Description:Equipped with 5.5” of seemingly bottomless travel, it’s torque sensative VPP design makes it the perfect choice for all day, go anywhere, endura rides.
With ultra efficient no BOB power transfer, and superior handling, the 5.5 EVP does it all.
Submitted by
Martin Daris
a Weekend Warrior
from Quebec, Quebec, canada Date Reviewed: September 14, 2008
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Tons of traction
Stiff frame
2.0" stroke shock so you can have a DHX air
Climbs extremly well for a 5.5" travel bike
Downhills are a blast and put a smile on your face
Good bb height
Weaknesses:
Standover is a bit on the high side
Could be lighter (FRO is)
A bit expensive but really worths it
Similar Products Used:
A lot !: Giant Trance, Intense Spider, Rocky Mountain Slayer, Rocky Mountain Pipeline, Oryx sptifire and Hurricane, ROcky MOuntain element, Devinci Banzai, etc...
Bike Setup:
5.5 evp medium frame with RP23, RS Revelation U-Turn air, Swiss DT 340 hubs, mavic 819 tubeless rims, thompson Elite post, Selle italia flight, Cross Mark tubeless tires, full Shimano XT drive train (but LX crankset, Juicy 5 (r) juicy 7 (fr), FSA headset, easton ea 50 bar, fsa stem
Bottom Line:
This bike is awesome!
It climbs everything while you quietly sit down and pedal with a smooth stroke! Mine weights in at about 30lbs but it feels so much lighter... Handling is incredible at any speed and loves air time !
I was a bit skeptical at first to throw away my Giant Trance and ride a 5.5" bike as my XC bike. It works realy well for me.
The VPP linkage and pivot placements are spot on.
I leave the propedal lever in the "open" position most of the time and it bobs less than my Trance when hitting the pedal strong !
Very pleased so far
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gman7
a Cross Country Rider
from Mooresville, NC, USA Date Reviewed: July 10, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Tsali, Laurel Mtn, Black Mtn
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3400.00
Purchased At:
Internet
Strengths:
Really plush, build quality, fit & finish, ride, out of saddle sprints
Weaknesses:
Stickers & head badge look cheap but so was my Yeti ARC HT and that turned out to be the best bike I had previously owned. The Fox RP-23 is leaking about a drop of oil past the seals after every ride.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized FSR & Epic, Klein.
Bike Setup:
Fox Float RLC, Fox RP 23, Sram XO RD, XT FD, Thompson, Titec, Juicy 7, Mavic Crosstrail, Kenda Nevegal Tubeless (about 28 lbs)
Bottom Line:
First off - before I start into the review I will state the kind of riding I like, that is hilly & fast flowing single track with jumps & moderate drops. So I was looking for a bike that climbs as well as it descends. This bike seemed to fit the bill perfectly from the specs.
To start - my first ride on it was a totally different experience as I came off an FSR & epic which are a fairly firm XC set up and much closer to a hard tail. They are also 2 & 4 lbs lighter in weight.
I thought that it would take some getting used to but much to my surprise it took all of about 15 minutes to figure out how it reacts. The 5.5 is a quick steering tight tracking steed that loves to be ridden from the middle center position. The specialized like to be ridden from a slight rearward bias which tends to unload the front wheel. I attribute this trait to the lower handle bar position (XC set-up) which makes me want to drift rearward to feel balanced on the bike during descents and at speed. It will surprise you as to how fast you can gain speed on the 5.5. It was exhilarating blowing through my local trail, a fairly tight single track that at times has barely enough room for your handle bars to get through in some twisty sections.
When approaching most obstacles on the trail you need to stay seated and power through the section. On turns and downhill sweeps the 5.5 inches of suspension loads up evenly and propel you out of the apex of the turn with little loss of energy. On short climbs you can get out of the saddle and hammer with little movement from powering the chain ring. I have bested my time on my favorite trail the third time out on the bike. This bike was a completely different animal then what I was used to as the bikes I have ridden you want to float over the saddle and shift your weight to compensate for terrain irregularities.
