Devinci Django Review

The mountain bike market as we know it has changed and become much more specialized over the last five years. Bikes are now broken down into very specific categories and the only bike that now seems to cover two genres is the Enduro bike. It is a climber as well as a descender with a stronger emphasis on going down. 

Devinci released the Django as an aggressive trail bike. these are shorter, lighter version of their Enduro counterparts. These bikes will climb better and be a bit easier for longer rides in general. They do however give up a fair amount of comfort once trails get rocky and rowdy!

We took a break from the longer travel Enduro bikes and decided to test out Devinci's go at a short travel all mountain slayer the Django. it was noticeably lighter than our last bike and was a full factory build. We had to get used to Shimano brakes and drive train again but that only took a few rides.

Devinci History

"Aluminum was the seed that set a two-wheeled revolution in motion, when Devinci Bikes landed in Chicoutimi, Quebec, more than 25 years ago. From road to race to carbon and dual-suspension line-ups, today Devinci stands as a global frame-manufacturing leader, home to cutting-edge R&D facilities and a top engineering squad committed to the ultimate ride.

Its story starts in 1987, when Devinci began life as Da Vinci (as in Leonardo), a company envisioned by two local engineering students. Soon after, road biking entrepreneur, Felix Gauthier, entered the mix. By 1990 he had purchased half the company, swapped vowels, and Devinci proper was born.

From the outset it wasn’t always smooth roads for this fledgling Canadian-born brand. Perfecting the heat-treatment processes was a game of trial and error. Money was tight, distribution channels were slim, and when a costly new oven threatened to break the bank, Gauthier and his team combined ingenuity and talent to build one themselves. With a growing set of tools and skills in place, Devinci went to work cooking more bikes. By 1993, distribution had expanded, Gauthier had taken sole ownership of the business, and Devinci moved from its modest 800-square-foot home to one four times the size.

Brainpower was corralled; designers and skilled technicians were sourced; R&D was ratcheted up, reinforcing a commitment to quality and performance. From Canadian market exclusivity, Devinci branched worldwide, expanding its road repertoire to include an array of women-specific rides, hybrids, XC standouts, ergonomic cruisers, and a World Cup winning dual-suspension mountain bike lineup—featuring Dave Weagle’s patented Split Pivot technology.

Today Devinci’s creative engine revs under one roof. This includes a state-of-the-art on–bike testing system, which measures every stress and strain in real life situations. Changes to a particular design can be prototyped, tested, tweaked, and re–tested in days rather than weeks.

This detailed ethos equates to value and efficiency, as well as industry-leading quality control and R&D efforts poured into every bike launched at Devinci HQ."

Devinci Django

"Freedom on the bike is all about breaking from the starch and sending it into the dirt-sphere with power, speed, and finesse. Devinci’s new Split-Pivot Django actualizes those aspirations on the trail, with an optimal blend of 130mm front/120mm rear suspension. Surefooted 27.5 wheels enhance traction on wet, slippery surfaces and deliver appreciated stability. And alloy and carbon frame architecture augments punchy acceleration with precision handling and a lively overall feel. Whether sticking fierce, fast descents or finding optimal flow over upturned environments, Django seizes the opportunities ahead. Its lifetime warranty fuels the advance. *Image may not show accurate specifications. Please refer to specifications below."

Django XT Build Kit

• Carbon DMC-G 120mm
• RockShox Pike RCT3 27.5 Solo Air 130mm
• FSA Orbit 1.5 Zero Stack w/SL bearing
• RockShox Monarch RT3 7.25x1.75 DB High Volume Eyelet
• Schwalbe Hans Dampf 27.5x2.35" Trailstar SnakeSkin TL
• Schwalbe Rock Razor 27.5x2.35' Pacestar SnakeSkin TL DT
• Swiss X1700 Spline 27.5 15x100mm
• Shimano RT81 180mm Centerlock Shimano XT M8000
• Shimano RT81 160mm Centerlock Shimano XT M8000
• 11s Shimano XT M8000
• RaceFace Next SL 30T
• Shimano 11s 11-42T
• Shimano 11s
• Race Face Next ¾ Rise 31.8mm 725mm
• Race Face Turbine 31.8mm
• SDG Bel-Air Rock
• Shox Reverb Stealth 125mm 31.6mm
• Alloy CNC 37mm Black
• Devinci Performance w/lock-on
• 12.38 kg / 27.29 lbs

