With the Carbine 29, Intense presents the carbon version of the well-known Tracer 29. BIKE test already very much downhill. The Carbine goes one better. More travel at the front and slacker seat and steering angles clearly set the direction: down, and fast! Tough terrain? Please do. Forks with up to 160 millimetres of travel can be fitted, the steering angle is then 67 degrees and the seat angle 72 degrees.
But it's not just rough and rough trails that lose their terror in view of these key data; uphill passages and counter-climbs should also ensure more relaxed facial features thanks to respectable weight tuning. The sleek carbon frame of the Carbine 29 saves a good kilo compared to its aluminium counterpart: the carbon fibre work of art including the Fox Float Factory CTD is said to weigh 2600 grams.
The frame developed in collaboration with the carbon specialists from Seed in the Black Forest is not only relatively light and attractive. Equipment details such as the ISCG mount for the chain guide and frame protectors make sense, while internally routed cables and lines for the gears, brakes and dropper post ensure a tidy appearance. The interchangeable dropouts on the carbon rear triangle offer flexibility in the choice of rear wheel axles, two mounting positions for the shock allow two suspension travels: 127 or 140 millimetres. The first test will show us whether the Freiburg-based company Seed was able to help reduce the noticeable influence of the drivetrain on the Tracer 29.
The Intense Carbine 29 will celebrate its premiere at Eurobike 2013 and will be available for 2014 in the "Nature Carbon / Flo Orange" colour combination shown and in three sizes (S, M and L). The price for the frameset will be announced at Eurobike.
Sebastian Brust
Editor
