Devinci has released the all-new Chainsaw, available in Enduro and DH appropriate builds. The two bikes share the same 6061 aluminum frame home to the instantly recognizable high split-pivot suspension platform. For that reason, you may wonder if this is simply a more affordable alloy version of the Carbon Spartan HP: I can tell you, it most certainly is not.
While there are undeniable similarities, the Stevie Smith inspired Chainsaw is the burlier of the two bikes, boasting 170mm of rear wheel travel and a slacker, more aggressive geometry. It is also more versatile in some ways, capable of taking a longer stroke shock and dual-crown fork to deliver the additional travel required by frequenters of the Bike Park. There are multiple appealing features to discuss, not least the fact that this made in Canada frameset, sold with a lifetime warranty, retails at just $2,599 USD ($3,399 CAD).
Devinci Chainsaw
The new Devinci Chainsaw boasts the Canadian brand’s race-proven high split-pivot suspension platform – a layout that has seen much success on the EWS (and now, EDR) circuit underneath the likes of Greg Callaghan of Devinci Global Racing. In essence, it is a four-bar design with the rearmost pivot positioned concentric to the rear axle in a bid to isolate the effect that braking has on the rear suspension. And, of course, the main pivot position is relatively high, delivering a majority rearward axle path that necessitates use of an idler pulley.
- Bike: Devinci Chainsaw Enduro / DH
- Fork Travel: 170mm / 190mm
- Rear Wheel Travel: 170mm
- Wheel Size: 29″ or Mullet
- Frame: Aluminum Optimum G04 (6061-T6)
- Spacing: Super Boost
- Sizing: S, M, L & XL
- Frame Price: $2,599 USD ($3,399 CAD)
- Complete Bike Starting Price: $3,899 USD (£4,799 CAD) for Chainsaw SX 12S
We don’t have any detailed kinematic information to share with you, but we’re told the leverage ratio is sufficiently progressive to support the use of coils shocks, as well as air. On the Chainsaw Enduro and DH models, a 225mm x 70mm Trunnion shock manages 170mm of rear wheel travel, though the frame can also take a 225mm x 75mm shock to boost that to 180mm.
The Chainsaw Enduro is shipped with a 29″ wheelset, while the Chainsaw DH is shipped in a mixed-wheel configuration. That said, as they share the exact same frame, both can be set up in either configuration thanks to the geometry-correcting flip-chip positioned at the lower shock mount.
With its stock 170mm fork, the Chainsaw Enduro boasts a very slack head tube angle of 62.9° paired with a very steep seat tube angle. The latter comes in at 79.9°, 79.4°, 78.9° and 78.4° of the S, M, L and XL frames, respectively. The respective reach figures are generous: 449mm in S, 469mm in M, 494mm in L and 519mm in XL. The BB height is 342mm across the board.
In a semi-proportional approach to frame geometry, the chainstay length is specific to each size, starting at 425mm in S, increasing in 5mm increments to 440mm on the XL. Those numbers may sound a little on the conservative side, but remember that the rear-center length on this bike actually increases as it is pushed through its suspension travel thanks to the rearward axle path resulting from the high main pivot position.
Seat tube lengths aren’t the shortest we’ve seen for this category, coming in at 435mm on the Medium. To keep dropper seat post flex to a minimum, Devinci opted for a 34.9mm seat tube; the maximum seat post insertion depths are as follows:
- 240mm on the Small
- 270mm on the Medium
- 300mm on the Large
- 330mm on the XL
The 190mm travel dual-crown fork gives the Chainsaw DH bike a 62.1° head tube angle. Raising the front end concomitantly reduces the reach by 8mm.
Like the Spartan HP, the new Chainsaw gets Super Boost spacing with UDH. The maximum tire clearance is 29″ x 2.5″. Other nice frame details of note include the internal cable routing that does not go through the headset, the space for a water bottle inside the front triangle, the threaded bottom bracket, and the ISCG 05 tabs for the mounting of a bash guard.
The idler pulley, routing the chain close to the high main pivot, gets its own thermoplastic cover that acts as a top guide. Devinci tells us their idler pulley has been extensively tested to be the most silent and durable pulley system out there. It runs on a low friction bearing, said to cause minimal drag in the system.
This aluminum frame benefits from a number of items of protection dotted around in the usual places; the drive side chainstay and seat stay, and the underside of the downtube are all taken care of.
Pricing & Availability
The Devinci Chainsaw Enduro is available at two price points, starting at $3,899 USD (£4,799 CAD) for the Chainsaw SX 12S. That money fetches you a RockShox Super Deluxe Select R Shock and Domain R Debonair Fork, SRAM Guide T Brakes with 200mm Centerline Rotors, a 12 Speed SRAM SX Drivetrain and an aluminum wheelset with Maxxis Minion DHF/DHRII pairing – MaxxGrip DoubleDown on the rear, and MaxxTerra EXO+ on the front.
Next up is the Chainsaw Enduro GX 12S, priced at $4,699 USD ($5,499 CAD). Key upgrades on this one include a RockShox Zeb Rush RC Fork, SRAM G2 RE Brakes, the GX Eagle 12 Speed Drivetrain with 10-52T cassette and RaceFace AR30 rims.
The Devinci Chainsaw DH retails at $4,999 USD ($5,999 CAD). It boasts a 190mm travel RockShox Boxxer Select Charger RC Fork and a Super Deluxe Coil Select Shock, SRAM Code R Brakes with a 220mm rotor up front and a 200mm rotor in the rear, GX DH 7 Speed Drivetrain and RaceFace ARC30 Heavy Duty rims laced to a Novatec Hubset.
The Devinci Chainsaw is also available as a frameset with a RockShox Super Deluxe Select R Shock, FSA Orbit Headset, TranzX Dropper Seat Post and remote, e*Thirteen Chain Guide and SDG Fly RL saddle. That package will set you back $2,599 USD ($3,399 CAD).
