I'm in the process of considering a new bike - one that can do pretty much anything and i've seen a lot of options but have heard good stuff about this frame.
Anyone got any thoughts about spec to finish off with? I'm aiming to get it super cheap through the governments tax rebate scheme thing so i'm looking out for top notch stuff. Please feel free to post any thoughts or ideas or experiences so i get a better idea of what its like.
I have had mine for just over a year now, built it up with: Maverick DUC Manitou Swinger 4-way shock XT components Hope Mono M4/Mini Brakes Mavic 717 rims on Hope XC hub (Maverick on front of course) Intense 2.25 CC Tyres Answer Carbon bars Thomson Seatpost Shimano 959 Pedals
Haven't weighed it but probably around 27lbs
It is a great trail bike - handles just about everything - I regularly clear stuff on the climbs that stop others in my club. On the downhills it is equally happy doing fast flicky turns around obstacles or just point and shoot straight over the top.
There are lots of good bikes around now, but these are still pretty rare on the ground, it's nice to have something a little bit different to the ubiquitous Specialized/Santa Cruzes (not knocking them, my previous bike was an Enduro).
I can't say I have really noticed the pedal feedback or brake-jack that some people talk of - the VPP design just seems to provide very stable pedalling without losing much if anything in the way of plushness. If you try one make sure the shock is set for your weight - the VPP has to sit in a particular part of its travel and will feel wrong if the air pressure is too low or too high.
I was considering a 5.5 when I was looking to change bikes, ended up going for a 5 spot. I heard a few storys of alignment problems with the 5.5's rear end.. the 5 spot also worked out a bit cheaper. I guess the most important thing is to try and get a test ride....
I have owned my 5.5 for a year now, also with Mavericks, XTR, Chris King rear hub and hdset,717s, monkey lite bars and thomsen post. In my experience it is a very quick bike and it has 5.5 inches of travel not the other way round. It has handled everthing i have tackled, although because of the light weight and very responsive geometry I feel it gets a bit skittish when the really steep fast descents appear. My old heckler (circa 1998) feels more stable on fast rough descents, but the Intense leaves it for dead on the twisty stuff, up hills and anywhere when you want fast acceleration. Personally I absolutely love it but it may not suit those who want a bike more suited to 'playing'. Good luck with ever you choose.
Cheers for the input everyone, just a few more thoughts though.
I know it is supposed to handle well, but i'm a touch nervous about having a bike with so much travel as i plan to use it for XC primarily. It will be for short bursts rather than long epic journeys so i know i don't want a bike that is 60-80mm front and back as it wont take the medium hits so well. I'm not one for jumping if i can help it so I want a bike that is able to handle difficult terrain and to be confidence inspiring on the way down. However i also want it to be very light to make the uphill climbs easier with suspension set up that allows the wheels the best traction.
I guess essentially i'm worried that the bike will be too burly and then heavy for me, that it will be hard to retain control over such an amount of suspension and that it will be hard to keep the wheels on the deck.
Those of you who have one or have ridden one may be able to help.
I would put the 5.5 in the category of a XC bike that you can also do some light freeride rather than a freeride bike that you can do XC on. The frame is only about 1lb heavier than a light full-sus racer - the components will have more impact than the frame on final weight.
The beauty of VPP is that the travel is there when you want it, but doesn't intrude when you don't. Traction on the climbs is a strongpoint on the 5.5 and I wouldn't worry about it on that score - having said that any longish travel bike has more relaxed geometry than a full-on XC bike and will have a tendency for the front wheel to wander more on the climbs - a variable travel fork helps here.
If you haven't ridden one of these style of trail bikes it really is a revelation - comapared to my Enduro (the old style) - it climbs better, it pedals better and it descends better and it's lighter.
I am in the awful position that there is no other bike that I would rather have!
Thanks Neil, that really helps, it also means that it is exacly what i want as i can now go for the uphill without worrying about weight and traction, and throw myself down the other side!
Essentially once i get the right components then i can set it up and let the bike get on with the technical task of staying on the ground and I can peddle hard up or down-hill!
I've been riding a 5point5 for the past 18 months and I'd tend to echo previous statements that it is the only bike I'd concider if I was to buy right now. I've been living in Switzerland and most rides involve pretty substantial climbs and this bike can climb like a mountain goat and descend like a freeride bike. I am also escentially a XC rider but do ride some technical stuff especially downhill. I am heavy at about 200lbs. so I built my bike with Mavic XM819 rims and Continental Vertical UST 2.3 tyres. A bit heavy but tough. The rest of my stuff is full XTR group, Thomson stem and post, Easton MonkeyLite and WTB Pure saddle. The bike weighs about 28lbs. and rides like a XC bike... or a light freeride bike. The long travel has only been a plus.
