Team X Fusion-Intense bike check: Intense 951

Jan 10, 2010 at 21:07
by Jason Peters  
I caught up with the X Fusion-Intense team recently at X Fusion's Side Flight Champs, XFI team rider Sean "griz" McClendon was on his new 951 for this event and it proved worthy as he won the event.

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That is Sean's Intense 951. The front end of his rig features a 2010 Boxxer World Cup (team riders have chosen to run these forks as X Fusion does not currently manufacture a dedicated DH race fork). Griz is rockin' a Sunline V1 Direct mount stem and V1 Handlebars. He stops with his Formula "the one" brakes with slick white Jagwire lines.

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Griz and Ryan are running Intense tires mounted up to a WTB Free Ride Wheel set. Headed back on the bike you will find an X Fusion Vector HLR rear shock. Under that Griz has Saint cranks with Crank brothers 50/50 pedals and a Gamut P.30 Guide.

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The most visually notable feature about this bike in my eyes is the sick graphic kit. Griz has a big part in these graphic kits and this is what he had to say about them:

"The graphic kit on my 951 is the first prototype kit we did at hieroglyphFX. The design is simple, X-Fusion/Intense sponsor logos on the swingarm with a simple NASCAR-esque racey patern. More than anything the kit was made to ensure the dielines fit for the Intense 951 and to test the durability of our vinyl. Our kit for the 951 consists of 9 pieces to complete the set however for production we will use 8 pieces as we will not cover the driveside chainstay. We figure most people will cover that in tape or Velcro to protect from chain slap.

The graphics are printed off on a large format digital printer then laminated twice for durability. Eventually we will be using a thicker laminent made by 3M which will allow us to get the same thickness as we have now with a single laminent." - Sean McClendon

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JD has some graphics for his bike too.

Here are a few pics of the team bikes in action:

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-Jason Peters

Author Info:
j-peters avatar

Member since Jul 13, 2005
49 articles

54 Comments
  • 14 2
 I'd give one of my lungs for a bike like that
  • 34 0
 I'd go with a kidney. Less restrictive to my riding...
  • 8 0
 just less partying post ride haha
  • 4 1
 I´d party even harder with my sweet-as bike!
  • 2 0
 Left nut? Razz
  • 6 0
 Cool frame but pretty lame graphics...
And I thought that they were going to talk about the X-Fusion shock, since this is suposed to be some kind of a X-Fusion "ad", but no...
  • 4 2
 I agree. Graphics are lame. And there is nothing special about the build spec.
  • 2 0
 No X Fusion ad here
  • 1 0
 I'm sure when the time comes and their DH fork comes out we will all get a very nice surprise.

Ive got top of the line X-fusion H3 rear shock and it's left my Fox rp3 shock for dead, so much happier with it: perfect for AM/SS style bikes.

Got the X-fusion HLR fork on the front, and when more of guys get a chance to ride on it, you won't be so quick to judge them on those low end coil/air shocks ( eg. roco R coil sucks, van R isn't great etc) it rides like a fork well above its price bracket: I'm yet to find a bad thing about it.
  • 4 0
 Highly over-priced, but awesome.
  • 1 0
 how much is it
  • 3 0
 wheres the info on the rear shock???
  • 2 0
 on the x fusion website, theyve been making shocks with hi/low speed compression for years before the double barrel and RC4
  • 1 0
 The website leaves a bit to be desired on information. The manual they have on the site doesn't even address the HLR. There is no mention of what spring diameter they use (1.42in ID FWIW). I have a Vector HLR and one of my worries in purchase was how little information there is on them and how few independent tuners are working on them.
  • 2 1
 What are their shocks actually like? I'd come to the assumption that they were a bit shit; but based on what, I dont know.
  • 2 0
 X-fusion have improved what they do and big leaps over the last three years. While DanB is right - they were making H/L for years... they were not doing it very well. The Ohlin guys who provide the tech to Cane Creek for the DB were doing this a bit before them and doing it bloody well.

I still would not touch one of their air shocks. I have had two on bikes purchased and both have been shit, but I ran an older vector and it was OK.
  • 1 0
 I ran a HLR for a while and it was pretty clunky between compression and rebound. Seemed to work OK, just an annoying knock between compression and rebound circuits.
  • 1 0
 So what are they like compared to say, your standard DHX 5.0, or the DHX RC4?
  • 4 2
 well as the title states 'team intense x-fusion' but zero info on the shock, it should have been called team intense hieroglyphFX. ive ran an older xfusion coil shock on a mongoose i had and it was shit. this article, though i dont know why they even call it an article when its more of a photo gallery of people on kickers... but doesnt state anything about the shock at all, so why even call it a bike check with xfusion shock in the title. im aware that they are a sponsor but surely they have a marketing team, info please, jesus. seriously if anyone is reading this thinking wtf is this company about. your aboslutly right.
  • 4 1
 This was a BIKE CHECK not a dive deeper into X Fusion or an interview with an X Fusion employee, I did not dive deep into Intense ether. I gave hieroglyphfx some time because I don't think anyone has heard of them yet or know what they are doing, X Fusion is different. The name stem's from the team that runs this bike.
  • 1 1
 sorry benjiscott82 that you had a bad experience on one of our shocks. Thankfully we have expanded our service centers internationally and now your local center in the UK is Propel Bike. They will be able to get you dialed in with all the aftermarket needs as well as sock service and warranties. For more info on the Vector HLR that the team ran all through the 2009 season check out our website. www.x-fusion-shox.com/shocks/vector The vector is a great dh and trail shock which provides the ability to be tuned very easily. The Compression and rebound adjustments can both be adjusted by your fingers so on the trail/track tuning is much easier. No need to keep tiny wrenches in your pockets.

As Jason stated this post was actually just to highlight the bikes and hype up Sean McClendons new company HieroglyphFX. Great way to add protection to a dh frame which cost loads of money and gets hammered on constantly.

So benjiscott82 if you have any more questions feel free to shoot me an email directly at john@x-fusion-shox.com

cheers
  • 2 0
 and my quick typing got me, we dont offer sock service... just shock service =]
  • 2 0
 cheers for that mate, much appreciated! would love to give it a test ride, and give my socks a service Big Grin

now thats what i call customer service!!!!
  • 2 0
 yeh that was the x-fusion whip comp i think. there a vid or two on here if you search it. pretty good watching!
  • 3 0
 Siiick bikes but man, I am not feeling those aftermarket graphics.
  • 1 0
 the red one is sooooooooooo sick, the jd guys bike, jealous as anything, anyone know if x fusions workin on a dh fork?
  • 1 0
 lol chillzrace that was quite clever.
  • 2 1
 sex machine.
  • 1 0
 such nice bikes
  • 2 1
 looks sick
  • 2 1
 looks quite nice
  • 2 2
 Gotta love the 951...it's just awesome! Coolest DH frame by far!
  • 1 0
 sweet kickstand!
  • 1 0
 don't you mean stick stand
  • 1 0
 very nice!
  • 1 0
 Sweet bikes :]
  • 1 0
 Sweet rigs
  • 1 1
 Wicked jump line!
  • 1 2
 Me wants....now! *drooling*
  • 1 2
 I just came in my pants.
  • 3 0
 Well just don't wash them in hot water - cold water only - same as blood.
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