This is my buddy Tyler's Intense Sniper Trail 29er... he's riding Maxxis Arden Race front and Maxxis Recon Race rear tires. Subscribe and enjoy more rad videos! Thanks!
Welcome back. Fun that you are reviewing a slightly more obscure bike. I would love to see you come full circle and review something like a Trek Remedy again to compare a big brand with the boutique brands. As an aside I just rode 8 days in Hurricane. I found myself "giving it the beans" on occasion. Made it a little more fun. Thanks for your videos!
Welcome back and finally the bike review I’ve been waiting for. I’ve been wanting to demo this bike for months now and got the chance to do it at Sedona MTB Festival but the day I could do it which was the Saturday, no one was allowed to demo a bike because of the heavy rain that morning. So registration spent was wasted and they won’t offer refund. Thanks for this review. Gotta find a way to demo this soon.
haha winter happened.... been skiing with the family and just recently started riding the bike again in the last few days... and just the road bike at that. You can follow me on strava to if you want! www.strava.com/athletes/2904628
great review, interesting to hear the comparison with the SB100. I was very interested in the sniper 12 months ago, but supply was short and was unable to view in store or get a demo so ended up with the SB100. But always wondered what could have been.
Thanks for a great review on a consumer direct brand like Intense. I would really love to see you review some of the Transition and Guerrilla Gravity bikes. Both of these brands are really pushing the edge on mountain bike geometry.
I think the Intense Sniper is a super value. It was my first choice until my budget diminished. Ended up with an older Rocky Mountain Intense. Very happy with it as well.
Good to have your reviews back. Your observation on Intense's seat tube lengths is spot on. Being a bit shorter than you (5'7" ish), but with short legs, there's no way I can fit 150mm+ droppers on their frames, which is a must for me. I can on most other manufactures frames in the same size range - Santa Cruz, another VPP brand, have 1-2 inches shorter seat tubes on their mediums for example, and I can fit a 160/170mm dropper on a medium 5010. This small, but for me significant, design "flaw" eliminates all Intense bike/frames for me. Basically, if the seat tube is longer than the reach, it's not on my radar.
Good to see you back..... I thought you were busy advancing your budding film career ;) My buddy had a Sniper Trail and we could not believe the flex in the rear end. It flexed left and right more than Arnold at Venice Beach.... He sold it less than two months after purchase and after repeated trips to the LBS confirmed that there was nothing wrong, other than the design that is.
haha so you saw the Park City commercial lol yeah, that was fun! I didn't notice the flex in the rear any more than other light weight xc'ish bikes... My rocky mountain element had flex and I can feel some flex in the rear of the sb100 as well.... it's a non-issue for me!
Jason, Thanks for putting up these review videos. It is really helpful to have someone review these bikes because it could take years and lots of trips for me to get out and test ride them all. I have an old-school hardtail 27.5 and am now in the market for some new tech. I am between a Pivot Mach 4 SL and the Intense Sniper Trail. I have ridden the Ripmo, the Mach 4 SL and the Trail 429. I did not like the Trail 429 but loved the quickness of the Mach 4 SL. The Ripmo is great, but more bike than I want. I could save $1100 buying the Sniper and think it is right up my alley. I like that it is 120/120 instead of 100/120 like the Mach 4 SL. I was hoping you could provide some advice on my choice between the Mach 4 SL and Intense Sniper Trail before I purchase. Best, Greg
I am definitely tempted to have a bike like this or the Tallboy, however it is nice to have that extra travel of a bigger bike when you come across that 5% of the trail that is more intense (no pun intended). Lightening up my mid travel bike with some stiff carbon wheels really helped the responsiveness in the turns though. So many good bike out there.
MTB yumyum Oh yeah, I forget you guys actually have seasons out there. I’m jaded from living in Southern California. Year round stoke. Glad to see you back.
I’m seriously considering the Sniper and the SB100, with the Yeti being slightly ahead because I was able to demo it on my local trails. The Sniper I’ve only done short test rides on near the bike shop. I’d love to hear more about your comparison of the two.
yeah, I rode them back-to-back... I'd personally go with the sb100... it feels a little sharper feeling... they're both very nice... my sb100 has a 150mm dropper seat post where the sniper was only a 125mm
I hope you will demo the bike in your backyard: Fezzari LaSal Peak. I demoed one yesterday and was amazed by the geometry and climbing ability for a long travel 29er. Would love to get your opinion on it. Thanks for your reviews and time.
Randy, thank you! Yes, Zac and Tyler are going to become a bigger part of the channel I'm hopping!!!! It's just to much work for me to do on my own.... more riding and other type of video uploads!
