The Spartan takes its name from those legendary and supposedly fearless Greek warriors that were said to live for war. Given that Devinci's 165mm travel bike was originally penned as a
course-specific race machine for Stevie Smith to ride into battle at the 2013 World Champs, this seems like a pretty fitting name. The design has evolved into a purpose built enduro race rig since then, which the Canadian company obviously had in mind when working on Stevie's bike, and the result is the 27.5" wheeled, carbon fiber machine that you see here.
Damien Oton and Devinci's other riders have been racing the Enduro World Series aboard their own Spartans that feature a much different build to our XP test bike, but actually use the exact same frame and geometry.
Spartan XP Details
• Intended use: enduro / all-mountain
• Wheel size: 27.5''
• Rear wheel travel: 165mm
• Split Pivot suspension design
• Frame material: carbon fiber
• Tapered head tube
• Press-fit BB92 bottom bracket
• ISCG 05 chain guide tabs
• Internal cable routing
• Weight: 32.8lb (large, actual, w/o pedals)
• MSRP: $4,299 USD
At $4,299 USD, the Spartan Carbon XP is the least expensive carbon-framed bike in the range (
the RC costs $5,199 USD), and it comes with RockShox's Pike Dual Air fork and Monarch Plus RC3 shock, as well as a Reverb Stealth seat post and a set of very suitable Schwalbe Hans Dampf tires with Super Gravity casings. Interestingly, it also sports a front derailleur and two chain rings to get the 32lb bike up to the top of the mountain. Devinci also offers a frame-only option, which comes with the same shock and retails for $2,799 USD.
Frame DetailsThe 6.6lb (
claimed) carbon fiber Spartan frame looks like it's burlier than most downhill bikes out there, thanks in no small part to its massive and nearly square down tube. Devinci says that they've used their DMC Gravity technology to build a carbon frame specifically suited to ''rock-ravaged environments," and that they've done this by employing ''cross-hatched and unidirectional Torayca T700 carbon fiber layers, bolstered by high-strength epoxy resins and finished with a blast of Nano powder additive.'' Sounds a bit like something lifted from a top secret cookbook, although the Canadian company claims that list of ingredients is proprietary to their bikes, so tough luck, NASA.
The frame is manufactured in Asia by using an EPS moulding technique that sees a specific blend of expanded polystyrene (
similar to the stuff that's used in the packaging of electronics, as well as for helmet liners) that is then wrapped in layers of carbon fiber and placed in the mould to create its shape. The EPS core is shaped to match the inside dimensions of the frame, and it then expands to provide pressure to the carbon on the opposite side of the mould, thereby squeezing out air and voids. The advantage over using more common bladder moulding technique is that the EPS core is able to provide much more exacting tolerances, especially in complicated areas such as the real estate down by the bottom bracket and main pivot junction. The bike's front triangle and seat stays are carbon, but, much like many other companies out there, they've stuck with aluminum for the bike's chain stays.
Carbon fiber and manufacturing techniques aside, the Spartan frame sports a tapered head tube, a set of ISCG 05 chain guide tabs, and exceptionally clean internal cable routing courtesy of nifty ports that make maintenance a cinch. What it doesn't have, though, is provision for external cable routing should you want to run them on the outside of the frame, and it's lacking any place to mount a water bottle cage. We're mostly indifferent about the first point - that's what zip-ties are for - but the latter offense is a big no-no in our books. As it is, you'll have to wear a backpack (
we know that a lot of you do), or stuff a bottle into the gear-carrying pockets of the bib shorts or jersey that you'll need to buy when you pick up your Spartan.
The Spartan's Suspension ExplainedIt may not look like it, but the Spartan's suspension layout is based on the same principles, and uses much of the same technology, as Devinci's 204mm travel Wilson downhill bike. That shouldn't come as too much of a surprise when you learn that Dave Weagle is behind the design of both bikes, and that he was looking to carry over a lot of the Wilson's characteristics into the 165mm travel Spartan. Both share the same Split Pivot configuration that sees the dropout pivot rotate concentrically around the rear axle, which, along with the placement of the bike's other pivots, is said to allow the braking neutrality to be tuned independently of chain induced suspension forces. In other words, active braking combined with good pedalling performance.
