Intense frames

rockmonkeysc

Are Intense's carbon frames "hand built with pride in the USA" or are they straight and properly put together?

warpcow

I thought the carbon ones were made in the Far East. Seen a headtube split on a Tracer 275 Carbon while a headset was being pressed in. Intense had absolutely no qualms about replacing it because it was out of tolerance. "Handmade by the Taiwanese and proudly quality-checked by Americans" perhaps.

DCR00

Def made in the far east

rockmonkeysc

It might be worth a try then. The aluminium frames are always crooked and always crack but are great to ride.

DCR00

My Tracer is fine

I've ridden Stiniog twice now without issue

rockmonkeysc

Last weekend two riders went home early with broken frames. A Tracer 2 with a crack around the seat tube at the top tube connection, he was on his third front triangle in two years. And a M9 with four inch long crack in front of the shock mount, he was on his second front triangle in a year and third rear triangle.
They are also well known for being crooked, replacing pivots often involves the use of a pry bar to make things line up.

pesky_jones

Whhhat!? Surely intense are a really goof make I.e don't make bad frames. That must have been a coincidence last weekend

rockmonkeysc

They certainly aren't the only cracked Intense frames I have seen. The old M3's actually ride better after they crack in the big lump in front of the shock mount! Look at any M3 and you will see a 4" crack either side of the frame.
The Tracer 275 is a nice ride which is why I'm interested in the carbon version.

paul.skibum

Intense are hardly a big name on the race circuit these days and any given day in Whistler Bike Park is not a big day for Intense bikes. Not ridden one but I have seen a snapped M9 in Morzine - Basically sheered clean through front triangle. The rider was walking home carrying it so I guess he was pretty lucky!

rockmonkeysc

There are a few privateer teams using M9's in the DH world cup.

ilovedirt

Yeah, intense are pretty well known for building their frames up wonky/cracking. Seen a lot of 951s snapped at the head tube too. I'd never buy one. Shame, because they look beautiful, and by all accounts they ride well.

peter413

From what I've heard the carbon Inetense's aren't so bad but I'd never even consider an alloy one due to the cracking and wonkyness. I've heard of one instance where they refused to replace a bent frame saying it was crash damage despite the fact a headset clearly hadn't even been fitted yet. Because of that I'd be wary of buying a carbon one even if they are ok, doesn't bode well for customer support. I'd be checking the price of new mech hangers as well, I remember some of them were ludicrously expensive (over £100 or something :shock: ).

ilovedirt

Yeah, hangers for the intense slopestyle were around £150 because they were integrated with the dropout and CNC machined from a massive block of billet... Stupid idea.