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Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Sacramento,CA
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Darington (Salmon Falls) | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Quality build, welds, zero failures, downhills, uphills, great handling, great looks. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | GT, Klein, Gary Fisher | | Bike Setup: | XTR shifters & derailers, Proshift brakes, FSA carbon cranks, Dream wheels, Chris King hubs & headset, Marzocchi, Eatson monkey light bars, Thompson seatpost and stem | | Bottom Line: | I've been riding this for 4 years now and I'm still amazed at how awesome this bike is (See my previous review in the 1999 Tracer review). I have the 2001 frame and have never been disappointed. I still do a few mtn bike races each year and I'm happy everytime I lift my leg over this bike. It has also been very reliable. I recently upgraded the wheels and cranks. I'm racing triathlons now but it's great to do a little cross training and hit the trails or do a couple mtb races. It's too bad they stopped making this frame, it's indestructable. I'm by no means easy on it and it has with stood years of abuse. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Yogi
a Cross Country Rider
from Denver, CO
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1050.00 | | Purchased At: | Web Cyclery | | Strengths: | Ultra plush and efficient FSR suspension. Super strong and reliable. Adjustable geometry makes the frame very versatile. Looks perty. | | Weaknesses: | None. Intense stopped making them which I think was a mistake (see comments below). | | Similar Products Used: | Intense Spider XVP, GT STS. | | Bike Setup: | Full XTR, TALAS RLC fork with Stratos Inertial Damping (ID) cartridge, Fox RP3 rear shock, Crossmax UST disc wheels, Avid mechs, Thompson post, Easton Stem, Hutchinson Spider UST tires, WTB Rcket V Stealth saddle, Crank Bros. Candy SL pedals. | | Bottom Line: | The Tracer is absolutely the BEST full suspension XC bike I know of. I owned a 2000 Tracer for 4 years and absolutely loved it. I rode it for 4 full seasons, including several trips to the ultimate MTB testing grounds in Moab. The bike performed and help up incredibly well and took as much abuse as I could throw at it. I had every intention of keeping it for several more years. However, when Intense came out with the Spider XVP I figured it was newer and must be better, so I decided to trade in the Tracer for a Spider. HUGE mistake! The Spider's VPP suspension and Manitou Swinger SPV shock may have been a tad more efficient at preventing bob than the Tracer's Fox Float, but the suspension design is much less plush and there's alot of pedal feedback. The Spider felt like a 3" travel bike instead of 4" and it performed HORRIBLY any time I needed to hit rough patches of trail under power. It was like the suspension locked up when pedaling, so it was horrible at uphill technical trails. I adjusted the shock setup in 100 different ways but was never happy. The Spider just didn't live up to the hype. I also had a ton of mechanical issues with the Spider and decided to trade it in for a 2003 Tracer after one very diappointing season.
My new 2003 Tracer has me smiling again. It has a 2005 Fox RP3 stable platform shock which improved the Tracer's already awesome pedaling efficiency by more than 10% over the standard Float RL. I'm running a Fox TALAS fork which is the perfect fork to go with the Tracer's adjustable geometry and travel settings. I've replaced the TALAS' damping cartridge with a Stratos Inertial Damping (ID) cartridge which turns the fork into a stable platform. The combo of these two shocks is amazing! It rockets uphill and I get almost no brake dive on downhills. I would recommend the Tracer to anyone looking for the perfect FS XC rig.
