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Average Rating
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4.29/5
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# of Reviews
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68
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MSRP
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$ 1950.00
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Weight
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More Products from Intense
Submit a Review
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Description:The NEW benchmark for XC Racing.
-XC racing geometry.
-VPP suspension technology.
-Easton/Intense proprietary Bi-
Oval Flared tube set.
-Lightweight 5.2 lbs
-4 inches of travel.
-New all-sealed bearing pivot system.
-Cantilever or disc brake compatible.
-Replaceable derailleur hanger.
-Fox Float AVA shock.
***********************
An Open Letter to Intense Owners, From Jeff Steber - owner/founder, Intense Cycles:
First, I would like to thank everyone who has purchased an Intense frame. Years of research, development and technological evolution go into each frame design. No matter how much R&D is done on any product, however, unforeseen difficulties can arise.
I am writing to invite anyone who has a problem or question with any Intense product to please contact either me directly or Intense's full-time dedicated customer service director, Bobby Vore at 951-296-9596.
I welcome criticism and understand negative reviews and will continue to make myself available to assist in any problem with a frame, as I have done for years in the past. If you post a negative review and include your email address on your posting, we can contact you through the site to assist with your problem. Please use MTBR as it is intended – to help solve, not create problems.
I stand behind Intense products and will personally do whatever I can to help make Intense owners happy with their frames. With this in mind, we have instituted a full-time customer service person and are working hard to answer each issue personally and promptly.
Most Intense owners are happy with their frames, but in case you're not, please give me the opportunity to make it right for you. And please continue to use MTBR to post your feedback - as we learn a lot from reading what you have to say.
Thanks again for purchasing an Intense frame.
Jeff Steber
Owner/founder, Intense Cycles
951-296-9596
js@intensecycles.com
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Submitted by
markus
a Racer
from raleigh
Date Reviewed: November 30, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$4800.00 | | Purchased At: | clean machine | | Strengths: | love the spider. handles great. super fast. everything the review says about tracking, handling, downhill control is true, and then some. super responsive | | Weaknesses: | broke rear triangle one time, near drop out, after 18 mos. bad weld, not a problem. had to mail piece back to get replacement. other manufacturers would have let me take picture (such as turner), send to manufacturer for replacement, without having to first mail broken piece in. | | Similar Products Used: | turner | | Bike Setup: | talas rlc 140 mm fork, full xtr | | Bottom Line: | would buy an intense again, any day. to me, best aluminum frame out there. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Carlos Ferreira
a Cross Country Rider
from Ladera Ranch
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | San Juan, Trabuco, noble canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Fast, responsive and light… I am not a Pro, just started to ride in 2002. I used ride a $500 Treck. | | Weaknesses: | Frame is not strong enough for my size (220 pounds) it has a few cracks on the frame.
Pivot bolts will brake at some point…
| | Similar Products Used: | Intense 5.5 | | Bottom Line: | I came here to let everyone know that Intense has been great as Bike Company and also has been great with their customer service!
My bike has been having problems it is been a while. For any crazy reason I haven’t been able to adjust the shifting on this bike any more. I guess the frame couldn’t handle my weight anymore.
5 or 6 months ago I heard a different noise while riding (cracks opening) and I didn’t know what it was. Well, the bike didn’t last very long with me.
I took it to the shop and they contact Intense for me. It sounds that Intense understands the problem and should be replacing the frame for me.
I truly believe that Intense is the best bike out there. My Spider made me a better rider and I was happy while the bike was in one peace.
I have to say that I would buy another Intense even if they were not going to replace the frame for me. The bikes are the best.
I was thinking about the Blur from SC and the 5.5.
I tested the 5.5 this past weekend and I FELT IN LOVE WITH THAT BIKE. It is not as twitchy as the spider but it made me feel safer while going down hill.
The bike seems to climb as well as my old spider.
Intense: The guys were great this past Sunday in Fontana!
The only advice I would have for you guys from Intense is: TRAIN those guys from Performance a little better. I bet we would not be having this replacement situation right now. Big guys should not be told to get a Spider if they are going to ride it 3 to 4 times per week. I guess Performance doesn’t even sell Intense bikes anymore…
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick P
a Cross Country Rider
from Concord, NH
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Strengths: | Finally, finally finally! I found a fix for the dad-gum pivot bolt problem. I've never ridden a bike that is this aggressive, comfortable, and efficient, and both climbs and descends beautifully. When it works.
