Devinci Troy Carbon RS review

rstpara”>Devinci has completely redesigned the Troy this year and if you want a rock-solid trail bike that can tackle the biggest terrain but still climb like a goat or efficiently eat up miles then it’s a stand-out choice for the money.

Built like a tank, with lifetime warranty

The new frame isn’t particularly light for a carbon 140mm bike at a claimed 2.8kg (medium). But the big box-section tubes and deep keel around the press-fit BB mean it’s one of the stiffest chassis we’ve ridden and it even comes with a lifetime warranty.

Devinci’s Troy Carbon has received a makeover for 2016

That stiffness is obvious on the trail too, providing a super-accurate connection between the massive 780mm bars and 45mm stem and the super grippy Maxxis High Roller II Max Terra triple compound tyres (an excellent bit of speccing by Devinci), which sit on broad rims for extra stability.

The long front end helps to keep trouble safely at arm’s length, while the very short 424mm chainstays add flick and whip agility to the back end. Overall though the Troy feels rock-solid though, something that’s highlighted by its almost eerie lack of noise when you’re hammering it down rough sections.

Poised and purposeful

The fifth-generation Split Pivot suspension system with the rear pivots rotating on the same axle as the rear wheel keeps things poised and purposeful through the pedals but retains ground connection for excellent technical climbing capability. But, as you’d expect from a gravity focused firm like Devinci, it’s also more than capable when the trail points down.

The 780mm bars provide you with plenty of leverage

While the Troy Carbon RS comes with a very progressive, hard-carving shock setup that rarely hits full travel, it’s easy to pop out one or two volume reducer rings to sink it down onto the trail more for a rock-solid planted feel and better speed sustain. You can also steepen the angles up half a degree via the linkage chip if you want a faster-steering feel.

The excellent frameset performance is backed up with a sorted kit package. This includes the benchmark control of a 150mm travel Pike RC fork, Shimano’s M615 brakes – a workhorse option we’re happy to see here – and a Race Face Aeffect crank with direct mount ring powering a SRAM GX 1-11 transmission. A RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post allows maximum trail flow and seals an excellent value deal.

The Troy Carbon RS makes a good fist of getting you up the steeps, and pays your efforts back with interest on the descents

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