Review - 2006 Devinci Ollie

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Wanna find out how this big Canadian-made bike fared on the trails of B.C.? Check out the details (http://www.nsmb.com/gear/devinci_ollie_12_06.php).

[Kye]

Thanks for telling it like it is, and not hyping up the bike like most magazines do.

[bigwheel]

Good review.
I have an '06 8F8... replaced most of the Daredevil parts and on my 3rd freehub.

[thedude]

Question: Are there really any 8" x 8" bikes that a 6' 4" rider can pedal up hill without a telescopic post? ***disclaimer*** I am a lot shorter than 6'4" and have NEVER had to look for a bike this size.

I would think that 6'4" is kinda at the end of the spectrum for rider height, just like anyone less than 5'5".....so the complaint about the seat tube length is lost on 98% of the riding populous.

Some good points were raised about putting cheapo house brand unproven parts on a pricey bike.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Question: Are there really any 8" x 8" bikes that a 6' 4" rider can pedal up hill without a telescopic post? ***disclaimer*** I am a lot shorter than 6'4" and have NEVER had to look for a bike this size.

I would think that 6'4" is kinda at the end of the spectrum for rider height, just like anyone less than 5'5".....so the complaint about the seat tube length is lost on 98% of the riding populous.

The real benefit of an uninterrupted seat tube - which is uncommon for big bikes - is the ability to run a full-length post. My specific point was that the 17" seat tube on the Ollie negates that benefit. I used to own a Banshee Chaparral with a 19" uninterrupted seat tube, and there was no problem getting enough post extension to climb.

I don't deny that I'm at the end of the height spectrum. I'm going on what Devinci's rider height chart for the bike says, which is that it will fit riders up to 6'7". It will, but only if they're not interested in climbing.

And if the bike isn't meant to be ridden uphill, why spec it with a front derailleur and a DRS??? I wouldn't be raising this issue if the bike didn't have a front derailleur and came with an SRS instead. I'm calling them out on the contradiction between spec and functionality. That's a big deal to me.

To the other posters - Thanks for the props on the honest review. We pride ourselves on speaking the truth, good or bad.

[Geologyboy]

I thought it was a solid review. I definitely feel the same way about house components. I was sitting on a new SX trail teh other days and I couldn't believe how many specialized house parts were on a bike costing 4 grand.

By the time you start spending that much on a bike , you are generally a pretty knowledgable bike person (gerenally, not always). So I find it surprising when companies try and sneak cheaper parts onto a bike priced that high.

I realize these parts are not necessarily lesser than their aftermarket competitors, but they certainly aren't bette rin most cases.

[thedude]

The real benefit of an uninterrupted seat tube - which is uncommon for big bikes - is the ability to run a full-length post. My specific point was that the 17" seat tube on the Ollie negates that benefit. I used to own a Banshee Chaparral with a 19" uninterrupted seat tube, and there was no problem getting enough post extension to climb.

I don't deny that I'm at the end of the height spectrum. I'm going on what Devinci's rider height chart for the bike says, which is that it will fit riders up to 6'7". It will, but only if they're not interested in climbing.

And if the bike isn't meant to be ridden uphill, why spec it with a front derailleur and a DRS??? I wouldn't be raising this issue if the bike didn't have a front derailleur and came with an SRS instead. I'm calling them out on the contradiction between spec and functionality. That's a big deal to me.

To the other posters - Thanks for the props on the honest review. We pride ourselves on speaking the truth, good or bad.

I am not meaning start a fight at all. It is just that at your height you are at the limit of the sizing for that bike and yes it doesn't work perfectly for a 6'4" guy. I am 5'5" and I have a heck of a time finding a 8"x8" bike that fits my body for stand over....it is all about compromise and design limitations. 6'4" is at the end of the spectrum and to expect a perfect fit and the ability to climb a 8" x 8" without a telescopic post is unreasonable. Just like at 5'5" I do not expect a perfect fit on an 8"x8" bike. It just seems that the fact that your being 6'4" and not able to stretch your legs on a climb aboard a 8"x8" bike was overstressed in the article. Otherwise the review made sense and to anyone under your height, the bike should work just fine.

