Submitted by
Nathan Sowle
a Racer
from Reno, NV
Date Reviewed: 8/15/2007 10:57:38 AM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
Downieville |
| Duration Product Used: |
1 Year |
| Price Paid: |
$2000 |
| Purchased At: |
From a friend |
| Strengths: |
Burly Tubes, Strong Lateral Stiffness |
| Weaknesses: |
The original bike build |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Rocky Mountain RMX, Santa Cruz V-10, Intense M3, Commencal Supreme DH, Iron Horse Sunday |
| Bike Setup: |
Fox 40 RC, DHX 5.0, Formula Bianco Brakes, DT-Swiss FR-2350 Wheels, Kenda Blue Groove 2.5 Tire, Saint Cranks, Saint Rear Deraileur, E-Thirteen Chain Guide, LX shifters |
| Bottom Line: |
When I first got the bike it was very heavy, the fork bottomed out off of everything, and the Metel rear shock was just a heavy coil. After I put the new parts on the bike lightened up dramaticly and rode very dreamy. Its cornering is very precise due to the very stiff tubing, the pivot means for smooth swing arm movement, and it can take alot of punishment. Ive been to Northstar everyday this summer and have had no problems. The bottom Bracket height is very tall but that saved me mulitple times. The 8 inch setting is a little squishy for me, but the 7 inch setting stiffens out the rear shock and makes it good for racing. |
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Submitted by
Hyde
a Downhiller
from Hartford, CT
Date Reviewed: 4/4/2006 9:39:34 AM
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| Duration Product Used: |
6 months |
| Price Paid: |
$3400 |
| Purchased At: |
Guy's Bicycle Shop, NY |
| Strengths: |
Really tough bike. I've put a lot of abuse on this bike in the last 6 months, and you can barely tell. The fork has saved my behind more than a few times. I love taking it down the mountain. |
| Weaknesses: |
The chain smacks the rear frame. I needed to put protection on that area so that it wouldn't damage the frame. The bike is a bit of a pain to pedal uphill, due to it weighing 50lbs stock. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Yakuza, KHS DH, Stinky |
| Bike Setup: |
Stock, except for DH tubes |
| Bottom Line: |
This is a follow up from my initial review. This bike has held up really well. I bought a 2005, which has a warranty of a year. I was disappointed to find out that the 2006s are now guaranteed for life. Good for everyone else though. This bike gives you a sense of being able to conquer anything. For me it holds up really well on spectacular launches especially when they end up in spectacular crashes. Don't listen to the sandbagger below. |
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Submitted by
Hyde
a Downhiller
from Hartford, CT
Date Reviewed: 9/14/2005 10:00:40 AM
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| Duration Product Used: |
Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: |
$3200 |
| Purchased At: |
Guy's Bicycle Shop, NY |
| Strengths: |
Bomb Proof. Looks Great. Love the Travel. Even though the equipment on the frame is not as good as the upgraded version, the Ollie, I think it will satisfy my needs. |
| Weaknesses: |
The weight, when I brought mine home it weighed in at 49.5 lbs, it is not fun to pedal up hill, but lets face it, I didn't buy it to climb hills, I bought it to go down mountains. The Marzocchi 888VF is not externally adjustable, but it hasn't bottomed out yet. The frame (I have a large) may feel small. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Yakuza, KHS DH, Stinky |
| Bike Setup: |
Stock (See Devinci website) |
| Bottom Line: |
Being 200lbs in full gear, and standing 6'1", going off of jumps this thing is SOLID. Even though it Pedals like a Tank, it is as tough as one. Buy one! |
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Submitted by
Simon Ashby
a Downhiller
from Devon, England
Date Reviewed: 2/5/2005 12:06:44 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
A quarry in Tavistock |
| Duration Product Used: |
6 months |
| Price Paid: |
$3762 |
| Purchased At: |
Freeborn |
| Weaknesses: |
Update on previous review:
Since I placed the previous review, the bolt holding the two halves of the main pivot together has snapped. On contacting Freeborn I was told that they have had a number of instaces of this happening. Since they already knew about this happening, they were very forthcoming with a replacement pivot (good service). They also told me that Devinci originally used a grade 8 steel bolt in the main pivot, and that the replacement one will be grade 10. According to Freeborn, this is NOT a weekness, but since it broke under fairly normal usage, (I'm not THAT much of a nutter), and has happend to other people, I think I'll have to disagree. |
| Bottom Line: |
Since this is a small problem and the part was replaced quickly, as long as the new pivot doesn't break I am still more than happy with the bike, its manufacturer and its destributor (since the performance of all three contribute to a satisfactory purchase). |
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Submitted by
Simon
a Downhiller
from Devon, England
Date Reviewed: 1/13/2005 4:05:49 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
A quarry in Tavistoc |
| Duration Product Used: |
6 months |
| Price Paid: |
$3762 |
| Purchased At: |
Freeborn |
| Strengths: |
Brilliantly overbuilt. Rear linkage bearings have rediculous load capacities. Looks great. Excellent spec. Easy to clean. Nice feature of being able to lock all the main pivot bolts using grub screws. Perfect workmanship. |
| Weaknesses: |
I found the rear shock was overdamped, even in the fastest setting.
