[manhattanprjkt83]

wen you payed 3700 taxed in for your bike frame ( like me ) ,and it breaks within the first year,and you have to pay close to 1000$ +the taxes ( call it 1000 )

Thats why it should be discounted.

And if you cannot put 2 and 2 together,well I can't say more for the eyes in the sky

thank you...that is my point exactly...And why I only ride companies that stand behind the product a bit more. My first venture into this thread, just thought someone should read it...I like that intense is American made and have great heritage but his story pissed me off...

 

[Banshee Rider]

I'm not talking about design problems (like the box link) or manufacturing/warranty problems, I'm talking about crash replacement.

When you break your frame/ski/bong etc why should the manufacturer be expected to give a low cost replacement? The price you paid is irrelevant.

Because every other manufacturer offers a crash replacement price in order to keep people riding their bikes. They offer it to remain competitive, because consumers care about supporting brands that in turn support them.

$900 is absurd for a swing arm. I've seen crash replacement carbon swingarms for less than half that, on framesets comparable in retail price.

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

Because every other manufacturer offers a crash replacement price in order to keep people riding their bikes. They offer it to remain competitive, because consumers care about supporting brands that in turn support them.

$900 is absurd for a swing arm. I've seen crash replacement carbon swingarms for less than half that, on framesets comparable in retail price.

again thank you for helping my point that most companies are happy customers are riding their bikes and usually provide a replacement at cost.

 

[iRider]

$900 is absurd for a swing arm. I've seen crash replacement carbon swingarms for less than half that, on framesets comparable in retail price.

Have you actually considered that they charge what it costs them? Companies that give you a cheap crash replacement (probably at their cost) ripped you off when you bought the frame. They have bigger margins because they produce their stuff on the cheap abroad. And laugh all the way to the bank when you buy your fancy Evil/Demo/Banshee/V10/etc. for the same price as a domestic produced M9 that Intense has to offer at lower margins to stay competitive.

 

[p-spec]

thank you...that is my point exactly...And why I only ride companies that stand behind the product a bit more. My first venture into this thread, just thought someone should read it...I like that intense is American made and have great heritage but his story pissed me off...

Its my first intense,and you can bet your ass im questioning on ever buying a nother one.

Im looking at carbon sessions as we speak.

 

[p-spec]

Im surprised no one has ever been sew'd,this is america after all.

I mean someone got millions cause they burn't themselves on a coffee that didn't say caution hot.

I wonder how it works for being within a time periode known as a warrenty,and it not being validated as the compagny states it is.

I'd also like to know,

wat is a manufacturers "warrenty" anyway.

If my tv stops turning on within that time periode I get a new one.


I'd love to see XYZ walk into a mercedes dealer,buy a S-class.

Drive it a month,a month in the engine mounts are prematurely finished ( causing a hole lot of vibration etc. )

I'd love to see him react to this answer

" sorry sir,this was a early version of this motor mount,we have made some changes to make the new ones not prematurely fail,they are 500$ each to replace and you have 2 on your car,sorry this isn't covered under manufacturers warrenty"

note there is no swearing in this post,name pointing or anything of the sort,this is a adult discussion.

 

[dan-o]

Have you actually considered that they charge what it costs them? Companies that give you a cheap crash replacement (probably at their cost) ripped you off when you bought the frame. They have bigger margins because they produce their stuff on the cheap abroad. And laugh all the way to the bank when you buy your fancy Evil/Demo/Banshee/V10/etc. for the same price as a domestic produced M9 that Intense has to offer at lower margins to stay competitive.

That's crazy talk.
Every other bike company is in the game purely to get people stoked on riding, bro!

 

[William42]

900 dollars? thats nuts, my buddy just got a front/rear triangle from giant (minus links/shock) for 240 at crash replacement. 900 dollars is nutty.

 

[p-spec]

900 dollars? thats nuts, my buddy just got a front/rear triangle from giant (minus links/shock) for 240 at crash replacement. 900 dollars is nutty.

lol,
take into consideration,the giant is machine welded.
Anyone know how much wage is for a frame builder ( aka the welder )

it still doesn't justify a 1000$ crash replacement swingarm.

Is it intense giving these numbers or a bike shop ????

cause intense ask's 200$ for custom paint,shops here ask 500$ ( note I know we are talking about swingarms,im just trying to make the coralation in between how the price can play wich I think most of you understand )

 

[iRider]

Its my first intense,and you can bet your ass im questioning on ever buying a nother one.

Im looking at carbon sessions as we speak.

Good luck. There are a bunch of cases where Trek isn't honoring their warranty. Just use Google.
My point is, that you will run into these things with every company. After all this is the bike industry!

