The Pivot Firebird has been a favourite Publication at the end of 2016 one of the finest and best bikes when it came to combining decent pedalling uphill with bike park-compatible and safe downhill characteristics. For 2019, Pivot is relaunching the Firebird and is now relying on 29-inch wheels and an even more downhill-orientated geometry. The new Pivot bike will be presented for the first time at the Eurobike 2018 in Friedrichshafen (8-10 July 2018). However, if you don't like 29ers, you can also ride the new Firebird with 27.5-inch plus tyres, thanks to the geometry adjustment.
More potent uphill and downhill: 29 inch wheels
Making the tried and tested even better. More downhill performance without increasing the weight, and at the same time more power on the climbs - that was what the Pivot developers had in mind. Like many current manufacturers, the Americans follow a tried and tested pattern for their Super Enduro in order to fulfil all these requirements. The solution is 29 inches.
Both downhill and uphill, the large wheels have now earned their place in the gravity segment, and even in the Downhill World Cup, many teams now rely on the large rollers with their lush rolling behaviour. The new Pivot Firebird offers a good 160 millimetres of travel at the rear and 170 millimetres at the front. The reach of the new bike increases to an impressive 475 millimetres in frame size L, and the head angle of 65 degrees in the slack setting is actually quite slack for a 29er. (In the "high" setting, the head angle increases by half a degree and the reach by five millimetres).
Manoeuvrable handling thanks to Superboost
To ensure that the bike can still score points with playful handling, Pivot resorts to a little trick: the Superboost hub standard. This involves installing a 157 millimetre wide hub at the rear, which is significantly wider than the "normal" Boost version with 148 millimetres, allowing even more freedom in terms of both wheel and rear triangle design. The chainstays measure just 431 millimetres, a top value for a bike that can accommodate tyres up to 2.6 inches wide in 29 inch and even up to 3 inches wide in 27.5 inch.
Pivot reassures sceptics with the news that the Q-factor of the bike is nevertheless no higher than usual for Boost bikes, and heel clearance should not be affected by the design either. Pivot even promises more heel clearance than on its own cross-country bikes without Boost. The value of 168-177 millimetres for the Q-factor, depending on the crank, corresponds exactly to the Boost standard. In addition, the connection between the rear triangle and main frame has been redesigned along the lines of the Phoenix downhill bike, with a focus on stiffness and durability.
27.5 inch plus as an option
For those who prefer 27.5 inches, Pivot supplies a special headset shell that flattens the head angle slightly and adapts the bottom bracket height and other parameters to the small wheels. The weight of 3.3 kilos for the frame with shock and from around 13.5 kilos for the complete bike is also acceptable for this suspension travel class.
Prices and equipment
Of course, the Pivot Firebird is not a bargain. The entry-level Race XT 1x model with Fox 36 and Float DPX2, both in the Performance version, Shimano XT 1x11 drivetrain and SLX brakes, plus Sun Ringle Duroc wheels, starts at 6099 euros RRP. The upper end of the scale is only reached at 10999 euros for the Team XX1 model. The bike with Sram XX1 Eagle drivetrain, Float X2 shock and Fox 36 Factory fork, Guide Ultimate brakes and carbon wheels from Reynolds. There is a total of three equipment lines to choose from, each with Sram or Shimano brakes and drivetrain as an option.
All information about the new Pivot Firebird 29 can also be found on the Website of the manufacturer.
Adrian Kaether
Editor
