Intense Primer Frame

The trail bike category is probably where most people go shopping for a Goldilocks do-it-all bike, although the same could be said for the enduro category. With 150mm of travel and a generally light build, the Primer is Intense’s answer for those looking to cover some miles and enjoy themselves on the way down. The Primer was quietly updated for 2025, and we’ve had this new version out on the trails for about a month to help you figure out what it is and what it isn’t.

2025 Intense Primer 29 Highlights

• Full carbon fiber front and rear triangle utilizing a carbon layup optimized for the trail category
• 150mm rear travel (210x55mm shock)
• Built for 150mm fork
• Fully guided internal cable routing
• Alloy top link
• Titanium hardware
• ISCG-05 tabs
• Threaded bottom bracket
• Universal derailleur hanger (UDH)
• Headset configuration: ZS44/28.6/H8, EC49/40/H12
• Quick-release rear axle (148mm Boost hub spacing)
• Primer 29 frame weight: 4.6lbs / 2.1kg (size M without shock)
• Primer 29 Pro build weight: 32.2lbs / 14.6kg (size M with tubes and bottle cage)
• MSRP Primer frame-only: $2,599.00 USD
• MSRP Primer Pro 29 Build (as tested, with some modifications): $6,399.00 USD

Initial Impressions

The new Primer doesn’t look massively different compared to the outgoing model, but there have in fact been a number of changes made. The carbon lay-up has been fine-tuned to increase lateral stiffness around the bottom bracket while maintaining vertical compliance, which Intense says, “strikes the ideal balance between stiffness and flex.” The updated geometry features a steeper seat tube angle and longer reach to align with modern standards while the rear triangle is now UDH compatible. For the rear suspension layout, Intense stayed true to their “JS Tuned Suspension Design,” a multi-link VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) variation that has been a key component of the brand’s identity since 2016. 

Continuing to dig into the details, the top rocker link is now wider to increase lateral stiffness. The new Primer 29 was first launched with 140mm of rear travel that was delivered via a 210x50mm shock. Originally, there was also a flip chip that allowed for geometry modification, and you could increase the stroke of the shock to get 150mm of travel out back. Intense has since decided to move to the 210x55 shock as standard on the Primer 29. In this configuration, the “low” setting of the flip chip could lead to the tire rubbing on the frame at bottom out, so Intense has taken the decision to just remove the flip chip altogether now. It sounds a bit confusing but in reality it’s simple: the Primer is now a 150mm-travel, 29-inch frame with no flip chip. If you have one of the 140mm frames with a flip chip, you can still increase the stroke of the shock to get to 150mm of travel, but you’ll have to always run the flip chip in the “high” position if you do that.

Our test bike showed up as the Primer 29 Pro complete build, save for the aforementioned modification of the flip chip and a brake swap. The SRAM DB Codes that are stock on this build were replaced by Mavens. Intense recently launched their “Frame First” program which allows the customer to basically build a bike to order from the frame up, thanks to Intense’s partnership with distributor QBP (Quality Bike Products). Through QBP, Intense dealers gain access to a well-stocked catalog of parts from all the main brands, some of which have been pre-vetted for the frames. If you go this route, your dealer will also assemble the bike for you. In our case, since we were essentially “buying” a complete bike from Intense directly, we took delivery of a pre-built bike all packed up neatly in a box. All we had to do was mount the handlebars and the wheels, and proceed to set up the bike as per our preferences. When you order a complete bike from Intense, you receive a really nice toolkit to help you with assembly – and beyond. This toolkit is a step above the toolkits usually included with direct-sales brand bikes. There’s a real, heavy-duty torque wrench, a set of bits for every size hex and Torx bolts, a nifty three-way hex wrench, a shock pump and even a set of tubeless sealant bottles. The whole thing is enclosed in a rugged case that should last a very long time. Nicely done, Intense.

