Intense Announces '951 Series' Aimed at New Mountain Bikers
Intense has just introduced the 951 Series aimed at new riders. They are offering two 29” models with the 120mm travel 951 XC and the 140mm travel 951 Trail.
The 951 XC is based around the same frame and carbon construction as their Sniper T XC bike, while the 951 Trail is based on the same frame and carbon construction as the Primer trail bike. Both feature a pared down and simplified component package.
While the frames and carbon construction may be the same, both bikes in the 951 Series retail for $3,699, over $2,000 less than the least expensive Intense Sniper T and Primer Expert models. The 951 Series bikes also have slightly differently branding, featuring the 951 number more prominently than the Intense logo, and are available though a separate intense951.com website instead of the usual intensecycles.com.
 | They are Intense through and through featuring foundational build kits. Confidence inspiring, the 951 Series is aimed at those that are new to mountain biking or just looking for a quality frame with a great trail ready component build. |
The 951 Series is named after the Southern California area code where Intense was founded and the county that it is still based in today. Intense says their hope with the 951 Series bikes is to "encourage more riders to get outside, enjoy nature and the benefits that mountain biking can bring."
The 951 XC has a 120mm Fox Rhythm 34 Float, a 120mm Fox performance Float DPS rear shock, TRP Slate T4 Brakes, a SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, an Intense Recon dropper post and Kenda Regolith tires.
The 951 Trail has a 150mm Fox Rhythm 36 Float fork, a 140mm Fox Performance Float DPX2 rear shock, TRP Slate T4 brakes, SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, an Intense Recon Dropper, and Kenda Regolith tires.
You can pre-order the bikes now and deliveries begin early August. More information about the Intense 951 Series can be found at: intense951.com
951 Trail Details:
• Wheels: 29"
• Frame: Carbon
• Travel: 140mm (rear) / 150mm (fork)
• Headtube angle: 65.7°
• Reach: 450mm (medium)
• Seat tube angle: 75°
• Weight: 31 lbs 10oz (claimed, with tubes)
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Colour: Grey
• $3,699 USD
• Learn more at intense951.com
• Wheels: 29"
• Frame: Carbon
• Travel: 140mm (rear) / 150mm (fork)
• Headtube angle: 65.7°
• Reach: 450mm (medium)
• Seat tube angle: 75°
• Weight: 31 lbs 10oz (claimed, with tubes)
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Colour: Grey
• $3,699 USD
• Learn more at intense951.com
951 XC Details:
• Wheels: 29"
• Frame: Carbon
• Travel: 120mm
• Headtube angle: 66.4°
• Reach: 433mm (medium)
• Seat tube angle: 72.8°
• Weight: 28 lbs 4oz (claimed, with tubes)
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Colour: Silver
• $3,699 USD
• Learn more at intense951.com
• Wheels: 29"
• Frame: Carbon
• Travel: 120mm
• Headtube angle: 66.4°
• Reach: 433mm (medium)
• Seat tube angle: 72.8°
• Weight: 28 lbs 4oz (claimed, with tubes)
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Colour: Silver
• $3,699 USD
• Learn more at intense951.com
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
$4k out the door is going to net you ZERO new riders. I personally like these bikes, but even the beginner style marketing now makes me wonder where corners were cut and kinda scare me away. Rebranding isn't good either, why make a separately branded bike?
Protect you brand from what? Are you implying these bikes will be no good? You shouldn't have to Protect yourself from a $4000 product. What is their risk? What "benefits" is the company reaping?
We are all well aware mtb isn't cheap, $4000 isnt a reasonable price for "entry level" no matter what you have seen a kid riding by you.
Not everyone chases every new fade and not everyone rides where it's a long climb followed by a long decent.
So we don't need stupid steep seat tube angles with overly long reaches to compensate that still end up resulting in a cramped cockpit.
This site posted an "article" claiming prices are in-line with what they were ten years ago. However I'm very suspicious that they didn't leave just as much data OUT of their findings as they included to support them.
This comment. Cannot be upvoted enough. ^^^
why not make and sell an alloy tracer with NX/SX stuff?
You can't even do the math HAHAHAH "Sub-$1500" does not even = $4000 - 50% off ;smarty pants ! LMAO
A talking sheepdog rounds up all the sheep into the pen for his farmer. He comes back and says, “Okay, Chief — all 40 sheep accounted for”. The farmer says, “But I’ve counted them and I’ve only got 36!” The sheepdog replies, “I know, but I rounded them up.”
www.costco.com/intense-951-trail-bike.product.1484050.html
If you step down from that high horse for a second, let me clue you in on a little secret. Costco has an insanely liberal return policy. I can think of no better place to buy a complete mid range mountain bike from a name brand.
