Back in early February this year, [R]evolution Magazine flew to Southern California to join a small handful of MTB media outlets from around the globe for an exclusive look at Intense Cycles’ latest creation, the Spider 275c.
During the trip we spent a couple of days learning about the bike, hanging out with the designers and engineers from Intense, and spent plenty of time out on the trails experiencing the personality of the new bike first hand. Until now, it’s has been under embargo, meaning we couldn’t share any of this info with you. However, when we flew back to Australia, we were able to bring the Spider 275c with us, allowing us an extended test period aboard the bike on home soil.
Having spent the past 2 months riding the bike on a daily basis, it’s fair to say that we have fallen head over heels for the Spiders’ sheer performance out on the trails.
Intense_SPIDER_Product from Intense Cycles on Vimeo.
Unfortunately the bike’s official global release date fell just a few days after our latest issue was printed, meaning we’ll have to wait until our following issue in June to share with you our full review and trail notes, along with the backstory of how Jeff Steber and his team created the new Spider carbon. We promise the wait will be worth it once that article hits your eyes in June!
Because we don’t want you guys to miss out on knowing the basic stats and lowdown right now though, we’ve complied a brief hit list of things that you should know about the bike right now. Here goes:
The all-new Intense Cycles Spider 275c is a bike that re-writes the rulebooks of trail bike performance and potential with cutting edge modern design and geometry. It has a super short rear end and is matched with a roomy cockpit, relaxed headangle, and fantastic standover clearance. The Spider 275c is a 27.5” wheeled machine that boasts a full carbon front and rear triangle, adjustable rear travel 115mm-130mm and integrated BOOST 148 x 12 dropouts and its ‘JS Tuned’ linkage design (essentially a big leap forward from the old VPP design) sets a new industry benchmark. It delivers bucket loads of noticeable stiffness, and whilst fully active, the efficiency of power transfer from pedal stroke to rear wheel is truly astounding.
The Spider 275c will be offered in 2 frame levels; a Super Light (SL) high modulus carbon frame for the ‘frame only’ as well as the Pro and Factory spec complete builds, and then a slightly heavier/different carbon version called the ‘standard frame’ which will be featured on the Expert and Foundation spec complete bikes. The SL frame is 300g lighter with titanium hardware, high modulus carbon fibre and carbon top link. However the ‘Standard’ frame is still a classy piece of kit, manufactured with EPS moulding technology.
Frame Features
4 Sizes – S, M, L, XL
Adjustable rear travel: 4.5″ to 5″ (115mm-130mm)
27.5” Wheel size
Frame weight – SL Super Light frame w/ carbon link, no shock: 2,490 grams
Frame weight – Standard frame w/ alloy link, no shock: 2,705 grams
Integrated BOOST 148 x 12 dropouts
ISCG05 Mounts
Internal Cable Routing
Internal Seat Tube Cable Routing for dropper posts
Monocoque front triangle
H20 Bottle Fitment
FLK – GRD Downtube and Chainstay protection
Tapered Head Tube
Direct Mount Front Derailleur
Angular Contact/Collet Bearing System
Key features of the ‘JS Tuned’ suspension design:
– Efficiency: A compact, integrated system that not only provides ride efficiency but also offers strength, stiffness and manufacturability with the added bonus of being low-maintenance
– Segment Specific: Each model’s suspension is fine-tuned with a top-quality platform, designed to create world-class segment leaders whether aimed at XC/ light Trail, Trail / Enduro or DH.
– Balanced Braking: The counter-rotating links achieve a balance of traction and stability under braking forces with minimal impact to the bike’s geometry.
– Balanced Pedal Forces: Counter-rotating links allow flexibility in shock rates and wheel path to create a refined balanced platform that climbs & accelerates as well it descends.
– Structural Integrity: The JS Tunes structural integrity is superior due to the combination of short, stiff links and unified rear triangle, combined with large 15mm collet bolts and angular-contact bearings.
– Low Maintenance: Easy to replace, high quality, angular-contact bearing with grease ports along with 15mm Collet bolt system.
