Am toying with the idea of picking up a used 2009 Tracer VP (probably pre Nov 09)...but have read horror stories of flex / cracks in rear triangle plus issues re tyre clearance at 6" travel..and to cap it all that the RP23 (pre BV) just doesn't work well with the frame....does anyone have any advice / experience of the above to point me in the right direction?
There does seem to be a lot of them up for sale at the moment...
Also, any views as to whether the bike performs better at 5" or 6" travel? Have always thought 5" would suit my riding better but this bike has a 36 Talas upfront...
Cheers Ta
- There where cracks on the rear stay, Intense beefed it up (I would imagine they have stocked up on rear triangles, at first turn around was not very fast)
- I fit a 2.4" Rubber Queen at the back with 2.4" setting. Not a huge amount of clearance, but no problems... That's plenty of clearance for such a frame IMO
- Did not really notice a lot of flex on the rear. It's not the stiffest frame, but it did not bother me. Then again, I only weigh 70kg
- I did not like the rp23 BV, don't think the one before that would have been any better. The difference between the BV and previous one is in the last ~20% of the travel, and the problem with the shock is that it blows through the beginning of the travel (not bottoming out). Some people don't seem to mind, but personally I have not really liked the RP23 on any other frame either (get's better when you send it to push)
- Not a big difference between 5 and 6" settings. It does not alter the geometry, so you can pick either one you prefer.
Also note, that some of the large frames have had incorrect frame geometry (HA and SA off by over a degree). I would try to verify if that's your size.
Thanks Kamina
Seems a bit of a minefield to me....and can't believe that with all the 'hand made in the USA' they still managed to ship out frames with the wrong geometry....is all very well having a 1980's Aston Martin and being proud that it's hand built, but what's the point if the door doesn't shut properly?
Ive had my Large Tracer for nearly two years... i ran it in the 5" set up for 6 months before changing it to the 6".. i personally think the bike feels much better in the 6" setup and I noticed the diference... climbs amazing for a 6" bike and descends even better.. just Cruz's over rocky stuff and its equally happy to be bombing around natural twisty single track.. excellent bike..
Ive had no problems with tire clearances.. Ive ran High Rollers and Minions, both 2.35. never noticed the rear end being flexy.. i do run a 9mm bolt though.. and had no issues with geomatry... as for the RP23.. well i swapped it out for a Manitou isx6.. the rp23 would just blow through the mid stoke and completely bottom out with me.. to stop this from happening i had to run the shock at 220psi which was way too stiff for my liking... (BTW I'm 16st) the isx6 changed the characteristics of the bike.. the bike has went from being good to amazing.. sorry thats the best i can described it LOL... if you can get a chance to try one out back to back with a RP23 you will know instanly...
unfortunately i have cracked two rear triangles (chain stays) it took CRC 6 weeks both times to sort me out with a replacement.. on the second occasion they upgraded it to the new beefier vers. Intense tell me they are confidant that they have sorted out the problam... But unfortunately this has tainted the experience of the Tracer for me.. Ive still got this niggling feeling that it could break again, the warranty runs out in December and if it goes again.. well... Ive heard it's a £600 bill for a replacement 😥 👿 😥
as it stands at the moment.. whilst i love the Tracer for its riding characteristics and also the looks.. Cu's lets face it looks do have a factor in it too.. LOL... I wouldn't buy another one.. i may off coarse change my mind on this if the chain stay holds up... its been 5months since the latest replacement, so far so good...
If i was to be looking for another full suss and was looking to stick with a VVP type frame and was looking for a 5" then it would have to be a SC Blur LT2... and of coarse "6 a Nomad..
First Chainstay Crack
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Second Chain Stay Crack
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Surely the warrenty on the replacement bit is a year again?



