A Look Through the Scope With the Intense Sniper XC

Cross country bikes have seen a bit of a renaissance in the past few years. That's good news for us as brands we carry like SCOTT, Cannondale, Orbea, and BMC have pushed the envelope on capability, features, and overall performance for the racer and weekend warrior alike. But the Intense Sniper XC shows that the American brand has pushed past what is traditionally considered ideal geometry to make a bike that is fantastically capable just about everywhere. I had the chance to ask why this bike's new owner eyed Intense, even with the myriad XC bikes and brands we have in the shop, and ultimately it came down to ideology. According to them, there is a passion with which Intense builds their bikes. It's seen in the details; this Sniper XC features a beautiful magnesium lower linkage, a lightweight carbon rocker link, titanium hardware, thick noise-reducing pads on the chainstay and the underside of the down tube, and a pull-out lever in the rear axle to hasten wheel changes are just a handful of them. The details are also in the bike's suspension kinematics; after years of computer modeling and riding prototypes, the company settled on kinematics similar to their Primer trail bike. Sniper, with its 100 mm (as pictured here) or 120 mm travel helps a ton with pedaling performance, but even the Sniper XC is designed differently than the Sniper Trail, such that the XC's shock curve ramps up much more quickly to make for a better platform for the Nino Schurters in the world. Other details on this bike include the ENVE M525 wheels, ENVE M5 handlebar, ENVE M6 stem, and full SRAM XX1 drivetrain. The Shimano XTR M9100 Race brakes add a nice touch, while the Maxxis Rekon tires manage are on here for grip and control rather than being a weight-weenie option. That said, this bike weighed in at an exceptional 21.1 lbs with minimal work.  Intense Cycles isn't for everyone, but we are sure that this bike's new owner will enjoy the bike for miles and miles to come.

Have any questions about the cross-country bikes and what might suit you? Give us a call during business hours or send us an email any time to info@contenderbicycles.com.