We were fortunate to get our hands on a pair of next years Wilson 3’s to test ride at Crankworx. Whistler provided a variety of terrain for us to abuse these gravity weapons, and we wasted no time taking the bikes right to the top. As we left the Devinci headquarters, the Frenchmen warned us ‘low bottom bracket, watch your pedals!’ Which translated into ‘this things rails, have fun.’
The 2009 Wilson frames have not changed geometry, though they have upgraded to more durable needle bearings and wicked build kits.
Spending time adjusting my cockpit allowed me to notice the impressive build on the Wilson 3. Fox DHX 5 coil and a Boxxer team gave me the peace of mind that I would feel right at home out on the trails. The Wilson 3 is also equipped with Code 5 brakes, Sram X.O rear derailleur, DT Swiss rear hub laced on Mavic rims, e13 LG1, Daredevil components, and the very popular Maxxis Hi-Roller tires. Weighing about 41 pounds out of the box and sporting quality accessories makes the Wilson 3 a very capable race bike. This left me to wonder how the Wilson 4 could possibly be better.
Boxxer World Cup, Fox DHX5 Air or Coil, Avid Codes, Gravity Light Cranks, DT Wheelset, Sram XO and Crankbrother pedals make the Wilson 4 a top end build!
The Wilson’s geometry is adjustable to suite you personal needs. Adjustments are found at the front shock mount and at the dropout leaving you with the option to adjust your B.B. height, wheelbase length and headtube angle. We opted for the DH setting; a low B.B., slack head angle, and longer wheelbase.
Having just raced the world famous Garbanzo DH, we felt we should bring these bikes up to speed and we dropped into the rock strewn Original Sin. After about 100 meters of the worlds’ finest trails and non-stop giggles, a crank arm to rock propelled me over the bars. We had a long way to go, but refused to tone it down the rest of the way as the Frenchmen’s words rang in my head “watch your pedals!”
Ontario’s former junior team member and elite racer, Kyle Lockyer
Continuing down the technical Garbanzo trails allowed us to get a good feel for the bikes handling. The four bar design allowed the rear wheel to stick to the ground under various loads descending down Garbanzo, allowing for more traction, controlled braking and ultimately more speed. The light build felt very maneuverable in the tight spots. Dropping into the brand new “Ninja Cougar” would put the Wilson’s cornering ability to the test, as the trail resembled a tight dual slalom track in the woods. Even on the longer wheelbase setting, the tight corners were sharp and quick! The low B.B. and short chainstay allowed the Wilson to corner like a dream. A few more drops, jumps and cool features unique to Whistler, and we had made it down.
After making some quick adjustments to the suspension and swapping in low profile pedals, it was time to truly test the speeds of the Wilson on the World Cup style Canadian Open Track: Fast, Gnarly and Rough. Feeling a little bit more at home, I hammered on the pedals wherever necessary. The combination of the 4-bar design, the DHX 5, frame weight and design made the Wilson a very efficient pedaling bike. The course opened up and the Wilson was put to work. The suspension ramped up nicely on the high-speed compressions and the bike felt balanced. When the bike broke loose, it was predictable and controlled. The Code 5’s were a treat as speed was controlled on command keeping the pilot safe.
The Wilson 3 rode very well and we were very impressed with the build kit. Devinci has made a statement of quality by complementing the whole line of Wilsons with very nice part build kits. Complete options are available for the seasoned racer, weekend warrior, freerider and beginner. Talk to Silent Sports in Thornhill for a great deal on your Devinci bikes!
Tom styling it over the rocks
