Intend Announces the Ebonite Bandit - a One-and-a-Half Crown Fork

Dec 1, 2021
by Seb Stott  
photo


If the idea of a fork with one and a half crowns and one leg longer than the other seems strange, it is. But Intend have good reasoning behind it. If the concept seems strangely familiar, that's likely because Intend has already announced a fork called the Bandit with the halfway house design, although that used an inverted layout. Today the one-man brand is launching the Ebonite Bandit, which again uses the longer left leg and 1.5 crowns, but in a conventional "right way up" layout, based around Intend's single-crown Ebonite.

Intend Ebonite Bandit Details

• Intended use: Enduro, downhill
• Travel: 180, 170, 160, 140, 130, 120mm...
• Wheel size: 29"
• Axle: 15x110 mm
• Spring: Three-chamber linear air spring with IFP stroke limiter
• Adjustments: Main air pressure, ramp-up chamber pressure, piston stroke-limiter, compression, rebound.
• Based on Single-crown Ebonite enduro fork
• Claimed Weight: 2,450 g
• MSRP: 1,595.80 Euro (excl. VAT)
• More info: www.intend-bc.com
photo
While the USD Bandit certainly wasn't every commenter's cup of tea, Cornelius Kapfinger, the brains behind Intend, says there was no shortage of demand for it; a year after its launch, he's still getting requests for more. This second incarnation of his 1.5-crown concept is based on the single-crown Ebonite, Intend's only "right way up" fork and the tool of choice for the Ibis-Fidlock EWS team. Basing his second 1.5-crown fork on the conventional design allows Kapfinger to significantly increase steering stiffness compared both to the original (USD) Bandit and the single-crown Ebonite.

Kapfinger says the half upper crown creates a useful (if niche) compromise between single- and dual-crown forks: offering some of the stiffness benefits of the latter without all of the weight. Sure, the steering will be somewhat limited when turning left, but as someone who's ridden a dual-crown fork on tight alpine trails, this is almost never an issue when riding. The primary reason for Intend to lengthen the left leg of the Bandit and Ebonite Bandit is not to increase stiffness, but to create more space for a longer air spring.



photo
The floating piston (shown with a green O-ring) can freely move up as the pressure below increases until it hits the adjustable stroke limiter - the central rod which is shown in two positions.

Air spring

The original Bandit simply used the extra space to house longer positive and negative air chambers. This has the effect of smoothing out the air spring curve, making it softer at the start of the travel, more supportive in the middle and generally more linear - more like a coil spring.

With the new Ebonite Bandit, Kapfinger has gone one step further. It has a three-chamber air spring design, a bit like you'd find in a modern Ohlins, EXT, or Manitou fork. A floating piston sits inside the top of the air leg. To begin with, the air pressure above the piston is more than that in the main piston below, but as the fork moves into the middle of the travel, the air pressure in the main chamber builds to match the pressure above the piston. From then on, the piston moves upwards freely, keeping the pressures on both sides equal, so the two chambers act like one big one.

This means you effectively have a small-volume progressive spring curve up to around the middle of the travel, then a larger-volume and more linear spring from that point on. When compared to a conventional air spring. this further increases mid-travel support, without creating excessive ramp up later in the stroke. According to Intend, this allows their air spring to be almost perfectly linear, like a coil, through the first 80% of the travel.

photo
photo

But the Ebonite Bandit has one more trick up its sleeve. Usually, the pressure above the piston is the only way of adjusting the progression of a three-chamber fork, but Kapfinger has added a further adjustment mechanism.

An adjustable stroke limiter sets the maximum height to which the piston is allowed to slide; setting this limit lower reduces the volume and so increases the bottom-out force. Unlike adding volume spacers or pressure to the ramp-up chamber, this adjustment only affects the final 20% of travel. And according to Intend, the spring curve remains more-or-less linear up to that point, so it should behave like a coil spring with additional bottom-out control.



photo
photo

Other updates

Both the Ebonite Bandit and the single-crown Ebonite will receive two further updates. Firstly, the bushings will now be individually machined to offer lubricating channels on the outside of the bushings. These are claimed to allow lubricating bath oil to be transported up past the bushings, thereby reducing friction, without resulting in those parallel marks on the stanchion that can be created by some internal bushing channels.

