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  Intense
Cycles is known for its handcrafted,
championship-winning race frames, and is
regarded by many as the “Ferrari of the
mountain bike industry.” How does a company
born in 1992 gather such a prestigious
reputation in such a short period of time?
Let’s take a quick trip back in time to see
how one man’s idea flourished from the
kitchen table to UCI podiums.
In 1991, Jeff Steber designed and constructed
his first full suspension mountain bike in his
garage, and the following year would see new
additions to the frame such as CNC machined
parts and sealed bearings. Then in 1993, Jeff
decided to try his luck and go public with his
product at the 1993 Interbike trade show, and
his gamble paid off. Jeff sold every frame he
had and then some. His success with the short
travel frame fueled the passion to construct a
downhill specific model, and the unparalleled
history of the M-1 was born. The M-1 needed
some serious testing and exposure before it
went public, so Jeff went to work on rounding
up his first factory DH team. Little did he
know that his team and its members would
become legendary: Randy Lawrence, Mike
Metzger, and Shaun Palmer. Palmer brought to
the DH racing world an attitude and race style
that will never be forgotten, and one that
rarely lost races. The spirit of the original
DH team set the standard for Intense Factory
Racing for years to come, as well as raising
the bar for other manufacturers to step up to.
It still has yet to be met.
Intense race frames saw an ever-increasing
demand with other racers and manufacturers,
and established a new standard for competitors
to follow. The M-1 saw action under the likes
of Brian Lopes, Eric Carter, and Leigh Donovan
of Mongoose, John Tomac of Giant, Gregg Minnar
of Haro, Toby Henderson of Iron Horse, and of
course John Kircaldie, Colin Bailey, and April
Lawyer of the multi-championship winning
Maxxis DH Team. Indeed, Intense Cycles’
image and heritage in the industry is
unmatched by any other racing or factory
effort as they continue to establish the
benchmark in product development and design.
So how does an industry leading company
continue to stay on top? The answer is with
technology, and it all began with a small
company in Canada. Virtual Pivot Point
Technology (VPP) was originally introduced in
the early 90’s by Outland, a small group of
engineers who were cycling enthusiasts. They
set out to create the ultimate in suspension
efficiency, but when it came to production
their frames were under built. Consequently,
the frames couldn’t handle the rigors of
race-level riding and the company eventually
folded. In 2002, Intense partnered with Santa
Cruz and brought back a new and improved VPP
design. The essence of VPP design is as
follows: two linkages work together to move
the back end around a point that would be
impossible to put a pivot. Pivots are
positioned to provide an initial rear moving
axle path and at the same time control the
shock rate. VPP helps eliminate unwanted and
energy-wasting shock compression caused by
pedaling by applying some of the pulling force
from the chain to counteract the shock motion.
The link configuration and axle path means the
suspension continues to absorb bumps during
pedaling. VPP allows for a much more tunable
axle path and thus allows Intense to create
optimal performance in all ranges of the
travel, while minimizing pedal induced
movement and also improving small and large
bump feel. The end result is an incredible
ride whether you are pedaling up hill or down,
hitting small or large bumps, standing or
seated. VPP is also special because the design
provides the same pedaling efficiency on the
9.5-inch travel M3 as it does on the 4-inch
travel Spider. Take one for a ride and you
will believe in VPP.
All of Intense Cycles manufacturing efforts
are located in Temecula, California, a town
that is nestled on the inland side of the
coastal mountains in between Los Angeles and
San Diego. All of their products are made in
house, from the frames to the bolts, and they
pride themselves on the fact that each frame
is handcrafted and assembled in the USA.
Fresh Delivery of 2008 5.5's
and an '06 M3!
Intense 6.6 x3!
Ho Hum...EVP 5.5 with Kit #5...this dude's
fitness level and strength makes us feel sorry
for his bike! SO far...so good! We
really like the strength and quality of
Intense stuff.
NORBA NCS Mt. Snow DH Champ Matt Shimzu
reveals his new
Intense 5.5 EVP with Kit #3!
If we can fit 6'7" Ryan on a bike
properly, we can do it for anyone! Intense 6.6
in Java - Large - Marz 66RC (Damn this fork is
awesome) and a Manitou Swinger 4Way
Coil!
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Spider
XVP
You're probably no different from most aficionados of
XC mountain biking: You recognize the potential of
full-suspension to make your riding faster, more
efficient, and more comfortable. But if you're
anything like us -- finicky and detail oriented about
our bikes -- you've probably been underwhelmed by most
of the models you've tried. Many are too heavy, and
most suffer from the eternal downfall of
full-suspension: Pedal hard, your suspension
compresses. Ease up on the pedals, your suspension
extends. The engineers call it CLF -- short for chain
load induced forces. We call it pogoing, and it's the
#1 reason why skilled riders tend to shy away from
full-suspension. While we agree that full suspension
allows you to more or less plow over obstacles that
you'd need to do a skillful ballet to get through on a
hardtail, the fact that you ride full suspension
doesn't mean that riding becomes a simple
point-and-click affair. Even on a full suspension bike
you need to exert plenty of body english on your
machine to get from one end of the trail to the next.