Every time I thought Intense had solved my pivot issues, they promptly returned. Tried the Loc-tite. Tried plumber's tape. Tried the new bolt system. Sent the frame back to the factory. Twice. All in all, MUCH more time without my bike than with it.
With just about any other consumer good I would have cut my losses and moved on. But this bike's geometry and performance absolutely rock. Soooo, imagine my glee with a pivot bolt solution that works.
The upgrade kit is engineered and sold by Tookywheelworks, a small shop with superior attention to detail (no website, email: tookywheelworks@yahoo.com). The suspension has performed FLAWLESSLY since installation! I again love my bike. And I no longer have to face the prospect of writing off a large chunk o'change for a useless frame. | | Weaknesses: | Pivot bolts, but...see above. | | Similar Products Used: | Owned Sugar 1, Intense 5.5, tested Epic, Blur, Scalpel | | Bottom Line: | Considering buying this frame? Until now I would have steered you away from it, despite its outstanding geometry and ride. Now I wholeheartedly encourage you to take a look at it. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones. But if you end up being one of the many who experience its ridiculous (at any price) pivot bolt problems, you can feel confident that there is a fix.
If you already own a Spider (or 5.5 for that matter) with current (or potential) pivot bolt problems, email tookywheelworks@yahoo.com about the upgrade. You won't be sorry.
5 (qualified) chilis overall for this outstanding frame with the upgrade kit
1 stinkin' chili for value given the original and recurrent pivot bolt design failure
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Johnson
a Cross Country Rider
from Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Laurel Mountain, Pisgah | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | Used | | Strengths: | Great climber, handles great, smooth as silk | | Weaknesses: | Cost, but firm believer that you get what you pay for | | Similar Products Used: | FSR Pro, FSR Enduro, FSR | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Spider, Full XTR, Mavic Cross Max, Fox FX 80, 5th Element | | Bottom Line: | It took me a year and a half to find one with the components I wanted and the price I could afford. Even if I could only afford a used one, it was impeccably maintained. Half price sure was better than full price. Everyone that has a passion for cross-country should have the opportunity to experience the ride because that is what it is...an experience. It makes poor riders good and good riders GREAT!
Like anything else that is built with the utmost performance in mind, it must be maintained and maintained some more to get the best performance out of it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shawn
a Cross Country Rider
from Long Island, New York
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rocky Point | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Bike is fast. Climbs better than a hardtail. Awesome in tight singletrack. Bombs the downhill. | | Weaknesses: | Guess? The shop spends more time with the bike than I do. Initially I thought it was drivetrain problems, ghost shifting, chain suck, poping the chain, and generally poor shifting. Then a buddy told me that my rear tire was torquing to the right with every down stroke. Into the shop. LBS determined that the bearing were crushed. This enabled the rear triange to shift to the right when downward force was applied. Therefore, moving the drivetrain out of alinement and causing shifting problems. Intense sent the crush kit which was installed by the LBS. I get the bike back and it rides great, for four rides. Again the rear triange is all over the place. The bottom pivot slides forward, until it hits the BB. Back to the shop. Not sure what the fix will be this time, but I am concerned that this is going to be a problem that will persist until the point that Intense will say it is no longer under warranty. | | Similar Products Used: | Blur, Eli | | Bottom Line: | I was looking for a highend bike that I could ride every weekend without issue. Maybe this is a racer bike that needs constant attention? When it is working properly the bike rides great. However, that is not very often. Further, the bike was not cheap. I am not sure what Intense is going to do. When and if they do something I will post it on MTBR. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Basalt, Colorado USA
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Hobbit (Aspen) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$3300.00 | | Purchased At: | 123bikes.com | | Strengths: | Precise climber, no-bob pedalling, tracks great, fast.