Devinci refers to the bike's seat stays as the "brake link" due to the caliper being attached to it, while the wrap around linkage that joins it to the front triangle is called the "control link." This short link is what determines the bike's leverage ratio, and it also adds a great deal of lateral rigidity to the bike. The rearward shock mount is also home to a geometry adjustment that, by flipping an insert front to back, allows the rider to change the head angle between 65.8 and 66.4 degrees, and the bottom bracket height from 337 to 344 millimeters. While the bike's geometry can be altered slightly to suit different terrain and riders, these changes have negligible effects on the suspension.
Split Pivot suspension sees the dropout pivot rotate concentrically around the axle.
Specifications
|
Release Date
|
2015 |
|
Price
|
$4299 |
|
Travel |
165 |
|
Rear Shock |
ROCKSHOX MONARCH PLUS RC3 DEBONAIR FAST BLACK 8.5X2.5 |
|
Fork |
ROCKSHOX PIKE RC 27.5 DUAL AIR 160MM |
|
Headset |
FSA ORBIT 1.5 ZERO STACK |
|
Cassette |
SHIMANO 10S 11-SHIMANO 10S 11-36T |
|
Crankarms |
SRAM S1000 36/22T |
|
Bottom Bracket |
SRAM BB92 |
|
Chain |
SHIMANO 10S |
|
Rear Derailleur |
SHIMANO DEORE M615 SHADOW+ |
|
Front Derailleur |
SRAM X.5 |
|
Shifter Pods |
SHIMANO DEORE |
|
Handlebar |
V2 PRO RISERBAR 31.8MM*780MM |
|
Stem |
RACE FACE CHESTER |
|
Grips |
DEVINCI PERFORMANCE W/LOCK-ON |
|
Brakes |
SHIMANO M615 w/ 180MM ROTORS |
|
Hubs |
FORMULA |
|
Rim |
JALCO DD28 |
|
Tires |
SCHWALBE HANS DAMPF 27.5X2.35" TRAILSTAR SUPERGRAVITY TL |
|
Seat |
SDG FLY RL |
|
Seatpost |
ROCK SHOX REVERB STEALTH 125MM 31.6MM |
|
ClimbingThe 165mm travel Spartan isn't pretending to be anything other than an enduro race rig, which means that, unlike some of the so-called all-around bikes in the same travel bracket, it isn't masquerading as anything that it's not. What it is, though, is a demon descender that feels like it's slacker than the Harley-Davidson chopper from Easy Rider, and maybe slightly heavier as well. Okay, not really, but you get the picture. Ascending is priority number two... or maybe three or four.
The bike's pedalling abilities are actually relevantly decent, and it moves forward without a ton of chain induced suspension action raining on the pedalling party, but there's still 165mm of very supple travel under you that activates if you're even talking about bumps within earshot of the Spartan. This makes spirited out of the saddle efforts feel about as wasted as most people's university educations, and the key to feeling like you're getting something done is to stay seated and spin those pedals at a decent cadence. The Monarch's DebonAir spring make it one of the most supple dampers out there, and mashing down on those pedals while throwing around all of your weight is going to remind you of that fact every time you spin the cranks around. On that note, it would be nice if the Monarch's three-position compression switch offered a firmer lockout than it does. As it is, the firmest setting is still too active when talking about huffing your enduro ass up steep fire roads in order to get to the goods.
A funny thing happened when the bike got onto some relatively technical climbs: it didn't totally suck. It should suck, but it doesn't. It's not a handful on singletrack ascents, at least relative to other bikes of similar travel, and we'd go so far as to say that the Spartan almost defies its own geometry when it comes to climbing. Set up wide, turn in sharp, and you won't have too much trouble with the tightest bastard of a corner, all the while holding your upper body forward and low to keep the front end from coming up. It's those moments when you'd think an aid like a travel-adjust fork would be ideal on the Spartan, but we didn't actually turn the Pike's DPA dial too often - we had enough pedal strikes without moving the bottom bracket even closer to the ground, thank you very much. These were also times when the bike's 432mm reach, which is on the short side of things for a large sized bike, became noticeable. It's not that it felt cramped - it didn't - but the cozy front end does ask that you use a bit more body English than a longer bike would require on steep climbs.