Secondly, the foam rings have been swapped to ones that hold onto the oil more strongly because, according to Kapfinger, the old ones released the oil too quickly. This upgrade will be fitted to future Ebonite and Ebonite Bandit forks and will be offered as a free upgrade to previous Ebonite forks.



Intend will start preorders today with deliveries scheduled for March 2022.

photo


Author Info:
seb-stott avatar

Member since Dec 29, 2014
295 articles

170 Comments
  • 237 1
 we meet again Cornelius Kapfinger
  • 123 0
 Every single article about Intend shoud mention name of Cornelius Kapfinger at least 12 to 15 times
  • 74 0
 I was waiting for you Mr Bond
  • 78 0
 Enter Ebonite Bandit, Kapfinger's henchman. Bandit has one less arm than earlier, when Bond pushed him in a crocodile pit
  • 37 0
 You've made you're INTENDtions quite clear Mr Bond..
  • 68 0
 After a rough descent, the damper oil gets shaken, not stirred
  • 29 1
 In my humble opinion, this guy is one of the best in the business. Not just because of his name. What most here may not be aware of, before he started with Intend, he worked for Trickstuff and engineered the Diretissima break - widely regarded as (one of) the most powerful (a lot of) money can buy.
  • 34 0
 @DrChaos: it makes sense Dr Chaos is on team Kapfinger. Lol.
  • 1 1
 @littleskull99: does he intend to put the other leg on.....they were saying disfigured baddies are not good role models and scare the youngsters
  • 6 0
 Kap-fingerrrr, he's the man, the man with the midas touch..
  • 6 0
 @fracasnoxteam: No Mr. Bond...I expect you to RIDE!
  • 149 9
 O. M. G...A Long travel lefty!?!? Take all my money (well not really all of it given all my success with subscription models!)!

Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
  • 7 1
 So it’s a lefty sans proprietary axle and migrating needle bearings? I’m oddly ok with it.
  • 7 0
 You need one for your gravel bike - STAT
  • 19 3
 @ReformedRoadie: I really like keeping my travel below the 100mm mark on the gravel bike but I have been keen to try this whole DownCountry craze...

Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
  • 3 0
 @notoutsideceo: do you need a second one to install backward so you have both a lefty and a righty and you can charge extra to see how you installed both of them on the same bike?
More subscription money??
  • 11 3
 @Supergirl56: Subscription leftys...hmmm....I'll get my Chief of Staff Adrianne put this in the 'for urgent review with Brian Park' pile...

Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
  • 3 0
 @notoutsideceo: Is it worth it to buy Outside+, or do I just stick with no subscription?
  • 7 2
 @healthy-not-sick-biker: It's not worth NOT getting it!

Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
  • 4 0
 @notoutsideceo: Now that you owe Mike Levy:
1. are your lawyers working on patenting the term "DownCountry"?
2. are you having him create a term for over suspended gravel bikes?
3. See point #1 for new term.
  • 3 0
 @healthy-not-sick-biker: bold move asking the CEO if you can buy his company.
  • 8 1
 @ReformedRoadie:

1. @mikelevy and Outside are currently in a lawsuit over the rights to the term. It's creating tension between the Mike's I've been told given @mikekazimer wants me to win
2. Hmm...gotta work in some kind of Tesla reference there...Elon sells with the Gen Z demo.
3. Great idea, I'll add this to the list of things to take up with @brianpark - I'm all for making money through litigation

Be safe be well,
Incognito Robin
  • 1 0
 @notoutsideceo: my bad. typo. "Own" Mike Levy (see your own comment RE: non-compete).
One little letter...big difference in meaning.

Again, my apologies.
  • 1 0
 Well, he is going to take all your money, did you see the price tag?


