LUKE’S INTENSE TRACER PRO £3,699

Luke’s only had half the time onboard, but double the fun

I got my hands on the Intense at the beginning of June, half a year after the rest of the team, but shortly after joining the mag. While I was thrilled to be getting such a rad bike from a prestigious brand, the fluoro yellow upper link and component decals didn’t instantly appeal. They’ve grown on me though, and the Tracer hasn’t disappointed. It was easy to ride from the off, with the sizing and geometry of the large being spot on for me. Some might argue the 65.5-degree head angle is a bit steep, but I’ve never found myself wanting it slacker.

The Intense and I have had a pretty intense time. It’s accompanied me to Slovakia, Austria and Switzerland, and hit the races too, from the ’Ard Rock in Yorkshire to the Scottish Enduro Series round in Fort William. Apart from some rear shock issues – I went through two faulty Fox Float X2 Performance dampers before finding success with the Factory version – all the kit has performed faultlessly. The low weight is a pleasant surprise every time I pick the bike up too, and means climbing isn’t a chore.

I’m always excited to get back on the Tracer and do some laps. So, would I spend my own money on it? For sure! It’s a really capable bike, which has needed little maintenance and is a pleasure to ride, with a spec that doesn’t need upgrading. It’s not cheap, but delivers value for money. www.uk.intensecycles.com