Video: Intense Carbine 29 in Action

Jul 24, 2013
by Suspended Productions  
29 Carbine

by edge-academy
Views: 19,429    Faves: 58    Comments: 12


Press image from Intense

Intense Cycles unveils the Carbine 29, and paves the way for a new breed of 29-inch All-Mountain Bikes.


The Carbine 29 raises the bar on performance, technology and beauty, offering aggressive geometry, patented VPP suspension, all the design benefits of INTENSE 2nd generation INTENSE carbon fiber, and a look only possible from INTENSE.

Press image from Intense

Designed to allow riders to descend the roughest enduro tracks with confidence, the bike boasts 5.5 inches (140mm) of rear wheel travel, 160mm of travel up front, and a 67 degree head tube angle. The slacker head angle and 51mm 29-specific fork offset on the Carbine 29 work together to create a bike that delivers added agility and improved handling. Fast, gnarly rock sections never felt so secure. Cornering was never as quick on a 29er. Let go of the brakes and take the rough line to the bottom. The Carbine 29 will allow you to ride hard, and ride fast.

Intense Carbine 29

Intense Carbine 29 Geo Chart

The bike offers cutting-edge technology like internal cable routing, Reverb Stealth seat post routing and ISCG 05 chain guide tabs. It will be offered as both a complete bike or frame-only.

• Frames are fitted with a FOX Float CTD Kashima Coat rear shock. Complete bikes will include the new SRAM 1x11 drive train and a 160mm Rockshox Pike fork.
• The new Carbine 29er has proven to be a great Enduro weapon. Raced & tested under wraps for months, the Carbine 29 is already no stranger to the podium.

Visit our Intense Cycles Webpage and our Facebook to catch the demo tour in your area!

Posted In:
Videos Intense


Author Info:
edge-academy avatar

Member since Dec 23, 2010
53 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Bike Check: Evan Wall's Haro Greer Prototype Enduro Bike
43775 views
Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line - Fort William is in 10 DAYS!
42574 views
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 2
41889 views
Pinkbike Poll: Riser Bar or Extra Spacers Under the Stem?
41073 views
First Ride: Canyon Neuron:ONfly - a Lighter 140mm eMTB
40069 views
Vivo Cycling Previews All-Aluminum 12-Speed Derailleur
38321 views
The Ultimate Recap of Sea Otter 2024
37637 views
Dario's Final Sea Otter Randoms
36213 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

98 Comments
  • 31 1
 I don't know if I'm just getting used to seeing them now, but that doesn't even look like the wheels are the wrong size, just looks normal.
  • 12 6
 largest frame size and longer un-sagged forks tame the silliness. and the rider is probably quite large too.
  • 3 0
 Very true
  • 6 3
 26ers have always looked odd under taller riders. They're still a great option for many riders in longer travel bikes. These long travel 29ers can be a handful on tight trails.
  • 2 1
 Problem is a "small" in this category isn't the same as a small in a 26er (its more like a medium). The standover to this small is about 30 inches, which will lead to an abrupt crotching if you have to dismount in a hurry on uneven terrain if you're anything under 5'6".
  • 3 1
 @deeeight, not a problem so much as a reality. Typically you gotta down size from a 26er med to a 29er small and so on 'cause of the standover just as you stated. A 6'3" friend, with a 36" inseam rides a L 29er... I couldn't tell it was a 29er 'cause everything looked in proportion to what I was used to seeing on a smaller 26er, if you get me.
  • 2 2
 One time I rode with a group of 29ers and 1-26er and the 26er looked funny. I still won't by a 29er find them restricting on hopping stuff and jumping.
  • 4 0
 well, that video was about 17 times better than i was expecting it to be
  • 3 0
 thats a seriously rad looking bike
  • 1 0
 @deeeight, I own this bike in a medium and I just measured it at just under 28" for the stand over with Minion DHF/DHR tires FYI. Not too shabby for a 140mm+ travel wagon wheeler, this bike hauls ass.
  • 12 2
 Get rid of the DEMO 8 and get an aggressive trail am Bike??? Stumpy/enduro? man i wish i had more money so i could have more Bike!! and there are almost no bike parks where I am. I feel like I would get more use out of a bike the could pedal more...
Frown
  • 7 0
 Do it! Stumpy/Stumpy Evo and you'll be happy all the time
  • 2 0
 Intense is a great company love my Tracer! But when with the new M11 Carbon???
  • 5 0
 Hmmm, well?.. Let me guess, $10,999?
Get in line people. LOL
  • 4 0
 Did just that! Turned out to be a great decision. Sold my DH Sold my HT Bought a Carbine 275
  • 10 4
 Intense needs a Curtis Keene clone to make the Carbine 29 look revolutionary. Sorry guys, but 140mm and 17.75" chainstays are kinda yesterdays 29er and this video made the bike seem like a barge.
  • 7 3
 Every team needs/wants a Curtis Keene clone, but that doesn't invalidate this bike in any way, Frankly, I looked at the geo numbers and saw high speed stability and excellent control through rough terrain. Also, chainstay length doesn't always equal a snappier handling or easier manuals from my personal riding experiences,
  • 3 3
 Couldn't agree more. Thing doesn't look playful at all.
  • 1 1
 Keene seems to race and win on the SJ FSR 29er though. That's 450mm (17.7") CS vs 16.9" on the Enduro 29. There's also the SJ FSR Evo 29 with 455mm (17.9") CS.

