our heritage
AN INTENSE TIMELINE:
A HERITAGE OF RACE HISTORY
Intense was created during a certain moment in time, a time we will never get back. That period was a magical moment for our sport and we were lucky to be a part of it. There is only ever one beginning and we were there.
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