JrT's are OK, but only for a while. I now have 888r's... much better, now it is a true 8" Flat 8".
Standard Wildgripper tyres and bar grips are DIABOLICAL, especially the tyres. Swaped them for Minions and Odi lockons IMMIDIATELY (after 1 hours ride).
Bolts for ICGS mount on chain device were missing on delivery and are a non standard head size, so I had to drill out the holes on the chain device to fit a standard bolt. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
B17(x4 breakable but great), 02 Switch, 03 Switch Ltd, 03 Orange 7+, RMX, Big Hit |
| Bike Setup: |
Standard + Marzocchi 888R forks, Maxxis Minion tyres, Odi Ruffian grips. |
| Bottom Line: |
Perfect bike for hucking and downhilling, if a little on the heavy side. But thats the price for strength!
I was going to go for the Ollie, but this only came with the non-adjustable 888rt forks, so I thought I would get the 8-Flat-8 with its JrT's, and upgrade them later (as I have, with the fully adjustable 888R's). Also I prefered the look of the 8 flat 8. |
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Submitted by
jhonny
from usa
Date Reviewed: 11/23/2004 5:17:24 AM
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| Duration Product Used: |
6 months |
| Price Paid: |
$3000 |
| Strengths: |
The frame is solid and very plush. It handels like it is 10 pounds lighter and allows you to push your limit, as it inspires great confidence. |
| Weaknesses: |
You would like to swich the Jr.T to something more tunable, but it gets the job done. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
yeti as-x, specialized big-hit, giant warp |
| Bottom Line: |
This bike opens new fields. It is very burly and responsive. |
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Submitted by
Oli da Costa
a Weekend Warrior
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: 8/23/2004 5:50:40 AM
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| Duration Product Used: |
Less than 1 month |
| Price Paid: |
$3628 |
| Purchased At: |
Freeborn (Esher) |
| Strengths: |
Indestructable! I was originally going to go for the Ollie, but on seeing the two side by side, I realised there wasn't much in it and plumped for the 8-F-8 instead (the Ollie looked a little too burly for me, what with my twice-a-week rides...). Besides, the Ollies and Wilsons are out of stock everywhere it seems, so there wasn't much choice...
As for the bike itself,, it's a beast, with a stealth paintjob that's straight outta hell. Handling is awesome, although some riders may feel it's a bit too laid-back, with quite a long riding position (down to your own preference). The 4-way shock is a great little unit and very tweakable (just got my shock-pump and playing with settings now), and it soaks up everything you throw at it, as does the Junior T upfront. |
| Weaknesses: |
A little heavy - I'm used to hardtail dirt bikes (like my Kona Chute) so this is a fair old bit heavier, but I guess it comes with the terratory: burly solid bike = bit on the heavy side. Nothing else to complain about really...yet! |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Specialised Bit Hit, Specialised Demo 9, Devinci Ollie, Norcos and Konas (which I love, but this beats them!) |
| Bike Setup: |
Standard setup, settling in before some tweaking |
| Bottom Line: |
Even in the UK, with our marked up prices (you lucky, lucky guys over the pond), this full susser represents probably the best value you can get on such an awesome bike.