Devinci Django Frame Features

• 5th generation of all mountain Split Pivot frame. New geometry with a top tube 20 mm longer on all sizes to fit a wider range of customers
• Tapered head tube Precise control and the best strength-to-weight ratio in the business
• Lower stand-over height Delivering prime stand-over fit, and a super-low center of gravity for enhanced handling
• DMC-G Devinci monocoque carbon. Lighter, stiffer, more responsive. Featuring EPS molding with T700 carbon fiber
• Ultra-short chainstays Pin-it acceleration, combined with superior driver's seat handling
• Split pivot Suspension system. Separates acceleration forces from braking forces for synchronized feel
• AXIS & FRG ADJUSTABLE Perfect balance, minimum unsprung mass, and prime hi/lo geometry adjustment for perfect settings
• Boost 148 standard Stiffer rear wheel
• Internal cable routing Protection from elements. Deluxe, aerodynamic styling
• Asymmetrical construction Milking the most performance out of every frame angle, improved torsional stiffness
• 27,5 dedicated 2.35'' maximum tire clearance
• Increased bottom out force Increased progressivity for improved bottoming out forces
• CUSTOM TUNED REAR SHOCK

Split Pivot Suspension

"SPLIT-PIVOT is a newly patented Dave Weagle suspension system for high performance bicycles, where traction, efficiency, maneuverability, and frame stiffness are important factors on the track and trail. Shaped by DW's competition proven engineering, SPLIT-PIVOT offers true performance advantages over single pivot bikes, with a ride that's sure to make you smile.

• SPLIT-PIVOT's [concentric dropout pivot] is the heart of this new design. The [concentric dropout pivot] and Dave Weagle's engineering allow for performance features that no single pivot can duplicate.
• SPLIT-PIVOT separates acceleration forces from braking forces in the suspension The system reduces excess suspension compression due to acceleration forces, and at the same time reduces excess compression due to braking forces.
• Braking neutrality can be tuned independently of acceleration characteristics, and leverage rate curves can be tuned to meet the needs of the application.
• SPLIT-PIVOT can be engineered to build lightweight frame structures without resorting to exotic materials or tube shapes.
• Featuring 12mm thru axle, QR 12mm axle, or 10mm vertical QR possibilities, plenty of stock wheels fit the design.
• Bottom Line: SPLIT-PIVOT is a patented DW suspension that can be engineered to offer a ride that will make you want to be on your bike more often."

Devinci Django Geometry

The first trail climbs about 700 feet in just over 1 mile and I could tell The Django had a 5 lbs weight savings over the bigger bike. It's overall platform felt much stiffer as well and a bit less forgiving while climbing. I was only a minute behind my normal time of 18 minutes to get up which is not bad considering how much time I had off.

Once at the top I strapped on my bell and goggles and got ready to drop in. The first part is high speed and fire road width with a good scattering of rocks. I could tell right away The Dgango was a bit less forgiving when hitting bigger rocks than the past bikes we have tested. It was time to hop over these instead of just steam rolling them like we do with the bigger bikes.

The trail takes a hard left through rocks and enters a very high speed off camber single track section. there are some large rocks here you dodge and weave your way through. After that it goes right back across the mountain through some ruts and up and over a steep roller that acts as a G-out and typically uses most of a bikes suspension when hitting it at speed.

This trail is somewhat smooth compared to others in the area. I was able to get within a few seconds of my fastest time on my second time down the trail so this is a bike that inspires confidence.

 

Overall the bike seemed to provide a solid pedalling platform. Whether standing or sitting the bike bobbed very little we ran it in pedal mode on the rear shock about half the time. On a few occasions on the descents we left the shock in pedal mode just to see how it would feel and honestly you couldn't tell except for the small bump sensitivity.

The Devinci Django proved to be a more trail oriented type of bike. It's shorter travel and firm suspension stroke begged for smooth line choices and pumping your way down the trail to keep up the speed. Having ridden the more aggressive Enduro bikes recently what we came away with was that The Django can make for a rougher ride over rocky terrain. Smoother terrain and flow based trails are where The Django shines. It can carry speed and cover terrain very quickly with a skilled rider behind the bars. The Split Pivot Suspension designed by Dave Weagle feels good. Setting up the bike was pretty easy. We actually didn't need to add any rings into the rear shock. We ran between 25%-30% of sag on the bike. It was very progressive and we never had an issue with excessive bottoming out on the trail.

