REVIEW - Devinci e-Troy Lite 3

Fitting somewhere between the “so-heavy-and-big-its-another-sport” eMTBs and the “e-bikes-are-motorcycles” mountain bikes we all love is a growing segment of lighter e-bikes. Some call them SL or mid-weight. Regardless of the vocabulary, these bikes hover in the low 40-pound range and have less powerful motors with smaller batteries. Since the launch of the Levo SL and Orbea Rise, Vital has been a proponent of this segment. We recently held our first dedicated Test Session where we pitted several of these rides against each other. Many of the brands in the test should breathe a sigh of relief that the Devinci e-Troy Lite was not present. It surely would have trounced many, with the potential to be crowned king. -photos by gordo

Highlights

• Canadian-made 606-T61 aluminum frame with integrated battery
• 29 / 27.5 mixed-wheels only
• 150-mm (5.9 -inches) of rear wheel travel // 160-mm (6.2-inches) fork travel
• Split Pivot suspension design
• 63.6-degree head angle
• 77.8-degree seat tube angle
• No geometry adjustments
• Internal cable routing
• Boost 148 rear hub spacing
• Bosch Performance SX Motor
• 400 Wh battery
• SRAM GX Eagle Transmission drivetrain
• Sizes: Small through X-Large
• Measured weight (Medium, no pedals): 43 pounds ( 19.5kg)
• MSRP: $7,399 USD

Overview

When Vital did its first e-Bike Test Session, we included the Turbo Levo SL. Since the onset, the lighter e-bike option has been appealing. Once the Rise landed, we were pumped and also could not wait for more lighter bikes. It took the “industry,” a few years to catch up to these forerunners but now that so many are in the game, we’re starting to see some divergence from brands and some real competition.

Devinci is a brand that continually puts out bikes that perform well on the trail and come equipped with build kits that (at least to us) make sense. When the e-Troy Lite was announced there was a bit of scuffle as to who would get to test it. There was a double take as we saw the aluminum frame and the bike's weight. WhAT dO YOu mEAn AloOminum caN BE liGHt?! 43 pounds puts Devinci’s newest bike right in the mix with all the carbon bikes we just tested. In fact, the only carbon part on this bike is the handlebars. Ironically, that bar was one of two items we took issue with.

The metal ain’t heavy but all signs indicated the e-Troy Lite would rock. The geometry looked dialed, the parts were (mostly) right, and the combo of mixed-wheel design and that All Mountain amount of travel meant this should be a go-anywhere kind of rig.

Frame Details

Devinci has been on a tear lately with its Canadian-made alloy frames. The fact that the e-Troy Lite achieves 43 pounds with one of these Chicoutimi-welded darlings is quite impressive and should please metal purists. Speaking of pleasing, it is worth calling out that Devinci is using standard Boost 148 rear spacing instead of the Super Boost often found on their full-suspension bikes. Additionally, they went with a more common 31.6 seat tube, citing that seatpost brands would just make fatter lowers, keeping the stanchion the same size, essentially defeating the purpose of using a larger diameter seat tube.

Subjectively speaking, the silver color with raw logos looks amazing. The welds are clean and based on image alone, the e-Troy Lite looks like a rowdy trail-slayer. There are exterior shields on all the pivots but no internal shields or gaskets on the inside of the linkage to protect the bearings from the elements. It’s a bold choice. We did have to pull apart and re-grease all the pivots very early on, but, never again after that. It could have been the initial assembly went light on the grease. Regardless, the tear-down and servicing was a simple job and went quickly.

Being a lighter e-bike, the battery is integrated into the downtube. Riders will have to drop the motor to pull the 400 Wh battery. This is standard practice with the expectations of the Trek Fuel EXe and Transition Relay. On the topic of internal, so is the rear brake and (on lower models) the derailleur cable.

Battery / Motor Platform

Devinci went with the Bosch SX system, powered by a 400Wh battery. The motor puts out 55 Nm of torque and 600 watts of peak power. There are four modes - eco, tour+, eMTB, and boost. Each of the modes can be custom tuned via Bosch’s Flow app.

Battery levels and modes are displayed via an LED strip on the top tube. There’s a light at the top that will change color to indicate your mode (off, green, blue, purple, red.) Just below that are five bars to show your battery level. Each bar will change color at the halfway point (10%), providing fairly precise battery tracking. Once you get to the 20% range, the bottom two bars will light up orange to induce some mild battery anxiety, just for good measure.

