Bike Check: Bernard Kerr's Pivot Phoenix 29 Carbon - Crankworx Rotorua 2019

101 Comments

262 8

morrisgabriel (Mar 22, 2019 at 12:44)

This is the best looking 29er DH out right now imo

68 70

Gunca (Mar 22, 2019 at 12:58)

Not far off, but intense still takes it in my opinion

58 30

seraph (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:16)

@Gunca: The Intense doesn't even come close to this. So many nicer-looking bikes out there.

18 8

Jaybirdy (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:45)

No Bottle Cage!!!! LMAO jp ;p

33 3

mentalhead (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:46)

Would love to see a 27.5 version of it, because this bike looks really, really sick.

x-rider (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:59)

@Jaybirdy: I just waned to say the same...

13 5

chillrider199 (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:14)

@seraph: I think its just preference. I like both the Intense for having the sharp angles and rich colors. Reminds me of a fighter jet. But this just reminds me of a chefs knife. Smooth and sharp all the way through. They both look damn good though.

gdnorm (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:21)

Wish the firebird came in this gray color.

BenPea (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:41)

This is massively sexy. 29er or anything else.

Tinga (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:46)

This is one sexy sexy bike.

13 2

bman33 (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:52)

@seraph: notice Gunca said his 'opinion'. He is 100% correct with his opinion...as you are with yours. Chill man

Will-narayan (Mar 22, 2019 at 16:06)

I'm surprised it's a Large, it looks really small. I mean, I know the big wheels make the frame look smaller, but it looks smaller than other 29er. I also like the industrial look of the Banshee.

6 12

marxrydz (Mar 22, 2019 at 16:17) (Below Threshold)

@seraph: intense has it beat hands down. This one does look good though. way better lines than the old pivot.

Fufi7 (Mar 22, 2019 at 17:12)

@gdnorm: same here. i am about to pull the trigger on the new firebird but now i am afraid that next years firebird will come in this color.

Fufi7 (Mar 22, 2019 at 17:13)

@gdnorm: same here. i am about to pull the trigger on the new firebird but now i am afraid that next years firebird will come in this color.

bohns (Mar 22, 2019 at 18:57)

@Gunca: don't Ya love getting down voted due to a personal choice? Haha... Only on PB!

61 2

krashDH85 (Mar 22, 2019 at 12:50)

Clean looking bike. Would squish.

hypermoto (Mar 23, 2019 at 10:10)

10/10

19 2

yakimonti (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:33)

Pivot bikes have always been not very attractive bikes, but something has changed...they look really good-which is awesome, I rode one in Canmore last year, mach 6 I believe, a fantastic bike.

20 0

marxrydz (Mar 22, 2019 at 16:37)

agree on the old pivots looking nasty but the new straight tubed versions are looking clean. This one and the new firebird look sweet

patrickbatemanworldtour89 (Mar 23, 2019 at 1:46)

Agreed. Their current dh bike looks like garbage but this looks amazing.

17 0

bogey (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:37)

Great looking bike! Hopefully Pivot realizes that the links that work for Bernard will not work for me. Pivot, please provide me with the "punter link" kit!

patrickbatemanworldtour89 (Mar 23, 2019 at 2:29)

I read "punker lit" kit at first. My brain was all the way to wondering what goes in a punker lit kit "...spray paint, malt liquor, some safety pins, a dead milkmen album..." then my brain caught up.

Pivot, please provide punker lit and punter link kits ASAP.

10 0

rhharter (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:17)

id hit it

adamrogul (Mar 22, 2019 at 17:06)

this things seat tube angle looks steeper than the new new megatower #downcountry

cool3 FL (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:56)

Usually not a big fan of 29" wheels, but this one looks absolutely gorgeous!

oldmanhucking (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:02)

Really like the look of this bike. Great job Pivot!

17 12

watchmen (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:23)

If you are running an air shock and have to ram it full of volume spacers.Then there's something up with your linkage design.

adventuresbycole (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:58)

All pivots run quite linear

13 2

bman33 (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:53)

Be sure to let all the engineers and bike designer know they are wrong. Especially with a 'prototype'.

jzPV (Mar 22, 2019 at 16:45)

@adventuresbycole: The Firebird is probably one of the most progressive ones after the Capra...

clink83 (Mar 22, 2019 at 23:53)

Or you like a shock that has good small bump compliance but fast ramp up...

hypermoto (Mar 23, 2019 at 10:15)

Not necessarily. Its probably fine for most people, even most racers. But BK hits huge jumps, and has a BMX style that works well with a very progressive setup. Look at the rest of his settings; if you know what those mean for a rider of his weight then you know all his adjustments are running very firm, not just the tokens. The X2 air can is also very big, to the point that most people run several spacers in it regardless of frame design. I hope they launch a smaller air can in the future to give riders more options.

way2manyhobbies2keep (Mar 25, 2019 at 11:47)

Jumpy park laps need progression, on steep chunk however progression is not rewarded as you go over the bars

Ryanfitz81 (Mar 22, 2019 at 16:53)

Where’s Bulldogs 27.5 winning bike check?