The 5point5 is designed as a stable platform which means that the VPP design causes the rear suspension to stiffen under chain torque, preventing bobbing. It is however fully complient when not pedaling hard. I have never noticed any pedal feedback.
Intense recomend a stable platform fork to match the rear suspension and their fork of choice is the Manitou Minute. I used a minute 3:00 for nearly a year before changing it to the longer travel and slightly taller (15mm. taller) Manitou Nixon Platinum. It did have a bit of a race bike feel with the Minute but the slightly slacker head angle with the Nixon feels perfect to me.
Cheers Ronnie, personally i've been considering either the Pace RC41 fighter or the Fox TALAS RLC for the fork. I know the talas is a bit different but have been advised that either should be ok. I have heard really good things about both. Am personally planning on some Chris King hubbed XC717 disc rim wheels as i know they should make a good wheelset.
What do you all think???
PS i really appreciate all the good feedback that you guys are giving me, it really is helping.
I went through the whole " what fork to get" number after I ordered my frame. I had an almost new Fox F100X on my previous bike and loved it. The Fox Forx are great quality. The F100X is a stable platform but at 100mm., much to short and they don't make a longer travel stable platform. I can't comment on the Pace forks as I've had absolutely no experience with them. I would suggest however that you try to stick with a stable platform fork to compliment the rear suspension. I've never tried a 5point5 with a TALAS but I'd imagine it would bob a lot, judging by how much a Minute fork can bob with very low SPV pressure. The TALAS has a reputation for bobbing and suffers from brake dive. There is a great fix though, if a bit expensive. Stratos make an inertial valve damper for the TALAS and I've seen some great reviews on the combination, including in the US Mountain Bike Action. Check out:
http://www.stratosusa.com/main.html
The Intense 5point5 has a pretty steep head angle of 70 degrees with a Manitou Minute, according to Intense. Hence the sensitive steering. The Minute has an axle to crown hight of 505mm. The TALAS has a shorter A to C of 500mm. making the head angle even steeper. By the way, my Nixon is 520mm. About a half inch taller. Again, I don't know what the A to C of the Pace is.
Guy here again from earlier posting, I had talas forks on my previous bike (Heckler), they are terrific forks but I have to echo Ronnie's comments, two things they do ob a lot and dive under braking, which is fine with a softer riding play bike or a hard tail, not good with the stable rear end of the Intense. Secondly the 5.5 is designed around a 125/130mm fork, but the Talas goes to 125mm but that is before the slack. The Mavericks are 150mm travel but ride at 125mm hence they compliment the geometry perfectly. As Ronnie says you do not want a fork that will steepen the head angle, it is perfect as it is, any steeper and the bike will become way too twitchy. I am not saying that you have to get Mavericks but check that whatever you decide on will ride at 125/130mm. Finally the Talas are also heavier then others on the market.
Hey Daniel, got my 5.5 about a month ago. First outing was Coed Y Brenin, talk about baptism by fire!!! Mate she is sweeeeet! Mine has Talas RLCs, Mavic Crossmax XLs, and a full XTR groupo. Can think of a better things to spend nearly 4500 quid on, but will it make you smile as much? NO WAY!
I was in the market for a new bike, Im a bit of a Polaris Challenge vetran, and I wanted something that would go up the hills as well as down. I considered an Enduro, but was dissapointed by the reviews, also looked at the Whyte 46, and the new Giants, but when I saw the Intense...Mate, you could do a lot worse. What you have to bear in mind is that everyone is different and will like different stuff. I never really wanted a long travel bike, but my ProFlex 857 that i bought new in 1997 finally gave up on me. After riding the intense I was hooked.
The other thing to consider is that the Intense is exotic, I left mine with a mates bike outside the caff at CYB (he rides an Ellsworth Truth, another damn fine machine!). People were fawning over the steeds like they had just come from outerspace, even the guys in the bike shop had thier eyes out on stalks!!!
Mate whatever you choose, I wish you luck, but if you want something that looks sexy, and rides like its on rails...Go Intense. Nuff said.
Daniel, by the way mate, the Talas RLC... Some of the guys here say it bobs alot, it doesnt! Im 15 stone, and my fork just offers miles of plush travel. The Talas is probably THE most infinately adjustable fork out there. Once she is set up, leave her be and she wil do exactly what she is designed to do. Steep climb, lock her out! All forks will bob if you honk em hard enuff, its all to do with your riding style!
