Bike Review:
Devinci Chainsaw DH
Chainsaw is unapologetically Freeride.
The Chainsaw was named for none other than Canada’s own and world champion Stevie Smith. The idea behind this bike was much like Steve’s infectious attitude to get people stuck on bikes and Devinci will continue with an annual donation to the Stevie Smith Legacy Foundation.
The Build:
Devinci wanted the Chainsaw to be accessible and with just three build options two trail, one DH, and a frame option. I think they did well for the price. At $4,500 US this is a downright affordable bike.
The Rockshox SuperDeluxe Coil Select+ RT was also a standout with the hydraulic bottom out keeping things smooth on the harshest flat landings. In the long run I would need to get a heavier spring but so far just cranking it up will do. You also get a Rockshox Boxer Select, which after adding some volume spacers felt dialed. With Sram Code R brakes and 220 front and 200 rear rotors that takes care of what I think is the most important, but what else do you get? I was surprised with how well the Sram GX Dh 7spd functioned. It was my 1st time living with this drivetrain and I really think it was as smooth as the XO option. To round things out Devinci delivers a Raceface cockpit and Maxxis rubber which is just about what I would pick if given the choice. The Chester direct mount stem, 35mil rise Atlas bars, and the burly ARC30 Heavy duty rims may not have that bling factor but deliver on performance and durability.
The Good:
This bike was dead quiet throughout most my testing, the heavy duty Enduro bearings, internal cable routing, and idler pulley kept things quiet while pedaling or monster trucking through the rough. The idler was significantly less noticeable than on the new Trek Session. Like I said, The Rockshox SuperDeluxe Coil Select+ RT was also a standout. I had also forgotten how good the
Code r brakes are. For a budget stopper these did not disappoint and I always had plenty of stopping power.
The mullet setup also means this thing rips corners and gets off the ground like a smaller bike. It also stands the front end up nicely for the steep chutes and rock slabs. While it will require more input than the average trail bike, at speed this thing moves and compared to the newest crop of World Cup bikes the Chainsaw is unapologetically Freeride.
The Bad:
For a bike at this price I cannot complain too much. I would love to see a bash guard on the Thirteen guide and rear wheel lost nearly all tension on the first day in the bike park. Thanks to the stout Raceface rim it tensioned back up perfectly and I have not had an issue since. Overall at $4500 this build requires nothing out of the box.
Who’s this bike for?:
Well I could see a few different riders go this direction, free ride is alive and well and this is the bike for that. This is not your mini dh bike, it’s a full bike park bike for the rider getting down the hill in style and not just as fast as they can. DH bikes continue to be more specialized and I think more of us need bikes like this. It doesn’t fell as cumbersome as a lot of newer DH bikes and doesn’t all need the speed to come alive. I also rode this setup more “enduro” throughout the winter, so the owner with the right set of skills really can have two bikes in one. My experience is rapidly growing when it comes to the world of high pivot bikes and for the bike park I cannot recommend the Chainsaw more.
Final Thoughts:
The price is killer for a bike that can smash park laps without issue and if you have the mechanical ability you can even convert it to the gnarliest trail bike around. The stability both at speed, on steeps, and when things get chunky is nearly unrivaled. This will be a bike for the park or if you live in an area with the terrain that it craves. While you could always line up between the tape, this is a bike that equally likes picking its way down steep and technical terrain. If you’d rather scout lines than walk the track then the Devinici Chainsaw is right up your alley.