I honed my riding skills on a HT and learned that a disciplined rider can finesse the trail by picking a good line and using a smooth pedal stroke. The difference on the 5.5 is that you can stay seated and just about blow through anything you can find on our local NC trails. I have also taken some 2 -5 foot drops with no problems.
I think allot of the complaints I have read about the bike from other reviewers canbe attributed to expectations of feel from other suspension designs. If you are used to riding a HT or short travel FS this bike will feel like it has too much movement, although in reality it is not the case. I am a previous 4-bar fan but have felt zero pedal feed back from any gear combination in the VPP system. If you are more use to a big hit bike it will feel quicker steering almost twitchy due to the less slack head angle and not as plush. Regardless, to date there is nothing I have not been able to handle on this bike and better yet with no fatigue from the ride.
This is, as billed, an excellent epic all day trail bike.
Best bike I have owned to date and am happy with the choice I made.
Are there better designs available, Maestro, ICT, DW Link, Horst, VPP, yada..yada..yada? Possibly because the technology keeps getting better and better. I think any well executed design can make the differences seem small, it's a matter of tuning, therefore I liken the choice to picking a Porsche 911 or a Ferrari F430- pick your poison because perception is often reality.
Happy trails hope to see you out there ripen it up.
PS. I have also read much about the pivots & bearings. I keep checking them and see no problems to date all is tight. I will write an update review after a full season of riding to report on my experience. Also, Intense has announced a new generation VPP2 bike and will be offering an angular contact retrofit kit later this year for the existing model.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Cable0guy
a Weekend Warrior
from Torrance, CA Date Reviewed: June 6, 2008
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Does everything extremely well
Weaknesses:
High maintenance, especially the bearings. Creaks.
Similar Products Used:
Turner, Specialized, GT, Santa Cruz
Bike Setup:
Talas, RP23, Mavic wheelset, Formula brakes
Bottom Line:
The best trail bike out there (the new Intense trail bike is due out later this year). Climbs, handles, and does everything well. Looks beautiful. The only downside is that you need to maintain the pivot bearings at least once a year, and sometimes twice a year. I also have a creak in the seatpost that I can't seem to get rid of.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
puckhead
a Cross Country Rider
from Pasadena, CA Date Reviewed: May 15, 2008
Favorite Trail:
El Prieto
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Greenfish
Strengths:
It looks good. I wish I could say the quality matches the looks.
Weaknesses:
see below
Similar Products Used:
Rocky Mountain ETSX, Santa Cruz Heckler, Spec Stumpjumper FSR
Bike Setup:
Pike Air, X9/XT, Formula Oro Bianco, DT Swiss wheels, Panaracer Rampage
Bottom Line:
Not happy with Intense at all. After 1 year of riding the 5.5 I took the bike to my LBS to have the bearings replaces. The LBS told me that 3 of the bearings seat loose in the frame, they should press in and not seat loose. Either one of two things happened;
1) the frame came from the factory with the tolerances off and the bearings were loose from the get go Or 2) the frame was misaligned which caused the bearing to wear into the frame and cause the loose seating in the frame
The LBS locktite the bearing back in the frame but gave no assurances that back end would not have slop or play. Emailed Intense about the situation and they never bothered to respond. Did some research on the forums and it seems like many people have had quality control issues with Intense including problems with misaligned frames, especially on the 5.5 and 6.6. I’ll keep riding the bike, but I’m none too happy about the situation. I’ve learned my lesson, next time I drop $2K on a frame, I’m going with a company with superior customer service like Turner or Ventana.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Paul Mackie
a Racer
from Bristol Date Reviewed: May 8, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mountain Ash
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Handling. Suspension action. Geometry.
Weaknesses:
The colour of mine is Magnolia! VPP bearings wear out very fast.
Similar Products Used:
Orange 5. Spesh Enduro. Yeti 575. SC Blur.
Bike Setup:
Pikes. Tubeless wheels with Maxxis HRs 2.1. Speedball seatpost (get one!). Shimano XT. Hope mono mini pros.
Bottom Line:
I have owned one of these for 2 years now and it is by far the best bike I have ever ridden. I can't understand why it doesn't feature more in trail bike reviews - maybe Intense don't bother with bribes?