Tinkering with the suspension geometry adjustment out back raises the bottom bracket up by seven millimeters, from 337 to 344, which isn't as much disparity between the two settings as we'd like to see, so the bike did spend most of its time in the lower, slacker of the two modes. One thing you'll never be short of is traction, though, so you'll have good results if you keep the cranks turning.
The big Devinci weighed more than 32lb on our scale (
an earlier version of this review incorrectly stated the weight to be 35.2lb), and removing its wheels revealed that a lot of that fat is stored in the bits that you're trying to keep spinning. That means that the Spartan is never going to feel sporty, which was most noticeable on short, steep climbs that ask for brief squirts of max power. Sure, the bike's rear wheel traction saves its hide on technical stuff, but let's be real here: this is an enduro race bike that's on the portly side of the spectrum, not a machine for those five and six hour missions into the backcountry. Keep that in mind while enduro'ing your way up the mountain and you'll be happy.
Descending and SuspensionThink you're brave? You might not have enough courage to push the Spartan to its limits, which is exactly what you should be looking for in a bike in this class. There are plenty of quality mid-travel bikes to choose from, but only a rare few that are as composed as the Spartan when throwing yourself into the a mess of rocks and roots. The bike's geometry, low slung feel, and rear suspension that ramps up progressively, all combine to make it feel more like a pint-sized downhill rig rather than a contemporary all-mountain bike bike that's meant to do everything at a so-so level. It's also not a bike that you need to ride in a tidy manner, like an HD3 or something that's more nimble but also less forgiving, and you can let it hang out when on the Spartan and not get punished for your mistakes nearly as often as you probably should. That means that the 165mm travel Devinci is a ton of fun because it's a rig that any rider is going to find easy to ride at the outer edges of their comfort zone without feeling like they're about to get slapped upside the head.
Cornering the Spartan was an intuitive affair, which is surely down to the low bottom bracket, laterally rigid frame, and what feels like a healthy amount of brake squat under your ass. There's loads of traction on tap due to all of that, even more than there should be given how dry and dusty our local haunts are right now, and, if it could talk, the Spartan would look you dead in the eyes and mutter something about you being a bit of a sissy, regardless of how fast you came into that corner. Then it would roll its eyes and tell you to try again.
| What it won't do is inspire you to pop and play, which is a trait that it shares with Devinci's downhill bike, but a jumble of rocks or roots won't knock it off line mid-corner, and it had us wondering if this is what becoming Velcro actually feels like. |
That same stable, never let you down sort personality allows you to do some serious Grave Digger impersonations when you want to take the straightest line possible between over here and over there. The progressive rear suspension that allows you to run as much as forty percent sag without any bone jarring bottoming is a big reason for that, as leaning into the back of the bike when hauling ass through anything rough must be what it feels like to ride a big four stroke through a set of whoops, only with less exhaust fumes and noise. We would like to see the fork ramp up more through its stroke in times like this, though, and it's nice that the DPA Pike can now accept Bottomless Tokens that allow you to do exactly that. We ended up running a touch higher air pressure in the fork than expected, although that did work well with the soft rear end when things got steep or fast.
The Spartan's built-in geometry adjustment is a nice touch, but it'd be even nicer if there was a larger disparity between the two modes. Then again, your shock settings don't have to be changed as it is, which wouldn't be true if there was a larger gap between the 'HI' and 'LO' positions, or if there was a travel adjustment. Those of you who are old enough might remember the 'Turbo' button on computers in the late 90s - turning it on made the computer faster, while turning it off obviously did the opposite. So, who would ever turn it off? Think of the Spartan's LO geo setting as being its Turbo button, because that's how we're betting nearly everyone out there is going to run it.
The Spartan does sacrifice some agility and playfulness in exchange for its ability to deliver insane amounts of traction and stability, but that could mean that more timid riders won't feel inspired to let their inner hooligans out. Then again, those same riders are going to feel pretty damn inspired when things get steep and rowdy, while more skilled mountain bikers will get those same benefits but also be able to throw the 32lb Spartan around like a (
heavy and long) BMX bike. The Spartan is best suited to big terrain and riders who put on their big boy pants when they head out for a rip.
