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 !

Evil Wreckoning Review

Evil Bikes had a rough start with their initial production run. They learned from their mistakes and have since been making carbon bikes that are aggressive in nature with a suspension platform that is very efficient.  The brand originated making the first Chain Guide that actually worked for Downhill racing. It was a small start but soon the brand found it chain retention system on a majority of bikes out there. This lead to them creating some DH and Street hard tail bikes that would eventually prove to become collectable and the thing of legend.

Evil as we know it today is owned by Kevin Walsh. He purchased the brand from Dave Weagle back in 2008. Since buying Evil they had some problems on the manufacturing side with their first few runs of the Downhill bikes. With manufacturing happening in big quantities it took things awhile to get sorted out. Once production issues where sorted the guys at Evil took care of customers that had problems. Their carbon trail and downhill bike have been very successful. Last year Evil made the jump into the short travel Wagon Wheel segment with a bike called The Following that by many testers standards was considered The Holy Grail. Shortly after the launched The Insurgent a 650b trail slay machine offering 151mm of rear travel. Now Evil has launched the 161mm travel 29" wheeled rock crusher called The Wreckoning! Evil bikes is now using the same factory as Santa Cruz bikes for the production of the full carbon Evil bikes and with SC's experience in building carbon bikes it sounds like a good choice.

Build Kit 

• Evil Wreckoning XL
• DVO Diamond 160mm
• Enve DH Bars 800mm
• Hope 35mm Stem
• Chromag Grips
• Hope Tech 3 V4 Brakes 203mm F/R
• Rock Shox 170mm Dropper
• Fabric Carbon Saddle
• Hope 170mm Cranks
• Hope 32 Tooth Chainring
• Gamut Podium Pedals
• SRAM XO Shifter
• SRAM XO 11 SPD Derailure
• SRAM XO 11 SPD Casette
• Industry Nine 29" Enduro  Wheels

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

With the Following, Evil Bikes gave the world a taste of what a 29'er was capable of when developed by a small company whose agenda was to have fun on bikes. This was soon followed by the Insurgent, a 27.5” machine that is aimed more at the clientele that Evil originally became popular with - a crowd who won’t shy away from pedaling to the top of the mountain, but who really come alive on the way down. It would be trivial to say that the Wreckoning is the love child of these two bikes, because it is certainly more than that. The madmen over at Evil have once again scrutinized the boundaries of mountain biking today and decided they could simply roll right over them, on stiff new 29” wheels powered by Boost 148, and 161mm of DELTA suspension.

Features

• Wheel Size: 29"
• Frame Material: Carbon
• Rear Shock: Rock Shox Monarch RC3+ Debonair
• Rear Susp. Travel: 161mm
• Rear Shock Size: 216x63mm (8.5 x 2.5")
• Rear Axle Standard: 12x148mm Boost
• ISCG Tabs: Custom
• BB Standard: 73mm BSA
• Seat Post Dia: 34.9mm
• Seat Clamp Dia: 39mm
• Headset Standard : ZS44/ZS62mm
• Intended Use: AM/Enduro/FR
• Warranty: 3 Years

Fanatik Bike's Take

"With the Following, Evil Bikes gave the world a taste of what a 29er was capable of when developed by a small company whose agenda was to have fun on bikes. This was soon followed by the Insurgent, a 27.5” machine that is aimed more at the clientele that Evil originally became popular with - a crowd who won’t shy away from pedaling to the top of the mountain, but who really come alive on the way down. It would be trivial to say that the Wreckoning is the love child of these two bikes, because it is certainly more than that. The madmen over at Evil have once again scrutinized the boundaries of mountain biking today and decided they could simply roll right over them, on stiff new 29” wheels powered by Boost 148, and 161mm of DELTA suspension.

Where other companies have been timidly approaching the sorts of numbers that many of us now feel make for the ultimate all mountain ride, Evil pounced on them. The Insurgent’s long top tube, reach, and wheelbase have translated almost exactly over to the Wreckoning, while minor tweaks have been made to accommodate taller riders. The seat tube angle has been steepened up to 74.8 degrees in the high setting (when running a 160mm fork) and 73.9 degrees in the low setting. This seat angle is in the same range that many of the most capable enduro style bikes sit, and quite a bit steeper than that of the Insurgent. It allows for taller riders to comfortably fit this bike without shifting their weight too far back. Which brings up a point of curiosity: where is the size small Wreckoning? Evil has determined that packing everything into a small-sized Wreckoning package would simply result in a bike that doesn’t ride how they intended. For smaller riders looking for a DELTA-equipped, root-eating shred rig, the Insurgent is still the way to go. For the average trail, the Wreckoning is most at home running a 160mm fork, but for those looking for a 29” downhill monster truck, this bike has been tested with forks running all the way up to 180mm. Be forewarned, going this route will push the Wreckoning into downhill bike territory. Granted, it can still be pedaled up the hill, but it will require a bit of extra effort.