Ritgut (Mar 22, 2019 at 18:07)

PB only digs on 29.

danielsapp (Mar 23, 2019 at 4:07)

www.pinkbike.com/news/bike-check-brook-macdonalds-mondraker-summum-loinj-dh-world-cup-2018.html Right here.

rarrity (Mar 23, 2019 at 15:43)

Burnt!

Ryanfitz81 (Mar 24, 2019 at 11:47)

@danielsapp: Why thank you good sir. Had to hit 88 miles per hour to retrieve this one.

GOrtho (Mar 22, 2019 at 18:59)

I always find it amusing how everybody gets jonesed about getting a bike that Bernard Kerr (or insert other superhuman rider) has tuned and set up. You don’t and CAN’T ride like that. So why do you want a bike that is set up that way. Do you ride full tokens and weight 70kg? You want a bike set up and planned for a local good rider you aspire too, not a pro. You’re not that guy, and when you are, they will build the bike around your skills.

wibblywobbly (Mar 22, 2019 at 19:37)

Thank you for telling me how to set up my bike. I would much rather have a Santa Cruz or a Specialized set up to feel plush in the parking lot because it’s assumed I’m too dumb to know how to set up my own stuff.

Xandr (Mar 22, 2019 at 18:31)

@danielsapp something wrong here:
Shock: Fox DHX2 - 215psi with all the tokens, damping - 16LSC, 13HSC, 15LSC, 10HSC

GOrtho (Mar 22, 2019 at 18:53)

I was thinking the same thing! That’s one fancy shock that can run two settings at the same time for LSC and HSC!!!! Think about the complexity of that system. It’s almost like a Cannondale...

danielsapp (Mar 23, 2019 at 4:09)

You missed the real thing wrong but hey, thanks for pointing that out!

tacklingdummy (Mar 22, 2019 at 20:46)

It is good Pivot got away from the too swoopy frame tubes. Their bikes before were looking too cruiser-like.

therealmrbo FL (Mar 22, 2019 at 22:27)

what a beauty!!! just hope the production version has an adequate/burlier downtube protector, that bike looks abused as hell

dannyhuber (Mar 23, 2019 at 10:13)

I would say this Pivot and the new Devinci Wilson are the two best looking DH rigs out there rn.

etga6657 (Apr 29, 2019 at 11:20)

I agree. And I would add the Commencal Supreme DH 29 .

YoKev (Mar 23, 2019 at 17:20)

Only thing that concerns me about this bike is rear-tire enemas.
I'm 6', and regularly get the rear tire up my ass on the 27.5" Phoenix.
I hope they address that on the 29

aardvarkmark (Mar 22, 2019 at 17:59)

Pivot, the Phoenix 29 is cool but have you ever thought about releasing it?

TBaggins (Mar 22, 2019 at 18:09)

Not gonna be noticed but all four of his x2 damping settings say compression....

beanbelly (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:51)

I love how damaged this bike already is... Very Bernard lol

indobiker (Mar 22, 2019 at 19:22)

Most handsome downhill bike out there

santacruz50 (Mar 22, 2019 at 12:43)

cool bike

litany (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:25)

No superboost plus?! Where are all the 157 decals?!

philblue (Mar 22, 2019 at 15:31)

From the look of the offset of the chainring it’s almost certainly superboost

chyu (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:57)

DH bikes front triangle getting more compact.

epsteinisalive (Mar 22, 2019 at 15:49)

Don't let the debt collectors get their hands on it

tboothmtb (Mar 22, 2019 at 15:52)

Looks pretty mint! Nice work Pivot!

blast-off (Mar 23, 2019 at 6:24)

aesthetically this is damn near perfect!

billman555555 (Jan 16, 2020 at 19:39)

Coming from a long time santa cruz and intense owner, this is 1000% the sexiest 29 DH bike on the market

warmaximus (Mar 22, 2019 at 18:36)

intense y este me gustan mucho

Loamhuck (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:17)

62.5deg...

patrickbatemanworldtour89 (Mar 23, 2019 at 1:49)

No one seems to care about binding on their telescopic forks these days, even though it was in a lot of reviews 6 months ago.

argonaut45 (Mar 22, 2019 at 15:47)

Sha-wing!!

knick (Mar 22, 2019 at 19:00)

Hotness...

bxxer-rider (Mar 23, 2019 at 4:07)

"Fork: Fox 49; 81.5psi; 6 tokens, 10 LSC, 21 HSC, 6LSR, 4HSR"

Well that compression shimstack is wrong then. High speed is going to be harsh and horrid, and disgustingly digressive. Can easily be improved.

lance-h FL (Mar 23, 2019 at 12:09)

This thing looks great! Cant wait to see one in the flesh.

