{"product_id":"intend-hero-fork","title":"Intend Hero Fork","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe trail fork that thinks it's an enduro fork\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eIntend Hero\u003c\/strong\u003e is Intend's classic, built for modern trail bikes. It's as light as Intend could make it (\u003cstrong\u003e2030g\u003c\/strong\u003e) without trimming a single part of the performance: the air spring and \u003cstrong\u003eOPTimized damper\u003c\/strong\u003e inside are identical to what goes into their gravity forks, and it now ships with the \u003cstrong\u003eSmooth Operator\u003c\/strong\u003e compression unit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpect a properly supple, natural and predictable ride that soaks up chatter without diving under brakes. Changing travel (140-170mm) needs no new air shaft, and service needs no special tools.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose \u003cstrong\u003eOriginals\u003c\/strong\u003e (champagne lowers, classic Intend look) or \u003cstrong\u003eBlackline\u003c\/strong\u003e (forged hard-anodised black lowers, CNC stanchion guards and Racing Bros wipers).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Hero is the lightest of Intend's gravity-damper forks: the pick for trail and all-mountain bikes with 140-170mm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCharge harder or ride enduro race tracks? The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-edge-fork\"\u003eEdge\u003c\/a\u003e adds sturdier legs and a reinforced crown (150-180mm).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWant the same travel but lighter? The \u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-samurai-supertr-fork\"\u003eSamurai SuperTR\u003c\/a\u003e is 1710g.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere does the Hero sit in the range?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"overflow-x: auto;\"\u003e\n\u003ctable cellpadding=\"7\" style=\"width: 100%; min-width: 540px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background: #111; color: #fff; text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFork\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTravel\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWeight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBuilt for\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat sets it apart\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-samurai-xc-fork\"\u003eSamurai XC 29\"\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"\u003e100-130mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1505g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXC, downcountry\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLightest Intend. Energizer 3-position lockout\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-samurai-xc-fork\"\u003eSamurai XC 32\"\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"\u003e100-130mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1620g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXC, trail (32\" wheels)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e35mm stanchions, lockout + progression\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-samurai-supertr-fork\"\u003eSamurai SuperTR\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"\u003e140-170mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1710g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDowncountry, trail, light enduro\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSamurai weight with trail travel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"background: #e3edf6; font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHero\u003c\/strong\u003e (this fork)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"\u003e140-170mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2030g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTrail, all-mountain, enduro\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOPTimized cartridge + Smooth Operator\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-essential-fork\"\u003eEssential\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"\u003e150-170mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2150g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTrail, all-mountain, enduro\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBest value. Easy-service semi-open damper\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-edge-fork\"\u003eEdge\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"\u003e150-180mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2165g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEnduro, racing\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExtra-sturdy legs, heavy-duty axle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-flash-35-fork\"\u003eFlash 35\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"\u003e160-190mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2350g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEnduro, freeride, e-MTB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReinforced crown, 15 or 20mm axle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-flash-38-fork\"\u003eFlash 38\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"\u003e160-190mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2625g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreeride, bike park, big e-bikes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e38mm stanchions, burliest chassis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 13px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eOrdered lightest to burliest. Weights are Intend's claimed figures. Blackline versions of Hero, Edge and Flash 35 add forged one-piece lowers, stanchion guards and Racing Bros wipers. The full spec chart (dampers, adjustments, axles, brake mounts) is in the product photos.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Inside Line:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eHero by name, hero on the trail. It'll make you braver than your skills strictly deserve, and we see no problem with that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeatures:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUpside-down trail \/ all-mountain \/ enduro fork\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTravel: 140-170mm, internally adjustable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 2030g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStanchions: 35mm (44mm upper tubes)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDamping: OPTimized closed cartridge, self-bleeding, with Smooth Operator compression\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdjust: rebound, compression, air pressure, progression (2 alternative caps included)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAxle: 15x110mm Boost\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrake mount: 180mm, 200\/203mm or 220\/223mm mount included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSteerer: tapered 1 1\/8\" - 1.5\", 240mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOffset: 44mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAxle-to-crown: 581.5 (170), 571.5 (160), 561.5 (150), 551.5 (140)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWheel size: 29\" only\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEFBE E-Gravity rated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTechnologies:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eUpside-down (USD) chassis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe big tubes sit up top in the crown and the thin stanchions slide into them at the bottom. That puts the stiffest, strongest part of the fork where the loads are highest, keeps the seals permanently bathed in oil (super-supple off the top) and drops unsprung weight at the axle. The trade-off: no fork brace, so the axle and its clamp do the work of keeping the legs in sync, and the exposed stanchions want a little care (or the Blackline guards).