Test ride one if you can - there's very few left in the UK, if any, so don't think about the money, think about the ride! |
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Submitted by
Maxime St-Pierre
a Downhiller
from Québec
Date Reviewed: 8/8/2004 8:36:11 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
Bing Bang ( #7) Bromont |
| Duration Product Used: |
Less than 1 month |
| Purchased At: |
3700CAD André Cycle |
| Strengths: |
there is not a lot of DH/Freeride bike equiped like this for the price |
| Weaknesses: |
Is there any??? maybe it is a bit heavy... My bike is about 45 pound.... but I put my good old front doublewide with my santacruz hub |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Norco A-line, Norco team DH, Giant DH comp. All those bike have only been tested... |
| Bike Setup: |
Stock except for my front double wide and 2.7tire. |
| Bottom Line: |
This bike is so strong! I can't see how I could break this frame! The manitou swinger 4way with the SPV do a perfect job and the Junior T work so well that I decided to keep it and forget my first idea of an 888r like the Wilson... there is no bad side on this bike... It's fast, plush, corner really well and never goes out of travel! I recommand it to every one! |
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Submitted by
David
a Downhiller
from Oak Harbor, WA USA
Date Reviewed: 7/19/2004 4:45:52 PM
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| Duration Product Used: |
3 months |
| Price Paid: |
$1800 |
| Purchased At: |
Steed Cycles |
| Strengths: |
Great feeling suspension with horst linkage. The swinger does a comparable job to the fifth element. I just bought the frame so I couldnt say about the part spec. Came with a good rear wheel (although trail pimps would be better than AirCorp rims), so-so headset, but that is it. |
| Weaknesses: |
Hmmmm. Minor details, i hope. The biggest thing I just noticed today. One of the "bolts" that holds the likage together came out completely, with no warning whatsoever. It was the one on the chainring side right above the bottom bracket. Kind of scared me because I could have been riding like that for a while and not known it. Havent got a chance to check it out completley though. It is kind of pricey too, but that is the price for quality i guess (at least it is cheaper than an ellsworth). |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Konas, Norcos, Transitions, Banshees |
| Bike Setup: |
Just bought the frame, but I have 2003 Monster T on the front, Trail Pimp rims, Raceface cranks and bashgaurd, hayes Mag hydros, 8" rotors of course. |
| Bottom Line: |
So far, I love the bike, but the stock spring is pretty soft for my liking. I cant find anywhere that sells the Manitou springs, but Progressive springs are the same diameter and fit fine. I already ordered a 550 LB spring. I have only ridden it on the Shore and Whistler, but that is as good a place as any to give an evaluation of the bike. Besides the problem with ONE bolt, I love it. And it jumps like a champ. |
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Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: 7/18/2004 10:31:23 AM
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| Duration Product Used: |
3 months |
| Price Paid: |
$2700 |
| Strengths: |
Solid frame, parts spec is great for the money, stealth looks, comfortable |
| Weaknesses: |
Only thing so far has been the front deore derailleur. It works but not overly crisp. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Stinky deelux |
| Bike Setup: |
Stock, but going to upgrade front derailleur |
| Bottom Line: |
The bottom line for me would be that the devinci 8-flat-8 is an excellent bike. It allows me to go anywhere, whether its noodling around the trails or hammering downhill. The frame has a very solid feel and the integrated stem provides that same solid feel up front. The components that the bike comes with are great for the money. Minor upgrades could be made, but, its the kind of bike you ride the way it was delivered and replace worn parts with upgraded ones when needed. Nothing has failed me yet. In sum, the bike is confidence inspiring and I would highly recommend giving it a test ride before buying a new rig |
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Submitted by
jordan gaulin
a Downhiller
from trois-rivieres
Date Reviewed: 5/9/2004 3:56:23 PM
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| FavoriteTrail: |
groundie |
| Duration Product Used: |
Tested or demo'ed only |
| Purchased At: |
Yeti Cycles |
| Strengths: |
The specs of this bike or just not imaginable. Even in your craziest dreams you couldn't imagine a bike like that. The Jr. T works like wounders and the manitou SVP 4 way is not the best at manitou but surtainely does the magic on that bike. The drive train is really cool. The chain guidfe E. Thirtheen makes this bike look so much beefier. The rims a great and strong. The bike looks like its comming out from hell with this Evil look. |
| Weaknesses: |
Tested for one day and all the things I was getting from this bike was incredible. No weaknesses. You must ride a bike for atleast 1 month to get the feel and start figuring out the weakness, but the feel that I got when i climb on this bike and gave it a ride inspired me and made me beleive that this bike was invinceble. |
| Similar Products Tried: |
Specialized BigHit Expert(great bike), Rocky Moutain RMX, Kona Stinky Deelux(great bike) |
| Bike Setup: |
Stock |
| Bottom Line: |
This bike is just amazing. Priced at 3700$(CND), this bike offers you plenty. Plusher than you could imagine. Everything works together on that bike to make it a piece of magic. Going down those trails and hitting those shores and drop, everywhere the bike felt in its element. A bike of this type is not made for uphill but with that bike I was able to get it upthere with almost no problem. Weather you like to ride on shores or go huck yourself or go down that trail faster than you can imagine, this bike will do it all and because of its versitality, it will maybe make you discover a type of riding you never thought of trying. If you plan buying this bike than rest in peace because never will you regret investing your money on this monster. |
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