It's a nice bike ... when it's not broken , 2 months of use and 2 swingarms (rear triangle) later replaced by crash replacement , One of them laster 2 rides, I still had to pay $500 to get them replace, The bike feels nice but does not inspire a lot of confidence after I cracked it 2 times EXACTLY ON THE SAME SPOT ( left seatstay ) . My previous BMC agonist lasted 2 years non stop on the same trails , it was carbon as well. The intense sniper's rear triangle flexes a lot specially when you land after a jump and turn. I change the BMC because I wanted a slacker headtube angle.What I got in return with the intense sniper, on the climbs you are seating at 73 degrees seat angle so you really have to fight it on the way up because it wants to pony up on 10%+ climbs you loose traction on the front wheel. On the descends it feels pretty nice to be honest, but that capability it's useless if you are waiting for a new swingarm and you have your bike on the stand.
Knowing what you know now, would you buy a 2021 Sniper T? When was the last official redesign? What tools are needed and how often do the bearings in the suspension/frame need to be replaced, approximately? Cost of tools? Has Intense fixed the backend coming apart? On the elite build what have you experienced with the KSLev dropper? Wheels/hubs/rim/spoke quality? Ride experience? Shock great, or is it a must to replace with a DPX2 or some other shock? Is it a good bottom bracket height for 175 cranks in a rocky area? Or is it a pedal and Crankset destroyer? What exactly is the functional difference between the JS suspension vs VPP or even DW link? Is it strong enough for a geared up/kitted 6ft 1 175 pound rider? Is it flexy, stiff, harsh, or just right? I ride in the Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee area. So rocks, roots, mud, sand, loam, loose over hard... tight single track and switchbacks, etc. Have you compared it to the Top Fuel, Transition, yeti sb 115, Ripley, etc. Pluses and minuses? Customer service? I saw some where I think some person claimed they put a 2.6 tire in the back? What is the real size tire that would fit? 2.6 Maxxis Forecaster? What else may we want to know or think about? Thank you!
Great to see the videos again. Now, hopefully someone can answer this. What's up with the seat tube angle talk? It's the seat location relative to the pedals that matter right? What does it matter what the angle is if you can get the seat position where it needs to be. It is possible to get the same position no matter if the angle is 70,71,72,73,74 deg.
There's only so much you can adjust with the seats rails; for example pushing it forward to mimic a steeper seat tube. The problem get's more aggravated the longer legs you have, so if you're on a large, x-large or bigger frame, with a long seatpost, you're gonna end up way over the back wheel on seated pedalling. Not ideal for climbing, and general weight distribution.
Great vid, thanks for the review! You nailed two of the bikes I'm looking at buying this season down in the Pivot and this Intense. Do you think you'd personally miss the rear-end stiffness and tire-clearance of the Pivot? The Intense is so close in geo/intended use at a better value it seems. Also, have you got any time in on the Primer? Seems like it's splitting hairs over a few MM of travel and this has a definite weight advantage!
I loved the Pivot t429 but it's a heavy bike for the amount of travel it has... no time on the Primer but a buddy of mine rode one for a year and loved it! He's an excellent ride too...
@@mtbyumyum I'm exactly at the same point : a 2020 Sniper T vs Pivot Trail 429... The Pivot is clearly less affordable but the stiffness seams very interesting... Intense seams to have resolved the stiffness problem I'm 2020... And the Expert is more on my budget. Would you give me some advice as you rode both ?
Hey bud again your videos rock. I appreciate that you always answer me that kicks ass. So question I’m thinking about starting a you tube channel about fitness and mtb”. What should I use to film/record and go pro etc ? Also what can I use to edit is there a good easy app on the iPhone or a app on the computer to edit go pro videos. Thanks again.
filming and editing are my weak points.... I srly know very little about it. I have most of my video's edited by someone else who I pay.... I use a go pro but there are a lot of different good options from what I understand. Good luck!
so glad you rode/reviewed the Sniper, there just isn't much out there on it. Its a great value with most of what everyone needs! Can you be specific about how it compares to your SB100? You said it felt more composed at high speed. I'm sure its a good bit lighter than the Yeti too. So where is the Yeti better? And is it worth the significant price difference?
Hey Yum Yum, I just went to Santa Cruz's website and they have a new whip in their lineup; the Megatower. Any chance we can see that on your channel soon?
not as solid and burly feeling as the Trance 29. More light and flickable... if I had to choose between the two and could only own 1 mountain bike I'd go with the Trance 29
Hey, how was this bike in terms of stiffness compared to the sb100? I know the 2021 version now has double seats stays vs the single the one you rode has so it should be much stiffer... O have the sb10p which I'm on my 2nd si warranty so I think it's time to move on!
