The Evolution Of A Legend, With 208mm of travel, 29” wheels and flawless downhill geometry the M29 is our flagship bike, and it’s a bike that’s built for speed in the roughest and most brutal environments.
Our M-Series of downhill bikes have a history and race heritage that is unrivaled. It is an unbroken chain of evolution, from the original M1 back in 1994 right through to our current offering… the M29. This latest incarnation is the culmination of over 25 years of development, testing, tweaking, honing and perfecting. The M-Series has moved with the times and we are confident to say that the M29 is the best downhill bike we have ever made.
Developed On The World Cup Circuit. We made our first 29” wheeled downhill bike way back in 2009, but it wasn’t until 2017, as 29” downhill specific components began to appear, that things got serious. That year Intense team riders Jack Moir and Dean Lucas both scored exceptional second place World Cup finishes on prototype M29s… it was on. Since then the new M29 has been raced by our Intense Factory Racing (IFR) team on the toughest tracks in the world.
IFR Junior team rider Seth Sherlock took first place at the 2019 Lenzerheide World Cup in Switzerland, as well as claiming the Canadian National Championships title. Neko Mulally also won National Championships title, this time in the US, and Aaron Gwin took the M29 to the World Cup podium. The team continue to work closely with us here at Intense on the ongoing development of our bikes and exciting future projects.
Designed For The Most Demanding. Big 29” wheels help to carry huge amounts of speed and momentum, and flatten terrain, so it was an easy choice for us. But of course the beating heart of any bike is the frame. With the M29 we’ve used a very specific carbon lay-up to create a frame that is both stiff and strong, but that also has ‘give’ in all the right places. What this means is that you get a bike that allows you to take razor-sharp lines on the track, without getting beaten up or having a harsh ride, which is hugely important for a downhill bike. We’ve also concentrated on getting the contact patch of the large 29” front wheel just right to give you the perfect combination of grip and handling. You get amazing cornering, straight line speed, accuracy and precision.
The JS Tuned Downhill Link. We talk about JS Suspension a lot here at Intense. JS stands for Jeff Steber (our founder and CEO) and simply put it is a refined suspension system that uses two counter-rotating links to connect the front and rear triangles of the bike. The links are specifically placed to allow for separation between the pedaling and braking forces from the suspension performance. Every model in our range has its own personal and specific JS tune.
The DH Link found on the M29 is designed with a progressive leverage ratio. What this means is that you get a supple and sensitive ride that initially absorbs small bumps, then seamlessly moves into a supportive mid-stroke platform (which helps to maintain ride height) and finally into a controlled ramp-up towards bottom-out. All this this translates into a very predictable ride that offers plenty of support, can tackle anything its path, and gives endless grip in all situations. Add to that the ultra-adjustable Fox Factory DHX2 coil shock and you have a system that can be tuned to suit any track, conditions and riding style.
The M29 takes its place amongst the greatest bikes we have ever made. It is the perfect continuation of the M-Series, and it’s a bike that will carve its own niche in the history of downhill mountain biking. Whether you are racing or just riding, when you drop in on the M29 you’ll be in for one hell of a ride.
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