Ross McArthur Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 I've been very tempted recently by an intense tracer which is for sale on pb. What do you guys think? Should I change from my Horst pivot Pitch to the VPP Tracer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted April 27, 2015 Report Share Posted April 27, 2015 (edited) Intense vpp is awesome Quite critical on correct sag but once set it's great, doesn't work so nice with propedal so having an open shock is generally better unless you're standing up and stomping on the pedals constantly. Don't be put off by reports of crap bearing life, the bearings last just fine as long as they have grease in them. Pop the shields off, pack with the thickest, stickiest waterproof grease you have and they should last a good while. The bottom ones in particular are susceptible to water ingress so just keep a check on lubrication levels. I love my 5.5, I believe the tracer was the replacement for it In other news..... Got the 44 rc3 ti bombers fitted and they were sticky as hell on slow movements, if you compressed them slowly an inch they would only move in 1/2" jumps Que me starting to panic that I've bought a lemon set and the bushings are shot (new lowers required at 200+ quid). Stripped the spring out of the left leg yesterday, the spring condom was in tatters and spread all over the inside of the leg, the little oil left was thick black sludge. Refilled that side but couldn't continue to strip the rest of the fork due to lack of tooling. Unfortunately didn't solve the sticky issue. Phoned up windwave this afternoon and spoke to Shaun to enquire as to whether this behaviour is normal and to any other causes. He suggested that a full strip and rebuild would be first avenue of attack and may well solve the issue. Picked up some fresh fork oil and a can of brake cleaner from hellfrauds. Shaun is very kindly sending me some new shrink wrap so I can recover my spring again, foc - can't complain about the service from windwave at all! Set about the forks after kids were all in bed and dinner eaten, half a can of cleaner later, lots of sludge and black oil in a tub and I now have buttery smooth forks tl:dr intense tracers are good, the 80 quid marzocchi 44 rc3 ti forks I bought aren't lemons, just needed a very thorough clean and oil Edited April 27, 2015 by forteh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Thanks for the words dude. Only thing putting me off is that its a 1.5 head tube. So I'd have to get one of those fancy reducer headsets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Not that much of an issue really, will allow you to switch to tapered or even 1.5" in the future. There is a nice feeling riding a frame that was hand made by a man in a small factory, doesn't affect the ride any but you get bragging rights that you have a boutique, hand made frame, not churned out of a factory in the far east. Come to think about it, my intense was made in California, my standard was made in Iowa and my triton was made in a shed in Russia somewhere The santa cruz chameleon lets the team down by being made in Taiwan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 This is the beast. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk24 Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Intense have been known not to have the strongest weld's. Super pimp bikes but not the best built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 (edited) Speak to kyle livesey to see how he's getting on with his tracer, he's had it a while now I think Buy it, if it snaps get it welded and heat treated again, that's what I'm planning on doing if my 5.5 fails! Edited April 28, 2015 by forteh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk24 Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 (edited) I've seen a few intense bikes with the head tube snapped clean off which no welder could fix. I also had a soft spot for the tazer hard tail and 4x version Edited April 28, 2015 by uk24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 I've seen a few intense bikes with the head tube snapped clean off which no welder could fix. I also had a soft spot for the tazer hard tail and 4x version Pics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk24 Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Just google Intense bike problems or snapped intense will bring up pinkbike and singletrack forums about there issues, but a friend of mine had an M6 the downhill bike and that lasted less than 12 months. But its not like your buying brand new so if you get it at a good price go for it. though the Santa Cruz Bronson is the bling bike at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Ach well, it's sold anyway. :'( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 (edited) Rode the intense to work today, forks feel spot on with zero stickiness now Weighed at 28.52lbs as stands so I'm happy with that. Edited April 28, 2015 by forteh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Go on, rub it in. Shock looks bent in the second picture. Loving how old school it looks. Bet you shred on it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Ed's a bloody whippet on it. Looking forward to catching up for another ride soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 @ Ross - It does doesn't it I think it's the gear cable* that is breaking up the outline of the shock and makes it look bent, I don't really care as it works just fine! I guess it's a resonably vintage build now, frame is '08, hubs and brakes are '98, bars are 1" monkeylite dh. Square taper burns with hope ti bb. The modern concessions are the reverb, wolftooth dropstop ring, wtb rims and I guess the forks (even though they are now 4 years old). @Rainbow - not sure on the whippet, gonna be quicker now though with faster forks Get your arse back to cannock at some point in the summer, go for a proper ride of the 12 mile loop *zip tied to the front shock mount with full length outer, ignoring the factory cable guides because using them causes endless ghost shifting when the suspension moves 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Brakes are 98? Jesus. I remember them coming out and my mate Bryan picking one up for the first time for £95 I think. First hydro brakes I had seen and thought they looked the dogs! I couldn't get over how cool the rotor looked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 They might be a bit later than that thinking about it but it all blends into one when you get to my age I think in '98ish the hope c2 was the current model, the minis came after that so may be 15 years old now. I distinctly remember buying the front bulb hub when I had my yellow chameleon, that was '98 because it was the summer of the last total solar eclipse. God I'm getting old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtisRider Posted April 28, 2015 Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Looks good Ed, we need to ride again soon! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 Arrived today... ^ That new bike, is becoming this new bike: Bigger frame, 300g lighter. Win. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 (edited) Just finished a lap of follow the dog, second ride this year and finished 5.6 miles in 35 minutes, not too shabby for an old fart First ride in anger with the 44 rc3 ti forks and they're f**king incredible, every little bump and ripple feels glass smooth, bigger rocks/roots/braking bumps just disappear and the steering is so precise its unreal. Despite all the plushness they don't climb like a dog and I just set my fastest ever time up cardiac hill ( 1/3rd mile 1in10 climb) at 2:39 edit: [smugmode] what makes the 44s so much better is that I paid 80 quid for them! A set the same age just sold on eBay for 167 Mine have the later (better) lowers and bushes that were replaced under warranty in 2012 [\smugmode] Edited May 3, 2015 by forteh 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boumsong Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 Despite all the plushness they don't climb like a dog and I just set my fastest ever time up cardiac hill ( 1/3rd mile 1in10 climb) at 2:39 Is that the straight fire track section? I've been around Cannock a few times now. Getting faster each time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 (edited) That's the one, flattens out a little half way up then gets steep. Not much time to ride so far this year, family is taking up lots of time! Edited May 3, 2015 by forteh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boumsong Posted May 4, 2015 Report Share Posted May 4, 2015 I'm heading over there later today, I'll see what I can do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boumsong Posted May 5, 2015 Report Share Posted May 5, 2015 I ended up at Pines instead, 50 minute lap, not to bad. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross McArthur Posted May 7, 2015 Report Share Posted May 7, 2015 A blurry screen grab from last nights Dual Slalom race at Cathkin Braes on the Commonwealth Mtb track. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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