Skip to main content

INTENSE TRACER T275


140/150mm (5.5/6in) of VPP2 rear suspension, 650b wheels, a burly frame and unmistakable Intense styling make the Tracer 275 one hell of a bike. The new T275 version ups the ante with subtle geometry changes that enhance its downhill capabilities and a switch to carbon fibre that sheds heaps of frame weight.

A slacker 66.5-degree head angle means more confident high-speed handling, the BB’s up from a ground-scraping 338mm to 343mm to reduce pedal strikes, and the seat tube’s a little more laidback too.

A medium alloy Tracer frame weighs a claimed 8lb with shock, but Intense reckon the carbon version is just 5.7lb (2.6kg) – a drop of nearly 30 percent. Other upgrades include an extra-wide press-fit BB shell, 142x12mm dropouts, rubberised down tube guard and internal cable routing.


The T275 is available as a frame kit or one of three complete builds. The top-end Factory bike comes with a RockShox Pike RCT3 fork, Monarch Plus RC3 rear shock and Reverb Stealth post, SRAM XX1 drivetrain, Shimano XTR brakes, ENVE Composites AM carbon wheels and Renthal cockpit for 9,999$, and weighs a claimed 26.5lb.




Labels

Popular posts from this blog

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>

Nukeproof Vector AM Comp Cro-Mo saddle

The Vector AM is pretty race focused, with minimal padding. There’s a deep (if narrow) pressurerelief channel to keep the blood flowing where it’s meant to. Used with bib shorts, we found it pretty comfortable for shorter rides and suffered no pain or discomfort in the central region. On steep climbs the slightly downturned nose provides a reasonable forward perch, while the svelte profile and smooth edges make it particularly unobtrusive when moving about on the descents. It’s quite stiff though, and can feel harsh on long rides or bumpy ground. We definitely wouldn’t want to spend much time on it without a chamois. It’s heavier than we’d expect for such a lightly padded perch too. There’s a lighter Pro version with titanium rails for $105, but at 241g it’s only 10g lighter. Weight 251g Price $67

READ MORE >>

GT Zaskar Evolution

While some bike models last just a couple of years, others change with the times to stay at the top of riders’ wishlists. In the second part of this series looking at the evolution of bikes that enjoy enduring popularity with UK riders, we turn to the GT Zaskar – a bike that was at the forefront of our sport for a long time and still has plenty of appeal today.

READ MORE >>

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

READ MORE >>

Merida Big Seven 100

We've rolled up to our local woods, with a meandering blue trail, some natural wooded tracks and a bit of fire road chucked into the mix to see how the Big Seven 100 tackles trails that entry-level riders are likely to cut their teeth on.

READ MORE >>