P.S. Check out the Specialized website tech section for an explanation of why the FSR design is superior to other designs. I learned from experience and agree 100%. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Primero
a Racer
from Bay Area, CA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Skeggs Point | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | My Intense Tracer is PIMP! The design & craftsmanship is no-non-sense. I've haven't had any issues with the frame, whatsoever. | | Weaknesses: | N/A ... N/A ... N/A ... N/A ... N/A ... N/A ... N/A ... N/A | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing else matters, why should I try anything else?! | | Bike Setup: | Avid Mechanicals, Manitou Black Super, XT Shifters - Derailleurs & Cassette, Thomson Post & Stem, WTB Laser V Stealth, Mavic CrossLands, Race Face Turbine LP, Atom Lab Aircorps, Phil Wood Stainless, SRAM PC990, Easton Monkey Bar, Avid Flak Jackets, ODI Intense, Avid Speed Dial Ultimates, Hutchinson Spider UST, Chris King Headset, Salsa Seat Clamp & Fox Vanilla Float RC. | | Bottom Line: | I let my bud ride it... shortly after the trail ride, we went to the shop and he bought the same frame too. The only difference is the color... talk about a product selling itself! I think anyone who's a serious enough XC rider should definitely consider investing in a Intense Tracer... The only problem is... You'd have to search for a frame, Intense has already retired the design. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J. RANOA
a Cross Country Rider
from MURRIETA,CA
Date Reviewed: February 23, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | THE FRAME IS AWESOME. QUALITY WORKMANSHIP COMBINED WITH A GREAT DESIGN. | | Weaknesses: | NO WEAKNESS... JUST RIDE!!!!!!! | | Bike Setup: | THIS BIKE IS BUILT AS AN AGRESSIVE XC KILLER AT SUB 24 LBS. HUGI 717 WHLS, BONTRAGER XXX LITE BAR-STEM-POST, FROGS PEDALS, VELO PROLITE SEAT, DT SWISS 210 SHOCK, MXR AIR FORK, XTR EVERYTHING ELSE. | | Bottom Line: | THIS IS THE BEST TRAILBIKE EVER MADE!!!!! WISH THEY WOULD BRING EM BACK!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sergio Arroyo
a Cross Country Rider
from Cabo San Lucas MEXICO
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | All in CABO are good and Tech | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | mission cylery with my good friend Ex owner jhon carroll | | Strengths: | A lot of bikes in one.... | | Weaknesses: | Doesnt come with manual to understand diferent set ups..
| | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 90, Fisher Sugar 3 | | Bike Setup: | Fox Talas, CrossMax SL all XTR.. Monkey Lite XC CF bar, Thomson Steam and Seat post, | | Bottom Line: | This bike is difficult to find the right set up, at the same time that´s the best part of it, There are days that I would like to climb fast, easy change the chainstay short. The next day long Down Hills with technical sections , rocky and sand.. no problem change the Head Angle and twist the best fork ever to 110 or 125 and the bike is a DH rige... The first 5 months i did try lots of different set ups and have change fork 3 time TALAS is the one for this bike, Like we say in MEXICO "VIVA LA TRACER", all I can say if some one wants a MUTANT XC/DH BIKE THIS IS IT BUY IT even do Intense doesen´t advertise it any more ... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Lawson
a Weekend Warrior
from Owen Sound, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Porcupine Rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Strengths: | Nice Light ride, now lags behind big travel XC bikes | | Weaknesses: | Customer Support, Fox Float | | Similar Products Used: | S.C. Blur & Superlight, Heckler, Spyder | | Bike Setup: | XT, XTR, Race Face, Thomson, XVERT, White Industries, Mavic | | Bottom Line: | I was extremely pleased with this bike , until I recently noticed a crack right on a weld on the seat mast. When I contacted Intense (thru a Canadian Dealer), they said it was out of the warranty period (only two years). They offered to replace the front triangle for about $400. + shipping (3 way as it had to go thru the dealer). To top it off it would be 8 weeks to produce a new frame for me... I hate to complain, but the product is good, support leaves a lot to be desired. 8 weeks out of a 24 week Canadian riding season is a bit much to ask of a mtbr. To put it mildly, I will never buy another Intense bike and would probably go to Santa Cruz. I don`t think that they care, but hey I had to vent. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff
a Downhiller
from San Diego CA
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Built like a tank, and its a xc rig! The bike took an 80 mile an hour impact from an SUV. Fork, frame shock, and rims destroyed. Frame is totally straight. VERY adjustable. | | Weaknesses: | 1. Bolts-keep and eye on 'em. Carry an extra pivot bolt. 2. I'd like to lower the seat for big hit rides - but the seat post would end up taking out the shock. Just can't have it all.
