Intense Cycles

Tracer 275 C DVO Pro Complete Mountain Bike - 2015

Intense Cycles' Tracer 275 C DVO Pro Complete Mountain Bike is a chance to do two things that not many enduro riders can brag about: ride the refined Tracer and experience the work of the iconoclasts at DVO in the form of the Diamond fork and Jade shock. The result is a ride capable of demolishing lines, both up and down, with an aesthetical flair that'll turn heads on the trail and while hanging over a tailgate.

Compared to its alloy predecessor, the carbon Tracer turns the trail fiend’s formula to 11 by adding 10mm of travel, kicking out the head angle a degree, and lengthening the wheelbase by half an inch. Both the front and rear triangles are constructed as a whole, rather than bonding them together from subassemblies, so the carbon wraps through key joints in a layup that requires less material but still produces a stronger chassis. The frame weight reflects this, registering a claimed 5.3lb for a size medium while maintaining the strength and stiffness necessary for the most aggressive riders to keep it pinned in terrain that would have lesser bikes shaking in their boots.

The Tracer’s geometry sheet makes its intentions crystal clear. With a relaxed head angle, a low bottom bracket, and fairly long wheelbase, it’s built to come alive at high speeds and under gnarly conditions. The oversized collet-style hardware is made in Temecula, CA, and ensures durability and ease of service — a feature that's especially important for home mechanics. As mentioned above, the usual build kit is superseded here by the addition of DVO's shiny stones at the shock and fork; however, the rest of the kit is exactly what you'd expect from a build meant to punch back at the trail: a SRAM one-by drivetrain, Shimano XT brakes, and Stan's NoTubes writ large across the rims and hubs.