Video: Intense M279 Prototype Bike Check With Seth Sherlock

 Paint it? Ditch the silly graphics and leave that thing raw.

 @ReformedRoadie: Yes, it looks like they had some decals left over from other bikes and just slapped them on there haphazardly. Just leaving it raw would be so much better.

 @ReformedRoadie: i.imgur.com/MrQiEYl.gif

 Forget what they paint it, “really not that close to production” is the biggest problem for a prototype that came out in 2019. That’s the life cycle for some other brands production models.

Intense used to be all about rapid prototyping and production, and has now become the complete opposite.

 @commental: That's actually how Intense marks their prototypes. That way they don't get shit mixed up and install the wrong parts on the wrong bikes etc., you know like....POLE.

 If it was sold in aluminum right now, don’t care what color.. my wallet would certainly be quite a bit lighter but I would have a huge smile on my face riding a modern aluminum intense. Those welds

 @ReformedRoadie: now your talking, just a Intense logo on the down tube.

 @mybaben: It's also how they do it in the auto business. They make em ugly AF that way you can not see lines and details. I figured it was the same idea.

 Bring the works ano colors back and thats it.

 Just call me ODB cuz ooo baby I like it raw

 @ninjatarian: totally agree. Intense is falling behind quick.

 If they paint it you won't be able to see the cracks

 Looks pretty friggin intense but you could be wrong.

 @flippantride: That's interesting. Maybe Steber does some of that too... All I know is that is how all their protos are.

 @ninjatarian: Agreed. Both their enduro bikes are WAY out of date. They should have released new bikes last year, but couldn't get their shit together. Not sure the real reasons...

 @mybaben: Yeah! Those things barely roll now that other companies have made newer ones.

 @orastreet1: LOL!! Sorry, not trying to insult the fan boys. I used to have a Tracer.

 @ninjatarian: I would say they are continuing to innovate. AG is the only one that has been on the Prototype, now the whole team has been put on test bikes. While the rest of the bike world is telling people 2022 for production bikes, Intense is still pushing with its team.

 Thank you man! Really means a lot.

 Todd’s beating his ass into shape .....solid kid forsure

 @sethsherlock: Hey Seth, just curious: how many times have you heard "No Seth, Sherlock?"

Ok seriously, I'll be monitoring your progress. Let us locals know if you'll visit the corporate office in Temecula, CA. You should schedule a ride in Greer Ranch and give us some pointers

 My M1 never went away!

 Not happening. Not after they sold their factory.

 @alexisfire: I didn’t know they had a factory. I assumed they were made at that place in Portland.

 @Tykebike: I regret getting rid of my aluminum Tracer.

 @vondur: I called in at the factory in Temecula whilst I was on holiday to buy some decals and a t shirt, I was given a factory tour. It being Friday afternoon it was mostly deserted. Got to see Shaun Palmer's M1 and an M1 tandem - scary, Leigh Donovans bike was also on display. I couldn't go round the development area though.

 I had santa cruz superr s8 26r 24r thing was 52 lbs

 ...with their signature crooked rear triangles.

 @bonkywonky: and usually quickly floowed by the trade marked #crackedtoshit ! But damn those biked were fast and gorgeous so I'd still get one in a heartbeat

 But can you compare 2 bikes from different manufacturers?
Size large is not a fixed dimension, every manufacturer has it's own dimensions/sizing.

Just my guess.

 I am not a huge expert of geometries, but I have read once here on PB, that as DH bikes are only used going downhill, so that the angle makes the reach bigger, because it is a derived number. It made sense for me.

 American manufacturers are behind on geo numbers . Specialized and Santa Cruz are actually making proper xl bikes with reaches in the 500 mark

I’m 6’5 and always on the hunt for the longer bikes especially DH bikes

Santa Cruz and commencal seem to be the only ones with those numbers on DH bikes

A few other smaller manufacturers have been starting to crank out longer bikes .

Here in bc large and xl models are the first to be sold out. .

 Stability means different things to different people. Look at the top ranks of the EWS and most of them are sizing down and running narrow bars.