Personally I think the price tag is justified, though Wink
  • 93 5
 Funny how such a small production is in the price range of Fox with a minimum percentage of their volume... shows how overpriced a 36 or 38 is...
  • 6 26
flag goroncy (Dec 1, 2021 at 4:33) (Below Threshold)
 It's not that simple. List price on Fox is pretty much the same. But you can and will buy Fox for way less than that. This fork on the other hand will always cost you the full amount.
  • 27 3
 Also there are no distributors to pay, and less company "fat" (Admin, HR, Executives) eating into margins.

Still though the work rate for a 1 man design team is incredible.
  • 14 5
 But because you can’t get EP pricing or sweet free sponsorship swag, the shop bros won’t ever suggest this fork, and they’ll tell you it’s junk (because they can’t sell you their old one at a profit)
  • 10 3
 @L0rdTom: Hmm that does not count... Rockshox and Fox have a huge difference in price and they both have a scale which requires a lot of cost centers...
  • 16 1
 @goroncy: You guys can buy forks?!
  • 14 1
 @Chridel: The PB comment section where logic goes to die.
  • 3 3
 @Chridel: My point was that the profit margin on a fox or rockshox is probably not as high as you fear.
  • 6 1
 @TheOriginalTwoTone: I believe you meant grammar.
  • 2 3
 @L0rdTom: No logic. His first post is silly no matter how many up votes it gets. If Intend had 1/2 or 3/4 the volume Fox did, the cost would skyrocket because anyone with an ounce of common sense knows all the factors that that entails.
  • 1 0
 @gherz: Yep. Look here. And absolutely every single model is available. This is just one of German shops:

bike24 .de / radfahren / teile / fahrradgabeln?sort=price_desc
  • 1 0
 @gherz: just bought a Zeb Ultimate a few days ago. Just have to keep looking and have that money ready to spend.
  • 75 1
 The Derek Zoolander fork, it only turns right. Best used at the MTB Center for kids who don’t turn to the left too well.
  • 21 0
 What is it, a fork for ANTS?
  • 8 0
 Conversely, Ricky Bobby would not get on well with this fork.
  • 3 0
 @ReformedRoadie: i'm top drunk to taste that chicken
  • 22 0
 One and a half armed bandit.
  • 8 0
 Correction: One and a half legged bandit.
  • 1 0
 The head that burns twice as bright wears half a crown
  • 2 0
 @IntoTheEverflow: Dr. Richard Kimble is coming for him either way.
  • 1 0
 @ReformedRoadie: starring Jeroen Krabbé as C. Kapfinger. There's barely any indication here that the maker's gambling theme--Royal Flush Beschichtung für extreme Sensibilität--has registered, so film references will have to limp. If THM made a rigid carbon Lefty it could be called Long John Silver
  • 21 3
 This is a drawing, not a launch.
  • 64 1
 NFTs innit
  • 6 10
flag pbuser27288 (Dec 1, 2021 at 2:32) (Below Threshold)
 not only a drawing, the fork exists a while and have seen some EWS events www.pinkbike.com/news/bike-check-raphaela-richter-and-tanja-naber-form-juliana-free-agents-ews-team.html
  • 13 0
 @pbuser27288: except that's not the same fork that's the inverted one they mentioned in the article at least 5 times that the new fork was based off of.
  • 7 0
 @mhoshal: I mean, at least that one exists. That's generally the first thing I look for in a fork.
  • 4 1
 buy one, and they will use your money to make it.
  • 1 0
 Aside from one longer tube, half a crown and an extra air piston, all else is already in production with the normal ebonite. So he may not have a picture to show but it's not like he is offering a brand new product of which nothing has been developed yet.
  • 3 0
 @inside-plus: but is that really a reasonable ask? I think your expectations are a bit high.....
  • 1 0
 @jaytdubs: We are so spoiled in MTB world
  • 19 3
 I have mixed feelings about this fork.
  • 14 1
 Not sure which side I sit on either.
  • 4 1
 I dont want to be LEFT behind with these comments.
  • 10 0
 The current wheel base on my enduro bike is pushing 1300mm (XL 29er) and I frequently have to spin my bars 180 degrees in order to fit my bike onto antiquated alpine uplift infrastructure. Being a larger person I'm also very interested in the benefits of a triple crown fork - waiting patiently for the updated Formula Selva... I see the one and a half crown concept as having a lot of potential due to increased stiffness and also the ability to still fit my bike on some shonky old trailer.
  • 4 0
 This, the ability to still be able to turn the handlebar 90 degrees and more (even only one side) is underrated for transport and storing in small spaces.
  • 2 0
 Yeah, can't wait to see the DC Formula enduro fork too
  • 2 0
 Same here - I often need to turn my bars 180 degrees to fit on uplift trailers and roof racks. This still allows that while having some of the benefits of a dual crown.
  • 1 0
 And it turns to the right side too - in the direction of the drivetrain.
  • 1 0
 1300mm, why do you ride a tandem?
  • 14 0
 Perfect gateway fork for people unsure about lefty's
  • 12 2
 a human usually only has one brain, how can cornelius then be the brainS behind intend?
  • 18 0
 This one was clearly designed by his right brain hemisphere. Apparently he can use both hemispheres independently Wink
  • 5 0
 because he is not human obviously...
  • 5 0
 That’s why he’s a Bond villain.
  • 1 0
 Actually you've got 4, two in your head, one in your spine and one at your gut so...
  • 8 0
 @fish-monkey: is that what they teach now in post brexit britain?
  • 2 0
 @fish-monkey: dont forget the one on the end of your knob
  • 2 0
 @Sethimus: He’s actually correct. As a fellow pedant, I approve his message.
  • 1 0
 @Sethimus: I don't know, I don't live there, the flag is that of my regretful nation of birth. But I'm still right so maybe Germany's education system needs updating?
@pedaler certainly seems to have a mind of its own and cause some bad choices for the other brains to have to deal with!
  • 1 0
 Brains are like spec