It does everything well. The handling is the best feature.
Only minor niggle is that the VPP is bearing hungry. The bottom ones go every 6 months. Its a small price to pay for a brilliant ride though.
The previous review echos what I am about to say: this bike will hurt you and reward you in equally significant measures. It took me a long while to get used to this bike - at first I hated it. The thing is this: if you have a good ride the bike will reward you tenfold. If you're feeling tired, picking bad lines, or just riding badly, this bike will throw you off. It is not for beginners! I put this down to razor sharp handling of the bike.
Now that I have mastered the 5.5 (it took about ten rides) it is by far the best bike I have ever ridden and I feel it will do whatever I want it to. What limits it going quicker? Rider input.
I have fitted a Roco coil shock on the rear with Ti spring and this has been a brilliant upgrade. Rear wheel tracks the ground superbly and low level sensitivity is increased.
Love it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris
a
from Boulder, CO Date Reviewed: March 31, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Strengths:
It goes where you want it to. On rock drops the front end sticks so you can bring the rear wheel back. The bike climbs better when the rear suspension is unlocked. At speeds it keeps confidence. All in all pretty sick
Weaknesses:
only demo'd it so I actually don't own it
Bottom Line:
I rode this thing on Porcupine Rim, Slickrock and a third trail. Slickrock could be ridden on a rigid bike, but the build was so light I never felt like I was lugging it around, in fact I climbed faster than my friends on hardtails. It handles the smooth rolly stuff very well On Porcupine Rim it handled the inital climb well. Once the downhill began and the terrain changed I learned the bike is insanely good. On the rock-drops, just dip the fork over and ease the rear wheel and the bike responds and goes perfectly. On the smooth fireroad parts this thing flies and responds to every little bunny hop with more speed. My friend said he had never seen me ride so fast.
This bike is confident in the high speed, agile in the slow speed, and a billygoat climbing. I WANT ONE
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bluechair84
a Weekend Warrior
from England Date Reviewed: March 21, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Stanedge, trans-pennine
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
stiffness, agility and finesse, cimbs well, efficient, descends brillinatly, rear wheel tracks very well, easy to move around the bike, ever so slightly small so it's flickable but roomy enough to breath... you name it, goes in here.
Weaknesses:
Oooh where to start, it will hurt you, mud clearence, fork clearence at downtube, lower link sits too close to the BB shell to run an E-type bash plate and roller, it will hurt you, can't remove the rear wheel without taking off the nut as it hits the rear mech, it will hurt you, its fast responses often slip into 'nervousness' territory. Seatpost slips a little - need a damn good seat pin, Hose guides aren't zip tie holed and brakes need to be dismantlled and rebuilt through them.
Similar Products Used:
Mongoose Teocali, GT I-drive (hated them both), quad mount vision, Whyte 69 thingy.
Bike Setup:
Pace RC41, Mavic 619 on hope XC, Maxxis Minion, Hayes, XT chainset mechs and gubbins, E-Thirteen DRS - I run this bike as a light AM machine. Weight is down, 6inch travel forks and chain guide & roller keep it ready to rock though.
