Intense says a medium frame weighs just 2.6kg (5.7lb) complete with a Fox Float CTD rear shock, seatpost collar, and rear derailleur hanger. Total weight for the complete, top-end 'Factory' version shown here is just 12.34kg (27.21lb) without pedals
Intense says a medium frame weighs just 2.6kg (5.7lb) complete with a Fox Float CTD rear shock, seatpost collar, and rear derailleur hanger. Total weight for the complete, top-end 'Factory' version shown here is just 12.34kg (27.21lb) without pedals - James Huang/Future Publishing
While Intense says the Tracer T275 Carbon isn't just a composite version of the aluminum Tracer, the frame tubes still use similar shaping - James Huang/Future Publishing
Intense certainly doesn't want anyone to forget what size wheels are on this thing - James Huang/Future Publishing
The VPP rear end boasts 140-160mm of travel - James Huang/Future Publishing
The Cane Creek DBair is available as an optional upgrade - and it delivers an incredible (and incredibly adjustable) ride - James Huang/Future Publishing
The internally routed cables are fully guided from end to end for easy servicing. The frame is also compatible with stealth-style dropper posts although the line is routed externally up to the base of the seat tube - James Huang/Future Publishing
A rubberized guard gives good coverage to the driveside chain stay - James Huang/Future Publishing
A machined aluminum plate blocks off the unused direct-mount front derailleur tab. We'd prefer that the entire stub be removable instead for a cleaner look - James Huang/Future Publishing
Intense has passed over its modular G1 dropout design in favor of a fixed 142x12mm thru-axle rear end - James Huang/Future Publishing
The new Intense Tracer T275 Carbon uses IS rear brake tabs instead of post mounts. Intense claims this allows for more rotor size flexibility and shifts the applied stresses from the frame to the caliper bolts - James Huang/Future Publishing
The rear end features one-piece carbon construction - James Huang/Future Publishing
Upper-end models use cockpits from Renthal. The long top tube lends itself well to short stems, too, for better control on descents - James Huang/Future Publishing
The internally routed cables pop out of the down tube just ahead of the PF92 bottom bracket shell - James Huang/Future Publishing
The carbon fiber front and rear triangles may be molded in Asia but the upper and lower suspension links are CNC machined at Intense's factory in Temecula, California - James Huang/Future Publishing
The 160mm-travel RockShox Pike is a perfect match for the rear end, offering up a supple early stroke, a nicely progressive spring rate, and excellent chassis stiffness - James Huang/Future Publishing
The Renthal FatBar Lite Carbon is reasonably wide at 740mm across - James Huang/Future Publishing
An increasing number of companies are pairing SRAM's outstanding XX1 drivetrain with Shimano's awesome XTR brakes - and for good reason - James Huang/Future Publishing
Grease ports are built into the lower suspension link for easy servicing - James Huang/Future Publishing
ISCG05 tabs are molded right into the carbon structure - James Huang/Future Publishing
Intense says that routing the stealth-style dropper line completely internally would work fine for the hydraulically actuated RockShox Reverb but would create too much friction for ones that use a traditional steel cable - James Huang/Future Publishing
Tire clearance is pretty good around these 2.35in-wide Maxxis High Roller 2 tires. There's still a pretty sizeable shelf behind the bottom bracket on which mud can accumulate, however - James Huang/Future Publishing
Following on the heels of its successful Tracer 275 27.5in-wheeled aluminum enduro chassis, Intense Cycles has released the carbon fiber Tracer 275C. Carrying over are the 160/140mm (6/5.5in) convertible VPP2 rear suspension design, burly frame layout and unmistakable Intense styling. Subtle changes to the frame geometry enhance its downhill capabilities even further, however, while carbon fiber construction sheds heaps of weight.
Companies often develop carbon versions of a popular alloy bike to reduce weight and the move has certainly had a huge impact here. Whereas a medium Tracer 275 aluminum frame weighs about 8lb with shock, Intense says the new Tracer 275C is just 5.7lb – a drop of nearly 30 percent.
Intense has also added an extra-wide PF92 press-fit bottom bracket shell, fixed 142x12mm thru-axle rear dropouts instead of the standard Tracer's convertible G1 units, rubberized protectors for the down tube and driveside chainstay, and internal cable routing that's thankfully fully guided throughout for easier servicing. There's also now room for a single water bottle mount inside the main triangle for non-piggyback shock options.
While intense says the tracer t275 carbon isn't just a composite version of the aluminum tracer, the frame tubes still use similar shaping: while intense says the tracer t275 carbon isn't just a composite version of the aluminum tracer, the frame tubes still use similar shaping - James Huang/Future Publishing
Carryover features from the standard Tracer 275 include the tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in head tube, high direct mount front derailleur tab, integrated ISCG05 chain guide tabs, and built-in grease ports on the lower suspension link.
Geometry will be similar to the aluminum Tracer but not identical. Intense has slackened the head tube slightly to 66.5 degrees for more confident high-speed handling while the bottom bracket has crept up a tad from a ground-scraping 13.3in to a still-low 13.5in to reduce the chance of pedal strikes. The seat tube angle is a little more laid-back, too, but reach remains essentially unchanged so riders making the switch should easily be able to reproduce their current positions.
The internally routed cables are fully guided from end to end for easy servicing. the frame is also compatible with stealth-style dropper posts although the line is routed externally up to the base of the seat tube: - James Huang/Future Publishing
As with Intense's other carbon full-suspension frames, the front and rear triangles will be molded in Asia but just about everything else (such as the machined aluminum suspension links and custom hardware) will still be produced at Intense's headquarters in Temecula, California, and shared with the standard Tracer.
The carbon fiber front and rear triangles may be molded in asia but the upper and lower suspension links are cnc machined at intense's factory in temecula, california: - James Huang/Future Publishing
Intense will offer the Tracer 275C as a frame kit or one of three complete builds with claimed weights ranging from 26.5lb to 28.5lb. The top-end Factory version will come with a SRAM XX1 drivetrain, 160mm-travel RockShox Pike RCT3 fork, RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 rear shock, RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post, Shimano XTR brakes, Enve Composites AM carbon wheels and a Renthal cockpit for US$9,999.
The vpp rear end boasts 140-160mm of travel: - James Huang/Future Publishing
The Pro build will cost US$6,599 and come with the same RockShox suspension bits and dropper seatpost but a SRAM XO1 drivetrain, Shimano Deore XT brakes, and Stan's NoTubes ZTR Flow EX wheels.
The US$5,999 Expert build switches to Fox Float CTD Evolution suspension, a Shimano Deore XT 2x10 drivetrain and brakes, and a house-brand cockpit.
All of the new bikes and frames should be in stores now.
James Huang is BikeRadar's former technical editor. After leaving BikeRadar in 2016, he worked at CyclingTips and Escape Collective. He now runs the Substack cycling publication N-1 Bikes.
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