The wireless handlebar control keeps the cockpit clutter down and worked like a charm during our testing. The buttons are quite sensitive and would be prone to an accidental double-tap from time to time.

The Bosch motor is not as compact as the Fazua or TQ systems so the e-Troy SL winds up looking more like an e-bike than some of its competitors. The Bosch’s torque sits right below the Fazua and just above the TQ. Though it is not as quiet as either, the Bosch SX does seem to defy the numbers and be a top performer (as we’ll dig into later.)

Suspension Design

Indicative of the name, the e-Troy Lite uses the same Split-Pivot, four-bar system as its mountain bike counterpart and much of Devinci’s line. The 185x55 shock provides 150mm of travel. The main pivot sits a bit higher than the standard Troy, making for a more active ride. Devinci can get away with this since there’s a motor. On the flip side, the more active ride allows for better traction in wild climbing situations, something one is more prone to encountering on an e-bike.

Geometry

The e-Troy Lite is the representation of where we are settling with the all-mountain category. A sub-64-degree head angle, steep seat angle, ample reach without being unwieldy, it’s all there. Devinci could have gotten greedy with the bike given that it has a motor but instead, they kept the numbers in the range of what we want our mountain bikes to feel like these days. Devinci’s split pivot design is efficient while staying plenty active. On descents, the assist would be turned off to provide a more natural feel for gravity. Never did the eTL feel spongy or slogged down, it was quick to get up and go with little fuss from the suspension.

The star of the show is likely the slack head angle and mixed-wheel design. The e-Troy Lite responded well when driven hard into the front, attacking the trail and seeming never fussed by rough segments or large rocks. That drive on the front approach made the eTL simply laugh, as if to ask, “Is that all you’ve got?” Conversely, once getting lined up with a taller front end, we could get off the back and steer like a hooligan through loose switchbacks thanks to the inherent nature of a smaller wheel.

e-Bikes typically mean longer days in the saddle and for our part, more climbing. To that end, the e-Troy Lite is a comfortable place to spend a lot of time. While the slack, 63.6-degree head angle makes mincemeat of the descents, it is kept in check by the 461 reach and 77.8-degree seat angle on the climbs, keeping wheel flop to a minimum. The fly in the ointment would be the low-slung bars paired with a 617 stack. The combo does create a lower, almost “race” body position, but not every day has a race plate and on long slogs, a taller front is more comfy. This was the only area of complaint when it came to fit.

Build Kits

Hold on to your helmet, would you believe that Vital was sent the top-of-the-line model to test? Shocker, we know. Satire aside, when considering the build on our test bike, it is far from outlandish and very much a collection of well-thought-out parts.

Vital’s test bike features the SRAM GX Transmission drivetrain with X01 cranks. RockShox supplies the suspension - Lyrik Ultimate fork and Super Deluxe Ultimate shock. Magura MT-5 four-piston brakes make the bike stop in a hurry. RaceFace provides the ARC 30 rims with Vault hubs, Next, bar, and Turbine stem. Maxxis Tires provides an EXO+ DHF MaxxTerra tire and EXO+ Dissector rear tire. The SDG Tellis 170mm dropper and lever deliver very light action. $7,399 isn’t chump change but when you take those parts and compare them to anyone else in this category, Devinci is delivering a heck of a value, particularly given the Canadian-made frame and overall weight of 43 pounds.

Slice $1,000 off the price and you get a FOX Performance Elite 36 fork and FOX Performance Elite Float X rear shock, Say goodbye to robots, the drivetrain is mechanical SRAM GX Eagle (disappointingly, with an NX HG hub cassette) and the binders swap to SRAM Code Bronze. Other notable changes include the move to Race Face AEffect wheels and Maxxis Assegai and DHR II tires. The weight penalty is 1.5 pounds, 44.5 pounds total. Likely, much of that is the cassette and wheels. Still, for $6,399, the e-Troy Lite GX 12S is a noble ride.