@fish-monkey: according to site profile settings, flags indicate current location, not country of origin. Please update
  • 6 0
 Same fork in 190 mm and in 120 mm of travel. Is there a length where the fork works best or is it really so that the length doesn't correlate to performance and the same chassis forks just fine?
  • 4 0
 I had the pleasure to ride the first Bandit last summer and I loved its supplness and support. The look is something else, I liked it a lot and inverted forks will never look boring.
But the Bandit (which I have not ridden my self yet) looks so much better than most forks that come from the bigger brands, the attention to detail is incredibile and the smooth finish is next to nothing.

Straight outta Kartäuser Street! Bommelmaster rocks
  • 6 0
 X-ups......yeah right turn only
  • 5 1
 I like the giant air spring that doesn't hang off the fork in a weird spot.
  • 4 0
 Half way between a single and dual crown.

The Spork of the fork world, a ‘Sdork’.
  • 1 0
 I think if you're going that way it's a Dusi crown.
  • 2 0
 @gwys: no, it's a dingle crown.
  • 2 0
 Surely they could have extended the other leg and made it a storage hole? Even just a nice clip on carbon fibre tube for symmetry? In bike storage is so 2020s, they'd fly off the shelf then...
  • 1 0
 sweet design! but shuttlers and tail gate pad users would have preferred that the extended airshaft be on the right, non brake side, allowing maximum turning radius on the side that there is no disc. But who am I to criticize...this thing looks awesome.
  • 2 0
 I think the way it is, with the upper crown on the left, is better for tailgate pad users. Now they can turn it all the way to the right, leaving the rotor away from the tailgate. If the upper crown was on the right, they may be forced to put the rotor against the tailgate.
  • 2 0
 They need to offer the option of left or right for the double-crown side, to cater to each person's natural tendency for cross ups. For me it is a left turn, so would prefer a right side double-crown.
  • 1 0
 I would praise this fork, if it comes with 200+ travel. Would be great for DH so you could do tricks on your prefered side. This is kind of useless with zeb and 38. A bit of dissapointment
  • 1 0
 Why pick this over a Manitou Mezzer Pro? The Mezzer has a second positive chamber, is adjustable from 140-180mm, weighs 2032g with a single crown, and costs 1099.99 before tax.
  • 2 0
 @Kapfinger I think you can make an ordinary ebonite with a ti spring lighter than 2.5kg to achieve the same with less friction and less machining
  • 3 0
 I have a really hard time understanding why this is not happening anymore. Boxxer WC and 888, 55, 66 and even 350 had some Ti Spring options. The fact that even brands that offer coil forks don't offer a TiSpring option for their products is strange. And if sizing is an issue why not standardize spring size like for coil shocks ? Get the right stiffness/travel for your needs that could fit a 36, Selva, Ribbon and whatnot.
  • 3 0
 Imagine having a fork and all of it's complex pieces, and then having to stock hundreds (if not more) of Ti springs in six or seven different spring rates...it's a nightmare compared to the ease of adjustability and lighter weight of an air spring.

