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Intense M3 Sizing

DylanDeanDesign

Turbo Monkey
Dec 10, 2004
1,097
0
San Diego area, California USA
Well i should be getting an Intense M3 soon, but i've "kinda" run into a small problem - what size to get: SMALL or MEDIUM.

I should note that i'm approx 5'8"-ish (5'9" on a Thursday)

Anyway, I've always ridden MEDIUM Intense M1s in the past and have found that to be THE PERFECT FIT. it was easy to maneuver around, stable at speed & the TT length felt good. However, I'm just curious to see if the m3 will feel the same. I just spoke w/ Intense & they don't have any Mediums in stock -- Small only.

I just spoke with DK a few min ago & he said that he rode a medium M3 & it felt too long on him....about an inch longer than his M1. of course he ran his seat high & back...so that might have made a noticble difference.

So now that the M3's are out... I'd like to see if anyone can give me some imput on the sizing of the frame. If they think i would be ok with a small...or if the Med feels too long, etc.

Thanks!

-D-
 

BadFastard

Monkey
Jan 29, 2002
121
0
Belgium
check the charts on the site, or otherwise drop them a line.
If you still have your M1 frame you can compare easily with the figure on the site.
I had a L M1 and now I chose a M M3 and the difference is rather big. It also sits heaps lower.
I'm not a tall guy by any means(1.73m, no clue what that is in feet or stone or lightbulbs) but i'm thinking about gettign a setback thomson to make for some extra room in the cockpit.


seeing that you painted helmets for Nick Sunseri and Nick Serrano, you'll be on a first name basis with those guys anyway. They work for Intense and they'll certainly help you out.
 
I am 5'-8" and had the same problem as you did. I test rode a medium M3 it felt a little too big so I went with a small. For reference, the small M3 fits almost the exact same as a medium Turner DHR would. So if you can jump on a DHR go for it and let that be the deciding factor.
 
May 24, 2002
889
0
Boulder CO
I am sorry but I'de just like to point out something that might not seem to obvious but is very important.

The TT may be longer but somebody should give downtube measurements. This is what you feel when you're riding. Throwing a setback seat on there might help givea bit more room when you are sitting and spinning, but when you're actually riding the bike it does nothing...

Call Intense and ask them the diff in DT measurements...
 

bigbirdie

Monkey
Feb 28, 2002
153
0
CT
I am 6'4" and I ride a medium. It is alot bigger/longer than I thought. I am glad I went with a med.
 

Spunger

Git yer dumb questions here
Feb 19, 2003
2,257
0
805
DylanDeanDesign said:
Anyway, I've always ridden MEDIUM Intense M1s in the past and have found that to be THE PERFECT FIT. it was easy to maneuver around, stable at speed & the TT length felt good.

I just spoke with DK a few min ago & he said that he rode a medium M3 & it felt too long on him....about an inch longer than his M1. of course he ran his seat high & back...so that might have made a noticble difference.
Ya know though it's hard to tell in sizing. I am 5"11 and rode around a Med. Intense M1 with a non-setback seatpost and the integrated Marz stem in it's shortest position. It seemed to fit my body style like a glove.

I was gonna say didn't DK run Easton stuff (setback post, plus ran it high etc...) and their stems? That would make it feel longish. I think honestly if I went with a small it'd be too small. As it sits now the Med. works fine. The only thing it doesn't look like the M3 has is the adjustments like the M1 did (on the rear and shock mounts). I can't really tell though by looking at pics so far.
 

AlberTop

Monkey
Nov 30, 2004
218
0
South
DylanDeanDesign said:
Well i should be getting an Intense M3 soon, but i've "kinda" run into a small problem - what size to get: SMALL or MEDIUM.

I should note that i'm approx 5'8"-ish (5'9" on a Thursday)

Anyway, I've always ridden MEDIUM Intense M1s in the past and have found that to be THE PERFECT FIT. it was easy to maneuver around, stable at speed & the TT length felt good. However, I'm just curious to see if the m3 will feel the same. I just spoke w/ Intense & they don't have any Mediums in stock -- Small only.

