Intense Carbon Carbine - First Look

Jul 26, 2011
by Richard Cunningham  
Intense finally released its first full-carbon fiber frame after almost three years of development. The Carbine is a 5.5 pound VPP-suspended trailbike chassis with looks to kill and a lineage to match. Jeff Steber, the founder and designer of Intense said that the project began as a made-in USA project, but that it quickly expanded into an international effort after Intense collaborated with Germany's SEED Engineering to match its vision with their expertise in carbon-fiber product development. The Carbine is reportedly made at an elite factory in Asia where the available materials and manufacturing technology is arguably the best in class for composite cycling products. The Carbine frame, like Intense's new Tracer 2, has adjustable suspension travel between 5.5 and 6 inches, and the frame is said to weigh 5.5 pounds. Intense is in production, judging by the fact that they are offering demo rides to lucky riders, so get cracking if you want to ride one yourselves.

Intense Carbine made from Carbon

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The outcome is remarkable: a do-it-all trail bike with a dual personality. "We took the original DNA of the famous Tracer VP and re-designed and improved it using carbon fiber construction,” says Steber.

The brains behind SEED come from years of experience in carbon fiber manufacturing. “We use all the great technology there is, but especially keep a focus on providing the best product”, says SEED engineer, Thomas Harter.

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http://www.intensecycles.com/carbine/

Author Info:
RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
974 articles

156 Comments
  • 33 0
 That is absolutely beautiful!! Love the name too.
  • 64 3
 No capability to run any kind of currently available chain guide be-it dual, single or whatever is a complete retard move by Intense.
  • 13 11
 Tommy c. You are correct sir. Stupid arrogant Americans think they don't need chain guides!
  • 2 3
 One of these bad boys in the direct mount configuration should work just peachy:
www.mountainracingproducts.com/mrp
  • 7 1
 That's got the same retention as a derailleur, you need at least bottom guide and a bash of somesort IMO.
  • 2 2
 Would something like this work? or would it just eff the frame?