I may be off base and this is not meant as a cheap stab, but did you have a telescopic post on the Chaparral? I thought those were standard issue if you want to put the seat way up for a real climb and way down for DH riding.

The DRS-SRS derailleur issue is completely related to sizing, so for most the functionality is fine.

The main reason I am questioning the height issues you had with the bike is that in your rating the design was given 2.5 out of 5. Your issues with the 'fit' are likely the reason you gave such a low mark for a very well designed bike that you are just too big to ride without a telescopic post.

Is the reason for the low mark your issue post extension or was it something else?

[stuart@nsmb.com]

thedude - no worries about the questions.

I ran the Chap with a standard Race Face Diabolus post. It might have stuck out an inch or two more than I wanted when it was slammed, but I'd rather go that way than not have enough for climbing.

If the seat tube on the large Ollie was 19" instead of 17", I would have been fine. There wouldn't have been an issue.

But it doesn't.

So, what I'm saying is that it doesn't sense to use 1) the same size seat tube on a medium and a large frame; 2) that short of a seat tube on a large; and 3) say that the bike works for tall riders when it clearly won't.

Not taking those factors into account seems like either a serious design issue or oversight to me, and that's why I gave low marks.

[thedude]

thedude - no worries about the questions.

I ran the Chap with a standard Race Face Diabolus post. It might have stuck out an inch or two more than I wanted when it was slammed, but I'd rather go that way than not have enough for climbing.

If the seat tube on the large Ollie was 19" instead of 17", I would have been fine. There wouldn't have been an issue.

But it doesn't.

So, what I'm saying is that it doesn't sense to use 1) the same size seat tube on a medium and a large frame; 2) that short of a seat tube on a large; and 3) say that the bike works for tall riders when it clearly won't.

Not taking those factors into account seems like either a serious design issue or oversight to me, and that's why I gave low marks.

Alright. I can live with that.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

Alright. I can live with that.

Whew! I'm relieved. ;)

[Jeff M]

Finally! A review that doesn't sound like an infomercial. I hate that so many bike reviews (print and web) sound like they were written by the manufacturer.

This was a nice change, I look forward to more reviews.

[IFO]

outstanding review Stu..

did u contact Devinci and ask why they dont offer a 19" seattube version ???

i do agree that it seems like a design oversight to say it fits riders up to 6'7" when thats obviously impossible given ur honest review..

keep reviews such as urs coming...

8-)

[LeeLau]

That's really well done Stu

[Chuck D. Railer]

i've gotta agree that the daredevil stuff is a little meh
i rode the 07 frantik and it had the daredevil bar. i didn't even want to hold on to it. the shape was horrible, the bar curves down at the ends and just has a wierd shape and feel to it.

lose the daredevil and go Chromag FubarOS with and eighty eight integrated stem. Now you're talkin some swweet action.

[connor]

nice review, 47.5in isn't super long for what's basically a Freeridded up DH race bike. I also think calling a 16.4in bb "tall" is misguided. If you're running proper sag on your bike the bb is going to drop a couple inches when you're in your "attack position", I think in general bb height should be given with sag. If it had a more reasonable 14in bb once you get on it it would be more like 11-12in, then you start clipping pedals on stuff, like my 04 enduro SX that has a silly low 12.5in bb unsprung.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

nice review, 47.5in isn't super long for what's basically a Freeridded up DH race bike. I also think calling a 16.4in bb "tall" is misguided.

Thanks. No, 47.5" isn't super long, but it is longer than a good number of other 8-and-8 bikes out there. Ditto for the BB.

Wheelbases for many other bikes with this amount of travel are between 45 and 46", and BBs are usually less than 15" on these bikes.

[connor]

Thanks. No, 47.5" isn't super long, but it is longer than a good number of other 8-and-8 bikes out there. Ditto for the BB.