Technical Report• Those 175mm Cranks: The Spartan likes a fair bit of sag, which puts the bottom bracket even closer to the ground and helps to make it one of the best cornering mid-travel bikes that we've ever ridden. It also means that we clipped pedals and the ends of the crank arms way more often than we do on other bikes of similar intentions, a fact that put us on the ground a few times. We'd argue that pedal strikes are always rider error, and we're not sure if going with shorter arms would have kept us upright after a few of those pedal strikes, but it certainly wouldn't have hurt matters, either.
• The 2 x 10 Drivetrain: At first glance, a front derailleur does make a lot of sense for a 32lb bike like the Spartan. It's hefty, has beefy tires and heavy wheels, and is more about just getting up to the top than getting to the top in a short amount of time, all of which makes the small 22 tooth small chain ring seem pretty reasonable. Two problems, though: shifting down to the 22 means that you instantly lose any and all momentum that you might have had, and the gearing seemed pretty low, even for the steep and tricky climbs on our local mountains. The bigger issue, however, is that the Spartan is meant to go fast as hell on the downs, but the damn chain would fall off every time we did that. This bike is just begging for a wide-range 1 x 10 conversion with a narrow / wide ring and svelte chain guide. Pick your gearing wisely and there's no reason you still can't have a reasonable climbing gear to boot.
• Schwalbe Hans Dampf Tires: Thank you, Devinci, for spec'ing a tire with a proper casing that suits the bike's rowdy intentions. Schwalbe's Super Gravity, TLE Han's Dampf tires tubeless'd up easy, proved to be reliable, and offer up more traction that the average rider knows what to do with. They don't roll quickly, but the Spartan isn't exactly about that.
• No Water For You: The lack of a bottle cage mount is a big deal. We don't ride with a backpack that often these days, and even if we did, we'd still probably not use one if we were just going out for a spin that was going to last an hour or two. You know, the perfect one-bottle kind of ride... We'd even take a bottle cage mount on the underside of the down tube over nothing at all.
• Shimano Deore Brakes: Japan's budget stoppers always have us wondering why so many people pop for anything that costs more, and the brakes on the Spartan were the same. Plenty of power with the 180mm rotors front and back, and a nice, firm lever feel that always feels right. You'll need a hex key to adjust where the levers sit, and there's no bite point adjustment (
this never functions on Shimano's brakes anyways), but damn, do they just plain work well.
Pinkbike's Take: | The Spartan is an extremely capable descender that's almost like a downhill bike if downhill bikes were actually useful for day to day riding, but it's also going to be a hell of a lot of bike for some riders. Then again, isn't it much more fun to be on a machine that inspires you to let it hang out rather than one that you're always second guessing? Of course it is, and Devinci's carbon enduro bike will allow any rider to do exactly that. - Mike Levy |
An earlier version of this review incorrectly named the bike model as the Spartan RC. The model reviewed above is the Spartan XP, which retails for $4,299 USD. Also, due to a malfunction, the digital scale we used to weigh the bike read 35.2lb. This is not accurate, and the correct weight of the bike is 32.8lb.
About the ReviewerStats: Age: 34 • Height: 5'10” • Inseam: 33" • Weight: 165lb • Industry affiliations / sponsors: None Mike Levy spent most of the 90s and early 2000s racing downhill bikes and building ill-considered jumps in the woods of British Columbia before realizing that bikes could also be pedalled for hours on end to get to some pretty cool places. These days he spends most of his time doing exactly that, preferring to ride test bikes way out in the local hills rather than any bike park. Over ten years as a professional mechanic before making the move to Pinkbike means that his enthusiasm for two wheels extends beyond simply riding on them, and his appreciation for all things technical is an attribute that meshes nicely with his role of Technical Editor at Pinkbike.
But this is just MY logic and rationing. It's the reason I didn't go with this bike. To each their own.
Shimano SLX(derailleur, brakes) --> sucks
sram x7 ---> re-sucks
pike rc dual air ---> re-re-sucks
and finally it's not even a 1x10transmission bike.... just no.
for less money, you have a Kona process 153 deluxe, with a pike rct3 solo air, 1x11 sram X1 transmission, XT brakes and THIS is something serious! 2015.konaworld.com/process_153_dl.cfm
www.devinci.com/bikes/scategory_132
Also:
'if downhill bikes were actually useful for day to day riding'
Stupidest statement of the month. What does one bike have to do with another except to push some sort of weird PB agenda. I havent been on the front page for a while and I am not sorry and stupidider for it.
ps. I have rode the Aluminum version of this bike and it wasn't horriable. Climbed like a goat. I dont have an issue with the bike but the Ad. in all fairness though, you cant find a fair review anywhere anymore. the advertiser runs the sport.
