Thread: Tell me about your Intense bike

So they are coming out with a Tracer in 650b, or at least the modular rear drop outs will fit 650b. What I would like to know is how you like the VPP and durability of the design?

I have a Stumpy FSR which I converted to 650b and love it. I often ride very techy trails. A burly trail/AM rig would be an asset. Does the Tracer fit this bill with the proper build?

I did find this

http://forums.mtbr.com/intense/27-5-...er-783232.html

I just picked up a T29. It is really confidence inspiring on steep chutes and drops. The VPP pedals extremely well in the saddle, and only wallows if you really stand up and thrash. I'm running a Marzocchi 55 up front and an RP23 in back. For the PNW it's turning out to be a pretty good quiver killer - light enough for trail riding and tough enough for light free-riding. I don't race (anymore) and don't huck huge drops so the T-29 is pretty much perfect for me. I'm also big (6'-4", 225#) so having a slightly overbuilt frame is nice. Some on MTBR have called it flexy, but I sure don't. I always wonder how someone can ride a bike for an hour and determine if the frame is flexing not the wheel.

Note on durability - I like the fact that the pivots are angular contact bearings and have zerks. Bike is still to new to say more.

Thanks much. I am really liking the Tracer 2 the more I read about it. I have some Stan Flows in 650b and there is that RS Uturn coil fork on gear swap. Not sure if the RP23 that comes with the frame would do it for me.

Originally Posted by scottyb

Thanks much. I am really liking the Tracer 2 the more I read about it. I have some Stan Flows in 650b and there is that RS Uturn coil fork on gear swap. Not sure if the RP23 that comes with the frame would do it for me.

Does the Tracer 2 have a straight 1.5 headtube? I would have guessed it's tapered, but I imagine Intense could do whatever you wanted ...

Originally Posted by Finstah

Does the Tracer 2 have a straight 1.5 headtube? I would have guessed it's tapered, but I imagine Intense could do whatever you wanted ...

It is the straight 1.5" ht which puts it it in the "burly" category.

I had a tracer (and a 6.6 before that), my excuse for selling was I hated the way it climbed when I was out of the saddle... I feel like it wallowed most all of the time when i was climbing out of the saddle, Not just when I was hammering. But really, I was just wanting something different. I do feel like my Yeti climbs much better, but 90% of that is probably me justifying the new rig...

Good solid bike, fun on the descent, but get a test ride in. I still love the works raw option and the people at Intense were great to deal with. My tracer was a donated frame for a raffle and it was rad of them to do that, so I will always be a fan.

I still have a 5.5 EVP, with a RP23 rear shock, and about to get a Revelation 140 w/ 15QR on it. It should slacken out the HTA a little bit, which I'm trying to do on that bike (Intense quotes it as a 70* HTA with a 130mm fork, and it's still twitchy with a 140 Fox 9mm Q/R fork). It's a 2008, which I built up in 2009.

I like the VPP suspension. I haven't had any issues with the bearings, though I've heard that is a trouble spot on all VPP bikes. Santa Cruz implemented a lifetime warranty on its bearings, so that gives some peace of mind. Intense went to a grease gun injection design on its newer bikes, so that should help there.

VPP, DW-link, Maestro, and Niner's CVA all seem like variations on the same design. I don't have enough time on them all to compare them meaningfully, I just know that I like that design for a bike that I'm going to be climbing on.

I just upgraded to a Tracer2 from a 1st gen TracerVP. Sick bikes both but make no mistake the T2 is an entirely different animal. The new rear end is worlds stiffer and the longer shock seems to handle the leverage ratio better. The old T did wallow in the mid range of the travel unless you set it up too stiff. This was greatly mitigated by the the propedal but I ended up shimming the HV air can to reduce volume and get a more progressive spring rate. Solved the problem by adding mid stroke support while still running enough sag. Also resisted bottoming better. Don't have enough time on the new bike yet due to a broken thumb but it doesn't seem like this will be a problem.

That said, this is my third Intense frame and I'd heard of some quality control issues but hadn't seen any until now. One of the bearings doesn't seat tightly in the rear triangle. One out of eight. Easily remedied with a few drops of green "sleeve retainer" locktite. I guess this is a common and legit fix for such issues. I'm not concerned about it and love the bike.

Overall I would highly recommend one. VPP2 is a big improvement over the earlier bikes and related to Santa Cruz, it seems to me Intense has a more well thought out lineup with better angles.

Bump cause I got a hardon for the Uzzi now. Sounds like with the G3 adjustable drop outs in the rear adjustment it will fit a 650b wheel/tire combo.

With my Stumpy the Uzzi(coil) seems like a better pick as the Tracer2 would basically be quiver overlap.

I've gotta 5.5 FRO I built up pretty light, XC style with a mix of XT/XTR, Formula Brakes & Stan's Crest hoops. I love the thing, a nice plush upgrade from my Blur XC so obviously I like the VPP. No complaints with the TALAS 140, I mess with it a lot, 100 for climbing & 140 on the DH. Had no problems with the bearings, still nice and quiet. Only way it could be any better is if I could get a carbon version.

I got an uzzi at the end of last season. Injuries and family expansion have prevented me from getting tons of time on it yet. Mines built up pretty heavy, but with a 2x setup for climbing. I love it so far. It's just what I wanted for an only bike - super stable and confidence inspiring at speed. I'm not much for reviews but I can answer questions if you'd like. PM would be best.

And the uzzi would definitely better compliment a stump jumper vs. the tracer, no question.

definitely test ride if you can. I thought VPP bikes were going to be the shit (due to lots of marketing i guess), until i rode a nomad and found that as soon as you get out of the saddle its like jumping in quicksand. not so much fun if you like a poppy playful bike in my opinion. i'm sure you can tune it to your liking, but definitely test first if you can. i've ridden an ibis mojo sl and an ironhorse sunday and wasn't overly in love with either. i've only ridden a reign x for about 5 miles, but i absolutely loved it, and would recommend testing out the maestro platform if you can.