Wheelbases for many other bikes with this amount of travel are between 45 and 46", and BBs are usually less than 15" on these bikes.


hmm yeah I just looked up my Turner DHR and it's 14.6in bb, and 45.6in wb for a medium. It doesn't get any more racey than that bike. for some reason I though it was higher/longer. So that Ollie is pretty long/high actually.

[*Pepe*]

honest review. gotta like that. i don't agree with everything that was written, however. i'm wondering how the overall review would have changed if the company website more accurately reflected the sizing issue, and if the bike was specced with a SRG. seems like a quick fix to some of the writer's woes; none of which are design related.

some of us like to have the seat slammed and would take that over a fully extended leg any day of the week. personal bike set-up preference i suppose.

i also happen not to give a shit about the cockpit parts. well, actually i do. i give a shit spending twice as much on a post or stem or bar when it's not really necessary to do so. as long as they are properly designed and are reliable, who cares? slaves to branding... that's who.

besides that, it's good to see an honest article . looking forward to reading something else written with a critical eye about some of the products made by the team sponsors in particular.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

i'm wondering how the overall review would have changed if the company website more accurately reflected the sizing issue, and if the bike was specced with a SRG. seems like a quick fix to some of the writer's woes; none of which are design related.

some of us like to have the seat slammed and would take that over a fully extended leg any day of the week. personal bike set-up preference i suppose.

i also happen not to give a shit about the cockpit parts. well, actually i do. i give a shit spending twice as much on a post or stem or bar when it's not really necessary to do so. as long as they are properly designed and are reliable, who cares? slaves to branding... that's who.

*pepe* - The sizing is actually a bike issue, as well as a communication / marketing issue. The top tube length is appropriate for a large frame, but the seat tube isn't. That's not a quick fix, and it is design related. The bike didn't end up with a 17" seat tube by accident - someone chose that, which is why I think it's a design issue.

I put the seat down as far as possible for the descents, too, but if you're going to spec a front derailleur and a granny ring, you're saying the bike is able to climb (either implicitly or explicitly). As I said in my review, the current set-up may be fine for smaller or average riders, it doesn't work for tall guys. That's all.

As for the slave to fashion comment, I beg to differ. I'm a servant of function - particularly when it comes to the handlebar. If the bar width and sweep aren't comfortable, I'll ditch it. And I would still rather have bar from a company with a proven track record, than an unknown entity.

[DUDEONABIKE]

thats a good reveiw, how ever there are a few things i dissagree with, it might just be because im shorter that you and on a small Ollie, but here goes:
I find the ollie climbs quite well. Its amazing in tight and tech as well as fast. I also dont have an issue with the weight, i never get tired because of the weight, I've even dirt jumped on it and it was quite fun and easy to manouver.

I do however, have to agree with the house brand components, the bar sucks, i just replaced it cause i bent it though. havent had an issue with the other components like the freewheel as you wrote(maybe the shop repacked mine before i bought it). i didnt have an issue with the stem but i just replaced it with a syncros stem we had kicking around to suite the bike better.
when i get more money i'll most likely switch out the rest of the house brand components, but right now i need to buy a new set of cranks.

[biggles604]

Everyone has their own preferences and biases. I rode an 03 Norco Team NS with a Super T for ages, I would have argued to the end of the earth that it climbed well, was nimble and responsive, then I got my 06 Six one, and I feel like a fool, whenever I get on the big bike, it feels long, slow, heavy and you really have to work to climb it. I used it as my do all bike for the longest time, and it's still awesome as a shuttle/big hit bike, but I find it really hard to pick the big bike over the Six which does nearly everything so much better (and a year ago, I wouldn't believe that was possible).

The long wheelbase thing seems to be big for Devinci, I was shopping around for a do-all bike with a friend and we both really liked the look of the Frantik/Hectik, but they are so long for what they are supposed to do.

