Intense Tazer MX inspired E-bike

DLP600
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60
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Location
Chatsworth, CA US
9/10/2020 11:52pm Edited Date/Time 9/10/2020 11:56pm
Flipsid33 wrote:
Shimano EP8 Details • 85nM torque • 500W maximum power output • Magnesium drive unit case • Weight: 2.6 kg • 36% reduction in drag compared...
Shimano EP8 Details

• 85nM torque
• 500W maximum power output
• Magnesium drive unit case
• Weight: 2.6 kg
• 36% reduction in drag compared to previous version
• New assist algorithm.

20% more power!
I just heard there could be a hold up with that motor which could cause a delay on new bikes. Link
CarlinoJoeVideo
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Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
9/11/2020 1:52pm
Ebikes definitely dont do what true enduro or DH bikes can do. Too bulky for tech stuff. They can plow shit but the rims, tires and...
Ebikes definitely dont do what true enduro or DH bikes can do. Too bulky for tech stuff.
They can plow shit but the rims, tires and forks dont like it.
I do like them but this bike is weird. On a downhill run the motors out of range. 40-50mph on a fast run.

JMR1976 wrote:
How often do you go over 40mph?
The Shimano motor actually stops assisting at 19.9mph. it's a weird feeling, I've hacked mine by telling the motor its a different wheel size so mine stops assisting around 35MPH Whistling
6
Spooner
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Kansas City, MO US
9/11/2020 1:55pm
Full disclosure, I'm a rep for PU so I'm selling these to dealers but I've also had a 'standard' pro model all summer and will have the MX version this fall. I also am an old school mountain bike guy and started racing them back in the early 90's and worked in bicycle shops all through college. When I first heard about E-bikes I thought they were super lame but they really didn't make many good 'performance' bikes a few years ago. Then one of my dealers became a Giant dealer also and had a couple and I tried one out and thought it was pretty cool. Then I started getting more excited about them and doing research on them once I found out that we would start selling them this fall. I hadn't had a mountain bike for a few years and had been planning on getting something to train with this spring already but when covid hit I hit the brakes at first.

After I realized the world wasn't going to end I ordered up a standard Tazer Pro because I wanted to start riding one now rather than wait for the MX. I wasn't sure if/when I would even get a sample. HOLY CRAP this thing is a blast. I expected it to be a bit lazy feeling in the turns and to feel heavy as I'm used to more of an XC type bike. This thing literally blows my mind. It's super nimble in the tight stuff but also bombs down hills. It climbs incredibly well not even counting the assistance. Other than being tough to bunny hop over real big stuff its a total jack of all trades setup for sure. Like others have mentioned, the dual crown fork is more for stiffness and at first I didn't see why you would need it. I'm not exactly a big guy at 5'9" 155lbs but I've felt the fork flex on my Fox Factory 36 fork that came on it. I'm sure a bigger rider or someone hitting bigger jumps and higher speed will feel it a lot more too. It's only 10mm longer and the Ohlins shock is 5mm longer so I believe the overall geometry will be very similar which is good.

As for the overall E-bike thing, one of my buddies said it best that its only the best parts of riding with none of the bad parts. Meaning you aren't totally smoked at the top of a big climb and you aren't super worn out after a good ride. It means you can ride longer and further without totally taxing your body. I'm a huge believer in e-bikes overall and now I can ride with my hammerhead buddies that ride 12 days a week when I can only get out 1-2 times tops and not get left behind. It also makes it so you can try a new trail without worrying that the loop is too long or too much climbing or whatever. If you get super smoked you just crank up the assistance and breeze through the rest of the ride.

As for the price, yeah they aren't cheap but when compared to brands like specialized or trek it kills them on spec for the money and I've sampled other models in this price range and it's almost not even fair how good this thing handles and performs in comparison. I'm really excited to try the EP8 motor and Ohlins suspension on the MX because I really can't imagine it being any better than what it is already. Also the Magura brakes should be a nice step up over the Xt's from what I have read.

4
2
aees
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US
9/11/2020 2:52pm
I can't find the MX version on their website. Only released in US?