www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11453
  • 5 0
 Those plates replace the spacers used on External BBs like what you get with Shimano cranks, but the intense frames uses pressfit BB93 bearings so nothing to hold any mount to the frame with.
  • 11 34
flag Rigaud (Jul 26, 2011 at 5:15) (Below Threshold)
 You don't need a chain guide with a properly adjusted derailleur, done it for many years.
  • 7 3
 Well then... Intense, ya dun goofed!
  • 13 1
 rigaud: a chain retention system does not take the place of a properly setup derailleur.
  • 9 1
 Rigaud , do you only cycle on tow paths or some thing ?
  • 5 15
flag lumpy12 (Jul 26, 2011 at 10:56) (Below Threshold)
 tom-c its a trail bike, why would you need a chain guide?
  • 5 2
 lumpy 12, it looks like some people might want to run it as an am/fr bike or maybe ride stuff like whistler on it, which is hell with 2 front rings or with 1 and no guide.
  • 5 0
 Exactly. And that is why CG tabs would be handy. With this amount of travel, it's that little more of a AM bike than it is a trail bike. As far as my memory goes back, no chainguide = chain falling off (especially the big ring).
  • 4 14
flag FXRob (Jul 26, 2011 at 12:31) (Below Threshold)
 BB mounted Stinger, problem solved
  • 13 0
 Look at the pressfit BB, and come again.
  • 2 0
 reign 0 with no chain guide seems to work just fine at whistler bike park and for am riding...
  • 1 0
 I saw a Norco shore in your photos. You run a CG on that, so I'm wondering why? Rougher than some parts in Whistler, it can't get I believe...
  • 4 1
 On my hard tail I ran 2 chainrings with derailleur and used that bike as a back up when my DH was down. Did all the trails at Bromont and rode it at Mont Saint-Anne with no problems. Now I'm set up single chain ring because I climb with a 32-t and didn't need the granny. Yes a chain guide is nice and prefered but........You guys can neg me all you want, doesn't change the fact that without a chain guide its not the end of the world.
  • 2 0
 Riding any decent track at speed requires a chain guide. Either you're a pansy and rolled everything and were on the brakes the whole way going slower than a turtle, or you'll full of it. There's no way you can ride Mt. Saint Anne without a chainguide, whatever you're riding.
  • 2 0
 tom-cuthbert: your quite the intelect and a know it all Smile
  • 1 0
 Thanks :3
  • 1 0
 @ Jason745, Those MRP upper only guides are steaming hunks of $hit. I've had one for 6 months and it's been nothing but trouble. drops the chain all the time, jams easily. It got to the point where its folded two chainrings to a 90 degree angle, gouged the guide mount, bent that, snapped the actual guide in two places and bent the chainring mount tabs on my crank spider. That and the bolt is soft as and rounds out with very little tension. Save yourself the headache and by the E-thirteen model instead, thats actually a quality product.
  • 2 0
 robbybriers just because i dont have a picture of the bike on my pb account doesnt mean i dont have it, those are just bikes im selling
  • 1 0
 Point made, Lumpy. But you forget that it isn't about the bike that isn't in your photos... It's about you saying you don't need a chainguide, while you have one. Yeahbro... Yeahhh ehmmm... No.
  • 1 1
 Tom: I was being sarcastic because you live on the other side of the planet from me and obviously don't ride regularly at Bromont and MSA. If ride @45-50kph just for fun is slow then so be it. LMAO
  • 1 0
 Lol did you just say you ride MSA at 50kph...?
  • 2 1
 Rigaud is full of shit, the frame is sick, but the lack of iscg tabs is a flaw, and chain guides damn near necessary if you want to shred your bike fast down technical stuff, so if you run 2 rings and don't lose chains, your not pushing it and going fast. now stop clogging my inbox with this stuff.
  • 2 1
 ... chain-line has everything to do with dropping chains. If the chain-line is dialed it shouldn't be a big problem.
  • 19 0
 No ISCG? Bummer! Deal breaker for me
  • 1 2
 Nevermind
  • 12 0
 Very tasty indeed, do you buy two??. One for hanging on the wall and one for riding..
  • 20 0
 Maybe I'll get three? One for hanging on the wall, one for riding... and one to sleep with between my wife and I...
  • 13 1
 No ISCG and a QR in the back??? Did they design this over breakfast at the International House of FAILcakes?
  • 1 0
 You can swap out the dropouts. Don't know if they have a thru axle option yet but it is possible.
  • 2 0
 I guess, but why would they release a 5-6in trail bike with a QR in the back? Does not compute
  • 1 1
 I admit I'd like an axle on my mission, but it isn't necessary on a 6" if you are mostly riding small jumps and hills. Consider the SC nomad and heckler. Qrs on both of them.
  • 1 0
 Such design as vpp or maestro uses single piece swingarm frame which is stiffer by nature than any system using separate bars/ stays like fsr or abp
  • 3 0
 The omission of ISCG is a puzzling one, it is becoming more commonplace to run 1x10. What I find most disappointing about the frame though is the cable routing. It almost seems as an afterthought. Surely they could have made it so it was all internal. I think the La Pierre Zesty for 2012 would be a better option.
  • 2 0
 I love it how a week ago, everybody was screaming "SESSION!" at Norco's new downhill bike, which was clearly different than the session, and now here intense releases a new bike, the exact same platform, and now the exact same material as SC's carbon blur, and no one's sayin shit.
  • 1 0
 Intense and SC bikes have looked very similar for many many years. It's old news.
  • 3 1
 impressive, this is clearly a response and intended to compete with the mojo slrs and the likes of other bike makers in carbon right below the all mountain 160-180 bikes.....some wonder why no chain guide...I would say because this is meant for the all around rider that will be riding this on flowy singletrack and occasional hucks....but not in the rockgardens of heavenly all mountain downhill...look at the mojo slr...similar design no ISCG mounts... intense finally decided to shave some weight off their bikes...i may get one of these in a year, once frame design issues are hammered out and delivery from taiwan is accomplished. ibis mojo slr is still undeliverable at this point by ibis and was promised in june.....lets see what intense can do with those boys in taiwan...
  • 1 0
 How do you know it is made in Taiwan?
  • 2 0
 article says it's manufactured in asia. if it's made in asia and it's carbon fiber - it's made in taiwan
  • 4 0
 A modular ISCG interface woulda been cool. Take it off if you want a la Spesh.
  • 2 0
 well, it better be made in taiwan, otherwise it would mean it is made in china, which if it was, I would never considering commenting about, ....also, Intense does not have carbon fiber laying specialists on staff nor a facility to produce the carbon frames in the USA....you think they steered left and went to china instead? when they are already in taiwan producing the tazer? everyone is making their carbon frames there at some super steal rate per frame (santa cruz, ibis, etc, etc, etc...)
made in the USA will become a thing of the past even with intense bikes.....just watch....
  • 1 0
 Jaybird, I asked because you mention Taiwan and Ibis as if they were related, but I'm quite sure Ibis is made in China. I've heard that from industry types and a quick Google agrees (not that Google is always right, but it adds a little more weight to what I've heard).

