Intense M1 vs M3

[VPSDH]

Hi,
can someone please enlighten me on the differences between the M1 vs M3. Besides the obvious style difference, what is the difference riding wise.

Is the M3 smoother or is there not much difference? Is it worth paying $5000 for an M3 frame or are you going to be just as happy with an M1 (second hand frame $2400)?


Cheers

[konasaurus]

i really dont know the difference riding wise but personally i wouldnt buy a Intense M1 frame Second hand

[Cave Dweller]

personally i wouldnt buy a Intense M1 frame Second hand

Ditto Ditto.

[udi]

personally i wouldnt buy a Intense M1 frame Second hand

me three.

http://www.papermoonbooks.com/images/ridiculous/snap_crackle_pop.jpg

[lotec]

an M1 (second hand frame $2400)?
Cheers
dude if your paying more than about 1500 unless its in brand new condition you are paying too much, FYI I sold mine a year ago for 1400 and its was pretty god apart from a few scratches

[VPSDH]

The M1 I was looking at is an 04 model, apparently only done 6 national rounds. Is $2400 a good price or still too much?

[Cave Dweller]

The M1 I was looking at is an 04 model, apparently only done 6 national rounds. Is $2400 a good price or still too much?

Well, considering you could buy a brand new American made turner DHR from DH direct for around $3200, IMO, yes, it is a little to much to pay.

Plus M1's are known for cracking around the head tube and through the chainstay.

[®ider]

.Plus M1's are known for cracking around the head tube and through the chainstay.

Alot of bikes are known for this problem.......:rolleyes:

[Cave Dweller]

Alot of bikes are known for this problem.......:rolleyes:

Yeh, but most of them are cheap konas and norcos, not premium high end brands. It is not an uncommon problem, i know someone that has snapped 2 chainstays and cracked a main frame on an M1.

[lotec]

i wouldnt pay 2400 for the frame when for a little more you can get a brand new dhr or similar, m1s are known for cracking chainstays and headtubes to be fair grip could guesset them up and they wouldnt break again but for a top of the line downhill race bike you shouldnt have to do this maybe look for a second hand bb7, v10 or simillar maybe even a brand new norco team race frame... or test ride a 222 or 223, not everyones style but some people swear by them, definatly for a smoother rider though but for 2400 you can get a much longer lasting frame

[udi]

It is not an uncommon problem, i know someone that has snapped 2 chainstays and cracked a main frame on an M1.

I saw one snap clean across BOTH seatstays not more than a few weeks ago. Like someone had run it through a circular saw or something. Crazy!

But I guess with guys like grip on hand it wouldn't be tooo big of a deal even if you did have to repair it. M1's are still pretty sweet frames imo, if they didn't break they'd be perfect. Nice geometry, nice rear suspension design (good old FSR), light, and pretty low bb height too I think.

[j5ive]

Yeh, but most of them are cheap konas and norcos, not premium high end brands.....

Did you ever think that its maybe a volume thing?

[Cave Dweller]

Did you ever think that its maybe a volume thing?

Hhahaha.......

Sorry dude, didn't mean to go upsetting anyone that owns one :p

[Daver]

Chances of an M1 holding up? About as high as the rabbitohs have of winning a premiership.

[j5ive]

Nah, not upset.

But think of the numbers of norcos/konas/iron horse etc sold compaired to turners/m1s/etc. The ratio of cracked to un-cracked is probably close to the same. If anything the higher volume of cheaper frames means any problems will be forund quicker and solutions realised in next years model. Further more, spare parts will be avaliable much longer and may even be found second hand.

You can't base a bikes quality on price alone.

[Gripper]

Chances of an M1 holding up? About as high as the rabbitohs have of winning a premiership.

Both of the M bikes are intended to get potential pro's or real pro riders to podiums finish's on the weekend for approx 1yr, what would you expect from such a light bike..............

Buy an M bike knowing this fact...
"lightness will always = weakness somewhere in the equation"

Thoroughbreed race horses don't last for ever do they.

[W.bat]

Bullshit.

Do any of you guys actually own an intense?
They are the sweatest ride and heaps stronger than the more run of the mill brands. Better made, higher tolerences etc etc. Ask an unbiased shop owner and if they tell the truth the Intenses would be the bike of choice for ride and longivity. Go to a state or national round and see how many old "uncracked" intenses are on the ground. Plenty. Then look for old kona's or giants or another "pop out" bike. Non existant. They all died years ago.
You can crack any bike depending what you do with it. ie abuse.
As for lightness = weakness. Depends on the engineering.

