DE VINCI DJANGO CARBON 29 GX LTD (2020)
£3,522 Have some tweaks unchained Devinci’s Django?
The Django is the trail bike in Devinci’s eight-strong range. Launched in 2016, the original model received some criticism for its steepish head angle, short chainstays and slightly nervous handling. For 2020, it looks like Devinci have really unchained the beast lurking inside the previous bike.
The frame
Our test bike was made from Devinci’s DMC-G carbon fibre, but there’s also a 6061-T6 aluminium frame that shares the same geometry. Tyre clearance is up on the old model, so you can run up to 29x2.6in or 27.5x2.8in rubber. Devinci have done away with some of the quirkier shapes and angles seen on the previous iteration, and the geometry is now lower and longer, with a slacker head angle.
The seat angle has been steepened from 75.7 degrees to 77.8 degrees on the large frame we tested, which also has a generous 470mm reach, 440mm chainstays, a 1,217mm wheelbase, a 66.5-degree head angle and a 614mm e ective top tube length. A flip-chip at the lower shock mount lets you raise the BB by 6mm, from 333mm to 339mm, and steepen the head angle to 67 degrees.
The kit
In terms of spec, there’s little to complain about – on paper at least. You get top-end Fox Factory suspension, Race Face ARC 35 wheels and SRAM’s 12-speed GX Eagle drivetrain. Add a Fox Transfer dropper, Maxxis Minion DHF front and DHR II rear tyres, SRAM G2 RSC brakes with enormous 200mm rotors and Race Face finishing kit, and it’s hard to fault. You can get the same spec on an alloy frame too.
While the Fox Float DPS shock is well-suited to the bike’s 120mm of rear travel, the elephant in the room is the fork. Devinci have specced a Fox 34 with the FIT4 damper, reasoning that a trail bike should be able to speed uphill and along as well as down. But it’s just not as sti or well-controlled as the burlier (but heavier) Fox 36 with the latest GRIP2 damper.
The ride
Point the Django uphill and you’ve got a stable pedalling platform, coupled with a consistent ability to absorb small bumps. The steep seat angle improves comfort on climbs and flatter sections, and the bike carries speed exceptionally well, eagerly surging forward with every pedal stroke. Let gravity take hold and you’d be forgiven for thinking it has more than the claimed 120mm of travel. The rear end is well-tuned to handle large hits with complete composure. Unfortunately, the fork isn’t quite as capable. The FIT4 damper forces you to run higher-than-recommended spring rates to keep the front end from plunging through its travel and generally not feeling very controlled.
The chainstay length is wellbalanced with the reach, so your weight remains neutral on the bike and you can focus on getting down the hill as fast as possible. Fork aside, the spec is great, it’s quite good value and has sorted geometry that’d be at home on a bike designed for gnarlier terrain. This is a trail bike we’d happily purchase, but only if Devinci gave the option of buying it with a RockShox Pike/Lyrik or a Fox 36 with GRIP2 damper. ALEX EVANS www.devinci.com
An excellent short-travel trail bike, but aggressive riders may feel the need for a burlier fork