[*Pepe*]

*pepe* - The sizing is actually a bike issue, as well as a communication / marketing issue. The top tube length is appropriate for a large frame, but the seat tube isn't. That's not a quick fix, and it is design related. The bike didn't end up with a 17" seat tube by accident - someone chose that, which is why I think it's a design issue.

I put the seat down as far as possible for the descents, too, but if you're going to spec a front derailleur and a granny ring, you're saying the bike is able to climb (either implicitly or explicitly). As I said in my review, the current set-up may be fine for smaller or average riders, it doesn't work for tall guys. That's all.

As for the slave to fashion comment, I beg to differ. I'm a servant of function - particularly when it comes to the handlebar. If the bar width and sweep aren't comfortable, I'll ditch it. And I would still rather have bar from a company with a proven track record, than an unknown entity.

stuart,

correct me if i'm wrong, but what i understand you to say is sizing is 'A' and 'B', therefore 'A'? i think it's both, though your article and response both seem to stress the design. just my intepretation anyway.

10-4 re: the tall guys comment (also see below).

re: the bars you didn't mention anything about sweep or rise, just the width. i happen to like all three and i'm 5'10" or so (i also happen to roll with a few syncros die-hards who once noted how they liked my DD low-rise and lamented how they don't have access to one until recently). as far as proven track record goes i believe it applies to a lot of things that require sophisticated and complex technology, but stems, bars, and posts are not among that list. just my opinion.

finally, in the future if your size is going to materially affect your review in either a positive or negative way perhaps you could preface your article with a comment like "musings from the tall guy" or something like that to put what you write in perspective.

you heard that tongue-in-cheek thought here first.

[thewwkayaker]

Clearly Mike at NSMB would disagree with how the bike rode:

http://www.nsmb.com/gear/wilson05_10_05.php

The Wilson and Ollie are very similar except that the Wilson is now a bit slacker and a tiny bit longer than the Ollie yet Mike felt that the Wilson was a good NS bike. No bike is built for everyone I guess.

[Biker Dave]

How do you suggest the Daredevil name earns recognition and respect if they don't spec it on their bikes??? Where would RaceFace be without Rocky??? I've seen $5000 Big Hits and $5700 RM-7's with Specialized and Rocky Mountain hubs and stems. At least Devinci is working with local shops and customers and improving on their designs.

[ESHER SHORE]

i rode for Devinci here in the UK last year, i liked your detailled review

the Ollie was a killer Whistler bike, you could go stupid fast and squash all the drops, i gotta say i didn't find it too bad on the North Shore down in Vancouver, and liked it on Whistler's NS trails like Clown Shoes, i gotta say i swapped the stock 888 200mm fork for my personal 170mm 888 which steepened up the head angle a tad and made things more nimble

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/545513/

but the wheelbase was kinda long, about 4" longer than my previous bike (Banshee Scream), and the bike felt kinda big, even with the seat slammed down it still didn't have the standover height of other freeride bikes, it also flew with a bias to the rear of the bike, which was noticeable on fast trails like Crabapple hits

the Swinger shock was easy to setup, and for a 48lbs bike it actually dirt jumped pretty good!

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/655052/

the uninterupted seatpost was awesome for full seat extension (pedalling up the switchbacks on Fromme or around Vancouver), clever the way Devinci combined all the advantages of the 4-bar/horst pivot suspension with a regular front triangle

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/818203/

the needle bearings lasted the distance, whereas i found my Big Hit went kinda sloppy in the rear once the regular radial bearings slopped out

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/684860/


overall a tough bike, and easy to look after, but perhaps a bit "old school" in terms of the size / WB length / b.b. height?

The Frantik looks good, but again quite long w.b., got some arriving here in England today, interested to check it out and see how it compares to the Ollie

[Mic]

pinkbike...is this edible?

[stuart@nsmb.com]

correct me if i'm wrong, but what i understand you to say is sizing is 'A' and 'B', therefore 'A'? i think it's both, though your article and response both seem to stress the design. just my intepretation anyway.

