It’s high-pivot season and the Devinci Spartan is the latest enduro bike out there to separate its chain and suspension forces.
The now-dubbed Spartan HP is a complete redesign, which reconfigures the frame and suspension design, adding a high pivot and idler pulley to its patented Split-Pivot suspension design, and reshaping the geometry.
The Spartan HP has 160mm of rear travel, with 29-inch wheels, elevated chainstays and seatstays, and a unique look on its full carbon frame.
Suspension
Devinci says that combining the high-pivot layout with the Split-Pivot platform separates acceleration and braking forces for a smoother ride with “hyperactive” small bump compliance. The rearward axle path increases traction and stability and the Spartan HP is still tuned with an efficient platform for climbing.
Frame features
Something that we might see more of and is new on the Devinci Spartan HP is a 34.9mm seat post, which Devinci says adds longevity and reduced post flex for droppers.
Insertion lengths are pretty great on the new Spartan, at 225mm for a small, 250mm for a medium, 285mm for a large, and 300mm for an XL.
The Spartan can run chainrings from 28-36T, and in the rear, the bike will fit a 29×2.5″ tire. Other features include coil compatibility – something that makes sense for an enduro race bike, as does a threaded bottom bracket, an ISCG05 mount, double-lip sealed Enduro bearings, and partially guided internal cable routing, though the release doesn’t mention exactly how this works.
Geometry
The Spartan comes in sizes S, M, L, and XL and the bike keeps a hi/lo flip-chip. Seat tubes are kept short for better dropper insertion, the seat tube angles have steepened and on the medium are 77° in the low position, and the HTA is 64.5° with a reach of 465mm. The wheelbase is 1,232mm on that size M.
The Spartan HP utilizes size-specific chainstays and adaptable chainstay lengths on sizes L/XL. Sizes S and M get 425mm chainstays, size L gets 430mm, and size XL gets 435mm chainstays, keeping the rear end quite snappy for a long-travel enduro rig.
Build kits
The Spartan HP tops out with a $9,000 Shimano XTR build with Fox, Kashima-coated suspension, and RaceFace Turbine wheels.
The most affordable build is a SRAM GX-specced Spartan HP with RaceFace AR30 rims and Factor hubs, SRAM Code R brakes, and Fox Performance suspension, selling for $6,150. The weight on this build is a cozy 33lbs. Devinci did not include weights for the other builds.
For more information check out the Devinci website.