3. Sticker design was flawed, impossible to put on nicely - suggest getting the new sticker set, cut it into sections. Makes application super easy.
4. Shimanno rear derail. likes to slap the chain. Go with another manufacture, unless you like the hollow thudding while motoring through rocky decents. | | Similar Products Used: | If its got wheels... | | Bike Setup: | Today - xt'd with Hanebrink G6 up front. Superplush!
Manitou frame shock, on number three. | | Bottom Line: | Good investment - frame has outlasted many parts.
Go with non shimano rear der, and a 100mm travel fork on a Large frame. You'll dig it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Todd Pepling
a Cross Country Rider
from Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Preston Railroad (Seattle, WA) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS (San Jose, CA) | | Strengths: | climbing/traction, no pedal feedback, plush feel | | Weaknesses: | main swingarm pivot, a little flexy, bottom bracket a little high | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | 01 Psylo XC, Hayes hydrolic, XT drive-train | | Bottom Line: | Love the bike overall, but in 2 yrs I've snapped three main swingarm pivot bolts in *exactly* the same spot (where the threads start). Hope this has been fixed with newer models. I weigh 220 pounds and had I known about the Uzzi SL, I would have bought it instead. Overall though, nice ride. Buy if you're under 200, don't jump over cars, and like quick handling. Look elsewhere if your heavier, ride hard, or want a stabler handling bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darin
a Cross Country Rider
from W. Sacramento
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Clementine Loop | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1499.00 | | Purchased At: | River Rat | | Strengths: | Climbs like a big horn sheep, plush and responsive suspension, 4" travel, lock out w/fox shock, nice design w/horst linkage, nimble and overall great performer. Made in USA. | | Weaknesses: | Decals, I removed them. The only other complaint is that there are some areas that are hard to clean. But that is what you get with a linkaged frame. | | Similar Products Used: | Super V, Delta V | | Bike Setup: | Shimano XT discs, hubs, shifters, derailluers, skewers, 636 pedals. Race Face ISIS cranks, BB, SyStem, risers, XY post. Sun singletrack wheels, Fire XC pro tires. | | Bottom Line: | Arguably the best XC full suspension frame ever made. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Hayter
a Weekend Warrior
from Guildford, Surrey, UK
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Peaks Trail, Brekenridge | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$3750.00 | | Purchased At: | Rock n Road Cycles, Portsmouth | | Strengths: | Strong, light, great build quality, amazing suspension action, easy-to-change geometry/travel. Rides like a dream. Rails corners. Climbs like a crazy b*stard. | | Weaknesses: | I got crappy service from the UK importer (but they have changed since I got mine in 2000). It's a Horst-link 4-bar system, so the rear mech bangs on the chainstay, unless you get a short rear mech, like I did. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR (old, old version), Cannondale Raven, Marin Team Titanium, various other hardtails. | | Bike Setup: | Fox F80RLT, SID rear shock (came with the frame as stock - had it revalved), XTR shifters, hubs, cassette & v-brakes, Bontrager ceramic rims, Race Face Turbine cranks and XY seatpost, Syncros Cattlehead stem, Easton EC70 bars, Titec carbon bar ends (I'm old fashioned!), Sachs Plasma raer mech, Time ATAC carbon pedals. | | Bottom Line: | An incredible bike. It took me a long time to get used to the high BB (compared to my hardtail) , but it feels natural now. It also took me a long time to get the setup dialled, but changing the forks from X-Fly to F80RLT sorted that out. Now, I love it. I can't think of any flaws that matter. Buy one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin pender
a Racer
from honesdale pa
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | prompton | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1299.00 | | Purchased At: | 123 bike | | Strengths: | great ride great handling | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | superlight | | Bike Setup: | xt-xtr-a/c disc wheelset-blackair fork
