Devinci Wilson Carbon SL - Review

Dec 6, 2016 at 10:14
by AJ Barlas  



Devinci’s Wilson model has gone through a number of changes over the years, morphing from its original inception as a rather tall, more freeride oriented rig, to the World Cup-winning race weapon that it is today. The latest Wilson is no different, with a number of updates since the original race weapon that the likes of the late Stevie Smith, Nick Beer and Mark Wallace raced on the toughest courses the world over, including the switch from aluminum to carbon for the front triangle.

The carbon model comes in a number of kits, ranging from the Carbon XP starting the range at $5,039 USD through to the top end Carbon SL ride seen here, which will set you back $7,959 USD. For those that wish to build their own idea of a race bike, a frame only option is available for $3,359 USD.
Devinci Wilson Carbon SL Details

• Intended use: downhill racing/freeride
• Travel: 204mm
• 27.5" wheels
• 63.2° head angle
• 435mm chainstays
• 12 x 150mm rear spacing
• Carbon main frame and seatstay
• Split Pivot suspension design
• 2.5" tire clearance
• External cable routing
• Integrated fork bumpers
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Weight (size large): 35.08lb / 16.04kg
• Price: $7,959 USD
www.devinci.com

The SL has a no-holds-barred build, with suspension duties handled by a RockShox World Cup BoXXer and Vivid RC2, Easton’s top tier Havoc DH wheelset wrapped in Schwalbe’s formidable Magic Mary rubber, and a SRAM X01 7-speed drivetrain, topped off with a Chromag bar and stem combo.

Needless to say, out of the box the bike means business with the build very similar to what many top World Cup racers are using on any given Sunday. But how does it transfer to the regular Joe that’s not looking to race the clock and perhaps just wants a carbon DH bike with a top notch spec?


Integrated bumper stops double as cable routing
The carbon construction is hard to see beneath the paint, but the lines sure are smooth.
Tapered headtube.
The headtube is an obvious point of focus for the tubing and how it all connects.


Frame Details

The most obvious difference with this model is the carbon frame, and while aesthetically it draws many of the same lines as its aluminum brother, the carbon material was used in an effort to give the DGR team riders more when they were punishing it against the clock. At the highest level any effort to gain a fraction of a second is worth exploring, and what can seem like the smallest of changes to us mere mortals can make a very clear change to the top athletes, which is where Devinci say the carbon construction comes into play

Specifically, Devinci note that the goals with the carbon material were to develop a frame that was stiffer and contained better flex, in turn supplying more direct power transfer. In order to achieve this the engineers looked to create tube shapes that would aid with this, even before digging into the frame’s carbon layup. From here they worked on varying the frame thickness throughout the tubing, tuning the flex based on forces applied to a given area. This tuning of flex is said to improve frame strength in critical sections, like the bottom bracket junction, which Devinci say can’t be obtained with alloy due to the welding process.

Beyond the process of developing the carbon frame, Devinci appear to have done a great job of integrating protection, with cleverly placed rubber sections on the rear stays to help protect the investment riders have made from rub and scuffing via their feet/heels, in addition to well-placed protection against chain slap. There’s also a solid carbon skid plate beneath the lower portion of the downtube, in an effort to protect this part of the frame from impacts.

Despite so many brands jumping on the internal routing train, Devinci have stuck to a clever, externally routed design. The cables run beneath the toptube, keeping them out of harm's way and despite them being attached to the outer of the frame, it remains very clean to the eye. It also makes a lot of sense when considering the quick maintenance often necessary on a race weekend.


The overbuilt seatstay design of the Wilson provides a stiff rear

Suspension Design

The Wilson continues to utilize the Dave Weagle-designed Split Pivot suspension layout, which uses a concentric pivot around the rear axle in order to help separate braking from accelerating forces at the rear wheel. When the latest Wilson was developed there were some updates that were implemented based on the experiences of the Devinci Global Racing World Cup team. The shock’s location was carefully changed in an effort to lower the center of gravity, a change that also resulted in a switch to a shock with a more common 9.5" x 3.0" dimensions, versus the more difficult to find 10.5" length found on the previous model.

