Intend Announces 'Green Age' Fork Updates

Sep 23, 2022 at 11:09
by Cornelius Kapfinger  
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PRESS RELEASE: Intend Bicycle Components

The Green Age update summarizes a variety of updated parts used in 2022 fork models. Why Green Age? In order for us to tell apart old models from new models easier we wanted them to stand out so we instantly know what internals we're dealing with when building up or servicing a fork.

So what's new? Dynamic internals seals: Made out of the best material called FKM, which spends more sensitivity, less friction and less permeability of the seal.

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Shim-stack: For 1.5 years we have invested a lot in trying out different configurations of shimstacks and ideas. Our goal was to find the sweet spot for comfort riders and racers. With this new tuning, we are able to provide both a soft setup and a firm setup with our external adjuster. The special shimstack configuration allows us to have sensitive damping in all positions of the external adjuster, so no matter if you ride it firm or soft, you will always benefit from sensitive, supple damping.

Damping piston: The Green Age damping pistons have better oil flow, less hysteresis, which gives you a more consistent damping over the descent.

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Dust wipers: The green SKF are the top-notch of existing dust wipers. They are more expensive than the usual D35 OEM SKF seals but they are worth it. They keep the dust out as good as possible while having the lowest friction possible. Price upgrade? Prices are not affected by the Green Age update.

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Bonded Crown Technology
Our new bonded crown technology will be present on all Hero and Edge forks. It's basically a milled out version of the crown we use on our heavy-duty freeride fork Flash. This obviously reduces some weight while keeping most of the stiffness this sturdy crown has to offer. Since we will be introducing the Samurai soon which will be replacing the Hero in the lesser-travel sector, the hero will also be equipped with this crown in the future, giving it even more descending capacity than it already has. Because of its hollow nature, the shaft doesn't sit in the crown directly, but in a shell, in which it is pressed into the shaft, giving the shaft 100% contact area for optimal distribution of forces.

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The BCT Crown has been certified as E-Gravity-ready at EFBE Prüftechnik in Germany. This was one year ago and since then, the fork from the test bench is still ridden on our own bikes to have a long term experience.

What is the benefit? BCT increased the stiffness, lowers the weight and is bombproof. And: it looks very nice. Prices? Prices of the forks are not affected by the Introduction of the BCT.

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Linearizer
With the " Linearizer" we are introducing an optional retrofit upgrade for most of our forks. It will convert the regular air spring which consists of one positive and one negative chamber to a 3-chamber system. The device can be easily installed (no special tools required) on the lower side of the airspring, replacing the existing cap. In comparison to the regular spring curve, our Linearizer will add a bit of mid-stroke support and optimized ramp-up, which is achieved by a pneumatic bottom-out control (PBO).

By changing the pressure ratio of the two air chambers you can characterize the spring curve to your needs.

Price & Availability? The Linearizer is now available in our webshop. If you want to purchase a fork with the Linearizer already installed, just buy the Linearizer in the same order as the fork. Price will be 91,60 € excl. VAT. There is no price advantage if you buy it installed in your fork or not, to be fair to all previous fork customers and have the same price for all customers. We want to treat former customers equal to new customers.

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Installation & Compatibility? USD: Flash since 2022, Edge, Hero, Bandit, Infinity. It does not fit in older Flash forks, Ebonite forks, and some forks from end of 2021. You will find a compatibility check and setup manual on the product page: https://www.intend-bc.com/products/linearizer/

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Is the Linearizer for me? First of all: The Linearizer doesn’t necessarily make your fork better. It really depends on your riding style and preferences. The regular air spring comes with 2 volume spacer options which should give most riders sufficient ramp-up. Also our spring curve is already pretty linear and the added mid-stroke support is marginal. Generally you could say that the regular 2-chamber system is more comfortable, while the Linearizer air spring will add a bit of firmness, which usually makes sense in really gnarly and big- compression terrain, or race conditions.

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Defender
For anyone who has been wondering about the 5mm allen key cap at the bottom of their steerer tube: Wonder no more! We are happy to introduce our new USD mudguard. It's easily attached by utilizing the referenced cap. Not much more to say at this point, it's a mudguard, it catches mud.

Compatibility? The Defender is compatible with all USD which have a 5mm allen cap on the bottom of the steerer tube -> Hero, Edge, Flash, Bandit.