Great for racing 10K to 100 miles. | | Weaknesses: | More maintenance than expected, low bottom bracket, rear tire clearance is tight. | | Similar Products Used: | Litespeed Unicoi | | Bike Setup: | XTR disc, Fox Talas, Fox RL AVA, XTR Wheels
| | Bottom Line: | 2 Years later it is still a great bike, awesome climber and fun to peddle over the rough stuff. Worked great for Leadville 100 race and local Aspen Clycling Club races (climb, climb, climb then descend). I also replaced bearings twice but when this bike is dialed in I love it. My Fox RL AVA started losing air and the guys from pushindustries.com rebuilt the shock and it now rides better than brand new stock. Thanks Push Industries.
Recommendations: (1) Fox Talas adj. fork is awesome for this bike. (2) Don't go with XTR cranks the replacement rings will break the bank ~$80-100 each. (3) VPP + disc brakes + tubeless + Fox Talas = Race Setup.
Rating would be 5 Chilis if maintenance were lower. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Flying Bananas
a Weekend Warrior
from Harrogate, North Yorks., England
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Garburn Pass to Kentmere | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | High Peak Cycles, Glossop | | Strengths: | Stiff AND supple, uphill and downhill.
Intense service (see my earlier posting). | | Weaknesses: | Hopefully none now | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Blur, good but not as stiff on climbs. Also the Blur chain tension seems to pull the rear wheel too low so the back end bobs up with pedal pressure. To get rid of this the rear would have to be set with no sag. | | Bike Setup: | Fox Vanilla 130 RLC | | Bottom Line: | I finally spoke to Intense on Monday, and today, Friday, I have the kit to fix the rear suspension at no charge. I am impressed by that level of service. Well done Intense.
Julian | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Wilson
a Cross Country Rider
from Matthews, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | any of them | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1995.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles East | | Strengths: | Crazy lite weight for a full suspension, Fast, Stiff, the VPP takes out any of the bumps in the trail | | Weaknesses: | I am having problems with the bearings as it seems that most people on the site is having... the bearings are crunchy to say the least. | | Similar Products Used: | I love Intese bikes that is why this is my 4th one I have the Uzzi-SLX, Uzzi-SL, and the M-1 in addition to my spider. Hope to have a m-3 by the years end | | Bike Setup: | Spider, manitou fork with SPV, fsa cranks, marta SL brakes, king hubs and headset, easton stem, handle-bar, and seat post, | | Bottom Line: | What a bike, I love this bike. this bike is lite weight, stong and fast, can we say "no bob" all the power goes stright to the wheels. Now only if I can get the bearing problem fixed this bike would ride like a million bucks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Franz Garsombke
a Cross Country Rider
from Golden, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Colorado | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1950.00 | | Strengths: | Great all around bike. | | Weaknesses: | They seem to have been taken care of. | | Bike Setup: | See previous review. I did switch to the Manitou Swinger which seems to be a pretty good shock. | | Bottom Line: | FOLLOW UP REVIEW - I posted a negative review about 6 weeks ago and would like to post a positive follow-up. I spent 45 minutes on the phone with Jeff Steber (Intense President) and he promised me he would take care of my bike. Now that's customer service! Long story short, I have had the same experience that the last two reviews did. The bike is working as designed and is eating up the trails. Jeff personally took charge of fixing my bike and I really appreciate that attention to detail. Thumbs up and I am back in the saddle again. I hope to buy another Intense when I wear this one out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martin Bixby
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellevue, Nebraska, USA
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | High Gear of Omaha | | Strengths: | FOLLOW UP REVIEW. About a month ago I posted a disgruntled review on my Spyder frame. Jeff Steber of Intense Cycles contacted me shortly there after and we discussed my issues with the frame. He offered to overhaul my frame personally to correct the difficulties I was experiancing and with a one day turn around at Intense in California I had my frame back within a week with all the shipping. I reassembled the bike and have ridden it harder than I have since building it up this spring and now there is Z E R O problems with the suspension sqeaking or fasteners and hardware coming loose. In fact I have been able to refine my suspension pressures and sag so that it is truly much more fun to ride than it was before. I applaud Jeff's effort to contact myself and other disgruntled riders and providing personalized service to make us satisfied with the frame. | | Weaknesses: | None now. Nothing comes loose or squeaks. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR, Trek Y33 | | Bike Setup: | See previous review, except the Progressive 5th Element has been replaced with a Manitou Swinger 3-way. Overall the Manitou is working much better than the progressive. | | Bottom Line: | I'm now totally satisfied with the Spyder frame and would recommend it highly to anyone who desires a very high performance XC rig. It performs exceptionally well in tight twisty single track littered with roots and rocks.