If you think a 2.5ft long Ti spring weighs less than a section of aluminum rod and some aluminum pistons, you'd be wrong, perceived friction aside.
  • 1 0
 @Balgaroth: You are speaking so much sense. Those Marz RC3 ti forks are still my favourite MTB components of all time.
  • 1 0
 @chakaping: i had the pleasure of owning a first gen 888 RC3 Ti, what an amazing fork. so under rated
  • 3 0
 @therealmancub: and yet we do it for rear shocks. But that is only true because shock springs are standard nowadays. Do the same for forks and the problem would also be solved. Is is more expensive to spend on R&D to try and consistently fail to emulate a coil spring, or just stock a few extra parts ref ? And yes even Ti coils will be heavier but much less stiction and no breakaway force either, so you get a much better fork. And since it is none rotational weight the extra heft is vastly irrelevant in terms of pedaling performance and completely irrelevant when going down.
  • 2 0
 @therealmancub: the only advantage of air components is for DJ or XC and for its ability to tune end of stroke ramp-up. But this can be easily addressed with bottom-out hydraulic cups same as used for decades in MX.
  • 1 0
 Can't find any indication in specs on the max tire size -- everything just says 29".

Would be nice to know if this would handle 29+ -- Manitou has options to handle up to 29x3.25", but nothing with this much travel.
  • 2 0
 I like the looks of it, but not sure I really want that on my bike.. Service is gonna be dramas and expensive I fear....
  • 2 0
 What makes you think so? I'd say it is probably much easier to get little spares than if you've got a big OEM fork that's a bit old.
  • 3 0
 I need one and a half hour to think about this.
  • 5 2
 I am so missing Waki right now. Someone please explain why?
  • 3 2
 The idea is it will give a more linear air spring - more like a coil. Yeh - just fit a coil to your fork......
  • 1 0
 Where is Waki anyway? I must have missed something but he just disappeared from the PB comments. Was he banned?
  • 1 0
 @IamDave: He left because of the constant pile-on of people abusing him in comments and and downvotes, not only on his trolling posts (which IMO were often quite amusing) but also on his serious posts.
He came back on briefly and the abuse was even worse, so he left again.
  • 2 0
 looks like one of those young ladies that shaves one side of her long hair off (her head) Smile
  • 3 0
 I liked the 90s. I’m glad their back.
  • 2 0
 I wish I was a good enough rider to think that my Lyrik hadn't solved my suspension problems.
  • 3 0
 Sorry. No go. I make my x-up the other way round.
  • 2 0
 This is the fork for when they build the A-line and B-line too close together
  • 2 0
 Can they make one that is inverted double crown on one side and linkage fork on the other?
  • 2 0
 Do you expect me to talk, Kapfinder?

