
Shifters: Sram X.0
Brakes: Avid Mechanical Disc
Brake Levers: Avid Ti
Cranks: Truvativ Stylo Team
Wheels: Shimano WM-959 | | Bottom Line: | After finally getting my Talas fork and spending some time with it I feel its time to submit a review of this bike. Overall the bike is SWEET. It may not be the best choice for a gram counting racer but if you're looking for a great all around trail bike then you don't need to look any further.
The suspension is very responsive with minimal pedal bob and the frame is extremely stiff. I picked up a few pounds coming from a 21 pound hardtail but I hardly even notice them (bike tips the scales at about 28 lbs but could easily be built in the 25-26 pound range). The bike handles and tracks amazing. It is a very efficient climber and is a hell of a lot faster on the downhills than my old sled. I'm glad that Mike (at Lonestar) talked me into trying the SRAM X.0 (I was skeptical of switching to gripshift). It shifts flawlessly and solves the problem of the derailer slapping against the frame (this is a common problem of most 4-bar bikes).
The only problem I have had was a snapped derailer hanger. The hanger itself seems fairly brittle and a replacement runs about $25 which seems a bit high but I have had any further issues with it so I can't really complain.
I had thought about waiting for the spider to come out but for my type of riding I'm glad I didn't and if I had it to do over again I'd do it all the same.
Its definitely not the cheapest sled out there but to me it was worth every penny. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tobi taplin
a Weekend Warrior
from aust gold coast
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | mt allen hiking trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | bike addiction | | Strengths: | handling,bb clearance,headangle 69 deg,stiff, | | Weaknesses: | paint,main pivot bolts were made faulty,seat tube | | Similar Products Used: | jeykal,fsr, | | Bike Setup: | all xtr,manatu 110m tpc, | | Bottom Line: | 69 deg head angle great for dh steep stuff but climbing
not so good ,bike was a wepon untill the seat tube sheered away from the seat mast ,
but the main reason for this reveiw is to inform all owners of tracers if your rear gears are going nuts,youved tried everithing ,i know the problemo..
if your rear mec slapps,ride downhill in big ring 2nd or 3rd gear ,=less slapping ,for gear problem email me at
tobitaplin@iprimus.com.au,am getting a blur..vpp yea baby ....will put the fsr out of bussiness read the reveiws ,and check sc website reviews.....vpp for me he he he would get spider but easton tubing will always fail after 12 months or so ,if your a sponsored xc racer spider best bike and fastest bike in existance,but in reality 97% of us just wanna have fun .in the sun .so live by the words ...i breath single track ....and do your research.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thomas DeLaney
a Cross Country Rider
from Fredericksburg, VA USA
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Snakebite Canyon in Cuba | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1450.00 | | Purchased At: | CBO | | Strengths: | Awesome bike. | | Weaknesses: | Stickers.
Der hanger.
