Devinci

Troy Carbon 29 X01 Eagle Mountain Bike

Whether you're exploring rugged singletrack deep in the mountains, or ripping some fast laps at your local trail network, DeVinci's Troy Carbon 29 X01 Eagle Complete Mountain Bike is the perfect tool for any trail with 5.5-inches of bump-gobbling Split Pivot suspension paired with progressive geometry inspired by DeVinci's pro riders. This is the third generation of the Canadian-born all-mountain bike, featuring a redesigned carbon frame that improves stiffness and responsiveness, as well as longer and slacker geometry that gives the bike some extra stability when things get rowdy. These are all good things, but perhaps the most exciting change is that it's now available with 29-inch wheels for the speed demons among us. We're big fans of the big wheels as they tend to preserve their momentum really well, helping you cover ground more efficiently while gliding over rock gardens and chunky terrain with a smoothness unmatched by the smaller wheel sizes. Combine these advantages with DeVinci's Split Pivot suspension platform that stays fully active while braking, and the Troy Carbon 29 is ready to attack the trail with newfound urgency while retaining the playful trail manners the Troy is known for.

This new Troy is made entirely of carbon fiber including the rocker link. The result is a stiffer and more responsive frame that saves about 1.5lb over its aluminum counterpart. DeVinci ups the stiffness even more by moving to Super Boost 12 x 157mm rear spacing. While the transition to a new hub standard might cause a bit of uproar, the truth is that 157mm rear spacing has been around on downhill bikes for quite some time. Super Boost simply widens the hub flanges to improve the spoke bracing angle, resulting in a stiffer rear wheel that's better able to resist torsional forces caused by cornering, braking, or charging through technical terrain. This is especially noticeable on 29er wheels as they have a greater tendency to flex. In addition to these stiffness benefits, Super Boost allows DeVinci to keep the chainstays super short while still clearing a 29 x 2.4in tire and up to a 38t front chainring—giving you a wide range of tread and gearing options. DeVinci also made the switch to a threaded bottom bracket, simplifying maintenance while eliminating the creaks often associated with press fit BB's.

The rear suspension on this bike is known as Split Pivot, originally engineered by suspension guru Dave Weagle. The design consists of a main pivot and a concentric rear axle pivot separated by the chainstay (hence the name Split Pivot), as well as the brake link (seatstay) that floats between the concentric rear axle pivot and the rocker link that controls the shock. The floating brake link isolates braking forces from acceleration and suspension forces, resulting in uncompromising traction when you're charging across rough terrain—even while braking or pedaling. Many suspension designs have a tendency to firm up a bit under braking, reducing suspension sensitivity through choppy terrain and thus losing some traction. DeVinci's Split Pivot remains fully active, soaking up braking bumps and squared-edged hits effortlessly while retaining a supportive mid-stroke for pedaling, climbing, and popping off lips and rollers. When you near the end of the travel, a smooth bottom out progression prevents harsh landings. Suspension performance is further improved by the move to a Trunnion-mounted metric shock that pivots on bearings rather than bushings, reducing friction for a more supple suspension action.

As we alluded to above, the new Troy sees revised geometry that gives it some extra stability at higher speeds or while bombing down steep descents. This comes in the form of a slacker head angle and longer reach, inspiring some extra confidence to stay off the brakes and let it rip. The stubby 17-inch chainstays balance the bike's downhill prowess with playful trail manners and nimble handling, keeping things fun on tamer trails while giving the bike the ability to pick lines and navigate corners with precision. Despite these geometry changes the Troy retains the ability to adjust its geometry via a flip-chip, which has been conveniently relocated to the lower shock mount for easier access. The flip-chip alternates between the default "low" position and a "high" position that raises the bottom bracket and steepens the head angle, improve pedaling performance on big days with lots of climbing.

The Troy is constructed using DeVinci's MTB-specific DMC-G carbon lay-up. Using EPS molding, DeVinci creates a monocoque carbon frame with flawless consistency throughout the carbon layers, eliminating resin-pooling and inconsistencies that can negatively affect the strength of the frame. DeVinci puts a lot of emphasis on frame strength and rigidity, and while some might argue that their frames are overbuilt, we appreciate the bombproof and stiff construction that inspires absolute confidence when you're smashing through technical terrain—even if it means a little extra weight. It also allows DeVinci to offer a lifetime frame warranty to the original owner. The frame has internal cable routing for clean lines throughout, and comes with molded frame guards for the downtube and chainstay to protect your investment from impacts while silencing chain slap. The frame also has a two-position bottle cage mount, widening the range of mounting options to allow room for larger water bottles while ensuring there's enough clearance for standard bottles should you decide to throw on a coil shock.

The folks at DeVinci spec this bike with a first-rate build kit ready for season after season of aggressive trail riding. The top-tier RockShox Pike fork features the updated DebonAir spring and Charger2 damper for improved small-bump sensitivity, and pairs perfectly with the RockShox Deluxe RT3 rear shock. SRAM's enduro-worthy XO1 Eagle drivetrain shifts crisply across the wide range cassette, ensuring smooth accelerations and a gear for every pitch. Stopping duties are handled by SRAM Guide RSC brakes that blend abundant stopping power with modulation that gives you more control. The carbon fiber Race Face Next R36 wheels are built for enduro-style abuse and have a wide 36mm internal width that offers excellent support for the 2.4 - 2.5in Maxxis rubber, rounded out with Vault hubs and their super-fast engagement that gives a quick pedal response when it's time to put the power down.