Also, on the kona note, almost all reviews on that process 153 say it has the best geometry of any 650b bike out there!
If it were my money, and i really wish it were, id get the canyon strive/ yt capra/ kona process 153DL
There's a bike for every roll, and this one's is to climb when it has to, and but mostly go -very- quickly downhill. The GT Sanction is in the same category. These kinds of bikes are the evolution of the "mini DH" 160 and 180mm bikes from a few years ago.
Major respect. 29 pounds of aluminum 6" brutality.
and yes Mark Weir could outride most here on a tricycle.
Imagine how samey all reviews would be, if Pinkbike just changed all the components to what they like, top end suspension on all the bikes, you name it. There would be little to differentiate bikes from one another,
fanatikbike.com/product/devinci-spartan-carbon-xp-12840.htm
Same drive, same wheels, same bike!
FWIW, I bought an XL frameset and built the bike myself using DT EX 1501 wheelset, 1x11 drivetrain, etc. With tyres with snake skin casing it weights about 30lbs, super gravity tyres add slightly more than a pound of weight.
My main concern about the spartan is the split pivot; I owned a DW link bike before and I didn't gel with it.
Otherwise, how we going to know what's what?
they can list the specs and price points.
I've found both the Trek ABP & the other Split Pivot bikes I've ridden beside the Devinci to be absolutely great bikes. The way the rear suspension works for these bikes just feels perfect to me.
But the more I look at it, the more I wonder if a Troy isn't a better choice.
I ran mine in low setting for the first year and thought I would never change it back. Now I run it in high mode for any pedalling adventures because that extra BB clearance is often the difference between frustration and satisfaction. The only thing I will suggest is don't change it mid ride...that instantly leads to feeling like you're getting on someone else's bike. The low mode is great for shuttling/bike park days.
The pictures show the XP model, but the review is of the RC model...a little confusing. Those Jalco's on the XP model are not technically tubeless ready, and though strong they are ridiculously heavy. And yes, the SG Schwalbes add a tonne of weight too. I change to Snakeskin/EXO unless racing or bike park riding. By going 1x10 and changing tires you can drop 2lbs. My XP with a few changes comes in at 31lbs which is more acceptable.
@fatenduro Got a whole year from the pressfit BB in my first one, in Vancouver.
@lsmillie The Shimano deores are not great if you are a brake dragger. All Shimano brakes are a little bit susceptible to heat build up (probably due to the mineral oil?) hence all the efforts to nullify that on their higher end brakes...heat sinks on the pads, titanium brake pad backing plates, ceramic pistons, ice tech rotors yada yada. Try using an ABS style braking technique and they work waaay better. That's true of any brake actually. I can do full Garbo laps in Whistler without problems.
agree about the brakes - ~I run Shimano hydro discs on both my mountain bike and my road bike (Giant Defy Advanced Pro 1).
The MTB is not such an issue because we run bigger rotors, but on the road bikes we are generally seeing 140mm rotors front and rear and heat build up can be an issue.
You'll see many manufacturers using centrelock hub wheels just to access Shimano Freeza rotors which are only available in 140mm in C-Lock.
My Giant has 6 bolt DT Swiss wheels, so I've switched the front out to 160mm with the ICE-Tech rotor and have the finned organic pads front and rear, works great.
yes, but you cannot get Freeza rotors in 140mm in 6-bolt, which is why many road bike manufacturers have to put 160mm 6-bolt on their models, or choose CL hubs to allow the smaller 140mm rotors in Freeza.
Shimano's official take on it, is that they don't think 140mm 6-bolt rotors provide enough heat dispersion and so won't manufacture their Freeza rotors in 140mm 6-bolt, on the 140mm CL Freeza rotor they use the CL spider as part of the heat sink
With a road bike, you generally don't want / need large rotors, and some frame/forks cannot run larger rotors, unlike MTBs
"
You'll see many manufacturers using centrelock hub wheels just to access Shimano Freeza rotors which are only available in 140mm in C-Lock"
which is incorrect
made it happen
Had a road bike with discs since '08. It's a no brainer, so much more control. Guys with Zipps & cork pads here are an absolute nightmare to ride with on public roads, I've effectively stopped riding with those groups (plus riding in the dirt is more fun).