Evil scored a homerun with Dave’s Extra Legitimate Travel Apparatus (D.E.L.T.A.), and it has been scaled/tuned up for the Wreckoning. This frame sports a 8.5”x2.5” (length x stroke) Monarch Plus RC3+ Debonair, versus the 7.875”x2.25” version found on the 10mm shorter travel Insurgent. For those heavy hitting riders out there, the Wreckoning is available with a Rock Shox Vivid Air RC2 for an added $225. While slightly heavier, the added plushness of this beefier shock is definitely welcome during a day of pounding brake bumps at your favorite lift-accessed bike park. If you are primarily pedaling to the top of the hill to enjoy the descent, the Monarch is more than enough shock. While we’ve found that we tend to leave the compression switch in the open position on D.E.L.T.A. equipped bikes, it can be nice to have for extended pushes up fire roads.

The newest crop of full suspension bikes from Evil Bikes are all built using a unidirectional carbon layup with a one-piece molded construction at one of the most reputable carbon bike factories in the world, VIP Composites. Stiffness and durability are backbones of Evil’s commitment to quality, and after riding the Insurgent for six months and putting the Wreckoning through it’s paces, we can attest to that. Having sold a record number of Followings and Insurgents, we can speak to the high standard of QC that these bikes adhere to. The single pivot frame design is intrinsically stiff, stable, and reliable, and we have had virtually no warranty issues with Evil’s other current models. We expect the same to be true with the Wreckoning.

In the past, bike companies have often struggled with frame stiffness on 29’ers. With the advent of Boost 148, it is now possible to make a 29” wheel that approximates the similar strength and stiffness to it’s smaller siblings. This bike does not compromise when it comes to straight line speed, and this is largely due to the roll-over capabilities of the large wheel paired with increased stiffness resulting from this new hub standard, the beefy single pivot swingarm, and carbon fiber construction. Other features carry over from the Insurgent, such as the integrated carbon chainguide, the built in sag indicator, a threaded BB, and the option to run Evil’s own custom E13 lower guide/bash guard.

The Wreckoning features internal cable routing for the dropper post, and external routing for the rear shifter and rear brake lines. The rear derailleur line is routed next to the brake line underneath the top tube, then internally through the seatstay.

The Wreckoning frame comes stock with a Rock Shox Monarch RC3+ Debonair rear shock (with the Vivid Air RC2 available as an upgrade), FSA sealed bearing headset, a Boost 148 (12x148mm) axle, and rubber downtube/chainstay/seatstay protectors. The frame is backed up by Evil's three year warranty. Evil bikes and frames may only be shipped within the United States."

Fanatik's Insurgent/Wreckoning Take

 

The Delta Suspension System

"(Dave’s Extra Legitimate Travel Apparatus ) Despite Delta representing Dave Weagle’s 3rd cycling specific suspension system, we thought a super tech acronym would be much more appropriate. Well, if we had our way we would say it bends in the middle, stops and goes. But let’s be realistic, we can’t get away with that simple of an explanation. As much as we would like to think that everyone will have the opportunity to test ride an Evil, the reality is most of You will buy based on reviews, friends or Weagle’s past successes.

So the following is straight from the horses mouth ( Dave Weagle being the horse ). The DELTA system was conceived to, among other things, achieve very complex leverage rate curves that can be used to tune for varying track conditions, spring, and damper parameters. The dual progressive leverage rate curve was developed for coil sprung downhill applications to take advantage of the speed sensitive shocks on the market. Mechanically, the system uses very compact links that can achieve a lot of angle and velocity change through the travel. We can tailor the leverage rate curve to really take advantage of the shock’s valving and the way that a speed sensitive damper is designed to work. Ultimately the design achieves a high degree of suppleness early in the travel, with a very predictable high traction stage through the middle and a bottomless ramp at the end of the travel.