 @PTyliszczak: are they down sizing are is there sponsor using new geo .

Alotta people I see out riding are on bikes to big for them

Riding a flow trail , it’s easier on a bigger bike .

Riding Tech a smaller bike is preferred

Alotta new riders now a days where I live many don’t wanna ride the tech trails .

 200mm of suspension travel on super steep terrain (world cup DH tracks are crazy steep mostly) turn the 465mm reach into much more real quickly.

In general I like the reach on my DH bike to be about 10-15mm less than my trail bike. Otherwise I have to run my bars crazy high or feel like I'm "reaching" to keep pressure on the front end. And I'm far from a DH racer on World Cup terrain. I can't imagine how much more exaggerated the effect is.

 @PTyliszczak: So big EWS guys don't want the reach...and DH racing guys don't want the reach either? Why do we want it?

 Hey svinyard, the very example you give gives nearly identical front center because the longer fork places the front wheel further out at same head angle. The sight has a front center of 818 at 485 reach. Intense at around 822 guestimate at 465 reach. There is a practical limit to how far in front of you you can have the front wheel without it loosing traction or having the rear center so long that you can no longer lift the front end. I'm pretty sure chainstays will get longer but probably not front center. Riders already have to move over the fork just to go around flat corners, so weight distribution is out of wack, Wich is why pros go for shorter reach.

 Hey, just noticed that the head angle is not the same as you suggested, the I tense is slacker by half a degree, pushing the front wheel another half inch further from what I said. Sometimes shorter reach also equals longer front center!

 @Svinyard: marketing. Sales.

 @svinyard: cause only squids need to size up?

 @PTyliszczak: lots size down for balance reasons and getting their rear center length and front center to more closely match

 @uponcripplecreek: Gotcha so it comes down to wheelbase/FC that is the balance between stability and maneuverability.

 Just a Primer of what's to come.

 When you have as much air and tokens/volume spacers as he has you don't necessarily need that much high speed compression damping. Fox stuff has good progressivity anyway.

 @mybaben: High speed damping is not doing the same thing as volume spacers, fox is currently not making coil DH fork either, so their damper tunes have to cater to only air spring characteristics with less HSC to start with.

 @Mondbiker: Technically it's not the same, but it will have some similarity in that HSC damping and or a lot of progression (from tokens) will help in some form of bottom out protection. But yes, HSC is actually involved in "slowing" the compression and air volume is giving bottom out/end of stroke protection. So I agree, they are different things ultimately.

 Pro racers pretty much need to ride clips because they can't risk coming off the bike. It can cost them the race.

 *Legend

Also one of the sickest looking bikes around.

Also no iso-grid

 @z-man: oh yea legend, funny I forgot the name since I actually rode one for years haha

 You mean the exact one that was spotted two years ago winning an EWS

 @freeridejerk888: yes, but in its production version

 @freeridejerk888: scroll down. Are you talking about this? This is new a new bike as far as im concerned.
www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/2020-MTB-Tech-rumors-and-innovation,10797?page=102

 That looks exactly the same as the alu isabeau ran two years ago in the ews just carbon. They teased a new tracer/ carbine last year and messed up not getting it out in time. My guess is that’s the mew tracer or carbine. Aka mini m29. Like spesh did with the demo @Thirty3:

 Nah, they only sponsor one of the most winningest DH Legends of all time.

 stfubike.com

 @oldejeans: Thanks!

 Being a pro is a whole different thing though. Part of it is the crazy speed they ride at, and part of it is that a pro has to do whatever they can to not lose time, since obvs that's how you win. Coming off the bike partly or all the way will cost you the win. When they literally clip themselves to the bike, that helps avoid that risk. It's best for them to do that since they're pros and paid to win. Amateurs who ride for fun don't ride that fast and aren't concerned with coming off or slipping on the pedals now and again. That's why we can ride whatever we enjoy and feel the most comfortable on.

 @mybaben:

 Looks more like a older Banshee legend

 I don't see any tent. I believe this photo was taking in the open?

 5’9” says it in the video