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.
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.
http://www.intensecycles.com/carbine/
www.mountainracingproducts.com/mrp
www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11453
made in the USA will become a thing of the past even with intense bikes.....just watch....
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.
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
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.
ps as a trail rider, the intense speaks magic to my soul
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.
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.
if you see it from a logical side, why should we earn more then ppl in china? =)
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!
P.S.: why do you neg. prop nightfox for telling you what he did read? ....idiots...
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.
Just a bit
Anyone want to buy my wife & kids????
Oh, the irony.