The Shop

Spooner
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2439
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Kansas City, MO US
9/11/2020 3:50pm
aees wrote:
I can't find the MX version on their website. Only released in US?
I’m pretty sure they are US only.
Dropbear
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Adelaide AU
9/11/2020 5:26pm
I ride an emtb and it’s great fun for this 56 year old body. I do have a concern where this power and torque race is going though. It’s giving fuel to the people who want to shut down the ebike trail access. Can’t we just cool it on the climbs and enjoy the downhill’s with what we have now?
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1
9/11/2020 5:48pm Edited Date/Time 9/11/2020 5:56pm
Dropbear wrote:
I ride an emtb and it’s great fun for this 56 year old body. I do have a concern where this power and torque race is...
I ride an emtb and it’s great fun for this 56 year old body. I do have a concern where this power and torque race is going though. It’s giving fuel to the people who want to shut down the ebike trail access. Can’t we just cool it on the climbs and enjoy the downhill’s with what we have now?
Bang on. Focus should be on lightweight motor/battery not power.
7
CarlinoJoeVideo
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Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
9/11/2020 8:28pm Edited Date/Time 9/11/2020 8:29pm
Dropbear wrote:
I ride an emtb and it’s great fun for this 56 year old body. I do have a concern where this power and torque race is...
I ride an emtb and it’s great fun for this 56 year old body. I do have a concern where this power and torque race is going though. It’s giving fuel to the people who want to shut down the ebike trail access. Can’t we just cool it on the climbs and enjoy the downhill’s with what we have now?
Bang on. Focus should be on lightweight motor/battery not power.
Agreed, I don't use boost(high power) mode unless I'm on a paved road trying to lap fast or get back to my car. I actually detune my eco and trail so I get more distance. I'd love a 550-600wh battery that is half the weight and size. It would be the ultimate bike!
1
Flipsid33
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11/24/2011
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Canyon Country, CA US
9/11/2020 8:31pm
aees wrote:
I can't find the MX version on their website. Only released in US?
https://intensecycles.com/pages/tazermx

Only available through a PU dealer. We have 2 coming and then 4 more towards the beginning of the year.

Just got news of the 45 day deal on the Pro models. Supply chain issue. Damn Covid...I can't wait to check this bike out!
1
1
Motofinne
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FI
9/11/2020 9:31pm
Dropbear wrote:
I ride an emtb and it’s great fun for this 56 year old body. I do have a concern where this power and torque race is...
I ride an emtb and it’s great fun for this 56 year old body. I do have a concern where this power and torque race is going though. It’s giving fuel to the people who want to shut down the ebike trail access. Can’t we just cool it on the climbs and enjoy the downhill’s with what we have now?
Bang on. Focus should be on lightweight motor/battery not power.
Agreed, I don't use boost(high power) mode unless I'm on a paved road trying to lap fast or get back to my car. I actually detune...
Agreed, I don't use boost(high power) mode unless I'm on a paved road trying to lap fast or get back to my car. I actually detune my eco and trail so I get more distance. I'd love a 550-600wh battery that is half the weight and size. It would be the ultimate bike!
Same with me and my Spectral ON. I have detuned the eco mode as much as possible and use it 90% of the time to get a good workout. The rest is 5% trail mode on difficult rocky sections and 5% boost on pavement when i'm on my way to the local trail!

The Spectral has the old Shimano motor and "only" 65nm but i don't understand the lust after more powerful motors. And i've tried the Specialized Brose motor and the Bosch motor and i don't understand the hype regarding the torque.

Lighterweight, quieter and more reliable motors is what i would want!
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2
Spooner
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Kansas City, MO US
9/12/2020 6:29am
Totally agreed. Mine has the E8000 motor and it has all the power I'd ever want but I would love it to be quieter. I have read that the new EP8 is a lot quieter though so I hope that's true.
1
CarlinoJoeVideo
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9/13/2020 8:47am Edited Date/Time 9/13/2020 8:49am
Sounds like Shimano just did a recall on the new EP8 motor 🤦🏻‍♂️ More info to come...