Availability? The mudguard is available in our online shop. Instructions? Follow the guide on the product page: https://www.intend-bc.com/products/defender/ Price? Price will be 20.17 € excl. Vat






Author Info:
Bommelmaster avatar

Member since Sep 25, 2010
2 articles

73 Comments
  • 74 11
 You know what solves the age old problem of air springs being not supple at beginning stroke and either too harsh bottom out or too soft ?
A coil spring .
Hysteresis can be eliminated with full open bath low pressure damping .
What you get is a fork that weighs an extra pound or more that performs flawless for years .
It's been done .
  • 37 3
 Marzocchi for life!
  • 28 4
 Vorsprung Smashpot coil conversion and an Avalanche open bath damper is the dream setup.
  • 18 1
 I see your 2lb weight penalty, and I accept it gladly. Bring back forks with 200ml of oil sloshing about in each leg.
  • 15 1
 I'm old enough to remember fox 40 ti springs
  • 3 1
 @spendtimebehindbars: how about the boxxer ones?
  • 13 2
 @spendtimebehindbars: I'm old enough to have a 1998 Z1, 2004 Monster, 2007 66 RC2X and 2007 888 RC2X Ti, all Italian-made, collecting dust in the basement...not sure if they're a retirement investment or for future project builds lol
  • 3 0
 @somebody-else: I believe the Avalanche open bath damping system is based on Marzzochi . It's been improved by adding a hydraulic bottom out . I have destroyed all my 55,s love the performance of my Shivers . But I think the Shiver is 8 pounds ! Keep hoping Fox will make a simple open bath cart for the 36 platform Z one . At least it has coil.
  • 3 1
 @Sshredder: Every single bottom out should be hydraulic, they got that bit right!
  • 6 0
 Went coil front and rear several years ago, not going back.
  • 21 0
 I'm old enough that I still have my Indy C!

