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Average Rating
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4.67/5
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# of Reviews
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9
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MSRP
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$ 1875.00
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Weight
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More Products from Intense
Submit a Review
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Description:4.5 Inches of Rear Travel
Machined Seat Tower and Shock Mount
Cantilever or Disc Ready
Fox Vanilla RC Shock
Replaceable Derailluer Hanger
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Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from Thousand Oaks CA
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Can't think of any, its not the best for cross county trails and cant hack it on the downhill or jumps. | | Weaknesses: | Derailer hanger is very flexy and easily broken. | | Bike Setup: | Xt drivetrain, 03 Z1 fork, | | Bottom Line: | I bought it looking for a trail bike that could handle some dirt jumps as well. It worked well as a trail bike, it climbed good, and did ok on the downhills. It was a different story on the jumps. After two broken pivot bolts the chain stays snapped. I fixed it then after a weekend at Mamath the head tube ovalized, I got that fixed and rode it for another month then the welds around the bottom bracket failed. This time its getting replaced with something heavier, but for the meen time I'm ridding a Giant warp and it really doesnt feel that much different. By no means a reflection of the price difference between the two.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Laguna Hills, Ca
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | San Juan | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Strong enough frame for my 200+lb butt. Frame has almost no flex for it's class. Good climber for such a heavy bike. Descends great on steep tech single track and fast rough terrain. Can take drops without getting too squirmy. Beautiful workmanship. Comfortable geometry overall. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy bike (29.5lbs). Not suited for big downhill riding. Lots of creeking noises if not maintained constantly, like every two rides if you ride hard. | | Similar Products Used: | GTXCR1000,GTXCR2000,GT1.0,Specialized FSR/XC Stumpjumper,SC Bullit,SC Superlight, Intense M1 | | Bike Setup: | XTR/XT, XTR Brakes, Thompson seatpost and stem, Race Face cranks, Sun wheels, Specialized Enduro Pro or Panaracer DH Pro or Intense CC2.25 tires depending on terrain. Psylo fork. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is what I consider a cross country bike with a little attitude for steep tech and rocky descents. Long climbs, acceptable. Tech single track with surprises, drops, and steep sections,Great! Fast descents on general rough terrain, better than average. Full blown downhill track like Big Bear, too little. This bike is good for what we have in SoCal down by the ocean and in the hills. Once you take this bike up to a pro downhill course it just can't quite hack it. But this is far better than a pure cross country bike built for just uphill that would suffer on any descent steeper than a driveway. This bike could be ridden just for fun on a downhill track if it was dialed in specifically for just that task, but that would lessen it's overall climbing and short tech abilities. It's better to have an all around bike able to handle the rougher fun play stuff than have a hardcore narrow focused bike, CC or DH, that will leave you wanting. Also, people need to learn to switch tires to match the ride that day. This alone will extend the usefull range of any bike to a very surprising level. With adjustable susp and the rubber we have available nowdays it's a crime not to tune your bike for the current days ride. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Edwards
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Minton Batch, Long Mynd | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | secondhand | | Strengths: | Beautifully designed.
Downhills like something with another 2" of travel
Handles pretty good for a big high bike
Will climb "anything" eventually
Only paid £750 for it (UK RRP =£1700)
Adjustability | | Weaknesses: | HOW MUCH!! (new)
Not that light (but working on it...!)
Will climb anything "eventually"
I managed to break a pile of bolts in a week in the Alps
Lower shock bushing wears very quickly (now fixed with a BETD one piece kit)
Cheese rear mech hanger
SLX is the same price, doesn't weigh much more, but has another 1.5" of travel
Pig to clean (lots of nooks and crannies) | | Similar Products Used: | SC Heckler (previous FS bike), 5th Element Bullit, various Marins. | | Bike Setup: | High BB/short wheelbase.
Fox Float rear shock (though I still have the original Vanilla RC)
4" Z1 CR's (soon to be changed for Fox Talas)
Hope/Mavic X317 wheels
Hope M4's (185/165)
XT transmission
Easton/Raceface/Thomson finishing kit | | Bottom Line: | When its working right, its an absolute dream to ride. Goes like a rocket downhill, and eats technical climbs for breakfast. Build it ligh(ish) and you've got a great XC trail blaster. Put the coil shock back on, and some serious treads, and go shred the DH courses.
However I've had lots of small niggles. The bolt breakages being the most obvious ones. Yes I've ridden it hard (think Port du Soleil DH courses), but I'm only 10st and I'm not a hucker/jumper or a thrash and burn gimp. Having said that, I've not broken anything in a couple of months, so we may be past that now.