If the Carbine is made by 'best in class for composite cycling technology" then I assume it is made by Giant, who have been making carbon bikes for, from my memory, twenty years. It could be Merida.

Looks like you are buying the Carbine, not the Mojo - and you would be making the right choice from what I've seen first-hand of the quality of Ibis frames.
  • 1 0
 Well, thanks, this is great to hear. I will be not buying any ibises or carbines...good info.
  • 1 0
 Why wouldn't you buy the Carbine?
  • 1 0
 for me its pretty simple [and dont think I am whining because I hate intense (i like Intense bikes and owned/own the following: 2010 Spider, Slopestyle, 951, Tracer + and now 2011 Intense M9], however i like to ride 1 x 10 or 1 x 9 configs and prefer not to have to mess with a front derr..Thus, if this frame had the ISCG tabs so I can set it up as a 1 x 10 with a chain device and bashguard (no, the LOPES crap wont do even if somehow worked with this BB92 standard), I would have considered it...cable routing is still lagging..they could have integrated cable into that FlickGuard...similar to ibis..clean and nice...this is my 2 cents, however, even if I bought this today I am sure I would have loved it if I would be able to keep my front derr. tuned....Intense bikes are by far the best bikes I have ridden....and I am still buying them...
  • 2 0
 Intense Facebook page comments....

Ok guys, a lot of negative chatter about the new Carbine frame not having ISCG-05 tabs. Can you explain why?
Yesterday at 8:22am · Like ·

Intense Cycles Inc
Hi Joe, fair question given the volume of unqualified postings. [Sharples here,] its not a down hill bike, it was designed to be the best all Mountain/trail bike. It goes up, and it goes down. Front chain rings are needed for a good ride, I personally have never lost the chain. That is - NEVER. I actually have a Carbine, I ride it very hard. I dont live on the internet making reference to things I may not actually have any real knowledge about. The biggest causes of chain derailment is - poor set up, wrong chain length, worn out or low quality rear derailleur, bad chain or chain rings, bad suspension design, bad suspension set up, or rider error. Chain guides are a solution to a problem that can be fixed many other ways.
13 hours ago · Unlike · 2 people

Intense Cycles Inc
Please check out the new generation of tension retaining rear derailuers, they are sweet and really work , no need to add friction inducing guides and rollers etc. to drive train.
14 hours ago · Unlike · 1 person

Intense Cycles Inc
BB 92 allows for the mega wide BB and seat tube / DT junction for added stiffness, very light too.
14 hours ago · Unlike · 1 person


Fair enough answer! I wanna test ride one soon.
12 hours ago · Like
  • 1 0
 This is a beautiful bike but with the lack of chainguide compatability it does slim down the buyers. I run a rf godring and love it. But they are right. If your shit is set up right it won't fall off. nor is this a extreme downhill. Its an all mountain bike. I'm a little cautious about carbon anyway. I'm a hardtail guy and always will be. As for you all saying intense screwed it up with the whole no chainguide thing your wrong. They made it how they wanted it. If you want all that extra weight go buy a kona. Enough said.
  • 3 0
 Its very cool but too bad I just spent the grip of money on an aluminum Tracer 2 a month ago, grrrr. Oh well. Mine frame is made in the states!
  • 1 0
 i almost did too, and then the ibis mojo HD came to mind....carbon, light, and pedallyefficient....
  • 2 0
 Well, I'm very happy with it and its plenty stiff for me. Stiff as carbon? No I doubt it. The thing is I just don't like the look of the Mojo but I was considering it. I'm very happy with my Tracer 2 and also pedals wonderfully.
  • 1 0
 enjoy the tracer...that s a really nice bike..i sometimes miss it over the mojo hD..hmmm
  • 4 3
 Do want. And to those bitching and whining about Intense being dumbasses and not putting ISCG tabs on it.... I'd really like to see you make a nicer carbon frame than this with the ISCG's. Go ride your bikes you armchair mechanics.
  • 7 0
 *cough* Nomad Carbon *cough*