But when your rear wheel pulls off the ground as you
accelerate (or when the opposite happens -- a big hit
disrupts an otherwise fluid pedaling cadence), all
hope for using nuance to control your bike goes out
the window.
Spider
XVP with Kit #1D - Fall Special - FULL BIKE
$2699.99!
Another BB Spider going
out the door! Kit #1D, with a few changes:
$3199.99
Spider
XVP with our "Franchise" KIT #1 - $4199.99 -
26 pounds!
The Intense
Spider XVP is by many accounts the most
precision-engineered, most technologically evolved
answer to the evils of CLF. How did Intense do it?
Through Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) technology.
The Spider provides 4" of travel, but instead of
doing so with a single main pivot, Intense uses a dual
pivot coupling at its main pivot point. This coupling
allows two adjoining pivots to rotate opposite each
other as the suspension compresses (top pivots rotate
counter-clockwise, while bottom pivots rotate
clockwise), which causes the rear axle to follow a
backwards S-path distinctly dissimilar to the vertical
path taken by a traditional 4-bar linkage. This
helps give a VPP bike the same level of
"activeness" as a 4-bar, but it does so
while causing pedaling forces to drive the rear wheel downward
rather than up. The resulting traction makes the
Spider a superior climber and breathtakingly stable in
corners.
While other companies
out there utilize VPP technology, none build
their frames with the same precision and expense as
Intense. You don't see cast frame components,
bushings, or any of the other telltale signs of
manufacturing corner-cutting. Time-intensive CNC work
can be found everywhere on the Spider, and the pivots
on the suspension make extensive use of sealed
bearings. In 2005, Intense enlarged these bearings and
the crush tubes in the lower swing link to promote
longer bearing life and a silky smoothness to
suspension performance unlike any other brand of VPP
bike.
The Spider is Intense's
most versatile frame. Thanks to its proprietary
Intense/ Easton bi-oval flared tubeset, the
Spider weighs in at a lightweight 5.6 lbs, and can
accommodate 80mm-100mm forks, and either cantilever or
disc brakes. It's a strong foundation for just about
any sort of riding you can imagine - XC, Enduro, and
all points in between. Each of our Spider frames comes
equipped with a Fox Float RP23 shock.
EVP 5.5
The Intense 5.5 EVP is the near-twin
of the Spider XVP. It takes the VPP
suspension technology and the precision
construction of the Spider and morphs it into a
machine that provides a full 5.5" of travel --
nearly a 40% increase in travel over the Spider. The 5.5
debuted in 2004 to rave reviews for its all-day,
all-purpose performance for aficionados of Enduro-style
epic riding. If you're looking for the nimbleness of
an XC bike in the burly physique of a all-mountain
bike, the super-tough Intense 5.5 is for you.
A recent Mountain
Biking Magazine review does a particularly nice
job summarizing our feelings for the 5.5,
"….out on the trail the 5.5” of VPP
controlled wheel movement seemed unstoppable. The rear
wheel absolutely stuck to the ground and just kept
taking everything we threw at it. Even vision blurring
rock gardens became a ride in the park. The suspension
was incredibly active over every type of terrain.
Whether pedaling, seated, standing, or coasting, the
rear end soaked it up. In fact, this bike at times
felt like it had gobs more travel than the advertised
5.5”."
The 5.5 EVP
frame weighs in at 6.5lbs. It's designed for use with
100mm-135mm forks to compliment its plush rear
suspension. Each of our 5.5 EVP frames comes equipped
with a Fox Float RP23 shock. Like the Spider
XVP, the 5.5’s craftsmanship is a story in
itself - highlights include a CNC machined swingarm
and dropouts, sealed bearings in the pivots, spot-on
welds, and rich paint.
The Intense 5.5 EVP
is the beneficiary of a mid-model year facelift which
allows for more tire clearance -- think 2.5! To make
this possible, the frame received a larger yoke and
archless seatstay. And, Intense has redesigned the
two-piece link into a gorgeous one piece link, further
reinforcing the lateral rigidity of the 5.5 EVP.
EVP 5.5 with Kit #P2 - SHCWEEEEEEET!
Platinum 5.5 EVP.
Kit #1D, with some add-ons! $3099.99!
Gorgeous!
2008
EVP 5.5 with Kit #1.
$4299.99!
You can't beat the price anywhere!
6 Point
6
Not dissimilar to Bigfoot sightings, we've been
reading the whispers and viewing the spy photos of the
6 Point 6 for the last year, but hard
information has been scarce. Well, it's time to
believe the hype! Intense has now answered the
call for an aggressive all-mountain, enduro-style
machine with the realease of the state-of-the-art 6
Point 6, mating the ride quality of the legendary 5.5
EVP with the burly aggressiveness of the Uzzi.