Easily would buy from Costco based on their warranty/return policy in case i were in the market;
Probably don’t want to dilute their more Gucci bikes
Side note- I own a primer 29 and it’s a pretty sick bike.
How dare you believe such nonsense. Everyone needs a 80 degree seattube with a 20'' reach and a 60 degree HTA.
The industry has proclaimed such- do not question.
Though I think Specialized did a far better job.
But the reality is... these bikes will sell out. That is a decent range to be in right now. People are looking for quality bikes for under $4-5k. The premo stuff is drifting up and out of most people's pocket books to the $7-9k range... and more. So this is a pretty smart pocket to try and get into. If they can snag some sales from other brands without stealing them from themselves... win.
That’s the confusing part, why create a sub brand for a brand that is already a minuscule % of the small end of the industry that it already plays in.
Though, we are all talking about it..
My very first mountain bike was around £100 from a friends dad. 2010 ish
My first ‘proper bike’ was a Cannondale Jekyll @ £1800 (previous years model bought in 2014) and that was pricey - but very well equipped.
Having been out the hobby a few years it was crazy to see the prices of newer bikes with only basic hardtails under £1000. I decided to buy mainly used parts or shop around for good deals.
My current hardtail build is c. £1000 with used & new parts which I reckon would be upwards of £2.5k new. Steel hardcore hardtail
My enduro build is roughly £1200 again with new and used parts which I would think would be closer to 3k new. Mondraker Dune XR
Not sure what the moral of my story is.. just seems completely out of touch that manufactures sell beginner bikes at over 3k. PBike don’t help with their labelling of so called beginner bikes as well.
First mountain bike I bought specifically for mountain biking was 200 euro, used
First mountain bike I bought that didn't fall apart on the trail was 300 on sale (display bike), was worth about 800 ish, upgraded almost everything on it, sold it for 550 ish
First proper mountain bike, full suspension, Giant Trance 2014, amazing spec with dropper post and Fox suspension, 800 euro, guy wanted to get rid of it very quickly as he was moving, real steal.
Put about 2k in upgrades (every bit possible), had it up to 2020, where I started feeling uncomfortable due to the short stem + short reach, sold it for 1.5k (with everything brand new and two forks and rear shock)
Now by the end of 2020 spent 3000 euro on a brand new carbon bike that I really like.
Thing is that I rode for about 7 years, 6 years "less casually" actually investing time into progressing skills and such, until I got a 3000 euro bike, which is now considered entry level beginner, am I missing something?
Or do modern mountain biker noobs think that perhaps a more expensive bike will make them faster?
Genuinely wondering what is going inside their head to classify this as a beginner's bike.
- First bike was a 300€ bike new (crap equipment, but I actually learnt proper MTB in Les Gets with this one)
- 2nd bike and first full suspension bike 800€ new (again, crap equipment) + added some mods year by year (chainguide, new rear shock, new derailleur (used) and for a total of around 300€)
- 3rd bike, my pride: bought a RM slayer SS350 frame for around 550€ and then built it part by part myself. Total was around 2000€ with used parts, so I would say around 2500/3000€ if new
- 4th bike, my current one, a spectral with some mods on it also (brakes to replace the crap guide R, handlebars, grips, saddle) --> 2500€ + around 500€ of parts
But hey, now I have a proper paycheck, so maybe I am more inclined to pay pricier parts...
I remember riding in California, once you have done that it becomes clear.
I met a group out riding, they took me on a nice hidden trail in one of the park.
The guy who had never worked a day in his life, was smoking the green from his pipe and sofa surfing for many of his days.
He had a lovely hand me down, free bike from his pals who worked in the area. It was a Santacruz with full XTR, it was not worthy of his pals to ride any more as it was outdated, had 26" wheels, and only 10 speed. But it was a tricked out rig!
Then down in SC itself whilst riding my old 26er Nomad, if you didnt have Enve wheels and on full carbon then you were on a budget machine. The amount of bling there was incredible.
The best part...
.
.
they all ride up an easy trail and down the easy trail no these bikes!
They thought I was nuts hitting the "downhill" track on my old 26er Nomad.
The "downhill" trail was somewhere between a red and a black in the UK, which made it a hard blue in Vancouver.
.
.
Then ride in Southern Spain or Pemby, Squamish, the Shore and you see some real held together bikes getting ragged.