Sorry, you lost me there. Anyway...

As for the 'tall guy' thing, I make a point of mentioning it in my reviews when it affects things positively or negatively. I know full well that I'm outside the norm, both in terms of height and weight (I'm probably pushing 250lbs. with full gear on).

No, I didn't mention rise and sweep in the bars. I should have, and I'll go back and make that change. The joys of web publishing...

Bars are a really personal thing. Some people are happy with whatever they get, while others like something specific. Others just know what feels good, and what doesn't. I'm a combination of the latter two.

The bike got low marks for design because there's a fundamental flaw, IMO. That had nothing to do with my height. The overall mark was a combination of things that weren't great, not just the design.

And yes, thewwkayaker, different people have different ride experiences - especially on different bikes. Hell, different people will have different experiences on the same bike. We here at nsmb are not the borg, which is what makes it cool. :)

To all the people who enjoyed the review and liked the honesty, thanks. It's something we work hard on, regardless of what we're reviewing.

[NSTP]

I would agree it's a good honest review, and that's good to know. Most reviews always seem to score atleast a 4 out of 5. How is everything that good? I also must agree with some of the others that have owned Ollies, and say I think this bike was not for you, more than a score of 3 out of 5 that would refelct, a poorer bike.
I have owned 3 Ollies, and ridden mostly and the shore, and a fair amount at whistler, and on a medium I found the bike excellent (as a freeride bike)everywhere I rode it. I do believe some bikes have better preferences to certain trails. Obviously this bike seemed to excel in Whistler for you but, seemed clumsy on the shore. As the review is, your take on the subject. Fair enough. For climbing did you ever try a 410mm length seatpost?
I have a friend that has a large Ollie and he is 6'3", and has no issues pedaling the bike up hill, or with the handling of the bike. For him the bike is great.
Your height, and the size of this bike for you change the review from reviewing an Ollie, to reviewing a large Ollie from the perspective of a tall guy IMO. Otherwise a very solid review.

[*Pepe*]

X-IV Stuart.

[Couch_Surfer]

X-IV Stuart.

:???: interesting discussion so far, but i really have no idea what you're trying to say here. :???:

[stuart@nsmb.com]

:???: interesting discussion so far, but i really have no idea what you're trying to say here. :???:

10-4. As in, all good. Took me a minute, too.

[thewwkayaker]

Stuart don't get me wrong I like the fact you said what you felt. All the other reviews I've read anywhere, as others have said, give high marks all around and usually complain about some minor attribute (something they know won't stop people from buying the bike).

Narrow bars - can't handle that myself - feels too XCish for me.

Hub - brand name hub is important here. I'm less concerned about brand of bars, stems, and seatposts.

Specialized is another company that uses a lot of inhouse brand stuff and they charge a lot for their bikes.

Hopefully more reviews will be done where the reviewer isn't worried about stating their honest opinion. Issues such as weight of bike/frame, cheap parts on $$$ bikes, seat tube angles (and interrupted vs not) etc. should be discussed as you did. Keep up the work - looking forward to seeing similar reviews from you and hopefully others in the future.

[*Pepe*]

sorry guys. didn't mean to come off so cryptically.

over and out.

[skifreak]

As for the 'tall guy' thing, I make a point of mentioning it in my reviews when it affects things positively or negatively. I know full well that I'm outside the norm, both in terms of height and weight (I'm probably pushing 250lbs. with full gear on).

Thanks for the review - I was actually thinking of that as a potential replacement bike in the future - I think I might have to look elsewhere - 6'2" and 235lbs with all my gear on...

It's hard to find out about what works for the big guys... Thanks for the honesty.

