2020 Devinci Django Carbon 29 GX LTD Bike

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When Devinci launched the Django in 2016, it came in either a 27.5 or 29-inch platform. The aim was simple: a fun trail bike for exploring the hills. Vital tested and loved the 29-inch iteration (the only form offered now) so when we were invited out to Bromont, Canada to try out the latest update, it was an eager yes on our end. The new Django is more. More bike, more travel, more rubber and more capable. Despite our American sensibilities, more is not necessarily better. We’ve tangled with Django for the past two months. Read on to see how we fared with the scrappy trail bike from the great Northeast.

Highlights

• 29-inch wheels
• 120mm (4.7-inches) rear travel // 140mm (5.5-inches) travel fork
• Split Pivot suspension design
• Super Boost 12x157mm axle spacing
• Full carbon or alloy frame
• Enduro bearings throughout
• Geo adjust flip-chip on the lower shock mount
• Internal cable routing
• 2-bolt ISCG05 mount
• 73mm threaded BB
• Integrated frame protection
• 29x2.6-inch tire clearance
• Three different chainstay lengths for different sizes
• Varying dropper post lengths for each size
• Lifetime frame warranty

Comparison to the Previous Django

The Django gets the full treatment in the geometry department. The reach on all sizes of the Django grows by 10mm while the head angle slackens by 1.5-degrees to 66.5-degrees in the “low” setting. Shorter seat tubes (our medium was 430mm) round out the long-low-slack trifecta. Each size frame accommodates a different length dropper starting at 100mm on the extra-small and growing by 25mm increments until the large and extra-large at 175mm. Fork travel for the Django grows to 140mm, though the rear remains at 120mm. The all-new, very refined frame is full of built-in, robust protection and clean cable routing. Part of the new frame is the incorporation of a flip-chip, though rider's do still have the option of using the spacer that fits between the fork crown and frame. The high-end frame is now full carbon, including the suspension rocker. Finally, the parts spec gets more aggressive with wider rims (35mm inner width) and larger Maxxis Minion/Aggressor tires.

Geometry

On The Trail

Django the bike, much like the character it was named after, makes no apologies. The bike was proclaimed as a selfish project aimed at tackling the after-work trails frequented by the Devinci staff. It was fortuitous that we got to give the Django a throw on his home turf, to see the raw intention for its existence.

Laying first eyes on the Mystery Black (per Devinci) bike could have you bouncing around a little bit. Incredibly wide, 35mm Race Face Arc 35 rims splay the 2.5 Maxxis Wide Trail Minions to cartoonishly large proportions. At the center of the wheel, 200mm rotors. The frame has fins and bulges that allude to a bike that is up to no good, in a good way. Then there is the FOX 34 Factory fork, dwarfed by the surrounding muscles of the Django. A FOX Float DPS Factory rear shock is a fine piece of equipment but could it keep up with the mixed messages of the parts around it? There was little time to vacillate on such notions, we were at the trailhead and the boys from Devinci wanted to rip.

The trails on the morning of day one were mellow, low grade, and easily accessible. Bike park laps were to follow in the afternoon. On the mellower terrain, the Django strolled along at an easy pace, somewhat demanding more pedal strokes to stay alive than we had initially anticipated. As things grew a little steeper and rough, the Django perked up and made its intentions known. By the time we arrived at the bike park, things were starting to come together. We determined that while the Django can rail a turn, it really loves to go inside, snap the apex and explode. Be it the progressive geometry, large tires or the sum of all parts, no other bike has inspired such all-out confidence when it was time to change direction.

Bonafide shredders will delight in the capable on-trail characteristics so long as things don’t get too heavy.