Unlike its brethren, the 5.5 EVP, the Intense
6 Point 6 goes beyond its name, delivering
6.75" of plush VPP travel.
Understanding the
demands that the 6 Point 6 frame is expected to
shoulder, Intense employs a 1.5" headtube
reinforced with beautifully crafted gussetting,
highlighted by a hydroformed Easton/Intense
aluminum top tube, placing the strength where you need
it most, while saving weight wherever possible.
Intense's reknowned CNC artistry is prevalent once
again, from the rear stays to the headtube. Tire
clearance is rated for a 2.5" Intense DH tire.
The 6 Point 6 is
disc-specific and comes equipped with a Manitou
Swinger Air 4 Way shock. Or you can upgrade to a Fox
RP23 for a few $ or DHX Air shock for a few
more $. Trademark sealed pivot bearings throughout the
suspension provide the lateral stiffness, traction and
monster travel we've all come to know and love from
Intense's VPP bikes. The 6 Point 6 is
ideally mated with a 6" travel front fork to
balance the geometry -- imagine a Fox 36 Vanilla
anchoring this beauty!
We think WORKS is a popular
finish! We can't keep these pups in stock.
Here is another BORING 6.6 in WORKS color...decked out
with ano red
Dangerboy levers($80), Stem ($85), Bar Plugs ($20) and
Seat Clamp ($40). Oh yeah...we slapped on some
Industry NINE FR/AM Wheels ($900) too!
Industry
NINE Wheels - READ
MORE HERE!
New
Works Color! 6.6 w/Kit#36 - 32lbs. - $4299.99!
Another
Works 6.6 with Kit #36! This one with a DHX
AIR! $4499.99!!!
Java
6.6 and KRIS!
Do we see a cross promotion with Starbucks in the
making here?!
Intense 6.6 Medium Red Kit #1 and a FOX
36RC2!
WHOA NELLIE!
SIX POINT SICK! 2008 6.6 in Satin
Black with Kit #1
and Fox DHX 5.0...quite possibly as hot as it
gets!
UZZI
XVP
2005 marked a major re-entry into the freeride market
for Intense with the resurrection of a legendary name:
The Uzzi. Completely unlike the Uzzi SL of years gone
by, though, the Intense Uzzi VpX
features almost 8” of bump annihilating travel built
around an incredibly responsive VPP suspension
design.
The Uzzi is built with
the same extensive precision CNC artistry as Intense's
XC-specific models, but with its mammoth travel and
the traction and pedaling efficiency that define VPP
technology, the Uzzi is poised unlike any other
bike to take a chokehold on the freeride market.
Intense recognizes that freeriding takes a toll on
your bike like no other discipline, which is why the Uzzi
is built with a custom-drawn Easton/Intense
aluminum tubeset explicitly designed to withstand the
abuse. Its 1.5" headtube and sealed pivot
bearings throughout the suspension ensure a stiff,
smooth, and durable bike. Throw at it what you will,
the Uzzi is built to conquer.
The Intense Uzzi
is disc-specific and comes equipped with a Manitou
Swinger 4 Way Coil or Progressive 5th Element. Or,
you can upgrade to a Fox DHX 5.0 Coil for a few
$. The Uzzi comes with your choice of 135mm or 150mm
rear spacing to accommodate even the burliest of
wheelsets. You can use either standard or 12mm axles,
and you can use tires up to 2.5” wide.
The first SOCOM to
arrive!
M3
The history books will show that Intense Cycles
began work on the original M1 downhill frame in 1993.
It was modest by today's standards, delivering a total
of 5” of travel. In 1994 the M1 went into full
production, and twelve quick months later Intense
became the global superpower of downhill. The Intense
Cycles Factory Team and development staff during
those salad days included legendary downhill racers Shaun
Palmer and Randy Lawrence. The Intense
M1 scorched the World Cup circuit and by 1997
corporate industry giants with bottomless R&D
budgets like Mongoose and Giant rebadged M1's with
their own decals in order to stay competitive.
The historic M1 has now
morphed into today's Intense M3, and
Intense continues to dominate the downhill scene
unabated. The M3 features 9.5” of VPP travel,
made possible by a specially designed Fox DHX 5.0
Coil -- or, for a $450 upcharge and half-pound
weight savings, you can select a Manitou Revox ISX
Ti coil shock featuring Intrinsic damping
-- a $200 savings over buying it aftermarket.
The Intense M3's
abundant travel doesn't come at the expense of quick
handling or excellent maneuverability. In fact, the
two years Intense spent developing the monocoque frame
design of the M3 frame resulted in a lower standover
height that makes it fit riders better and handle with
more agility than any previous generation of the
frame.
You won't miss Frank on ORANGE CRUSH
if you ride at the same place on the same day!
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