Intense 951 XC – Review
If you are new to mountain biking, finding the right bike can be a challenge, especially when it comes to staying within budget. With so many bikes in so many categories on offer, it’s hard to know what would be a good fit for you. Like a glass slipper, the Intense 951 XC is a bike that fits the proverbial foot.
There are two bikes in the Intense 951 series and both have been developed around existing high-performance bike frames in the Intense family. The 951 XC is based on the Sniper, and the 951 Trail has been modeled around the Primer. So what does this all mean? It means if you’re looking for a mid-entry level XC bike to get into the sport with opportunities for growth further down the line, then the Intense 951 XC offers a pretty unbeatable choice with its proven platform and an affordable specced component package. In this review, we tested the cross-country version, the 951 XC.
Features
The Intense 951 XC frame is carbon fibre front and rear triangle with a beautiful glossy paint finish. 120mm travel upfront via the FOX Rhythm 34 Float fork and a FOX Performance Float DPS shock out the back. 22 clicks of rebound adjustment on the bottom of the fork with an infinitely adjustable dial for the compression on top ranging from very firm to open using the Grip damper, giving you plenty of room to dial in the perfect setup. The shock comes with 3 positions (Open, Trail, and Lock-out).
With +25 years of developing bikes, Intense offer a pedigree finish to all of their bike frames, and the 951 XC receives the same quality finish.
120mm of travel up front is provided via the FOX Rhythm 34 Float fork, a sibling to the Fox 34 sharing similar characteristics at a much more affordable price. Out back is a FOX Performance Float DPS shock.
A SRAM NX 12-speed Eagle cassette, shifter, and derailleur coupled with a SRAM DUB bottom bracket and cranks offer a dependable no-fuss drivetrain. Stopping power is provided with TRP Slate T4 calipers and levers with TRP rotors 180mm front and 160mm rear.
Photo credit: ©Sam Clarke
A lot of smart component choices were made with the 951 build, providing a complimentary package with great performance at a low price point.
The cockpit comprises Intense’s proprietary Recon branded handlebar of 760mm width, a Recon 45mm stem, and a pair of Intense lock-on grips.
The Intense lock-on grips has a convex shape which gives them a thicker centre and thinner outer section, which felt very comfortable on the palm of our hands.
To compliment the natural speed and agility of the 951 XC, the wheelset is comprised of a set of 29” WTB ST i27 aluminum rims (27mm internal width) with INTENSE alloy hubs, and wrapped with a set of KENDA Regolith 29″x2.20″ tyres.
951 SERIES XC – SPECIFICATIONS
| FRAME | INTENSE 951 XC 29” Carbon Fiber Front and Rear Triangle 120mm Travel. |
|---|---|
| FORK | FOX Rhythm 34 Float. 120mm Travel. Grip Damper – Sweep Adj |
| REAR SHOCK | FOX Performance Float DPS. 3-position (Open, Trail, Lock-out) |
| HEADSET | CANE CREEK AER Integrated IS41-IS52/40 |
| STEM | INTENSE Recon 45mm |
| HANDLEBARS | INTENSE Recon 760mm width |
| GRIPS | INTENSE Lock-on |
| BRAKES | TRP Slate T4 Calipers and Levers, Front, and Rear |
| ROTORS | TRP 180mm Front and 160mm Rear |
| SHIFTER | SRAM NX Eagle 12sp |
| DERAILLEUR | SRAM NX Eagle 12sp |
| CRANKS / CHAINRING | SRAM NX Eagle 32T 170mm. (S), 175mm. (M, L, XL) |
| BOTTOM BRACKET | SRAM DUB |
| CASSETTE | SRAM PG 1230 Eagle 12sp 11-50T |
| CHAIN | SRAM NX Eagle 12sp |
| HUBS | INTENSE Alloy |
| SPOKES | DT |
| WHEELS | 29” WTB ST i27 Aluminum (27mm internal width) w/INTENSE alloy hubs |
| TIRES | KENDA Regolith 29″x2.20″ |
| SEATPOST | INTENSE Recon Dropper 125mm Travel (S), 150mm Travel (M,L), 170mm Travel (XL) |
| SADDLE (SEAT) | FIZIK Terra Alpaca X5, Alloy Rails |
On The Trails
Our first impressions as we clipped in and put in the first few cranks were the power-to-weight ratio and the amount of speed that was generated from very little effort. Cross-country bikes are designed to be lightweight and fast and the Intense 951 XC is no exception to this rule. The total weight of 12.8kgs, with tubes, is a respectable weight for a bike in this price bracket.