As for M1 to M3 I reckon the M3 just sticks to stuff abit more. I've got both and there have been a few times where the M3 has felt markably different. It just seems to hold onto the ground and smoothes out the rough. It also pedals better.

As for what to get. Both are excellent. The M3 is the "new technology" so better(?) But you can pick up a second hand M1 and know you are getting an excellent bike you can ride and race for years at half the price.

As for the extra cost well despite the "tall poppy" bullshit on this thread if you spend the extra bucks and get the Intense, apart from normal maintainance expect to have a prime ride for as long as you want to ride it.

[Jordy]

Bullshit.

Do any of you guys actually own an intense?
They are the sweatest ride and heaps stronger than the more run of the mill brands. Better made, higher tolerences etc etc. Ask an unbiased shop owner and if they tell the truth the Intenses would be the bike of choice for ride and longivity. Go to a state or national round and see how many old "uncracked" intenses are on the ground. Plenty. Then look for old kona's or giants or another "pop out" bike. Non existant. They all died years ago.
You can crack any bike depending what you do with it. ie abuse.
As for lightness = weakness. Depends on the engineering.


thats strange, Most of the old M1's Ive SEEN at NATIONAL and STATE rounds have had a swingarm replaced due to snappage. a Local here has snapped both the seat stay and the chain stay on his before.
You say you dont see old giants...what about all the fucking ATX's ? their still around heaps.

[j5ive]

and stabs and stinkys which have been modded and trashed...

[kona_boy]

well since everyones spamming about how 'shit' they are i'll actually point out the differences.

M1 - 8in FSR
M3 - 9.5in VPP

but personally i think people expect way to much for them 2nd hand, even new the M1's were overpriced, M3s are still a bit pricey (5500 new)
i wouldny pay more than 1800 for one in good nic and less than 18months old.
keep in mind that most people who buy Intenses are crazy pro riders or non-pro riders who fukn hard. 2nd hand intenses are usually hammered

in my honest opinion, steer clear unless its new

[scblack]

Engineering involves three factors:

Light - Strong - Cheap


Choose any two.

[kona_boy]

unless ur a millionaire this is my motto too

[j5ive]

Engineering involves three factors:

Light - Strong - Cheap


Choose any two.

Yes, but don't think that just because its not the third thing that it will be the other two.

[Daver]

M1 - 8in FSR
M3 - 9.5in VPP


Um... the (2002- > now) M1 had 9.5" of travel

[GoingDHfast]

Ask an unbiased shop owner

ha.......! :p

[GoingDHfast]

Engineering involves three factors:

Light - Strong - Cheap


Choose any two.

Holy shit, I bet all those guys graduating from 4 year engineering degrees wish they'd spoken to you before they wasted 4 years of their lives.

[scblack]

Holy shit, I bet all those guys graduating from 4 year engineering degrees wish they'd spoken to you before they wasted 4 years of their lives.

Hahahaha, yes, my boundless engineering knowledge qualifies me as a great CPA.

Now, is the tensile strength of this paper sufficient to print a Financial Report onto? :D Or better still, how far will the paper plane I make fly?

[Cave Dweller]

Hahahaha, yes, my boundless engineering knowledge qualifies me as a great CPA.

Now, is the tensile strength of this paper sufficient to print a Financial Report onto? :D Or better still, how far will the paper plane I make fly?

Stick to accounting and leave the engineering to us real men ;)

[scblack]

Stick to accounting and leave the engineering to us real men ;)

Ah, it's actually more like: " My bike seems not to be working - please fix it for me, my good man." :p

[Oddjob]

Bullshit.

Do any of you guys actually own an intense?
They are the sweatest ride and heaps stronger than the more run of the mill brands. Better made, higher tolerences etc etc. Ask an unbiased shop owner and if they tell the truth the Intenses would be the bike of choice for ride and longivity. Go to a state or national round and see how many old "uncracked" intenses are on the ground. Plenty. Then look for old kona's or giants or another "pop out" bike. Non existant. They all died years ago.
You can crack any bike depending what you do with it. ie abuse.
As for lightness = weakness. Depends on the engineering.



Hehe stronger than more run of the mill brands. :p

I'm not saying my Avanti D8 would be anywhere near as fast as an M1 or M3, although Jordy won a national title on it. But it would leave any Intense for dead for toughness. I've have almost literally thrown the thing down the side of hills and it just shrugs.

The intense was not designed to be tough, it was designed to win races, and to pretend otherwise is silly.