A couple of years back an Uzzi VPX swingarm was $560, so 900 might be Intense's price and not marked up by the dealer. Also if you know dealers costs on the frame it doesn't seem to be too far off.

 

[William42]

Good luck. There are a bunch of cases where Trek isn't honoring their warranty. Just use Google.
My point is, that you will run into these things with every company. After all this is the bike industry!

A couple of years back an Uzzi VPX swingarm was $560, so 900 might be Intense's price and not marked up by the dealer. Also if you know dealers costs on the frame it doesn't seem to be too far off.

Having worked with trek for 5 years as an LBS, I have literally had no issues with their warranty dept. Actually, once they sent the wrong frame, but they got it taken care of quickly afterwords. Also, I'd be mighty surprised if there are "a bunch of cases" where trek isn't honoring their warranty on a bike thats been available for 2 months. edit: also for full disclosure, I no longer work for that shop, and while I like my session a lot, I probably will not be able to afford a new one when it eventually breaks, and will probably be on something else.

I know you like intense, I have multiple buddies on intenses (from tracer 2, slopestyle, and an m6) that all love them, I like the way they ride, but comparing intense warranty/QC to treks is laughable. The ride is good enough to overcome and be worth it to buy one.

 

[Freeridin']

Ride one and see for yourself if it is worth it.

I've owned both an M6 and a SS1 and taken a few runs on an M9. I'll pass on one and support an over seas made bike any day of the week.

 

[iRider]

I've owned both an M6 and a SS1 and taken a few runs on an M9. I'll pass on one and support an over seas made bike any day of the week.

Fair enough. As you used the word "sounds" I thought you are one of those guys that bash on something they don't know. But if you tried one and it isn't for you, well, then it isn't your kind of bike.

 

[Tmeyer]

I like that intense is American made and have great heritage but his story pissed me off...

What story?

 

[parkermx07]

hello all! I joined ride monkey today to read this thread. I am the M9 owner who wrecked and got the new swing arm. To clarify a few things: I paid $600 dollars for the swing arm, but that's only because it's a blem. There is a big file mark on it that I put nail polish on to cover up, and there is a bunch of small scratches on it. Originally the swing arm IS $900. I was told that I would have to wait quite a bit of time for a "new" one. So I opted this route. I purchased a custom color (copper) M9 that I paid an extra $250 for the paint job. (that is chipping off around my seat clamp unfortunately) The new swing arm is matte black. It looks kinda rad the way it is now. My bike is not even a year old yet. The warranty is for one year. Swing arm not covered? why not? Because of a crash? Anyways, the rear shock pivot bolt needs taken apart after every other ride and anti seized or else it makes this horrible noise. And grease or other lubricants don't work. Only anti seize. My other problem since day one is that by the end of a day of riding if i don't keep loosening it up my head set (angle set) gets extremely stiff. I have tried every which way to keep this from happening. The only fix is to let it a little loose the begining of the day then tighten it up a couple times after a few runs and let it be. I take good care of my bikes so of course I am always taking them apart. This season I am just gonna set it and forget the head set once it's right. Now don't get me wrong, My M9 performs AWESOMELY! Except for these problems. I have become accustomed to them and they don't bother me. Oh I also own an Intense SlopeStyle 2 which I have never had any problems with. That is one Great Park bike! CHEERS!!! and happy riding.

 

[IH8Rice]

The warranty is for one year. Swing arm not covered? why not? Because of a crash? Anyways, the rear shock pivot bolt needs taken apart after every other ride and anti seized or else it makes this horrible noise. And grease or other lubricants don't work. Only anti seize.

a lot mfg's dont warranty the swingarm even with their lifetime warranties on the "frame."
ive found anti-seize is the only thing that works as well on the rear shock flip chips, but it typically last me well over a month with as many times i wash my bike (typically after every ride.) i only use a light coating of Ti, copper based, anti-seize

 

[SlackBoy]

I've settled down a a nice long wait for a new non cracked swing arm, thats the problem with being down the bottom of the world. Still hopefully I should get the new link at the same time................in the next few months *sigh*

 

[Huck Banzai]

Neat, when I shattered my Dakar chainstays out of warranty, Jamis still sent me replacements free; I did it again, got another set for 25% of retail - I was freeriding a 3.5" XC bike and still got taken care of. Then, when I crushed my frame - totally rider error - out of warranty, SC sent me a crash replacement for about 20% of retail, free links when I had issues.

Sounds like Intense CS is getting a pass....

 

[dylan s]

My other problem since day one is that by the end of a day of riding if i don't keep loosening it up my head set (angle set) gets extremely stiff. I have tried every which way to keep this from happening. The only fix is to let it a little loose the begining of the day then tighten it up a couple times after a few runs and let it be.