The base model is $5,499 and comes in a lavender paint job that only Devinci can deliver. Smartly named the XN 12S, it uses SRAM’s NX Eagle drivetrain and DB8 brakes. RockShox is back on this model with a Yari fork and Deluxe Select rear shock. The V2 rims stay wrapped in the same Maxxis Assegai/DHR II tires as the higher model. Again, for the dollars, this model presents a decent value and is a launch pad to get into the lighter e-bike game. It would be nice to at least see a Super Deluxe on this model as it will no doubt rip downhills just as hard as the higher-tier e-Troys.

On The Trail

Trails Ridden

Vital’s test bike showed up in the throes of a typically hot, dry summer in the Sierras. Trail conditions varied from “not too bad” to “fully blown.” Everything is rocky and the smooth bits are either soft kitty litter, moon dust, or marbles on hard pack.

The e-Troy Lite was given a number of jobs. Some days it was the shuttle rig, hauling a child riding Shotgun. Other times, it did rides that were so long and hateful, achieving routes that only a man half our age would go for. Just as importantly, it was a self-shuttler, providing laps at Sky Tavern and surrounding areas.

Setup

Right out of the gate, the e-Troy Lite was set up too soft. We used the chart on the fork and went with 30% sag in the rear. We then went on a long ride with 4,200 feet of climbing. It was a heck of a first day together. Despite pile-driving the suspension into every obstacle and drop imaginable, the bike felt great and delivered traction like no other. The flip side, it was so glued to the ground that we thought it had suction cups for tires. Live and learn.

Cranking the Lyrik up to 100 PSI made for a hyper-aggressive ride that would make Aaron Gwin proud. We eventually dialed it back to 90-95 PSI with both high and low-speed compression in the fork in the middle “0” setting and 28% sag in the shock.

Every spacer that came with the bike was placed beneath the stem to lift the bars higher. It got close to the desired height but ultimately, the Devinci would wind up dropping one, 5mm spacer down, and a set of higher-rise Deity bars were mounted. This is a bit subjective, but two other riders tested the e-Troy Lite and both desired taller bars.

Descending Performance

We’re pretty sure the idea of an e-bike is to get you up the hill faster, with less effort. Therefore, any of these rigs had darn well perform on the descents. Call the e-Troy Lite Baryshnikov, Yo-Yo Ma, or Alice Cooper. It’s a performance worth remembering.

Devinci’s geometry combined with this travel category and just a tad more weight makes for an all-mountain monster. It takes very little to unlock the e-Troy’s potential and heaps of bravado to surpass it. At some point, we just decided to start hitting stuff head-on to see if the bike would flinch. We gave out long before the e-Troy did.

One of our favorite things about the lighter category of e-bikes is turning off the assist, or at least going to Eco, during descents. Powering down gives a more natural feel when cranking out of turns and given the bike’s weight, the assist isn’t needed or missed. This creates an experience that is more like mountain biking and less like dirt moped-ing. Jokes aside, when swapping between a mountain bike and an e-bike frequently, removing the motor assist from the equation allows one to better focus on riding instead of re-calibrating for the bike’s behavior.

Considering the aforementioned “powering down,” the e-Troy Lite sprinted and regained speed easily. The overall mass of the bike, along with the Turbine wheels and EXO+ tires made for a relatively snappy ride. Because Devinci kept the chainstays at 435mm, the bike never felt too long in tighter situations such as hairpin turns. Snaking through chicane or sections where fast moves are required was a breeze with the smaller rear wheel.

As mentioned, the low front end demanded an aggressive stance from the rider. It took some effort to get the e-Troy Lite to “mess around” a bit on the trail. Taller bars did help with this so those wanting a taller front should not write off this bike but you have been forewarned.

In all, the e-Troy Lite rides that razor line of holding a steady line in hectic situations while keeping agile when moves need to be made. Would the bike hold this character were it 10 pounds lighter (MTB) or 10 pounds heavier (full e-bike)? Probably not, which is what makes the e-Troy Lite such a unique bird. It seems Devinci paid close attention and built something original from the ground up.

Rear Suspension Performance

The e-Troy Lite’s suspension felt very much like any other Split Pivot Devinci we’ve tested at Vital. It’s a bit more active but does not wallow. The mid-stroke seems to last forever but finding the bottom can be a bit harsh.

We had two very distinctly heavy slaps after making questionable choices. The simplest solution would be for Devinci to offer this bike with the hydraulic bottom out that RockShox offers in the Super Deluxe Ultimate. Since that won’t be happening, riders will need to either live with the occasional harsh bottom or run closer to 25% sag. The top end should not suffer too much, but with all things, there is a compromise.

