Video: Pre-Season Testing of Intense's M279 HP6 Prototype

Jan 23, 2023
by Mike Kazimer  


bigquotesComing into 2023 our goal is simple – we want to make the fastest pure downhill race bike that we can. Go behind the scenes and check out our latest downhill prototype, the Intense M279 HP6.— Intense Cycles

A 3D printed proof of concept.
The first complete prototype frame prior to fabrication.



Posted In:
Videos Riding Videos Intense Aaron Gwin Dakotah Norton


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134 Comments

  • 207 5
 I imagine there will never be a bike design Intense will settle on. It will forever be a prototype.
  • 100 4
 I assume you mean this as a compliment. I love that they show (and RACE!) prototypes.
  • 14 7
 @Fabris: Nope, try buying the DH bike you see the team actually riding; probably ain't gonna happen ever. Albiet it is as you mentioned regarding the show of their bike.
  • 35 3
 @likeittacky: I bought Luca Cometti’s race M16 so it is possible Wink
  • 10 15
flag likeittacky (Jan 23, 2023 at 14:18) (Below Threshold)
 @krumpdancer101: You miss the point of which bike is being refered to here. The M16 can be purchased , it's a production model that is currently on their website for sale. Not the case with the last proto or any prior to it if there were any. The Factory team has not been racing on the M16 lately from what if seen.
  • 18 2
 Ssoo, kind of like Hyper have done for the last 10 years?
  • 15 0
 F.R.O....
  • 25 6
 Don’t forget, it is international law that if something is in the pits at a World Cup (err World Series) race for any period of time the manufacturer is REQUIRED BY LAW to offer it for sale in Dicks Sporting Goods within 6 months. Those are the rules.
  • 4 1
 Exactly. Saying Intense and Prototype in the same sentence as DH bike is redundant by now.
  • 5 1
 @likeittacky: do you think other brands don't have their team riding prototype gear, or do you think other brands are less transparent about it?
  • 11 2
 You can’t buy the bikes Finn and Logic ride either.
  • 6 1
 @brass-munky: Everyone (or almost)races prototypes, but I would agree that it seems like the Intense WC team has been solely on prototypes for what seems like forever, while most other teams seem to throw them in for one rider, or during practice, or seemingly for a shorter span of time while their production bikes do the heavy lifting. Just a perception I can see people getting based on the news releases and articles around Intense WC team bikes.
  • 5 1
 @krumpdancer101: i met a guy with gwins prototype intense
  • 2 0
 @Vudu74: there's a sick hyper dh for sale on pb right now, but I can't find any damn geo numbers on it!
  • 3 1
 @brass-munky: I don't think neither. Your trying to engage me, into a moot point . Thus, prototyping and testing is what companies and test riders do to eventually decide on a production blueprint, before investing heavily into mass production.
  • 1 2
 @likeittacky: fact is they can't race something that will never see the market and I believe it has 5o be out within the race year, so they at least do small runs so you do have a chance to get one it's just the frames sell as fast as they are made.
  • 5 0
 Always you can buy something looking like Intense or reverse. Canyon Sender mixed with Specialized Demo Wink
  • 1 3
 IKWYM but I suspect they're not THAT bothered about selling a tiny number of DH bikes anyway.
Their ever-changing prototypes might still help them sell enduro, trail & ebikes if the racers do well on them.
  • 1 0
 @initforthedonuts: spotted
  • 1 1
 @Zozordan: Costco...
  • 1 0
 As with all bikes. Change is the only constant.
  • 3 1
 I do not understand how they continue to be able to do this. Is there not some requirement to produce the frame? Is there not some homologation requirement?
  • 4 0
 @mhoshal: Nope, thats BS. A team or individual can run any regulation compliant bike they want.
  • 4 0
 @jmhills: No
  • 9 1
 I distinctly remember Gwin being faster when he had less input in product design, had shit suspension and just rode like an animal.
  • 1 1
 @bertimusmaximus: I see your Logic
  • 1 0
 @likeittacky: I bought Dean Lucas' 2014 Worlds Devinci Wilson which was a prototype for the 650B bike. Had a one off CNC machined linkage, a coil converted world cup boxxer too.
  • 1 3
 @Brasher: That's really cool and all ! Smile I'm just trying to figure out what you're indicating is just a statement, that you own Dean's 2014 worlds bike or attempting to make a point along with a handful of others who misinterpret what was actually being described regarding Proto bikes and what Intense has to offer for consumers to actually purchase, not being the previous proto model or anything prototype after the M16.?? Sorry, i'm not being a smart ass; its just context gets skewed easily and the obvious occurs when people just respond according to popularity votes not keeping within context of the discussion.
  • 2 0
 @scary1: I’ve never read a more spot on observation.
  • 1 0
 and if my experience with their Temecula building is any indication this frame is as straight as Gary Busey and as durable as an Ellsworth.
  • 2 0
 @scary1: Nothing to do with him just being a younger athlete?
  • 2 0
 @lacuna: personally, it’s I think he got everything he wanted and lost the hunger.
Best thing he did was move to Tennessee.
  • 54 2
 It's a little bit weird looking, but I imagine with a nice coat of paint they'll be able to make it properly ugly.
  • 27 2
 my one critique...this video makes Windrock look semi-doable...when in reality is...it's a widow-maker course for sure.
  • 7 0
 I was certainly humbled my first time there. It was super dry and rock hard dirt to top it off. I ended my first day only bleeding from three separate locations with all bones intact so it was as good as can be expected. My home mountain, when it gets steep, it's always manageable because it's over a short distance. Windrock's pitch is relentless and mistakes are exacerbated quickly if you are an average rider like myself. You have to know how to use catch berms at speed.
  • 2 0
 And this time of year with mud...woof. But fortunately the whole region is at least rideable year round just a bit wet
  • 2 0
 @swellhunter: This makes we want to visit even more. My local hill also has steep, but short(er) pitches. I'd be keen to try one continuous insanely steep run.
  • 1 0
 @honda50r: Coming from the Midwest it's a total butt pucker the whole time, but ohhhh so rewarding at the end.
  • 1 0
 @bonkmasterflex: Come on down! Greater Knoxville area is packed with quality riding options
  • 2 0
 Oh man, my first Windrock experience was in the mud and fog and it was hands down the most humbling experience I've ever had on a bike. It's a prime example of a bike park that by all conventional wisdom shouldn't work since it caters to a very niche market / true DH experience, yet it works so well. I'm glad Windrock exists to humble mortals and to give the pro's a real place to train and test!
  • 18 8
 Ptototypes for team members. Production models go to Costco.
  • 8 1
 comes with a free hot dog and fountain drink though.
  • 17 8
 looks similar to a specialized demo to me ... or at very least they copied their homework
  • 4 5
 I was gonna say, this is how you copy a demo without copying a demo
  • 27 0
 Canyon Sender
  • 11 1
 Woah, bike companies follow similar design paths to offer a good performance bike? Who knew.
  • 2 1
 @kleinblake: Exactly - it's the 2020 Canyon Sender
  • 1 1
 @DizzyNinja: by building a Canyon Sender?
  • 4 1
 @kleinblake: I did a Command F to locate your comment before I posted exactly what you've already written. Reminds me of a Sender too. With higher link and idler...
  • 1 2
 @Ajorda:
Sometimes similar could have been available way earlier and way cheaper, so why wait to be similar?
  • 2 1
 This is the previous canyon sender
  • 3 0
 @wildedge586: I bet there's specific numbers from multiple prototypes that they were going for. Numbers that Intense wants and Canyon doesn't meet. Just because it looks the same doesn't mean performance will be exactly the same lol
  • 1 0
 Like the old demo 15 mixed with the 22 one
  • 14 7
 Sooo the goal of the previous designs was not to be the fastest?? Or were previous designs not pure downhill?? How do they determine if they made the fastest bike???
  • 28 0
 I think its when the lap time is the lowest.
  • 3 1
 @maestroman21: Had to bring some objective blimin' facts to the argument, huh?