| | Bottom Line: | Ilove my sl&I race it.the tracer is my trailbike & rides& climbs just as well(better than a hardtail don`t care what anyone says about that)My bike is a 02 can`t find a spot in the 02 bike list to put it so I did it here, but it is a great bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Greer
a Weekend Warrior
from Northern Ireland
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Slieve Gallion | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Ciclisport.com | | Strengths: | Pretty much bomb-proof, sorted handling and very smooth suspension action. I also think it looks sweet (Mine's white). | | Weaknesses: | The clunking of my nice XTR rear derailleur took a bit of getting used too. The high BB was a little unsettling at first too. | | Similar Products Used: | I've rode a lot of bikes before buying this one. Definitely one of the best executed 4 bar links. | | Bike Setup: | Marazocchi Marathon 100's. XTR drivetrain. Hope Mini's. Thomson stem & post. Answer Carbon bars. RaceFace cranks & BB. | | Bottom Line: | First off, thanks to the guys at Ciclisport.com for sourcing the parts (Check out the pics in their custom builds webpage). I've been riding this thing now for about 3 months and each time it rocks. I bought a large to give a comfortable stretch, to allow hard riding all day. It also has an air of indestructability & looks the business. I toyed with the idea of a Santa Cruz, but feel I made the right choice. Buy one!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sundog
a Cross Country Rider
from Buena Vista
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Colorado | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$3461.00 | | Purchased At: | Excel Sports, Boulder | | Strengths: | Strong frame with square tubes in rear triangle and good gussets, excellent Fox RL rear shock sold with frameset | | Weaknesses: | Derailer was originally poorly designed and snapped easily. The newer replacements are much stronger. Also had a bolt break in the rear triangle on my first ride. Replaced by Excel and it never reoccurred. Great paint, less great decals, tend to peel. | | Similar Products Used: | My first All-Mtn bike, also own Jamis Team Dakar(light FS) | | Bike Setup: | All XTR, Manitou Black Elite 80/100mm with firm spring, Turner seatpost, WTB Laser saddle, remote lock-out for rear shock, TPC+ (2003 add-in) for front shock. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great all-mountain bike and a great cross-country bike for bigger aggressive riders. The Fox RL is great but I would definitely add the remote lock-out just because of the hard to reach location. I weigh 220 pounds and did get some bobbing in aggressive climbs until I added the lock-out to the rear shock and the firm spring in the front shock (the main cause of the bob). I have pounded this bike on the roughest trails in Colorado with hardly a scratch. My 3 other bikes look like pounded metal in comparison. Faster than my much lighter bikes for some unknown reason.
TPC+ addition also works well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lawrence Mays
a Cross Country Rider
from Novato, Ca
Date Reviewed: January 24, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Downyville | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3500.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria/Rohnert Park | | Strengths: | Quality,Ride,Looks. | | Weaknesses: | Decals, Puchased 03'Model and it came with 02'Graphics. | | Similar Products Used: | Uzzi-sl, Specilized, Titus.
| | Bike Setup: | Hope mini,mavic-317/wtb,fox125rlc,thompson stem/post,XTR/XT
EA70 riser. | | Bottom Line: | I had a Santacruz Heckler A few years back, and really liked the ride that bike offered. I moved up to a Uzzi-sl and never felt right on the bike. (Im 6ft.) Med frame was too small- yet a large Uzzi-sl is way too big. I talked to the folks at Intense and they recommended a large Tracer. This bike is every thing I was hoping the Uzzi-sl would be. I feel so much more in touch with the trail and am able to climb and make technical's I would miss on the SL. I have had no problems with mshifts that I have read in other post.