The rear suspension changes also allowed the team to add in a shock extension (or yoke) in an effort to move the shock out of the way of debris and better clear the mud through this area. Devinci say that in the process of making this change they did adjust the bike's kinematics in order to achieve a more progressive end stroke than the previous model.


Devinci Wilson Carbon - First Ride
Devinci Wilson Carbon - First Ride

Geometry/Sizing

It’s no secret that bikes are getting longer as I type this, with some going to relative extremes, while others keep to a more conservative, manageable change. In the case of the Carbon SL Wilson tested here the more conservative side is definitely the case. As noted in our First Ride posted earlier in 2016, the Wilson is a little cramped in the cockpit, and at 6’3” (193cm) I found the XL to be on the small side. It wasn’t unmanageable, possibly due to my tendency to deny I am as tall as the numbers say and generally ride smaller frames anyway, but the 451mm reach of the XL isn't as long as other bikes in this category. For instance, a size large YT Tues (their largest size) contains a reach of 450mm, the current Specialized Demo in an XL comes in at 460mm, and a Giant Glory is 461mm reach for a large.

This cramped cockpit translates to a tighter wheelbase for taller riders too, with the XL coming in at 1237mm. My current 155mm trail bike contains a longer wheelbase and so do the downhill sleds from Giant and Specialized in the same XL sizing. Despite the shortish wheelbase, I found for the average rider it was fine in this package, but it is interesting in a time where World Cup downhillers and local racers are sizing up in an effort to increase their stability at the high speeds encountered when going against the clock.



Specifications
Specifications
Release Date 2016
Price $7759
Travel 204mm
Rear Shock Rockshox Vivid RC2
Fork Rockshox Boxxer World Cup
Headset FSA Orbit 1.5 Zero Stack
Cassette SRAM 7sp 10-24
Crankarms SRAM X0
Chainguide e*thirteen LG1+
Bottom Bracket SRAM GXP
Chain Shimano 11s
Rear Derailleur SRAM X01 DH
Shifter Pods SRAM X01 DH 7sp
Handlebar Chromag BZA, 35ø, 800mm wide, 20mm rise, 5º upsweep, 8º backsweep
Stem Chromag BZA Direct Mount, 50mm, 35ø
Grips Devinci Performance Lock-on
Brakes SRAM Guide Ultimate
Wheelset Easton Havoc
Tires Schwalbe Magic Mary DH, Vertstar
Seatpost V2 PRO 31.6MM

Devinci Wilson Carbon SL







Handling

With all of the above noted, it’s clear what Devinci have designed the Wilson Carbon SL for—speed. On the first ride there were even a couple of situations where the bike's quick handling and ease of acceleration caught me off guard—all it wants to do is go fast, so buckle in and be ready.

The Wilson accelerates out of corners with ease and demands to be ridden with a dominant, aggressive stance. This can also be attributed to the stiff frame, which requires some man-handling in order to keep it under control. The bike is incredibly spry, making for a very energetic ride, however, it can be a little stiff for a lighter rider looking to do a couple of lazy laps. Wet roots and slick rocks are when this is especially noticeable, with the bike tending to deflect off obstacles a little more than with similar bikes. However, it did hook up in the dirt easily and get back on track very quickly in most situations.


Devinci Wilson Carbon test

bigquotesThe Wilson Carbon is built for speed and all it wants to do is go fast, so buckle in and be ready.

Similar to its quick acceleration out of corners, I found the Wilson to continually propel down-trail, gaining speed off even the smallest of features in the terrain. The suspension did a remarkable job of holding momentum over rough sections of trail, remaining high in its travel until a larger hit forced it deeper into its stroke. Thankfully, such a situation rarely slowed it down much either, as the bike pushed ahead with poise, ready for what lay ahead. It was easy to pick up, and when placed into even the smallest of backsides it continued to find free speed.