Riding The Devinci Django it became apparent that Weagle's design goals of a stiff, efficient and neutral braking frame have been achieved with The Django. I weigh 220lbs and can usually detect frame and wheel flex pretty fast. The Django felt very stiff and gave a very neutral braking feel. Acceleration, and climbing while providing a firm pedaling platform is something the Django does well. The tradeoff is that the bike provides a stiff ride on the way down and you have to be hauling ass to get the suspension to soak up the smaller stuff. This won't bug most riders but it should be noted. If you live in Santa Cruz or flow filled Nirvanas then it won't be an issue.

The Devinci Django is a fast bike it wants to be pressed into the turns and pumped out of them. Tires are something that can get chewed up around here fast. The trails are very rocky so we yanked off the back tire and ran a GRID casing Specialized to play it safe. It added some weight but was well worth it. With our Hope flat pedals our XL complete bike weighed 31lbs.

Conclusion

Overall we liked The Devinci Django with its short travel can do attitude. It was very playful and poppy, a bike you could launch off or over anything to big to run over. Carrying speed helped to keep the suspension active and absorbing all the terrain passing under your tires. Pumping your way down while avoiding the big stuff will keep you covering ground in a hurry.

People looking for a short travel aggressive trail bike that can handle 50 mile days and descend most terrain easily will love The Django. It provides a stable pedalling platform in a stiff chassis. Rider input is instantly translated into bike movement overall it is a very lively ride. Devinci did a good job with the bikes overall geometry. We ran wider bars and beefier tires to avoid sidewall tears.

It has been close to a decade since I have ridden a Shimano drivetrain and I was surprised by how will the XT 11spd worked. It clacks much harder between gears than SRAM stuff does so that took a bit of time to get used to. Overall the build was good. One thing worth replacing would probably be the wheels just beat the hell out of them and swap them for something wider and stiffer down the road.

There are some very rocky tails in this area and that is when you will notice the short travel of the Django. Hitting that stuff at speed transfers chatter into the bars and pedals. This was the only time we found the short travel holding us back. Overall it's agressive geometry, great suspension and stiff chassis make The devinci Django one hell of a fun ride.

We would reccomend The Django to a friend looking for a short travel bike. If they are looking at XC bikes I would suggest they check one of these out. If they already own a DH bike but want something to train on the Django could be the answer! Shortly after we got the 650b bike Devinci announced The 29" Django which should prove to be a bit better as smoothing out rough trails. Another bike sporting a Dave Weagle suspenion system that is awesome imagine that......

Devinci Django Questions

1. Give us a Devinci history lesson.

http://www.devinci.com/company/index.html

2. How do bikes go from ideas to production at Devinci?

https://freehubmag.com/videos/made-love

3. How did the idea for The Django begin?

With the Troy being updated with a burlier frame and now being more at the All-mountain crowd, it left a space for a new bike in our offering. Being based on the east coast, we wanted a bike that would be punchier than the Troy to handle the rolling terrain that we have here. That’s when we decided to go with a smaller travel bike (120mm in this case) that would remain very capable but would give a better punch.

4. Was it a hard choice to decide on a 120mm travel bike for you guys?

No, as previously said, this falls naturally in our lineup.

5. What where some of the main features you guys wanted in the Django when you were laying it out on paper (computer)?

We wanted a bike that feels more capable than the typical 120mm bike but also that feels very lively. A bike that makes the climbing less painful and bring some fun to it. True to Devinci’s design, we wanted to have short CS and low BB as well as low stand over height to make sure the bike is fun to ride.

6. Did you achieve all the elements into the final product?

We did and we are stoked on the final product. No need to say that this bike has been the ‘go to’ option for many of our staff.

7. Any updates you guys are looking to do to the Django in the near future?

The Django saw a few spec change for 2017 like dropper post and wide bars on all models, including entry level. Other than that we are pretty stoked on the bike.

