Pivot Carbon Phoenix - 33.8 Pound DH Race Bike - Sea Otter 2014

The first production Phoenix Carbon frames to reach North America were assembled at Pivot and then hand delivered to Bernard Kerr and Micayla Gatto at the World Cup in South Africa. The three resplendent beauties that remained arrived at the Sea Otter Classic last night. Phoenix Carbon frames are designed around 27.5-inch wheels and use a dw-Link rear suspension configuration which is also sync'ed to work with the larger diameter hoops. The parallelogram linkage rocks on deep-groove Enduromax ball bearings which are larger than PIvot specs in its Mach 6 AM machines. As usual, the new chassis is punctuated with details, like internal cable routing ports that double as frame guards near the head tube, and a port for a Stealth dropper post, should the race course or a particular shuttle run require its use.

Phoenix Carbon DH frames, including the coil/over Fox RC4 shock, weigh only eight pounds in the medium size - and the entire bike, featuring a Fox RAD 40 fork and Reynolds' new Black Label carbon DH wheels, weighs about as much as an enduro bike at only 33.8 pounds - including pedals. Phoenix Carbon frame sizes are offered in small, medium, large and X-large, which is rare for DH and almost unheard of for carbon DH bikes. Prices were quoted for the frame and RC4 shock at $3299 USD and delivery begins late Summer. Colors are Day-Glo lime green and Stealth matte black.



The new bike's 27.5-inch-wheel-tuned geometry is contemporary, with a 62.5-degree head angle, a 13.35-inch (339-millimeter) bottom bracket height, 17.4 inch (442-millimeter) chainstays, and the large frame's top tube was 24.75 inches long (6287mm). Suspension travel is 8 inches (204 millimeters) and the chassis can accept all known DH shocks. Pivot will offer dedicated headset cups that will alter the steering geometry by 3/4 of one degree by the time that the first Phoenix Carbon frames ship in August.


Construction Details

Pivot uses a 107-millimeter PressFit bottom bracket to attain the widest and therefore the strongest possible frame members in the lower frame area to support the suspension rocker assemblies. The seat tube member is projected well forward to clear the larger diameter tire at full compression and Pivot protects the massive down tube with a tough rubberized guard. As with all Pivot frames, there is plenty of stand-over clearance built into the Phoenix Carbon's top tube design.



Pivot uses an extension yoke to drive the top-tube-mounted shock. The aluminum extension bolts on to conventional shock eyes, so there is no need to order a shock with a proprietary interface. The rear dropout spacing is 157 millimeters for quicker wheel changes, and Pivot''s aluminum rear axle can be secured with a spanner, or an Allen type wrench. For the weight conscious, the Phoenix's post-mount rear caliper bosses direct-mount to 180 millimeter rotors, although most riders will probably choose 200s.


First Impresssions:

The Phoenix joins an ever-expanding group of dedicated lightweight DH racing machines that are tipping the scales at weights which at one time were heralded as respectable for longer-travel all-mountain trailbikes. Designer Chris Cocalis mentioned that his goal for the Phoenix was to approach the weight of his carbon framed Mach 6, which is one of the lighter weight 160-millimeter-travel AM/trailbikes made. The Phoenix came out about ten pounds over that number, but at under 34 pounds, ready to race, Pivot's new DH rig is still quite an achievement. - RC
Pivot Cycles