These quick yet controlled handling characteristics made it an easy bike to jump. Add the fact that it does such a fantastic job of keeping momentum down the trail and coming up a little short suddenly means less than with others. The stiff frame is noticeable here also, with the bike remaining composed, rather than flexing excessively under such pressure.

I did find that during riding scenarios where things were getting a little more ragged, and employing more body English was required, the wide rear of the bike tended to interfere with my foot. A rub and a scuff would be fine, but in these situations the stays were hooking onto my heel, which, when the suspension is going through its travel and your weight is compressing to maintain position on the bike, can be disconcerting. The rubber protection on the stays does a great job of protecting the frame, but that's no good when the rider is having their foot knocked from position during already intense periods.


Devinci Wilson Carbon test


Tight sections of trail or even tighter corners, like those found on trails such as Ninja Cougar in the WBP, are a treat to ride on this bike. In fact, I would go as far to say that I’ve not ridden a downhill bike that's as maneuverable on a trail like this, even when considering that it is on the smaller side of current bikes in my size. The progressive curve to the suspension was a big part of this and also made for a bottomless feel during bigger hits—there was never a situation where the bike made it abundantly clear that the bottom of the travel had been reached.

The RockShox suspension front and rear was perfectly balanced once setup for my weight. I did have to drop to a lighter spring than the supplied 450lb on the XL frame, but it was easy enough to do. The lively ride will track to the terrain perfectly, but the Wilson is certainly no plow bike, despite it successfully getting me through several situations where the last resort was to loosen up and hope the bike would pull me through. Traction under braking is great; in fact, it's so good that it's possible to unweight over rougher sections on the entrance to corners and still slow down in time for the next turn, completely composed and in total control.

On the trail the Wilson was nearly silent even when rat-bagging it down through sections of trail littered with rocks and roots. This silent nature made it especially apparent when a rock had flung up into the skid plate, with the carbon plate making a loud 'ting' sound whenever contact is made. The first time it happened it caused legitimate concern, but once I realized that it was the guard doing its job, it became less of an issue. Nevertheless, it’s loud.


Issues

The attachment for the shock extension (yoke) to the shock itself came loose only a handful of runs into the first ride. Devinci took a look at this during Crankworx and noted that some of the earlier models had a bolt with this issue. They said that after the initial tighten everything had been staying tight and secure, but they went ahead and updated the bolt in the test frame, and it never came loose again.



Chromag BZA 35mm Bar and Stem
Stock with Chromag BZA 35mm Bar & Stem.
SRAM X01 7 speed cassette
The DH-specific 7-speed SRAM X01 drivetrain was faultless.

Component Check

• SRAM Guide Ultimates: The Guide Ultimates affixed to the Wilson Carbon provided plenty of stopping power and felt fantastic at all times, with no loss of power or change in feel, even after top to bottom runs in the bike park.

• Schwalbe Magic Mary tires: The Magic Mary tread has become a legend in a matter of years, at least in this part of the world. In deep soil and other trails that consisted of good dirt, the Magic Mary’s performed exceptionally, but to be honest, on the generally hard over loose of the Whistler Bike Park, there are better options if all-out traction is your goal. Nevertheless, they are a great tread that didn’t do anything unexpected.

• Chromag BZA Bar/Stem: Devinci spec a number of their bikes with quality Chromag components and the Wilson Carbon SL was no different, with a set of Chromag’s BZA 35mm bars and direct mount stem in place up front. I found the rise of the bar too low for someone that would be riding an XL and swapped them out for the duration of the test.

• Easton Havoc Wheels: The Havoc wheels have come some way over the years and the newer models seem to ride more firm footed than my experience with them in the past. There were no issues with the hubs during testing and the wheels remained straight with little need for a spoke key during my time on Wilson.