The other major problem I had was with shifting. I initially suffered loads of ghostshifting, as well as the cables on the swingarm popping out of the stops. Now solved with a full length outer run, but still a little irritating.
Overall its a great bike, that suits my riding style down to the ground, if a little high maintenance. If
you're after an all day hardcore bike and don't mind a bit of fettling, then go for it. (Although I'd be hard pressed to justify 1700 finest golden nuggets for a new one) | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken Wood
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, AZ USA
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | National | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Purchased At: | Airpark Bikes | | Strengths: | Everything | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Lots of other bikes | | Bike Setup: | All good, King, Race Face, Marx, etc | | Bottom Line: | I was not sure how much I would like a full suspension, but I listened to my friends who had them and went with it. WOW sums it up best. Not only do I climb better, which was a shock, but I decend so much faster and riding is a lot more fun. I have tried a few other top end full suspension rigs and I beleive Intense made the bike for me. If you want a light trail bike other manufacturers may suit you best but if you want a bike that can handle, ups, downs, drops, basically abuse this is it! Mountain Biking has taken on new meaning with this bike, I can not wait to ride everyday. Buy and Intense and you will be happy. ALso I am a heavier rider 185-190 (no body fat though in case you were wondering, it is around 8-9%) and this bike handles that. BUY IT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Dublin,CA
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mammoth and Northstar | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Strengths: | This frame is built to last, very adjustable, sealed cartridge bearings throughout, rides great, Fox RC shock, best frames out there, great product. | | Weaknesses: | None, but customer service seems to have dropped off (Intense doesn't respond to e-mails, recent phone staff not customer oriented. Their website needs updating. Customer service needs an overhaul. Frame is very pricey. | | Similar Products Used: | Most FS frames available. | | Bike Setup: | Uzzi SL with Avid mechanicals, 240 disc hubs. Shimano XT and XTR. | | Bottom Line: | Best bike I've ever had or ridden. If you want the best, expect to pay on this one. This frame does it all with perfection. I've had alot of frames over the years and the Uzzi SL keeps a smile on my face. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Antonio Lozano
a Cross Country Rider
from Florida
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Purchased At: | WrenchScience.com | | Strengths: | Performance; Quality; Durability; Design. | | Weaknesses: | No weaknesses related to the actual frame itself. With regard to the company (Intense), I am amazed by the lack of effort directed towards customer service. I believe that a company that charges $1,800 + for a single bicycle frame should devote considerable attention to its customer base, in the form of outstanding customer service. Perhaps others have had better luck in this regard, but I find it far too difficult to communicate with Intense, whether by telephone (almost impossible), or e-mail (unreturned messages). I am left with the impression that they take their success and continued customer base for granted. That is easier to do when you are successful in the marketplace, because your outstanding designs are in far greater demand than the supply. Still, it's a shame. | | Similar Products Used: | I do not have significant experience using products that are similar in terms of the Uzzi's full suspension design, but I have spent considerable time on other full suspension rides, e.g., Jamis Dakar Expert, Cannondale Jekyll, Trek Y33 and Y11. | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Uzzi SL Frame (Large); Rock Shox 2002 Psylo SL; XTR shifters and derailleurs; Race Face Next LP cranks; Time Alium Pedals; Hayes Hydraulic disc brakes; Kore Elite stem; Thompson Elite seatpost; Selle Italia Max Flight Trans Am saddle; Easton Monkey Lite Riser handlebar; ODI Lock-On grips; Mavic 317 disc rims; Hugi 240 disc hubs; DT Swiss spokes; WTB Enduro Raptor tires. (Bike Weight: approx. 