“ The issue, we’ve been told, is that the motor body is subject to cracking when the drive is employed as a stressed part of the bike’s frame. Shimano has subsequently ordered eMTB suppliers to hold off sales of the new drive no matter the frame design, industry sources say. The same sources shared that Shimano is working on a fix, but EP8-equipped bikes won’t be put on sale until October or early November.”
9/13/2020 11:10am
Intense Tazer looks like a dated pile of crap! So many other E-bikes out there that are better and look a lot better. Intense marketing this bike with MX involved is such a backwards step for E-bikes. E-bikes are already a sensitive subject around mountain biking and trying to get people to except them as just bicycles is already hard enough. Intense should be trying as hard as possible to move away from the motorbike stigma that comes along with e-bikes.
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7
face biter
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9/13/2020 11:54am
Needs moar cowbell.
1
#RZRNick
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Peoria, AZ US
9/13/2020 8:23pm
Like others have said, IMO this Tazer falls in a weird space, mainly to look cool in dirt bike shops. I'm a big fan of Intense and have owned many, but 170mm in a DH fork is confused. If you are lucky to live close to DH riding lift areas, I'd still rather have a DH bike.

Consider your trails, and what you will be comfortable riding for 3 hours (steep Seat Angle). I'm in slippery Arizona and the weight of my E is awesome in a lot of situations. I have a 700wH Levo, and I bumped the forks to 160mm and rear to 157mm. Still a little overkill for most of my weekly rides, but I like the plushness and looking to ride it in steeper, rougher terrain soon. A 160mm bike works really good for all types of terrain, that DH fork will make for a sluggish bike it switchbacks and slower speed stuff.

My Specialized is great, but if I were looking I'd seriously consider the 2021 Commencal's that just launched last week.


1
9/14/2020 6:43am
#RZRNick wrote:
Like others have said, IMO this Tazer falls in a weird space, mainly to look cool in dirt bike shops. I'm a big fan of Intense...
Like others have said, IMO this Tazer falls in a weird space, mainly to look cool in dirt bike shops. I'm a big fan of Intense and have owned many, but 170mm in a DH fork is confused. If you are lucky to live close to DH riding lift areas, I'd still rather have a DH bike.

Consider your trails, and what you will be comfortable riding for 3 hours (steep Seat Angle). I'm in slippery Arizona and the weight of my E is awesome in a lot of situations. I have a 700wH Levo, and I bumped the forks to 160mm and rear to 157mm. Still a little overkill for most of my weekly rides, but I like the plushness and looking to ride it in steeper, rougher terrain soon. A 160mm bike works really good for all types of terrain, that DH fork will make for a sluggish bike it switchbacks and slower speed stuff.

My Specialized is great, but if I were looking I'd seriously consider the 2021 Commencal's that just launched last week.


Thats a sick bike, probably one of my favourite.
On the note about buying the commercal. I would be cautious about buying a Ebike direct. I had so many issues with my Giant I would have been screwed if it was bought direct. Having that dealer support is really important I think with Ebikes.

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1
Crush
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Sydney AU
9/14/2020 7:11am
#RZRNick wrote:
Like others have said, IMO this Tazer falls in a weird space, mainly to look cool in dirt bike shops. I'm a big fan of Intense...
Like others have said, IMO this Tazer falls in a weird space, mainly to look cool in dirt bike shops. I'm a big fan of Intense and have owned many, but 170mm in a DH fork is confused. If you are lucky to live close to DH riding lift areas, I'd still rather have a DH bike.

Consider your trails, and what you will be comfortable riding for 3 hours (steep Seat Angle). I'm in slippery Arizona and the weight of my E is awesome in a lot of situations. I have a 700wH Levo, and I bumped the forks to 160mm and rear to 157mm. Still a little overkill for most of my weekly rides, but I like the plushness and looking to ride it in steeper, rougher terrain soon. A 160mm bike works really good for all types of terrain, that DH fork will make for a sluggish bike it switchbacks and slower speed stuff.

My Specialized is great, but if I were looking I'd seriously consider the 2021 Commencal's that just launched last week.