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eTravel Ranger air spring\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIntend's latest air spring fills the positive and negative chambers together through one valve, so setup is just \"pump to pressure and ride\". A big negative chamber makes the start of the stroke incredibly supple without a wallowy mid-stroke. Travel changes internally in 10mm steps with tokens, so no new air shaft is needed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eOPTimized damping + Smooth Operator\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA sealed, self-bleeding bladder cartridge with shim-stack compression and rebound circuits (the same internals across Hero, Edge and Flash). The Smooth Operator compression unit uses a floating \"Oscillator\" shim stack: it adds low and mid-speed support for braking and pumping, then blows off on fast, square hits so you don't get the harshness that preloaded shims bring.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eTokenless progression\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProgression is tuned by swapping the bottom cap of the air spring rather than stacking volume tokens. Two alternative caps come in the box: one for more ramp-up, one for less.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eBlackline version\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlackline adds forged one-piece, hard-anodised black lower legs, CNC-machined stanchion guards and Racing Bros dust wipers. If you're worried about rocks chipping an exposed stanchion, or just want it stealthy, this is your pick.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eHand-built, one at a time\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvery Intend fork is assembled by hand in Freiburg by riders, not robots. The crown and uppers are bonded with high-strength Loctite so the chassis stays stiff and creak-free (Intend quote 99.98% of forks never creak), each bushing is sized to its own tube so nothing binds, every fork is checked for perfectly parallel tubes, and the lowers get exactly 15ml of Motorex Supergliss 32K\/68K lube. No guesswork, no \"close enough\".\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSteel-braided brake hoses are not recommended on USD forks (they can rub the stanchions).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNot compatible with RockShox TorqueCap hubs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e29\" wheels only (unless stated). 44mm offset.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFork steerer arrives uncut (240mm): measure twice, cut once.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo progression bottom caps are included.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSetup:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStart at about \u003cstrong\u003e1.0 psi per kg\u003c\/strong\u003e of rider weight (with gear), then fine-tune. E.g. 80kg rider = ~80psi.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRebound: start mid-range, then adjust so the front wheel doesn't leave the ground when you push down and let go quickly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLow-speed compression: clicks 1-6 from closed are the \"race\" zone (more support); from click 6 open is fine-tuning for comfort. Start at click 6.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProgression: try the stock bottom cap first, then swap caps if you bottom out or can't use full travel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTorques: axle clamp bolts 10Nm, axle 5Nm, brake mount bolts 4Nm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull step-by-step guide, oil volumes and torque specs: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.intend-bc.com\/fork-setup\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIntend Fork Setup Guide\u003c\/a\u003e. Video how-tos: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCVyA9c6bOuvp_35YDxf-0CA\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIntend on YouTube\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eService:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntend recommend a factory service at least once a year (lube oil, damper oil, inspection). Lower-leg and seal service is simple and needs no special tools.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eService intervals, oil types and quantities: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.intend-bc.com\/fork-setup\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIntend Fork Setup Guide\u003c\/a\u003e. Factory service options: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.intend-bc.com\/service\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIntend Service \u0026amp; Tech\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWant us to look after it? Get in touch and we'll arrange service or a rebuild through the Australian distributor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUpgrades:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-linearizer\"\u003eIntend Linearizer 3-chamber air spring\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-defender-usd-fork-mudguard\"\u003eIntend Defender USD mudguard\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/intend-fork-spares\"\u003eIntend fork spares (axles, brake mounts, hose guides, oil)\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNeed a hand choosing?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot sure which Intend suits your bike and riding? Send us your bike, current fork, rider weight and the trails you ride, and we'll point you to the right model and travel. Intend forks are built in small batches, so \u003cstrong\u003eplease contact us for current availability and lead time before ordering\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn more:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.intend-bc.com\/products\/intend-hero\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIntend product page\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.intend-bc.com\/fork-chart\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIntend fork chart (compare every model)\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.intend-bc.com\/fork-setup\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFork setup guide, oil volumes \u0026amp; torque specs\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.intend-bc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Service-Document.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIntend service form (PDF)\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCVyA9c6bOuvp_35YDxf-0CA\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIntend YouTube channel (setup \u0026amp; service videos)\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Eighty One Spices","offers":[{"title":"Originals","offer_id":68131967565975,"sku":"INTEND:INT-HERO","price":2590.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Blackline","offer_id":68131967598743,"sku":"INTEND:INT-HERO-BL-160-190","price":3490.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0416\/0677\/4935\/files\/Shop1.jpg?v=1792910674","url":"https:\/\/amsports.com.au\/products\/intend-hero-fork","provider":"All  Mountain Sports","version":"1.0","type":"link"}