• SRAM X01 7 Speed: The DH-specific 7-speed drivetrain performed flawlessly, and I never found myself wishing for more gears. Shifting was light and accurate, making quick changes in stressful moments a piece of cake.


The Split Pivot and added protection on the bikes chainstay


Pinkbike's Take:
bigquotesIf racing the clock is the name of the game it would be hard not to consider the Devinci Wilson. The bike means serious business and should be ridden by those that feel the same way. The frame and suspension design make for a really exciting ride, although it is a lot to handle and can be quite harsh under a lighter rider, or one looking to play about. However, bigger or aggressive riders will greatly appreciate this. Riders may find that they need to size up to get a Wilson Carbon that fits, but if you can, it's an exceptional bike for the rider looking to push the limits. -AJ Barlas




Visit the high-res gallery for more images from this review.



Author Info:
AJBarlas avatar

Member since May 8, 2011
74 articles

116 Comments
  • 431 32
 Today, I was so bored. I saw an ant in my kitchen and I placed few sugar cubes in front of him. He had some and went off to tell his fellow ants. But I quickly hid the sugar cubes because I wanted them to think he is a liar.

p.s. Cool bike, I can't look at a Devinci without remembering how rad Stevie was. #longlivechainsaw
  • 76 217
flag bigburd (Dec 12, 2016 at 12:53) (Below Threshold)
 Keep it on Facebook.
  • 47 15
 Ignore the grumpy guy who says this belongs on Facebook. This is my favourite comment in some time. It made me laugh. It made me think. It made me remember anot album I used to have that I am now going to find and listen to. Kudos!
  • 72 7
 @bigburd: You cannot criticise any post on PB that includes the chainsaw hashtag :/
  • 6 35
flag Husker2112 (Dec 12, 2016 at 16:00) (Below Threshold)
 I told a pigeon that his wife was cheating on him, then told the wife that the husband was cheating on her. It was hilarious. P.s. Stevie was awesome. One of the best the sport has ever seen, and one of my racing idols. P.p.s the new Wilson looks like a Tues
  • 31 3
 A new bike with no world cup team. Injustice..
  • 25 28
 I agree, keep these dumb reused comments on FB, it's only been posted about million times.
  • 3 0
 @truffy: it certainly is trendy
  • 1 0
 All ants are girls.
  • 228 12
 Vote to call any new Devinci DH bikes the "Smith".
  • 34 3
 Careful, I suggested something similar on an article a while and it pissed some peeps off something fierce. You have my vote, but be careful!
  • 95 2
 i would settle for the chainsaw...unless they save that for an e-bike offering. which i would only accept if it made chainsaw sounds
  • 5 1
 Up Vote this man!
  • 9 2
 other wise a mustache or something to remember him
#longlivechainsaw
  • 12 5
 the Devinci Chainstache ou devinci moussaw
  • 11 4
 Only if Smith make a product called the Devinci.
  • 2 0
 @src248: nah, they to bring out a product called The Stevie.
  • 7 2
 I've been saying this from day one. Rename it to the SMITH or CHAINSAW. While Wilson was elemental in Devinci's past, it's Smith who brought the brand to global recognition and made the brand recognizable as a top performer. Nobody else did this, and he is Canada's greatest gravity athlete. Not doing this baffles my mind. Call the top model the Smith or Chainsaw edition, and give a portion of the funds to the SS bikepark fund.
  • 1 2
 Or can there maybe be an SS model? I don't think I was the only one who saw the new Wilson link and assumed there'd be an homage to the man who put it on the map the last few years. Seeing the Wilson without Stevie is like seeing a dog without it's owner and I'd like to think that dog will always love his owner and want the world to know. Sorry if that analogy wasn't very good, it's been a long day and I haven't had a lot of time to think about this as much as I'd like to like sugar cube guy did. Great work though sugar cube guy.