You know what beats heavy, weight-specific, unreliable metal coils? Elastomers! This tech is so advanced that you don't (can't) need to have any external adjustments at all! Not even for different rider weights! Elastomers are so good that they even automatically adapt to different temperature conditions.
  • 4 0
 @hamncheez: you are naughty
  • 10 0
 @tbmaddux: elastomers are so much better than coil that rocshox have put them back in their forks for 2022!
  • 3 0
 @Tambo: I'll see your 200 ml and raise to 400 ml in each leg: Risse Champs - and that was the 6" travel version.
  • 1 0
 @vr6ix: I'm hoping my mini shivers become my retirement fund at auction lol
  • 3 0
 @iamamodel: I see your 400 ml a leg and raise it to a full liter of oil in each leg. Behold the mighty Marzocchi Monster T!
  • 5 0
 But it's lighteeerrrrrr and more tunableeeee In all seriousness triple air chambers will be the future of forks. They'll feel very close to an old school coil but without the weight, and be adjustable using a shock pump
  • 3 0
 @southoftheborder: Holy shit! I fold.
  • 1 0
 @iamamodel: that's a Bender-worth fork right there #Huck2Flat
  • 2 0
 Have you at least measured your open bath hystereris? You seem to be sure of what you say
  • 1 0
 Some straight up facts for your eyeballs right here. Also you don't need a bunch of fancy equipment to service a coil spring. You need something to clean the grease off with, a heat gun and some fork grease
  • 1 0
 @lightone: I'm not good enough for that to be a problem. I am good enough for a blown damper or air spring to cause me serious issues. Yet another thing where best for pros isn't necessarily best for amateurs
  • 2 0
 @spendtimebehindbars: I still have some!
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: first forks I ever had, were awful racing in winter when you essentially had a near rigid bike, they were vastly improved by a DH buddy fitting speed springs!
  • 1 0
 edit
  • 1 0
 Yep, avy cart + smashpot conversion is a solid trail fork in my zeb. My newest dh fork is the dorado exp cause it has the open bath damper. (Do have to admit the air spring in it is pretty solid though).
  • 2 0
 @glp74: how dare you. They "automatically adjusted" for winter weather! It was a feature!
  • 2 0
 @hamncheez: Winter uphill KOMs FTW! Eat your heart out Fox Terralogic!
  • 1 0
 exactly, I am selling Marzo Bomber 888 RC3 if anyone is interested. This fork from 2012 feels better riding then brand new Boxer Ultimate and as good as Fox 40 Factory... I know cuz I rented all of them in KH this summer
  • 51 1
 Manitou's gotta be thinking," You're welcome". Hollow crown, TPC damper, and IRT. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
  • 5 0
 Or even pace who did the whole hollow crown or even mountain cycle who had a hollow cast crown with screw in legs in the early 90s
  • 4 0
 @Compositepro: yup. Can't recollect when Manitou did it (maybe pre xvert? It was the MRD option, that much I remember) but they had the patent first, at least stateside.
  • 29 0
 I love Intend... but that mudguard is horrible.
  • 13 0
 It looks really... excited..
  • 5 1
 Or like a flat-brimmed bro fender
  • 22 0
 I'd rather deal with dirt in my eyes than look at that fender ever again.
  • 6 0
 Isn't it pointing the wrong way? Water/ mud flicks up from the back of the tyre.
  • 3 0
 @iamamodel: the mud that gets in your face often comes off the top of the wheel and upper part of the back and flings somewhat forwards because that's the direction the wheel rotates, then the wind blows it back in your face. So I guess its designed to only keep your face clean and not the rest of you or the bike??
  • 3 0
 @iamamodel: I guess frame nowadays with massive downtubes kinda collect all that already so what you need to deal with is shit flying forward with your wheel and ending up in your eyes because you catch up with it. Look at MX front fenders, short at the back long up front.
  • 16 0
 I'll swim against the kool crowd and say it's pretty awesome what Intend is doing. Any time a small guy can land a few blows against a giant or two I'm down for it.
  • 1 0
 buy one only to discover there is no parts and no one services it after just 2 years Big Grin But yeah... get it to tell big guy f*ck you
  • 5 0
 SKF seals are the real deal. Just installed the standard SKF seals on a Rock Shox Pike. I don't have the green ones, but have the black ones (not fond of the green color. lol). Super smooth and very little if any stiction. Small bump sensitivity has improved.
  • 6 0
 While I'll pretend to know what most of the technical stuff meant, i can tell you for sure anything intend has made so far is lust worthy.
  • 2 0
 Is there anyone who services Intend suspension in the US? Or are they able to be serviced at home without expensive specialized equipment? I've never considered buying anything Intend because of the perceived hassle of having it serviced. I hate having to mail parts across the country or world just for service.
  • 5 0
 I am not a pro-mechanic but I've managed to do some basic service on them. But yeah, I had to send a lower because I broke a bit (not a scratched stachion!!!!) And it took a looong time for them to receive it (f*cking brexit and customs).
I have to say that when they finally got it, they replaced the bit on the day and I had it back with me only 5 days after, including a weekend.
  • 3 0
 I think nowTF tuned has started to service Intend forks in the UK. I need to look into that for this winter's service.
  • 1 0
 I’ve done a shim change on the compression stack and it couldn’t have been easier (never swapped a shim in my life on RS or Fox)
  • 6 3
 id never heard of Intend before right now, and it was a long day at work today..i think i stared at that close up picture of the mudguard & brake cable housing for about 5 minutes wondering if i was having a stroke
  • 7 2
 porn.
  • 1 0
 @spendtimebehindbars you can always go for the Blackline range of forks that aren't upside down if the exposed stanchions concern you. I ride both (Ebonite and Ebonite Bandit) and love them both, such good forks!
  • 1 0
 Hopefully they offer the Green Age parts as upgrades for previous owners (not including the crown change of course, that's probably too complex).
  • 2 0
 The Secus made my air fork to feel close to coil more than any other air fork in over 20 years MTB.
  • 2 0
 “ Made out of the best material called FKM, which spends more sensitivity” Wat?
  • 3 2
 hollow corwn with a cup pressed into it..... sounds like it might be creaky after a season.
  • 6 6
 A matter of time before those stanchions get scratched. Hopefully they intend to make some stanchion guards like the Dorado.
  • 4 0
 Wren makes nice carbon guards that I'm sure would work on these forks.
  • 4 0
 @MegalodonMatt: Yeah, those Wren carbon guards are so nice, Warbler makes protective skins for them.
  • 5 0
 The stachions on my 1.5 year old Edge are as new, no scratches at all.
But I have a titanium bike with Intend forks and Trickstuff brakes, so I only ride fire roads in nice weather......

Hahaha.....there are some carbon protectors available from rulemanz (or something like that, I cannae remember the name). Plus, if you're really unlucky, a stachion replacement is only like 75 Euros or so....
  • 5 0
 i would suggest writing him an email, he probably never heard about that.
  • 3 0
 @Bitelio: I've been riding the Edge fork for 6 months now. No scratches on the stanchions (and I ride a lot of non-well-groomed trails). The Rulezman protectors costs 199 euros
  • 1 0
 @Bitelio: Pretty lucky, I bashed one of the lowers on mine on the 1st ride which isn't ideal. Getting guards now
  • 1 0
 @vhdh666: that's the name. Thanks!!!
  • 1 0
 @konastab01: oh man, I feel for you. Fingers crossed I don't have that issue. But tbh, it doesn't keep me awake at night.
  • 1 0
 @dirtmcleod: Please tell me you’re not serious. That’s an April fools thing. Can’t tell if you’re that dumb or that funny. Lol
  • 1 0
 @erbsforlife1: LOL, I was hoping to catch someone else out!
  • 1 1
 @Bitelio: I wasn't fully bothered about it but bashing it on the 1st round makes me think i dont want to have another issue even if it is 70 euros for a stanchion
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