My break in riding when the frame came back was at Winter Park Colorado and it was a stellar performer.
Thanks Jeff. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Allen
a Racer
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Middle Run / White Clay | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Online Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Climbs, Decents, Overall ride! | | Weaknesses: | Maintenance, rear tire clearance (not uncomman for a X-Country racer) | | Bike Setup: | Large Frame, 5th element Shock, Fox F80x Fork | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow-up to my previous post (see below). After my last review in which I expressed concerns regarding this frame. Jeff Steber (Owner/Founder of Intense) contacted me personally and we had a great conversation regarding the Spider. Jeff listened to what I had to say and explained everything Intense is doing to address certain issues. Since then Jeff sent me a kit to rebuild the pivots on my bike, particularly the lower pivots which now include crush tubes to take the load off the bearings and bolts with slots cut into them so the set screws have something to set into. I completed rebuilding everything and the bike was running great. The ultimate test came over this past weekend though during a 24 Hour Mountain Bike Race. For all you East Coasters, it was Allamuchy so you know the terrain is super technical!! The bike held up great!!! In fact the only thing I did during the while event was lube the chain, nothing ever loosened or needed adjusting! I broke the bike down after the race (it rained and was muddy) to clean and check over and all bearings are still running smooth.
As I stated in my last review, this is the best bike I have ever ridden and now that my problems are addressed and Intense is taking care of me, I will give it the 5 Chili's it deserves.
I will post another update in about a month to let all spider owners know how things are going. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
el matador
a Racer
from Littleton Co
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | whats a trail??? | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | singletrack factory. | | Strengths: | Great all around bike. Fast climber. Good desceder. The thing I love about this bike is that it doesn't suck the energy out of your legs like other full suspension designs when climbing and you compress the suspension. | | Weaknesses: | Linkage. Continious maintenance. However, I was told that this bike needed more maintenance than others. That being said I have been pretty happy on this puppy. I bought it in february and had to replace 2 bearings out of 8. Miles logged since february: 2600...yeah...thats not a bad failure rate is it? I've also had one bolt break. However, I am quite pleased with intense's support. usually a 3 day turnaround from when I need parts and when I get them. not bad eh????? | | Similar Products Used: | Titus racer-x. Early series FSR. Friends bikes.... | | Bike Setup: | xt. | | Bottom Line: | As soon as I bought this bike paranoia set in. But after I put it through the ringer I gained some confidence in it. I raced all season on it(2 wins) and it held up quite well. This is not a bike for people who take their bikes to bike shops for maintenance. YOU will have to learn about the bike and the mainentance needed. But if you spend an extra 15 minutes a week checking up on it it will make you happy. Great bike, design could have some tweaks, but I'm pretty happy with mine. Props to intense for taking care of the flamers on this board. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Franz Garsombke
a Cross Country Rider
from Golden, CO
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3400.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyond Bikes | | Strengths: | Great bike, when it isn't in the shop. | | Weaknesses: | Same as everyone else...bolts/bearings/swingarm. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyll | | Bottom Line: | The bolts, the bolts, the bolts. Same story as everyone else. My bolts came loose, I tightened them again and again. The bearings were crushed and swing arm was cracked...so had to spend a $100 shipping the bike back to Intense. They replaced everything...AND 2 RIDES LATER THE WHOLE DAMN THING STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. Bolts came loose, etc. I would NEVER buy a bike again with this shoddy quality. I spent $1950 on the frame alone. What a scam these guys are pulling. I wonder if a BLUR is better? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Allen
a Racer
from New Jersey
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | MIddle Run / White Clay | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Online Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Great ride when working. | | Weaknesses: | It's a piece of you know what! | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Hardtail was better since it never broke. | | Bike Setup: | Full XT/XTR, 5th Element, Fox F80X, Mavic Crossmax SL, Disc, Race Face Carbon.... | | Bottom Line: | Even though this post will be repetative with others I wanted to force the point!! This bike rides awesome when it's healthy. However, Intense needs to address the problems with the pivots not staying tight. My story is very similar to others: The main pivot on the shock would always loosen while riding and eventually starting cutting into the aluminum pivot bolt until one day it snapped the bolt. I called Intense and they replaced evrything with that pivot, I rode once after reassembly and after one hour of riding I was using a multi-tool to tighten the pivot back up.