Anyways, just kinda sad there's no mention of him in this whole article really and I think we all are. The biking community is pretty well known for being supportive, it'd be really nice to see the Wilson pay it's respects.

Thanks,

-Guy who thinks Steve is pretty great and likes Devinci bikes and wishes he liked them more then he currently does
  • 1 0
 @devo88: it's actually a great analogy considering Steve did leave behind his dog.
  • 8 0
 @devo88: We are currently working on some projects. These kinds of things don't happen overnight, unfortunately. We are well aware of Stevie's contribution to our brand but most importantly to our sport, and we will make sure that he gets proper recognition. Thank you for being so dedicated!
  • 88 2
 The batmobile, without the Batman... #longlivechainsaw.
  • 37 1
 good looking bike, but I've said it before and I'll say it again the best looking DH bike of all time was the 2013 carbon 26" that Stevie won the cup on

p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/2/photos/61336/s780_SS_n3x1176.jpg
  • 3 0
 His champs bike that year was even nicer.
  • 19 1
 While I'm waiting for new Carbon front triangle to come in as the Recall is underway, I would like to mention that the rubber fork bumpers on the side of the top tube ripped off within the first weekend of riding.
  • 9 0
 Did you happen to see the carnage at the Redbull Hardline for the Wilson? If I am not mistake 3 snapped head tubes for the carbon one.
  • 8 0
 @downhere67: No! I didn't. Is there any pictures or videos?
  • 2 0
 @downhere67: I heard rumours of that but haven't seen any photos yet. If true do we expect a Yeti-esque response of them being pre-production?
  • 1 0
 @VwHarman: Devinci is suppose is going to let me know once the new Front Triangles come in. So Stoked!
  • 14 3
 Anyone else thinking they won't be able to afford a mountain bike in the near future as they're all getting a bit expensive. We can all kid ourselves that we need the latest, 'rad tech' to make us ride faster, or we won't look like fast, experienced riders if we turn up on a basic, cheap bike. I think I'll invest in a cheap MTB which does the job AND a fairly newish Husky Enduro motorbike for about the same cash!! Nice kit though. Looks a bit over engineered and I wonder how it would react to a few close ups with the rocks when the rubber bits are last seen catapulting over yer head!
  • 8 1
 For the first time in my life I will only have 1 bike next year. I am not doing seasons passes next year at my local bike park and probably wont be in the bike association. just a mellow ride or two a week and try and not have to repair/replace anything to often as the $1500-$2000 maintenance bills with the 10000$ bike has started to seem just a little bit stupid. There is so much more I can be doing.
  • 6 4
 I might change to moto because is cheaper
  • 11 0
 @miketaffgeog

Not really:

Devinci Wilson XP 3,539 USD
Specialized Demo 8 4,000 USD
Commencal Supreme Park 2,499 USD (22% discount)
YT Tues 2,299 USD (has some discount as well)
Trek Session 8 4,000 USD
Giant GLory Advanced 3,000 USD

Of course they are not cheap, but they are not that expensive. Also these are MSRP prices, so it is very likely that they can be bought at a lower price.

Besides it is always possible to buy a used bike, there is no lack of people selling their bikes after one season for much less than they paid.

And having owned a two stroke CR250 in the past, I can attest that it's maintenance is WAY more expensive and frequent than my DH bike.

And a brand new two stroke 125 cc bike is quite pricey:

