The bike that was designed, tested and produced during Covid. That was never the plan but Jeff Steber had a vision and the team had some goals too, so they pressed on to produce the best Enduro model Intense has ever put on the market. My first bike from Intense was the Tracer 26 inch, then the Carbine 26’, Carbine 27.5, Tracer 275 then the Carbine 29er. I have grown to love the enduro Mtb segment through Intense so this bike was one that I couldn’t have been more excited to ride. As many of you may know I’m not a “big sendy guy”. I’m a guy that needs to feel confidence in my bike when going fast but I also need to have a responsive bike when turning and climbing.

When it come to the suspension platform, the Tracer S 279 is an all new suspension system for Jeff Steber and the Intense team. The team has taken the data from the Intense Factory Racing team and applied it to the Tracer models utilizing it’s bottom link driven rear shock. This is the biggest travel enduro bike I have ever had with a 170mm front and rear so I was a little worried on how it would pedal. With the Tracer S utilizing an Ohlins coil and 38mm forks you have a platform like a factory world cup racer.

On Trail: I knew the Tracer S 279 would be fast descending, but how would it pedal? If it felt like a turd pedaling my experience would be compromised. After spending just two days on the bike I was so stoked. I decided to race the bike at the Queensland State Enduro championship. The First Stage was steep and chunky but the other 4 stages were at my local Nerang trails where I was worried about how the bike would pedal on the more flat rocky stages. Coming into the last stage, I was in the lead but this stage was almost a XC race with embedded rocks. This was my first time on the this trail with the Tracer S and I can tell you that this is where I noticed how well the shock absorbed chunky rock sections while pedaling. I rounded up the 5 stages taking the win and proving to myself that this bike was as good if not better than I would have hoped it was. Since the race I have rode the bike a lot and I have yet to find it’s limit. I just don’t want to go that fast and the bike wants more. When it comes to pedaling, climbing the steep seat tube and your position on the bike puts you over the top of it not off the back, so you don’t feel like you are dragging an anchor up hill when heading to your favorite descents.

Final thoughts: The Tracer S specs and price can’t be matched with Ohlins, Renthal, E-thirteen , Shimano, and Maxxis products to give the bike nothing for you to need upgrade when it comes to performance on trail. Depending on the terrain that you ride you could run a lighter tire for roll speed. I chose to keep the bike completely standard as it’s a tire that suited for a big bike.

Learn more about the Intense Cycles Tracer S 279 HERE

BUILD: Medium WEIGHT 16.78 kg // 37 lbs.

FRAME: Full carbon fiber front and rear triangle utilizing an optimized carbon layup for the ENDURO category. Features fully guided internal cable routing, carbon top link, titanium hardware, ISCG-05 tabs, threaded BB an updated molded frame protection and shuttle guard. Concentric bottom link with integrated flip chip to adjust GEO. Integrated flip chip to adjust GEO. Integrated CHAD Storage system with the 'tube bag' included. 170mm of rear wheel travel. Quick release rear axle (148mm boost hub spacing). 

FORK: Öhlins RXF 38, 170mm, dual air spring, compression and rebound adjustment, solid front axle with pinch bolt (110mm boost spacing) 44mm offset. 

SHOCK: Öhlins TTX22M Coil, 170mm of travel, 3 position high speed compression, low speed compression and rebound adjustment Shock size/Stroke: 205mm x 65mm upper Trunnion mount, Lower Mounting Hardware: 8mm x 30mm.COIL/SPRING365 lbs (S Size for 54 - 64 kg rider weight) / 457 lbs (M Size for 64 - 73 kg rider weight) / 502 lbs (L Size for 73 - 80 kg rider weight) / 548 lbs (XL Size for 80 - 84 kgs rider weight)

WHEELS: e*Thirteen LG1 Enduro 30mm Alloy Rim / e*Thirteen hub/boostHUBSFront updated e*Thirteen race hub 28h 6-bolt rotor 110mm x 15mm boost front / rear updated e*Thirteen race hub 28h 6-bolt rotor XG driver body, 148mm x 12mm boostRIMSe*Thirteen LG1 Enduro 30mm alloy rim 28hSPOKESHive triple-butted black steel spokes

TIRES: Front: MAXXIS Assegai WT Maxx Terra 3C MaxxGrip DH 29" X 2.50" /  Rear: MAXXIS Assegai WT Maxx Terra 3C MaxxGrip DH 27.5" X 2.50"SHIFTERSSRAM GX Eagle 12SPREAR DERAILLEURSRAM X01 Eagle 12SPCRANKSRAM X1 Eagle Alloy 12SP / DUB / 30t / 170mm / Boost / 52mm Chainline

CASSETTE: SRAM XG 1275 Eagle 12SP. 10-52tCHAINSRAM GX Eagle 12SP 118 linksCHAIN GUIDEe*Thirteen Vario top guide w/mini sliderBOTTOM BRACKETSRAM DUB ThreadedSADDLESDG Radar LUX-Alloy Rails

SEATPOST: e*Thirteen Infinite Dropper I-Spec, 150mm SM / 180mm MD-LG / 210mm XLHANDLEBARRenthal Fatbar Alloy 35mm, 30mm rise / 800mmSTEMINTENSE Recon 35mm / 40mm length

HEADSET: Cane Creek 40 Top ZS49/28.6mm, Bottom ZS56/40

BRAKESET: Magura MT7 Pro, 4-Piston caliper - Front Rotor Magura Storm HC - 203mm 6-Bolt / Rear Rotor Magura Storm HC - 203mm 6-BoltGRIPSINTENSE Logo Lock-on