Thats a sick bike, probably one of my favourite. On the note about buying the commercal. I would be cautious about buying a Ebike direct. I...
Thats a sick bike, probably one of my favourite.
On the note about buying the commercal. I would be cautious about buying a Ebike direct. I had so many issues with my Giant I would have been screwed if it was bought direct. Having that dealer support is really important I think with Ebikes.

I think I probably had more fun on my 160mm Levo on say 2/3rds of my trails than I do on my kenevo... but the Kenevo going down is nuts.

Either way, won't do another specialized, the motor sucks reliability wise – shimano for me. We have a local Commencal shop and they're rad dudes, head of our club. It's definitely on my list, as is the Norco VLT29.... but i want 160-170mm air shocks, the new EP8 and a battery extender. Nothing quite fits the bill just yet.
1
moto0852
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Draper, UT US
9/16/2020 10:34am
Ebikes definitely dont do what true enduro or DH bikes can do. Too bulky for tech stuff. They can plow shit but the rims, tires and...
Ebikes definitely dont do what true enduro or DH bikes can do. Too bulky for tech stuff.
They can plow shit but the rims, tires and forks dont like it.
I do like them but this bike is weird. On a downhill run the motors out of range. 40-50mph on a fast run.

JMR1976 wrote:
How often do you go over 40mph?
The Shimano motor actually stops assisting at 19.9mph. it's a weird feeling, I've hacked mine by telling the motor its a different wheel size so mine...
The Shimano motor actually stops assisting at 19.9mph. it's a weird feeling, I've hacked mine by telling the motor its a different wheel size so mine stops assisting around 35MPH Whistling
Hey. P.M. me bro! How did you do that?
1
chipj
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Location
Olathe, KS US
11/29/2020 4:18pm
My dealer let me demo the Tazer mx pro at a private trail area that has jump sections as well as downhill runs. I moto and have couple of trail bikes (Sentinel and Switchblade) and let me tell you that thing was a total blast. I couldn't believe how well it jumped! The motor is quiet and the forks and shock were great.

I ordered one on the spot.
2
Spooner
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Kansas City, MO US
11/29/2020 4:21pm
chipj wrote:
My dealer let me demo the Tazer mx pro at a private trail area that has jump sections as well as downhill runs. I moto and...
My dealer let me demo the Tazer mx pro at a private trail area that has jump sections as well as downhill runs. I moto and have couple of trail bikes (Sentinel and Switchblade) and let me tell you that thing was a total blast. I couldn't believe how well it jumped! The motor is quiet and the forks and shock were great.

I ordered one on the spot.
I think my standard tazer was there as well haha! Glad you loved it.
Lightning78
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Huntington Beach, CA US
11/29/2020 4:38pm
Matthes did a review podcast on them recently.
I cant imagine he gave the bike nothing short of an absolutely glowing stellar review.

I hate to say this but man, I've been getting much more of an infomercial vibe over this last year from a lot of his podcasts......I mean I get it hes gotta make money but it sometimes sounds like the tail is wagging the dog in content vs advertisement
2
1
numbers
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Puyallup, WA US
11/29/2020 4:47pm
Matthes did a review podcast on them recently.
I cant imagine he gave the bike nothing short of an absolutely glowing stellar review. I hate to say this but man, I've been getting much...
I cant imagine he gave the bike nothing short of an absolutely glowing stellar review.

I hate to say this but man, I've been getting much more of an infomercial vibe over this last year from a lot of his podcasts......I mean I get it hes gotta make money but it sometimes sounds like the tail is wagging the dog in content vs advertisement
Its about his new contracts and where the company is headed. Gonna shake some heads when 21 runs around and the hens don't have a house to lay their eggs in.
3
11/29/2020 7:39pm
crowe660 wrote:
Prices on these things are asinine.
Not really, my Santa Cruz tall boy cost as much as a top of the line E bike and it has no motor.
2
Motofinne
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11385
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FI
11/30/2020 1:31am Edited Date/Time 11/30/2020 5:11am
Spooner wrote:
Totally agreed. Mine has the E8000 motor and it has all the power I'd ever want but I would love it to be quieter. I have...
Totally agreed. Mine has the E8000 motor and it has all the power I'd ever want but I would love it to be quieter. I have read that the new EP8 is a lot quieter though so I hope that's true.
Quieter whilst climbing yes, but an absolutely horrible rattling noise when descending. Listen to the new Santa Cruz Bullit from 8 minutes.

