Intense Carbine SL Frame the newest addition to Intense Cycles’ exciting line of carbon fiber frames. Weighing in around the 5 lb. mark and offering cool features like titanium bolts and a carbon fiber shock link, The Carbine SL delivers an exceptional ride for racers and enthusiasts alike.
“I have personally had the pleasure of riding this bike for 3 months now, and loved every minute of it”, says Intense Marketing Manager, Scott Sharples. “The SL gives me the ability to charge up steep, technical hills and then bomb the downhill.”
Intense designer, Jeff Steber, chose higher modulus carbon fiber to save weight and retain strength. He also added dedicated 135 QR dropouts and adjustable 4.75 – 5.25 inches of plush efficient VPP suspension.The SL hits the aggressive XC/ lt Trail segment with 68 degree head angle, low stance and light weight.Once again we joined forces with German design & engineering specialists SEED Engineering to create another Carbon Fiber master piece.
whereas the new 650b-wheeled carbine and tracer 275s ( named for individuals 27. 5in 650b wheels, although they’re more similar to 27in… ‘offi ;cial’ measurements absolutely really undoubtedly are a mess ) hogged the spotlight for the interbike show, the carbine sl remains intense’s trail fl ;agship.
ride & handling : aggressive ride that desires a few taming
that lack of mass combines with the ability amplifying, torque-stiffening virtual pivot purpose 2 ( vpp2 ) suspension style to actually build the carbine sl not pop other then explode the moment you press the pedals.
in spite of this, the speedy not grippy tyres, fl ;exy wheels and long, narrowish xc cockpit undermine the lairy trail potential on your low slung and inherently ground-sucking 2013 frame.
the vpp2 balances incoming impacts against outgoing power, thus once you back over the gas heading into boulder heaps the swingarm yawns back and swallows them extremely well for this sort of light-weight bike.
the fox fork will a similarly impressive job of hiding its relatively short travel because we are part of a smoothly controlled, impact-happy stroke. add fatter tyres, stiffer wheels as well as a shorter stem which super-low bottom bracket lets you actually rip and roar through turns.
it’s a comparatively extreme and – yes – intense ride which, along side the pedal clearance problems on your low bb, annoyed a few riders. there’s conjointly additional brake jack and pedal tug than a few can like, and therefore the outdated qr back finish and people thin-walled tubes will struggle to actually hold a line when you’re extremely caning it.
intense tag this bike for cross-country and lightweight trail use, thus regular hooliganism may not wise, despite its strengths. if you’re an aggressive other then skillful rider who likes a bike that constantly communicates over your feet and responds with intuitive immediacy to actually your hands, you’ll love it.
frame & equipment : desirable details on light-weight tubes
intense co-developed the carbine frame with german composite engineering specialists seed to actually get a powerful, close to 2. 2kg ( 5lb ) weight.
the vpp2 suspension still gets grease injection ports by the lower link and 2 shock positions for 120 or 132mm of travel. it sticks utilizing a quick-release rear axle, in spite of this, and therefore the press-fi ;t bottom bracket doesn’t have those useful chain guide tabs. it will have dropper post cable guides a minimum of, and therefore the whole frame is slammed super low.
intense distributors further built our sample into an ethereally lightweight cross-country bike utilizing a wishlist of easton carbon bits, as well as the cockpit, seatpost and its feathery ec90xc wheels. fast rolling hutchinson tyres as well as a braided carbon-rail fizik saddle prime it out at 10. 5kg ( 23. 2lb ) – a level several race hardtails struggle to actually match.
intense’s short travel trail machine is an incredibly responsive and intuitively reacting chassis which will match race bikes on climbs, other then can still do its share of rabble rousing. however it’s not, despite the worth, good.
Source= bikeradar