I think the main problem is not that this new frame doesn't have ISCG tabs, but that it has no feasible way to mount any sort of chain guide. In a market where 2x10 and 1x10 drivetrains are prevalent, it seems strange for a company to release a frame with more than 5 inches of travel without a way to attach a chain device.
  • 5 0
 It wouldn't be bad if it was a standard bb, as they have options to mount chainguides for them, but with the new pressfit BB's you cannot use adaptors to mount chainguides....I'm sure they will think of them soon, but in the meantime, I have no use for this beautiful bike. I've been running a 1x9 for 8 months and will be hard to go back to a front derailleur with the simplicity and quietness of a guided chain. Btw. It takes a lot more than a armchair mechanic to be able to pedal my bike up all the hills that I do in So-Cal.
  • 1 3
 Im more talkin about the jackasses with the comments of " it is useless because it doesn't have a ISCG tab "
  • 2 1
 Nicer carbon frame with a chain guide option? Ibis mojo HD, its not so much the absence of a chain guide mount that is puzzling to me. i just don't see the need for integrated bb assembly. Nice frame here tho.
  • 1 0
 Having ridden the HD extensively, and having just gotten off the Carbine a few hours ago, I can say that the Carbine blows the HD out of the water on handling on the flat/downhills, that said, the HD pedals stiffer, it just feels harsher at sag.
  • 1 0
 MRP make a direct mount 1X device that will go straight on this instead for the front mech... Though I can't find a picture anywhere with it fitted, it's the same as this one but without the band. www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/61253.jpg
  • 4 0
 My heart fluttered when I saw the article.
  • 2 0
 Nice geometry, thanks for posting the stack and reach. Even if it is geared for xc, I agree that iscg mounts would have been smrt.
  • 1 0
 I hear an XTR Shadow Plus rear derailleur with the chain slap suction feature turned to ON negates the need for a chain device....going to test one out tomorrow and will post feedback..on an Intense Carbine....yah!
  • 6 2
 No ISCG tabs, no care
  • 9 1
 No possibility of BB mount either with the BB92.
  • 2 0
 What they were thinking?!
  • 3 0
 That bike looks dreamy as a mofo but no iscg seems like a bad idea
  • 18 0
 Jeff Steber is one of the earliest adopters of the ISCG standard, so the lack-of leads me to believe that the Carbine is intended to be an XC/trail design and that the absence of the ISCG-05 is an intentional statement. I would expect a sequel is already in development - a sweet carbon AM frame designed around a 180/160mm single-crown fork and that one will definitely have chain guide tabs, and a much slacker head angle than the Carbine's 68-degree figure.
  • 3 0
 Fair enough Richard. Thank you for the explanation.
  • 1 0
 RC--nice to have you on the forum; honestly this conversation was a bit misguided w/o your inside scoop. THANKS! Thanks for your dedication to bikes and bikers.

ps as a trail rider, the intense speaks magic to my soul
  • 2 0
 Richard your point would have been more valid a few years ago, when 1x10 and 2x10 drivetrains weren't the industry standard for even XC racing. Having a single or double these days on a full suspension almost always requires a chain retention device, if only a top guide (such as on the Specialized Epic 29er Evo). The lack of even a regular European BB disallows the rider to mount any sort of chain device, limiting the marketability of the bike to people who want to run a 1x10 or 1x9 drivetrain.

Also since when is 150mm of travel "XC/Trail"? I consider XC to top out at 110mm front and rear, and Trail to be more in the 120-130mm range. IMO 150-160mm is AM, 160-180 is FR, and 180+ is DH.
  • 1 0
 ^^ I agree with your travel definitions.

