#Pivot firebird full#

Pivot have used the DW link suspension platform since forever - literally, that's all they've ever used. The seat tube has a ton of insertion depth to run a long-stroke seatpost as is the trend, and the back end features a Sram Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH). The frame sports mounts for Fox Live Valve - and subsequently Fox's electronically controlled system is a spec option. With a super-boost rear end, there's a ton of tire and heel clearance. On the topic of geometry adjustment, there's a flip-chip in the rear triangle that raises and lowers the BB as well as changing head angle - this also allows the rear wheel to be run as a mullet with the chip in the high position. Running a 1.5' head tube, the Firebird uses a press-in headset which enables the use of different forks, ie dual crown, or the use of an angle-adjust headset to further slacken it out, if that's your bag.

#Pivot firebird full#

The frame is also full of neat touches that show that Pivot have put some real design time into this bike, such as the chainstay protector with a cushioned design to minimise noise, the rubber flap to keep debris out of the lower link, and the tidy bolt-in cable grommets.

Available only in carbon, the frame material is key to the bike's ride quality in that Pivot tune the tube shapes to give the bike a stiff and precise ride, perfect for smashing through rock gardens. Pivot are a premium brand in every sense of the word and the Firebird fully embodies their design principles. Rounding off the package are some geometry updates and a boost in rear wheel travel t0 165mm to really set this bike apart as the big travel smasher that it is. In the last little while we've seen some cool new component releases specific to bigger travel bikes, which means that Pivot have a pretty sweet parts bin from which to select their build components including forks like the Fox 38 complete with Live Valve electronic control. The front triangle also features not just one but two locations for bolt-on tool storage under the down tube and the underside of the top tube. This means not only a change in suspension kinematics, more on that later, but also room in the front triangle for a bottle cage - something the previous generation lacked.

Pivot have slowly been changing their design language throughout their bikes from curvy with a horizontally-mounted shock to a more modern looking frame with straighter tubes and a vertically-mounted shock. This is the first time we've carried any bike under the Pivot Firebird moniker, but since we're here we might as well point out some key differences between this bike and its predecessor.

Running 29' wheels front and rear with 165/170mm travel, the Firebird is not only a super capable descender, but thanks to its legendary DW link suspension, it also sports some impressive climbing prowess - because Pivot know that what goes down, must come up. Freshly overhauled for 2022 the new Firebird sports some notable changes, but its intention remains the same - to be able to tackle the gnarliest trails around and come back swinging looking for more.