our heritage

AN INTENSE TIMELINE:
A HERITAGE OF RACE HISTORY

INTENSE was born in the heyday of American mountain bike racing, in the mid- 90’s when the NORBA circuit was a summer-long traveling circus as important and well-attended as World Cups, and when legends were created. Personalities like Shaun Palmer,Leigh Donovan, and Michael Ronning were superstars of the sport and helped launch the M1 into the limelight.

Later, Chris Kovarik joined Intense and began a new chapter of racing history when he dominated World Cup podiums and set the record for the biggest gap between gold and silver that still stands today, fifteen years later. Intense continued to push the envelope of bike design with the M3, M6 and M9.

Let's take a look back at the years passed and reflect on the key moments that built our brand and made us #intenseforlife.

1992

First “Spider” handmade in Steber’s garage in Lake Elsinore, CA.

1993

INTENSE Cycles First Interbike Booth, Anaheim CA.

1994

Maidenship M1 with McPhearson Strut rear design.

1994

Shaun Palmer picking up his first M1 from Jeff Steber.

1995

First Team: Randy Lawrence, Mike Metzger, Shaun Palmer.

1996

Shaun Palmer powers his USA-flag painted M1 to 2nd place in the World Championships in Cairns.

1997

John Tomac was among the many top pro DH’ers who rode re-badged M1’s with their sponsor decals.

1998

Greg Minaar’s Intense-made Haro DHR.

1999

Leigh Donovan’s 1999 INTENSE M1, custom painted by Troy Lee Designs.

2000

INTENSE signs Chris Kovarik, who would go on to become a multi-time Australian National Champ and win several world cups.

2001

IFR head wrench, Johnny Roy Bottema, took care of the team and brought us lot of laughs and good times. RIP Johnny Roy. You are missed.

2002

Chris Kovarik wins Ft. William by 14.02 secs, and podiums at World Champs. Sam Hill wins Junior World Championships.

2004

IFR rider, Sabrina Jonnier and her new M3, launched in 2004. Sabrina was a regular on the podium during her years as an elite racer.

2006

Production of the M6 begins, with the M6 EVO featuring as a race team bike only.

2009

Steber’s side project was a 29” DH-specific bike, the “2951” - predecessor to the prototype M29 ridden by IFR riders in 2017.

2010

The M6 EVO is refined and redeveloped with feedback from the World Cup riders such as Chris Kovarik and evolves into the M9.

2012

INTENSE drops first-ever Carbon Fiber model: The Carbine (26” trail bike, convertible to 27.5").

2015

Young Aussie rider, Jack Moir is signed to IFR, the same year, the M16 carbon was launched.

2016

Australian Dean Lucas joins the INTENSE Factory Racing team after finishing 12th overall in the 2015 World Cup.

2017

IFR signs American, Charlie Harrison, Jack Moir takes 2nd at Fort William, Dean Lucas takes 2nd at MSA. New M29 prototypes are being tested live on the World Cup circuit.

2018

INTENSE announces “Rider Direct” business plan, making world-cup proven bikes to more riders worldwide.