The 145 mm travel Dixon RC is Devinci's mid-level all-mountain contender, priced at $3,999 USD and tipping the scales at 29 lbs (size large, w/o pedals). Considering that the frame is made in-house at Devinci's headquarters in Quebec, Canada, and offers an unheard-of lifetime warranty, it could be considered a bargain. Devinci is so confident in the original rendition of the bike that the only real revision to the successful Dixon platform for the '12 season was the addition of an XL size.

• Intended use: all-mountain
• 145mm (5.7'') of rear wheel travel
• Aluminum frame welded in Canada
• Split Pivot concentric axle pivot
• 12 x 142mm rear axle
• Adjustable geometry
• Tapered head tube
• Weight: 29lbs (w/o pedals)
• MSRP $3,999 USD

Devinci's Intelligent Link (left) features pivot hardware that allows you to adjust the bike's head angle by half a degree. The bike's Fox Float RP2 rear shock is mounted to the Intelligent Link and the front triangle - it doesn't 'float' as on other designs. Use of a stock, non-modified shock is thanks to the well-tuned leverage ratio integrated into the DW-inspired Split Pivot suspension, meaning that the damper doesn't require a special tune to get the most out of the design.

The heart of Devinci's mountain bike line-up is the Split Pivot, a concentric pivot that rotates around the rear axle. The 12mm thru-axle eliminates the weight of pivot axles for the rear end, since the wheel axle also serves as the pivot axle for the bearings. The concentrically-located Split Pivot is engineered to reduce excess suspension reaction to acceleration and braking forces. Devinci's frame bearings are MAX-type bearings with water-resistant grease and weather seals, and are further protected with anodized aluminum accent caps that serve to keep the muck out. Rear derailleur cable housing flows inside the drive-side chain stay, while other cables are kept neatly externally fixed.

Devinci's G4 aluminum tubeset is triple butted, which means the tubes are thickest in areas where strength is key and thinner in less vital areas, allowing weight savings. Further strength is gained by high-pressure hydroforming the 6066-T6 aluminum tubes into the pyramid shape you see on the top and down tubes above. Devinci welds and heat-treats their frames before machining the bearing seats into the pivot points, thereby eliminating the chance of frame deformation due to the intense heat of welding. This in turn increases bearing life in the frame by ensuring frame alignment free of axial loading to the bearing.

With bearings located inside the head tube for both top and bottom headset cups, the frame's shaped top and down tubes can also take advantage of premium real estate offered by a massive tapered head tube. The result is an assuredly solid connection during the manufacturing process.

To sum up the purpose of the Dixon series, Devinci specs a Fox Float 32 RL FIT fork with a 150mm of travel, a tapered steerer and 15mm thru-axle. As opposed to the beefier Fox 36 chassis found on more aggressive all-mountain bikes, the 32 offers a weight savings of nearly a full pound and a one inch lower ride height, which steers the Dixon in the direction of long-travel trailbike machine, with equal capability between pedalling prowess and singletrack slaying. Surprisingly, there is no 'dropper' style seat post included with this bike of said intentions. The Dixon's geometry is where most of the XC similarities end. With slacker angles than cross-country rigs, yet quicker than freeride offerings, it's a bike positioned to maximize pedaling efficiency without compromising the fun factor when gravity takes over. For 2012, Devinci adds an XL size Dixon for all you tall freaks out there.

Cable routing to the carbon-caged X9 rear derailleur is through the chain stay. The 2 x10 drivetrain is here to stay and a mix of SRAM and Shimano is found on the Dixon RC. X9 shifters and rear derailleur tackle the main shifting duties, with Shimano's 11-36 cassette covering a range broad enough to all but eliminates the need for anything less than the 38t main chainring. A SRAM X7 front derailleur drops the chain onto a 24t granny gear for bailing out when the going gets really steep. The SRAM crankset, while subtle, appears quite refined.

Devinci is one of few actual bike manufacturers that doesn't spec an in-house component brand. Handlebar, stem, and seatpost on the Dixon are of the Easton Haven family, offering lightweight performance with superb stiffness and modern, aggressive styling. At 711mm for the bar and 90mm stem, Dixon's spec is consistent throughout the bike to solidify its place in the heart of the fast and efficient all-mountain segment.

The 2012 Devinci Dixon RC is a curious blend of medium travel with semi-aggressive geometry in a reasonably lightweight package, meticulously constructed in Canada and backed by a lifetime warranty. Peak fall foliage greets our test Dixon with sloppy winter conditions right around the corner. Stay tuned for the full review to see how the Dixon RC performed.

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