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I can recall reading something a while back that stated that the Tracer was not the bike for the heavier rider, i.e. someone like me (16st). Is this an opinion born out in reality? I am considering buying either the Tracer or the new 5 Spot.
If you're heavy like me (also 16 stone) then have a look at nicolai. They are built strong and have a five year guarantee. Intense are lovely but their alignment is not always great and that can lead to wear problems.
The helius ac is equivalent to the tracer and five spot. In standard form it's perhaps strong enough but you can ask to have it beefed up by using the helius am tube set. Or you could just get an am which is what I've got coming next week.
They are fine. I'm 15st kitted up (probably) and the bike is lasting well and it's very well used. What cannot cope is the RP23, that you will want to bin.
I agree with Dans, I'm about 14 stone kitted up and the RP23 was pants - either pumped so high it was rock solid or bottoming if you went of a kerb. Don't bother Pushing it, I replaced with a Manitou ISX 6 off ebay and haven't looked back - fantastic bike now. Heard good things about a CCDB if you're feeling loaded. I'd recomend a test ride if you can and see how you get on.
I went with a BOS Stoy in the end (I had a clear out so found the cash). It's lovely. I have heard very good things about the Manitou though.
Pic here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36888467@N08/4047463389/sizes/l/
Oh, and I had exactly the same experience with the RP23.
Dans, lovely pics. If you ever want to get rid of that shock drop me a note. I've got a Pushed RP23 with 3 rides use if you needed something to put back in the frame 😀
Thank you for your kind and generous offer but at this moment in time I feel that I must refuse. 😉
It is a great shock, it changed the bike completely.
I think the rp23 sucks even for a light rider. Hopefully I'll have my pushed Van R here shortly.
i know its off topic but the 2009 RP23 is shite!!!! The Fox Van R (£210 from TFtuned) will transform your Tracer like it had my mates, I am also putting one on my Heckler as the stock 2009 RP23 is absolutely shite as well and sounds like its got the same problem!
Mine has the 2010 rp23 but it's the same shock, just new stickers. I think the boost valve only affects the last 25% of the stroke which was honestly never a problem for me on any rp23...
Have a look at Santa Cruz. Same bike as the Intense - like Audi and VW they share development and platform. The Blur or Nomad can be ordered with DHX, RP23 or a coil shock IIRC
Aren't Santa Cruz bikes actually made in Taiwan whereas Intense are made in Temecula, California?
What's interesting is that it is entirely possible that even if this is true SC bikes are actually better made than Intense. Several of my friends have had various Intense frames including the Uzzi VPX, Socom and M3. All of them have developed serious amounts of play in the links after only 8 months of modest use. My LBS friends have also commented that their experience of Intense is that their frame alignment sucks and it's this that causes the excessive wear around the linkages and shock bushings. I've not seen the same problems with SC bikes but that could be because I don't know as many people riding SC.
You may be right, but the only thing that matters is how it's built and how much maintenance it needs. As a parallel, American car quality is rubbish compared to European or far east.
Santa Cruz actually do all the design and testing which is why they get any new suspension designs on their bikes almost a year ahead of Intense