Any bike with the Shimano EP8 motor is a no-go for me until they come with an updated version. Which sucks, i want to upgrade my Spectral ON to a Commencal Meta Power 29 in a year or two and they use the EP8. The Bosch motors have a similar noise but not this extreme.

https://youtu.be/bCh0f5FbwcI?t=482
1
crowe660
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US
11/30/2020 3:14am
crowe660 wrote:
Prices on these things are asinine.
lostboy819 wrote:
Not really, my Santa Cruz tall boy cost as much as a top of the line E bike and it has no motor.
Yea, I’ve pretty much accepted it since I made that post lol. I’m most likely getting a Tazer as soon as it’s new bike time. I still think some bikes are kind of ridiculously priced, but it is what it is. Sack up or stfu.
1
Spooner
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Kansas City, MO US
11/30/2020 6:33am
Motofinne wrote:
Quieter whilst climbing yes, but an absolutely horrible rattling noise when descending. Listen to the new Santa Cruz Bullit from 8 minutes. Any bike with the...
Quieter whilst climbing yes, but an absolutely horrible rattling noise when descending. Listen to the new Santa Cruz Bullit from 8 minutes.

Any bike with the Shimano EP8 motor is a no-go for me until they come with an updated version. Which sucks, i want to upgrade my Spectral ON to a Commencal Meta Power 29 in a year or two and they use the EP8. The Bosch motors have a similar noise but not this extreme.

https://youtu.be/bCh0f5FbwcI?t=482
I’ll see a pro tomorrow so I’ll do the ‘clunk test’.
Springcreek
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11/30/2020 10:50am


#ebikelife
Matthes
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AL US
11/30/2020 10:53am
Spooner wrote:
Totally agreed. Mine has the E8000 motor and it has all the power I'd ever want but I would love it to be quieter. I have...
Totally agreed. Mine has the E8000 motor and it has all the power I'd ever want but I would love it to be quieter. I have read that the new EP8 is a lot quieter though so I hope that's true.
Motofinne wrote:
Quieter whilst climbing yes, but an absolutely horrible rattling noise when descending. Listen to the new Santa Cruz Bullit from 8 minutes. Any bike with the...
Quieter whilst climbing yes, but an absolutely horrible rattling noise when descending. Listen to the new Santa Cruz Bullit from 8 minutes.

Any bike with the Shimano EP8 motor is a no-go for me until they come with an updated version. Which sucks, i want to upgrade my Spectral ON to a Commencal Meta Power 29 in a year or two and they use the EP8. The Bosch motors have a similar noise but not this extreme.

https://youtu.be/bCh0f5FbwcI?t=482
I've got 800 miles on the EP8, haven't had one issue or noise for me.
Matthes
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2755
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AL US
11/30/2020 10:54am
Matthes did a review podcast on them recently.
I cant imagine he gave the bike nothing short of an absolutely glowing stellar review. I hate to say this but man, I've been getting much...
I cant imagine he gave the bike nothing short of an absolutely glowing stellar review.

I hate to say this but man, I've been getting much more of an infomercial vibe over this last year from a lot of his podcasts......I mean I get it hes gotta make money but it sometimes sounds like the tail is wagging the dog in content vs advertisement
Actually if you listen to it, there are some things I like, some I don't compared to the regular Tazer. I LOVED the new motor and they're coming on the 2021 Tazer Pro's so that would be my bike of choice over the MX.
3
Kyle978
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1693
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Dirt, NM US
11/30/2020 2:07pm
I love passing E-bikes on uphills, and Enduro/trail/e-bikes on downhills on my S-Works Epic xc bike.

But then again, suffering is one of the best things for my sick brain and I’m a glutton for punishment.

2 wheels are cool, e-bike or regular bike. I’m happy to see so many new people off the couch and on the trails.

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