Earlier this year during the launch of the new Spider 275 C, Intense said the new bike was just the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to the expiration of the VPP patent, their product line was due for an overhaul – just in time for the introduction of new technologies like Boost and Plus. It should come as no surprise then that the next installment of the JS-Tuned story is the new ACV 27.5+ mid travel full suspension bike. Named after the acronym sometimes used for hovercraft, the Air Cushioned Vehicle is a play on the additional cushion the plus tires provide.
Earlier this year we got our first look at the new bike in an environment that could use a little extra cushion – the red rocks of Sedona, AZ. The latest installment in the plus bike surge (with more to come very soon from other makes), the ACV puts an Intense spin on plus sized full suspension…
While many manufacturers are building bikes that are designed to adapt to both 29″ and 27.5+ wheels, the ACV is solidly in the 27.5+ camp. According to Intense, you could throw 29″ wheels in there, but the bike has been designed around the effective diameter of the 27.5 x 2.8″ tire with clearance for 27.5 x 3.0. The geometry is also designed around plus tires with the ACV built longer, lower, and slacker than what Intense would potentially use for a 29er in the same category. Geometry, rather than suspension concerns, was their main reasoning for a dedicated 27.5+ model.
Utilizing a monocoque unidirectional carbon front and rear triangle, the frame bears a lot of similarities to the recently launched Spider 275. There are some crucial differences though. The most obvious would be the addition of Boost 148 rear spacing and tire clearance in the frame for 27.5 x 3.0″ tires. We’ve heard time and time again now – most engineers feel that without Boost spacing they would never have been able to provide the necessary tire clearance while keeping the chainstays relatively short (in this case, 438mm). However, Intense did make some changes to the rear triangle to provide enough stiffness for the wider rear end, using a dual upright support just above the lower rear pivot.
You’ll also find that there is no longer a front derailleur mount. Thanks to the proximity of the chain to the rear tire, there really isn’t enough room for a double, so 1x it is. Like the Spider, suspension travel is adjustable from 115 to 130mm without any changes to the geometry with a two position lower shock mount. The JS-Tuned suspension system still consists of two counter rotating links (all with integrated grease fittings) with the lower i-Box link tucked up and behind the bottom bracket rather than below for better clearance and shorter chainstays.
To match up with the Plus wheels and tires and 130mm rear suspension with a RockShox Monarch RT3 Debonair in Metric 200x51mm sizing, the front of the bike features a 150mm RockShox Pike RCT3 fork with Boost 110 spacing.
Cable routing is fully internal with Stealth dropper routing and a 31.6mm post. At this point, post mount disc brake tabs are somewhat standard with 160mm rotor minimum, and the bottom bracket is still of the PF86 variety – interestingly there are no ISCG 05 mounts, . Integrated frame protection includes a stainless chain strike plate in the swingarm as well as molded rubber downtube and chainstay guards.
ACV Pro Build – $6,499:
- FRAME – ACV 27+ Monocoque UD Carbon Front and Rear Triangle, alloy Top Link, Internal Derailleur Routing, Integrated protector, w/ 148 x12 mm spacing, 115 -130 mm
travel - FRONT SUSPENSION – RockShox Pike RCT3, 27.5+” 15QR Thru Axle, 150mm Travel, 110 x 15 mm
- REAR SUSPENSION – RockShox Monarch RT3 Debonair, 200x 51 mm
- HUBS – 28 Hole DT Swiss 240 ; 110 x15mm Front Hub; 148×12 BOOST Rear Hub w/ XD Driver, centerlock
- RIMS – DT Swiss M 1600 Spline Two, 27+”, Tubeless Ready
- SHIFTERS – SRAM X1, 11 speed
- REAR DERAILLEUR – SRAM X01, 11 speed
- CRANK – RACE FACE NEXT, 32T
- CASSETTE – SRAM XG-1175 10-42, 11 speed
- SADDLE – Fabric Scoop Radius Elite
- SEATPOST – RockShox Reverb Stealth, 31.6mm x 420 mm, zero offset, 125 mm of travel
- HANDLEBAR – RENTHAL FatBar 20mm – 760mm
- BRAKESET – SRAM GUIDE RS, 180 mm front and 160 mm rear
Along with the Pro Build featured above, there will also be a Foundation Build which shaves almost $2k off the price. The $4,599 Foundation model uses the same UD carbon frame with alloy top link, but drops the suspension down to the RockShox Pike RC and the Monarch R Debonair. Other changes include a Sun Duroc 40 rim set laced to Intense Tuned hubs with a Shimano driver to accommodate the SRAM NX/GX mixed 1×11 drivetrain. Other bits and pieces see a down spec as well, but the bike still includes a RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper and Maxxis Ikon+/Rekon+ tires. It’s important to note that while shown with Ikon+ tires front and rear, production bikes of both builds should ship with Ikon+ rear/ Rekon+ front tires – more on that later.
ACV Foundation Build – $4,599:
- FRAME – ACV 27+ Monocoque UD Carbon Front and Rear Triangle, Alloy Top Link, Internal Derailleur Routing, Integrated protector, w/ 148 x12 mm spacing, 115 -130 mm travel
- FRONT SUSPENSION – RockShox Pike RC, 27.5+” 15QR Thru Axle, 150mm Travel, 110 x 15 mm
- REAR SUSPENSION – RockShox Monarch R Debonair, 200x 51 mm
- HUBS – 32 Hole Intense Tuned, 148x 12 mm BOOST; 110 x15mm Front Hub; 148×12 BOOST Rear Hub Shimano Driver, 6-Bolt
- RIMS – Sun Duroc 40 Rims, 27+”, Tubeless Ready
- SHIFTERS – SRAM NX, 11 speed
- REAR DERAILLEUR – SRAM GX 11-speed
- CRANK – RACE FACE AEFFECT, 32T
- CASSETTE – SRAM NX 11-42, 11 speed
- SADDLE – WTB Silverado Sport
- SEATPOST – RockShox Reverb Stealth, 31.6mm x 420 mm, zero offset, 125 mm of travel
- HANDLEBAR – Intense Recon 31.8 x 18 x 760 mm
- BRAKESET – Shimano BL M506 180 mm front and 160 mm rear
Both bikes will be sold in the same Matte Gold and Brown frame which may just be unique enough to be a hit. Admittedly when I first saw it I was a little unsure, but it has certainly grown on me – and it keeps its good looks when covered in mud.
As for how the bike looks covered in mud, check out our full review next…