Bottom Line:
Ok, we need to get something sorted. The 'it will hurt you' bit. It will, and it will make you bleed. You see, you'll start off at the trail head and you'll bounce on the suspension and you'll say 'yeah, it moves like suspension',. Then you hit the climb and sit and churn and think 'ooh, this ain't arf bad!', the seatpost might slip down a little but the sun is beaming and your mates are getting ahead - so you gun it and you'll pedal your heart out and you'll be at the top of the climbs with all those shiney XC boys in their lycra much to everyones suprise. You will be buzzing already by how excellently the first KMs went by. Then you'll hit the descent and put a few strokes in. The speed will come naturally, too naturally, you're flying! Dab the brakes, hit the first few turns and pause thinking; 'I can do better than this but something's holding me back'. You up the rebound, you haven't hit the trail like this before and you need the back wheel to be ripping. So you'll let go of the brakes more, take the risk of not feathering the brakes or even one finger prep. Holding the bars full fist enables you greater control, the bike will fly faster and faster. As it picks up speed the bike bites into every corner like it has a berm seeming to reveal in the new blurry world beside you. Knock the rebound to full blitz as you're out pacing the shocks ability to keep up, suspension whirring like Titanics pistons. Your XC buddies will be way behind you by now and you will be whooping with adrenaline! Then kapow! The bike will ditch you. You were going too fast for yourself you silly man, you just aren't as good as you thought you were, you found the little secret of the Intense and you couldn't handle it - and it will be hard to forget my friend. You see, this bike is phenomenally good and you can build it into whatever you want. But this comes at a price, its speed comes from a natural and slight nervous nature that comes with lighning handling it isn't noticeable most of the time but it is always lurking behind the next meander. By the time it has done its jekyl and hyde thing you will be going waaaay to fast to be able to deal with it and you will find yourself regularly laying on the floor crying with laughter and pain. Slow deft rock gardens? No problem. Fast suprising rock gardens? cleared! Long climbs? Lovely stuff. Twisty trails? Haulehluya! 3ft drops, Northshore, double packs, seesaws, whoops, XC, FR, AM, night and day, It's good to be a biker! Build it how you like - this is the greatest do it all bike ever built but put it trail side and its is just so wonderful. Slight waver of concentration, tiredness, too fast for your own good, got a cold? Bring bandagees. This is a bike that takes some time to get to know and if you are a beginner it will seriously knock your confidence - rich boys pretending to be bikers, get a Blur or Nomad or Whyte. If you are experienced it will scare you but then you learn, and then you know what fast is. I don't know of another bike that you need to run the shock at full rebound to keep up with the terrain flying beneath you.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
David Preston
a Cross Country Rider
from Manchester, UK Date Reviewed: January 28, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Dyfi Forest, Wales
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$6000.00
Purchased At:
Leisure Lakes, Bury
Strengths:
VPP Handling Weight
Weaknesses:
Bearings & DU Bushing Don't bother with stock Manitou shock
Rock shox Revelations Fox RP23 shock Hope pro II with Mavic 717 rims XT drivetrain with SRAM chain and Middleburn rings Avid Juicy 5 brakes (need upgrading...) Panaracer Cinder 2.25s Thomson post & stem Easton EA70 bar SDG saddle
Bottom Line:
NB: Price reflects current UK:USA exchange rate of c.£1 - $2.
This is a phenominal confidence inducing bike. I used to have an Epic which was preceded by a Stumpjumper Hardtail as I liked fast bikes. However, neither bike suited my aggressive style, and so were frequently wrecked. The test ride was racing at a 10 hour race in Scotland, and I loved it. So I bought one. Climbs brilliantly, but best on windy technical singletrack, preferably downhill. The handling is second to none. I still haven't found its limits (just my own) - the bike begs for more. The Pennine UK winters have trashed the bearings and shock bushing though, and I guess its because Southern California doesn't know what mud is. So it does require a bit of upkeep. But the bike is sufficiently wonderful when in working order, I find myself forgiving it for breaking.
You can race on this too - I've got podium finishes in long distance races against blokes on Carbon hardtails - strategy is damage limitation on the climbs and destroy the descents as the bike demands.
So all in all not a bad piece of kit.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
dirtsurfer
a Weekend Warrior
from Camarillo, CA Date Reviewed: December 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Latigo Cyn- before the fire
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$3500.00
Purchased At:
Bike Warrior
Strengths:
Great climber, corners very well, strong brakes, smooth shifting, bombs down hill.
Weaknesses:
One of the bolts loosens while riding, a little lock tite took care of it.
