erm. did anyone thing about the mud clearance? can't see it being very useful over here in the winter..... That back wheel will come to a halt after about 10 mins in the mud. Would look good on my wall though.

I doubt there'll be any problems with mud unless you decide to try and ride backwards...

There is some very clever (but subtle) profiling and edging going on there that will shed mud before it gets a chance to clog up. The only problem I can see is running big tyres but then if it's an AM / LFR bike I doubt you'd need anything over a 2.5 anyhow.

Be interesting to see how this one rides compared to the Santa Cruz new VPP bikes. I much prefer the feel of the Intense over the SC currently but we'll see how that goes

It all looks fantastic apart from the mud clearance and that hideous 1.5 head tube! It makes all stems and forks look rubbish and out of proportion!

The 1.5 head tube looks bigger in the pics because of the headset they've used. If they had fitted a normal design unit it would make it look much more 'normal'. I like the 1.5 headtube on my Uzzi as it balances out the look so much more than a thin 1 1/8 with oversized tubes everywhere else.

As for the mud clearance - it's not anything like as bad as the first picture makes it look. The angle the side view of the red bike was taken from makes the clearance look really small between the tyre and the bracing plate (which won't hold onto mud anyway because of the profiling) but if you look at the picture of the white bike (which is taken from a better angle) then clearance is exactly the same as with the other Intense models and I've never had a problem with mud clearance while riding in the UK.

It's also worth keeping in mind that these are pre-production frames. Expect changes just like when they showed the 'M5' at last years Sea Otter and finally released the tweaked design as the M6.

Oh dear

Looks like they made the same mistake as the 6.6 again. Too high and too steep for my taste.

Built with Fat Americans in mind I think!

wow i never thought mtb riders could complain so much (i usually say if its not good enough why dont you do it yourself). maybe once we see more of nicolai in testing there wont be so much grumpy old men..

Smutysmith - I doubt very much you've even swung a leg over the 6.6 let alone ridden it in anger in the terrain it was designed for. Regardless, do you think it makes you look big or clever to resort to 'let's insult the Americans' comments?

Spend some time riding the bike where it was designed and built and it'll make sense to you. If it's not right for where you ride - pick another. There's plenty of choice in the range.

Hey Smutysmith,

Why don't you and that guy from Culture Club stuff a few more boiled potatos down your pieholes!