And that there aren't enough hours in the day to ride it! | | Similar Products Used: | FSR, MC CXS | | Bike Setup: | Same as my previous review, except now, I'm running a Z1 MCR fork vice a crappy Psylo SL. | | Bottom Line: | This is update to my previous. I noticed a lot of people complaining about the rear derailleur smackin' the chainstay. Some opted for padding to remedy this. I too had the same problem. My solution (which, by the way has worked fine) was to go with a medium cage XTR derailleur and shorten the chain. I haven't had any slap since in ANY gear ratio. Most people are experiencing this knocking because they have their drivetrains setup incorrectly. More than likely, their chains are too long. My bike is setup with the chainstay bolted in the shorter of the two settings (makes the bike climb like a goat), and I'm running my rear shock in the setting that affords the greatest travel (which also creates a steeper head angle and higher BB clearance), but with a Marzocchi Z1 fork, that lessens the head angle back to an XC setup. As a result, I have a bike with XC racing geometry, but that has a whopping 14" BB clearance and nearly a full FIVE inches of travel. Granted, this puts your center of gravity higher, but you just need to learn to hunker down in the corners to alleviate it. The bike cuts corners like a knife, AND it can handle the roughest of terrain and obstacles. No more clanking derailleur hanger either. And no problem with rear derailleur cable housing hitting my calves, and I've got monstrous calved (I used to be a bodybuilder/powerlifter). Bottom line is that this bike RULES *** IF *** you know how to set it up, and most people do NOT know how to set it up properly. I learned from a Professional mechanic who's been selling Intense frames and turning wrenches on 'em for as long as Jeff Steber has been in the business. See FilzBuilt.com
GREAT BIKE, BUT LEARN HOW TO SET IT UP BEFORE YOU RIDE IT. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve H
a Cross Country Rider
from Northeast PA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | All of them... | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Beans Bikes | | Strengths: | Excellent Ride and Feel.. Climbs great and is a blast to ride.. A great all around do it all bike from Epic rides to XC Racing. | | Weaknesses: | Well, my frame cracked after 1.5 years under the top shock mount, (anyone else have this happen?) however Intense replced no questions asked. Other than that nothing really except maybe the stickers are pretty weak.. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR, Voodoo Canzo Ti, Turner FXR | | Bike Setup: | Bomber Z1 up front, Chris King Hubs w/317 Disc wheels, King Headset, Shimano XT Disc Brakes, Race Face Cranks, XTR Der, Grip Shift Attack, Thompson Post and Stem, Sella Italia Gel Saddle, Shimano 949 pedals.. | | Bottom Line: | I totally love the bike and must say I was dissapointed when the frame cracked. I am an aggressive rider but wasn't doing any crazy jumps or big free riding.. Shawn at Beans Bikes totally hooked me up and had the new frame back from Intense in 2-3 weeks and ready to go. So let's hope this one holds up! Other than that it's a fantastic do-it-all bike and I'd highly reccomend it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Allen
a Cross Country Rider
from Fayetteville, NC
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Black Mountain Loop, Pisgah | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Efficient climber, almost NO pedal-induced bob, sweet on the bumpy stuff | | Weaknesses: | Rear derailleur cable housing sticks out and rubs my leg. | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain Cycle Moho Full suspension | | Bike Setup: | ESP 9.0, Raceface Turbine LP crankset, PSYLO XC fork | | Bottom Line: | This is one heck of a groovy frame for someone who wants to get at some good, hilly cross country and go down trails just short of crazy DH. On my setup, I made the mistake of putting that PSYLO on there. For the frame, it's just too much travel (5 in) and too heavy. But, compared to my last frame, which I loved 'till I busted it, this frame it the best thing going! If you think you might be interested in it and have the cash, GET IT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Antonio Martinez
a Cross Country Rider
from Bilbao(Spain)
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Coast | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Local shop | | Strengths: | Strong and ligthweigth. good climbing and better downhiller | | Weaknesses: | Stcker very bad quality for this frame and rear derailleur very close to the frame and touch it in small cogs | | Similar Products Used: | FRS xc | | Bike Setup: | XTR, Hope brakes, X317+Hope wheels | | Bottom Line: | This frame is one of the better bikes for all use MTB, resistant, ligthweigth and beautiful frame and it is the most resistant XC frame to do freeride.
It is a litle expensive but if you ride more than 100 days at year it is nothing.