8. Care to elaborate on geometry used on the Django?

We wanted something that feels capable but remain nimble and fun. So short CS, low BB, HA that enable to handle the steeps while remaining lively on the trail.

9. Rocky or jump filled trails?

Jump filled on the 27.5, Rocky on the 29er.

10. Where are your carbon bikes made?

Aluminum are 100% made in Canada. Carbon bikes are designed, tested, assembled in Canada but frames are manufactured in Asia.

11. Who is the best Mountain Biker ever?

Stevie Smith

12. Any new bikes you want our readers to know about?

All our 2017 models are now online, check it out !

13. What do you think about all the new standards that have popped up in the last 3 years?

As long as it makes the ride and the bikes better it’s worth it. However it is definitely a challenge for us in terms of frame conception and parts spec.

14. What would make the bike industry better?

More trails and more people to maintain them.

15. Will Devinci be making a long travel 29” anytime soon?

Only future will tell.

16. Anything else you want to get across to the readers?

Have fun on the trails !

Magura MT7 Next Disc Brake Review

Magura has been in the brake business for over two decades. Back in the day when people where pumped on V-Brake performance the people at Magura were selling Hydraulic Rim Brakes for mountain biking. These brakes are still very popular on trials bikes. Many World Cup riders ran these brakes back in the day. Magura has relaunched their MT line and introduced a gravity/enduro specific brake called the MT7 Next is is a dual piston design with four pads. We reviewed the MT8 when they first came out a few years ago. The brakes worked well even in the downhill capacity we tested them in. Considering this was a featherweight AM/XC brake that speaks well for Magura and its brakes as a whole. We are very excited to test a gravity specific brake from them in the form of the Magura MT7 Next Disc Brake!

These brakes are a very light DH brake option. Using the Carbotecture lever housing helps keep the weight low. We have used brakes that weigh easily 200 grams more per brake in the past. So being able to save almost a pound in the brakes alone is a nice bonus. We opted for the MT7 with toolless adjustment. Magura informed us we would have less adjustment with these than the tool versions offer but more on that later.

We used 203mm SL rotors front and rear on a large megatrail. The bike was built up with heavier parts for the more gravity based riding it would be put through.

"The MT7 stands for maximum braking performance and stability in extreme conditions. In the tough, bike-testing worlds of Enduro and Downhill, the additional braking power of the 4 brake pistons is a positive safety factor. The aluminium, two-finger brake lever - with toolless adjustment - and the adjustable bite point provide the necessary ergonomics for perfect brake control, even in difficult terrain and on long downhill runs. 5-year leakproof guarantuee for brake levers and cylinders after providing the original proof of purchase."

Features

• Actual weight: 271 grams
• Four-piston caliper
• 17mm pistons
• Mineral oil
• Tool-free reach and pad contact adjustment
• Carbotecture SL composite lever housing
• Does not include rotor or adapter
• One-year warranty
• Made in Germany

Technology

Weight	~375 g (including 160 mm Storm Rotor)
Colour	Black-Fluro-Yellow (Master), Mystic Grey Anodized (Caliper)
Technical features	Full hydraulic dual piston floating caliper
Hydraulic system	Open, with expansion chamber
Intern. standard mounting (IS)	Yes, adaptor
Pad wear adjustment	Automatic
Postmount mounting (PM) only front	Yes, direct mount
Disc diameter (mm)	Front 203, 180, 160 Rear 203, 180, 160
Centerlock compatible	Yes, with adaptor
Transmission medium	MAGURA Royal Blood mineral oil
Brake hose	MAGURA disc tube easily shortened
Hose fitting caliper	RHR - Rotateable hose routing
Brake pads	Organic 9.1 Performance (4 Pistons 2 Pads) 8.1 Performance (4 Pistons 4 Single Pads)
Material fitting bolts	Aluminium
Brake lever and caliper	Carbotecture SL (Master), Aluminium forged (caliper)
Lever blade	Aluminium
Reach adjust	Yes (tolless)
OPD (caliper in one-piece design)	Yes
BAT (bite point adjuster)	Yes (tolless)
EBT (Easy Bleed Technology)	Yes
2-Piece Lever Clamp	Yes
Dual Docking for trigger shifters	No
magnetiXchange	Yes
Feel-Safety-Ergonomic	Yes

Cabotecture Explained

"The MAGURA Research Team has been analyzing rigidity and strength test results during it’s MISSION PERFORMANCE, that different types of conventional materials like die cast aluminium, magnesium or laminated carbon fibres show a variety of important material deficiencies. Our material competence confirms these results.