Similar Products Used:
'01 Intense Tracer, Ellsworth Id
Bike Setup:
'08 Lg 5.5 EVP, Rockshox Pike 406, Shimano 08 XT front & rear Derailer, cranks and BB, Avid Juicy 5, Mavic rims, Nevegal 2.35 tires
Bottom Line:
I thought my old Tracer was a good climber and decender but compaired to the 5.5 I was way off. The slightly heavier 5.5 climbs better, with more control and balance. On my first ride I cleaned a climb we call the stairway, on my old bike I never could negoiate the climbs with the hair pin turns with out a dab or two. I have easily climbed all the challenges at Chesebro. Going down hill when you turn off the Pro pedal you can fell the bike sag into it travel and the bumps melt away. The Thru-axle Pike up front combined with stiff rear make for a tight cornering, stable ride. Forget picking a line, I just point it down hill and let it fly.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad Fitkin
a Cross Country Rider
from Maui Date Reviewed: October 1, 2007
Favorite Trail:
the next one I ride
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
West Maui Cycles
Strengths:
Super-efficient suspension - plush & smooth downhill...rear wheel sticks to the trail like flypaper going up. Ultra-responsive in tight singletrack. Great balance of weight Front-to-rear. The whole package redefines the term "obstacle."
Weaknesses:
None yet...it's the newer generation upgraded frame...but to be fair I've only had it 3 months.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale Jekyll
Bike Setup:
XTR drivetrain, Chris King hubs & headset, Fox front & rear (Float RLC, RP23), Hayes El Camino brakes, Easton monkeylite, Thompson, Kenda nevegals.
Bottom Line:
I couldn't be happier, this bike delivers the goods. After 7 years on my lefty-equiped Jekyll, (hey,hey,be nice...I loved that bike, and it took me flawlessly through 4 Xterra races) my LBS guru pointed to the intense frame on the wall when I mentioned I was thinking of upgrading/updating my ride. My very first thought upon taking a good look at it was how unattractive and heavy it looked - it's the "raw" finish. However, after spending the next few days reading most of the reviews here, I did a complete 180 and quickly realized, from a functionality standpoint, this was the bike I was looking for. Within days I found myself in the grips of a financially insane, no-holds-barred dream build, ending up with a killer bike with 5.5 inches of intelligent travel that weighs exactly the same as the old-school 4.5 inch travel bike it replaces - 28.5 lbs. And I've even grown to absolutely love the "stealthy" - and environmentally-friendly, I might add - finish.
I love the way I was able to custom build it to my specs, I love the fact it was handmade by a small group of people passionate about their product, and above all, I love the way this bike functions - it's all business, no marketing fluff. Some things really are priceless.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Stan
a Weekend Warrior
from London Date Reviewed: September 18, 2007
Favorite Trail:
new Afan whytes level
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$3000.00
Strengths:
Strong, rigid, fast, superb VPP technology, goes uphill like the clappers and down even faster
This bike is the nuts. I bought frame only and was dubious about the cost (although I got a demo frame at reduced cost). It just soars uphills with no loss of power from the Vpp, which, on technical ups just rolls easily over roots and rocks and edges. Going down, there seems to be no end to the travel and the bike grips like mad on dry dusty trails and rock, floats over drops, and hooks up very well in the wet. As an example of its efficiency I just came back from 3 months with only 4 rides in that period, and immediately after a 3 week all inclusive holiday with no exercise did a four hour eyeballs out dry Epping forest scream with my mates and kept in the middle of the pack (at the front on climbs) - this bike gives you that extra 10% that you want, and gives you the impression theres even more if your body (or mind) can take it! One thing though in agreement with some other comments - this isn't a begineers bike - its fast, twitchy and demands some focus, but if you deliver that it will pay you back many times over. Buy one.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dale
a Cross Country Rider
from Buckinghamshire, England Date Reviewed: July 27, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Afan
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Mountain Mania
Strengths:
Great frame, paint and weld lines! Looks superb in custom iron grey. Almost primer finish but better than the raw works
Weaknesses:
Not found any yet, be decals are just stuck on and may take a beating.
Similar Products Used:
Tomac Eli (frame bust)
Bike Setup:
XC717's with Fire XC Pro, Hope Bulb XC hubs, Hope M4 brakes 180mm rotars, Hope Headset, QR's and Seat Pin, Race Face Carbon seat post with BEL Air Tit Saddle, Race Face XC stem and bars. Pace XCAM 41 forks, XTR/XT Mechs and shifters Hollwtech XT BB......... :-)
Bottom Line:
I have only ridden this bike a few times to date and it climbs excellent, esp when the pro-pedal is switched it certainly climbs like a hardtail. Downhills are super fast and absorbs all the bumps, roots and rocks you can throw at it. On one downhill i was certainly faster than my previous ride.