INTENSE, You clam this to be a race bike... What race lasts less then an hour??? How can we race a bike that has these falls apart?
When I contact Intense they act like no one else is having these problems? Well thank you MTBR.... I think it's obvious that everyone is having these issues. Anyone who has questions or ideas on what to do next feel free to contact me.
This bike would definitly be a 5 star if it didn't have these serious issues. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martin Bixby
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellevue, Nebraska, USA
Date Reviewed: July 20, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | High Gear | | Strengths: | Great handling and awesome suspension when the suspensiong is dialed in...and not squeaking or falling apart. | | Weaknesses: | SUSPENSION LINKAGES, BEARINGS and PIVOTS. Concur strongly with most of the other reviews...Big $$$$s for a frame that bolts that back out or fall off during rides. I have to overhaul the pivot points with grease every 8-10 hours of riding or else they sqeak terribly...HOW MUCH DID I PAY FOR THIS FRAME?? Service support from Intense is lacking, they never return my emails asking for torques for all the bolts and fasteners in the suspension...my dealer doesn't get straight answers from them either. The Pivots also are getting tore up badly by bushings from the shock that cause the metal to gouge up the aluminum pivot shaft. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR, Trek Y33 | | Bike Setup: | All XTR minus the shifters and brakes which are 04 XT, FOX RLT 80mm, Progressive Air Shock, Mavic UST rims and Hutchinson Python rubber. Wasted money on a Easton EC seat post, should have went with an aluminum post. | | Bottom Line: | I will never buy another Intense frame again because they don't stand behind their products with support.
Granted the thing is a blast to ride and handles better than anything else I've ever been on in 16 years of trail riding, the aggrevation of having to retrace the trail on foot to find fallen off suspension parts truly sucks...I've been fortuate to find them so far.
Can't wait to have to replace all the bearings when they fail soon. Where do you get those German bearings again???
Hey Intense...ship a pint size bottle of LOCK-TITE with every Spyder frame, and fix the tire clearance on the rear swing arm. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dave ruby
a Cross Country Rider
from la verne, ca
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | my backyard | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | incycle | | Strengths: | Cimbs, descends,no-bob, everything well as it says it would......... | | Weaknesses: | I do not know how long Intense tested this frame but it could not have been much.The bearings go, and when they do, you can ride an ineffecient noisy bike and be frustrated.Or spend more $$ and time and be frustrated.I was sold on the early hoopla and was happy initially.Not now when I would rather be racing on it this weekend, but will not until the new bearing arrive.My single speed will have to do, and looks more attractive each with all that simplicity.Come on Intense, step up to the plate, and at the very least, offer new, better, bearings to those who dished out much deniro, promote your product, and are dissatified.I would love to leave a better feedback, but right now not a happy camper. | | Similar Products Used: | Most all. | | Bike Setup: | XTR.Fox F100x.Mavic Crossmax. | | Bottom Line: | I like this bike.I would love to keep it.One more bearing tear-down/replacement though and I'll let her go.I enjoy riding.I enjoy racing.Neither can be done while waiting on parts/ repair. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
prion
a Weekend Warrior
from Vienna, Austria
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Internet retailer | | Strengths: | Excellent, unparalleled suspension. | | Weaknesses: | Permanent maintenance needed. Tyre clearence not the optimum. Catches dirt easily, very difficult to clean. | | Similar Products Used: | Epic, but not really comparable. | | Bike Setup: | Fox 100 RLC and assorted bling-bling | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow-up to my earlier report. The Spider's suspension is almost unbelievable good with its mixture of plushness and firmness, when needed. BUT, it requires constant maintenance. First, disassemble the rear end completely, carefully remove all the outer sealings from the bearings and regrease them (I still have the original '03 ones). Secondly,tighten the shock bolts in a way that the shock reducers rotate in their DU bushings, the bolts must not turn! This prohibits play that otherwise would loosen the lower pivots, leading to bearing failure. Thirdly, remove the zercs, then the lower pivot bolts, degrease them, apply blue loctite and tighten them