Pivot Firebird 275 - 160 Millimeter All-Mountain Shredder
Pivot Firebird 725 is the first mid-sized-wheel design to arrive from the Arizona bike maker. The 167-millimeter-travel all-mountain chassis is a good match for 650B wheels.
Pivot's Firebird is a sharp-pedaling all-mountain design that has been in its lineup for a number of years and it has earned the respect of many for its remarkable versatility. Pivot designer and founder Chris Cocalis is infamous for his unyielding attention to detail, so we expected to hear a litany of physical and numerical descriptions when we asked him about the new bike. Chris, however, admitted that he didn't need to make many alterations to the 26-inch-wheel Firebird in order to produce the 650B version. Firebird 275s have 167 millimeters of rear-wheel travel and are designed around 160-millimeter forks. Complete bikes are sold for $5599, based upon Shimano XT components and for $6199, decked out in SRAM X0. Frame sizes are small, medium and large, and Pivot offers a frame kit that includes a special angle-cup headset (more about that later), and a Fox Float CTD shock and 34 CTD 160 fork.
A lot of design went into the Firebird to keep the chainstays short, and still allow for ample tire clearance around the dual-link suspension. That homework paid off, because the original swingarm later provided ample room for the larger wheel size.
The swingarm of the Firebird is unchanged, because there is enough room for 2.5-inch 650B tires. Bottom bracket height is 14 inches, the same as the 26er, and the dw-link suspension is also unchanged. To keep the ride-height correct, the head tube was shortened about a fourth of an inch and the head angle is slacked out by Pivot-designed headset cups that create a perfect-for-650B, 66-degree head angle and is one degree slacker than the original 26-inch Firebird. The system is not adjustable like Cane Creek's AngleSet. Instead, it is a pair of fixed cups that alter the head angle by one degree. Three sets of cups are used, one for each head tube length to keeps the change to one degree for each frame size. Without the need for the domed bearings or cups of an adjustable headset design, Pivot's option promises to remain squeak free, which is great news for all of us who have suffered that malady. Sadly, however, Pivot says that the cups will not be available for aftermarket sales.
When asked why he broke tradition and chose not to design the mid-sized-wheel Firebird from a clean sheet of paper, Cocalis says that he originally adapted the bike for testing 650B, and discovered afterwards that the chassis was a sweet performer in stock form. Longer travel designs benefit most from the mid-sized wheel, so the Firebird is the right platform from which to launch the first 650B bike from Pivot, and it was sort of a gift that the chassis required minimal modification to bring it on line. That said, Cocalis indicated that there will be a number of clean-sheet 650B bikes arriving in the near future
Pivot M4X Freestyle Bike
Pivot's M4X is a dual-slalom/freestyle design that offers exceptional pedaling action.
Looking sharp in black with lime green graphics, the four-inch-travel M4X is Pivot Cycle's take on the perfect dual-slalom/freestyle bike. Designed around dw-link suspension, the M4X is arguably one of the best pedaling rear-suspension designs in the genre, so it would be a good choice for a rider who grew up on a hardtail and is in the market for rear suspension. Sizes are small and large, with the main difference being top tube length (22.3 inches or 23.5 inches).
Pivot's M4X has compact suspension and a low-profile front section. Two top tube lengths are offered.
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"So you know this question is going to be asked again and again.... Am I going to be able to convert my firebird to a 27.5 beast by getting the updated rear from you guys? Thanks!"
Pivot Cycles Oli - We are not offering updated rear triangles but the current Firebird already fits a fairly wide variety of 27.5 tires. If you get a Cane Creek Angleset and slacken the head angle by 1.5 degrees and use a proper 27.5 (650) X 160mm travel fork, you will be in a close proximity to the set up of the new bike. Chris Cocalis was testing with this set up in public for the better part of a year and it gets you 95% of the way there. Good Luck!
Oli Kasicki Thanks, I'll give it a go when I find some funds, looks like it would really help with efficiency for enduro, but does having the bigger wheels take much of the playfulness of the 'bird away?
Pivot Cycles MORE FUN!
I really dig Pivots bikes. The 5.7 is something I'm looking at for an AM bike. No need for a 650B version for me. I don't care for longer chainstays.
Sorry Pivot. Competing must bring tough decisions.
2. It says nothing of the BB height in the article. Check the numbers on their site. The 275 is higher. In fact, IMO, the lowering of the front end is what made the seat tube steeper. I wonder how sensitive Dave Weagles' tune is to the suspension being slightly rotated forward. Probably not a big deal.
3. As far as chainstays go, I was referring to a 650B model of the 5.7. It's currently nice and short at 16.85"(428mm). I doubt they can duplicate that with bigger wheels.
There shouldn't be a reason they couldn't hit 428mm on a 650 Mach 5.7/Mach 6. The Norco Range Killer B and Rocky Altitude are at 427/428 mm with 650b. Heck, Specialized hit 430 mm on the Enduro 29er. Just a matter of the what the design engineers are trying to achieve with the bike - bigger wheels don't necessarily mean CS has to be longer.
As an example of 650b not being a limitation, the 26 inch Norco Range from 2012 had a CS of 437 mm while the new Range Killer B is 427 mm. Through good design and engineering, Norco increased the wheel size yet REDUCED the CS by 10mm. Pivot can do the same with a new 650b design IF the design goal is to have the shorter CS. They're pretty anal retentive when it comes to design and engineering and won't release something unless it meets their criteria/goals.
That said, I'd rather have a fun riding bike with great engineering design with a longer CS (e.g. Bronson @ 17.3) than poorly designed bike with a short CS ( too many to list).
Turners' 5 Spot is spec'd at 13.5 and their 650B Burner at 13.25. Haven't ridden either, although I'm itching to. My current rig runs 13.25" stock no problem. I guess all bikes are setup differently.
Also, total typo on my part above - I meant .8 to 1 inches with 30%. Wish I can say I was I high, but just had a brain fart. :^) Design does allow for more use of the travel, though, which is why it compresses nicely turns.
How about a 26 inch wheel in the back, 275 in the front to make it even slacker! The fun you could have.
My Remedy has a dual personality it can live as a 26er or a 650b and with a flip of a switch "Mino Link" I can adjust the geo on the fly. I disagree with the "sharp-pedaling" description anyone who's owned a Pivot Firebird knows that it is not a joy while climbing a better description would be "clumsy-slow".
Maybe the liteville is more to your liking
www.pinkbike.com/news/Liteville-301-MK10-Tested.html
Is anyone building anything ELSE anymore???