Have you tried new headset bearings? I had the same issues with it getting stiff after a day of riding but after putting in new bearings a few months ago i have had zero issues. Just a thought

 

[canadmos]

Should just ride Transition and call it a day. Yeah, built in Taiwan, oh well. Even with complete neglect the bikes troop on and on and on haha. Good guys and always respond to warranty issues in a mature manner.

M9 does look nice though, I'd like to try one out!

 

[manhattanprjkt83]

Should just ride Transition and call it a day. Yeah, built in Taiwan, oh well. Even with complete neglect the bikes troop on and on and on haha. Good guys and always respond to warranty issues in a mature manner.

M9 does look nice though, I'd like to try one out!

what i have done for the past 6 years.

 

[p-spec]

thats the diff between a compagny starting off and trying to gain serious reputation in the community and industry VS a compagny thats been around and known for making the most radical looking designs and made in america.

America compagny wont rlly care as much cause they are allready established as this epic high end name,and they dont even need good CS or business practise ( just like evil ) people are still gona buy the bike.

The bike rides amazing,business practise could defenetly be worked on.

Who knows maybe you will see ways change but I highly doupt it people will always buy the bikes wether theres ishues or not.

allot of people buy bikes and not ride em.

 

[Huck Banzai]

thats the diff between a compagny starting off and trying to gain serious reputation in the community and industry VS a compagny thats been around and known for making the most radical looking designs and made in america.

America compagny wont rlly care as much cause they are allready established as this epic high end name,and they dont even need good CS or business practise ( just like evil ) people are still gona buy the bike.

The bike rides amazing,business practise could defenetly be worked on.

Who knows maybe you will see ways change but I highly doupt it people will always buy the bikes wether theres ishues or not.

allot of people buy bikes and not ride em.

Neither Jamis, nor SC are 'starting off' - where does that leave the above?

 

[William42]

thats the diff between a compagny starting off and trying to gain serious reputation in the community and industry VS a compagny thats been around and known for making the most radical looking designs and made in america.

America compagny wont rlly care as much cause they are allready established as this epic high end name,and they dont even need good CS or business practise ( just like evil ) people are still gona buy the bike.

The bike rides amazing,business practise could defenetly be worked on.

Who knows maybe you will see ways change but I highly doupt it people will always buy the bikes wether theres ishues or not.

allot of people buy bikes and not ride em.

every time I read your posts I end up banging my head against the wall. Here are a few more bike companies with "established names" that have great QC:

Trek (I donno if you've heard of them, they're kind of obscure, they're only the biggest bike company in the world)

Giant (They're also kind of obscure, only the biggest bike mfg/2nd biggest bike company in the world)

Specialized (Also kind of obscure, they're the third biggest company in the world)

I think you are stupid.

Also, I don't think intense CS sucks per se, its just a smaller company and its what you should expect from a smaller botique company.

They certainly ride pretty darn well.

 

[p-spec]

Just cause I dont mention the other brand doesn't mean I put them in the same boat TREK GIANT DEVINCI ETC> all warrenty their **** vertualy no questions asked.

Im not a fan of santa cruz's customer service one bit.However both my purchases from them have been quite some time now and things and people change.Go cry now.

Allot of you over-react and this is a classic example,not even reading the rest.

 

[Huck Banzai]

I have had NOTHING but outstanding CS from Santa Cruz. I emailed YESTERDAY about Tallboy availability and got multiple responses before I woke up this morning, replied, and was replied to. Always quick, always reasonable, always courteous.

YES - like some companies they cant always give you what you want fast, but if thats what you want, then you accept that. (Evil? Intense! and so on...) But you wont pay 900$ for a swingarm for sure.

 

[eater]

my beast 16.25kg

 

[canadmos]

It is a little bit funny to read about (and not just here) that customer service should be expected to be different based on company size, where they are located, whether or not they are an established company or not and other factors.

No matter how big or how small, no matter who your customers are or how much they pay for your product, ALL companies should try to bend over backwards for their customers. When a customer deals with the company that they purchased and ultimately invested in, it should always be a positive experience. If a customer has a negative experience with the customer service of a company, why would that person want to invest their money into that company with future purchases? If you do, then that is absurd and you should expect to not get the service you pay for. The price of a replacement part is independent of this though, that is most likely based on other factors.

 

[bkbroiler]

Grease up those chips.

Do NOT grease the chips. That worsens the problem. Use Teflon tape, works best

 

[gemini2k]

i cant say ive ever put any thought into prices for spare parts for any bike ive owned (except after my 2nd revolt )
and the more i think about it, $900 is expensive for a swing arm crash replacement

Really? That should be part of your research

OK, maybe I am weird. But I do that because most of the times I get spares shortly after I buy the frame. I have spare lower pivot bolts/links/bearings/shock bolts etc. for most of my bikes. Luckily I hardly need them...and if then it is of course always the part I don't have.