Spain being the best, some balled tyres on old machines, going absolutely flat out pinned!
.
.
The point is... they make them because people like a status symbol to ride or want to believe that the latest thing is going to make them a better rider.
.
.
Cant wait to race my old 26" V10 next weekend at Glencoe (think I have had it 6 years now), aim is a podium against all the new bikes as always, even though I am still recovering from a really bad injury at the end of last year. My wheels are buckled and the bike is old and a bit haggered looking, but it still go's.
Every bike I test when looking to replace it, I realise that the issue with going fast is the pilot, not the bike!!!
.
.
Like you, my HT is a 2nd hand dialled holeshot, and my enduro bike a 3rd hand Mega, both frames, built up with bits.
My first ever was roughly £300, my second was £600.
My current bike is a hardtail (because its cheap and durable) which cost me around £1700. Its a very good spec but I originally built it with the parts from my previous one, so that money was spent over the course of the year upgrading it with proper components. Theres no way I could have dropped that money on it all at once. I put a ton of miles on it and still couldnt justify spending more.
My next bike will likely be a full sus. But ill just use the parts from the hardtail so the only expense will be the frame.
Thing is, there are some with a lot of money! When I say Lot, is like a Looooooot, meaning that what you, I and the other 80% see too much money, for these, it's seeing the price tag divided by 10....or even 100.
Imagine a SC nomad around 10.000usd. These people see 10.0000usd as you/I/80% would "see" or feel would like you seing 1000usd.
I
But starter bikes were more like £300 at that time.
The high end has got much higher in the meantime, and a modern £1k hardtail (pre-Covid anyway) would be better than my old Kili in absolute terms - but it wouldn't have filet-brazed Tange Prestige tubing or generated admiring glances and compliments from strangers.
And modern full-sus bikes are just totally different, far more capable machines.
Perhaps we're being a bit reductive about this though - I'd imagine this new Intense is more likely to be someone's second bike, when they realise the entry level HT is holding them back.
I appreciate the reply and completely agree. It’s not just with bikes but with everything nowadays. Status over everything - and I think it’s kinda sad.
I understand it’s an expensive hobby which is ever-growing. My plan this past 6 months was to buy a ready built bike for £1000 and under. That soon changed as the reasons we all know.
My Mondraker frame cost me £70 without a shock but a free crack. Had it fixed using carbon to act as a splint and it’s back in full use. I don’t intend to sell so I’m not worried about the fix being off putting up some people, but I’m glad I got a great frame fully working for under £300; and saved on something else going to landfill.
We as mountain bikers pretend to be ‘outdoorsy’ but will happily upgrade to the next best thing after a few years.. talk about all that waste.
Anyway, I’ve made my point. If you can afford it great, go for it. But don’t sell something as something it’s not.
Those with lots of money, I mean lots of money, tend not to spend it on bikes (maybe a small number do).
There will be a few business owners who sponsor their kids and take their sponsored rider in their company motorhome (lets call it tax avoidance).
I wonder how many racing next weekend in Scotland will have a bike bought on a credit card, money they have borrowed and live from month to month.
If I earned loads of money or even a comfortable amount, I would not spend it on bikes, first thing I would do is increase my work pension contributions to avoid the 41% tax in Scotland as far as I could afford. Then concentrate on my property, paying off my mortgage early as I could realistically afford. I would drive a car that met my needs, same with the bike I would ride. I would be tight around my bike as its a money pit and I would be sensible enough to realise its a money pit.
.
Well off people are often well off as they are frugal with their money.
You are spot on about that area of California. Their is so much money out there and so much focus on status and flash. Their use of the area code in the sub-brand just shows you their target audience is geographically small as that offputting number to the rest of us will resonate with all the locals. I think this is a focused play for deep local pockets who are getting into the sport but wouldn’t be caught dead loading an aluminum bike onto the rack of their 120k SUV.
I've been riding with people who are new to the sport a lot since last summer and they seem to feel like they're always "underbiked" despite me telling them that I rattled my way down sketchy backwoods trails on used hard tails for years while I progressed.
I also haven't heard the newer riders (that I've been out with, anecdotal) wanting a new bike to be faster, it usually seems like they want the confidence and comfort and think that will make them enjoy the experience a little more. When I was a new rider there was no one telling me that my steep head angle was making my descents sketchy or my STA was making pedalling harder, or that 29" wheels are the best.
