INTRODUCING THE PIVOT FIREBIRD 29
Pivot Firebird 29
Today Pivot introduces the new Firebird 29 – a long travel 29er ideally suited to enduro racers, park riders or anyone looking for a bike that lets them tackle the toughest descents possible without giving up much on the climbs. You may remember the Firebird from Pivot’s line up and while the Firebird 29’s name suggests that the new bike simply received larger wheels, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The Firebird 29 is a brand new machine from the ground up. Featuring a full carbon frame, 162mm of DW-link suspension and a Super Boost Plus rear end, the Firebird 29 is a bike that slays descents and powers up climbs. It’s designed to be a game changer, rewriting what was once thought possible of a long-travel 29er. The Firebird’s aggressive geometry, long travel suspension, and burly components will appeal to the heavy hitter, while its climbing prowess will encourage riders to go lap after lap like an energizer bunny.
“The Firebird 29 is an absolutely amazing bike,” says Pivot Cycles President and CEO, Chris Cocalis. “In a technical enduro setting or in the bike park, it really has no equal. It has that trophy truck, crush-anything kind of capability, but it’s way more maneuverable than other long-travel 29ers. It has this poppy, lively feel that this category of bike hasn’t offered up until this point”.
Taking inspiration from Pivot’s race-winning Phoenix DH geometry, the new Firebird 29 pairs some of the longest reach measurements in the sport with short, 16.96” (431mm) chainstays and a decidedly low center of gravity. Those design elements give the new Pivot model both an unerring high-speed stability and a nimble, snappy ride quality in tighter conditions.
Firebird 29
- Price: $5100-$9200
- Frame: Full carbon frame featuring Internal cable routing
- Travel: 162mm of dw-link® suspension
- Fork: 170mm-travel Fox Factory 36 Grip2 or Performance 36 fork with 44mm offset
- Shock: Fox Factory or Performance Float X2 (metric sizing)
- Head tube angle: 65- to 65.5-degrees
- Chainstays: 431mm (16.96”)
- Adjustable geometry with flip-chips in the upper link
- Two lower headset cup height options
- Compatible with both 29 and 27.5+ wheel sizes
- Fits tires up to 29×2.6” or 27.5×2.8” wide
- Super Boost Plus 12 x 157mm rear hub spacing
- Fits riders between 5’4″ and 6’7” (S-XL)
- Frame weight (size medium with shock) 7 lb. (3.2KG)
- 10-year frame warranty
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“The Firebird 29,” says Cocalis, “is the perfect bike for an enduro racer or hardcore rider who really wants a long-travel 29er that won’t penalize them in any way for having way more bike than they need.”
First Ride Firebird 29
The Firebird 29 is essentially a downhill bike with the ability to climb. It lends confidence when the trails point down, providing a stable and predictable ride. The 44mm offset fork aids in cornering performance, but tight switchbacks must be handled with care or at least a nice wide line due to the bikes slack head tube angle and long reach. This is a bike that truly rips downhill and would feel right at home in any bike park or on any gnarly shuttle run. What surprised us most, however, is just how well the Firebird 29 climbs considering its super aggressive downhill oriented attitude. Of course, you can’t expect to keep up with a lightweight trail bike, but pedaling this bike uphill is not as much of a burden as expected. In fact, its quite fun.
Pivot designed the Firebird 29 with a Metric shock which offers, a longer stroke, increased air volume, and more bushing overlap. The new shock was then matched with a mini clevis, design to increase stiffness and decrease weight. A flip chip was then added so that a rider could make geometry adjustments without affecting shock rates. Last but not least, Pivot offers two different sized lower headset cups that allow riders to make further geometry adjustments. The Firebird 29 is a bike that will likely be overkill on most local trails, but the riders who really need this machine will find it excels when the trails point down. The Firebird 29 also manages to hold its own on the way back up. We’re excited to spend more time abroad the Firebird 29 and look forward to bringing you a full review in an upcoming issue of Mountain Bike Action.