You don`t have to take care of it( only to clean). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul DeCamp
a Weekend Warrior
from Silver Spring, MD, USA
Date Reviewed: November 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Filtz Built | | Strengths: | Adjustability | | Weaknesses: | Weak rear derailer hanger, swingarm pivot (next to bottom braket) bolt wear (yes the bolt) even though bearing is OK hmmmm a litle too much stress perhaps? | | Similar Products Used: | lots of different bikes | | Bike Setup: | Usual good stuff | | Bottom Line: | This is my second frame - the first was welded together incorrectly - the frame was misaligned (some may remember my last review here). They replaced it no questions. This one is slightly misaligned but within reasonable limits. I have grown to like this bike a lot. I set it up with a steep head angle and short wheelbase. I have not had any shifting problems others have complained about with this setup. In summary - I recommend you take a look at this one. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Racer
from Cumberland, RI
Date Reviewed: November 10, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | The more brutal the better | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | Providence Bicycle | | Strengths: | Bottom Bracket, No flex due to square tubing, Overall strong frame. | | Weaknesses: | Derailleur hanger is made out of wax. I have broken 7. I zip tied a rubber tube patch around my r. derailleur to kill the noise of the clanking. Decals need to be clear coated. Lower pivot bearings seize up causing torsion on the pivot bolt, causing it to snap, Overall quality of bearings are poor. Cable routing is ok if you have disk. And about the fox air shock, lock it out and attach it to your road bike. Buy the manitou. | | Bike Setup: | XTR shifters & derailleurs. Raceface BB, next Lp crank, low rise bars, stem, and seatpost. Selle Italia seat. Marzocchi MXR fork, Hayes hydraulic disc, crossmax disc wheels, Some other good stuff. | | Bottom Line: | The frame is what Im rating and it is good maybe evan really good. Just not in New England. As I race against many pros and semi pros in EFTA, I see them riding Fuels and bikes equivalent to that. The tracer could be more bulletproof and thats a fact. With the frame design so strong it could probably shave some frame weight and still hold its ground. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg C
a Cross Country Rider
from New England
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | ridge trail/ hairy balls | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Loft-Burlington Ma | | Strengths: | Constuction
design
still cool
Confidence in riding | | Weaknesses: | not really a huge deal...I broke the suspension bolt on the non-drive side near the bottom bracket. My LBS gave me a new one and Intense set me a spare at no cost. Thet said it was a fluke and not to be worried. I am not! | | Similar Products Used: | Ellsworth truth
S.C stupid lite
rocky slayer
Klein Attitude (still ride,although not to often) | | Bike Setup: | 2002 tracer
psylo sl fork
chris king hubs and headset
bontrager disk rims
tompson stem and seat post
avid disks
xt drivetrain
speedplays
| | Bottom Line: | After about three months of hard riding my Tracer still rules. More so than the day I bought it, because now it is totally dialed.
The bike climbes incredible up the steepest grades, and floats back down. I have used the lock-out feature once, on a rode ride to the trails.
I can't express how pleased I am with this frame. It has surpassed all my expectations. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Cross Country Rider
from Bakersfield, Ca USA
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | too many to list | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$3300.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | This is one of thee best trail bikes ever. It is adjustable from 3" to 4" of travel it is fully adjustable. It climbs and decends great, it is well built. Etc,Etc. | | Weaknesses: | Nothing | | Similar Products Used: | Litespeed lookout mountain, Orange Sub 5, Uzzi Sl, Cannondale Jekyll 3000, Trek fuel 100. | | Bike Setup: | it's loaded | | Bottom Line: | Thee best overall bike available it has the perfect balance of suspension and it is so adjustable. I love it I will only own a Tracer as long as they are available, like I said earlier the best overall bike out. I would recomend this bike to anyone who is looking for the ultimate do everything bike. if you are looking for a Xc racer or free ride bike look somewhere else. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from New york
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | rocky point | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | brands | | Strengths: | frame looks hot even if it isn't the most professional craftsmanship and sticker placement. Eats up most everything you through at it. Addictive ride you will want to keep going even when your exhausted. | | Weaknesses: | Grey Anno paint scratches of easily, Decals were put on like the guy was blind, came with a nice big scratch on the bb bracket area, replace two bushings on the fox shock it is very annoying creaking sound that won't go away. Now I am trying greasing the bushings still they creak. Very annoying | | Similar Products Used: | foes, rocky | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Tracer Frame, King hubs and headset, Marathom 100m, isis Next Lp Bottom Bracket | | Bottom Line: | Rides great and climbs extremely well.
Once I get the kinks out of the bike I think I will be very please.