I think Intense has made a gaff here. These are great looking bikes, I actually like them more than the intense-Intense colour schemes, and the smoother lines are a good look. But, I think there's a lot of new riders who don't want to be seen as a new rider, they want a bike that makes people take them seriously. Which these bikes would do, if they weren't branded as entry level. And there would be a lot of buyers remorse for someone who is looking to get taken seriously, or shed the very real reputation of the "started during the pandemic hobby rider" at the trail heads and is buying a bike to grow into over the next couple of years if everyone is saying "Nice bike, that's the intense entry level ride, right?
Good luck in your race.
Please elaborate. You have lost me.
Must make you feel good to talk crap about some guys that by all accounts did something nice by showing you some trails.
Like I said... you like your 26".... enjoy it. Good luck with your race.
I even often bragged about how it was such a good deal building it up rather than buying the complete bike, there’s a big difference between how much you’re willing to spend before and after you’ve really experienced the mountain biking you wanna do
Thanks for your clarity!
I can assure you nothing made up.
Lovely guys on California, but live in a different world financially to where I live.
Roadies are here are similar, latest and greatest. Its fine, they keep bike companies in business!
Someone is buying $400 derailleur pulley hop up kits and those one piece carbon wheels!
And if you still doubt it, check the pinkbike Buy/Sell for Cali. Tons of fully blinged out bikes that were ridden twice for sale. I love it, that's how I got my Yeti!
I guess he just read what I wrote and took offence too it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
My V10 frame came from someone in the states with was looking for the Holly grail of a Dh bike. He posted to a work mate in the states who forwarded on to me. I have loved it ever since.
I learnt the hard way that you can't buy results at the races, the faster boys are always faster, the best way to catch up with them a bit is to train better and eat better. Once you have something you are comfortable with, I like to stick with it for a while, until you get uncomfortable on it, find something more comfortable or it breaks.
I traded my 26 Nomad that I had in Cali for a 27.5 Mega. The nomad was a better technical climber, but the mega better going down and especially on bigger jumps.
I would love to find something that is the child of both bikes, 2nd hand and not expensive (I don't want much lol).
I had a 2018 Trek Remedy. You could probably find one for a decent price. I sold mine with top of the line spec for under $3k. I had it set up 150/160. That thing could take some serious hits and actually climbed pretty damned well.
Paid £600 for it.
For myself I look for parts 2nd hand and I am patient with my searching, only buying what I need these days and not what I just want.
What's strange to me is that they are presenting this as sort of a sub-brand of Intense..why? The graphics are also a little off the wall.
Personally think their bikes are ugly but plenty of people are still buying them.
Bikes like:
- Vitus Mythique 27 VR Mountain Bike 2021 £1349
- Vitus Mythique 29 VRS Mountain Bike 2021 £1649
- Vitus Escarpe 29 CR Mountain Bike 2021 £1999
or if you got a bit more dosh:
- Trek Fuel EX 5 £2,150
My love for the current Saracen lineup comes because it’s pretty much a top of the range bike for what I feel is a good top end budget.
There are so many better options both cheaper (marin hawk Hill), or better spec (Ripley / ripmo AF), or from a bigger brand (several models of stump jumper). Not to the Vitus ones you referenced, Polygon bikes, several Giants, etc.
I would literally never reccomend a "951" a beginner rider or friend.
www.costco.com/intense-951-trail-bike.product.1484050.html
We have laws and distribution rules about selling these bikes unassembled,
So basically this is just the Foundation build with a different name.
If you are going to bring back certain model names from years past, PLEASE make them resemble in both looks AND intended purpose, like their previous namesakes. New Tazer? Not a hardtail DJ/slalom sled. New 951? Yeah Nah, here is a lower spec trail bike.
Sincerely,
MTBers everywhere.
These new models could lead to some confusingly inappropriate secondhand eBay "bargains" for inexperienced riders though.
Sales numbers will be the ultimate metric, and in this environment they may sell a zillion or be left withoads of them.
When biking has enough ego in it as it stands, I don't know who wants to shout from the trail head, "yes, I'm a beginner, and I paid handsomely for privilege of letting you all know".
Good luck to them, they may need it.
While we're on the subject of fake ass play money... Why don't you take some time off Twitter & Xbox to learn about your shitty ass, phoney as f*ck American play money? LoL
Tracer is 4 going on 5 years old.
Newish primer and carbine have really slack seat angles (would never buy)
DH bike looks pretty sick, but not interested in DH bikes when you can get 180mm super enduro bikes that pedal well.
Demoed both the new primer and the latest carbine.
