As the title says, has anyone gone from an Intense 5.5 to a new Tracer yet? I'd be interested to hear how different people are finding the Tracer, especially the Fox 36 based build.
Alternatively, does anyone run Fox 36s on a 5.5? This would be the sensible (cheaper) upgrade, but that Tracer looks awful nice.
Ta
I did have a ride on a 5.5 but now own a Tracer with 36's and a Spider 2
I tried the Tracer with a Fox 140mm fork first but its too steep and is not doing the bike justice, I now run a 36 fork fixed at 160mm and 140mm at the back, it seems too spongy if I ride with 160 at the back. The bike is amazing there is no front wheel lift and it climbs as much as my ability will let it. I recently let my mate have 4 runs down the climax trail in Wales with it, now he a top 10 scottish down hiller and he loved it he said it gripped increadibly well and the feel was great, its a top bike you wont be dissapointed.
Thanks glynP, that's kind of what I was thinking. The 5.5 is, so far, the best (and most!) money I've spent on a bike and I don't regret one penny of it. So getting something that was even better would be stunning...
I'm going to have to have a look around for demos I think.
What about the "cheap" option: 36's on a 5.5? Anyone done this?
Not tried a 5.5 but just swapped from an Orange 5 to a Tracer. The difference between the 2 is phenomenal. Tracer is streets ahead of the Orange and I find it a much more stable pedalling platform, the rear wheel is almost glued to the ground whereas the Orange bounced around everywhere.
I have Lyriks on my Tracer and it works really well. Turns the bike into a real battle bus that will deal with anything you throw at it. 160mm travel takes the head angle to around 67.5 degrees i think, but the front does not feel wandery at all when climbing, and gets even better when you head downhill.
Whereabouts are you, I'm in Bristol if you want to have a go on mine.
i have a 5.5 and i rate it-coming from a patriot and an ellsworth iD-rode a tracer last week and i would like to own one, but as well as the 5.5!
I had a TALAS 36 RC2 on my 5.5. Worked brilliantly. If the £ wasn't so poor against the $ at the moment, I would put a 36 on the 5.5 I'm currently building.
Thanks everyone. Think I'll have to find a shop that will sell me the 36's anyways, and then sort me out with a demo tracer too.
(*mental note: Check steerer length on Tracer before cutting forks for 5.5 ;o)
Steerer tube is 125mm (5 inches)