firmly as specified. I did that after my first ride when I noticed that the lower pivots unfastened themselves. Luckily, my bearings survived. Since then I had no trouble at all. I think that the trouble with '03 frames lay not with bearing quality but with the fact that the rear will become loose when not checked constantly. So this is my bottom line: the Spider's suspension works outstandingly but requires a good amount of maintenance. If you love to work on bikes as much as you like to ride them this is the perfect frame for you. If not, leave it. Five chilis for the suspension, four for all the work you have to do prior to riding. This is something Intense should have adressed earlier and marrs the excellent riding experience | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Juzbasich
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$5000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bean's Bikes | | Strengths: | This is a follow-up. | | Weaknesses: | N/A | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | N/A | | Bottom Line: | There has been a lot written on drilling. I will neither agree nor disagree with an appropriate course of action, but there is some information which could help make a more informed decision. I, like most Spider riders, had bearing problems. I have had my bearings replaced & new pivot bolts put in as well. There are two set screws on the bottom bracket which act to prevent the bolt from loosening. Like another rider stated, this does no good because the screws have no leverage & poor placement. When I repeatedly tightened my bolts, without releasing the set screws, over time the set screws dredged and gouged a path into the pivot bolt. This led to much annoying creaking. Thankfully there was no damage. A word of caution for aspiring craftsmen: the possible consequences of drilling a bolt for the set srews could land your bicycle in the repair shop, needing new bolts & bearings like mine did.
The bearing problem is serious. If you're smart and have money, don't waste time- immediately throw the stock bearings away, purchase high-quality German-manufactured bearings and ride. Regarding the pivot linkage & bolts, constant maintenance after each ride will prevent damage in my opinion. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T L
a Cross Country Rider
from Anaheim Hills
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Slate Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Light, great handling, very quick climbing. | | Weaknesses: | Bearings and rear end are horrible.
Price($317.67 per ride) | | Similar Products Used: | Turner O2
Ellsworth Truth | | Bike Setup: | Fox F100X, 5th element air, XTR, FSA, Time, Crossmax. | | Bottom Line: | The bike was a dream for the first few rides. It handled everything from rock gardens to twisty switchbacks with unmatched perfection. Then reality hit. During the third ride my suspension stopped working. I looked down and noticed that my pivot bolts were backing out. I couldn't believe what was happening. I dropped $3400.00 for a bike that only worked well 5 or 6 times. The rear end has been sloppy since the problem was "fixed." I have decided to stay away from Intence bikes until they take care of the design issues. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I WOULD RATE THE SPYDER 5 CHILIS IF THE BEARING PROBLEM DIDN'T SURFACE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Awesome pedaling performace and great feeling ride. | | Weaknesses: | Bearings? | | Similar Products Used: | Blur, Rocky ETSX-70, Epic | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR and Fox F100X | | Bottom Line: | I have been using my Spider for over 6 monhts now and am loving it. It still amazes me how good the suspension system works. I read the reviews which disucced the beaering problems and thought that I was just lucky not to have any problems. Well, my luck changed. The day I arrived in Utah for 2 weeks of riding I discovered my lower linkage bolts coming undone and when I dissasembled 3 of the 4 bearings were frozen and the 4th barely moved. I cleaned and reassembled but they still did not move well and the bolt came out 3 times while in Utah. I asked Intense via e-mail for help but they took so long that I decided to work on it my self. I removed all of the bearings and cleaned then and lubricated and found that they all worked great - when they were out of the bike. I then measured the bearings and the part of the frame where they seat and found the bearing seats in the frame were smaller than the bearings and when you inserted them they caused the bearings to compress and not function. After careful thought I decided to try and ream the frame alittle to get the bearings to sit more passively. I do not recommend that everyone try this unless you are comfortable working with power tools on you $2000 frame!!
