Intense Tazer MX Pro Review

Intense calls this bike the “perfect cross-training tool for the motorsports enthusiast…” Let’s see how it motos!

Photography by Jesse Ziegler

The rise of electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) in my group of friends, neighbors and family members has been significant to say the least. You’re probably seeing the same thing. It seems every other contact has an electric mountain bike or is interested in getting one to hit the trails for fun, fitness, or recovery rides (if they think they’re athletes). eMTB’s bring the incredibly fun mountain bike end game to a wider fitness range and can take the fittest riders on rides with more miles and smiles than they ever thought possible.

Led by the biggest bicycle brands in the world, eMTBs are here to stay. And motorcycle riders make an amazing crossover buyer. As a group, we are into two wheels, we are into power, and we are into fun. And we are sometimes into doing questionable things on two wheels with said power in search of such fun. The minds at Intense know this. Their roots are in Southern California’s moto scene, and they are led by true motorcycle enthusiasts and competitors. So, they built a bike that motorcycle people can relate to and put it right where we shop. Nice.

The Intense bicycles Tazer MX line of full-carbon eMTB’s came blitzing into powersports dealership doors in 2021 as the first North American production line of moto-dealer-specific eMTBs. The focus to serve the dealership and customer base of the powersports industry with market-specific bicycle builds and business direction is unique.

With motocross-inspired build specs and design inspiration from the most popular gasoline-fueled machines in world, the Intense Tazer MX is built with the intent to help riders identify with their moto passion and roots. Brands like Öhlins, Maxxis, Magura and ODI grace the MX line of Tazers. Plus, custom graphic/paint schemes make them stand out further, setting them a bit apart from Intense’s own line of bicycle-dealership models, and massively apart from the mega bicycle brands’ offerings in this space.

Intense Tazer MX bicycles are only available at Parts Unlimited dealers, and according to Jeff Derge, VP of Sales for Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties, that network fuels many brick-and-mortar dealerships across the United States. The same place you buy dirt bike tires, chain lube and have service work done on your motorcycle is the same place you buy the Tazer MX.

While we tested the 2021 Tazer MX Pro model here, the 2022 is very close in spec and build but with updated color and graphics. 2022 Tazer MX’s also receive Shimano’s 12-speed drivetrain upgrade over 2021’s 11-speed, and they come equipped with Intense-branded alloy bars and stems in place of the Renthal units that came prior.

Intense’s Tazer MX lineup utilizes the popular and potent Shimano EP8 Steps motor, providing 85 Nm of torquey pedal-assisted power in three modes (Eco, Trail, Boost). Powered by a moderately sized 504Wh battery and controlled through a Bluetooth compatible Shimano Steps LCD display, the power part of this experience is high-end and capable. We could use more fuel in the tank for big adventures and big boost—since we’re often in Boost mode—but the cross-training nature of this bike and serious performance of the components sees it riding more Intense rides, really; 40-50 miles is a lot. But, if mega miles are your thing, or you just boost all day like us, the battery pack is easily replaceable on the trail, and you can carry an offered backup to double your range (for $599).

Power output of the Shimano EP8 is great. It’s not without hesitation or surge, but it generally puts great power to the ground behind your muscles and has a proven track record. Plus, the interface on the LED display is clean and simple.

One ride on the Tazer MX Pro and you know you’re on a serious weapon. This isn’t a commuter or casual rider. It’s meant to get rowdy with a dual-crown Öhlins DH38 170mm (6.7-inch travel) fork and Öhlins TTX22M coil 155mm (6.1-inch travel) shock.

Another clue this is a bike optimized for downward speed and handling, it stands on 29-inch front and 27.5-inch rear wheels (e*thirteen E-Spec alloy rims plus Intense e-MTN alloy hubs). Like an off-road motorcycle, a larger front wheel provides better handling over bumps and rolls faster over chatter, while a smaller rear enhances mobility and maneuverability. Plus, you get a fatter tire on the rear for traction under power and braking. The Tazer MX Pro comes with Maxxis Minion DHRII Maxx Terra 3C EXO+ tires on both, 2.6-inch up front and 2.8-inch out back.

Speaking of brakes, the Tazer MX comes with stout 203mm Magura rotors front and rear and MT7 Pro components. I’ve never been as keen on Magura MTB brakes as the Shimano offerings, but the MT7s are high spec and held up well during our test with only a little howl and squish out of them after longer descents and some early-late-on-off-on-off amateur braking maneuvers.

More components are added to keep this bike on-brand for the all-terrain enduro crowd including Intense’s own Recon Dropper seat post, an E-Spec e*thirteen crank and 34-tooth front chainring, and Shimano’s SLX 11-Speed shifting bits out back.

At $7999 MSRP as tested for a 2021 Tazer MX Pro model ($8999 MSRP for the 2022), the bike falls in line with appropriate pricing for the performance and specs. This isn’t a budget bike. But it’s also not cresting the $10K mark into elite pricing status, either. There’s also a less-expensive, less-rowdy version on offer. The Tazer MX Expert ($5999/$6999 depending on year) comes with DVO front and rear suspension in 160mm/170mm ranges, a Shimano E7000 motor (60 Nm), TRP brakes and one step down-spec’d Shimano 12-speed shifter/derailleur components on the 2022 models.

Really, pushing the Tazer MX Pro model to its limit on moderate enduro trails to hefty downhill runs is a bit out of my ability. This bike is burly—truly built for a strong rider that wants a bike to hold up to the abuse they’ll throw at it. Like a moto training day, this bike works best when ridden hard.

To get the most out of our Tazer MX test bike, we went to the steeper local trails and even the off-road motorcycle routes at our favorite local MX track for a day. In town, we really enjoyed riding out of the garage to the trails on the bike instead of loading up the bike in the van. That’s really one of the best things about the eMTB world. They make shuttles a bit obsolete and absolutely rip on the downs. I don’t need to load up, change clothes at the trailhead, ride and change again to drive home. I can simply roll out on a charged-up bike from home and ride—a lot. All roads are fun to transition when you have boost mode, and when you want to get a pure MTB experience, just point it downhill or cross-hill and start trying to push it to its limit.

As a Class 1 ebike, the power assist cuts off as soon as speed hits 20 mph, so the power here is really for crushing hills, shuttle runs and getting up to that golden speed anywhere. On downhills, the bike becomes a pure performance bicycle again and there’s no hiding shoddy geometry or compromises in design hoping to be hidden by the power output of the battery.

The Intense Tazer MX really shines when the power isn’t on—a testament to Jeff Steber’s (Intense’s founder) bicycle design prowess and the entirety of the production build. Having the extra heft of a 50-pound bicycle as you crush enduro trails or loft over jumps isn’t exactly a disadvantage either. As a moto dude, I’m more comfortable with mass under me for jumps and bumps than I am with svelte carbon weave and spandex.

The bottom line: The Intense Tazer MX is ready for people like me (motorcycle people) to fully enjoy its recurring theme of moto-inspired bicycle performance. And if I can walk into my trusted motorcycle shop and pick one up, that’s even better. CN

2022 Intense Tazer MX Pro Specifications

Click here to read the Intense Tazer MX Pro Review in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.

 

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