Competitive Cyclist

INTENSE TRACER VP

Intense doesn't believe there's one model that's right for everyone. Anything but. Their new Tracer VP trailbike marks their eleventh current model, each specially engineered for its respective intent. But with the introduction of the Intense Tracer VP, they'll have come real effin close. It's the first ever adjustable travel VPP bike, and it utilizes a new VPP link that minimizes chain growth, is laterally stiffer, and is super easy to maintain.

None of the usual CNC artistry is spared -- in fact, Intense took it to new heights. While it indisputably still looks like an Intense, it has an aesthetic all its own. A hearty hydroformed top tube is angled downward with a subtle bend to it, providing oodles of standover clearance. It's reinforced at the seat tube with a small brace, and it engulfs a beefy onepointfive headtube at its opposite end. Onepointfive? That's right. The Tracer VP has a Jekyll-and-Hyde personality -- at just 6.25 pounds, it can be built for XC with ease, but its onepointfive headtube and beefy tubing encourage a more aggressive build. The versatile Intense Tracer VP also offers a choice between 5.5" or 6" of travel achieved by simply moving the pivot to the alternate location on the upper swing link. As a result, it allows you to mate any fork from 130mm to 160mm of travel.

VPP uses a dual pivot coupling at its main pivot point. This coupling allows two adjoining pivots to rotate opposite each other as the suspension compresses (top pivots rotate counter-clockwise, while bottom pivots rotate clockwise), which causes the rear axle to follow a backwards S-path distinctly dissimilar to the vertical path taken by a traditional 4-bar linkage. This helps give a VPP bike the same level of "activeness" as a 4-bar, but it does so while causing pedaling forces to drive the rear wheel downward rather than up. The resulting traction makes Intense bikes superior climbers and breathtakingly stable in corners. The Tracer VP comes stock with a Fox Float RP23 shock -- ideal for those of us that set-it-and-forget-it. (View our set-up video). Pressurize it to the appropriate SAG, and turn the ProPedal feature on or off as the terrain dictates. Or for $250, an upgrade to a Cane Creek Double Barrel with Steel Coil is available.

The new VPP link found on the Intense Tracer VP helps to minimize chain growth by some 15-20%, which reduces pedal feedback during the suspension cycle. In turn, this allows the suspension to stay more active, resulting in a plush ride with loads of traction. Angular contact bearings help keep the link stable and laterally stiff, enhancing the already legendary Intense tracking characteristic. The new design drastically reduces the amount of maintenance required, and makes doing it a whole lot easier. Zerk fittings can be found at the pivots which allow for lubrication without disassembly. A grease gun is used at each fitting to squirt a touch of grease in. Two minutes, and you're back on the trail. Bearings last longer, and the suspension action stays smooth and quiet.

The new Intense Tracer VP will be available in Works Red, Intense Red, Stealth Black, Pearl White, and Works (raw aluminum). It uses a 31.6mm seatpost, and can use a 34.9mm top swing/top pull front derailleur. A grease gun fitting is included with your frame purchase to make for easy routine maintenance.

Please note the geometry chart below was developed using a flush mount headset.

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2010 Intense Tracer VP Pricing