(nicely played though - golf clap)
  • 6 1
 When it doesn't crack after 10 runs.
  • 32 4
 This is how development process works.

Step 1. Claim that bicycle design is really hard due to variability of x y z, e.t.c.

Step 2. Get high and come up with a rear triangle shape.

Step 3. Make it trendy. You wanna show off that you are researching new technology? Give it a high pivot idler pulley, an extra link here and there, e.t.c. You wanna stick to the O.G roots? Make it shaped like all the other bikes, claim that the low pivot is more responsive, e.t.c

Step 4. Tweak the linkages to get the rider preferred anti squat and progressivity

Step 5. Make the frame, give it to the riders. Riders will have feedback based on how they are feeling that day.

Step 6. Make adjustments, repeat testing, e.t.c.

Step 7. Riders race the frame. If they win, say it was because of a well handling bike. If they lose, its because they are not up to speed fitness/mental wise.

Step 8. Everyone still has a job, and got paid over the course of the last year, and bikes are selling due to marketing. Thats the important bit. Go back to Step 1 next year.
  • 4 0
 @8a71b4:
Don't you go an spoil it for everyone .....
  • 2 5
 @8a71b4: 100%. This is, give or take, how all product development goes.
  • 4 4
 @Tambo: Not always. There are a few brands in the industry that actually care more about putting out good consumer products with good engineering behind it. The top one (which coincidentally gets talked about very little) is Nicolai/Geometron. If you would have bought one of their bikes back in 2015-2018, which were considered extreme, you would have a bike with "modern" geometry today.
  • 3 6
 @8a71b4: I never said the process doesn't result in good products or isn't backed by good engineering; it's just how it goes. Also, if you bought a hardtail that I made in 2012, you would have a bike with modern geometry today (but not modern wheel sizes) Smile
  • 1 0
 @Snowytrail: remove material till it does?
  • 1 0
 @Tambo: There weren't any slack/long hardtails that could fit 29x2.8 tires back in 2012 last time I checked.
  • 1 0
 @8a71b4: you missed the bit where I mentioned old wheel sizes then? And WTF does anyone want 2.8" tyres for?
  • 1 0
 @8a71b4: comments are on fire today. Love it.
On a sidenote, Gwinns beard looks badass.
  • 1 0
 @Tambo: 29x2.8 is a great setup for trail riding on a hardtail. You can tune pressures for different terrains just like you would suspension. If you go higher pressure, you essentially get a larger diameter wheel that has great rollover which is good for efficiency, if you go lower pressure you get a more compliant ride.

