Pump up the Volume
Ready to rock: The Marshall, formerly the Hendrix, is a plus-sized ripper that loves to rock out on the trails.
In 2016 the Canadian-based company known as Devinci unveiled a 27.5+ bike called the Hendrix. The bike was of course named in honor of the late, great rock ’n’ roll icon Jimi Hendrix. However, after some legal issues, the name of the bike was changed to Hendrix’s middle name—Marshall. This new frame has a familiar look and is now available in a carbon or aluminum option. The Marshall also received an updated component spec for 2017. Our testers felt compelled to crank the dial up to 11 to see if this recently renamed plus-size machine could rock out on the trails as hard as its name implies.
WHO IS IT MADE FOR?
The Marshall is designed for a wide range of riders, from beginners to experts. Its large-footprint tires and Split-Pivot suspension system provide riders with endless traction and control on wet or dry surfaces. The Marshall is also highly customizable, since it can be run with 29-inch wheels, has high- and low-geometry flip chips in the rear linkage and has an optional headset spacer (sold separately) that can further adjust the geometry. Riders from around the world will find the Marshall is more than capable of adapting to their local trails.
Put a Pike on it: The Marshall has a 120-millimeter RockShox Pike, which provided riders with confidence and adjustability.
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?
Devinci proudly stamps “Made in Canada” on all of its aluminum frames crafted in-house; however, riders seeking a lighter-weight package can opt for Devinci’s proven DMC-G carbon. The frames both sport Dave Weagle’s patented Split-Pivot suspension design with 110 millimeters of travel and geometry optimized for 27.5+ wheels. Up front the Marshall has 120 millimeters of travel, but Devinci says the bike can easily handle a 130-millimeter fork for more aggressive riding. The Marshall has Boost hub spacing front and rear, making it compatible with many modern 29-inch wheels. It also follows the new geometry trend of long, slack and low.
Just ride: RockShox’s Monarch R shock lacks external compression adjustment and only gives riders the ability to adjust rebound. This simplistic shock, however, provided our test riders with an easy transition between climbing and descending.
WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?
The bike we tested had an aluminum frame paired with Shimano, Race Face and RockShox parts that helped keep the Marshall at a reasonable price. An 11-speed XT rear derailleur and an 11-42-tooth SLX cassette, combined with a Race Face crankset and a 30-tooth chainring, provide the Marshall with a nice gear ratio for powering up climbs or pedaling hard on flat sections. The Marshall comes with RockShox suspension and a Reverb stealth dropper post throughout its model lineup and sports a pair of wide Race Face wheels. Last but not least, Devinci spec’d a super-wide pair of 800-millimeter handlebars so riders could cut them to their preferred length. Devinci combined the bars with a short 50-millimeter stem.
Blast off: The Marshall is a fast-descending bike that doesn’t shy away from trail features. Our test riders often found themselves searching for anything they could jump or hop over.
HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
Setting Sag: Our test bike’s RockShox suspension took little effort to dial in and will likely be easy for beginners to dial as well. We placed the front and rear sag at 20 percent and dialed in our rebound knobs a few clicks faster than center. We gave the fork three clicks of low-speed compression, and kept the three-position, high-speed compression adjustment open during most of our time on the trails. Our tubeless plus-size tires were then filled to 16 psi in the rear and 15 psi up front.
Moving Out: Riders who hop aboard the Marshall, especially ones with narrower shoulders, will quickly take notice of the 800-millimeter handlebars. Most riders will want to chop these down at least 20 millimeters or so; however, don’t be too hasty. Some of our test riders preferred the added leverage and stability the wider bars gave them.
Spin it up: The Marshall features a Shimano drivetrain mixed with a Race Face crankset. The small 30-tooth chainring and Shimano 11-42 tooth cassette allowed our test riders to grind their way to the top of any climb.
The Marshall is a very adaptable bike that can be tweaked for many different environments. The flip chips in the linkage can drastically change how the bike handles. Riders seeking an ultra-slack bike can purchase a headset spacer from Devinci that will further customize the bike’s geometry and feel.
Climbing: To our test riders’ surprise, the Marshall’s Monarch R shock lacks any kind of external compression damping, meaning riders can only adjust the shock’s rebound. But, once we hit the trails, we found the bike’s simplistic shock actually worked really well. We noticed a small amount of bob in the suspension when charging out of the saddle, but the plus-size tires held traction well, and the low-range gearing helped us spin our way up the climbs. The aluminum Marshall is by no means a lightweight bike, but it’s a spirited climber willing to earn its descents.
Cornering: Devinci is known for making bikes that are playful, and the Marshall is no exception. The Marshall’s short chainstays and fairly slack head tube gave our test riders confidence when blasting full speed into turns. Maxxis’ 3-inch-wide Chronicles, its first-ever plus-size tires, have a fast-rolling tread that doesn’t bite too hard when leaning over, allowing riders to experience a confident and controlled slide. The Marshall’s cockpit, with its wide bars and short stem, further increased our test riders’ ability to whip this bike around the trails.
Out of the saddle: The Marshall may not be the fastest bike to the top of the hill, but its low-range gearing and traction-hugging tires allowed our test riders to conquer any climb we threw at it.
Descending: With just 110 millimeters of travel, riders might fool themselves into thinking the Marshall is a light-duty rig destined for smooth singletrack, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The Marshall is a highly capable trailbike thanks to the added cushioning of the large air-volume tires and efficient RockShox suspension. Our test riders had little concern charging the gnarliest trails aboard the Marshall. Yes, it beat us up a bit more than a plush long-travel trailbike, but it felt surprisingly capable for the amount of travel.
Braking: Devinci spec’d Shimano SLX brakes on the Marshall for two reasons: they are relatively cheap and they work well. Shimano’s SLX brakes offer a tool-free reach adjustment, ergonomic one-finger levers and are among the easiest brakes to perform routine maintenance on. Pairing the brakes with a 180- front and 160-millimeter rear rotor gave our Marshall enough stopping power to satisfy all of our riders’ needs. These brakes may not wow riders with heaps of power, but their reliability and affordability will.
External cables: The Marshall has external cables running along the top of its downtube. These cables, although external, are tucked away, giving the Marshall a clean and streamlined look.
TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?
Most riders who swing a leg over the Marshall will find that the handlebars are way too wide; however, Devinci did this on purpose so riders could customize the Marshall to fit their needs. One of the MBA crew’s favorite ways to discover their preferred handlebar width is to put themselves in a comfortable push-up position and measure the distance between the outsides of their hands. We highly recommend riding the bike multiple times before cutting the handlebars. Remember, bars can only be cut shorter and can never be returned to their original length.
BUYING ADVICE
Convertible-wheel-size bikes have become one of the most popular trends over the last year or two. The Marshall, although intended to be more of a 27.5-plus-specific bike, is Devinci’s push towards the convertible-wheel-size market. Devinci built this bike with the intention of pleasing riders who want to buy one bike and adapt it to different types of riding. A plus-size trail ripper or an ultra-slack 29er—it doesn’t matter; the Marshall is a bike with multiple personalities. Riders who are seeking a rockin’ bike they can make their own should experience what the Marshall has to offer.
External cables: The Marshall has external cables running along the top of its downtube. These cables, although external, are tucked away, giving the Marshall a clean and streamlined look.