Intense launches new Primer 29er

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls – this is the latest bike from Intense. I give you… the Primer!

Tidy, no? Upon first impressions it does bear some similarities to the recently released 27.5+ Intense ACV – but they’re not as close as you’d think. The front triangle shares the same mould as the chubster from the same stable, but the layup is different (on each front triangle; there are actually two versions of the Primer frame) and the back end is a completely different beast.

There are two different layups on the Primer – they’re both the same strength, but the more expensive one is lighter by a few grams. More excess weight is shaved off using Ti hardware. The Primer also boasts a front mech hanger – something which the ACV lacks.

The back end is still boosted, but it’s slimmer than the ACV’s arse, and the supporting struts are different. The frame has a head angle of 67.5 degrees, a seat angle of 75 degrees and some reasonably compact 438mm chain stays. You want more angles? Well, WE’VE GOT ALL THE ANGLES:

It sits pretty much in the new-school of 29er bikes – the intention is fairly long, fairly slack, and very capable – these bikes should be good for the XC course and the Enduro one too, should you be so inclined.

The bike is available in a variety of guises, from the Primer 29C Foundation at £4,099.99 (which has the regular frameset), all the way up to the Primer 29C Factory with the SL frameset at £7,999.99. You can also get the SL frameset as a standalone for £2,899.99 should you wish to build your own:

Here are the specs in descending price order:

And here are those prices:

We’ve actually had one of these puppies in to review for a while now, and you can read what Barney thought by clicking through to his review here.

More details are available from distributors Saddleback and you can see more on the Intense range here.

Barney Marsh

Barney Marsh takes the word ‘career’ literally, veering wildly across the road of his life, as thoroughly in control as a goldfish on the dashboard of a motorhome. He’s been, with varying degrees of success, a scientist, teacher, shop assistant, binman and, for one memorable day, a hospital laundry worker. These days, he’s a dad, husband, guitarist, and writer, also with varying degrees of success. He sometimes takes photographs. Some of them are acceptable. Occasionally he rides bikes to cast the rest of his life into sharp relief. Or just to ride through puddles. Sometimes he writes about them. Bikes, not puddles. He is a writer of rongs, a stealer of souls and a polisher of turds. He isn’t nearly as clever or as funny as he thinks he is.

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