In comparison, fat bikes are great for traction, but you can never get the pressure high enough safely to have decent efficiency, whereas 27.5+ bikes have smaller wheel sizes that aren't great for rollover.
  • 1 0
 @8a71b4: yeah nah mate, I'll stick with my 2.3s. anything over 2.5 can get in the sea, as far as I'm concerned Smile
  • 6 1
 I know it is contemporary to say bad things about Specialized, and sometimes they carry their products for 4-5 years which seems uninnovative to some, but honestly, they came up with the Demo in 2019, it is 2023 and other brands' protypes looks like exactly a rethought Demo. Same with Enduro and SJ Evo, they are still considered as standard of their own class.
  • 5 0
 More Canfield Jedi than anything else. I know that Chris worked with intense at some point in recent history.
  • 9 2
 How is it like a Jedi? It’s not a dual link or a proper high pivot?
  • 1 1
 It does look a lot like one I agree. It isn't the same platform but it looks very similar I see it as well
  • 7 1
 @SonofBovril: because it has the force?
  • 1 0
 @SonofBovril: it’s in the kinematics of the suspension design. Canfield’s CBF formula uses a unique way of keeping the center of curvature in the same spot in all parts of the travel. IFR incorporated Canfield’s “formula” in their kinematics.
  • 4 0
 I think prototype is a model name for their DH bike line. Intense Prototype DH
  • 1 0
 So it's a prototype Prototype.
  • 1 0
 dumb question but why does gwin always wear that protective vest outside of his jersey? trying to cover up some sponsors or is it just a comfort thing? just thinking that ideally you would practice like you race but hey what do i know
  • 1 0
 The old sende was a brilliant bike, so why not. The new sender is kinda ok, but with the old one not having room for 29 they had to make compromises - now most dh bikes are on 27.5 rearwheels again, so canyon could actually bring back the old one.
  • 5 0
 Send'er into production!
  • 5 1
 A 3D printed proof of concept..... of a DH unicycle.
  • 4 0
 I will gladly test free of cost
  • 4 0
 Watch out for Mr. Norton this season >>>
  • 3 0
 Great looking bike, Jeff is a super nice chap too. Striving for perfection is never a bad thing. Top work.
  • 6 1
 Canyon Sender
  • 4 0
 Needs more gravy boat
  • 2 0
 ‘So how do you want it set up Mr Gwin?’ ….. ‘oh 10 tokens and 500psi please’
  • 3 1
 Gonna need some more welds for that complete frame
  • 3 1
 Complete prototype frame? The welds don't look too 'complete'
  • 2 0
 Gotta save them grams!
  • 4 0
 Could be a prototype kind of weld, Imagine the cost savings of just tacking your shit together!
  • 4 2
 Oh yeah, the Intense Sendemo...
  • 2 0
 short video. Could have been a 'gram!
  • 2 0
 What was the goal of your current dh race?
  • 1 0
 Bike
  • 3 2
 Why does intense not make alu made in usa frames that are good anymore? What a wasted brand
  • 1 0
 I think they had a lot of quality/alignment issues. But I never had one. I only know what I’ve heard.
  • 1 0
 @drjohn: true, making good aligned alloyframes in relatively small batches is hard (You can watch Nicolai vids of what they do to make it work). If you ad a vpp system, which needs more than every other design good alignment, your in for a world of trouble. Another way is to make onepiece (or more accurate two piece) pivothousings like Banshee or canfield -or like on this prototype.
  • 2 0
 Hope IFR lights it up in 2023!!
  • 1 0
 That bike looks awesome, I cringe to think what the intense graphic guy will do to murder it.
  • 2 0
 Looks a lot like a high pivot Canyon Sender or Specialized Enduro.
  • 2 0
 send me one, I test.
  • 1 0
 Still wish they updated the M16 geo instead.
  • 1 0
 Pretty good for first payment
  • 1 0
 at least it looks better than the last one...
  • 2 0
 That looks goot
  • 1 0
 Looks like the Specialized Demo and Canyon Sender had a child
  • 2 0
 Looks like a Intenssion.
  • 1 0
 Now they need to flood that mt..mud training.
  • 1 0
 1 and a half min video made in a hurry after seeing the release of v10.8 ?
  • 1 0
 Does not look like a Session.
  • 1 0
 That was insightful.....not!
  • 1 0
 it looks like the old canyon sender
  • 1 0
 When will the final product come out?
  • 1 0
 Looks amazing I want one!
  • 1 0
 Yawn
  • 1 0
 Perpetual Prototype
  • 1 0
 "Looks like a Sender."
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