2019 Devinci Troy Carbon 29 GX Eagle LTD

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The last time we spent some miles aboard the Devinci Troy was back in 2016 during Vital MTB Test Sessions. At the time, we were impressed with the (then 27.5) bike’s ability to be pushed hard. A lot has changed since our last ride. With new standards, shock mounts, suspension improvements, wheel options, and geometry tweaks to look forward to, we were excited to spend a few months aboard the latest Devinci Troy to see if all the updates would retain the qualities we liked and refine those we weren’t so thrilled with. With three months of ride time under the tires, it's time to fill you in on our findings.

Highlights

• Carbon DMC-G frame with carbon link
• 29-inch wheels
• 140mm (5.5-inches) of rear wheel // 160mm (6.3-inches) front travel
• Split Pivot suspension // Metric 185x52.5mm Trunnion shock mount // Coil compatible
• Asymmetric construction
• Super Boost Plus rear hub spacing (12x157mm)
• Two-position adjustable geometry
• Molded downtube and chainstay protection
• Threaded bottom bracket
• Post mount 180mm rear disc brake
• Weight: 30.9-pounds (14.0kg, claimed, size medium without pedals)
• Zenith, red, and black/bronze color options
• MSRP: $5,799 USD as tested

Devinci's Top Priorities for the Troy 29

According to Devinci MTB Engineer, Chris Benoit, the key design goals for the new Troy 29 were as follows:

• Elevate riding experience: Update geometry, change flip chip location for ease of use and improved stiffness, update suspension to metric sizing with trunnion mount, and tune frame stiffness to provide a very capable yet dynamic ride.
• Meet upcoming market demand: Threaded bottom-bracket, larger tire clearance, front ring clearance while keeping short chainstays to preserve the riding characteristics Devinci is known for, and utilize Super Boost Plus rear spacing.
• Make it tough/durable:A lifetime warranty on these bikes means they need to stand the test of time.
• Main priorities for the suspension:Similar kinematic progression, update for metric shock, new spring curve developed in partnership with RockShox in Colorado.
• Dedicated 1X drivetrain
• Update the anti-squat for 29-inch gearing and Troy-specific center of gravity.

Geometry

For the sake of comparison, it is worth noting that geometry numbers are nearly identical between the Troy in 27.5 and the newer 29-inch variety. There are only slight adjustments to allow for bigger wheels on the Troy 29. Like its predecessor, the new Troy features adjustable geometry by way of a flip chip that is now located at the lower shock mount. We rode ours in the High setting for a couple of weeks, however we’ve settled in more comfortably in the Low setting. This slackens the head angle by a half-degree to 66-degrees. The new geometry numbers aren’t pushing boundaries by any means, but small refinements have been made to ensure that the Troy satisfies the masses. Reach numbers have grown slightly to 465mm (size Large in the Low setting), while chainstay length remains fairly short at 432mm.

Initial Impressions

The all-new Devinci Troy 29 retains the same boxy look as the previous generation, however up close there are a number of differences. The frame, including the rocker link, is now entirely carbon. The aesthetics of the Troy haven’t changed much, but refined frame protection, internal cable routing, and single-sided hardware are sleek additions to a bike that was already a looker. Another simple-but-useful addition is a two-position bottle mount, which allows for a torpedo-sized bottle in the lower position, or a regular bottle and tube when in the upper position. The upper bottle mount also makes room for a piggyback shock. A threaded bottom bracket now graces the frame, keeping maintenance simple.

The Trunnion-mounted shock provides 140mm of rear travel and is controlled by the Split Pivot design, which Devinci has been implementing for quite some time now. We’ve always been fans of Dave Weagle’s designs, but one drawback of the Split Pivot is that the rear end has a lot of moving parts. What was already a wide rear end gets even wider with the new Troy, as Devinci employs a Super Boost 157mm rear axle. Devinci’s decision to utilize Super Boost spacing wasn’t necessarily their favorite option, however it allowed them to achieve the rear chainstay length they wanted and also offers plenty of room for mud clearance and up to 27.5x2.8 or 29x2.4-inch tires. Our bike came stock with a 29x2.4-inch Maxxis Minion DHR2 WT out back, and there was plenty of space for more rubber. The rear axle is a DT Swiss RWS thru-axle, which provides easy wheel removal, but makes an already wide rear end even wider. Since most riders are carrying a multi-tool these days, we would have preferred something with a flush mount to improve clearance.

At first glance, Devinci appears to have nailed the build kit for the Troy 29 GX LTD. The LTD version sports a RockShox Lyrik fork with shorter offset and 10mm more travel than the Pike that comes standard on other models. The 160mm Lyrik slackens the head angle, while the shorter offset leaves wheelbase effectively unchanged. All of the build kits are smartly equipped, with four carbon models ranging from $4,999 tp $8,799 USD, plus two aluminum models in either wheel size. After scanning the entire lineup, we were stoked that Devinci offered us the GX LTD build kit, which is just about the perfect setup for our needs.

On The Trail

We kept our Troy 29 GX LTD north of the border in Squamish, British Columbia, along with a few trips to the surrounding areas. The beauty of a place like Squamish is that the diversity of weather and riding allows us to test just about every scenario that a bike might encounter. From flow trails to uber-jank, moon dust to fall slop, our Troy saw it all.