Price starts at $4,999 for the frame only (SL premium level)
Complete build options:
Foundation
- Front Suspension – RockShox Pike RC, 27.5” 15QR Thru Axle, 140mm Travel, 100 x 15mm
- Rear Suspension – RockShox Monarch R Debonair, 200x 51mm
- Hubs – 32 Hole Intense Tuned, 148x 12 mm BOOST; 100 x15mm Front Hub; 148×12 BOOST Rear Hub Shimano Driver, 6-Bolt
- Rims – Sun Helix TR25 Rims, 275”, Tubeless Ready
- Spokes – DT Swiss Champion
- Tires – SCHWALBE NOBBY NIC SNAKESKIN, TL-EASY, PSC FOLDING 27.5 x 2.35″ front, 27.5 x 2.25″ rear
- Shifters – SRAM GX 11-speed
- Rear Derailleur – SRAM GX 11-speed
- Front Derailleur – SRAM NX 11-speed
- Crank – RACE FACE AEFFECT, 32T
- Cassette – SRAM NX 11-42, 11 speed
- Chain – SRAM NX 11 Speed
- Saddle – WTB Silverado Sport
- Seatpost – Kindshock LEV Integra, 31.6mm x 385 m, zero offset, 125mm of travel
- Handlebar – Intense Recon 31.8 x 18 x 760mm
- Stem – Intense, 50mm
- Headset – TS Intense Headset, 25mm of spacers
- Brakeset – SRAM GUIDE R,, 180mm front and 160mm rear
- Grips – Intense Dual Density Lock-On
- $6499.00 Australian RRP
Expert
- Front Suspension – RockShox Pike RC, 27.5” 15QR Thru Axle, 140mm Travel, 100 x 15mm
- Rear Suspension – Rock Shox Monarch RC3 Debonair, 200x 51mm
- Wheels – DT Swiss M 1900 Spline 275 BOOST
- Hubs – 28 Hole DT Swiss SPLINE® hub with pawl drive system, silk matte black ; 100 x 15mm Front Hub; 148×12 BOOST Rear Hub Shimano Driver, centerlock”
- Rims – DT Swiss M 1900 Spline 27.5″, Tubeless Ready
- Spokes – DT Competition 2.0/1.8/2.0
- Tires – SCHWALBE NOBBY NIC SNAKESKIN, TL-EASY, PSC FOLDING 27.5 x 2.35″ front, 27.5 x 2.25″ rear
- Shifters – Shimano DEORE XT, RIGHT, 11-SPEED
- Rear Derailleur – Shimano DEORE XT, RD-M8000, SGS 11-SPEED TOP-NORMAL SHADOW PLUS DESIGN
- Crank – RACE FACE TURBINE, 32T
- Cassette – Shimano DEORE XT, 11-SPEED, 11-13-15-17-19-21-24-27-31-35-42
- Saddle – WTB Silverado Race
- Seatpost – Kindshock LEV Integra, 31.6mm x 385mm, zero offset, 125 mm of travel
- Handlebar – Renthal Fatbar 20mm x 760mm
- Stem – Thomson Elite X4: 50mm
- Headset – Cane Creek, 40, alloy cartridge, 25mm of spacers
- Brakeset – Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc MY2016, centerlock rotors, 180mm front and 160mm rear
- Grips – Intense Dual Density Lock-On
- $8499.00 Australian RRP
Pro
- Front Suspension – FOX Performance Elite 34 FLOAT, 3 Pos Lever w/ Open Mode Adj, 27.5″
- Rear suspension – FOX Performance Elite FLOAT, 3 Pos Lever w/ Open Mode Adj, SV EVOL
- Wheels – DT Swiss M1700
- Hubs – 28 Hole DT Swiss 340 ; 100 x15mm Front Hub; 148×12 BOOST Rear Hub w/ XD Driver, centerlock
- Rims – DT Swiss M 1700 Spline Two 27.5″, Tubeless Ready
- Spokes – DT Competition 2.0/1.8/2.0
- Tires – SCHWALBE NOBBY NIC SNAKESKIN, TL-EASY, PSC FOLDING 27.5 x 2.35″ front, 27.5 x 2.25″ rear
- Shifters – SRAM X1, 11 speed
- Rear Derailleur – SRAM X01, 11 speed
- Crank – RACE FACE NEXT, 32T
- Cassette – SRAM XG-1175 10-42, 11 speed
- Chain – SRAM X1, 11 speed
- Saddle – Fabric Scoop Radius Elite
- Seatpost – Kindshock LEV Integra, 31.6mm x 385mm, zero offset, 125mm of travel
- Handlebar – Renthal Fatbar 20mm x 760mm
- Stem – Thomson Elite X4: 50mm
- Headset – Cane Creek, 40, alloy cartridge, 25mm of spacers
- Brakeset – SRAM GUIDE RS, 180mm front and 160mm rear
- Grips – Intense Dual Density Lock-On
- $9999.00 Australian RRP
Factory
- Front suspension – FOX FACTORY 34 FLOAT, 3 Pos Lever w/ Open Mode Adj, 27.5″
- Rear suspension – FOX FACTORY FLOAT, 3 Pos Lever w/ Open Mode Adj, SV EVOL, 200x50mm
- Wheels – DT Swiss XRC 1200 SPLINE® 275″ BOOST
- Hubs – 28 Hole DT Swiss 240 ; 100 x15mm Front Hub; 148×12 BOOST Rear Hub w/ XD Driver, centerlock
- Rims – DT Swiss XRC 1200 SPLINE® 27.5″, Tubeless Ready
- Spokes – DT Competition 2.0/1.8/2.0
- Tires – SCHWALBE NOBBY NIC SNAKESKIN, TL-EASY, PSC FOLDING 27.5 x 2.35″ front, 27.5 x 2.25″ rear
- Shifters – SRAM XX1, 11 speed
- Rear derailleur – SRAM XX1 X-Horizon Carbon, 11 speed
- Crank – RACE FACE NEXT SL, 32T
- Cassette – SRAM XG-1199 10-42, 11 speed
- Chain – SRAM XX1, 11 speed
- Saddle – Fabric Scoop Radius Pro
- Seatpost – RockShox Reverb Stealth, 31.6mm x 420mm, zero offset, 125mm of travel
- Handlebar – Renthal FatBar Carbon 20mm – 760mm
- Stem – Renthal Apex 50mm
- Headset – Cane Creek, 40, alloy cartridge, 25mm of spacers
- Brakeset – Shimano XTR Hydraulic Disc, 180mm front and 160mm rear
- Grips – Intense Dual Density Lock-On
- $16499.00 Australian RRP
Now I know what you’re thinking, ‘holy shit, look at the price of that top spec level, I could buy sixteen thousand, four hundred and ninety nine litres of milk from Coles supermarket for that much’, and yes you are correct, however owning the Intense Spider 275c factory spec would be way more fun!
INTENSE SPIDER C VIMEO COMPRESSION from Intense Cycles on Vimeo.
For further information about the all-new Spider 275c before our full review in our June issue, you should head on down to your local Australian Intense dealer. You could also check out the sweet ‘mini site’ that Intense have created ww.intensecycles.com/spider275c