Curious about how a bicycle is developed? Here’s a look behind the scenes at the prototyping and development process of the 2022 Intense Tracer 279.
Jeff’s welding mask. This particular welding mask is at least 15 years old and was used when Jeff welded up the previous generation of Tracer mules, as well as countless other bikes.
Rear Triangle for the 2019 Tracer 279 prototype that was made for Isabeau Courdurier when she rode on INTENSE. At 5′ tall Isabeau provided great feedback and input for the first size Small prototype. Isabeau raced both the Tracer (which was 27.5” only back then) and the Carbine in the EWS that year, winning on both. She said that at the EWS in Northstar she was faster in the turns on the Tracer but the Carbine was faster overall, and in a race over multiple stages the Carbine was the better choice for her (29″ wheels). She would later go on to win the EWS final in Zermatt aboard this exact prototype.
Top tube shot of the small prototype, made for Isabeau Courdurier, 2019.
Isabeau Courdurier’s 2019 EWS winning Prototype (with Prototype Camo), you can see the official EWS registration stickers on the front and rear triangle. We use the INTENSE Prototype Camo on all of our Prototypes – not as a way to hide anything, but more so as a way to quickly identify a prototype at races and events. This is not the finished look/paintwork of the bike, just for prototypes.
Tracer 279 rear triangle with a rapid prototype rear fender (mud guard) to check fitment. We did not have a rear fender on the last Tracer and we had a lot of requests for one, especially from riders in the UK and wetter riding areas. This rear fender will help keep the lower link and shock clean in wet and muddy conditions. This photo also shows what the fully painted rear will look like for one of the production colorways.
This photo shows the modular make-up of the frame and the alloy pieces. Under the frame you’ll see multiple downtubes, on the right you’ll see multiple rear triangles with seatstays, chainstays, all cut and ready to go. With our alloy prototypes we are able to make adjustments quickly in-house by cutting or shifting any of these pieces and then welding it back into place. All of prototype frames are made by Jeff (Steber) like this.
This is a rolling chassis of an early 275 Tracer prototype, with 27.5” wheels front and rear. Early 2019.
The first Tracer 279 prototype in size Medium built up and ready for ride testing. Early 2019.
Lining up the bottom bracket and shock mounts for the Tracer 29 size Medium. Jeff’s iconic ‘El Jeffe’ welding gloves. El Jefe in Spanish is ‘The Boss’, so it’s a little play on words.
Full shot of the welding jig set-up for the Tracer 29 P1 (Prototype 1). The Tracer 279 was developed and designed as a true ‘mullet’ bike. The 29” bike has a different, and wheel size specific, front and rear triangle. The full 29” option will be available some time after the 279 is fully launched, TBA.
Tracer 29 Prototype being tack welded into place. One thing you’ll notice is the difference between the seatpost and toptube junctions between the 279 and the 29.
2019. Fully tack welded Tracer 29 prototype #1.
Tracer 279 P1 (Prototype 1) rear triangle being tack welded. This was the first 279 prototype.
2019. Full Tracer 279 Size medium Prototype #1.
Full Tracer 279 Size Small Prototype #1. The frame that Isabeau Courdurier (when she rode on INTENSE for the Enduro Collective team) would test before providing feedback. The Tracer was the first mixed wheel bike that Isabeau had ridden.
2020, INTENSE Tracer 279 3D rapid prototypes. Rapid prototyping is a great tool, allowing our designers and engineers to ‘see’ the new Tracer 279 for the first time.
Jeff Steber’s old and new welding masks.
Pre-production full carbon samples from the factory, 2020/21. Built up and ready to ride.
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