2016 KTM 125SX: $6799
2016 Husqvarna TC125: $6899
2016 TM Racing MX144: $8400
2016 Yamaha YZ125: $6390
  • 2 10
flag Wouldhaveletmego (Dec 13, 2016 at 10:39) (Below Threshold)
 Get a real job
  • 5 0
 @Wouldhaveletmego: I will, I am 1 semester away from being an engineer, thanks for the advice
  • 10 0
 Guy with a real job here: life is short and there is so much cool shit you can see/do with 4k$, the numbers don't really make sense to me anymore.
  • 3 0
 I have felt the same way about how crazy the prices have gone up. Still cheaper than motorcross, but overpriced nonetheless for a bike we want to hurl down a mountain with. I don't think I will ever buy a frame again. Not really into the carbon price tag either for my toys that can tumble through the rocks.
  • 2 1
 @Peregrinebikes: Yep, most of the off the shelf bikes aren't really built for the purpose I intend to ride them so after swapping a bunch of parts and coming up with a practical build, I don't really feel like selling it and starting again. I beat them a lot and the current state of the industry makes them basically worthless when it comes the time to sell anyway so it is pretty sure the entire retail price is a sunk cost for me.
  • 1 0
 @PLC07: I am riding probably the last frame I will need. Barring any major crashtastraphy, the frame is durable, rides like I have always wanted a frame to fell like, and the gearbox is where it's at.
  • 1 0
 @Peregrinebikes: Yeah, got mine in 2012 and I'm happy with it for now. I'm not buying a new bike unless there's a major advancement in frame tech or a critical failure on an expensive part. +/- 0.5 degree here and there or a 1% performance increase doesn't do it for me. I mean, I'm not anti-change; I like 1x drive trains, droppers, wider bars and NW chainrings but it seems like frame development has pretty much stalled around 2010. Even suspension seems to be taking baby steps these days.

It is great since it means bikes have come a long way and are now mostly really good. Not so great for uninspired manufacturers though.
  • 10 0
 I have a 2015 Aluminum Wilson, love the bike. I've had it two season and solidly my favorite DH bike to date (I've had a TR450, Jedi, Demo, etc). All good bikes prior, but Wilson is def my favorite.
  • 14 3
 Here's hoping their next generation DH bike is called the Chainsaw. #longlivechainsaw
  • 12 1
 Missed opportunity to put the Chainsaw bar on.
  • 9 0
 too bad we won't be able to see this bad boy in action at the WC
  • 8 2
 as nice as it is i would choose a yt tues or a scott gambler over this as the lines to me just aren't quite right. (prepare to be slated by most of pink bike for this comment)
  • 9 0
 There has never been a bike i wanted more
  • 9 2
 "Devinci note that the goals with the carbon material were to develop a frame that was stiffer and contained better flex"...

Aren't those points mutually exclusive?
  • 18 1
 Not if they wanted vertical stiffness/lateral compliance or vice versa
  • 5 1
 Better controlled flex is probably the goal. Too stiff and a bike just pings off all the edges without gaining traction. Too much flex in one spot and the frame develops a failure point. Even flex along the length of the bike is the desirable goal.
  • 5 0
 @Barlas: I am surprised that you went with a bar with more rise. I thought the opposite would help.
If the bike is a bit too short for your size, one tends to ride slightly over the back wheel. To bring the weigh back forward and on the front wheel, a rather flat bar would facilitate that.
Or am I wrong?
  • 3 0
 For the terrain I find myself riding, I find higher rise bars are far more comfortable. I also find lower bars pull my hands too far down, regardless of how short the bikes reach is. Lower or higher rise bars doesn't change the reach and on a frame that is too cramped, changing where the hands are does little to change the weight distribution in my experience—I'm still cramped into something shorter than preferred, so I may as well have my hands where I want them.
  • 9 1
 What a bike... huge props to the Quebec cousins Wink
  • 4 0
 I have no reason to own a bike like this, (I live where the trails are 90% single track) but strangely enough I want this bike. I would like to see the frame in a red & white offering. Well done Devinci!
  • 3 0
 Anyone looking at this bike SIZE UP. Riding a 2016 large @ 5'11". A friends 2014 enduro 29 in MEDIUM is longer in the reach department. Also the Headtube is very short and low so if you like tall bar heights tons of spacers are needed. Otherwise I agree. It is the best cornering dh bike I have ever ridden and sticks to the ground well. The speed surprised me first time riding, blew out a few corners getting used to it.
  • 2 0
 Yep, for sure. Size up and get either taller bars, a taller crown, or stack the current crown to the max, if that will work.
  • 2 0
 I love all the comments and we all loved stevie. However we need to put ourselves in their board meetings. Name a bike after a dead rider? They might think its a downer, some people may not want to ride a bike named after dead man. Maybe years later once its not as morbid. Name it the elvis and no one cares about death being a factor. Name it after stevie and a percentage of riders will consider it too much of a reminder of death. Its an easy decision when you dont care about how many bikes they sell, but devinci is still trying to sell bikes. Im sure they have a plan. Cheers
  • 2 1
 I got new 2016 frame for $1200 and built up a kick ass ride this year. Jumps great and plows the gnar. Wants to go way faster than I'm comfortable with. All in all sick bike. I'll be keepin her a while. Learn to build your own bikes people. Waaaay cheaper and you always get what you want. BTW can anyone point me to best forum for Wilson's? Anyone else feel like spring that comes on them is too firm? I'm 5'8" and 185 and factory spring seems harsh. Also who's using who for bearing replacement?....
  • 7 1
 santa pls
  • 2 1
 Rode the 26" a few years ago and the new (2016) version this past season at Whistler and couldn't tell the difference despite the different wheel sizes. The ride quality was exactly the same on both bikes. Fave bike to rent from the demo fleet.
Not remotely anything approaching an engineer but I recognize the genius of being able to create a bike that carries the same distinctive "ride DNA" across changing frame dimensions, wheel sizes etc..
  • 2 0
 What are these hard over loose conditions you speak of? Does the hard give way to the loose or would this essentially be be essentially hardpack? How does the loose come into play? Are we looking for loose over hard pack?
  • 1 1
 When there will be bike from top company in witch test i will say:

not made for time, but for fun Smile

Because in real life i think only 30% customers are racers and from them only 10% is interested in micro seconds to win in track....
  • 1 0
 Isn't the fun part about downhill to be fast?
  • 1 0
 @daweil: but you dont fell you done time 1:21:01 or 1:21:05 Wink
  • 2 1
 Raced a 2014 XL Wilson, bought it in Whistler after doing one run on the DH track. Man what a machine in the poring rain over tech sections compared to my Demo I had. Loved that bike and miss it.
  • 1 0
 I honestly think these bikes ride better when its raining for some reason !!
  • 3 0
 So is there anything different about this frame vs the first 27.5 carbon ones from the last couple years?
  • 3 0
 It's in the review, but mainly the shock position changed, and with it they made it more progressive, in addition to creating a slightly lower COG. I believe it's stiffer too.
  • 1 0
 @ardor:

I had the older Wilson (2012, Alu). And it felt pretty much like a monster truck (I moved from a Specialized SX Trail), great for ramming roots and rocks, but not so good for jumping. But on the review you mentioned the updated Wilson is a good jumper. Did I misjudge the bike because I came from a rather springy bike, or has it changed quite a lot on this update?

Now I own a GT Fury, and even though it's longer and 27.5", it feels better on jumps, and a tad less stable on rock gardens (I guess that is because I had a 40 on my Wilson and am running a 380 on my GT).
  • 1 0
 @sinister28 This is the first 275 carbon Wilson. They were only released earlier this year. Before that it was only 26 inch that came in carbon, and the alloy 275 came out a couple years ago.
  • 3 0
 @Caiokv: I can't comment in particular to the model you have experience on because I have not ridden that one, but the latest one has a pretty progressive spring curve and is a super lively bike. Definitely not a monster truck like you mention, but the SX is a smaller travel bike that was designed more around jumping and playing on the trail, so that would have added to your experience too.
  • 3 2
 Looks good and all... but why are sticker prices still 8k+ with all the others that are available at under 5k with full carbon and comparable builds?
  • 1 0
 On the geometry diagram it's written HA (head angle) on the Head Tube (HT)...

