$2650 (Frame)

44 pounds

9.5-inch rear wheel travel

Intense, (951) 296-9596

Maxi test: May 2005

Highlights: It's not often a frame generates as much hype as the 2005 Intense M3. Enthusiasts and diehard downhillers alike have been waiting (not at all patiently) for the follow-up to Intense's M1 downhill racer. Some claimed the runaway success of the Intense Spider left no production time to build the M3, while others figured it was simply Jeff Steber (Intense's main man) refusing to release an M1, two or three before its time. The M3 incorporates the Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) technology that uses the tension from links moving in opposing directions to increase pedaling efficiency.

Best quote: "The M3 has excellent geometry for racing, and that includes handling jumps at speed."

Bottom line: It was risky for Intense to replace the popular Horst-link-suspended M1 with a VPP-linkaged M3. The risk was worth it. Our M3 was outfitted with the best downhill components money can buy, and it performed like it. Whether plowing through a rock garden, boosting a double or carving a berm, the M3 showed no weaknesses. It's safe to say the M3 wasn't over-hyped and is well on its way to staking claim as the premiere downhill bike of the year.