Unique Features

Is it fair to say that the Boost 148 is unique since Devinci has been on the Super Boost train for so long? Probably not, we just wanted to point that out again.

Devinci’s Canadian-made alloy frame sets it apart from competitors in this category. At the end of the day, it weighs the same as its carbon competitors and comes in at a lower price. It’s a win-win here. Some riders will go for carbon for a variety of reasons and that is their choice to make. It’s good to have options.

The e-Troy Lite doesn’t stray too far from the norm and that is likely what makes it so good. By taking the best parts of what makes certain bikes so good, Devinci has created a highlight reel that is worth watching on repeat. It’s a bit funny how easily this can be achieved but how rarely it is practiced.

Climbing Performance

Yup, it has a motor, so let’s get into that. The e-Troy Lite isn’t the sort of e-bike you brag about climbing with while the motor is off. We don’t know who does that anyway. That said, running it in the Eco setting allows you to ride with friends (if you have any left) on mountain bikes. You may be having an easier time of it but not so obnoxious as to be exiled from the group. It is also enough assistance to get the help needed to make it through a slog of a ride.

There is a distinct jump between each of the four modes. The biggest danger with any e-bike is getting used to the higher modes and then feeling as if the easier modes are inadequate. This is a trap, be careful. In the beginning, Eco was all that was desired so that we could keep our fitness and not “cheat” so much. Along came Tour+, or as everyone called it, Blue. This was the sweet spot of assistance on really steep stuff while still maximizing battery life.

Stop us if you’ve heard this one but sometimes time was short, so we used eMTB (purple) to get that extra speed on the climb and could ride more with the limited window. Yeah, $5 says you have said it or had it said to you. That’s 2024, babe.

The only mode that we altered from the stock setting was Turbo. It was set to max power/assistance and reserved only for those occasions when a 4-year-old was sitting on the Shotgun seat. Say goodbye to your battery but boy does the bike rip.

A bit on the Bosch SX motor system. More than other motors, the Bosch has a work harder, get more assistance experience. It likes higher cadences and almost struggles to offer any with slow cranks. It took a bit to manage and get used to but in the end, it was appreciated as getting back on the mountain bike was less jarring with zero motor. In experimenting to get a feel for the motor, the more we cranked, the more the motor would suck us in and before I knew it, heart rates were through the roof. Suffice it to say, the Bosch SX is not a motor that “pulls” you up the hill, you still have to work for it.

E-Bikes

Throughout hundreds of miles, Vital used the modes in the following percentages:

Turbo - 17%, eMTB - 13%, Tour+ - 35%, Eco - 28%, Off - 5%

The longest ride the e-Troy Lite went on was 24 miles with 4,200 feet of climbing. The majority of that ride was on Eco, save for the last 5 miles where we tapped into Tour+. We finished the ride with 20% battery. That said, going full Eco, one could likely exceed 5,000 feet of vertical on a single charge. In all, those are impressive numbers and speak to the intent of these lighter e-bikes. Big rides are more attainable while still keeping the rider (somewhat) honest.

We won’t get too far into the weeds with battery life because the number of variables - rider weight, tire pressure, vertical means way more than miles, temperature, etc. As with any e-bike, higher modes do reduce battery life dramatically.

The new Bosch charger is incredibly fast, allowing a little less “planning” and a little more juice-up-and-go. We have a full-power e-bike and were caught off-guard by how long it took to charge, having to leave the house with a partially charged battery and frayed nerves.

Given the Bosch systems we’ve tested in the past and wild color displays, superfluous buttons and suspect Kiox display, it was a huge relief to have a small, wireless remote with two buttons and an integrated set of lights on the top tube. This is the way, Bosch.

It was hard to tell if there was ever a motor rattle. Every so often, a noise would come from the motor but it was few and far between and in all likelihood, could have been debris. Again, comparing the SX to prior Bosch motors, this one was noticeably quieter on the climbs and descents.

Build Kit

With a couple of minor notes, the build kit for our test bike was on point. To get these parts on a carbon chassis (at the same weight) one would be very close to, or above the $10k mark. Devinci almost looks consumer-direct with its value proposition.

