INTENSE's Tracer gets a new look for 2022
INTENSE's Tracer has seen a complete redesign for 2022, having borrowed a few things that we've seen on the M29 downhill bike. New for the Tracer 279 is a brand new suspension platform for the bike, along with a new frame and a mullet wheel size.
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The Tracer has been a staple in INTENSE's range for well over 20 years and the brand believes that the most recent iteration represents everything that INTENSE stands for. With 170mm of suspension travel at both ends, it's the enduro bike in the range that's designed to be stable and capable while fast, fun, and agile. As an enduro bike, climbing prowess has received some attention too.
That's thanks to a new suspension platform that's been borrowed from INTENSE's M29 downhill bike. The Tracer uses a new JS Enduro link which is a bottom link driven rear shock design that's said to offer a plush ride through chunky descents but also a firm pedaling platform while lowering the bike's centre of gravity.
The new suspension comes sorted with a carbon integrated top link. INTENSE says that it's stiff, light, very strong and benefits from seamless integration into the frame. It's also said to be a key element of the JS Tunes suspension platform.
It's not just about a new suspension layout as the Tracer's full carbon frame has received a host of cool features including titanium hardware, internal cable routing, moulded frame protection, and a shuttle guard. There's also a threaded bottom bracket and a Chad Storage System; In-frame storage that's named after late colleague, Chad Peterson. The carbon frame has then been made with a specific layup that ensures stiffness and strength while offering some compliance in the right places, says the brand, while having enough space for a bottle cage.
With a completely updated frame, the geometry has seen a big change and it falls firmly in line with the long, lower, slacker way of thinking. As such, the bike gets a 77.4° effective seat tube angle, a 64° head tube angle, and a 439mm chainstay. A large frame is built with a 475mm reach.
The Tracer 279's frame makes use of a geometry adjusting flip-chip which in its HI setting, steepens the effective seat tube angle to 77.9°, the head angle to 64.5°, and raises the BB height by 7mm. The reach gets stretched to 480mm on a large frame too.
There are two models of the INTENSE Tracer 279 available, the S and Expert builts. The former comes sorted with Öhlins suspension in the form of the RXF38 M.2 fork and TTX22M coil shock. There's then a combination of SRAM's XO1, GX, and X1 drivetrains handling the 12-speed shifting, along with a pair of Magura MT7 Pro brakes. Wrapping the e*thirteen LG1 Enduro wheelset is a pair of Maxxis Assegai WTs in 2.5" widths.
The latter, Expert, build comes with Fox Performance suspension with a 38 fork and DHX2 shock, a SRAM NX 12-speed drivetrain, and SRAM CODE R brakes. This bike gets the same wheelset along with the same tyres.
Prices for INTENSE's new Tracer 279 start at £4,800 for the Expert model and go up to £6,000 for the S. There's also a frame-only option that'll set you back £2,800. The bike is available in four sizes from Small up to Extra Large.