How you can create a bike in the Netherlands that can even master EWS races is a legitimate question. The makers of Instinctiv put their M-series through its paces on the roughest trails in Croatia and developed it into a potent trail bike with the support of Swiss rider Swen Toni Kälin. His personal bike was then used for this test.

The Dutch produce their frames in small series and that has its price. The frame kit including Pinion gearbox, suspension strut and chain tensioner is available from 6330 francs. Not a bargain, but the gears are included in the price and you get a truly exotic bike. For a further 450 francs, the frame can be painted in the color of your choice.

Statement by: Swen Toni Kälin, Brasch GmbH (Instinctiv test pilot and sales Switzerland)

Special features

• Puma suspension with very short levers
• Pinion gearbox
• Block-Lock headset
• High quality "Enduro Bearings" bottom bracket
• Independent frame design
• Frame with 7 percent recycled carbon from the automotive industry
• Choice of color for an extra charge

On the flat

Swen Toni's bike is trimmed for uncompromising EWS racing and built with robust wheels. The scales indicate a full 17 kilos, so the bike is correspondingly sluggish on flat terrain. Once the bike gets going, you can keep up the pace well and thanks to the agile handling, you can whizz smoothly around corners. The Pinion gears take some getting used to at first and are a little harsh, making strange noises, but they work perfectly. It takes a bit of force to operate the twist grip and the indexing should be tighter. After a few kilometers and a few dozen gear changes, you get used to it. A trigger shifter, developed by Instinctiv itself, is available as an option for an extra charge.

Up the mountain

Pushing the heavy weight of the M9 uphill is not much fun because it requires unnecessary effort. A "two-kilo diet" would massively increase the riding pleasure. The Puma system itself performs very well. Blocky trails can be mastered with ease, as the rear end has endless traction and goes over obstacles with stoic calm, even at snail's pace.

Downhill

On the descent, it's as if you've flipped the switch: There is hardly any sign of the heavy weight and you can enjoy the ride within seconds. There's no need to get used to it, you can hit the ground running with the brakes open. The M9 is downright obedient and does what you want. It's playful, gobbly and with lots of feedback from the ground, you can shoot downhill at high speed. The low center of gravity is pleasing and gives you a lot of confidence. Even if you don't use the full suspension travel, you never have the feeling of not having enough available. The Puma system is convincing, absorbing the smallest bumps just as well as big hits, with hardly any of the shock being passed on to the rider. If you like jumping, you'll have to tune the suspension a little firmer, but landings are still soft. The rear remains active and easy to control even under hard braking.

Conclusion

Although the Instinctiv M9 only has 140 millimetres of travel at the rear, it rides extremely smoothly and feels like a downhill bike on the trail. Thanks to the Pinion gearbox and the good chain guide, it makes no noise and is unusually quiet on descents. Despite its long chainstays and large wheelbase, it is incredibly agile and a lot of fun. With a lighter build than Swen Toni's bike, the uphills would be easier on your strength and the Instinctiv would be a top all-rounder.

Recommendation

You can argue about bike weight for a long time and opinions differ greatly. It goes without saying that a geared bike will never be as light as a regular bike. But if you manage to build this bike with a total weight of around 15 kilos, nothing else matters, because the M9 has no equal when it comes to riding performance. However, at 17 kilos, it is definitely too heavy for long tours with tough climbs.

Specifications

Geometry

All data here: Link

Manufacturer/distribution

www.instinctiv.bike