The frame is constructed with apparent care and attention to detail. The paint is deep and uniform, and all the surfaces and shapes are properly finished off. The build was equally impressive with everything seemingly torqued to spec for a smooth and rattle-free ride from day one. The cable routing is fully guided, but there are only three cable ports available which may leave you in a lurch if you run your brakes moto-style. It’s not a huge deal, but being able to change which port the brake line exits from at the head tube does make for a cleaner cockpit. There is plenty of frame protection in relevant areas, ensuring that the chain won’t be able to come into contact with any part of the chain or seat stays. The down tube is also adequately shielded from rock strikes and the like. The frame takes a water bottle, but not the extra-volume kind as that may end up rubbing on the shock body.

The geometry numbers are essentially contemporary. The 483mm of reach of our size L is on par with most of the industry right now, and the 440mm chainstays are fairly average, too. The head tube is on the short side, but the relatively modest head angle of 65.5 degrees helps make up for that, leaving the stack at a relatively “normal” 626mm. Also note that the head tube was designed for an external lower headset cup, which adds about 10mm to the effective head tube length. At 344mm, the bottom bracket is neither particularly low nor high.

On The Trail

As previously mentioned, setting up our test bike was easy since Intense had already done the heavy lifting for us. We threw on some pedals and this tester’s favorite grips, and we also cut the handlebars down to his preferred 780mm. We were stoked to see that Intense had left a significant amount of steerer tube available, which allowed us to run a taller front end than the stack number alone would have made possible. In keeping with the times, Intense also specs a 35mm-rise handlebar on sizes L to XL. All told, we really liked our position on the bike, with plenty of front end height and the perfect amount of reach. Those who prefer a low front end can drop some spacers and benefit from the short head tube.

Heading out for the first ride, the bike felt very light and nimble. The response to pedaling input is very good with little energy loss due to unwanted suspension movement. Our shock featured a lockout, but we didn’t really feel the need to use it after testing it initially. It does reduce the pedal bob almost down to nothing, but there’s not a whole lot of it to begin with, so we just opted to leave the shock open all the time. The shock was tuned specifically to match the characteristics of the rear triangle's movement, and we think FOX and Intense did a good job with it. The Float X serves up a great combination of support and comfort that makes the bike fun to ride on all kinds of trails.

As just mentioned, the bike feels very light. It moves with purpose under power, and it doesn’t bog down on the climbs. The pedaling position is well suited to going uphill – the seat tube angle isn’t super steep, but you can move the saddle forward in the rails if you want to really get over the pedals. Power transfer is good, and the bike is fun to climb and sprint with. Basically everything you'd want in a pedal-powered trail bike is on tap with the Primer.

On mellower trails, the Primer is great at generating and carrying momentum. The somewhat steep head angle makes for a bike that really rewards playing with the trail and pumping for speed. The big wheels roll fast, contributing to the overall sensation of easy acceleration. Our bike came with Maxxis DHR II tires up front and out back, which rolled well despite the sticky MaxxGrip compound. The lighter EXO casing helps in this regard, but you may well need a tougher casing if you ride in rocky terrain, as EXO could be considered on the light side depending on the kind of riding you plan to do.

As things get rowdier, the Primer 29 answers the call to duty. The suspension is comfortable on rougher trails, and the rear suspension layout provides enough progressivity to deal with bigger landings. The bike feels like a pure trail bike, both in terms of angles and the general build of the frame, so don’t go expecting the Primer 29 to handle itself like a mini-enduro. You can definitely still take on the rowdier terrain though if you’d rather pick through your lines than plow them. All in all, we think the Primer is an excellent trail bike that will put up a fair fight against pretty much any other top contender in the category. It strikes a really nice balance between pedaling prowess and technical chops, and it will serve you particularly well if you value speed and efficiency as much as pure descending prowess.

Build Kit and Durability Report

Overall

We’ll preface this by saying that a month and a half is not enough time to draw any sweeping conclusions with regards to durability, but we were able to ride the bike a lot during this time, including getting towed by an e-bike so the descent miles added up. All in all, the Primer is still pretty much as fresh as when it was new. One of the shock bushings developed a little play towards the end of the test, and some of the frame protection is just starting to look a little ragged around the edges, but other than that, all signs point to many more happy miles to come. Mechanics will love the threaded bottom bracket, and the guided cable routing will make life easier when it comes time to upgrade brakes or refresh a mechanical shifter cable housing. There's a Zerk grease port on the lower link to keep it running smooth without having to take the linkage apart to access the bearings.