Carbine is the worst pedalling bike in the linenup (tracer pedals better).
I moved on from 455mm reach on a large to 480-485 and there is no way I would want to go back to 455. Yes it would feel massively short.
tracer 279 on pinkbike news
Them: I was thinking of giving mountain biking a go, can you recommend a bike?
Me: Sweet! What's your budget
Them: Hundreds
Me: Sweet. Make it $1k for a decent hardtail. Ride that until wheels fall off and you decide that you love it
Them: Sounds like a plan
Them Later: What can you recommend, I was think of spending $1500-$2k?
Them never: Can you recommend a $5k bike?
Point is, by the time they are ready to spend that amount of money, they know what they are buying...
North America's direct to consumer "cheap" brands are limited compared to everywhere else. Plus we get mangled with duties and taxes.
I haven't ridden a Primer, but I do ride a 2016 Spider 275C which has a very similar effective seat tube angle. Love it to bits, such a fun little bike!
I think Trek or specialized would be the best set up to do this. Take an older design, put it to modern standards and price it as fair as possible. Think of a prior gen epic FS, in aluminum, take away the brain, lose the dropper, put some NX stuff on it, aluminum kit, and try to price it at 2k. fully upgradable (Boost, 1x, disc ETC) and you already own the mold and design.
Maybe they're aiming to get them into Toyshops or some outdoor goods type retailers....
Deore, aluminum, 29”, normal travel.
It will sell. Don’t be silly like this.
www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vitalmtb.com%2Fcommunity%2Fmarci0%2C19560%2Fsetup%2C18659&psig=AOvVaw3hUBxz_Q_X8fAu1Yykkasd&ust=1623845151059000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCICJ7tjMmfECFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
1. Aren't branded or labeled as a Beginner Bike
2. Have modern geometry
They should have made these out of aluminum... but as many of the other comments have mentioned, they're either trying to get value out of their old molds or have a bunch of old geo frames already made that they need to sell. But they're all old-school geometry-wise so the only way to sell these is as "beginner bikes"... like beginners don't need or deserve good geometry?
That “we are here to help you learn” branding sound like an aggressive tactic
I’d go so far as to call it really intense marketing...
Geometry (especially seattube angle) seems a bit oudated though.
I mean, you said it: seems a bit outdated. Some people aren't going to want to show up to the trails on a Virus because they have a rep as being cheap (except they're actually just inexpensive\affordable), so instead they might get this because it's "cool" or "fancy". So people here are pissed because a decent brand is selling outdated and overpriced stuff, knowing that many people are brand-whores and will pay extra for junk product if it has the right name or connections, and that dilutes the quality of the whole industry.
Anyway, not every bike has to be the deal of the century. And if a fool can’t see past branding then let them be parted with their money. Ultimately though, a sub $4k carbon bike with quality suspension and a non-sx drivetrain is a reasonable deal in today’s market.
Oh, but the STA! Riiiiigggghhhhtttttt. Everyone claiming to be an industry hawk, yet perpetuating the idea that a bike a few degrees out isn’t even worth riding. The fact that this is exactly the way the industry encourages bike upgrades every x years while offering “lifetime” warranties doesn’t register. Better geometry would be nice, but this will climb and shred the hell out of everything but hardcore black trails.
No, is isn't. Direct sales brands are offering same/similar spec on carbon frames at $3K and less, and even the big shop brands are offering alloy bikes with NX for mid-3K.
"Better geometry would be nice, but this will climb and shred the hell out of everything but hardcore black trails."
Better geometry is necessary. This bike _will_ climb and shred everything including hardcore black trails, evidenced by hardcore black trails existing and getting shredded when bikes with even less ideal geo than this were the only option, but why offer "beginning riders" a less than ideal setup? Oh wait, maybe to quickly get them looking at an upgrade?
Intense claims to be forward looking, and has claims to various "firsts", but this definitely just looks like they have extra stuff they want to get rid of, but not at clearance prices, as opposed to something new and better at the "entry-level". Look at something like Ripmo AF Deore for that: modern design with decent spec for actually reasonable money. Yeah, it's not carbon, but in this case the carbon is the problem. These bikes being carbon is means it's using old design _and_ also costs more. Lose-lose.
If Intense really wanted to make something special for beginners, it wouldn't be with just a nostalgia- and jingoism-driven regurgitated old name applied to a less-old-but-still-old design, it would be a fresh design that actually helps the noobs and has actual value for the money.