Waki is right; tires are often going to be your limiting factor here. Getting your ass off the seat and over the rear tire helps, but that's not a skill most roadies will try and hone in my experience.
Road discs are the shit. I've been running Tektro Spyre mechanicals on my road/cross bike for over a year now and they're infinitely better in the wet, have ample power in every other condition, require less adjustment, allow for less rotating mass, and never run the risk of blowing up my rim/tire on a long downhill. If you don't see the merits of road discs you probably don't ride road at all.
yeah man. I'm serious. Hopefully I'm wrong but still serious.
Never said I don't see the merits of disc brakes on a road bike. I just think there are safety concerns for use in a large group of competitive cyclists.
Done loads of road riding.
many who say otherwise have not actually owned (not just "ridden") a hydraulic disc brake road bike?
I've been riding a Giant Defy Advanced Pro 1 since last October, and would not go back to caliper brakes...makes no sense.
My bike is 8kg with SPD-SL pedals and 2 bottle cags, and is an excellent all round performer.
When it gets really wet I can ride with full confidence, and I can run Continental GP4000 II 28mm tires at lower pressure for incredible grip and comfort on bad roads, and low rolling resistance.
@poah
You seem to misunderstand my post - I did not say you can't get Shimano Freeza CL rotors in any size apart from 140mm!
I said you cannot get Freeza in 140mm 6-bolt pattern, 140mm rotors is what most road bikes will run, and its annoying that Shimano will not make a 140mm 6-Bolt Freeza rotors.
Giant had Tektro make a custom floating rotor in 140mm 6-bolt for the Defy hydro bikes, but it does not deal with heat as well as Shimano Freeza or Ice-Tech, and like many Tektro rotors they were somewhat wobbly out of the box!
Maybe they're talking about getting your finger stuck in the rotor when working on the bike? I've heard of people getting cut pretty deep that way.
Or maybe you everyone in the peloton falls off the bike and they all reach for the seatstay of the guy in front of them to hold onto, and then SLICE, no more finger. That must be the scenario.
only rotor burn I've ever seen in many years was Doddy (MBUK) when we were in Whistler, we'd done a long lap from Garbanzo through the Lower Bike Park, stopped by the lifts, heard a sizzle then a yelp and realised he'd touched his calf against a very hot rotor. He got a nice "brand" from that!
@Fix-the-Spade - unless you work as a doctor or let's say medic in a bike park I call it a bullsht
@WAKIdesigns I am sure even sissy-pants Thibaut Pinot would kick your ass big time riding down a mountain pass!
.
PS. Moooooooooo!
Check out the palmares of finishers *outside* the top 100 of this year's TDF. It's littered with top bike handlers, world and national champions in various disciplines, winners of the most-important races in the world. I'm positive that many of them can descend like madmen.
I bought the xp (base) build but changed out the wheels which shed some weight but more significantly really showcased the stiffness of the frame.
I think Devinci priced the XP build well considering you get a complete bike with carbon frame, reverb and top shelf springy bits. Everything else gets replaced as they wear or break anyway.
That being said, I have the high end aluminum Spartan and mine comes in around 31-32lbs? (I'm guessing as I haven't weighed it and have since put on a vivid air). Also, lose the front derailleur and go tubeless to shave a couple lbs.
Finally, I can easily run a full size water bottle on a large frame using the bolt on the down tube guard and a patch of velcro.
My $.02
"Gets you up the climbs eventually /defies its geometry /descends amazingly"
These were almost the exact words to describe the trek slash/devinci Spartan/ giant reign / transition patrol / most other bikes I've seen! Only difference for the most part seem to be if the suspension characteristics made the bike more stable or more playful. When I was recently trying to decide on a bike and looking at countless reviews, you can pretty much convince yourself to buy any of the new style bikes! That said, I ended up going with the reign due to local shop/price and I love it
my XL frame 29.8 lbs with a fairly stout build.
does it go up hills like a 22lb cross country race bike? No, but thats not why you would buy a bike like this.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/12368487
Bike is awesome just spent a week in BC at a bike park with it. I will never need a full on DH race bike again
Having had a Norco drop 5" bike that weighed 42 odd lbs probably 44lbs with junior t's, I'd say that the Devinci is a major gain even if it is made out of carbon, not monocoque alloy.