I would like to try a coil/over and maybe the rocker arm off the Uzzi-sl to get a bit more travel out of the Tracer.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Las Cruces, NM USA
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Robledo mountain trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2900.00 | | Purchased At: | The bicycle company El Paso tx | | Strengths: | This bike is lightweight and will roll over anything. Stiff frame, and fox float lock out is a life saver | | Weaknesses: | Having a bit of problem with my shimano xt rear deraillour but with a little adjustment it will rock | | Similar Products Used: | specialized enduro pro | | Bike Setup: | Ritchey disc ocr rims, Maxxis larsen tt tubeless tires, Hayes hydraulic disk brakes, Manitou SX Ti fork, control tech head, profile design ultra FR handlebars, Profile design carbon seat post, Giro Dolomiti seat, shimano XT crankset, cassettes and deraillours. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is smoking, I've had it 4 days and have takin it out 3 times. The bike climbs like a dream, descends like a bat out of hell, and with a little tweaking this ike is for anyone. I thank Luke from the Bicycle company for hooking me up with a sweet deal, I paid only $2900 for the whole bike, which is a great deal.
The front fork might be a little soft for my 250 lbs. but so far I haven't bottomed it out, so I'll try it for a while.
IKf you're looking for a badass xc/trail bike then this is the bike for you. And its a great downhiller too, but taking big jumps with it, probably isn't a good idea with it's 4" of travel, but I'm gonna push this bike's limits before too long to see if I can break it before the warranty is up. DEfinitely worth the money | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AJ
a Weekend Warrior
from Netherlands
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Garda area (Italy) | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$4500.00 | | Purchased At: | BikeShop Amersfoort | | Strengths: | This is a great ride. | | Weaknesses: | Cheap bearings, they locked up and caused my main pivot bolt to fail two times (wich where replaced by Intense free of charge). Replaced the main pivot bearings and had no problems since (I keep on checking them). | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR | | Bike Setup: | XT, XTR, Race Face, Marzocchi bla, bla, bla | | Bottom Line: | This is a great trail and XC bike. The best bike I've owned till now, I'm putting together an Uzzi SLX so that might change soon.
Iff you're heavy like me (180 pounds) the bearings might be a problem, but if you check them regular and replace them when needed there should be no problem with the pivot bolt.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adrian Ho
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: November 25, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mont Kiara | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | SuperPro bike | | Strengths: | Solid build, stiff in the right places, silky smooth linkages, super plush ride absorbs everything in it's path, easily adjustable. | | Weaknesses: | weight (full bike at 25lbs), superb for epic rides but not championship races, powder coating too thick, rear d smacks swingarm but with solved with correct adjustment of rear D (no insulation necessary), extremely weak derailleur hanger (better this than rear D), hopeless product manual, no info provided on bearing sizes. | | Similar Products Used: | Uzzi SL, Full Dynamix, Outland VPP, GT-LTS, Haro | | Bike Setup: | Crossmax Disc wheelset, CK Headset, Thomson stem & post, Answer Carbon riser bar, Sram XO shifters and rear D, SID SL forkHope Mini Disc, RaceFace NEXT LP, Selle Italia SLR Carbon, XT BB, XTR Front D, SRAM PC99 chain, EggBeaters pedal. | | Bottom Line: | Super plush, very easily servicible & adjust, versatile. Beefy seatstays, swing arms and stiff 1-piece CNC'd machined horst-link ensures plush suspension movement with no flex. Powder coating is thick & heavy but takes the beating from flying rocks and slapping chain on swingarm. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sunkman
a Cross Country Rider
from Rhode Island