The whole suspension system, every attribute, is developed concurrently with each other, with the shock absorber, and with the bike’s intended use and geometry in mind. Main pivot location was carefully chosen to give the best balance of acceleration and braking performance. This careful positioning lets the bike accelerate without the need for excess damping, which in turn helps us push the limits of shock setup as far as possible to achieve ideal damper setup for any World Cup track. One of the biggest advantages of the system is its ability to let riders and mechanics adjust frame geometry without changing leverage rate and wheel rate at all.

Additionally, different link kits can be used to make drastic changes in the bike’s feel. These link kits are something that Evil’s World Cup athletes will take advantage of to fine tune for the drastically different race courses that they compete on over a race season. There is no bad option.It all comes down to personal preference. If you like to run air shocks and a position sensitive damper, we can develop that tune. If you like yourframe geometry low in the BB and slack in the head angle, or vice versa and anywhere in between, it’s covered. Upgradeability, tuneability, and personalization is what it’s all about, finding that combination that’s perfect for you and no one else."

Looking at The Evil Wreckoning geometry numbers below it becomes apparent that they went for a slacker and somewhat longer frame than many companies making 29" Enduro bikes. The HA and BB numbers are adjustable via The Flip Chips. We opted to run the bike in the LOW setting most of the time. Running it in X-LOW (64.8 degrees HA) with a 35mm stem made climbing some of the steep stuff around here a bit challenging. Keep in mind we tested The Niner WFO and it has what many considered at its launch very aggressive numbers for a 29" bike with 150mm of travel. The Evil is very slack for a wagon wheel bike we ran it in the 66.1 HA setting and that proved more than capable for most trails. Some people are concerned about crank clearance, but it wasn't much of an issue for us and the 170mm cranks. Our frame was an XL and I am 6' 2" tall.

 

Evil Wreckoning Geometry 

Evil's Updated STA Measurement

Evil Wreckoning Features 

The Wreckoning proved to be a very capable Enduro/Trail Bike. It had the ability to climb well and descend chunky terrain at alarming rates of speed. It took a little while to get used to the bikes copious amounts of travel and what the larger wheels will allow you to mow over. The Wreckoning doesn't really feel fast per say, but it's times prove that it can be a KOM capturing machine if that is your thing! The bike offers gobs of traction, aggressive geometry, great suspension platform and wagon wheels.

The D.E.L.T.A. suspension is very supple at the very beginning of its travel. Once the bike's suspension seems to cycle well and offers traction by the boatload. Dave Weagel initially designed The Delta linkage for the Evil Undead and the high shaft speeds sometimes encountered during Downhill Racing. The Wreckoning offers two settings through the chips either Low or X-Low. The X-Low mode lengthens the WB, CS and also lowers the BB. For a majority of the test we ran The Wreckoning in the Low setting which gave us a 66.1 degree HA. This is plenty slack on a 29" bike for most applications. With this setting the bike had no issues wandering on the uphill.

Ian Wilkinson

Evil seems to have created a 29" bike that can be used on trails and also taken to the park and resorts when open. While The Wreckoning probably isn't going to win a Pro Downhill race on rock filled trails like Tahoe has but it can for sure handle some rough terrain. Although the bike has a bunch of traction it is also pretty nimble. We had no issues moving it around on the trail. It wasn't as poppy or easy to move as The Following but the extra 40mm of travel is a fair trade off in the grand scheme of things. 

The D.E.L.T.A. suspension on The Evil Wreckoning is very supple to start. You can run it pretty firm and it will cycle into the travel without any noticeable drag. A coil shock on the bike would be even more impressive and from the sounds of it the Push 11-6 is a dream on the frame. With our Following we needed to add bands into the shock to make it more progressive to help prevent bottoming. This doesn't seem to be the case with The Wreckoning. So far we typically use about 75-80% of the travel and a fast run on most of the local trails. While testing The Evil Insurgent we also had to add in air volume spacers because we chose to run The Rock Shox Vivid Air on the frame. 

The first trail I took The Wreckoning on was a 900 foot climb. Our build came in at 33lbs but it still climbs well and offers good traction over loose rock.  We opted to use the Rock Shox Monarch Plus RC3+ Debonair on this long travel 29r to help get to the top of the hills. Having the ability to adjust the compression with a flip switch is nice but 3 options just is not enough. I would much rather have LSC, HSC and a lock out feature but it worked well. This trail has some rocks at the start and the suspension tracked well over the fast rocky sections. Then it changes into a turn filled smooth trail (flow) with a few small climbs. There are a few tight turns on this trail and The Wreckoning can get away with less front end weighing than smaller wheeled Enduro bikes to get around corners. My record time on this trail was set aboard The Following almost one year earlier. I eventually bested that time by almost 9 seconds with this longer travel bike and this trail is fairly smooth and almost 5 minutes in length.