I took off about 0.1-0.2mm and reseated the beaerings and they were magically smooth. The suspension felt great, better that it ever had and still had no pedal bobing. Awesome! I also decided to mark the bolts that hold the lower linkage and then filed a small flat area where the small set screw locks onto the bolt for added security. That was all about 600 miles ago and I have had NO problems and when I checked the bearings they are still working smoothely. I wonder if Intense would like to know about the clearance problems?? I would let them know but they still have not answered my e-mail from April. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Forest Grove, OR
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Pacific Northwest Singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1950.00 | | Purchased At: | River City Cycles | | Strengths: | see prior review | | Weaknesses: | see prior review | | Similar Products Used: | see prior review | | Bike Setup: | see prior review | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow-up to my prior review from mid-summer last year (03).
There are alot of very positive things to mention about this bike. And, most of them center around the ride... when it is not in the shop.
INTENSE - I hope you read this stuff. The people represented in this forum spend big $ for your products and need a place to sound off about the performance of the ride.
Positive points: Handling and Suspension. Great dialed ride for the everyday cross country rider. I have been riding for many years, with many different high-end rides... and, this is hands-down the best ride I have experienced. Not a bad comment because it is the best one you can possibly receive. However, you will want to read further.
Detractors: With the exception of a Klein Palomino, this bike has been in the shop more than any other bike I have owned (at least a baker's dozen). The first problem was the bearings and bolt tightening issue. As mentioned in a prior review, my LBS was great and helped straighten this out. However, after some time, the bike did develop a chronic case of the wiggles in the rear end. This phenomenon has been well-documented in other reviews and my comments are strikingly similar. The Fox AVA shock has also been problematic. After about 5 months, it decided that air is something best kept outside the shock body. Again, my LBS came to the rescue by sending in the shock to Fox for a rebuild... however, after about 1-2 months, the shock has been leaking air on rides again. I guess Fox will have another try in the near future at the expense of more "down time" for me and my quirky riding steed.
A few more beefs for one of the most expensive bike frame mfgrs in North America... What is with the lower pivot? This hollow steel contraption traps more mud and rocks than a crab pot in Tillamook Bay! And, it sounds like a baby rattle to boot. Sorry guys, my riding partner's Santa Cruz Blur has a billet aluminum (SOLID) lower pivot that does not have these problems. Problem Solved! The rear tire clearance is... well... narrow. I live in Oregon and ride year-round. The rear swingarm on this nervous little ride has proven to be one "swingin" dude when it comes to attracting a little skanky mud.
OK... enough mud slinging. I think the bike rides and handles great. It just does not live up to the incredibly high expectations that were set by prior Intense craftsmanship and the bike mags, who hyped this bike to no end when it first came out.
I guess you can call this long-term review a reality check. (FYI - the actual duration of this review is from July 2003 - April 2004). My flaming chilis are losing their heat. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chad S,.
a Cross Country Rider
from Rancho
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Depends on day | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Does exactly what this bike says it can do. | | Weaknesses: | Two weeknesses. The first is the bolt that reverses out down by the bottom bracket. to be honest, yes I did have a problem in the beginning of ownership. I used to own a Harley in the 90's. The #1 tool to a Harley is Loctite 242. I took out the bolts and cleaned them, put a couple of drops of loctite. I have had no problems for at least 4 months. No need to be drilling and complaining to Intense about this problem. They make an outstanding product. My second complaint is how the rear triangle is so close to the rear tire. Rocks get stuck to the tire then it hits the first spot of the triangle, then the rock gets stuck in this pocket behind the bottom bracket. You litterly need to sit up then bounce so the pivot opens the little pocket and the rock falls out. I know it sounds crazy but if you own an Intense spider XVP you would understand. This still would not change my mind on purchasing this frame. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Scalpel, Specialized Stump Jumper FSR. | | Bike Setup: | 5th element shock (a must), Fox Talas,Sram X.O rear der., XT front der., Race face, Chris King, Mavic wheels, Magura Marta brakes. ETC... | | Bottom Line: | Intense has been a bike that I dreamed of. The Tracer was the bike to own a couple of years. I know that it is still an incredible bike but with new technology it made sense to move forward with the Spider XVP. If you are an aggressive rider with big drops for an XC person maybe go with the 5.5 but if you are a fire road rider then don't waste your time with the 5.5. The 4" of travel has worked out great for me and I ride pretty hard. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bobby F