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Vietnam, MA | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyond Bike | | Strengths: | Hmmm...where to begin. Great bike for really anthing you ride that is not asphalt. Pretty much all reviews were right when it came to strenghts. What was the most surprising to me was its climing ability. I can hammer the thing out of the saddle and it will just dig in and go up, up and up. I had to learn that the best line on this bike was the shortest distance between the two points: straight through almost anything. | | Weaknesses: | The rear derailleur hitting the frame (solved with a piece of insulation tape). Bolts need occasional checking and tightening. That it is such an unfair advantage over other bikes (a disadvantage for them!). | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Rockhopper, Proflex 756 | | Bike Setup: | XTR drive train, X-vert Super (love this fork!), Avid Arch supreme, Thompson post and stem, WTB saddle, Crosslink wheels, Answer bar, Coda bar ends (I'll never give up my bar ends!!) | | Bottom Line: | If you don't own one and like ridding, I don't know what you are waiting for...oh yeah, the price might be a problem (got mine at cost cause the frame had a little ding in it). If you know someone that owns one, beg them to borrow it, you'll see that it realy makes that much of a difference.. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Voiteck
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1499.00 | | Purchased At: | 123Bikes | | Strengths: | Craftsmanship, Quality, Design, Low Maintenance. This machine is a beast! | | Weaknesses: | None, so far. Only thing.............price. But, I've learned you get what you pay for. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Superlight, Turner O2, Ellsworth Truth, Specialized S-Works, Yeti AS-R | | Bike Setup: | Fox Float RLC100 up front (a lifesaver, in itself), XT Drivetrain, RaceFace LP ISIS Turbines, King ISO's, Mavic UST Rims, Hutchinson Pythons, Hope Mini's, Thompson Post and Stem, Answer Carbon Bars, SDG Grand Prix Saddle | | Bottom Line: | After a few weeks, I finally have the bike dialed in the way I like it. I was hesitant to take the plunge, but I finally decided it was time to give full suspension a chance. I will NEVER go back to the hardtail! To my suprise, I haven't felt the need to use the lockout on the rear Fox RL shock on climbs. The bike's a very efficient climber. On the descents, this thing has taken me through things my old Yeti ARC (the greatest hardtail, in my opinion) couldn't even dream of. The only thing I can complain about is the cash I had to shell out for my dream machine. My compaining ends when I'm flying down a hairy singletrack descent and feeling as though I'm riding the magic carpet down! If you've got the cash, by all means go for the Tracer. Mike Olsen over at 123Bikes in Tahoe was an unbelivable help, when I was choosing all the parts and things. Unlike many dealers, ALL their component groups are crap free! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: August 1, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Excel | | Strengths: | Wonderful design. Very strong. Easy to maintain.
Climbs well, much better than I expected a full suspension to climb. I rarely use the lockout for climbs because it handles it so well. Descends even better. I love going downhill with this bike! I often scare myself by how fast I am descending. A few times I was going so fast that I came full speed into a technical rocky section that would have eaten my hardtail alive and it just sucked it up and plowed through with ease. A confidence inspiring bike. | | Weaknesses: | Rear derailuer smacks against the frame and sounds like the bike is going to fall apart. A little foam tape on the frame at that point seems to fix the rattle well though. I do get some squeaking from the rear shock upper mounting point but some lube every now and then fixes that up. | | Bike Setup: | XTR all around. monkeybars. X-vert supers. Hayes disk brakes. 519 rims. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike. I read all the good reviews in this forum to help me make this decision and I am still very happy with this bike. I have a bad habit of breaking frames and (**knocking on wood**) have not had any problems with this bike. Very solid frame. Rides like a Xcountry bike but can still perform and take the abuse of freeride and downhill. This bike has seen alot of air and it still rides like the day I bought it. Wait no, better. This is truely the best bike I have ever owned. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
m
a Cross Country Rider
from boston