I know I will enjoy this bike for many years to come.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alec
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvine, CA Date Reviewed: July 26, 2007
Favorite Trail:
San Juan, Moro, Whiting, Aliso, etc.
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
The greatest strength is the ride. I've had it for 2-yrs now and ridden approx. 2200 miles. I've upgraded to the new Intense one piece rear linkage. Supple over most bumps even when climbing... great climbing machine! I was worried about the weight but it climbs better than anything else I have ridden. Downhill it gives you a wide range of options and flatters my skills. It's a great pleasure to ride.
Weaknesses:
The bearings/VVP linkage & Paint... I'm sure they'll correct these issues very soon!
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Blur LT, Specialized Stumpjumper, OLD GT
Bike Setup:
All Shimano XTR & SRAM X.O, CrossMax XL Tubeless Wheelset, 7" Hope M4 Disc Brakes and lots more!
Bottom Line:
Overall, GREAT full suspension bike! I'm good with tools and you'll need to be hands on with this bike because it's a machine that will require attention from time to time. But every great machine does and the 5.5 is well worth it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Thomas Woods
a
from Lyons, CO Date Reviewed: June 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Hall Ranch
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$3300.00
Purchased At:
Golden Bike Shop
Strengths:
Fast climber, very stable and supple frame, eats up terrain, comfortable, light, responsive. Night and day difference between this bike and my well-used 2003 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp FSR XC. The Intense 5.5 is a MUCH better bike than the Stumpjumper. The difference between virtually all attributes of the two bikes really surprised me. Made in the USA. Very high quality.
Weaknesses:
Bulit-up bike had SRAM X9 components, which over three days of riding I figured out were GARBAGE compared to Shimano XT and XTR componets I have used in past. Ripped all the SRAM stuff off and replaced it with Shimano. The Manitou swinger rear shock the bbike came with was OK, but it's headed for eBay as well asnd will be rpelaced with a Fox RP23.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Stumpjumper, Cannondale V700 Super, Raleigh Technium (a long time ago).
Bike Setup:
Juicy 7 disk brakes, Shimano XT drivetrain exept for Truvative carbon crank, Fox FLS 100, Fox RP23, etc.
Bottom Line:
An unusually good bike, and more than worth any difference you in price you might pay between it and a bike made in Taiwan (like a Specialized Stumpjumper). I'm surpirsed I don't see more of them on the trail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
michael valentino
a Cross Country Rider
from Creedmoor, NC USA Date Reviewed: June 30, 2007
Favorite Trail:
New Light
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$2050.00
Purchased At:
Intense Dealer
Strengths:
VPP Design; sweet tubeset and solid front triangle; a lot of travel for only 5.5"; good customer servide
Weaknesses:
04 shock linkage; paint-powder coat; stickers; lack of reinforcement @ bottom bracket; 04 rear triangle; suspension bolts and the list goes on
Similar Products Used:
Spider, Santa Cruz Blur, Specialized Epic and Enduro, Titus Loco Moto and Racer X100, Trek Liquid & many others
I am a 6’ tall and ~200# cross county rider who enjoys two wheels on the ground and an occasional drop.
This is somewhat of a dual review. I have been riding Intense frames for years and have logged over 3500 miles on the 5.5 and Spider combined. My insight is from two very different bikes from the same family. I may post a review on the Spider in the future. If you are looking for one and only one bike, pick the 5.5. The Spider has helped me get to the podium numerous times and even kept me in front of Tinker on a single lap (he was running 12 hours and I was 1 of 4 on a team). I have raced the 5.5 and it is slightly slower but has still won a race or two.
The 5.5 is plush, very plush. I feel very connected with the trail but small bumps disappear and big hits are tolerable. There is no need to pick a line, just hammer through. I like to say you are riding 'IN' the bike rather than, 'ON' with many others including the Spider. The under 6" bike appears to be just enough travel to do some crazy stuff but not too heavy to penalize you on the uphill.
