EUROBIKE 2015 | The highlights from Pivot Cycles
As the business cards swap hands here at EUROBIKE, the team from Pivot are poised to reveal their exciting new products fresh from Arizona. Not only has the 155 mm Mach 6 undergone a facelift ready for the upcoming season, they’ve designed a more wallet-friendly aluminium version and expanded their fleet to include a 29er trail bike. Here are the highlights.
The Mach 6’s carbon facelift
Known for their reputable design skills, Pivot have given the Mach 6 carbon frame a facelift, resulting in more organic fluidity between the toptube and headtube. With the new cable routing, the Mach 6’s technology is now fit to rival its image – the cables no long run by the shock, now running through the frame instead. The inlets at both the entry and exit points of the cables are covered. The frame is also now compatible with the electronic Di2 shifters and a battery space on the downtube retains the clean look when you add the Shimano drivetrain.
The geometry for this year’s incarnation doesn’t differ to the previous model, so it can still be considered pretty compact in an ‘American’ way. Do enduro bikes necessarily have to be slacker and longer? Nope, not if you’re Pivot! The Mach 6 comes with a 66° head angle, 401.6 mm reach (medium frame) and a relatively short chainstay of just 430.5 mm. The resulting wheelbase is 1,139.2 mm (medium frame), so the Pivot Mach 6 still retains its playful and agile nature. A while ago we tested the current model to find out exactly how it rides. The incorporation of the Boost rear end standard has led to a widening of the rear hub axle, and brought the bike firmly up to meet the latest standards.
The Mach 6 carbon will be available in four cohesive build specs, with each bike taking a colour-coordinated variation of the FOX 36 FLOAT forks and the FLOAT X rear shock. The drivetrains on the various models will respectively feature SRAM X01, Shimano XT, XTR and XTR Di2 parts. DT Swiss M1700 and XMC1200 wheels, XT or XTR brakes and Pivot’s own parts for the cockpit round the bikes’ spec off nicely. If you’d prefer to custom build your bike then the frames can be purchased individually. Just like the complete bikes, the frames come in black/orange/blue or black/green, and four different sizes. The final prices are yet to be disclosed.
The all-new Mach 6 aluminium
Alongside the upgraded carbon model, Pivot have also created an aluminium version for 2016. Compared to its carbon counterpart, it might weigh 500 g more, but it does save you a pretty hefty 1,000 € for both the frame set and the entire bike (same spec). By using the technique of hydroforming, Pivot claim to have achieved the same level of rigidity as the carbon version.
The cables run on the bottom side of the downtube, as Pivot decided not to route them internally on the aluminium model. The geometry, Boost standard and rear end kinematics have all been borrowed from the carbon bike and appear identical on this model.
The Mach 6 aluminium also comes in a more affordable option featuring a SRAM X1 drivetrain as well as a 2x version with a Shimano XT drivetrain. Both of these models roll on DT Swiss M1700 wheels and are kitted out with FOX suspension (36 FLOAT forks and FLOAT rear shock).
The Mach 429 trail bike
Back in spring this bike almost slipped through our net when Pivot presented their 29er full suspension trail bike with 116 mm rear suspension. Not just promising masses of fun on paper, it also looks damn fine. The Mach 429’s design revolves around organically flowing lines and fluid joints between the frame tubes.
The build spec reads very similar to the Mach 6, offering a great lightweight mix of functional and long-lasting parts. Just the Mach 6, looking through the geometry stats does make us raise a skeptical eyebrow though – the 409.2 mm (medium frame) reach strikes us as rather short. However, this reach could unite with the 29er wheels to deliver the optimal combination of agility and stability. Our interest is well and truly piqued and we’re stoked to get this bike out for a test ride. Be excited!
For more info head to pivotcycles.com
Words: Daniel Schlicke Photos: Christoph Bayer