ThunderChunk (Mar 24, 2019 at 0:24)

690 points of engagement in the hub. Is that a typo or that real?

danielsapp (Mar 24, 2019 at 0:31)

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/review-industry-nines-690-point-engagement-hydra-hubs.html

ThunderChunk (Mar 24, 2019 at 2:40)

@danielsapp: mother of god. That's unreal.

vinigabrielli FL (Mar 25, 2019 at 3:38)

Grey is the new black

kerosen1 (Mar 25, 2019 at 4:41)

This bike is amazing. I def want one!!!

mescalante (Mar 23, 2019 at 8:15)

Gorgeous

beeboo (Mar 25, 2019 at 11:40)

Wow

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McCason (Mar 23, 2019 at 10:59)

That bike looks so unprofessionally built, not good at all considering the level of competition and the fact that is a "factory" team

palirojo (Mar 23, 2019 at 14:14)

can you elaborate on that, it is a prototype

7 12

endurodave (Mar 22, 2019 at 12:54)

Was this a bike check, or did you just check he had a bike?

More details needed

22 2

danielsapp (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:00)

That's all you get for now. The bike isn't released or even in final production yet so we're lucky we have this.

cassonwd (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:32)

@danielsapp: Burn!

4 12

tcmtnbikr (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:36)

690 points of engagement...because instantaneous engagement is so important on a DH bike...

13 3

ryanrodriguez (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:45)

When hundreths of seconds matter...yes.

hmstuna (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:52)

Actually... it kind of is

dthomp325 (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:02)

@RynoRodrigosouraus: I wonder how many hundredths are lost due to friction drag of that mechanism while coasting.

cragus-t (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:36)

that noise tho

Kramz (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:39)

Haha, it's hard measuring stuff as a person, even your mood can change performance. I measured how much weight I could lift daily for like more than ten years, it was a real gong show, and I couldn't even tell you one day from the next, or whether it was going to be a good day or not.

tcmtnbikr (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:57)

@RynoRodrigosouraus: this would be counterproductive in DH...more freehub drag, the immediate uptake in antisquat might be beneficial in a sprint but much more so counterproductive to suspension action.

mkotowski1 (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:58)

@dthomp325: I’ve wondered the same thing when I hear the buzz

mtb-thetown (Mar 22, 2019 at 15:11)

@tcmtnbikr: Never thought about slower engagement preventing pedal kickback, but that actually makes a lot of sense. I still like faster pickup, especially when trying to get a quick pedal while going fast, but maybe there is a limit to how fast you actually want it to be.

mountainyj (Mar 23, 2019 at 9:50)

@tcmtnbikr: Onyx...instant engagement and the least drag of any mountain hub. When you need to get a pedal out of a turn or in a short straight, it’s there.
If you’re really having that noticeable and bad of pedal kick or anti squat issues, you can
A. buy one the new crop of dh bikes that are striving to eliminate this.
Or B. If you want real freedom, figure something out like Canyon did with the disengaging ratchet, or make yourself a neutral gear that you can shift into during the chop.
Slower engagement doesn’t help these issues, it makes it less predictable and less consistent, you might get lucky and it doesn’t grab the pawl, or it will engage right away and hold it the entire way through the travel.

10 22

TannerValhouli (Mar 22, 2019 at 12:46)

cant wait for pinkbike to review it and talk about how its either too harsh or not harsh enough and then shove a high pivot commencal down our throats

28 0

likehell (Mar 22, 2019 at 12:50)

That sounds kinda negative! Go ride, that helps!

19 2

mikekazimer FL Editor (Mar 22, 2019 at 12:51)

I'm with @likehell on this one.

NotNamed (Mar 22, 2019 at 13:05)

Well the Commencal will be less than the frameset of the Pivot...

3 17

DH-Angel (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:01)

Those death grips are NOT a popular choice among gravity riders. The grips feel plastic not rubber and have poor grip.

13 1

BCtrailrider (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:26)

Then why do a lot of dh riders use them?

zyoungson (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:34)

Agree, definitely overrated

mikekazimer FL Editor (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:49)

@DH-Angel - there are a few different durometers available. Try the softer compound and they'll feel way less plasticy.

bman33 (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:57)

I know your account is basically a troll account by looking at 90% of your posts and your shell of a profile. That said, do you enjoy acting like a basement dwelling asshat or is there something else in your life that gives you a smile?

mkotowski1 (Mar 22, 2019 at 14:59)

Ooooooo

Coldspringer (Mar 22, 2019 at 19:12)

I've never used those deathgrips, but I wonder why Kerr doesn't have those renthal push on kevlar grips on anymore. I have those renthals on my bike and I love them. Nice and comfy, and grippy enough, and... moto