29 lbs.) | | Bottom Line: | While I have been riding this bike for only six months (will post follow-up report later after more miles), two things stand out foremost in my mind. (1) This is an excellent full suspension design. The design remains active in almost every situation, the frame is very strong, and the components work in unison to provide for a truly extraordinary ride. The only chance for any elevation change in Florida is riding the several abandoned phosphate mines, and park excavations. Although there is little appreciable gain, there are plenty of impressive drop-offs and technical riding areas. The Uzzi SL is expensive, but you do not ride away feeling as though you have not received your money's worth. The bike is a wonderful go-anywhere, do-most-anything design. It will likely not be seen on the starting line for a cross country race, nor a downhill race. But for pretty much everything (within reason) in between, it is going to outpace and better any more narrowly focused bike (e.g., XC hardtail or softail, and downhill rig). (2) I configured and purchased the bike over the internet from my home in Florida, through an outfit in California by the name of Wrench Science. In addition to the Wrench Science website, these folks run a local (Berkeley) shop called Medina Cycleworks. (Tim Medina is the proprietor.) I cannot say enough great things about the overall experience I enjoyed during the involved process of spec'ing the components for this ride. (I spent over four months mulling this over.) WrenchScience.com devotes a great deal of time to its site, and it shows. What originally caught my attention was their effort expended, PRIOR to my making any purchase, to determine the proper size of not only my bike frame, but also the stem, cranks, seatpost, and other size-relevant components. Their website is a must visit for anyone into biking...road, mountain, etc... The sizing program is actually integrated into the website, but there is ample opportunity for fine-tuned and personalized tweaking. These folks are incredibly easy to reach (whether by telephone or e-mail...very fast response time), friendly, and helpful with any question you can conjure up. Frankly, WrenchScience provided me with one of the best buying experiences I have ever had, whether in person, or over the telephone, or the internet, and regardless of the product. Thanks to Tim and Zach. These folks are doing it right. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from portland, OR
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Fat Tire Farm | | Strengths: | Stability. Front triamhgle much stiffer than the hardtail to which I have grown accustomed. No hunting front end on less than buffed singletrack downhills
climbing. Bike as built (size large) is ~29.5 lbs. That said, the thing climbs quite well...much better than I expected. In some cases, it feels as though your going slower until you realize you in a larger gear than ususal at the same cadence.
Descending.. this should go without saying...bumps and ledges that would have unseated the rear end of a hardtail just simply disappeared. My riding style will change to some degree, partially to adapt to the travel I now have available, partially to adapt tp the higher speeds I achieve with a higher degree of traction
| | Weaknesses: | none that I can define yet | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | z1 mcr, race face, xtr, xt discs...good solid stuff | | Bottom Line: | Exceeds what I thought the bike could do. can't wait to put more miles into it...highly recommended based upon the experience so far | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Dublin, CA
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | any trail with dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Purchased At: | Kalo MTB | | Strengths: | Excellent quality, total sealed cartridge bearings in all pivot areas, no lateral flex, very adjustable, built to last. Fox Vanilla RC shock is great. Intense customer service is also excellent. All Intense frames are works of art. | | Weaknesses: | Absolutely none except for price. Alot of money for a frame but you get what you pay for in this case. | | Similar Products Used: | Most suspension bikes out there. | | Bike Setup: | Uzzi SL, Thompson post and stem, Judy, Avid mechanical disks, Hadley Hubs, Shimano | | Bottom Line: | This is an excellent quality frame. It is highly adjustable for your riding preferences. A very versatile bike for cross country, freeriding, and some DH. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
FRED SANTOS
a Weekend Warrior
from JAMAICA HILLS, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | SAXON WOODS | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | PEAK MOUNTAIN BIKE PRO SHOP | | Strengths: | EVERYTHING!! STRENGTH, ADJUSTABILITY, LOOKS, REAR SHOCK. | | Weaknesses: | NOTHING!! PRICE MAYBE??...BUT YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. | | Similar Products Used: | INTENSE TRACER, CANNONDALE SUPER V, HARO EXTREME EX1 | | Bike Setup: | UZZI SL, RS PSYLO SL(5"), HAYES HYDRO, KING HEADSET, XT/XTR DER./SHIFTERS, RACEFACE NEXT LP SPLINED CRANKS/BOTTOM BRACKET/SEATPOST, AZONIC A-FRAME PEDALS/AZONIC SHORTY DELUXE STEM, LP RISER BARS, ODI LOCKS, VUELTA XCALIBUR FREERIDE DISC RIMS, GRIMECA HUBS, NOKIAN GAZZALODDI 2.3, SALSA QR, TERRY LIBERATOR SADDLE. | | Bottom Line: | FINALLY FINISHED BUILDING THIS BEAUTY THIS MORNING, SO I ONLY TOOK 1 RIDE SO FAR. BUT WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! RIGHT AWAY YOU CAN FEEL THE MAGIC CARPET RIDE DESCENTS AND THE LIGHT, FEATHERY CLIMBS. WEIGHT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE. LOOKS AND RIDES BEAUTIFUL. LITTLE ON THE EXPENSIVE SIDE...DEAL WITH IT. FEELS LIKE A BEEFED UP TRACER ON STEROIDS. ULTIMATE FREERIDE...TRAILS, XC, LIGHT DH, URBAN ASSAULT...WHATEVER,WHENEVER!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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