The shape of the seat tube looks like it wouldn't even accept some of the seat-tube mounted chain guides that have come out recently in response to press-fit bottom brackets.
  • 1 0
 Kowtow is the act of deep respect shown by kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground. An alternative Chinese term is ketou, however the meaning is somewhat altered: kòu originally meant "knock with reverence", whereas kē has the general meaning of "touch upon (a surface)".
  • 3 1
 Asia ***!!! ...Is this the end of "Handcrafted bikes made in america with pride"
  • 3 0
 their hardtail is made in Asia too....Asia is a leader in CF work with a significantly reduced price too
  • 3 0
 i think theres no more advanced place then asia to build anything at this point, we allready switched production of nearly everything to there, the knowledge and experience is there =)
  • 1 0
 It seems like it, 1 example out of millions. A microcosm to a large part of our stagnant unemployment rate. I hope Intense still produces some of their bikes in the US we need every job we can get right now.
  • 1 0
 thats what we ALL wanted, we wanted 40" flat tvs for 500$, we got em, we wanted computers starting at 250$ pricetags, we got em. now that the advantage of quality build things isn't at our country's anymore aswell, we lost our last big advantage...

if you see it from a logical side, why should we earn more then ppl in china? =)
  • 1 0
 sad but true. thankfully I work in a business that can't get outsourced.
  • 1 0
 Asia is a leader in not having OSHA tell them they cant produce carbon frames......
  • 4 0
 Needs ISCG.
  • 1 2
 all this no mount for chainguide crap, just use a bb mount one, you are getting it frame only, so you are going to have to fit a BB anyway, so fit this at the same time, and if you are spending this much on a frame, then you can spare £30 for a bb mount guide anyway
  • 3 0
 Sorry mate, enlighten us, what bb mount guide fits BB93 pressfit?

Bit boneheaded I think not to have ISCG. I for one run 1x10 on my AM rig; if I can't pedal up in 34:36 I walk because an even smaller gear would be no quicker!
  • 3 0
 A BB mount guide won't work with the press-fit BB.
  • 2 1
 That would be my point.
  • 1 1
 ^ Sorry mate, I was typing my answer just as you posted yours.
  • 4 2
 Intense is pimp and all but I read really bad things about the customer service on their mtbr forum. :\
  • 4 0
 My experience has been great with them!
  • 2 0
 heard of loads of broken intense, anybody confirms?

P.S.: why do you neg. prop nightfox for telling you what he did read? ....idiots...
  • 1 0
 I know a lot of there 951's get cracks in the chainstays.
  • 1 0
 Intense has always helped me out so I can say their customer service is just as good if not better than most.
  • 1 0
 i heard 951_s like to crack at the headtube, weird... i realy dunno what to think of them, could be all blabla for sure, but its still not confy
  • 2 0
 i have a test bike in my hands.....black...taking her out on the trail ina few minutes...
  • 3 0
 yea no iscg go back & try again.
  • 1 1
 It's the little things Intense...