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | 123bikes | | Strengths: | smooth, fast, suppple, cornering ability, stability, balance, looks, quality, handling, | | Weaknesses: | rear derailuer hits the frame (annoying metal hitting metal sound). | | Similar Products Used: | Proflex with smart shock | | Bike Setup: | marxocchi z.3 bomber, xt all around, riser bars, v-brakes | | Bottom Line: | great bike. excellent customer service. Price a little high, but you get what you pay for. Do not go for the specialized, even though Intense bought the rights to use their fram style. Intense has master the 4 pivot system with sealed bearings.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Cross Country Rider
from Longmont, Colorado, USA
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Troy Built | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyond Bikes.Com | | Strengths: | Climbs and descends with ease. | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found any yet. | | Similar Products Used: | First FS bike. | | Bike Setup: | Manitou Black fork, Shimano XT everything, Monkeylite bar,Chris King headset, Thompson stem and seat post. | | Bottom Line: | Love the bike, best money I ever spent. Mike at Beyond Bikes is the man to talk to. UPS crushed my first frame, wouldn't pay for it, but the guy's at Beyond Bikes built another one and got it to me no charge. Intense, Beyond Bikes A#1! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg Cochrane
a Cross Country Rider
from Saugus, Ma,USA
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Ridge trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1650.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Loft Burlington, Ma | | Strengths: | Frame constuction
Suspension design
Coolness factor | | Weaknesses: | Rear der. slapingg the chainstay. (put some rubber on the stay,problem solved)
weak graphics | | Similar Products Used: | Intense Uzzi-Sl
Ellsworth Truth
Rocky Mountain Slayer
Klein Attitude (still ride) | | Bike Setup: | Psylo fork, Chris King headset and disk hubs, Avid disk brakes, XT drivetrain, Bontrager wheels, Thompson post and stem, Race Face bars, and Speedplay pedals. | | Bottom Line: | To me this is the best climbing bike out there. It seems to propel you forward with every pedal stroke. I ride every climb one or two gears faster than with my hardtail. Handles slow speed tech. stuff like a master. Floates over everything that happens to litter the trail. Downhill precision and drops are a joke. Just point and shoot the bike does the rest. Get your tracer set up with disk brakes whatever your favorite is, You will need them to slow you down. This bike rips!
Compared to the other bikes I tried or demoed this was the best for what I was looking for. A good climbing bike first descender second. I was surprised after I dialed in my ride I got both equally well, which is hard to accomplish. I almost didn't buy this frame. Came close to an Ellsworth Truth, which my buddy bought and recently broke a suspension link. I think I made the right descision. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SCOTT WATERMAN
a Cross Country Rider
from SALT LAKE CITY
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | ANY IN THE WASATCH | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3300.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | STABLE, FLEX FREE DESIGN. OVERBUILT. SEALED BEARINGS. BEAUTIFUL CRAFTSMANSHIP. | | Weaknesses: | WEAKNESSES?? NO COMPRENDE... HELLO?...... IS THIS THING ON?? | | Similar Products Used: | SEVERAL HARDTAILS, SPECIALIZED M-4, G.T. I-DRIVE 2.0 | | Bike Setup: | XT/XTR MIX, MARZOCHII ATOM 100, MAVIC 519, FOX FLOAT RL, TIME CARBONS. | | Bottom Line: | I HAD THIS BIKE BUILT IN FEB. AND WAS GOING TO WAIT 6 MONTHS OR 1000 MILES BEFORE POSTING A REVIEW. 1000 MILES CAME FIRST. LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THAT ALL THE REVIEWS THE BIKE MAGS ARE GIVING ON THIS BIKE ARE SPOT ON. THIS IS A TRAIL BIKE IN THE PUREST SENSE. IT CAN BE BUILT LIGHT FOR RACING OR TOUGH FOR FREERIDING IF YOU WANTED TO, BUT THERE ARE M-4'S AND KONA BEARS PERHAPS BETTER IN THIER RESPECTIVE REALMS THAN THIS BIKE. BUT FOR AN ALL AROUND WELL BUILT TRAIL BIKE THAT WILL NEVER CAUSE YOU GRIEF, THIS IS THE ONE. I ORIGINALLY SPECED. MAVIC 517 RIMS BUT FOUND THEM TOO FLEXEY FOR MY 200 POUNDS. I HAD 519 RIMS ALREADY ON MY I-DRIVE SO I SWAPPED THEM RECENTLY AND NOTICED AN IMMEDIATE DIFFERENCE. I'LL PAY THE WEIGHT PENALTY TO COMPLETE THE SOLID FLEX FREE FEEL I HAVE NOW. I BUILT THIS BIKE FOR DURABILITY AS I RIDE 5 OR 6 DAYS A WEEK. IT IS 29 POUNDS DRESSED FOR BATTLE. IT CLIMBS PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING IT GOES DOWN AND FEELS MUCH LIGHTER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS. MY ONLY NIT TO PICK IS REALLY NOT FRAME RELATED; I'M STILL TRYING TO COME TO TERMS WITH HAVING AN AIR SHOCK ON THE REAR VS. A SPRING LOADED FORK. I OFTEN FIND MY SELF WANTING TO PUT MY SID 100 FROM MY G.T. ON THE TRACER, BUT I AM STILL PLAYING AROUND WITH SETTINGS. IF ANYONE HAS ANY INPUT ON THIS PLEASE E-MAIL ME. IF THIS BIKE IS IN YOUR PRICE RANGE, GO FOR IT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Holthaus
