Pivot Firebird in Test – Do you like ironing?

What do a crumpled shirt and a nasty root-carpet have in common? For both you need a decent iron. But since there aren’t many plugs in the forest (yet) the Pivot Firebird is still your best alternative – and our test can prove it!

Antonia’s got a problem: Most women-specific bikes don’t do her bad-ass riding-style justice. Most manufacturers are still following the dated “Shrink it-pink it” motto. The geometry of women-specific bikes is generally shorter and steeper, the handlebars are narrower and some brands are still using 2x setups and lighter tires. But what should small aggressive rider-girls and -boys do if they need a bike for proper rough terrain? They should opt for a unisex bike. And with 170 mm of travel the Pivot Firebird is exactly the bike they’re looking for. Instead of coming up with a women-specific bike with a dull “geometry downgrade” the American brand decided to make their Firebird available in a choice of four sizes — from S to XL. Other Pivot models even come in five sizes (XS-XL).

 Lady-bikes with steeper geometries and narrower handlebars are not an option for Antonia – she wants a rowdy bike!

Spec of the Pivot Firebird

Fork FOX 35 Float Factory
Rear shock FOX Float X2 Performance
Drivetrain SRAM X01 Eagle
Brakes Shimano XT 180 mm/180 mm
Handelbar Pheonix Team Carbon 800 m
Stem Phoenix Team Enduro 45 mm
Seatpost FOX Transfer 125 mm
Tires Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5″/Minion DHRII 2.4″
Wheels DT Swiss M1700 SPLINE Two

We have to say that the size of Antonia’s Firebird is just at the limit for her 160 cm-height but then the 125 mm dropper-post makes up for it. This pays off especially in demanding and steep terrain – and that’s exactly where the Firebird feels at home. With a price of € 8,299 the Firebird with the X01-spec is not exactly a bargain but you will get a well thought-out frame with lots of clever features and superb craftsmanship for your money. After eight months of fierce shredding the bearings are still running smoothly and the paint-job still looks good – with the exception of a spot on the lower DW-Link where stones and dust scratch off the paint whenever the link is compressed. Pivot has now found a solution to this problem and offers customers protective stickers. The cable routing is well thought-out and totally stress-free. You can even stick a water bottle on the downtube but it is likely to get covered in dirt in this position. All in all we’re really impressed with the spec of the Firebird and only the ever-changing pressure point of the Shimano XT brakes spoils the party – a notorious problem which has apparently been fixed with the latest generation of XT brakes. The FOX 36 FLOAT Factory fork and a X2- shock can be easily adjusted to Antonia’s light body-weight (65 kg) and the bike’s light weight of 13.2 kg really suits lighter riders. If you think that the price of the high-end spec is too steep you’ll find a more suitable option in Pivot’s huge model range.

The Pivot Firebird comes with 170 mm of travel – managed by a DW-Link in the rear-end. Despite the enormous reserves of the rear-suspension the clever linkage allows for a pleasantly firm rear-end on climbs and generates tons of grip and traction; this feels great especially on technical uphills! However when riding on tarmac it’s worth locking-out the rear suspension. Despite its pleasantly centred riding position the Firebird isn’t exactly a climbing-rocket – but it will still get you to the trailhead in one piece. And that’s exactly what you would expect from a bike like this.

 With 170 mm travel the Firebird’s motto is “Full steam ahead”!

But the Firebird truly shines on the downhill. The same way a steam-iron flattens the creases of a crumpled silk shirt the Pivot glides smoothly through the toughest of trails. The rear-end works sensitively and releases its travel eagerly – the Firebird keeps composed even in the nastiest rock-gardens and root-carpets. The rear-end progression on our size S test-bike is spot on but if you still want more you can add a token to the air chamber. The Firebird feels incredibly composed and the handling inspires tons of confidence. It motivates you to ride even faster and makes chicken-lines a thing of the past. The faster you go the more your confidence and adrenaline levels raise. And yet the Firebird never feels sluggish or sleepy.

In corners the bike surprised us with its incredibly well-balanced handling. The grip on the front-wheel is spot-on even without too much weight-shifting which makes the Firebird feel predictable and good-natured at all times. When riding on flat trails the suspension sucks up quite a bit of energy and causes the bike to feel a little sluggish – but that’s irrelevant because the Firebird wasn’t built for flat trails anyway.

Conclusion

The Pivot Firebird is the sort of iron both men and women should have in their cupboard (or garage). Thanks to its superb chassis, the dialled geometry and a harmonious spec it is the perfect companion for tough trail riding. It feels surefooted and inspires lots of confidence but unfortunately it requires a big savings account.

Uphill  | Downhill  | Stability  | Agility 
Value 

For more information head to pivotcycles.com