It definitely sounds like a great plan for beginners to just order a bike they’ve never sat on over the internet instead of visiting a professional to advise them. Surely they will magically select the perfect geometry, model and fit on their first try so they can avoid the horror of a 75 degree seat tube. And of course a deal isn’t a deal unless you can actually get whatever you want to order, but that hasn’t really been a problem lately so maybe we can just ignore that detail.
“Even the big shop brands are offering alloy bikes with NX for mid 3k.”
Are you trying to make my point for me? Whether or not you think the carbon markup is worth it, it’s generally much bigger than a few hundred bucks. Which is why I say this is a fine value for someone needing a bike in 2021 if they want carbon.
Just because a bike isn’t the greatest deal in the world or the best thing since sliced bread doesn’t mean it’s a stupid product. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly not a ripoff. And if it’s the only bike someone can lay their hands on I’m betting it’ll treat them really well.
Yes, love the bike you have. But it would be great if the bikes that are available weren't New Old Stock dressed up with a reused name and a silly price.
It’s certain that this is a way to sell NOS, or to amortize a die as you said. What do you want them to do though, throw everything in the trash so nobody can ride them? They’re a struggling company behind the 8 ball due to past decisions. The decision here wasn’t what type of “beginner bike” to offer but whether they could offer one at all. I’m personally glad for another option, and hope they sell a few bikes to cover the shortage.
“at a silly price” - I think we’re done here. You’re not arguing in good faith based on facts, just repeating a mantra over and over. Nothing about this price is even close to being silly.
F-
I agree with everybody here though.... $3,700 for an "entry" level bike is pretty funny. Especially considering they made a video showing how to use the bike like the buyer has never ridden a bike before.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz12GceEsVo
That said I bought the 2020 Pro Build on sale from Intense earlier this year for $4600. I looked at Jenson and at the time they still had the same bike listed for $5600 which is kinda crazy.
Now the new 2021 Primer is over 6 grand. Granted they changed the suspension and some other stuff, but also increased the weight of the bike in doing so.
If you look past the questionable marketing strategy, though, it's a complete, full carbon Primer/Sniper for $3700. That's not a bad thing. I think Intense used the word "foundational" as opposed to "entry level" or "beginner" to describe the bike, and I'd say that is accurate. There's nothing on that build that is going to hold anybody back. I would much prefer a Deore drivetrain to the NX, but that's a personal preference.
Do I think this is anyone is buying this as their first mtb? I guess disposable incomes are a real thing for a few, or maybe your parents’ credit card. Truthfully my first mtb was a Raleigh I found on good old Craigslist for 50 bucks and a sick high five. I wouldn’t have it any other way, especially after spending thousands on bikes at this point.
All of my friends are pretty well off, but I would be laughed at showing them these bikes when asked to recommend a beginner bikes.
It's right under yah nose!
Pink Bike Buy and Sell!
Heck you can get a nice 2015 Ibis HDR with all the bells ad whistles for a cool $2200.
Way more than a beginner needs until familiar with all the doohickeys and whatchamacallits.
www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3048289
Have you guys checked out Vitus? You get Fox Factory Suspension and XT groupset for same price .....
beginners don't need carbon (all carbon frames easily crack on top tube or seatube in a crash)
alloy frame, modern geometry, modern rims laced to decent hubs thats xd compatible, dropper post
Is Intense the new Ellsworth?
"affordable bikes for new riders" f*ck off Intense
As a former and ‘never ever ever again’ Intense owner, at least the new to mtb rider can be assured of one area of performance. It will crack/snap/be badly welded etc.
What were they even thinking here??!! A starter ride is in the £800 region upwards. Even a full sus in the £1500 region is A LOT!
What a joke
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A company makes up a delicious cake and offers to let you eat it from a plain plate if you like the flavor. Your response is you only like turkey sandwiches. Please, put down the phone and go ride your bike.
Love you.
X0X0
rather go with IBIS/POLYGON/SPECIALIZED
Guys. Intense isn't Giant/Specialized/Trek/SantaCruz. They're super boutique, this *is* a good deal for that sector.
Get a grip.
Overall however, given the circumstances, while they share a similar shillouette, I think they are uniquely designed and have their own stylistic touch. When I think of the two brands, I think Ferrari, and Lamborghini. There are plenty of other supercar companies out there, but not many of whom have the pedigree in pioneering design and racing history.
What the companies are now, is what it is, and pedigree doesn't alway equate to a great product, but sometimes, sometimes it does.
I'll agree to disagree with you regarding the M29 and V10's silhouettes
Anyways, agreed to disagree.
Or maybe not!