No ISCG, no full 1.5" head tube, thru-axle rear end would have been nice, and carbon links for 100% carbon frame bragging rights since this would be a big part of buying the frame.
  • 1 0
 There is the possibility to run a thru axle, 142 mm is a given and i think there might even be an option for 135 x 12. You just need to swap out the dropouts. They are the same as on the Tracer 2.
  • 1 0
 you can run a bolt on rear end. also a full 1.5" HT is useless on this type of bike. hell, no DH bike even has a full 1.5" HT
  • 1 0
 Off the top of my head, the 951 and the M9 both have full 1.5" headtubes. There are others but I can't think of them right now.
  • 2 0
 der, that part came out wrong...they all do
  • 1 0
 Firstly, beautiful bike, drool-worthy photos and, most importantly, I am sure it rides like it looks and would have few equals. Nice job Intense!
  • 1 0
 looks nice but they need chain guide mount, they also need to do this to the M series. do u really need to use that shity shimano BB?
  • 1 0
 More info available here: New Intense Carbon Bikes: spokenaboutbicycles.blogspot.com I'll be riding one later today and filing a report.
  • 1 0
 that link you posted is something else....wtf
  • 3 0
 C'mon Jeff...... get an ISCG-05 mount!
  • 3 0
 Carbon bikes are the future !!
  • 3 1
 ^^^...and the present
  • 1 0
 Looks nice but no size XL for the big boys, no ISCG and a pretty low BB for the class of bike, probably handles nice but I foresee a lot of pedal strikes
  • 1 0
 Yeah that max 24" TT is short. Too short to be a trail bike (for tall people), yet the lack of ISCG tabs limits utility as an everything bike.
  • 1 1
 that bike is gay. i should hea down to the disign office and give em a kic in the pants.... why why why wold you design a frame without icg tabs??? or any kinda tabs for that matter
  • 1 0
 Maybe they just thought new XTR rear derailleur would do the job, instead of retention device...?
  • 2 1
 well thats a tounge swister name.... not really i geuss... unless youve been shot with horse tranquilizer or some shitt
  • 1 0
 Jeez, I think they all smell money, all these carbon frames suddenly appearing now.
  • 2 0
 supply and demand...perhaps uninspired, but it gets me what I want Smile
  • 1 0
 Not happy about this , not one bit! Just recently built up my Tracer 2, now they bring this out!!
  • 1 0
 Its a different bike man. Be stoked on your Tracer, its an awesome bike for just about everything.
  • 1 0
 So sexy! I really love the Flk:Grd. Think I`m gonna try and get something like that for my Reign.
  • 1 0
 I wish they made a detachable skid-plate to protect not only the down tube but also the area around the BB mechanism.
  • 1 0
 I also wish the design of the frame could be more exotic. Not much change from the previous version......
  • 1 3
 Ok so they got too stoned while designing and forgot the isg tabs. The one part they really over looked is admitting its produced in an "elite factory" in "asia". That really means made in taiwan by some goon. Intense slipping for real, Some idiot will pay out they ass for this frame and try running it at whistler till it cracks in half 2 runs later.
  • 1 2
 You mean like 90% of the rest of the industry that has already outsourced their production? Don't see many Santa Cruz's snapping do you?
  • 1 2
 Ya actually I do see alot of bikes snapping these days at every event. They never post up on internet when a bike fails so you wouldn't know unless seeing it in person. I'm referring to aggressive riding not the fire road pedaling. Take a 24lbs trail bike to a real mountain and wait for the creaking and problems to start. Maybe in another 5-10 years they will figure out how to make lightweight linkages hold up to heavy riding conditions.
  • 1 0
 you are a worthless shitbird... This bike wont snap. All of the top carbon frames are produced in asia, this is no different.
  • 1 0
 Too bad it's not made in the States...that *was* a major draw for me with the Intense brand.
  • 1 0
 WELL its about time! its going to be a hell of a lot of money too!
  • 1 1
 holy BALLS!
  • 1 0
 WOW!!!! thats what I want now as my everyday trailbike!
  • 1 0
 does the fox shock have 2 stages?????
  • 2 0
 I think that's reserved for Trek only
  • 1 0
 Next step... Carbon M9... Drool
  • 1 0
 Carbon m9 would be GREASY.
  • 1 0
 and out of all bounds price wise Razz
  • 1 0
 I'm sure its just a matter of time now
  • 1 0
 But...where is the iscg?!?!?! hammer isn`t possible.
  • 1 0
 one of the cleenist bikes ive seen in a while!
  • 1 0
 just bring back the original Intense 5.10s!!!
  • 1 0
 Meh. Ibis has better lines IMO.
  • 1 0
 thats one damn sexy bike wouldnt mined riding her
  • 1 0
 why is everyone dogging on riguad? he has a good point
  • 1 0
 MRP make a DIrect Fit 1X, which would fit perfectly btw...
  • 1 0
 composed in the USA, designed in Germany, then made in Asia?..... blah
  • 1 0
 OMG - I want one.

Anyone want to buy my wife & kids????
  • 1 0
 Looking like my next bike.
  • 1 0
 waaaaaaaaant
  • 1 0
 Nice... ... ...
  • 1 0
 plus internal cable's
  • 1 0
 work of art!
  • 1 0
 looks dialed
  • 1 0
 how much for the frame?
  • 1 0
 under $2600 looks like...
  • 1 2
 "Get cracking..."
Oh, the irony.







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