I'm lucky enough to have acquire a 5.5 EVP at 2/3rds the normal price, but only in Intense red (who cares, its and Intense right?) Can't fault the bike, its excellent everywhere BUT the paint Job. Its seems to mark up and scratch badly (ie scratched by Epping branches and twigs)

Is this normal? I've a mate with a 3 yr old Ventana, still looks like new.... Any suggestions?

I ride in Epping Forest as well and recently got my Turner 5Spot resprayed for £150. It was done by Argos cycles www.argoscycles.co.uk. Sent off for the decals from Turner, chose a colour, two weeks later and enamel baked tough paint job that looks superb. Its like having a new bike!!!

I'd definately recommend Argos cycles. I had my 7 year old Heckler resprayed in extra hard black paint and got the latest decals put on at the same time. For £150 its like having a brand new bike again.

I did hear that Intense paint isnt that great. I've found Santa Cruz factory paint is pretty bad as well. You'd expect that these types of bike would have a really good paint job when you consider how much they cost.

Cheers guys

I've only had the Intense for two months, but will relax a bit for a couple of years with this news.

Thin paint = light weight

A painted frame can weigh up to 150g more than an anodised one.

150g? It takes me about 2 beers to put that back on. whats the point of saving 150g if you've got to carry a beer belly up them there steep bits....

"but only in Intense red" - best colour for them !!!!

I've got a 5.5 EVP in satin black - have to say not the best paint job in the world, seems to mark easily but hasn't chipped so far.

Hey whats the problem - a nice looking paint job ? Get out there knowing you have the best bike on the market.

If Carlsberg built a bike they would build an Intense.

I quite like the midnight blue colour.

"Hey whats the problem - a nice looking paint job ? Get out there knowing you have the best bike on the market."


LOL, now that is a bold statement....

You resurrected a 6 month old thread for that?

who me?

Hey, and after eight months, the statement "Get out there knowing you have the best bike on the market" I now know is absolutely true, having ridden as fast in wales/epping/danbury as my nerves can stand and the bike is still out performing me....

Yay, here's to a dry August......

My reign is scratched to fook...I tend not to worry about it now (it makes it look like it's ridden hard!)

Glad you're enjoying the Intense...how's the paint?!

"Yay, here's to a dry August......"


ill second that..



"Glad you're enjoying the Intense...how's the paint?!"

all over wales/epping/danbury i would of thought..



dan, all my bikes end up scratched/chipped to fook, like you say, i dont worry about it, there for riding not jizzing over....