The wheelbase on this Carbine 29 seems to scream out high speed stability. Probably why they're bombing Mammoth, on trails like Upper Shock Treatment. That's a trail one would typically ride a DH bike on to enjoy.
  • 2 3
 Keene wins? In the US?
  • 1 1
 Keene would probably win on anything. My comment was more about this video in particular. Doesn't make the bike look very playful. I love Intense, and had a bloody good time on a Carbine 275 earlier this summer. Didn't want to give it back. Also rode a Niner WFO that felt like a boat earlier in the day.
  • 5 0
 Yet another incredible trail bike on the market. I'm so glad to be a mountain biker in this age of bike technology advancement. Now all I need is $5k to buy one...
  • 2 1
 The DRCV shocks on Trek's isn't strictly proprietary, they just had a limited exclusive usage agreement with Fox. Eventually every frame maker will be able to spec those shocks if they so choose. But otherwise the shock mounting method and stroke/eye-to-eye lengths are standard sizes. Specialized on the other hand has been going to their trunion mount end shocks on a number of models, not to mention long using non-standard stroke/e2e sizes.
  • 1 0
 Unless my eyes are mistaken, in the video I think the geometry of the bike looks more appropriate with the Fox 34 Talas 29 140 on it. Seems to tighten the head angle to something manageable on the climbs and lower the bottom bracket to something faster on the turns (and looks better too). Sweet bike!
  • 2 0
 Sickest part of this video is I'm pretty sure all those riders are the guys you talk to/ build your bike when you deal with Intense.
  • 5 2
 I still want somebody to explain me why there are no ISCB tabs on the 26" carbine...
  • 5 3
 XX1
  • 7 1
 A. Was not available when carbine was launched
B. you may want to run something else
C. You may want to run a full chainguide anyway
D. Carbine 29" has ISCG tabs AND is presented with X01
  • 1 0
 Latest versiopn of the carbine 26 has ISCG05 and Stealth routing
  • 2 1
 Surprising, still don't see anything about it on their website. But if you say so I believe you. Too late for me anyway, I bought a SC Nomad C
  • 1 0
 Saw a pic on mtbr, guy was surprised when his frame showed up, oh, it is a Carbine SL, see link forums.mtbr.com/intense/look-what-my-sl-has-around-bottom-bracket-861220.html
  • 1 0
 @Enduromaniac, good choice in the NomadC. I'm riding an Enduro 29 and would trade for an XXL NomadC any day if they made one. It is such a perfct handling and fun bike.
  • 1 3
 axxee its xo1 not xx1
  • 1 0
 My dream bike. I like that it has 160 in front. I thought of Santa Cruz Tallboy LTc but now I consider Spec Enduro and this one.

Which one is better? Nobody knows. I guess they both f*cking awesome!
  • 1 0
 I kind of look more for Specialized Enduro though
  • 1 8
flag MIkeloza29erPL (Jul 24, 2013 at 9:52) (Below Threshold)
 Read my reply from above. In short. Don't buy long travel 29er at all. Get 650B.
  • 5 0
 Ha buy whatever you have more fun on!!
  • 1 0
 Dear Egordin67

"That's the spirit. Cool idea. I was always looking for ideal bike and went nowhere. Now I have Spec Camber with road tyres for training with heart rate monitor and looking for hard endure 29" bike.

