Pistons & Pivots
Claire Buchar's Lifted Toyota Tacoma & Intense Bikes
Claire Buchar is a name that many keen mountain bikers will be familiar with. Born and raised on the West Coast of Canada, Buchar spent a few years chasing results as a World Cup Downhill racer. While she no longer races around the globe, she still takes part in local events. Her partner in crime is none-other than Aussie drift king, Chris Kovarik and together they coach and support young up-and-coming racers.
Claire's a soft-spoken, charming person. Open to the ideas of others and willing to listen. She's been through some shit over the years and situations like the car crash she was involved in during the 2012/13 off-season have helped shape how she treats her mind and body today.
"The Truck" – Claire (and Chris Kovarik's) 2017 Double Cab Toyota Tacoma
If you didn't know Claire, or the fact that her partner is Chris "Karver" Kovarik, her vehicle of choice would make absolutely no sense at all. Especially based on the above intro. While the lifted Tacoma serves a purpose for Claire as her daily driver, and she thoroughly enjoys the clearance, Kovarik's influence is clear. Then again, while Claire is quiet and respectful, she definitely has a lethal side too. Claire is still one of the fastest and most talented female riders around, especially on her home trails of the Whistler Bike Park. However, she does a great job of disguising her laser focus and fiery side.
Claire's 2017 Toyota Tacoma Specs
- 2017 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
- Purchased brand new off the lot, but has since seen a transformation
- 16 x 8 Baja alloy rims
- 35-inch Hankook Dynapro ATM tires
- 6-inch BDS Coil Over lift kit (installed by North Shore Off-Road in Vancouver, Canada)
- Custom cut mud flaps front and rear
- 39,325 kms at time of shoot (February 2019)
- It's accompanied the Kovarik's as their race team truck all over B.C.
The clearance is amazing, especially when we have record snowfall in December and the plow berms you into your driveway. This winter, I basically plowed us out of our driveway on several occasions. – Claire Buchar
We needed something that was professional and reliable so we could travel to events and do our job. Something that would go off-road in all four seasons, carry a lot of bikes and pull a trailer. But also something that wasn't too big and cumbersome to rip around in and that wasn't too hard on fuel. – Claire Buchar
Claire's Kitted Out Gravity Sleds
Being an ex-World Cup DH racer, Claire's bikes of choice shouldn't come as a surprise. Herself and Chris are fortunate enough to continue working with Intense Cycles and Claire has been riding one of the brand new M29 DH bikes since last year. For trail slaying duties she reaches for the Carbine, equipped with a Fox DHX2 coil. Kovarik Racing is supported by e*thirteen, Magura, Fox Suspension and Chromag, and the bikes are equipped with a range of parts from those brands.
Intense M29 Specs.
- Size large (Claire is 5'11")
- Fox 49 fork
- Chromag touchpoints: BZA bars and stem. Palmskin grips, Lynx DT saddle and Dolomite post
- Magura MT7 brakes
- DT EX511 wheels but Claire will be running e*thirteen wheels in 2019
- SRAM X0DH drivetrain
- e*thirteen LG1r carbon cranks and LG1 chainguide
- STFU chain damper
- Schwalbe Magic Mary rubber "because Maxxis in 29" for DH wasn't easily available around here at the time."
The Magura MT7's are great for me on this bike because they have more stopping power on top of their modulation. Perfect for the steeper, faster and more aggressive terrain that this bike shines on.– Claire Buchar
Intense Carbine Specs.
- Size medium
- Fox 36 RC2 fork
- Chromag touchpoints: BZA bars and stem. Palmskin grips, Lynx DT saddle and Dolomite post
- Magura MT5 brakes
- DT XM1501 wheels but Claire will be running e*thirteen wheels in 2019
- SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain
- e*thirteen TRSr carbon cranks and LG1 chainguide
- STFU chain damper
- Maxxis DHF front and DHR rear combo.
