Strengths: It's cheap. It's made of steel. It handles steep descents and climbs with equal tenacity. The back end is quite forgiving.
Weaknesses: A bit on the heavy side. Colour not to everyone's taste (but now more colours available). Can feel a bit pedestrian when the going is on the easy side.
Overall: I've built this bike up with bits off other bikes with a set of Recon forks and Juicy 5 brakes. I use this bike as hack bike when I visit the UK and as I do a lot of my riding in Shropshire and N. Wales this is the perfect simple no nonsense bike to do it. The frame can flex at the BB like someone has already said so it's not a bike for sprinting on but that flex translates into a more forgiving ride. I rode this at Coed-Y last Spring and the bike behaved faultlessly on the trails even if I did feel a bit battered by the lack of full bounce at the end of the day. So if you are after a simple trail bike that can tackle the more challenging stuff you are likely to meet without getting too stupid this is a good cheap option.
Strengths: The tire does roll very quickly indeed. Adequate grip when the trails are hardpacked.
Weaknesses: Very difficult to control when the trails are even just a bit damp. Prone to puncturing on rocky stuff.
Overall: I raced on a set of these last season. When dry the tires went like a rocket but when wet (which unfortunatley was most of the races!) I found I just had no grip. The front tire would just squirm about. Decsending became 'interesting' but I found worse were muddy sections that could be pedalled through caused my front tire to wash out without warning planting me on the floor.
Strengths: Beautifully made. Pretty stiff. Feels like you've got more than 4 inches of travel. Feels like your on a DH bike sometimes.
Weaknesses: Expensive. They don't make them anymore. Some tosser stole mine!
Overall: I got this frame in about 2001. Built it up with various parts but continuially put new stuff when the old stuff broke or wore out. In the end it had a Fox Float up front (which was the perfect compliment to the frame IMHO) RF Deus cranks XTR shifters old XT brakes and Mavic crossmax XL wheels. It was the perfect trail bike for me. It climbed well and came down the hill showing Intense's DH pedigree. A real shame they stopped making them I think.
Got the money back on the insurance but I still miss my old bike (sniff sniff sniff).
Strengths: Very bright. Wide beam. Easy to put on and take off the bike. Idiot proof charging system.
Weaknesses: The price. The balast could be a little difficult to attach to some full-suspension bikes.
Overall: This is the first light I've used so I cannot compare it to other makes. I decided to buy this over a Lumicycle because the Lumi's just look a little cheap for the price. Also I'd read about having to carefully time how long you charge the battery. (I easily forget stuff like that.) The Cateye exudes quality and the whole assembley looks tough. The light isn't as bright as daylight as some say but it's plenty bright enough. The beam is also wide (it can easily light up the whole width of an average fire road.
The balast which is supposed to attach under the top tube may not fit all designs of bikes (ie bikes with no traditional front triangle) and the cable to the light unit isn't long enough to put the ballast elsewhere.
On paper the system is heavier than other makes but the battery doesn't weigh anymore than a full water bottle and the weight isn't really an issue for me.
Strengths: Beautifully controlled action throughout the stroke. Stiff as hell. Feels like a coil shock without the weight.
Weaknesses: Price (ouch!) and the lock out dial easily moves the rebound and slow speed compression dials.
Overall: I actually have the RL model on the front of my Tracer and it's totally changed the feel of the bike. It actually rides downhill like I'm on a big DH monster bike but lock out the fork and it climbs like a XC whippet bike. The fork has totally blown me away in its performance. If you can afford one get one you won't be dissapointed (unless you want a 6 inch tarvel downhill fork!).
'The best all day do everything trail bike on the planet.'
Strengths: Stiff rear triangle. Sweet sweet riden which gives you the confidence to try anything. The change in shock settings really do make a difference.
Weaknesses: Paint tends to scratch off a little easily. The bushings and spacers on the shick wear quite quickly and they cost a fortune for what they are. The price.
Overall: I've had this frame for over a year now and have no real complaints about it. It's kitted out with Raceface, XTR, Mavic stuff and I've just put a Fox Fork on the front which compliments the frame. It's a little on the heavy side for racing but in the past I've gone through a race frame in less than a year. It's virtually identical to the Spesh FSR but put the two together and you can see where the extra money has gone.
Strengths: Light. Tunable. Lock out for the fire road climbs and road work. Mine have been very reliable.
Weaknesses: Not as plush as the SID XCs. Front end flutter and tracking isn't that great especially at high speeds.
Overall: I've got these forks on the front of an Intense Tracer. They are great in that they keep the weight down on the bike which is good for racing but if you want to go for a general all day fork or, like me, you also like to drop of more extreme stuff than on the average xc course then I'd look elsewhere.
Strengths: Beautifully made. Very stiff back end. Geometery feels sorted as soon as you get on it and ride. Relatively rare in this country.
Weaknesses: Price (but you get what you pay for). Weight (but I got this becuase I'm sick of replacing frames every year or so). Paint flakes a bit.
Overall: The hype surrounding these bikes is wholey justified as far as I'm concerned. The cockpit did feel a little cramped when I first got on the bike but once I hit the trails it felt wonderful. The back end tracks beautifully and the whole bike feels solid. I have the bike built up with Raceface/XT/XTR bits and a SID fork. One word of advice would be to go for a bigger travel fork at the front to match the plush rear. I'm going for either a Psylo or a Duke 100 when money allows.