As with any other company whom licenses a patented technology, Intense thinks they have a niche and can offer something different than Santa Cruz. They do and if you compare product lines there are not too many direct competitors. I rode the 1st generation Blur and loved it for years until I blew it up. I checked the Intense frame and they corrected a few of the early Blur’s problems as has Santa Cruz with the newer generation.
Intense has a few issues of their own and has continued to improve with each year’s offerings.
The LINKAGES were not good but have been upgraded on the newer models. I opted for a PUSH shock linkage but now Intense sells the frame with a PUSH knock off which connects the two side plates together. I actually cracked a Blur linkage but have never broken an Intense linkage.
The BEARINGS wear quickly and in my opinion prematurely. I know Intense does not make them but why not make something that works? Plan on replacing the two sets at the bottom bracket every six months to a year (or have intense do it every time you send the frame back). If the bike it not creaking or squeaking it is broken. You are not going to sneak up on anybody on a VPP.
The SUSPENSION BOLTS are not good. I have tried nearly everything to keep them in one piece and in their place. I have broken nearly one of each kind. I can not seem to keep them secure even using red lock-tite and the set screw.
The POWDER COAT is poor. I have had two frames (one 5.5 and one Spider) re-coated after the paint fell off. I would love to have an anodized frame but Intense says it costs them too much? I would pay more to avoid having to deal with a coating. The STICKERS were not great but that whole issue could be done away with by anodizing and etching like Ellsworth.
The REAR TRIANGLE on the 04 model was a bit light. The 07 rear has changed a bit but did not address the issue I encountered on both my 5.5 and Spider on two consecutive rides. The Spider has never even been jumped off a curb. The chain stay on the drive side sheared in the center of the weld and the best I can tell it happened over repeated use and not a single hit. The warranty replacement ‘07 has a larger chain stay tube but not the huge CNCd drop out like the 6.6. I could go for the few extra grams to avoid replacing that part again.
The FRONT TRIANGLE cracked in front and back of the bottom bracket. It was not a catastrophic failure but contributed to the pain of owning a $2000+ frame that can not hold up to a few jumps. It was replaced under warranty and has not failed in two years.
INTENSE CUSTOMER SERVICE – Brandon He can probably tell you some stories about me but ever since they got rid of some joker a few years back have been extremely professional. Their frames are in high demand and they have helped me get back on the trail and taken extra good care of me for all three times the frame has gone back to be repainted or replaced. I feel taken care of when I talk to Brandon and two new frames and one paint job in three years may be out of the norm but that is the cost of performance. There are no B.S. limitations on their warranty like most of their competition.
The build out weighs in at less than 30 pounds and stays firmly planted on the ground with 5.5 inches of travel in the back and 5 inches up front. I seldom sense the bottom of the travel even though I am getting all of it on the trail. Although it sounds like there are major issues above, they are not terrible. The frame is fairly stiff and resists most lateral forces. I recommend this frame to anyone who is not afraid of turning a wrench. This is a high performance machine which requires a little bit of tweaking to keep up and when she runs, she runs great.
Time to rest before the next ride, hope to see you on the Trail.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
boy wonder
a
from Orange County Date Reviewed: June 14, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Porcupine Rim, Holy Jim
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
used
Strengths:
I have a 2005 5.5 (older swingarm/2 pc upper link)that I purchased used. This out climbs and out decends my uzzi's; out of the saddle climbing is like nite and day. Feels taller and shorter than the Uzzi. Feels slightly more like you are sitting "in" it than "on" it. My Uzzi's feel like I'm riding an aluminum baseball bat compared to the 5.5, the 5.5 is very plush. Standover height is substantially higher on the 5.5 than the Uzzi (all of my bikes are large size). To clarify some tire clearance concerns, I am running 2.4 motoraptors on the 5.5 with no problems. It's a little tight, but it fits. We don't have much mud in So Cal (and when we do, I'm more concerned about my house sliding down the hill than my rear tire clearance) The VPP really hooks up when out of the saddle, and doesn't bob. The 5.5 doesn't seem quite as stout as the uzzi (I weigh about 190)but a 1 piece upper link (PUSH monoblock or post april 2006 stock upper link) would probably improve this. I am running a 2005 Float RLC 130mm fork, and this thing carves.