And still like a baby do not know which one. Unfortunately we do not have any test center. Frown
  • 2 0
 Suspended Productions and Intense did a great job on this video, bike looks great, nice to see Intense continuing to elevate. Well done everyone!
  • 1 0
 That's quite the axle to crown measurement! Does that mean I should put a Boxxer or Fox 40 on my 26" trail bike? Same A2C. I wonder how it climbs. My bet - Fox 34 29er 160 becomes the noodle replacement for the 32 150.
  • 1 0
 I love my SC TBc in size XL. I ride the shore 3 times a week on it. it rips. i did mount a 150mm fork. 29ers are fun, but if you are a big boy, get a burly wheelset because they are prone to flex.
  • 1 0
 So I'm guessing the other two people who rode up were the camera crew? Oh, wait, I have it they were digitally Photoshopped out of the video. Yeah, that's it.
  • 1 0
 Size Large 24.5 ETT? WTF is that, for ants? Tall people need not apply apparently. Offer an XL or even XXL for us taller folk and I'd look at it closer.
  • 1 0
 The Horizontal Top Tube and Reach of the Large, are almost identical to a Size Large, Stumpjumper Evo 29. No XL frame size though. Bummer.
  • 1 0
 Good observation, but still seems short. If I'm going by reach, I'm 6'4" on a Kona Honzo 29er 20" Long with a Fox 34 140mm, 50mm stem, 780mm bars, and reach on that is 18.3" with a 26" ETT. Sounds massive I know but it's the best fitting bike I've owned in years. Very dialed indeed. Intense needs an XL IMO to compete with the likes of the Banshee Prime, Spec Enduro, or SC TB LT. Something with an ETT of 25.5"+ and reach of 18.0"+ would be perfect. Ann shorten those CS numbers by a solid 3/4" and we're golden. Wink
  • 1 0
 Nice bike.Wrong wheelsize. Vid shows 29 conceptual faults. Bad quality short travel, strange and esoteric components. Horrible cornering
  • 2 0
 That Vid would be a good TroyLee Commercial to!
  • 2 0
 A 29r that dost look like a piece of shot.... Well done intense!
  • 2 1
 Odd choice with the RS up front and Fox out back. Would have figured a Fox 34 or 36 fork.
  • 2 0
 Fox 36? Not available in a 29er version unfortunately. The Pike is the only option in 150 or 160mm travel for intense.
  • 1 0
 At least i don't feel myself as the only one poor guy who can't afford every bike that is presented... Smile
  • 4 2
 I have no use for this bike, i only ride park.
  • 1 0
 160mm fork on a 29er? I love me some squishy big wheels but that just does not sound right...
  • 2 4
 if we are going to have 26, 27.5, and 29 inch wheels - it would make sense if the bike companies would design accordingly. 26 for DH/FR/AM, 27.5 for AM (...for now), 29 for XC. why all this overlap? use the wheel size to your advantage. thats what all the hype has been about right?

i want to see your average height 5'9'' and average skilled rider on this bike and have them try to throw it around...
  • 3 0
 You'll want to direct that marketing question at RC or the manufacturers. RC?

But what's an "average skilled rider"? I think that depends on where you ride normally. Will an advanced rider from Moab love the slimy, wet roots of the Shore in November? Probably not.