The ideal material to build the best brake in the world would be extremely tensile, ductile and have an immense ability to bend. It would endure a lifetime of heavy use, would be absolutely precise, dimensionally stable and fatigue durable over many years. These materials exist – but they are generally too heavy or very difficult to process (titanium) and are therefore unsuitable for bicycle use.

Special lightweight and extremely strong carbon fibre materials have been introduced recently quite successfully in many high-tech areas such as automotive or aeronautics. MAGURA is the only bike component manufacturer experienced in manufacturing those materials for the industry and thus has the core competence in house. The MISSION PERFORMANCE follows this track and develops together with the best renowned manufacturers a brand new material: Carbotecture®.

The exact composition of this material remains a closely guarded secret – but we can reveal the following: Carbotecture® is the perfect material for the new exclusive Carboflow® process, also developed by MAGURA. Carbotecture® consists of a high percentage of carbon fibres in a thermoplastic matrix. This new material can not be compared with any known fibre reinforced plastic or laminated carbon fibre mats.

Properties of the material

• Extremely light (less than half the density of aluminium).
• Tensile strength in between aluminium and steel, extremely impact resistant and break proof ...
• Highest flexural fatigue strength of all conventional bike component materials.
• The efficiency weight (tensile strength/density) is double that of aluminium or magnesium and 6 times higher than steel ...

Processing

• Carboflow® has the highest process security due to complete in house  manufacturing at MAGURA Germany.
• Much higher reproducibility compared to conventional carbon laminates.
• Highest dimensional accuracy and precision.
• Perfectly sealed surface after processing (aluminium die cast has open sponge-like pores and must be impregnated).

Design possibilities

• Especially adapted design to the Carboflow® process allows an optimized fibre orientation according to the directional stress.
• Better calculable and more homogeneous than die cast aluminium. Oversizing can be reduced, thus ensuring a lighter and safer component design.
• Manufactured using the the Carboflow® process (without mechanical post processing as with alloy die cast) allows full freedom of shaping.
• The lightest possible material allocation can be realized with complex strength and process simulation.
• The product design enjoys almost no limits.

Carbotecture® is not simply a new High-Tech-Material. The name is based on both of the main components which lead to the material – Carbon and Architecture – only a company who is in the position to command the complete Process Architecture can benefit from the advantages this new material offers. MAGURA has the experience in dealing with highly complex material structures and mixtures and now focussed on offering the best components available worldwide for the bicycle market has developed a new unique Workflow.

Mission accomplished! With the MT8 MAGURA presents the worldwide most clever disc brake ever with Carbotecture® SL Master and Carbolay® lever blade, manufactured in our innovative Carboflow® process.

Based on the MAGURA Performance Factor the MT8 is the new benchmark on the disc brake market. Despite the awesome weight features the MT8 makes you forget the well-known problems of the ultra-lightweight competitors' products - thanks to Carbotecture SL®.

The goal has been reached. With the MT8, MAGURA presents the most elaborate and best thought through disc brake in the world with a lever from Carbolay® and a Carbotecture® Full Carbon Master, produced in the innovative Carboflow® process. Measured up to the MAGURA performance factor, we feel that the MT8 is currently the best disc brake on the market. Despite absolutely sensational weight values, where the ultra-light models from the competition have run into problems, we've managed to avoid these with the MT8 - due to Carbotecture SL®."

The brakes mounted up pretty straight forward. We had some issue getting the pads to not rub on the rotors and eventually got them to spin freely. We learned later that the SL rotors offer less modulation. The brakes even with the SL rotors off better modulation than either Shimano or SRAM XO brakes do. They are not up to what Hope offers but we are going to run the standard rotors and see how much more squish these will add to the lever feel. It turns out that the brakes are very powerful. The 203mm rotors are way overkill for a trail bike. I weigh 213 lbs and the brakes never showed any signs of fade and I tend to ride the brakes a fair bit.

