Since debuting at Interbike back in 2007, Arizona-based mountain bike company Pivot Cycles has been steadily growing its range beyond the original Mach 4 and Mach 5 full suspension models. They now have everything from lightweight carbon hardtails through to a full-blown downhill race bike, and everything in between.
For this year’s Eurobike show, Pivot had a number of recently announced models on display, including the Switchblade 29/27.5+ bike and the new Firebird Carbon. They also had two brand new bikes to unveil, which included the new Vault cyclocross bike and the redesigned Mach 429 SL.
Pivot Cycles started out as a niche mountain bike company based in Arizona in the US. They’re steadily growing in numbers though, and the European market is lapping them up big time.Possibly one of the sexiest bikes at Eurobike is the brand new Mach 429 SL from Pivot Cycles. While it doesn’t look a whole lot different from the outgoing Mach 429 SL, the new version packs in a couple of key updates including BOOST 148x12mm rear axle spacing, and a redesigned carbon layup that helps to get frame weight down to just 2.4kg including the Fox rear shock.For those unfamiliar with the brand, Pivot offer the Mach 429 in two different models. The Mach 429 Trail, and the Mach 429 SL. The SL (shown here), is the lighter and shorter travel option, designed for XC trail riding and marathon racing. Both bikes are built around 29in wheels, though they’re both capable of fitting 27.5+ setups if you so choose.Like most Pivot models, the Mach 429 SL is only available in carbon fibre. Pivot has been investing significantly in high-end carbon construction, having been one of the early adopters of the solid EPS mandrel technique for laying up the carbon.Also like all Pivot full suspension models, the Mach 429 SL uses the dw-link suspension design, and is tuned to offer maximum pedal efficiency without having to rely on heavy compression damping in the rear shock.The frame features a solid front triangle and a solid rear triangle, with two small links joining the two together. These links are made from cold-forged alloy, and are packed with Enduro Max cartridge bearings. The new Mach 429 SL Carbon has updated to BOOST 148 spacing out back, along with a redesigned rear triangle that has increased back-end stiffness.Whereas the Mach 429 Trail gets 116mm of travel, the Mach 429 SL uses 100mm of travel out back and is capable of fitting a 100-120mm travel fork up front.Note Pivot’s neat sag indicator around the Fox FLOAT Kashima rear shock – this is found on every Pivot full suspension bike, and makes suspension setup a whole load easier.The Mach 429 SL Carbon will be available in both blue and red highlight options on a matte carbon frame. We dig the restrained graphics over previous Pivot models.The geometry on the new Mach 429 SL Carbon is the same as the outgoing model. That sees a 69.3-degree head angle when using a 120mm travel fork, and a reasonably long wheelbase for climbing traction and descending stability – good attributes for a bike that’s built for long distance trail riding.Beefy 148x12mm rear dropouts offer a wide and stable support base for the rear hub. Also worth noting is Pivot’s clean internal cable routing solution, which offers full Di2 compatibility via the Cable Port System.Front derailleurs? What is that? Well, if you know what it is, we’re told you can fit them where that sweet Pivot blanking cap is.The lower dw-link is very short but also very wide to minimise flex through the Mach 429’s back end. There’s a lot of neat lines throughout the carbon frame, which has been made possible by Pivot’s hollowbox moulding technique to create very dense and strong carbon walls, while achieving the clearance where required.The redesigned rear triangle on the new Pivot Mach 429 SL offers loads of tyre clearance – you can fit a 27.5 plus tyre in here (if you’re into that short of thing).Not as new, but trick nonetheless is the latest LES hardtail. Previously the LES was offered in both 27.5in and 29in wheel options, but the new frame has been configured to do both. Thanks to adjustable dropouts, you can set it up with regular 29in wheels (as shown here), or with 27.5+ wheels.Despite the increase in versatility, the LES Carbon drops 50 grams over the previous frame design. It’s also ready to take up to 130mm of fork travel if you want to set it up in ‘rad’ mode, though we imagine most riders will stick with 100mm up front.Pivot have rapidly evolved their geometry in recent times, with their new bikes getting significantly longer in the top tube length to better suit shorter stems and wider bars. The LES runs a long front centre and a 69.5-degree head angle with a 100mm travel fork. Expect that HA to get slacker when using a bigger travel fork.Super clean 1x setup on the Pivot LES, but a hidden port covers the mounting point for a front mech, so you can rock 2x if you need the extra range.Pivot look to have sweated the details on their carbon bikes, with the ability to run electronic or mechanical shifting, dropper posts, Di2 batteries, and multiple chainring setups.BOOST 148 spacing on the rear allows for shorter chainstays and a stiffer platform for the rear wheel. The dropouts are sliding via Pivot’s versatile Swinger II system, so you can adjust between 29in and 27.5+ setups.Tidy dropouts with adjustable position.Clean lines from the top tube down into the seat stays.And masses of mud room out back with a regular 29×2.25in wide tyre, or the potential to fit up to a 27.5×2.8in plus tyre.We covered the Firebird Carbon release on Singletrackworld.com last week when it was released, but we got the chance to see one up close during Eurobike. It’s purdy.The Firebird has 170mm of rear wheel travel and 27.5in wheels. It’s the big enduro bruiser of the Pivot Cycles bunch.Beefy linkages and oversized bearings to add masses of stiffness to the Firebird’s rear end.No Super BOOST Plus 157mm spacing for the Firebird. Instead, it’s rocking regular BOOST 148x12mm spacing. We asked Pivot why the Firebird didn’t go down the same route as the Switchblade (which uses the 157x12mm standard), and they explained that their was less need with the Firebird with its regular 27.5in tyres.Tidy cable routing and lower linkage on the Firebird Carbon.The upper dw-link drives a shock yoke that controls the compression of the rear shock.The Switchblade is a few months old, but no less impressive thanks to its wicked short chainstay length and the ability to fit 27.5in plus tyres.A slick Mach 6 carbon endooooro bike.And one of the most popular bikes in the Pivot Cycles range, the Mach 429 Trail that was released last year.Hard to miss this banger! It’s the Phoenix carbon downhill race bike, complete with carbon Reynolds rims and Kashima suspension from Fox.Our mates over at Grit.cx will tell you more about this one – the new Vault cyclocross/gravel bike from Pivot. It’s a good looker that’s for sure, and has a lot of dirt-capability for a drop bar bike.
With 23 years as Editor of Singletrack World Magazine, Chipps is the longest-running mountain bike magazine editor in the world. He started in the bike trade in 1990 and became a full time mountain bike journalist at the start of 1994. Over the last 30 years as a bike writer and photographer, he has seen mountain bike culture flourish, strengthen and diversify and bike technology go from rigid steel frames to fully suspended carbon fibre (and sometimes back to rigid steel as well.)
I’ve never wanted a cross bike before, but I do now.