With the RockShox Lyrik fork and Deluxe rear shock, setup was straightforward. Both came with one Bottomless Token/Band installed, and we started off with slightly firmer settings than recommended at 20% rear sag. We went this route as our experience has been that we’ve always preferred a firmer setup, and also knowing that the factory-installed Bottomless Token and Bands are generally fewer than we usually like.

Out of the gate, the Troy 29’s reach felt longer than the numbers would suggest, which was a welcome surprise. At 5’11” tall, the Large felt perfect while both seated and standing. Fairly neutral geometry helped us feel at home quite quickly.

With our initial setup, the Troy's performance felt balanced and comfortable right off the bat. The new Troy’s spring curve remains progressive, but slight adjustments and new shock setups have improved the rear end performance throughout the entire range of travel. We eventually settled at 25% sag, where small-bump compliance was good, albeit not outstanding. The tradeoff there is losing some of its lively feel and great acceleration. We found that a few pedal strokes had the Troy up to speed quite quickly, especially for a 140mm wagon wheeler. We tried dropping air pressure and adding Bottomless Bands to improve small-bump compliance while preventing bottom outs, but while compliance improved the bike wasn’t as agile or playful so we went back to an early setup. The Troy is still a fairly progressive bike, so we stuck with a single Bottomless Band and used full travel where and when appropriate.

What really sets the GX LTD build apart from the others offered by Devinci is the inclusion of the 160mm RockShox Lyrik with a shorter offset.

SRAM's Guide RSC brakes mated to 200mm and 180mm Centerline rotors did their thing without complaint, and we had no braking issues to speak of. The wheelset utilizes an asymmetric Race Face ARC 35 rim and traditional J-Bend spokes, which in combination have been a nice balance between stiffness and compliance. When all testing was completed, the rims had a little more “character” after finding a few sharp edges, but the wheelset as a whole has impressed us. Devinci wrapped the wheels in Maxxis Minion DHF WT and DHRII WT tires, which have a great profile on the 35mm internal width rims.

What really sets the GX LTD build apart from the others offered by Devinci is the inclusion of the 160mm RockShox Lyrik with a shorter offset. While the longer fork slackens things slightly, a 42mm offset keeps wheelbase from growing. When we hopped aboard the Troy, we didn’t bother looking too closely at the build since we prefer that the builds speak for themselves through ride quality and we don’t want to bias our opinion. In the case of the GX LTD, our conclusion is that the front end feels just about perfect. The cockpit components, wheels, and fork are complementary and provide a ton of grip and enough damping that we kept noting just how capable and how well-balanced the bike felt regardless of the mismatched travel.

Things That Could Be Improved

The only potential improvement that we noted is that we felt the GX LTD build deserves just a little more. The Lyrik unleashes the Troy’s potential as an EWS-ready bike. Rather than just adding the fork and calling it a day, though, we would have loved to see Devinci dive right in. The addition of Code brakes, a 170mm dropper, and a piggyback shock could turn what is already a great bike into a full-on mid-travel weapon. We wouldn’t be surprised to see Devinci pro riders, Damien Oton or Keegan Wright, do exactly this at the 2019 Enduro World Series. These changes might add a few pennies to the overall cost of the build, but we’d still be keen.

Long Term Durability

Other than the odd rinse and typical adjustments, we didn’t touch the Troy during the three months we had it. Not a single pivot bolt came loose, no creaks developed, and all of the parts are still running strong. We were curious to see how the relatively complex rear end would hold up, but the bearings remain smooth and no play has developed. Granted, there are a lot of moving parts surrounding the rear axle, so Devinci provides users with a detailed maintenance guide. The frame is also covered by Devinci’s Ride In Peace warranty should any defect occur.

What’s The Bottom Line?

If it isn’t clear yet that we like this bike, let us be clear: the Troy 29 GX LTD is a bike that deserves to be short-listed. It is a very well-balanced, all-mountain bike that packs a punch. The frame features great construction and attention to detail. The suspension has an excellent equilibrium between efficiency, play, and plow, which makes the Troy 29 GX LTD a true all-mountain bike that is very capable. This bike will make just about anybody feel fitter and more talented than they probably might be. Those who favor really pushing it on descents and aren’t afraid to turn trails into rhythm sections will be especially fired up by the new Troy.

Visit www.devinci.com for more details.

Vital MTB Rating

• Climbing: 4 stars - Excellent
• Descending: 4.5 stars - Outstanding
• Fun Factor: 5 stars - Spectacular
• Value: 3.5 stars - Very Good
• Overall Impression: 4.5 stars - Outstanding

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About The Reviewer

Joel Harwood – Age: 35 // Years Riding: 20+ // Height: 5’11” (1.80m) // Weight: 185-pounds (83.9kg)

Joel’s unique coaching background and willingness to tinker with products bring an objective perspective to testing. He dabbles in all types of racing, but is happiest simply exploring the limitless trail networks surrounding his home of Squamish, BC. Attention to detail, time in the saddle, and an aggressive riding style make Joel a rider that demands the most from his products while exposing any shortcomings.

Photos by Jessie McAuley