I just spoke with DK a few min ago & he said that he rode a medium M3 & it felt too long on him....about an inch longer than his M1. of course he ran his seat high & back...so that might have made a noticble difference.

So now that the M3's are out... I'd like to see if anyone can give me some imput on the sizing of the frame. If they think i would be ok with a small...or if the Med feels too long, etc.

Thanks!

-D-
I had a Medium M1 for 2 years and just got a Medium M3. I compared the 2 bikes side by side. The M1 has a longer wheelbase but the other messurements where the same. In the begging I felt the M3 to be smaller than the M1, but now I am pretty happy with the M3.
 

tne

Chimp
Feb 14, 2002
42
0
DylanDeanDesign said:
I'm getting a small. THANKS FOR THE HELP!
Hi Dylan !
Did you already get it ? If so, what's your feeling about the size ?

I'm facing the same issue : I'm 174cm (5'8.5", I think) and I have to choose between waiting many weeks (many months ?) for a medium, or getting a small pretty quickly. Not sure what to do ..
I sat on a medium last week (just sat on it, not rode it) and the size seems to be OK for me. It has a short stem, and a non-setback post. So I guess that a setback post and a longer stem (I will have the MRD integrated stem, so it can be easily adjusted) should compensate for the 1" shorter top-tube..

Gfreak said:
I am 5'-8" and had the same problem as you did. I test rode a medium M3 it felt a little too big so I went with a small. For reference, the small M3 fits almost the exact same as a medium Turner DHR would.
mmhh.. interresting .. I had a medium DHR last year ..
 

BadFastard

Monkey
Jan 29, 2002
121
0
Belgium
tne said:
Hi Dylan !
Did you already get it ? If so, what's your feeling about the size ?

I'm facing the same issue : I'm 174cm (5'8.5", I think) and I have to choose between waiting many weeks (many months ?) for a medium, or getting a small pretty quickly. Not sure what to do ..
I sat on a medium last week (just sat on it, not rode it) and the size seems to be OK for me. It has a short stem, and a non-setback post. So I guess that a setback post and a longer stem (I will have the MRD integrated stem, so it can be easily adjusted) should compensate for the 1" shorter top-tube..
I'm exactly your size and i've a Med M3. Fits like it's poured over you. I use manitou integrated stem and Easton CT2 in neutral positions, with 165 mm cranks.

I do think a S may be very small. It sure has advantages in being more flickable and all, but a longer stems changes the steering also.

Had my first real rides this weekend and I'm blown away. Compared to my M1, it feels like I spent all winter in the gym, instead of the pubs..... The difference is just like switching from the 99 fox equipped M1 to the 2002 5th elly. Progression.
And yet it feels like an M1 in many aspects. Very trust inspiring, neutral handling. On my first ride i jumped stuff I never did on my M1. Cornering is better with the lower BB. Braking is fine, never realized that there's no FSR or Brake arm. So no worries there.
 

BadFastard

Monkey
Jan 29, 2002
121
0
Belgium
Kevin said:
Yo BF, still hittin BWB this weekend? Weather looks great, 15/20 degrees and sunny!
Im curious how our bikes will compare since Im pretty sure nothing can beat mine :heart:

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113404
Sure as hell I'll be there.
I'm even interested in swapping bikes for a run or so.

I don't care about the weather, i'm just hoping for better luck than last year. In the very first run i broke me collar bone. 2 months without biking.....

btw: i knew it: christiaan was hoaxing with your bike.....
 

BadFastard

Monkey
Jan 29, 2002
121
0
Belgium
motomike said:
soooo, I'm 5'7", buck-22 pounds. Small? Medium? I think either could work, just want someone to say what they think.
if you fall in between 2 sizes you can do 2 things:
-contact intense for advice
-get whatever's available and accomodate with stem lenghts