I don't think I should experience the problems I am having with the bike considering the amount of $$$ that I spent.
this bike offers incredible performance and will leave you wanting more. I think for the $ they should spend a little more effort on the little things Paint-Decals. In terms of ride their is no other | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tristan Beck
a Cross Country Rider
from Escondido
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mt. Woodson | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3300.00 | | Purchased At: | BeyondBikes.com | | Strengths: | This bike is great. It is way stiffer than my Trek fuel. I don't know why I waited so long to upgrade. I really like the way it feels stable while flying through rock gardens. Also it climbes great. I am able to clean tech climbes that I would have never been able to on my other bikes. | | Weaknesses: | None to speak of! | | Similar Products Used: | 01 Trek Fuel, 00 Santa Cruz Super Lite, 00 Giant XTC | | Bike Setup: | I set the bike up with a fox float rlc, XT drive train, Chris King wheels. The guys at Beyond Bikes had a kit that was obviously designed for hard core Mtn Biker's. I picked the XT race kit. I would suggest getting a better seat than the Selle Italia Flite Ti. Ouch!!!!!!! | | Bottom Line: | The bike makes me a better rider. I feel more stable which makes me go faster. The angles make it possible for me to climb stuff I couldn't before. I would recommend this bike to anyone. Also, a plug for BeyondBikes.com, these guys know what there are doing. They helped me select the parts that really work well with the frame. Bonus: I got to watch my frame be built on there live shop cam. Check it out! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BUCK C
a Weekend Warrior
from AUSTIN
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Purchased At: | WRENCHSCIENCE | | Strengths: | SOLID,WELL BUILT BIKE THAT WILL TAKE YOU PLACES YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD NEVER GO | | Weaknesses: | MAIN PIVOT BOLT, DECALS | | Similar Products Used: | KLEIN MANTRA, TREK | | Bike Setup: | MANITOU BLACK, RACE FACE, SRAM, TRU-VATIVE | | Bottom Line: | I RIDE WITH GRIP-SHIFT 9.0 REAR DERAILURE AND IT HAS NEVER SLAPED AGAINST THE CHAIN STAY.
I RIDE TECHNICAL TRAILS WITH 1'-2.5'DROPS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND MANAGED TO SHEAR MY MAIN PIVOT BOLT AT THE THREADS. INTENSE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE MANUFACTURING THIER OWN BOLTS NOW AND REPEAT BREAKS SHOULD NO LONGER BE A PROBLEM. I HAD A REPLACEMENT BOLT WITHIN A WEEK! GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF ONE OF THE BEST MOUNTAIN BIKES ON THE MARKET IS ICING ON THE CAKE !
SPEAKING OF EXCELLENT C.S. CUDOS TO WRENCHSCIENCE | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Cross Country Rider
from Ojai, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 23, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Gridley | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | 123Bikes | | Strengths: | Lightweight, incredible ride, great geometry, incredibly
well built, very precise | | Weaknesses: | Noisy rear derailer slap on the horst link, resolved with a small peice of foam padding. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek fuel, santa cruz superlight, specialized fsr | | Bike Setup: | All XTR, hope mini disks, chris king, Fox Float R - 100 mm, carbon bars, thompson elite stem and post, flite ti, hope sport hubs, mavic rims. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rules. I have the 2002 frame. It feels so smooth and precise through the rockiest terrain. Things I used to do with fear and trembling on my last bike (a giant warp) are just so matter of fact now. If you can afford to plunk down the extra $$$ on this bike, you won't be sorry. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eddie
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Timberline | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | mail order- man what a drag | | Strengths: | Very plush active suspension. Love the high Bottom Bracket
Great standover. Bars can spin w/o hitting the top tube. Can be built up reasonably light w/ high end parts and meaty tires. | | Weaknesses: | Crummy paint, decals, and chain/derailler slap. The wheelbase adjustments make the der slap worse and messes up shifting. Riding with the head angle steep screws up the front shifting; tough to get it to drop into the little ring. Rear shock bushings wear fast but that's a FOX prob. Rear shock placement makes for faster wear on air sleeves in the FOX. Seems to be the lightest flexing der hanger I've ever dealt with. I think it's made of butter. Kinda screwy