[Nelson]

I would agree it's a good honest review, and that's good to know. Most reviews always seem to score atleast a 4 out of 5. How is everything that good? I also must agree with some of the others that have owned Ollies, and say I think this bike was not for you, more than a score of 3 out of 5 that would refelct, a poorer bike.
I have owned 3 Ollies, and ridden mostly and the shore, and a fair amount at whistler, and on a medium I found the bike excellent (as a freeride bike)everywhere I rode it. I do believe some bikes have better preferences to certain trails. Obviously this bike seemed to excel in Whistler for you but, seemed clumsy on the shore. As the review is, your take on the subject. Fair enough. For climbing did you ever try a 410mm length seatpost?
I have a friend that has a large Ollie and he is 6'3", and has no issues pedaling the bike up hill, or with the handling of the bike. For him the bike is great.
Your height, and the size of this bike for you change the review from reviewing an Ollie, to reviewing a large Ollie from the perspective of a tall guy IMO. Otherwise a very solid review.

Couldn't have really said it better. I'm 6'1" (34" legs....so probably the same length as yours stuart) riding my third Medium ollie with a 350mm thompson post. It climbs really well and weighs in at a hair over 40 pounds.

A good review overall, though I think you would find a completely different review on the bike had someone like cam or corey tested it....

[Rexthespeedster]

From reading this thread it seems that there are Ollie owners who think this review was skewed and not fair, or there are people who (like me) appreciate the honesty provided.

Good work Stuart.

[M@M]

I think it was a really good honest review. Straight up adressed the issues you had with the bike. But as an 05 ollie owner, I dont agree with some of it. The daredevil parts I cannot comment on as my bike doesnt have any. However, the frame issue is something which I think is maybe just a product of the design. I am a little guy, about 5'10, and I ride a small ollie. The wheelbase is the same as my norco ht, and it feels really nimble. However, having briefly used a large 04 wilson, I can see where your problems arise. It is a very long frame, and it is very low slung. I am not sure as to a solution, but for me, riding a small frame, the seat tube is more than big enough for me to never have to go close to the limit marking on the seatpost in full climbing mode. I can see where you are confused as to why they put a drs on a bike that obviously means business in the going down fast department, and less so in the going up department.
I guess I'm trying to say that your issues, to me, seem to be size related, which is something devinci has to decide whether its worth to fix or not.

[Taylor_P]

very well written, i agree completely.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

A couple more comments - wheelbase for a small Ollie is 45.6", and 46.5" for a medium. That 2" from a small to the 47.5" large will make a big difference in the way the bike rides, particularly on tighter terrain.

Yes, the review would have been different if Cam or Corey had written it. They're both a fair bit smaller than I am - a couple of inches in height, and probably 40 or 50lbs. lighter. They would have been on mediums, too. And they write a bit differently than I do.

At the end of the day, all of our reviews are one person's opinion on a product. Mind you, that opinion is based on a fair bit of experience riding different product, evaluating what works and what doesn't, and then reporting out on those things.

Thanks to everyone who dug the article, and thanks to everyone who respectfully disagreed. Could this be a sign that the BB is growing up? :|

One can only dream... :)

Skifreak - give me a shout if you want to talk bike options.

[Wayne P]

What I found with the small and medium sized Devincis are that they loved to go fast, moreso than the Appalache I had. I wouldn't want the wheelbase any shorter, and judging by those numbers, they are not too long unless you are riding at a snail's pace in tight corners (then why have an 8" travel bike?).

The crucial item that gets overlooked with this bike in particular is shock choice. Less compression damping on this design makes the bike shine while other shocks like the 6 Way makes the bike clam up.

[walrasian]

I do however, have to agree with the house brand components, the bar sucks, i just replaced it cause i bent it though.


Is the bar aluminum or steel?

[DUDEONABIKE]

Is the bar aluminum or steel?

Im not to shure, can any one enlighten us about this one?

[Steed Cycles]

The bar is aluminum, I have never seen any mountain bike besides dirt jumpers come with a steel bar.

[baloom]

....And if the bike isn't meant to be ridden uphill, why spec it with a front derailleur and a DRS??? I wouldn't be raising this issue if the bike didn't have a front derailleur and came with an SRS instead. I'm calling them out on the contradiction between spec and functionality. That's a big deal to me.