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | iron mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance bicycles | | Strengths: | Pedaling efficiency and light weight. | | Weaknesses: | It's not the bearings people, it's the frame design. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Top of the line everything. | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up to a previous review. I fixed the problem with the suspension bolts that back out near the bottom bracket. The bearing failure that is pissing everyone off, including me, results from lateral movement that occurs when the large bolts back out. There is a set screw to hold them in but they are worthless as delivered. That screw has a job that is like you trying to do a pull-up on a door frame. It has nothing to hold on to. Put the large bolt in tight, I don't recall the torque specifications but I think they can be found in the owner's manual. With the bolt tight, remove the set screw and scribe the bolt with an awl or something like that through the hole where the set screw came from. Take the pivot bolt out and get drill bit that is approximately the same diameter as the set screw. Get on the mark and drill a small dimple into the screw; it helps to have the drill spinning relatively fast before touching the metal. If you start slow, the bit will walk. Put the pivot bolt back in, line up the hole with the new dimple and tighten the screw. Happy riding. I am not happy that I had to do this but it works flawlessly and does not compromise strength. Intense, fix this problem. My $1000 Giant full suspension was more reliable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
N.
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Sullivan Ridge/Gardenland | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4150.00 | | Strengths: | Climbing, agility, geometry. | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | (Tested) Cannondale Scalpel, Trek Fuel 900, Santa Cruz Blur. | | Bike Setup: | XTR rear der. & disc calipers, XT cranks, shifter pods, and front der. American Classic/Mavic 317 (great built/price from Mike Garcia), Fox F80X fork, Manitou Swinger SPV 3-way rear shock, FSR carbon flat bar, EA70 seatpost, WTB Rocket V Race, Chris King headset, Easton MG60 stem, Conti Explorers w/Stan's treatment. | | Bottom Line: | I came from 4 years on a Klein Attitude hard tail, so getting used to this new setup took a few rides, but now I'm loving every second. The geometry is perfect for me, though I had to make the switch from riser bars to flat bars after trying the risers out (yuck). I climb faster than I did on my Klein, and obviously the descents are like a dream. Oddly, it felt really twitchy and nervous at first, until I got used to it and dialed in the setup. SPV is pretty trick...I highly reccomend it if you can afford to shell out the dough. The F80X fork really complements the frame well.
Yeah, it cost me a lot, and the Blur might have been as good for a little cheaper, but what's done is done and I love the damn thing. I mostly ride fire roads with semi-technical single tracks and plenty of climbing, and for me, this is a great frame for all of that. I'm sure it would take more if I dished it out. No bearing problems yet...have ridden about 130 miles. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Randy Peterson
a Cross Country Rider
from Sudbury
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | all | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$4800.00 | | Purchased At: | bikeroom.com Canada | | Strengths: | Really fast, great handling bike. Climbs & decend with total confidence. | | Weaknesses: | These stickers are way tacky. XS size will not take a fox fork (my wife and I both got them)Credit card still smokin. | | Similar Products Used: | Truth, XTC, Fuel | | Bike Setup: | Light race, Hope Bulb 717 wheels (nice build from Bikeroom)Hope Mono Mini brakes, X9 drive with a great deal -RaceFace Evolve XC crank so I could afford a Ti BB. Talked into Stans tubeless system. F 100x fork is a dream. | | Bottom Line: | Great fast singletrak bike I can't wait to race. Scales say 25lbs, which I can live with. It's going to be tough to live up to my Truth, but fun to compare. Nice buying experience from super low pressure Dave at BikeRoom. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Juzbasich
a Cross Country Rider
from Devon, PA
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | All!!! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1950.00 | | Purchased At: | Bean's Bikes | | Strengths: | VPP = Excellent Climbing & Descending | | Weaknesses: | This is also a follow-up review, specifically for people concerned with bearing troubles. What has been written concerning the bearings & pivot links on the Spider XVP are true. However, a potential customer must realize that with use & time, all products break down. The bearings & pivots are designed to move. The screws used to tighten the bearings and pivot l |
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