I reckon people gotta appreciate how far things have come forward in bikes and kit and recognise that fully.
Like said before, it's a chunky frame that's probably overbuilt for those just in case moments.
Swap her 1x10 and upgrade rims and tyres and you will have a really campetitive Enduro bike.
The no water bottle holder is a bit of a pain but I bought a waist belt which sorted the water bottle problem and keeps a bag ( hate them) out of the equation.
This yoke corners like it is on rails. It accelerates over chatter. The rear end tracks brilliantly but wallows a little in out of the saddle sprinting. The trade off is really good compliance in the rough, higher speeds, better braking and a confident ride.
"The lack of a bottle cage mount is a big deal" - if you like water battle it is but I personally don't like any unneeded holes in the frame so it's not that big deal to be honest.
www.vitalmtb.com/community/svenn-fjeldheim,22852/setup,29567
-my local shop (velorangutan - Wes Hayslip in Austin, TX) has a large carbon spartan in stock purely for test rides. I was able to ride this bike on my trails for couple days and I can't say that this was an option for a Mojo HD3 or any number of other awesome, in theory, bikes.
-$4200 for a bike with a Pike, Reverb, Monarch, and solid brakes is a pretty damned good starting point for upgrading!
-It climbs way better on central Texas rocky technical stuff than it has any business doing. I ended up on an XL even though I would normally ride a large at 6'. The large demo seemed to put my center of gravity slightly rearward and it did funny things when I went up a steep climb until I put a longer stem on it. So I went with the larger size.
When it comes to the weight of this bike, part of it is the burly frame. Yes, they claim 6.5 pounds but my XL was 7.5. Also the wheels, tires, tubes (no brake rotors) weigh over TEN pounds (10.4 lbs / ~4700 grams). I upgraded to chinese carbons on DT Swiss hubs but kept the Hans Dampfs. I'll probably try something lighter (they're 1000 grams) when they wear out.
My large Sprtn Carbon weight is just 29lbs .....Been loving this bike.
35lbs carbon bike !!!! You get what you pay for ...
Spartan XP
www.devinci.com/bikes/bike_530_scategory_132
Carbon Spartan Frame
www.devinci.com/bikes/bike_585_scategory_132
ML making a mistake....say it ain't so!
converted to a 1x drivetrain and that took off an additional 0.8 lbs
paid $3500 for it due to end of season sale, all in all, a great value for awesome performance!!
I quickly realized that it does not matter if frame is carbon or not. For sure, how it feels under rider (compared to AL frame) will be a different story, but the weight was really bad. Reminded me my very old Banshee Scream.
You still have to look for hi spec bike or at least shock / wheels light combo to make it really light.
Then I built my Wilson up, and since swapped the spartan frame out for a Troy keeping the 160mm fork. The best of both worlds is two bikes, but the spartan does both well.
My only problem is braking in rocky staff, I thing in Ibis was more effective. And something else...Ibis was more quite probably due to alu chainstay in Spartan
someone needs to tell these idiots you can get a 30lb aluminum YT capra specc'ed with SRAM guide rsc, pike rct3, debonnaire, 150 reverb stealth for $3,000.
SLX on anything over 3k is f-king madness.
At the end of the day I'm talking about the reviews I see here (and other sites) which generally always conclude with a "decent for what the bike is" type of conclusion about climbing. I'm just saying I think its time to just consider "what the bike is" prior to the review and evaluate it as such. A bike geared for enduro racing is just going to be poor at climbing as its only made to do the bare minimum it needs in order to get a rider to the top.
A nomad is £2849 frame only and it's made in the same factory!!!!
35 pound? no ta
Starts out pretty solid as a review of the bike: yes it is expensive for the component spec and weight, no it can't climb worth a damn, no it's not playful and poppy, but it's really fast if you want to go steep and deep and for some that's just right...it's a park bike for people who can't justify / don't want a proper DH bike.
So far, so good: then you jump into this whole tirade on how the bike is more manly than the reader? Calls you a sissy for going to slow? Add in disparaging comments about other bikes that aren't remotely in the same category?
Why so angry?