I've seen skilled riders on riding POS, decade old bikes kill it on the trail. I've also seen riders on the latest $5K bikes getting manhandled by the terrain. Long or short CS's doesn't make up for a rider's lack of skill.
  • 1 0
 Seems like a good bike... I am curious to see it go around some switch backs with a 47" wheelbase.
  • 1 0
 If someone told me, "You can ride this trail, but only on a 29er", I would only hear, "Ride this trail".
  • 1 0
 taking this moment to look at a bike that i would not be able to afford ever...shut up and take my money!
  • 1 0
 Hang on, where have I seen this paint scheme before? Oh right, on a Stumpjumper.
  • 1 1
 Damn... sweet edit, sweeter riding. I've seen that bike take the KOM(Strava) on Pipeline in Mammoth, pretty remarkable bike!
  • 1 0
 Ja, all up to the bike and wheel size, the rider was just a passenger? :-)
  • 1 1
 he said "bike", 29ers are now so super duper awesome they can ride autonomously.
  • 2 1
 Every major brand 2014 bikes are looking sweeet
  • 6 0
 Except for Specialized. Their proprietary shock thing sucks. Not necessarily the shocks themselves, but I like customization and their bikes make that tough.
  • 1 3
 Did you mean Trek with their bloody DCRV?
  • 2 3
 they are opposites, trek has a bad shock in standard sizes, specialized has a good shock in oddball sizes.
  • 1 1
 Yeah and when it breaks, Fox's fantastic customer service and warranty program is there to help you right along in getting your shock back quickly and efficiently...waiting a month for the rebuilt product and being on hold for an hour every single time you call them is why I choose SRAM every time, because if you warranty something they just send you a new one in like 2 days and tell you to keep the old one.
  • 1 0
 I don't like the proprietary shocks on Specialized but using ball bearings at the important lower pivots sure makes for a supple ack end. Remarkable smoothness on any Spec that I've ridden.
  • 1 0
 looks like a stumpy kinda
  • 3 0
 DCRV do not all have standard e2e.
  • 1 0
 no sound on the video? anyone else getting that?
  • 2 1
 I'm really waiting to see the finished norco sight carbon 2014 27.5
  • 1 0
 I was this close to buying a Spider Comp. Glad I waited. Holy Shitballz.
  • 1 0
 Its so good they had to use an angleset on it Wink 0:56
  • 4 2
 No chain guide??
  • 4 1
 XX1?
  • 1 0
 Do I even want to know how much money this bike will cost?
  • 1 0
 Enjoyed the write up, photographs and edit, well done!
  • 1 0
 A dont like 29ers but this one is the niciest one
  • 1 0
 Bike looks nice but geo could be better. Hope that fork has 20mm axle...
  • 1 0
 Intense, that video was pretty Intense!!!
  • 1 1
 I give 29ers 5 more years before they completely fade away from the market.
  • 1 0
 Dude, 67-inch head angle? Brutal.
  • 1 1
 come on intense wheres the carbon m9
  • 1 0
 Exactly!
  • 1 4
 Why bother with long travel 29" anymore? 650b took this spot.
Are the owners of 29" xc race bikes buying these as second bike?
Santa cruz and sc dealers are basically giving away their 29" Lt stuff...
  • 1 0
 Link?
  • 1 0
 I believe the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Evo 29 was one of, if not their best selling mountain bike model this past year.

I think part of Santa Cruz's problem is credibility when it comes to wheel size. They undercut the credibility of their Tallboy LT by releasing the Bronson.

Santa Cruz's PR in the last couple years has gone something like this.

"We'll never build a 29er. 29er's are garbage."
"Forget what we just said...Check out our new 29er!!! It's the greatest bike ever built and 29er's are amazing"
"Forget 29er's, 650b is the future. Here, buy our new Bronson...we swear it's amazing."

I say...different strokes for different folks. I love my long(er) travel 29er and my "old school" 26" wheels DH bike.
  • 1 8
flag MIkeloza29erPL (Jul 24, 2013 at 9:50) (Below Threshold)
 I have 140mm 29er full suss and I f*cking hate it (I am 187 cm or 6.2 whatever for "special" part of the world. 87 kilo weight). Long travel 29er is a missed idea from the start. Want 29er? - buy hard tail for XC or aggressive XC. Want more travel and fun? - get 650b. End of story. 26ers only for DH.

29ers simply are not nimble enough and not snappy for this kind of sport. If you need longer travel you need snappiness and easiness of throwing bike around. You cannot simply do it with 29er unless you a monster guy, tall and build like a tank. For most of the people full suss 29ers will be simply too boring and sucking fun out of trail. I have my bike for 6 months and already want to sell it to get 650B bike.

Seriously. Do not buy long travel full suss 29ers. Unless you are beginner and just learning your skills but for that I strongly recommend to start form hard tail anyway to learn essentials. If you are experienced rider. Just don't! Get 650B instead.

Mark my words.

PS. And 29ers flex as f*ck. Did I mentioned that? Unless you have additional 1K for decent wheels but that won't eliminate whole flex which comes from frame as well.
  • 6 0
 Yeah....ummm, no. It's not the bike...it's you.
  • 1 0
 It's worth mentioning that if you're an XL rider very few 650b bikes come in a really proper XL. Norco, Ibis, Intense, Santa Cruz, Scott and most of the others all decided that XL in 650b-land was for people up to about 6'3". I'm 6'6" and have been hoping someone will make an XL 650b but so far it hasn't happened. My XL Enduro 29er is the best/only option for now. There is no other bike currently available that offers big wheels, short chainstays, 150mm+, 74' seat angle, 67' head angle and a long head tube. It's a niche bike for sure but it's perfect for me.

My Enduro 29er replaced a 26" Enduro S-Works, which was my general purpose AM bike for riding here in Vancouver. I also have a DH bike. The E29 is a superior bike to the 26" version in every respect (for me).
  • 1 2
 Should have put more gnar stuff in there. Those trails were more tame than a lot of XC trails.
  • 1 1
 Clown wheels. Does Semen-UK ride one?
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv42 0.061987
Mobile Version of Website