Intense had their foot on the gas throughout 2016, seeing them launch four brand new models in a short space of time. 2017 is shaping up to be the same, and their next generation Tracer 275 is a bang-up-to-date version of their well-known classic. We’ve put it through the wringer to find out whether it’s capable of tracing a winning line.
The Tracer is a staple bike in the history of the Intense brand, and they’ve consistently upped its game when it comes to travel and wheel size, never resting on their laurels. The latest iteration now comes with 165 mm rear travel, 27.5″ wheels and the JS Tuned rear suspension design. JS stands for Jeff Steber, the founder of Intense, who plays a major role in the design of their bikes and is known for welding the prototypes by hand. With the latest Tracer, Steber also relied on support from Cesar Rojo, the head of Cero Designs and the guy behind those tidy-looking bikes from UNNO, and Rojo has clearly had a hand in the design and kinematics of the Tracer 275.
The Intense Tracer 275 & the Frame
The Tracer drops with two different carbon frame versions, with the Factory, Elite and Pro models taking the SL frame with its slightly lighter, higher-end carbon lay-up and upper rocker arm also made of carbon. All of the models rely on the same JS Tuned dual-linkage rear end design, which is pretty similar to the VPP design that they used to license, but now it’s evolved to create an optimised suspension curve and use its 165 mm of rear travel. All of the carbon steeds have internally routed cables, which are routed through special purpose-designed channels so that servicing is much easier and clattering is prevented.
The Intense Tracer 275 and its geometry
These days we’re seeing the prevalence of a sort of ideal geometry set-up for enduro bikes, and Intense are no exception: the 460 mm reach for the size L frame is fairly long, the 65.5° head angle is slack and the 432 mm chainstays aren’t stupidly short. The Tracer 275 comes in four sizes (S-XL), and here’s an overview of the geometry:
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube length | 396 mm | 434 mm | 459 mm | 485 mm |
| Top tube length | 571 mm | 597 mm | 622 mm | 649 mm |
| Head tube length | 102 mm | 115 mm | 119 mm | 130 mm |
| Head tube angle | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° | 65.5° |
| Seat tube angle | 75° | 75° | 75° | 75° |
| Chainstay length | 432 mm | 432 mm | 432 mm | 432 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1154 mm | 1181 mm | 1207 mm | 1235 mm |
| Reach | 414 mm | 436 mm | 460 mm | 483 mm |
| Stack | 589 mm | 600 mm | 604 mm | 614 mm |
The Intense Tracer 275 and the build specs
Intense are dropping the new Tracer in five build specs, with prices ranging from € 5,298 to € 11,998. Each bike comes in a choice of two colourways.
Tracer SL Factory – € 11,998
Fork: Fox Factory 36 Kashima, Boost
Rear shock: Fox Factory Kashima
Brakes: Shimano XTR 180 mm
Drivetrain: SRAM X01 Eagle
Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth 31,6 mm
Stem: Renthal Apex Stem 40 mm
Bars: Renthal FatBar Carbon 780 mm
Wheels: ENVE M70 rims with DT Swiss 240 hubs
Tires: E*thirteen TRS Race 2.35
Here’s an overview of the other models:
Tracer SL Elite – € 8,198
Fork: Fox Factory 36 Kashima, Boost
Rear shock: Fox Performance
Brakes: SRAM Guide RS 180 mm
Drivetrain: SRAM X01 Eagle
Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth 31,6 mm
Stem: Intense Recon Elite 40 mm
Bars: Renthal FatBar 780 mm
Wheels: E*thirteen TRS Race Carbon rims with E*thirteen Carbon Shell hubs
Tires: E*thirteen TRS Race 2.35
Tracer SL Pro – € 7,698
Fork: Fox Performance 36 Float
Rear shock: Fox Performance
Brakes: SRAM Guide RS 180 mm
Drivetrain: SRAM X01
Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6 mm
Stem: Intense Recon Elite 40 mm
Bars: Renthal FatBar 780 mm
Wheels: E*thirteen TRS Plus rims with E*thirteen Aluminium Shell hubs
Tires: E*thirteen TRS 2.35
Tracer NM Expert – € 6,298
Fork: RockShox Lyric RC 160 mm
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch Plus RC3
Brakes: Shimano XT
Drivetrain: Shimano XT 11speed
Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6 mm
Stem: Intense Recon Elite 40 mm
Bars: Renthal FatBar 780 mm
Wheels: Stan’s NoTubes Flow S1 rims with Stan’s NoTubes hubs
Tires: MAXXIS HighRoller II 2.3
Tracer NM Foundation – € 5,298
Fork: RockShox Yari RC 160 mm
Rear shock: RockShox Monarch Plus RC
Brakes: Shimano BLM506 180 mm
Drivetrain: SRAM GX
Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth 31.6 mm
Stem: Intense Recon 40 mm
Bars: Intense Alloy Recon 780 mm
Wheels: SUNringlé Helix TR29 rims with Intense 32 hubs
Tires: MAXXIS HighRoller II 2.3
The Intense Tracer 275 on the trails
We were stoked to get our hands on the Intense Tracer 275 SL Factory for a pre-testing period of two months before its launch, taking it to Barcelona and Portugal as well as tearing up the local trails in Bavaria. We were putty in its hands just moment after getting the bike out the box, and its riding position is super balanced and central. Thanks to the generous gearing on the SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain, its steep seat angle and mega efficient rear end – even without flicking the platform damping – the Tracer is a mean climber. There’s pretty noticeable rolling resistance from the E13 TRS tires, which dulls the bike’s 0-60 performance.
The spec doesn’t have any flaws in terms of quality or performance, but it does seem a bit like Intense have just rolled the dice and duly kitted out the cockpit with a hotchpotch of parts: Shimano brakes, SRAM shifters and a RockShox seatpost. The colourway on the SL Factory is on a similar wavelength, and we’re definitely of the opinion that less would certainly be more. In terms of the trails, 200 mm rotors at the front would be a worthy upgrade to provide some additional muscle on long descents.
The Intense is super balanced on downhills, and those “long“ chainstays are an asset to its weight distribution and stability. The super stiff front end with ENVE M70 HV wheels, FOX 36 fork and the Renthal cockpit gives it really precise handling, but it’s certainly one for more expert riders. Less experienced riders might look for a little more flex, but racers will love it. The rear end is super sensitive and plush and gives great feedback. There’s no inclination to bottom out in the mid-stroke and it’s got some decent end progression. During our two months of testing, we added two volume spacers at the back.
The slack head angle and long frame are an open invitation on the Tracer to give gas, and those aggressive E13 tires are fairly grippy while the bike builds up some serious speed.
Our thoughts on the Intense Tracer 275 SL Factory
The team at Intense have welded a super potent and high quality enduro bike with the new Tracer 275. Ridden on your home trails or some gnarly race tracks, the Tracer cuts a fine figure and rides superbly. The geometry is super well calibrated and that JS Tuned rear suspension design works with sublime efficiency. But while the frame flaunts some tidy details, the actual build and design seem a little overcrowded. The Intense Tracer is irrefutably a great bike, but that price tag of just a notch under €12,000 is hard to ignore.
For more information head to the Intense website.
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