Today, Devinci Cycles announces the 4th generation of their Spartan enduro bike. While the bike’s intentions haven’t changed, some things have… The most notable update is Devinci’s move away from the previous Spartan’s high-pivot suspension linkage. Devinci has also added a chainstay length adjustment chip and revised the Spartan’s geometry.
In addition to the design tweaks, Devinci fans will notice the new Spartan does not offer a carbon frame option – this one comes in aluminum only. Several weeks ago, Devinci set me up with a bike to test, so I’ve been riding the Spartan GX AXS 12s since the snow melted. Be sure to check out my review article to see how it performs on-trail. In this article, we’ll run down all the updates, features, and specs of the 4th-gen Spartan lineup.
Devinci Spartan: Suspension
The new Spartan frames are available in Optimum G04 6061-T6 Aluminum only, and they are made in Canada. Devinci is located in the Aluminum Valley of Quebec, Canada, an area renowned for aluminum production, innovation, and expertise. The brand has always appreciated aluminum’s strength-to-weight ratio, and the Spartan’s press release states “aluminum delivers the strength, durability, and consistency riders expect from a true long-travel mountain bike.”
The Spartan frame offers 165 mm of rear travel, controlled by Devinci’s Split Pivot suspension linkage. To keep things moving smoothly, the suspension pivots feature Enduro MAX double-lip sealed bearings, with double-row bearings in the main pivot, central linkage, and seatstay/linkage junction for added rigidity and durability. This linkage is progressive enough to work well with coil shocks, and the rocker requires no spacers with trunnion mount rear shocks.
So why did Devinci stray from the previous Spartan’s high-pivot linkage? Well, I asked, and they explained that the three main factors in this decision were weight, pedalling efficiency, and simplicity. The extra pieces required for a high-pivot linkage add weight to a bike, and with no carbon model, Devinci didn’t want to let the aluminum Spartan get too heavy.
As for pedalling prowess, the Spartan is built to be pedalled uphill: Forgoing the high-pivot linkage not only saves some weight, it also eliminates the drivetrain drag inherent in high-pivot configurations. Finally, following feedback from riders and shops, Devinci felt customers would appreciate the relative simplicity and ease of maintenance the traditional linkage offers versus the more complex high-pivot.
Up front, all Spartan models come stocked with 170mm forks. In fact, the top-end GX AXS 12s model comes with a new 2027 fork (which will be announced today)!
Frame Features:
All builds of the new Spartan come with MX wheels, but the frame is compatible with a 29” rear. A Geo-Saver flip-chip maintains Devinci’s intended geometry with either rear wheel size.
The new chainstay length adjustment flip-chip offers +/- 7mm Short or Long options, so you can favour nimbler handling or maximized stability. The flip-chip does affect several other geometry figures; more details are in the geometry section below.
Devinci gave the new Spartans their SHED in-frame storage system, and a zippered tool bag is included with each bike. There is a water bottle mount on the SHED storage door, and all frame sizes can fit a 650ml water bottle or larger.
Cable routing is internal and uses clean, straight-entry ports at the headtube to prevent cable rub and rattling. Frame protection includes a lower down tube guard, a chainstay protector, and an optional shuttle guard that comes with each bike.
Fitments:
The new Spartan features a Boost 148mm rear axle, UDH compatible dropouts, and the frame provides tire clearance for 27.5×2.6” or 29×2.5” treads. Devinci sticks with the tried-and-true threaded BSA73 BB shell. The Spartan offers chainring clearance up to 34t, and includes a 3-bolt ISCG mount for chain guides/bash guards.
The Spartan frame accepts 31.6mm seat posts, and stock dropper post travel numbers are 150mm (S), 180mm (M), 200mm (L), and 220mm (XL).
Geometry:
The new Spartan’s geometry has been revised to provide a higher stack height and a steeper seat mast. With the two flip-chips, there are four possible geo configurations for the frame; Realistically that’s two settings (Short/Long) for each rear wheel size.
Moving from Short to Long chainstay settings slackens out the head and seat tube angles by 0.5°, so if you want the slacker head tube angle, you have to use the Long position. Moving into a long position also reduces the frame’s reach by 5mm, drops the BB by 7mm, lowers standover height by 5mm, and increases stack height by 4 mm.
In addition to the adjustability, Devinci gives the new Spartan two different chainstays across the four frame sizes. Small and medium frames get shorter chainstays (440-450mm depending on rear wheel size and chip position), while large and XLs get longer stays (450-460mm).
Unlike Devinci’s trail-oriented Troy, the new Spartan does not offer Hi/Lo geometry options for a 29” rear wheel. I inquired about this, and Devinci explained that including a second position with a full 29” setup would result in odd frame geometry they do not recommend.
Model Lineup:
The 4th generation Spartan will be available in three complete builds, plus as a frameset. Devinci isn’t offering any super high-end specs, so the top-end GX AXS-equipped model remains in a pretty accessible mid-price range.
Spartan GX AXS 12s – $5999
The Spartan GX AXS 12s comes in Deep Olive/Gloss.
Spartan Eagle 90 12s – $4799
The Spartan Eagle 90 12s comes in a Greige/Gloss colorway.
Spartan Deore 12s – $3899
The Deore 12s model also comes in Greige/Gloss.
Spartan Frameset – $2399
The Spartan frameset includes a RockShox Vivid Ultimate rear shock, a seat clamp and a headset. It is available in the Greige/Gloss colorway. Weight is listed at 10.32 lbs (size medium).
Devinci Cycles offers a lifetime warranty on the Spartan frame (see website for details).
