Intense Primer Expert 2017 vs 2018 spec help please..?

IanTrcp

After some research and testing, I’ve settled on an Intense Primer Expert as the best “do-everything” mtb for me.

For the same price (£3,300) I can get a 2017 bike (ostensibly reduced from £5,300) or a 2018 bike. This seems a little strange!

Could bikeradar’s resident spec experts tell me which of the two builds is better value and why? Thank you in advance.


Primer Expert 2017
FRAME Primer 29 Monocoque UD Carbon Front and Rear Triangle, Alloy Top Link, Internal Derailleur Routing, Integrated protector, w/ 148 x12 mm spacing, 115 -130 mm travel
FORK RockShox Pike RC, 29” 15QR Thru Axle, 140mm Travel, BOOST
SHOCK RockShox Monarch RC3 Debonair, 200x 51 mm
WHEELS DT Swiss M 1900 SPLINE® 29" BOOST
HUBS 28 Hole DT Swiss SPLINE® hub with pawl drive system, silk matt black ; 110 x15mm Front Hub; 148x12 BOOST Rear Hub Shimano Driver, centerlock
RIMS DT Swiss M 1900 SPLINE® 29" BOOST, Tubeless Ready
SPOKES DT Competition 2.0/1.8/2.0
TIRES SCHWALBE NOBBY NIC SNAKESKIN, PSC FOLDING, 29 x 2.35" Front, 29 x 2.25" Rear
SHIFTERS Shimano DEORE XT, RIGHT, 11-SPEED
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano DEORE XT, RD-M8000, SGS 11-SPEED TOP-NORMAL SHADOW PLUS DESIGN
FRONT DERAILLEUR N/A
CRANK RACE FACE TURBINE, 32T
CASSETTE Shimano DEORE XT, 11-SPEED, 11-13-15-17-19-21-24-27-31-35-46
CHAIN Shimano 11 speed, KCNHG95118
SADDLE WTB Silverado Race
SEATPOST RockShox Reverb Stealth, 31.6mm x 420 mm, zero offset, 125 mm of travel
HANDLEBAR RENTHAL FatBar LITE 20mm - 760mm
STEM Thomson Elite X4: 50mm
HEADSET Cane Creek, 40, alloy cartridge, 25 mm of spacers
BRAKESET Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc, centerlock rotors, 180 mm front and 160 mm rear
GRIPS Intense Dual Density Lock-On


Primer Expert 2018
FRAME Primer 29 Monocoque UD Carbon Front and Rear Triangle, Alloy Top Link, Internal Derailleur Routing, Integrated protector, w/ 148 x12 mm spacing, 115 -130 mm travel
FORK Rock Shox Revelation RC 29, Solo Air, 140mm, Boost 110x15mm
SHOCK Rock Shox Monarch RL, 200x51mm
WHEELSET
WHEELS DT Swiss M1900 Spline 29", 28 Hole
HUBS DT Swiss M1900, Centerlock, 110x15mm, 28 Hole Front / 148x12mm, XD, 28 Hole Rear
RIMS DT Swiss M1900 Spline 29", 28 Hole
SPOKES DT Swiss
TIRES Maxxis 29x2.35 Forekaster F120 DC/EXO/TR
SHIFTERS Sram GX Eagle 12speed Trigger
REAR DERAILLEUR Sram GX Eagle 12speed
FRONT DERAILLEUR N/A
CRANK TRUVATIV Stylo Eagle Boost GXP 175mm, 34T, BLK
CASSETTE Sram XG1275 X1 Eagle 12speed, 10-50T
CHAIN Sram GX Eagle 12speed
BOTTOM BRACKET Sram Pressfit GXP BB92
SADDLE WTB Silverado Race w/ Cr-Mo Rails
SEATPOST Fox Transfer 31.6mm, 150mm Dropper
HANDLEBAR Renthal Fatbar 760mm x 20mm Alloy, 31.8 mm diameter
STEM Intense Recon ELITE 50mm, 31.8 mm diameter
HEADSET Cane Creek 40 Series, ZS44/EC49.40
BRAKESET Shimano XT M8000 Hydraulic Disk 180mm Front & 180mm Rear
GRIPS Intense Lock-On

haydenm

I would have said 2017 spec wise but I may be wrong. Looks like a great bike, not sure if there are many frame changes between the two years

JGTR

I’d say the 2018, the 2018 Revelation fork is supposed to be very good, you get GX 12 speed transmission (v 11 on 2017) and a Fox dropper which is better then the Reverb, rest is much of a muchness.

02gf74

Are you saying the two bikes are the same price? The 2018 has new fangled 12 speed gears and different fork, rest looks pretty similar.

I cant see where the 2 grand went on the 2017 bike so I vote for the 2018.

haydenm

02GF74 wrote:

Are you saying the two bikes are the same price? The 2018 has new fangled 12 speed gears and different fork, rest looks pretty similar.

I cant see where the 2 grand went on the 2017 bike so I vote for the 2018.

Good point actually, depending on your view point the change to direct sales and much lower prices is a very good thing and should be rewarded. I’ll change my vote to 2018, I don’t know enough about the forks and shock to compare to the 2017 model really

IanTrcp

Thank you all for your comments on this - most appreciated.

I decided to go for the 2017 bike because: (a) the fork, rear shock, stem and dropper post are better spec, and (b) I like/trust the XT groupset.

The bike arrived on Friday, and I've been out for an introductory 50km on it today. Everything works as it should, it doesn't feel heavy/slack/clumsy after my Spesh Epic and the extra travel feels worthwhile for the kind of riding I seem to be doing now (less XC race, more mucking about in the woods...!). At this point I'm very very pleased!

JBA

I'd go for the 2017. Better forks and shock and at the moment the cost of replacing the SRAM 12-speed components is too high. (£152 for the cassette!)

edit: typing as you posted!