Roots and rocks are handled in one of two ways: stay light and be mindful of what you are hitting or load up and pull with all you’ve got - the Django will get you frequent flyer miles. Day two got us into terrain that was far steeper and more technical, pushing the levels of what the bike was even intended to ride. It was a fair shake on Devinci’s part and to the Django’s credit, everything was handled adequately or better by the bike. With the test camp over, we were left with a fantastic first impression but some questions as to how things would go on our home turf. We flew back out west and the Django showed up shortly after, pistols loaded.

The Django clocked quite a few miles in the Western Sierras, Lake Tahoe and even a little in Boise, Idaho. Many of the easy to ride qualities of the bike translated well to the desert, particularly cornering when things got loose. The Django held its own in the dust and sand, muscling up some very technical climbs as part of big days in the saddle. On longer climbs, especially the fire road, we did reach for the climb switch on our FOX Float DPS shock. It is there for a reason and with the Django’s Split Pivot we very much appreciated it.

Riding home trails did bring to light some controversy with the Django. There are a number of elements about this bike that urge the rider to charge hard; there are also a number of elements that do not support such behavior. The FOX 34 and Float DPS shock were butter smooth and did their job well, however, smashing basketball-sized rocks and stuffing steep, rough corners are not in their job description. At 140mm and 120mm of travel (respectively) getting to the bottom of Django’s travel happened on nearly every ride, sometimes at less than ideal times. This was at the heart of the sentiment for the Django - enough bike to get you into trouble but may not be enough to get you out.

So then, return to the original intent and sentiment of the Django. It was not made to be a do-all bike, not even remotely an enduro bike; it is a trail bike made for after work party laps with the gang. Keep that in mind and this bike is an absolute riot.

Build Kits, Weights & Pricing

The Django line has four build kits in carbon, two in aluminum, and a frame-only option. The flagship Carbon X01 model ($8,399 USD) tips the scales at 28.9-pounds and is build with full FOX Factory suspension, a true SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain, and Race Face Next R36 carbon wheels. Our 30.1-pound Carbon GX LTD test bike ($5,899) was the next tier down, retaining the FOX Factory suspension but dropping to a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain and aluminum Race Face ARC35 rims. Riders can drop the LTD moniker for the Carbon GX build ($5,199 USD) or the Carbon NX build ($4,599 USD). The frame-only option ($3,199 USD) comes in at 6.44-pounds and includes a FOX Float DPS shock, FOX Transfer Performance dropper, and an SDG Radar saddle.

Alloy builds start at $2,699 for the SX/NX build with FOX Performance Elite level suspension and proper SRAM Eagle drivetrain. Take the bump up to full SRAM GX Eagle for $3,499 on the Django GX build.

In Action

Who the Django is for should not be a mystery at this point. Devinci spelled it out for us and after many miles, we concur: this is an incredibly fun trail bike. Less aggressive riders will benefit greatly from the forward-thinking geometry and “tough where you need it” build kit. Bonafide shredders will delight in the capable on-trail characteristics so long as things don’t get too heavy. All points in between should get to their local Devinci dealer to check out the bike that continues to be on Vital’s party list.

Check out Devinci's website for more details.

Vital MTB Rating

• Climbing: 3.5 stars - Very Good
• Descending: 4 stars - Excellent
• Fun Factor: 5 stars - Spectacular
• Value: 3 stars - Good
• Overall Impression: 4 stars - Excellent

About The Reviewer

Brad Howell - Age: 40 // Years Riding: 28 // Height: 5’9” (1.75m) // Weight: 165-pounds (74.8kg)

Brad started mountain biking when a 2.25-inch tire was "large," and despite having threads, bottom brackets sucked. Riding in the woods with friends eventually lead way to racing, trying to send it at the local gravel pits, and working in bike shops as a wrench to help fix those bikes. Fortunate enough to have dug at the past six Rampages and become friends with some of the sport’s biggest talents, Brad has a broad perspective of what bikes can do and what it means to be a good rider. The past few years Brad worked in the bike industry and got to see the man behind the curtain. These days, though, he just likes riding his bike in the woods with friends.

Photos by Andy Vathis