a Weekend Warrior
from Coto De Caza, CA USA
Date Reviewed: May 31, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | San Juan | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3300.00 | | Purchased At: | 123Bikes | | Strengths: | Stout Construction, Adjustablity, All-Around performance | | Weaknesses: | Hubs were delivered loose, but this has nothing to do with the Tracer. Intense manual is pretty weak. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR Enduro/FSR XC, Fisher Sugar, | | Bike Setup: | 2002 Tracer (Med), Hope Minis, Black Elite 80/100 TPC+, King Hubs, Mavic x3.1 Tubless, Panaracer, Thomson, XT Drivetrain, Answer ProTaper Carbon | | Bottom Line: | This thing is just awesome! I have wanted this baby to 2 yrs and finally pulled the trigger. I'm still dialing it in, but it is fulfilling the dream to this point. I'm having some issues adjusting King hubs and getting disc rotors to align properly on the front end. Anyone out there have any suggestions? Manitou/Hope/King hub combo appears to be a little tricky. I'll re-post later when I know the ropes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from San Clemente, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | San Juan Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | 123 Bikes | | Strengths: | Climbs and descends very well. An excellent all around bike. | | Weaknesses: | Lowering the seat on steep descents due to the interrupted seat stay.(This is rectified with a telescoping seat post made by Axiom) | | Similar Products Used: | Previously rode a hardtail. | | Bike Setup: | All XT/XTR, Marzochi Atom 100, Avid mechanical disc brakes, Mavic 317's, Thomson etc. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike. I am very pleased with how well this bike climbs. In rocky sections it works better than my hardtail because it maintains traction. As far as the downhill goes, the only limitations I have noticed are my own abilities(or lack there-of).
After about 4 months, the frame developed a hairline crack. David at 123 Bikes promptly made arrangements with Intense who exchanged the frame for a new one. This all occurred within a weeks time which was impressive. Any bike can have a defect, what counts is how the bike shop and the manufacturer stand behind the product. In my experience, both David at 123 Bikes and Intense stepped up to the plate and took care of business. I would recommend them both.
In the end, you get what you pay for. So pony up...you won't be dissapointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Wilson
a Cross Country Rider
from Bakersfield, Ca USA
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mnt Pinos | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$5000.00 | | Purchased At: | Lbs | | Strengths: | Rides great, Climbs great, Decends great, corners great, The list goes on. It's got strong welds Intense paid special attention to this bike as with every bike they have made. | | Weaknesses: | Takes a little while to get it totaly dialed in to the way you want it. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyll 3000, Fuel 100 | | Bike Setup: | 2002 black Tracer, Sram 9.0 Sl shifters and derailleurs and brakes, XT cranks, Egg Beater pedals, Easton Monkey lite bars, Ct2 carbon seat post, Sun Ringle RPM light weight wheels, Chris King heat set, | | Bottom Line: | I have ridden Intenses for years that is one of the main reasons I purchased this frame. If you are looking for a one bike do it all climb, Decend, corner on a dime than this is the bike for you, it is fully adjustable. Iv'e spent countless amounts of time in the saddle of this bike and it only gets better with age. I run ony 2 chain rings in the front with a 11,34 cassete in the back and I love it. I would reccomend it to anyone who likes a spin gear rather than pushing a heavier gear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hasse Hojland
a Weekend Warrior
from Aarhus in Denmark
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Moesgaard woods | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2900.00 | | Purchased At: | IMI - Los Angeles | |
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