Nope, you're not. When I ordered my frame I asked how much spare derailleur hangers were, I figured that would tell me what I need to know about how much they would try to rape me with spare parts. They were $20 (and produced on the SMALLEST scale of any DH bike mfg. I mean how many FTW DH bikes are made per year? 20? 50 tops?) So I bought 2 spares at the time of frame purchase.

What also cracks me up is how Intense charges $250 or whatever for a custom paint color. I had a custom fade across the main triangle and swingarm with custom metallic flaked colors, and it cost me an extra $35. Such a joke.

Why should crash replacement parts be discounted in the first place?
It doesn't cost any less to weld a replacement part than the original part.

Because it doesn't cost $3200 (or whatever this rip-off bikes cost these days) to manufacture the frame. Total cost of materials and labor and whatever you want to count as the depricated cost of the plant/tools to make the frame is probably sub $1000. I bet you that unpainted swingarm costs them $100-200. Charging you $900 for some poorly made, under engineered part is just there way of saying "Cause f*ck you, that's why". Paying for R&D costs on the replacement part when you broke their pathetically under engineered part is ridiculous.

 

[IH8Rice]

Do NOT grease the chips. That worsens the problem. Use Teflon tape, works best

ive found that anti-seize is the only thing that really works (which it was designed for.) i tried teflon tape and electrical tape and all get "hot spots" on where the chip is moving around and wore through both types of tape very fast

Really? That should be part of your research

What also cracks me up is how Intense charges $250 or whatever for a custom paint color. I had a custom fade across the main triangle and swingarm with custom metallic flaked colors, and it cost me an extra $35. Such a joke.

its never crossed my mind on any bike ive ever had


$35 is cheap but intense's $250 is on par or lower then what every other mfg charges. hell SCB charges $300 for their custom paint and theres not nearly the selection that Intense offers. Foes is around the same price as well.
it sounds like you just have a personal problem with intense and are just flaming away.

 

[baca262]

that's not a personal problem, even if it were - everyone sane should have it. the bike industry is quite ****ing ridiculous, especially the frame manufacturers.

 

[IH8Rice]

that's not a personal problem, even if it were - everyone sane should have it.

did you read anything he said?

 

[gnarbar]

it sounds like you just have a personal problem with intense and are just flaming away.

I concur. I dealt with Intense regarding some issues and they were absolutely solid, stand up people who went way above anything I could have expected from them as an average Joe Schmoe consumer nobody. I heard they sucked, I heard they were rad Cali bro's, I heard all sorts and everything in between.

Buy a bike, cheap/expensive, high volume/boutique, domestic/foreign, stock/custom.....your call. But jeez....internet dwelling people get so bent out of shape over MTB stuff I'm surprised they have time to get some riding time in.

 

[p-spec]

still havn't gotten my upgrade link :cry:

 

[gemini2k]

$35 is cheap but intense's $250 is on par or lower then what every other mfg charges. hell SCB charges $300 for their custom paint and theres not nearly the selection that Intense offers. Foes is around the same price as well.
it sounds like you just have a personal problem with intense and are just flaming away.

It has nothing to do with Intense, just bike industry in general. And I hate how people put up with it which keeps prices high for everyone.

It's ridiculous that they charge so much for "custom" paint jobs, when all that entails is for them to have the power coater just change the paint on one frame. Have you ever been to a powder coater and see what it costs to get a totally custom one off job on a bike frame? I'll give you a hint, its equal to or less than $300. Plus you can get a million more options.

 

[p-spec]

200 is a joke.

its 500$ here.

 

[IH8Rice]

It has nothing to do with Intense, just bike industry in general. And I hate how people put up with it which keeps prices high for everyone.

im not condoning the ludicrous prices for a bicycle but it just seemed all your hate was aimed towards Intense when they are really no different then any other boutique frame mfg when it comes to pricing. i prefer raw frames and wish the frames were priced cheaper because of that

 

[William42]

Custom paint is for customers willing to pay more. The guys running the bike companies (or most of them) aren't getting super rich doing it. Its like complaining about popcorn prices at the concession stand when you go to the movies. Yes, I know that's an exaggeration, but its the same idea. Customers who want custom paint and are not willing to pay more are going to buy a frame, and take it to their local PC guy who will do it for 100-150 bucks or less.

 

[p-spec]

im not condoning the ludicrous prices for a bicycle but it just seemed all your hate was aimed towards Intense when they are really no different then any other boutique frame mfg when it comes to pricing. i prefer raw frames and wish the frames were priced cheaper because of that

x2

boss makes fun of me constantly how I payed same price without paint...