Many people are huge fans of short chain stays The Wreckoning is not super short but close. It moves quick when you lean on the bars. I did notice that the big travel Evil had a wheelbase that was almost a full three inches longer than The Following we tested. This showed in fast, steep terrain add the extra travel and it can handle a much rougher trail. The Following and Insurgent where just not as stable and smooth on rowdier trails. The Wreckoning's rear suspension does feel almost bottomless. Riding it hard over rocky terrain you cannot tell when the shock is bottoming out which is very nice.

Above the previous trail is one that has close to 200 yards of rocks that range in size from golf ball to knee high. Faster riders can hit almost 20 mph going through this rough section. Typically I hover around the mid teens in this section. This is a good section to see how a bike tracks, rolls over terrain, eats square edge bumps and maintains its composure. The Wreckoning has a wheelbase that is 3 inches longer than The Following we tested last year. Both are 29' bikes but the travel, HA and WB differences become apparent when the trail becomes steeper and or rougher. Riding this trail on The Wreckoning showed how the extra travel and longer WB can help to smooth out a trail. It made the trail feel much smoother even when running over some bigger rocks while attempting hasty line changes at speed. The lower part of the trail is a bit more twisty but speeds increase here. Speed is what The Wreckoning is all about it just felt planted and wanted more. Riding the 29" wheels for sure gives a traction and roll over advantage compared to smaller wheels. The damn bikes just roll along faster as well and cover more ground. "Bigger wheels, bigger momentum- it is as simple as that. More momentum will allow you to roll through technical sections with a smaller chance of getting hung up on obstacles."

I commuted into work a number of time on The Wreckoning. This is a 25 mile ride on the pavement and a bit longer if you take the dirt once you hit the top of the freeway climb. The bike is big I am using heavy tires it weighed in at 33lbs completes in a size XL. With all those things considered it wasn't bad riding a longer pedal, spin fest aboard The Evil. The D.E.L.T.A. link does a good job at keeping bob in check. I ran the Rock Shox Monarch in firm mode to help even more. People have complained about the seat angle of the new Evil bikes and I would say this one gave me no issues at all and in fact was probably the better of the three that we have tested in that regard.

Conclusion

Overall we liked The Wreckoning. It has a great suspension system that works as DW designed it. The platform allows riders to put power down, climb, handle chunky terrain and provides good mid stroke support. The bike has a longish wheel base and slack head angle making it stable at speed. Combine that with a stiff frame and the wagon wheels and you have a great option for the more aggressive Enduro racer. We would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend looking for an aggressive Enduro bike or an All Mountain bike that could handle park trips fairly well.

Evil came at the long travel 29" market in a similar fashion as they did with the short travel 29" market. They created a slack, low, long bike with a suspension system that provides abundant traction, pedals well and essentially feels almost bottomless. Our Wreckoning was built to cater more to the gravity rider. Those looking for a more trail friendly version can easily shave 2 lbs off our build to keep it close to the 30lbs mark.

There are a few things Evil could do to improve The Wreckoning and both are small changes. The first would be to add a water bottle cage mount just above the shock. Again we had to fabricate our own sing a strap and rubber to hold a cage onto the frame. Next they should look at giving just a bit more tire clearance in the rear stays and while at it throw in some rubber protection to keep rocks from chipping the paint or carbon.

We have tested all three of Evil's trail bike offerings. If pressed to pick one it would probably be The Wreckoning or Following. There is a noticeable difference with the 29" wheels. Where we live is pretty rocky so roll over ability is huge. Wagon Wheeled bikes just roll faster and cover more ground. I would say The Wreckoning frame is stiffer than The Following was and this is in large part due to them using a beefed up chassis and possibly from using a Boost rear on the bike. All three of Evil's trail bikes are good. With The Wreckoning you have a 161mm, 65.5 HA 29" trail bike that can flatten some fairly rowdy terrain. It is pretty close to a do it all bike. Riders can do 40 mile excursions with it or take it to the bike park and it will do both without asking to much form you. Riders that are stuck on the short travel trip once faced with rockier and heavier load trails will soon find themselves have reliability issues with their lighter weight bikes. With The Wreckoning the rider can hammer some hard terrain and not have to worry so much about it developing stress fractures and the rear end of the bike packing up under high speeds over rough terrain.