To the other posters - Thanks for the props on the honest review. We pride ourselves on speaking the truth, good or bad.

Your point about spec'ing for being ridden uphill is a bit of a pet-peeve of mine....it is my opinion that some manu's simple do not know who their target market is for certain bike modesl so they spec them with a "shotgun" approach. While I like riding big bikes uphill, I would count myself a bit of a freak and not expect that many others would get off on this. In reality, there are a limited number of big rigs that have the geometry, spec, weight and suspension dynamics to render them appropriate for the uphill journey for the wider biking community.

Overall your review was a good read on a bike that I have had some questions about. You answered most of them.

[Shaker666]

This was definitely a good review.

Regarding the full length seatpost, this is crap. I've got a Thomson 31.6 post that won't go all the way down the tube. Therefore, it appears to be full length, but really isn't!

I swapped the bars and stem immediately as well... although the bars were aluminum stock.

I think my rig has the rear hub problem. It's noisy and after checking it out, definitely appears to be related to the rear hub. I'll be replacing both of my hubs as soon as I return to Vancouver (I'm currently in Arizona with it).

The bike does climb well. I've got no problem climbing with it, although I'm not the fastest climber on it. It just mashes through rough terrain like it's nothing.

[ESHER SHORE]

well we got the new Frantiks here in England, and the Frantik 1 is a sick rig, amazing value for money

the new Devinci "I-Link" suspension design is very neat, its got a really complex looking linkage driving the shock, which sits in a very compact space

overall the bike is much smaller and more compact than the Optimum-X frame used on the Ollie / Wilson lines, the Frantik feels really nimble and very easy to throw around

its substantially burlier than the Specialized SX Trail, as the Frantik's got the 1.5" head tube, beefier tubing and bolt-through 150mm rear axle, but weight is very good for a tough looking bike

well impressed, '07 looking very good for Devinci

[sicklines.com]

Nice writeup Stewart. I was perusing it and came across this:

"The next was the Saint shifters. The Ollie came spec'd with a RapidRise rear derailleur, which meant that you shifted into a higher (harder) gear by pushing on the large shifter button with your thumb. Having to take your thumb off the bars when you're pinning it down a trail, just to shift up a couple of gears, isn't my idea of fun. Sure, you can do it, but I'd rather not. Spec'ing a RapidFire shifter would have eliminated that problem."

1. What are you feeling on SRAM on the shore?

2. The shifters you got are rapidfire shifter's. They only make one saint shifter as far as I know (i.e. There aren't any reverse shifters, just reverse derailleurs). I think you wanted to say that you would've preferred a high-normal derailleur which would've made the shifting be reversed (thumb ->easier gear, index finger -> harder gear)

[ESHER SHORE]

i like SRAM for several reasons:

* 1:1 cable pull - seems to keep running longer with less adjustment than Shimano's 2:1 cable pull system, SRAM has heavier shift action seems to resist the dirt in the cables / dirt + leaves mashed into the cassette teeth _ chain better than Shimano

* no gear cable loop - on SRAM it feeds directly into the mech, so no loop to snag / tear / get filled with gunk

* no barrel adjuster - if riding skinnies or through rocky trails, nothing to snap off (ongoing problem when i ran shimano mechs)

* upper body doesn't pivot - less noise, and stops mechs self destroying against chainstays, especially on horst pivot (FSR) bikes

[Shaker666]

Couldn't have really said it better. I'm 6'1" (34" legs....so probably the same length as yours stuart) riding my third Medium ollie with a 350mm thompson post. It climbs really well and weighs in at a hair over 40 pounds.

A good review overall, though I think you would find a completely different review on the bike had someone like cam or corey tested it....

