Intense Tazer

Before we talk about the new Intense Cycles Tazer E- Bike. Let’s talk about Intense Cycles as a brand. My last new bike was the all new 100mm Intense Sniper and it really did complete my quiver of bikes, so when I was told that Intense was coming out with an E-bike I was a confused. The last two models that have been released really don’t yell out Intense Cycles from what I know of the brand. Intense is a gravity brand that pushes the envelope on style and being core, so what gives with this new brand direction? From what I have learned It’s an all new and improved Intense Cycles. They are building bikes that will take you places that a gravity bike normally can’t and I’m down with that. They aren’t going against the grain and really have a plan to introduce new riders to the Intense for life Family. 

The bike I wanted to hate! That’s right many of my friends are giving me shit for riding and posting about this new Tazer. Why? Because I talked a bunch of shit about e-bikes and how I didn’t like them. My list of reasons had no credibility because I had never ridden an E-bike until unitl I got the Tazer. It was my turn to head out on my maiden voyage on the new Intense Tazer and it only took about 100 yards and I was already giggling from ear to ear. I just wanted to go explore but I didn’t have all day. I put the Tazer in the boost mode straight away and never took off. I went to my local trails and attacked climbs and routes that I could barely walk up and the bike went right up them. This is a benefit from the unique 27.5 fatty rear tire in the rear that I ran about 17-18lbs of pressure. That gave me the traction to just crawl up anything. I charged all around looking to attack some of the steep jumpy trails and was really anxious to see how the bike would handle. I dropped in and was pleasantly surprised on how much traction the 2.5 29er front tire gave me. The extra weight of the e-bike gives you a ton more traction front and rear but with that weight you lose the lively playfulness of a traditional trail bike. The balance is really good and helps with overall stability as well as you just motor down the hills. I put the Tazer in trail mode my first time down just in case I carried to much speed into turns. 

 While testing out the different pedal assist modes on the drive train I found using the eco mode I could put in some big efforts and it was demanding ,but my overall speed was extremely fast. Trail mode was just that little bit more responsive but still allowed the stronger athlete to have the advantage while hauling ass up hill. The boost mode is just unreal! The Speed that you can accelerate and push tight uphill sections brings another skill set to the table. With the speed you carry uphill or even flat single track you better have your skills on point or you will exit the trail fast.

As I was ripping around my local spots climbs that are primarily single track I was really pushing the pace in the boost mode and could not believe the difference how the trails felt with speed. One thing I’ll point out is that I’m going to go through brake pads awfully fast if I push the tight climbs on the boost mode. You carry so much speed into the turns that I need to work on rolling through them instead of jamming on the brakes and then accelerating again. The Shimano drivetrain is a great system but I don’t have a reference of another e-bike system. The Fox fork was a little harsh in the mid stroke so I went to clicks fast on the rebound to get the front end to be more lively, The FOX shock fully open had a little too much movement. That was an easy fix by just bumping up the air pressure in the shock.  

So, what’s my take on the E-bike movement? I rode the bike about 6 times when I came to realize that I don’t ride the bike like a Enduro/trail mountain bike. I ride it like my old KTM 350xc enduro. I go places on a ride that I normally couldn’t. I go explore because I’m not worried about putting my body in the red zone or running out of daylight. The difference is my KTM was loud I got guns pulled on me because it looked like a motocross bike and people thought I was trespassing. The Tazer is a silent assassin it’s not offensive. I can also pre-ride trails and make sure if I want to go to that zone when I come back to hit the trail on my Tracer or Sniper. I have spent many of years on a dirt bike and I tried to get into the Moto Enduro thing, but I just couldn’t find the passion for it. That being said I can say the Tazer will be utilized in my quiver of bikes as the adventure seeking machine by scouting new places, and seeing what’s out there for me to ride. What I won’t do, is stop challenging my body in the fitness side on my 100mm Sniper, I will not stop looking for those rad snappy sections my Tracer loves so much. The bottom line is I Iove two wheels and I should have never talked shit about e-bikes until I rode one. The Intense Tazer and it’s unique set up of a 29er up front and 27.5 fatty in the rear stands apart from everyone else by keeping its core values as a brand that pushes the limit.

If you are in the Temecula are make sure you stop into Intense Cycles or visit to demo one of your own. I’d call first because they go fast.

If you are in Australia visit Intense Cycles.com.au for 5 day delivery and if you are wanting to demo a bike feel free to email the team to schedule a 1 on 1 demo ride.

For Complete Bike Specs Click Here