Riding around our local XC trails was a total blast with a feeling of speed and nimbleness. The carbon frame is stiff yet subtle enough to not feel harsh on rougher sections of the trail. You can’t go wrong with a set of 175mm SRAM NX cranks and they didn’t disappoint. They felt stiff and burly and we were never phased whenever we had a rock strike, you just know they’re going to withstand some punishment.
Hub engagement felt instant and responsive with the Intense aluminum hubs, and the entire SRAM NX drivetrain worked flawlessly throughout the testing sessions. The NX package is a very good choice for a bike like this where you aren’t too fussed about taking a few rock strikes here and there and just want to get loose and wild on the trails.
The Intense 951 XC shares similar specifications to that of the much higher-specced Sniper frame, giving you a race-ready frame with an affordable component package.
The 180-mm and 160-mm rotors combined with the four-piston TRP Slate on such a light bike gave us plenty of stopping power. The ergonomic and dimpled TRP levers felt great, allowing us to be very precise with our braking and feathering technique with good trail feedback and consistent brake performance throughout the testing.
The cockpit comprises 780mm bars with a 45mm stem which gives the bike a responsive feel allowing us to guide the bike through tight corners and change line choice in an instant. The dropper post and lever worked flawlessly with no issues whatsoever, and a smooth and fast saddle return rate every time. The FIZIK Terra Alpaca X5 saddle was large enough to support the essential parts and provided ample comfort throughout the test period.
The 951 XC does have a fairly slack seat post angle at 72.8 degrees. The combination of the slacker seat post angle and the 45mm stem did stretch us out a little more putting us into a lower, more aerodynamic body position which resulted in gaining a lot of speed on flatter sections of the trail.
The 951 XC is undoubtedly a fast bike on flatter XC-style trails but it surprised us at how well it can handle rougher trails. We took it on trails with rockier descents and small drops (2-3 feet) and it wasn’t phased. The bike feels poised and eager to go. It’s a true trail whippet. If anything, we were getting ourselves out of control due to high speeds on many occasions. This bike just wants to go, and go fast!
The balance between suspension choice and frame characteristics have been well-matched to provide a confidence-inspired ride that feels comfortable on the ups as well as the downs.
The FOX Rhythm 34 Float with its 120mm of travel is a great option for this bike with a very easy setup, making it a good choice for beginners. The 34″ stanchions are supportive enough without feeling too harsh. We felt there was a good balance of flex and rigidity during the test.
The FOX Performance Float DPS shock we feel was the perfect choice for this bike. It’s lively when it needs to be and predictable when getting air time. The damper provides you with 3 firmness settings (Open, Medium, and Firm) which can be switched on the fly. This made it super easy to make quick adjustments when on the flat, climbing, or descending. It had great levels of support on the sprints and planted on the climbs, allowing us to get up and over technical terrain, easily. Equally, when pushed, it never felt out of its depth on rougher terrain.
The overall handling of the bike was a joy. The combination of the weight and geometry gives the bike a playful feel allowing you to throw it around the trail with ease.
Cornering on the Intense 951 XC felt snappy and responsive and we were able to lay it down with very little effort. The WTB ST i27 aluminum wheels did feel a little noodly especially combined with the Kenda Regolith tyres and we were forced to get the foot out on certain corners to avoid sliding out.
The wheels and tyres are something we would upgrade as a first point of call. If you can’t afford new wheels then at least change to a new set of rubber, and we would recommend a set of Maxxis Forekasters for this bike.
Conclusions
The Intense 951 XC is a highly versatile bike for those looking to either get into the cross country for the first time or looking for a solid and reliable race-bred platform that can easily be upgraded further down the line. The Intense 951 XC shares the same platform as the higher-specced Intense Sniper with a confidence-inspiring carbon fibre frame and smooth riding characteristics all in an affordable package.
The Intense 951 XC offers a fast, and nimble lightweight bike for smashing out technical climbs, collecting KOM’s and having fun on the descents. The 951 XC is happy to ride them all with its proven platform with its excellent ride performance and dependable components package such as the Fox Performance level suspension to the 12-speed SRAM drivetrain, all without the mega $$$ price tag.
Price / Where To Buy
- Intense 951 XC: $5,499.00AUD.
- You can purchase the Intense 951 XC straight from the Intense website or head to your local dealer to find out more.
Central Coast: Coastal Bike Co
