Intense Spider 29 Review

bsdc · Oct 18, 2011

I was at Outerbike a week or so ago. I was really hoping to get a nice run down of mid to large travel 29ers. Outerbike was overbookers and full suspension 29ers were hard to get a hold of, so I didn't get the comprehensive review I was looking for.

That said, I did get to ride a few FS 29ers and I've ridden a number of 29ers back at home. As it turns out, Intense wasn't real popular at Outerbike. I was able to get my hands on the Tracer 29 and Spider 29 relatively easily. The Tracer was a bit sluggish, but the Spider rode real nice.

The Intense Spider 29 was a big surprise to me. It had a nice plush suspension (~5") front and rear. It handled tight corners real well. Not quite as well at the Spec. Epic, but amazingly close. The bike was exceptional in the chunk. Lifting the front end was easy but the bike never felt unstable or sketchy. It was a remarkably balanced. The closest contender was the Turner Sultan, which handled just a hair better but wasn't quite as stiff as the Spider.

There are still a few bikes I'd like to test ride before I make a final conclusion, but for now, the Spider is on top of my list.

metelhead · Oct 18, 2011

Thanks- good summary...so when you said:::
"The closest contender was the Turner Sultan, which handled just a hair better but wasn't quite as stiff as the Spider".

Stiff as in laterally or stiff as in suspension feel?

Just curious as the Sultan is high on my list....the Tracer would have been but too many reports of its lethargy....but your review does peek my interest in the Spider.

bsdc · Oct 18, 2011

metelhead said:
Thanks- good summary...so when you said:::
"The closest contender was the Turner Sultan, which handled just a hair better but wasn't quite as stiff as the Spider".

Stiff as in laterally or stiff as in suspension feel?

Just curious as the Sultan is high on my list....the Tracer would have been but too many reports of its lethargy....but your review does peek my interest in the Spider.

I mean stiff laterally. Both had plush suspension. The Sultan had just a tad bit of squirm you pushed it hard into turns. This was subtle and not felt most of the time. There might have been other factors such as tire pressure, etc. The Sultan is a top knotch bike. Keep it on your list.

I didn't like the Tracer. The sluggishness was not subtle. Probably a great bike. Just not for me and the places I ride.

426h · Oct 18, 2011

Thanks for the rewiev. I have decided to build a Spider 29 during the winter and use it as my main bike next year. I think it will be the perfect trailbike where I ride. Looks good to!

TIGMAN · Oct 18, 2011

I have some interest in the Spider 29 but I already purchased a 2011 DW Sultan frame ( at clearance sale price ) .....maybe they are too similar to justify both , I dunno !

What fork was used on the Sultan and Spider 29 that you test rode ( make , travel length , other info ) ? I thought of building a Spider more lightweight xc race and the Sultan a bit beefier for tech trail stuff ! TIG.

bsdc · Oct 18, 2011

TIGMAN said:
I have some interest in the Spider 29 but I already purchased a 2011 DW Sultan frame ( at clearance sale price ) .....maybe they are too similar to justify both , I dunno ! What fork was used on the Sultan and Spider 29 that you test rode ( make , travel length , other info ) ? I thought of building a Spider more lightweight xc race and the Sultan a bit beefier for tech trail stuff ! TIG.

Both the Spider and the Sultan had the new Fox 120mm forks. I'm not absolutely sure they were identicle but pretty damn close.

I think the Spider and the Sultan are VERY similar. There's nothing wrong with your idea, but if you want two different bikes for different applications, you might look for something else. You might keep the Sultan as my beefier trail bike and build up a light 4" travel bike. The Specialized Epic I tested was a little harsh on rough trails but would slice up relatively smooth singletrack like nobodies business. Or you could go the other direction. The Sultan would make a nice, relatively light XC/trail bike. You could then build a beefy 6" travel all mountain or downhill bike for the really big chunk.

It's great to dream!

martin_uk · Oct 19, 2011

My Tracer doesn't feel sluggish compared to the DW Sultan it replaced. In fact quite the opposite. Could it be that the demo Tracer have beefier tyres or components?

bsdc · Oct 19, 2011

martin_uk said:
My Tracer doesn't feel sluggish compared to the DW Sultan it replaced. In fact quite the opposite. Could it be that the demo Tracer have beefier tyres or components?

I don't think it was a weight issue. I think it was a geometry issue. I haven't disected the different geometries but my guess is the Tracer 29 has a slacker design for stability on fast, big-hit trails. That's not a critism of the handling. It's a characteristic that's better from some riding. To me, it seemed like the Tracer was a little sluggish in the turns.

FWIW, I ride rough, tight, technical trails. I don't end up going real fast real often. I do negotiate a lot of tight corners. I don't take a lot of big hits. A 4" travel bike is proably all I really need ... but, I'm getting older, and I like a little extra cush. That's why I started checking out 5" travel bikes.

It came as a surprise to me to find a couple of nimble, cush 29ers ... Sultan and Spider come to mind. I'm sure there are others just as good. There were some that were geared more towards stability. The new Kona Satori comes to mind. It handled more like the Tracer. Not bad. Just different for different riding.

BTW, the other thing I learned ... Enjoy what you ride.

Intense Spider 29 Review

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