No Mr. Bond, I expect you to suspend!
  • 1 0
 I wonder if we will get Cornelius in here going full potato at every negative comments? That was a fun evening in the comments section.
  • 1 0
 He's also bringing out a rear shock named the Ivorite. Paired up they'll work in perfect harmony. Or should that be harmonite?
  • 1 0
 Sorry if I missed it in the piece, but are they submitting one for review @seb-stott ?
Funny how you hardly ever see their products tested in the MTB media.
  • 5 5
 so all that ugliness to save 10-15 grams over a full double crown ?? Come on he only had to add 4" of tubing to make it a full double crown, would have looked good instead of this nasty looking fork. No thanks
  • 2 0
 I can't even ride a bike with 2 different tire manufacturers front and rear, how the hell am I going to ride this?
  • 1 0
 So, you have a gimp double crown fork that weighs almost the same as double crown forks, but at least you can turn the bars right more than 60 degrees?
Weird trade-off.
  • 1 0
 The concept is genius, but the asymmetry is somewhat disturbing - it reminds me of one of those haircuts that cover one side of the face.
  • 1 0
 This fork or any other of this brand will never be tested anywhere since he refuses to send it to any magazine or participate in any comparison test.
  • 3 0
 Looks sexy
  • 1 0
 My first thought was is it April already? Then I was thinking this man is a genius...
  • 1 0
 That fork is upside down, my disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined
  • 1 0
 Can someone make a new version of the marz super monster? It would instantly bring freeride back!
  • 1 0
 I'm surprised the release doesn't just have a picture of Cornelius throwing his hands in the air.
  • 1 0
 Hold on a minute, Its December first, not April 1st!
  • 1 0
 1/2 a lefty or 11/2 lefty’s?
  • 1 0
 Just a reminder, Leftys only have one leg. Not the same at all.
  • 1 0
 suppose i can tape some extra gels onto fork leg
  • 2 0
 Intri-hee-hee-guing
  • 3 0
 Allllllrightythen
  • 1 0
 well thats one way to do a bump stop
  • 1 0
 What's wrong with the world?what's next?
  • 1 0
 Somebody should tell them it's *December* 1st today, not *April* 1st.
  • 1 0
 Woaah, we're halfway there
  • 1 0
 living on a prayer...you may not be old enough torember the song

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk
  • 1 0
 Worth a little bit more than half a crown.
  • 1 0
 Ever wanted to do 3/4 of a tailwhip? This is the fork for you.
  • 1 0
 How can one change the travel, and is there a US service center?
  • 1 0
 right tight switchbacks only!
  • 2 1
 Metal tubing shortage hits the dual crown market.
  • 1 0
 Up next...bikes with half down and top tubes!
  • 1 0
 I straight up love this. Asymmetrical design is so much fun.
  • 1 0
 100 grams less than a Boxxer, 200 more than a ZEB... kind of no mans land
  • 1 0
 For when you go half send.
  • 1 0
 Looks like a great fork IMO. Rheeder seems to like his.
  • 1 0
 Shame it doesn't allow a direct mount stem.
  • 1 0
 One side for DH and one for trail.
  • 1 0
 Why adding that useless upper crown?
  • 1 0
 That bike though….
  • 1 0
 "I love cooooooooorn."
  • 3 3
 It's 1st of December, not 1st of April!
  • 2 0
 That's the first thing that occurred to me. 5 months early
  • 1 0
 But can it barspin?
  • 5 0
 No. Can you?
  • 2 0
 @nozes: me neither
  • 3 3
 120mm for DH? I don't think so
  • 3 3
 All this gimmickry to make air feel like a coil. Just run a coil
  • 1 1
 For people , who desire to look different
  • 1 1
 AMERICA! NASCAR EVERYTHING!
  • 1 0
 Single lug nuts suck
  • 1 1
 Hey, a real product, no death or theft, awesome!
  • 1 0
 Are you pulling my leg?
  • 2 3
 For the love of god just make a light weight DC please not this autistic shit
  • 1 0
 April already ?
  • 1 0
 What the shit
  • 1 0
 Right turns only
  • 2 2
 Why?
  • 8 0
 For the glory of X-Ups !
  • 1 0
 @LaurensVR: Can we pick the way we want to x-up or or it can only go to the right? (then i'm screwed)
  • 1 2
 Ummmmmm. K.
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.045424
Mobile Version of Website