Devinci lost me as a customer... HAHAHAAHAHAH........
  • 5 1
 16kg without pedals?
  • 6 0
 dh bike doesnt seem totally unreasonable
  • 5 0
 Very reasonable, proper build at 35lbs, and can easily knock a lb/500g off that: tubeless and Ti spring. Fine looking bike.
  • 3 2
 @zzRider: honestly i think my all mountain bike weighs more
  • 2 0
 My stock (+reverb) Norco Range weights 17 Kg (37,5 lbs)... Same as my GT Fury!
  • 5 1
 #longlivechainsaw
  • 4 1
 A Shimano chain on a SRAM drivetrain? Something's fishy here...
  • 4 5
 should be a shimano cassette too. Sram stuff works better with shimano chains and cassettes because shimano beat sram to the shifting ramp patents
  • 1 0
 The Wilson Carbon comes with a proper Sram 7S casette as shown on the Wilson Carbon SL webpage, the shimano Chain works as good as the Sram one, but it is stronger: www.devinci.com/bikes/bike_832_scategory_187.
  • 3 0
 Thanks for offering a frame-only option.
  • 2 0
 rumor has it Devinci is canning the carbon model for next year. Can PB report on this?
  • 1 0
 Theyre not. The front triangles have been recalled, but they will be shipping for production/sale again in March.
  • 1 0
 @leon-forfar: Good to hear if thats the case. The word on another large forum, was that the carbon model was going to be canned after 2017.
  • 2 0
 @atrokz: Yea I was worried it was too since I have one. I work at a big Devinci dealer and contacted them as I noticed it was taken off their website. They told me they were fixing the recalled ones first, and then March is when production ones will ship
  • 1 0
 @leon-forfar: that makes sense now.
  • 5 0
 The Wilson Carbon will still be available in years to come. We are replacing some frames at the moment, but the bike will still be available in our current lineup. Also, the Wilson Carbon is still on the website, we have had a few minor issues since moving to our new website, but everything should be working fine now.
  • 1 0
 @devinci: great, thanks for the response. Tested your Troy at Kelso a few months back and it's on my next bike list. great stuff. Just please offer an alternate suspension option.
  • 1 0
 @devinci: Hi folks. Great bike. I was hoping you could give some suggestions on who/where to get frame bearings replaced when time comes or if you have a preferred servicer? Shops in my area can't do it Frown If not maybe suggest proper bearing puller/installer kit? any direction would be appreciated. Thanks.
  • 1 0
 @Goomba: Your local Devinci dealer will be able to order a bearing kit for you if they don't have them in stock. They can also order the Devinci bearing puller that works specifically for our bearings. You can also contact service@devinci.com if there is no Devinci dealer in your area.
  • 3 1
 Wow that is 1 the most sexy bikes i ever layed my eyes on!
  • 4 1
 Nice bike.
  • 2 0
 Devinci sales will be riding this bike downhill for the next year.
  • 1 0
 You can now by two wheeled pedal powered monster trucks! That thing is a Goliath!
  • 2 0
 It costs 8 grand. It's a good bike.
  • 4 3
 My buddy bought a 2007 BMW 335xi for only $1500 more than what this bike costs!
  • 3 1
 @rocky-urban he's gonna be spending that much on repairs to keep that running
  • 1 1
 @shom1: I know he will. There's a reason why those 335's are so cheap used.
  • 1 0
 the characteristics remind me alot of my experience with the session, split pivot's acting accordingly
  • 1 0
 Such an awesome bike! The Wilson is definitely a bike I want to try and might just consider trading in my v10 for one Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Cool bike, but too small for my liking.
  • 1 1
 Everything points to that bike being capable of winning any race it enters. LONG LIVE CHAINSAW.
  • 1 1
 No longlivechainsaw i the frame graphics? :p
  • 3 4
 give me the canyon sender over this any day #bearclaw
  • 1 2
 Follow me if you have a Wilson so I can pick you brain please!
  • 5 8
 Epic bike ????
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