I noticed you posted that your bike weighs in a hair over 40 lbs. Mine used to weigh 46.8 lbs (medium frame) and after I swapped wheelsets (Mavic XM819 rims, alloy nipples, DT Swiss Competition spokes, Hadley hubs) and ran tubeless, I had dropped the weight to 44 lbs even. I also have a Thomson seatpost and replaced the bars and stem. Are you running a single crown fork? I still have trouble on long climbs with the Ollie. I'm starting to ride it 3 days a week up switchbacks to develop some fitness, but it's a fat pig on long climbs.

[baloom]

Couldn't have really said it better. I'm 6'1" (34" legs....so probably the same length as yours stuart) riding my third Medium ollie with a 350mm thompson post. It climbs really well and weighs in at a hair over 40 pounds.

A good review overall, though I think you would find a completely different review on the bike had someone like cam or corey tested it....

I can't really speak for the others who review bikes for NSMB, but I tend to tailor my reviews to what the bike manufacturer claims the bike can do. If the bike is touted to be freeride oriented with a propensity toward park riding, I will do mostly Whistler Bike Park rides. If a bike claims to be fashioned for the ride uphill, I will critique it as such. I try not to weigh too heavily on my own aptitude (afterall, I do a lot of uphill riding on big rigs that most would not want to ride in this way.....this does not make these "rides" well suited to this use). If the bike exceeds expectations, it will be graded as such. If it is only average, a suitable grading can be expected. While there is no way to completely separate personal bias (none of us are robots), I do believe that I try to be fair, balanced and honest at every turn. In my opinion, I don't believe that you would have seen a substantially different review whether rendered by Stuart, Corey or Cam. Stylistic differences: yes. Substantive differences: no.

[Nelson]

I noticed you posted that your bike weighs in a hair over 40 lbs. Mine used to weigh 46.8 lbs (medium frame) and after I swapped wheelsets (Mavic XM819 rims, alloy nipples, DT Swiss Competition spokes, Hadley hubs) and ran tubeless, I had dropped the weight to 44 lbs even. I also have a Thomson seatpost and replaced the bars and stem. Are you running a single crown fork? I still have trouble on long climbs with the Ollie. I'm starting to ride it 3 days a week up switchbacks to develop some fitness, but it's a fat pig on long climbs.

Same setup as you essentially but with a singlecrown travis 150, XO drivetrain, 4-way Air Shock, thompson stem with ea70 bar, and a 200g saddle.

[Nelson]

http://photos.nsmb.com/files/2/0/5/5/4/21-04-06_1551.jpg

[Ozibatla]

Hey stuart, what was the deal with rear Daredevil freehub? I got an 06 Devinci Johnson that has the daredevil stuff on it and would like to understand properly what happens to the hub so I can keep an eye on it. Thanks in advance

Marcus

[Shaker666]

Hey stuart, what was the deal with rear Daredevil freehub? I got an 06 Devinci Johnson that has the daredevil stuff on it and would like to understand properly what happens to the hub so I can keep an eye on it. Thanks in advance

Marcus

So I had the same hub problem with my '06. I eventually had a new wheelset with Hadleys built up for myself, but I also got the LBS to warranty the freehub. The freehub was what gets toasted due to improper manufacture or supposedly, incorrect viscosity of lubricant used during assembly. I've heard several mechanics tell me that the Daredevil hub is nothing other than a Formula brand unit. The grease in there is apparently too thick. You'll know you have a problem when you experience ghost shifting.

[JLW124]

Hey stuart, what was the deal with rear Daredevil freehub? I got an 06 Devinci Johnson that has the daredevil stuff on it and would like to understand properly what happens to the hub so I can keep an eye on it. Thanks in advance

Marcus

The first batch of 06's were shipped with the wrong grease in the freehub. The grease caused the pawls to get stuck in the down position occasionally, thereby shifting extra pressure onto the ones that weren't stuck. Eventually all the pawls snapped. Devinci fixed the problem (started shipping with the right grease) later in the season.

It took about 2 months for my freehub to blow up. If yours hasn't yet you're probably fine. It might be a good idea to service it just to be safe.

[Ozibatla]

cheers fellas