cable routing. | | Similar Products Used: | Tomac 78 special, KONA kikapu, Sugars, Diamondbacks, Schwiens. | | Bike Setup: | King Hubs/headset, Monkeylights, FOX float forx, thomsen post/stem, revolution spokes, 517 rims, xtr brakes, xt drivetrain, conti tires (2.3) weighs in @ 25lbs 12 oz. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rides great. It bugs me that the bike is supposed to be versatile in it's setup but really isn't. Steepn the head angle and the front won't shift very well. If you have ideas let me know how to fix it- I've tried all I can imagine. Shorten the wheelbase and the rear der slaps around like the swingarm is falling off and screws up the rear shifting, with an XT rear der anyway. the decals are shiite and the paint looses it's gloss fast. The frame itself looks as though it was assembled with an old caulk gun. Magazines write about the beauty of the build and I wonder if the 1/2 dozen frames I've checked out are just welded up with a hangover. Climbs great and descends in a very confidant way. Each time I'm a bit over my head the bike says "Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it. You can go back to sleep." So even with all that praise I gotta say it's not worth all the damned $$$$$It's an amazing ride but NOT WORTH the usual retail price. I feel ripped off that I can't adjust the bike as reported and still shift cleanly. I've tried everything I can think of and called dealers and they laugh that I'm fighting the same probs that they are. 1650!!! for this rig that still has it's share of bugs??!! Guess I'm just used to a clean quiet hassle free hardtail in some ways- just not the sketchy loose rutted haggard descents where this freak shines! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paulo Abreu
a Weekend Warrior
from Portugal
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | BTT Madeira | | Strengths: | Design, solid quality build, bulletproof, Fox float RC, Excellent handling. | | Weaknesses: | Sorry but NONE | | Bike Setup: | Manitou X-Vert Air, Hayes hyd disks, XTR, king, RaceFace cockpit, cookbroos, DT Onyx, F519, Conti Vertical Pro. | | Bottom Line: | On my MTB life i owned ParkPre (HT) and Trek Bikes (FS). Intense Tracer frame is ideal for who want to ride everything, is a kind of "all terrain" bike, if i made my self clear; it climbs very well, is fairly light (at 1580 grms with shock) and it is terribly well built! It´s rear suspension is solid as it was on first day. The only thing i had to do was to replace the fox shock lower bushing (Alu) because of wear. If you can take the money, this bike will be cheap at long term ... and ... it´s an Intense. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe L.
a Cross Country Rider
from Balto,Md USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Avalon, Shaefer Farm | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | 123 Bikes | | Strengths: | Rock Solid Frame, 4 bar linkage, Streber built | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Trek fuel, Giant Nrs | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR, Hope Mini Discs, Fox Float R 100mm | | Bottom Line: | If your serious about a lightweight full suspension cross country rig, this is the one for you. I rode a friends on one outing for about an hour and I was hooked. This thing takes whatever I throw at it, handles great, and the 4 bar linkage blows away any other full suspension design. Yes, the tracer is a pricy frame, but looking at the top line factory jobs which run from $3200+ that come with only xtr rear derailer, and shifters if your lucky with some crap v brakes on them, I figured spend a couple hundred more and get FULL XTR and an open system hydraulic brake. The Fox Fork is also great on this bike. I considered a Sid Sl for less weight, but went with the Fox for the extra inch of travel and also the skechy reviews on the Sid. RockShox going out of business didnt help either. :P | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manny E.
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Greenbelt, Bluff Creek, Kelly Creek Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | ....Jeff Steber makes it. | | Weaknesses: | .... | | Similar Products Used: | Tried many bikes....but got the best! | | Bottom Line: |
So here |
|
$ 1875.00