It (the coil shock) gives me more small bump sensitivity and that translates to traction. It also doesn't heat up as fast and, while it isn't as tuneable as the Float, it's simpler and that suits me just fine. – Claire Buchar
Claire may be soft spoken and kind, but she obviously has a side that wants to rip trails apart. Her bikes are both aggressively built weapons, set up to destroy anything that comes her way. In similar fashion, the Tacoma is ready for action, whether towing the team trailer to races or providing clearance to get by obstacles on the way to the trailhead.
Making the winter in Whistler easier to deal with is an added bonus.
Comments
kekoa
4 years, 5 months ago
Nice idea for a series. Please keep it up.
Reply
Pete Roggeman
4 years, 5 months ago
There will be more for sure. We'll also have a user-submitted version. With prizes. So start your engines and think about your buddies with cool vehicles and how to shoot them in unique ways.
Reply
Kevin26
4 years, 5 months ago
I'm sure everyone's frothing over my cheap, stock, black, Toyota matrix and my cheap (ok- mid range aluminum), stock, black trek remedy
Reply
Perry Schebel
4 years, 5 months ago
but they have sick matching paint! plus, the car is not a taco, which is refreshing.
Reply
Kevin26
4 years, 4 months ago
Ha, my favourite part is both of them together cost less what 1 bike in this article would cost
Reply
cyclotoine
4 years, 5 months ago
Nice to see they came to their senses on tires, the trend in large diameter rims on huge lifted trucks makes no sense. It's like putting a 2" tire on a fat bike.
Reply
Pete Roggeman
4 years, 5 months ago
You can always tell a mall-crawler from a four-wheeler.
Reply
Vik Banerjee
4 years, 5 months ago
Another article idea..."Bikes and Burritos!" With a breakdown of pro rider's bikes and what they put in their favourite burritos. :)
Reply
Pete Roggeman
4 years, 5 months ago
Maybe favourite burrito spot or recipe, but are burrito ingredients really all that different? Meat or no meat, guac or no guac (blasphemy), and then...?
Reply
cxfahrer
4 years, 5 months ago
my favorite 4wd bike shuttle: https://vimeo.com/216142074
Reply
Pete Roggeman
4 years, 5 months ago
Funny you should mention Rob and his syncro - I've known him since about 2005 and we've been in touch about this series. His would make a great addition.
Reply
Jitensha Kun
4 years, 5 months ago
How did it already eat a tranny?
Reply
Kelownakona
4 years, 4 months ago
Meanwhile in the rest of the world we are bothered about emissions , pollution, greenhouse gases , climate change , waste ...
Reply
wes37
4 years, 4 months ago
Completely agree. Encouraging mountain biking is superb, encouraging driving something like this is bonkers!!!! NSMB are you environmentally friendly???
Reply
LOL@Loam
4 years, 4 months ago
Bumpsteer isnt created by tires.. its created by that garbage bds lift.
Reply
pdxkid
4 years, 5 months ago
They must put nuclear dust on the roads in the Sea to Sky. I saw this thing in person and it was definitely a "40 footer". That is, it looked boss from about 40' away and when you get closer you see all the rust.
I also wouldn't consider a Tacoma like this to be easy on fuel. Probably getting 15 mpg (yes, I'm a Yank and yes I'll stop griping now)
Very cool series, looking forward to more!
Reply
AJ Barlas
4 years, 5 months ago
They definitely use some horrible shit on the roads in the Sea to Sky. My 07 Taco has started to look especially bad over the last 3 years, which is right around when they switched to some new road treatment in the winters. Local car dealers are aware of it too. It's super frustrating and I'd like to see it stopped but doubt anything will happen.
Reply
johnny_deformed
4 years, 4 months ago
lifted that much without a winch always seems weird to me, be it jeep or truck. but i like the 6 ft box and the absence of the trd stickers. when my wife picked up a used 2016 sr5, i was wondering why it had trd (sport) stickers, but then realized every single tacoma has trd stickers. kinda loses it's purpose, or something like that.
Reply
Please log in to leave a comment.