Fork / Shock Performance

The new RockShox Lyrik is a killer fork. Other than out-and-out enduro smashing, it may be the most capable and versatile in the line. However, we admittedly had some trepidations about the Lyrik being able to handle the load of an e-bike, particularly when getting into the more aggressive territory. The Lyrik performed admirably and towed the line. Its range of meaningful adjustments and steady composure was a treat.

Other than our desire for a hydraulic bottom-out, we would not change a thing about the Super Deluxe Ultimate. There was plenty of mid-stroke support to keep the bike from getting bogged down or feeling dead, but of course, not so stiff as to rattle us to pieces.

Tire Performance

Devinci outfitted the e-Troy Lite with EXO+ tires. This was likely done to hit a certain weight target. For our part, EXO+ casing is just fine, and often preferred. There are plenty of people in our own riding group who can’t live without Double Down, so we know there’s a desire or need for burlier rubber. Devinci is not one to usually shy away from “real” tires on their bikes. The new Spartan HP was lauded for coming stock with Double Down and in a recent twist of fate, the brand new Troy comes with Double Down tires.

We never had an issue with flats but we did with compound and tread selection. Our top-spec bike comes with a DHF/Dissector combo and the lower two specs come with an Assegai/DHRII combo. In the dry, loose region we tested (and live) a MaxxGrip compound is a must. Recognizing the strong heritage of the DHF, we won’t be harsh on it, but within the Maxxis family, there are better tires for our region. To that end, we put a MaxxGrip Assegai on the front of the e-Troy Lite which improved its cornering ability and overall control.

Wheel Performance

“PONG,” goes the rim. But it did not dent. The RaceFace Turbine wheels and Vault hub were solid performers. Light, fast, and able to take a rock to the face without blowing up. Huzzah!

Brake Performance

Devinci went full SRAM on this bike, except for the brakes. The Magura MT5 HCW with dual 203mm rotors performed admirably. They’re a marked improvement over Codes but lack the all-out punch of TRP. We typically run our brake levers questionably close to the bar but with the Magura, it did not feel so great. We wound up adjusting the reach a little bit further out and had a much more solid lever feel as a result.

The brakes bedded in quickly with some application of soupy mud and sprints. After that, they were worry-free and consistent performers.

Drivetrain Performance

SRAM’s Transmission drivetrain works really well. If you don’t like electronic shifting, there are cable options. If you like electronic shifting, it does not get any better. Moving on.

Things That Could Be Improved

We were feeling a bit tepid pointing out the low-ish front end until this week when Devinci dropped the new Troy mountain bike. The new Troy has a 5mm higher stack height and comes with a 40mm (as opposed to 20mm) taller bar. We know that Stack is the new “Reach,” and hate to jump that shark, so we’ll just say it’s an interesting observation.

With the e-Troy Lite feeling so dialed, the taller front of the Troy may just make it a no-brainer for those looking for a new mountain bike. Can we get a two-fer?

Long-Term Durability

The e-Troy Lite’s pivots needed a cleaning and greasing after just two dusty rides and a hose-down. After we applied some love, it gave us zero fusses over the next few months. The bike is solid and silent. Devinci backs its frame with a lifetime warranty, they’re clearly confident in it.

What's The Bottom Line?

For years, we have loved the concept of a lighter e-bike. Admittedly, most offerings have come with some sort of compromise. Whether the angles were a bit off, the travel was a little short, or the motor was not quite dialed. Enter the e-Troy Lite. Aside from the front tire compound and low bars, we have no complaints.

The Bosch motor is efficient, powerful, and quiet. The bike’s geometry is dialed and the parts are spot-on. Factor in the weight and overall cost of the bike and things get really interesting. By an objective measure, the Devinci e-Troy Lite is the King of the North, but like, in the South too…and everywhere else. It’s just that darn good.

For more information, please visit Devinci.com for more details.

Vital MTB Rating

Overall Impression: 4.5 stars

__________________________________________________________________________

About The Reviewer

Brad Howell - Age: 45 // Years Riding MTB: 30 // Height: 5’9” (1.7m) // Weight: 170-pounds (77kg)

Contributor, editor, brand manager, demo manager, shop mechanic, Rampage digger, but mostly a mountain biker. Brad has allowed mountain bikes to ruin and run his life for the past three decades. Every time he thinks he gets out, they pull him back in. Here we go again.