So, what are we looking at here? Firstly, a totally new frame design. Gone is the squashed U shape top tube and in its place a carbon bike that shares a similar silhouette to the Mach 6 with clean lines and internal cable routing. The DW link driven suspension has grown from 167mm to 170mm to be mated with a 170/180mm fork up front.
The geometry has been updated including, most drastically, an increase in reach of 65 mm from 400 to 465mm in size large – a true indication of how quickly bike geometry has moved. The new measurements comes with influence from the Phoenix downhill bike and really separate the Firebird from the relatively squat Mach 6. It also has oh-so-trendy short chainstays of 430mm, the shortest of any of Pivot’s 650b bikes.
What’s not included is Pivot’s Super Boost 157 standard that it debuted on the Switchblade. It seems designer Chris Cocalis thinks he can get all the stiffness he needs from standard Boost on this 650b bike – and he’s probably right as it’s claimed this is Pivot’s stiffest ever bike.
Pivot describes this bike as a “do it all” machine (of course they do) with a focus on park and enduro. The enduro tag is confusing though when it has awkwardly placed bottle cages and the accompanying video places so much emphasis on the climb switch of the Fox X2 – not something you want to be flipping half way through a special stage.
Although having said that, we’ve no doubt this will more than capably handle enduro racing speeds and when it comes to stages such as the Crankworx Whistler Top of the World this is definitely the arrow we’d be notching from Pivot’s sheaf, but for shorter UK events you may want to settle for the Mach 6.
Other features include compatibility with a 2x drivetrain, Di2 compatibility, and the ability to fit tyres up to 2.5 inches wide, so there’s no room for Plus tyres here.
The bike will be available in S, M, L and XL with two colour options and nine different builds. The weight is a well guarded secret but we’re assured that a build can be put together for under 28 lbs (12.7 kg). Frames are £3,300 and there are full builds from £5,050 to £8,920.
For more information, click here.
Interested in the Firebird? Take a look at the Radon Swoop or Propain Spindrift