Weaknesses:
Bottom bracket and crank selection can be a little tricky, since the granny ring bolts can rub on the lower link pivots with shorter BB spindles. Get a BB with the widest spindle width if possible, although other setups will also work (YMMV. The 5.5 does not have the adjustability of the uzzi (head angle, ride height, etc) A slightly lower standover height would be nice.
Similar Products Used:
2 uzzi SL's (still have them, one going on 10 yrs!), tracer
Bike Setup:
8 speed XTR rapid rise, DT swiss 240's/velocity rims, fox float 130 RLC, Thomson stem and post
Bottom Line:
Best bike I have owned. Climbs, descends, doesn't bob, really hooks up for out of the saddle climbing. I am running motoraptor 2.4's F and R no problems.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Luis A. Diaz
a Cross Country Rider
from Miami, FL Date Reviewed: May 21, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$4500.00
Purchased At:
RBikes.com
Strengths:
Excellent rideability, beautiful performance and design
Weaknesses:
Name stickers tendo to come off too easy. On such a high end product, the name should be stenciled
Similar Products Used:
Santa Cruz Superlight
Bike Setup:
Chris King hubs and headset, Mavic 819 rims, Kenda Nevegal tubeless tires, Thompson post and stem, Juicy 7 brakes, XTR derrailers, Monkey Lite handle bar, Fox Tallas fork, Fox RP23 rear shock, Specialized Rival saddle, Crank Bros. stainless steel pedals
Bottom Line:
I am very satisfied with the performance of this bike. It climbs extremely well and descends just as good. I recommend this type of bike for all mountain ridding, it is very comfortable and the VPP works rather well. I have been ridding for a number of years and gone through a number of bikes, and as far as I am concerned, this is the bike to keep. It is fast, sturdy and strong.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Skarhed
a Weekend Warrior
from Manila, Philippines Date Reviewed: May 3, 2007
Favorite Trail:
A lot! :)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Cycle Options Trading
Strengths:
Top notch manufacturing! This is my first Intense frame so I spent an arm, a leg plus my left nut for this! (I'm working as a wrench at a local bike shop in a third world country, so do the math about the excahnge rate! hee hee) Jeff does a real good job making frames so attention to detail is a major strength here. Frame alignment, welding, bearings and VPP suspension technology!!!
Weaknesses:
The proverbial chink in the armor is the shafting that holds lover VPP link tends to come loose so pre and post ride rituals should be checking for looseness, but Intense quickly resolved this issue with the 6.6, by adding C-clips to the ends of the shafts to prevent them from pulling loose. Another is not being able to use bottom swing front deraillers (it's not so much a weakness but more of nitpicking) as the seat tube flares out a bit and the rear triangle will hit the derailler mount. Lastly is that if you want to mount a chainguide or shiftguide like the Truvative ShiftGuide, a little modification on the shiftguide is needed. (again I'm nitpicking...)
Similar Products Used:
Well, not exactly similar products but other products to compare with... admittedly I'm a bike freak as I got a small stable of bikes: Transition DirtBag, EMR (EchoMikeRacing) XC fullsus frame, Da Bomb XLR8R, Schwinn Moab hardtail, Santa Cruz Bullit.
Bike Setup:
I set up the 5.5 "slope-style" meaning, short travel freeride! :) 03 Z1 DropOff (best line of Zokes for me!) Holzfeller Dual Chainring and vintage 8 (yes, eight speed!!!) XTR and XT drivetrain. Why Shimano discountinued this I'll never know?!? 24 / 26 wheelsets and my favorite Planet X Goliath hubs! Oh and a Manitou 6-Way rear with a 550 spring rate! (springers for me only!)
Bottom Line:
It's a damn good frame! Expensive... but well worth the moolah! If you want something that doesn't fall into the big hit / hucker category but still wanna go 10 rounds in the ring with a hairy trail... I'd recommend this frame!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aardonhope
a Weekend Warrior
from UK Date Reviewed: April 13, 2007
$ 2050.00
Overall Rating:
Overall Rating: