INTENSE TAZER 279 EXPERT

California-based Intense Cycles are now selling direct over the internet. This is a big turnaround for a company with a storied racing history, used to selling topend kit in shops with prices to match. It does mean value has, er, intensified, with this carbon fibre e-enduro bike with Fox suspension costing just over £5k.

THE FRAME

Launched in 2018, you’d be forgiven for assuming the Tazer is dated, but it’s still totally contemporary in terms of looks and geometry. Its motor tech is slightly longer in the tooth, though – it uses an older-generation Shimano E7000 drive unit and a 504wh battery. This is stashed in the belly of the down tube, where it can be easily accessed for o -bike charging. While lower-capacity than some, it’s lighter, with a blockier shape (designed for external use) that keeps the heaviest e-bike component low down for better handling. There’s 155mm of rear wheel travel, delivered by twin counter-rotating ‘JS’ links that create a virtual pivot point. The oversize chassis is full-carbon, which saves a ton of weight over alloy. Geometry is modern, without being extreme, with a 460mm reach on the large size and a relatively long wheelbase, thanks to the slacker-than-advertised 64(ish)-degree head angle.

THE KIT

Shimano’s E7000 drive unit is actually newer than the (more common) E8000, but only has 60Nm of max torque, compared to the 85Nm of their latest EP8 motor. This isn’t a deal-breaker, though, and is only really felt when pushing a too-firm gear while setting o or up steep climbs. A bonus is that there’s no EP8 rattle. Another nod to previousgeneration e-bike trends grates more – the ‘plus-size’ 2.8in rear tyre and 2.6in front tyre aren’t the best choice for moist UK conditions. They are, however, mounted to top-quality DT Swiss wheels, and at least

Maxxis’s Minion DHR II tread is grippy as hell in the dry. Elsewhere, Intense nail the parts spec. You get Fox’s latest 38 fork – with oversize stanchions, well up to handling e-bike forces, plus their seriously supple and comfy GRIP damper – and a DPX2 piggyback shock. Four-pot Shimano brakes and 12-speed SLX gears get the job done, and it’s great to see an SDG saddle and ODI grips.

THE RIDE

The Tazer is considerably lighter than most rivals for the same cash, and that’s immediately noticeable. Whether you’re firing o rapid lefts and rights, flicking o lips or manualling rollers, it rides way closer to a ‘normal’ bike than most e-MTBs. While this is partly down to its weight, the mullet wheel set-up and taut, solid-feeling carbon chassis add to the fun and flickable feel. The Intense handles direction changes with a nonchalant ease, and smashes through rock gardens and root webs. While the suspension is pretty dialled, the Tazer has a firmer touch than some rivals and doesn’t iron out every trail ripple or stay glued to the ground. The tighter o -the-top feel keeps the handling lively, though, and deeper in the stroke there’s still a sweet spot of DPX2 suppleness and fluidity as you hammer through chop.

Slinking up steep climbs, even with full assistance, the front end stays planted, and there’s so much grip in the dry with the 38 fork and fat Maxxis tyres that it’s ridiculous how hard you can lean in corners. The Tazer feels fantastic on easier, loamy o -piste and singletrack, and climbs longer grades really well, with no quirks and stacks of traction. Chuck some moisture or steeps into the mix, however, and it can be a di erent story. The rounded tyres don’t cut in enough, so can slide or spin, especially in higher-power modes. Additionally, the fork feels softer and livelier than the shock, so there’s a bit of imbalance on tracks where weight is continually loaded onto the front end.

Fit a new set of tyres (2.5in Maxxis rubber works fine) and tune the fork support (or upgrade to Fox’s more supportive and controlled GRIP2 damper), and the Tazer can o er a sorted ride. Both are relatively easy and cheap fixes to deliver a responsive carbon e-bike with more spark than plenty of duller and harder-to-manoeuvre alloy rivals. There’s not much you can do about the older motor and lower-range 504wh battery, though, especially if riding mates are packing more power.

Mick Kirkman https://uk.intense cycles.com

FLICKING OFF LIPS OR MANUALLING ROLLERS, IT RIDES WAY CLOSER TO A ‘NORMAL’ BIKE

|

Ergon reckon that e-biking means extra climbing and have designed this seat accordingly (yes, you’ll be doing more descending too, but you shouldn’t be sat down for that). It’s got a rear ramp and wide, flat nose to keep you comfy on long seated ascents, a relief channel to take pressure o your delicate bits and ‘OrthoCell’ inlays to distribute pressure across your sit-bones. Available in men’s and women’s versions, it comes in two sizes with a nylon- or carbon-composite shell. |

As used on our ‘super commuter’ build in MBUK 401, the Swytch kit is easy to fit and gives any bike an electric boost, as long as it has a QR fork. The hub motor and barmounted battery aren’t designed for serious o -road use (for that, look at a mid-drive kit), but work fine for smoother forest roads, towpaths and urban rides.

(without cranks) |

You can get e-bike-friendly steel chainrings and single-click shifters for SRAM’s other groups too, but EX1 has been designed for e-MTB use from the ground up. Its eight-speed E-BLOCK cassette is machined from a single block of steel and has fewer sprockets with bigger steps between them for improved shifting precision and reliability under power. |

Let’s face it, one of the worst things about e-bikes is their weight. This foot-operated pneumatic workstand should let you get your bike to an easy working height for maintenance without breaking your back. |

These feature a wider rim than Hunt’s standard enduro wheels (37mm), a higher spoke count (32/36) and thicker triple-butted spokes, plus e-specific hubs with heat sinks and beefed-up internals at the rear. |

Yep, it looks bonkers, and so is the price, but PRO reckon this is the future of e-bike cockpits. This integrated carbon fibre bar and stem has a recess for a Shimano STEPS head unit, internal cable routing and comes with grips designed to fit perfectly next to one of Shimano’s mode selectors.