Suspension

The FOX Factory suspension featured on our test bike put in a great showing as usual. Our test bike's iteration (2025) of the FOX 36 is a solid choice for this type of build, with a good balance of weight and performance. If you're building frame-up today, we'd recommend the very latest version (2026) as our testing has shown it to be superior in pretty much every aspect. The rear shock tune seems perfect to us, offering a great blend of comfort and support.

Brakes

Our test bike came with Mavens, an upgrade over the DB Codes usually specified on the Pro build. Even with “only” 180mm rotors the stopping power is impressive, and the modulation allows you to tackle any conditions, from dust to mud and more. Definitely an upgrade we’d recommend, especially if you intend to ride steeper and more demanding terrain.

Wheels and Tires

We were stoked on the MaxxGrip compound DHR 2 both up front and out back. The EXO casing would probably not be up to the task if you frequently ride rough and rocky trails at speed, but they do offer a good mix of tread grip and weight which many trail bike riders might consider as the sweet spot. The DT Swiss M1900 wheels are a solid choice with quality rims that will take some abuse. We’re not in love with the very slow engagement of the LN Ratchet freehub found on the 370 hub, but that’s an easy upgrade if you want to speed things up in this department. We DO love the quick-release rear axle.

Drivetrain

SRAM’s GX T-Type Transmission drivetrain is a great choice for any high-level build. It shifts really well under power and is easy and intuitive to manipulate. We’ve had fairly extensive experience with it on many bikes by now, and we typically come away impressed.

Finishing Kit

The Intense-branded cockpit is solid, we like the angles and the extra rise of the handlebars. As with many 35mm carbon bars, it’s hard to call it particularly compliant, but it didn’t seem to beat us up either. The e*thirteen dropper post works well enough, although the return speed is really on the slow side. Some may find that a 180mm post on a size L is not enough, but that’s also where Intense’s Frame First program comes in – you’ll be able to spec what you want if you go that route.

What’s The Bottom Line?

Picking a trail bike is really about making sure you know what it is you’ll be doing with it. Some will overbuild a downcountry bike while others will throw light tires on a full-fledged enduro sled and call it good. While those solutions can certainly provide for a lot of fun, a really good trail bike provides a blend of characteristics that sets it apart from those other categories. The Primer 29 is a great example, serving up an exhilarating cocktail of speed and comfort that makes it very rewarding to ride on anything from flowy singletrack to rowdy descents, as long as you understand that it’s not meant to take the place of an enduro bike. For many, that might represent the very essence of mountain biking.

More information at: www.intensecycles.com.

View key specs, compare bikes, and review the new Intense Primer in the Vital MTB Product Guide.

About The Reviewers

Johan Hjord - Age: 52 // Years Riding MTB: 20 // Weight: 190-pounds (87 kg) // Height: 6'0" (1.84m)

Johan loves bikes, which strangely doesn’t make him any better at riding them. After many years spent practicing falling off cliffs with his snowboard, he took up mountain biking in 2005. Ever since, he’s mostly been riding bikes with too much suspension travel to cover up his many flaws as a rider. His 200-pound body weight coupled with unique skill for poor line choice and clumsy landings make him an expert on durability - if parts survive Johan, they’re pretty much okay for anybody. Johan rides flat pedals with a riding style that he describes as "none" (when in actuality he rips!). Having found most trail features to be not to his liking, Johan uses much of his spare time building his own. Johan’s other accomplishments include surviving this far and helping keep the Vital Media Machine’s stoke dial firmly on 11.

Nils Hjord – Age: 21 // Years Riding MTB: 13 // Height: 5’9” (1m80) // Weight: 185-pounds (84-kg)

Always committed to having fun on his bike, Nils likes to keep his wheels in the air almost as much as on the ground. Although he enjoys going fast and is no stranger to burping his tires off the rim, he has dedicated most of his riding time to mastering manuals and making his tabletops flatter – but that doesn’t mean he can’t put the hurt on his wheels through a high-speed rock garden too, when needed. Good thing his dad is a full-time Vital staffer with access to lots of bike parts that need testing!

Photos by Johan Hjord and Ingrid Hjord (thanks Mom!)