Hey mate good to see you back. I note you say you have now got a SB100. You may be able to help me out. I have a SB100 for about 2 months now and I notice under pedal load the rear or the bike has noticeable flex especially towards the drive train side I can see the wheel pull to that side. Have you noticed anything or is this normal. Yeti replaced the SI pivot and everything feels tight but still noticing the flex. Thoughts?
Yes, I've got over 300 miles on the sb100 now... there's always going to be a bit of flex on any bike and where it's more noticeable on 4 bar link bikes even a complete triangle like the yeti or santa cruz and pivot you can notice flex in the lighter weight xc bikes.... that said, I have noticed the flex and for me it's a non-issue.
Nice videos! We moved up here from AZ and came across your channel while hibernating up here in Heber City. Anyhow havent picked up a bike in 10 years but I recently snagged the Rocky Mountain Altitude off your ride reviews. How is it holding up for ya so far? Im sure winter kept ya in but was curious. Thanks!
Been loving the Altitude... such a good do everything bike! You'll notice as you follow me, I don't hang onto my bikes very long.... I'm on the 5-6 month plan so as to always be riding different bikes! Welcome to Utah!
@@mtbyumyum I imagine its tough to hang onto bikes long while doing all the reviews. But thanks awesome to know on the Altitude and good on you with this channel. You're helping guys like me get back in shape! Be safe out there bud.
Hi yum yum I know I’m a bit late to this comment section but if you could reply that’d be great! I’m thinking i’m out buying the 2021 intense sniper trail. I’d use it to race XC and be my trail bike. Only thing I don’t like is the seat rude angle. Is that 73° Seat tube angle a problem for XC? What are your thoughts?
Jason, I have been interested in the Sniper Race for all distances of XC racing, but hoping it would still be capable in some technical and rough terrain. Two questions for you: How do you think the Race would handle compared to the Trail? And what do you think of the Sniper’s pedal platform in terms of efficiency and stability versus your SB-100? Thanks in advance!
I like that they made this short travel bike a bit slacker 66 degree HA (and perhaps slacker if you put a 130 fork on it). I don't understand why companies are still making trail 29ers with 67-68 degree HAs.
Yes, this is noticeable in most light weight frames including my previous Rocky Mountain Element. In my opinion, it's a non-issue! I've recently recommended this bike to a friend of my who's 200 lbs and he's very happy with the bike!
@@mtbyumyum Great, i'm about the same weight. Would you mind sharing your inseam height? I'm struggling with size choice (between M and L) at 5'10". I was leaning towards large, but i better ask since your dropper was slammed in seat tube on test bike. Many thanks!
Never have i ridden Jacob's in 18yrs in SLC but want to this yr. Sacrilege I know. Thinking about upgrading bikes. Did you consider XC version? Torn between the 2 versions. Thx
Never got a chance to ride the xc... for sure ride Jacobs... it's a good one! Also, in this same category, I'd recommend the Ripley as a better alternative. Good luck!
@@mtbyumyum Appreciate response!! Went to Contender today just to stand over few rides and they had the Sniper? (Basis for 951Trail) and it was sharp/light. Just debating how spec'd up i need to be in life now. Will check out Ripley and thx for encouragement!! I need it desperately. What is better about Ibis Ripley? Cheers, K
I've put hundreds of miles on the ardent race front and rear combo and very happy with it. Tyler is currently running a rekon race on the rear and likes it a lot.... I've yet to try that combo.
@@mtbyumyum good to know. I have an ardent race that came on the front of my canyon lux with an ikon rear. Its a 2.2 tho so I may swap it to the rear and put a 2.35 ardent race up front. Cool video. Intense sniper was on my short list but gave the canyon a try in the end. Not disappointed but the canyon is def a thoroughbred xc bike. The intense is probably a better choice for where you ride.
I have pretty much decided on this as my next bike and first full suspension coming from a ti 29er. I love everything about it... Except that paint job! Wtf were they thinking? Just a mess. It's like 1987 all over again with they weird geometrical crap and colours. Santa Cruz, Rocky, Yeti all make beautiful bikes. What a lost opportunity.
MTB yumyum well its been a loooong long summer for me. Had a big crash on my new stumpy in November. Multiple fractures of humerus and shoulder socket, dislocation and nerve damage. Still unable to ride, but hopefully be able to next month!
Looked pretty harsh and those tires are perfect for washing out. Probably not a good bike for a 200+ lbs rider. At 6 2 220 i would cause this bike to fail. I would need wider rims and a dhf up front. Thats what i would like to see. Beef out the wheelset and really lay into it. See how it handles. Stay warm my dude.