Trevor RolandOverall the Magura MT7 brakes impressed us a bunch. They are very light and offer an incredible amount of power that is very very useable. The tooless brake lever is the one we chose but it was also somewhat limiting. You get about 3 full rotations on the pad engagement and lever throw. I think next time the tool version is what we would go with. It isn't very often that you adjust brakes on the go anyhow. Another thing to note is that the brakes when ordered will need to have line length specified. It is very easy to cut them luckily and took about 5 minutes in total with no bleeding needed.

Trevor Roland

Q & A With Magura About The MT7's

1.     What was Magura's primary goal in creating and designing the MT7 brake system? 

Our primary goal in creating the MT7 was to address a need for the gravity crowd.

Since our own Gustav's demise several years ago, consumers have asked for a replacement so we saw a need to deliver the most durable, stable, light and powerful yet most importantly great modulating brake available. The brake lever/tire patch communication is tantamount.  

2.     It has been awhile since you guys offered a gravity brake. Why did it take so long?

Mountain bike hydraulic disc brake performance has progressed considerably and twin piston caliper's (w/large rotors) are very good performers however the gravity market, bikes and riding areas have also progressed so we saw the opportunity and need to reinvest in this segment. 

3.     Was weight or braking power of more importance with the MT7's?

Equal in our case! Usually this is not possible and you have to choose but with the new materials available (in this case Carbon Fiber) AND the ability to manufacture them, then for some manufacturers, both are possible. 
In addition, we use an equation in designing our brakes that must equally consider, performance (heat stability and power), weight, ergonomics and feel. 

4.     Would you guys suggest riders looking for more modulation to run the standard rotor as opposed to the SL variety?

Feel does vary slightly between usages of the two model rotors but really; the non-SL rotor has more stability under heat loads and cycles. It's really for more extreme scenarios like heavier bikes and riders, more vertical terrain, longer descents and even to compensate for braking techniques like brake draggers. 

5.     Any tips or tricks to getting a clean bleed with the MT7 brakes?

This new model Next MT brake line has evolved in many ways and servicing was as important of a goal. The MC reservoir bladder was repositioned, the bleed port beefed up, the internal fluid routings simplified and therefore early feedback has been super positive for servicing success and ease. 

Always remove the caliper while bleeding (orients the caliper properly for air evacuation) as it simplifies the process and assures success. Positioning the MC angle correctly is as important and following a 4 stroke bleed procedure which includes vacuum strokes that help assure fluid (and air) movement. 

6.     At some point do you think the tool less version will have more adjustment in it?

Absolutely! Due to feedback, this is our #1 task at the moment. Production changes are occurring NOW. 

7.     Are you guys stoked to have Intense/Palmer back on Magura?

Huge! We are honored to be involved again with Napalm and the Intense crew. Additionally, Shaun, Intense and Magura are re-investing back into our Mountain bike community with youth development, repeat Huge!

8.     What do you think where the top 3 advancements in MTB technology in the last 20 years?

Materials usage, manufacturing ability, testing equipment and data. That may be 4, sorry.

9.     Climbs or descents?

I'm into speed so descents are most fun but you've got to get to the top so it is most rewarding to pedal!

10.   Rocks or jumps?

Both are welcome, both are needed. 

11.   What do you think the future holds for the industry as a whole?

The future is bright with diversity, which is the best part isn't it? We get choices and are very fortunate to have options. The quiver continues to grow, as the categories get more specific. 

12.   Any information you want the viewers to know about the MT7 brakes?

The MT 7 Next is the usage of exotic materials and innovative manufacturing technique combined with existing knowledge from our mountain bike and motorcycle experience. This gets lost sometimes but the ability to bring the ideas to fruition and deliver to the end consumer is sometimes the hardest and least appreciated parts of the equation. 

We try real hard and never give up. This product is an example of this, a continued evolution in design and manufacturing, listening to our consumers and dealers and competing with other quality manufacturers whom are constantly trying to raise the bar!

Trevor Roland

The Magura MT7 brakes accomplish what they had intended. Providing a lightweight brakes with immense power, good modulation and is easily servicable by the consumer. Overall we where very happy with the brakes and would for sure reccomend them to a friend. Just keep in mind that these are their DH brakes and a 180/160mm rotor set up should be plenty. These brakes are some of the best out there and also some of the lightest. Magura hit the ball out of the park with their MT7 brakes!