braking bumps on near-freefall ... we found ourselves pulling the brakes later ... frame that rolls...
TRANSCRIPT
The Bike Buyer’s Bible No.154 November 2013
top 20 must-have products
AmericAn BeAuties
Five hot frames born in the usA
bike test
investigated
Do dropper postsactually make
you slower?
november 2013 PrInTeD In THe UK £4.50
2013W
HAT
MO
UN
TA
INB
IKE
No.154 Novem
ber2013 O
range’s race-ready Five RS ibis mojo H
D tested Com
mencal M
eta AM goes 650b r
ockshox Pike reviewed
OF THE
PLUS The Malvern Hills pocket ride guide, how to update your geometry & lots more
104 November
unWrappeDSTRoNG ANd STuRdy
Pivot has gone for strength over subtlety with the mach 6. The thick toptube and chunky maintubes dig into an equally sturdy rear subframe, while forged and machined h-linkages sit into pockets and cutouts on the seat tube. The belly of the bent downtube and the inside edges of the swingarm are cunningly (fetishistically?) protected with ‘leather’ armour.
“We found ourselves pulling the brakes later each time we sessioned the drops and rocks”
November 105
While some companies have taken the lightweight trail approach to their 150mm, 27.5in-wheeled bikes, Pivot has gone for the
no-compromise, fl at-out fast approach with its new Mach 6.
Practical not pretty The slightly crowded spliced toptube and dislocated linkage junction of the Mach 6 might not make for the neatest looks, but it creates a seriously stiff chassis. The longer we had it the harder we rode it, and by the end of our test we were smashing through savage braking bumps on near-freefall descents and into blownout berms, but we never felt it fl exing or twisting out of line.
That same tracking stiffness is obvious when you send it obliquely across ruts – even over the ledges of volcanic rock and baked washboard ruts of this hard American desert. The combination of 650b wheels and the well-controlled Fox Float X damper (see p80 for the review), which presides over 155mm of rear travel, shrinks impacts impressively. We found ourselves pulling the brakes later and later each time we sessioned the drops and rock gardens of our test trails – then heading right back up for more.
Grower not a growlerThe fact that our trust and belief in the bike was progressive is signifi cant. Like other DW Link bikes we’ve ridden, the Mach 6 naturally sits high in its travel, and Pivot has given it a relatively high bottom bracket for pedalling clearance. That means despite the ample travel and slack 66-degree head angle it feels more trail bike than a gravity enduro machine at fi rst.
You also have to push it that bit harder and lower into turns than a bike that’s nearer the ground already, but that’s something that becomes second nature when you’re riding this bike all the time, rather than swapping between machines like lucky, lucky bike testers…
Changing the overlong and lurch-prone 80mm stem for a 60mm and fi tting larger tyres would also make the aggressive potential of the bike much more obvious.
Not everyone wants their trail bike to feel like a mini downhiller though, even if it is long travel, and at 6.2lb with the Float X this frame will appeal. It could be built to climb and accelerate as well as much shorter-legged bikes – the DW Link pedals very well in the middle and larger chainrings, giving just enough chain tension under power to
feel positive when you’re giving it full gas. Its smooth suspension movement also
means consistent traction and roll over even when you’re pushing the pedals hard, making it a great bike for blasting along contouring trails at serious speed. You do need to make use of the Trail setting of the CTD lever to stop obvious pedal bob in the smaller ring, however, but it is at least easy to reach.
Summary If you’re looking for a low-slung, highly aggressive gravity-focused machine the Mach 6 isn’t right for you. But if you want a pedal-friendly frame for impressively easy trail speed, allied to seriously capable suspension and speed-secure handling, the Mach 6 should defi nitely be on your superbike shortlist.
Pivot’s entering the enduro frame game, and the mach 6 is worth the wait
pIvot maCh 6 £2500 (frame & shock)
“Trail-honed speed with major confi dence and stiffness make the Mach 6 a gravity ready all-rounder.”
£1350-£5000 us FuLL susseRs
at a GlanCe
travel 155mm
hIGhS extremely stiff and surefootedly slack steering, it’s a long-travel but light all-rounder.
loWS Tall ride can mask gravity potential; soft pedalling in smaller gears and slightly heavy.
buy If… You want trail bike feel with big bike capability when it counts.
Inner strength Pivot uses hard internal formersrather than infl atable bladders during manufacture – getting allthe layers evenly compacted iscrucial to the strength of carbon.
big is better Dave Weagle has licensed hissmooth-fl oating DW Link to several manufacturers. Itdefi nitely works better in bigger chainrings than thesmaller ones.
Spec choice Pivot offers a range of build kits,
but the long stem and skinny reartyre of our sample bike are options
to avoid – they fail to make themost of this aggressive frame
WMB154.bt_1.indd 105 10/7/13 10:18 AM
108 November
Intense tracer 275 Pro IbIs rIPley santa cruz bantam PIvot mach 6
verdIct
PrIce £2349 (frame & shock) £2650 (frame & shock) £1350 (frame & shock) £2500 (frame & shock)
contact www.extrauk.co.uk www.ibiscycles.co.uk www.santacruzbikes.co.uk www.upgradebikes.co.uk
sIze tested M L M M
sIzes avaIlable S, M, L S, M, L, XL S, M, L, XL XS, S, M, L, XL
weIght tested 13.7kg (30.25lb) 12.9kg (28.5lb) 13.4kg (29.6lb) 13.3kg (29.4lb)
frame Custom semi monocoque alloy Carbon fibre DW Link Custom 6066 alloy Hollow Box carbon, 155mm travel
fork RockShox Pike RCT3, 27.5in, 160mm X-Fusion Trace RL2, 140mm Fox 32 275 CTD TA, 130mm Fox 34 275 CTD TA, 160mm
shock Fox Float Factory CTD TA X-Fusion Microlite Fox Float Evolution CTD Fox Float X Factory CTD TA
max tyre sIze 650bx2.4in 29x2.35in 650bx2.4in 650bx2.3in
transmIssIon
chaInset SRAM X01, 32T eThirteen TRS+, 24/34T Shimano XT, 42/32/24T Shimano XT, 38/24T
shIfters SRAM X01 SRAM X0 Shimano XT Shimano XT
deraIlleurs SRAM X01 (F), SRAM XX1 (R) SRAM X0 Shimano XT Shimano XT
chaIn SRAM X01 SRAM X0 Shimano XT Shimano XT
bottom bracket
SRAM X01 SRAM X0 Shimano XT Shimano XT
cassette SRAM X01, 10-42T SRAM XG1080, 11-36T Shimano XT, 11-36T Shimano XT, 11-36T
wheels
front Novatec Diablo 275 rim, Novatec 15mm hub
Stan’s ZTR Arch 29er rim, Ibis 15mm hub
WTB Frequency i23 650b rim, 15mm hub
DT Swiss XM27.5 rim, DT Swiss 15mm hub
rear Novatec Diablo 275 rim, Novatec 142x12mm hub
Stan’s ZTR Arch 29er rim, 142x12mm hub
WTB Frequency i23 650b rim, 142x12mm hub
DT Swiss XM27.5 rim, DT Swiss 142x12mm hub
tyres Vee Rubber Trail Taker, 650bx2.4in Specialized Ground Control, 29x2.1in Maxxis High Roller II, 650bx2.3in Kenda Nevegal DTC, 650bx2.35 (F), Honey Badger DTC, 650bx2.2in (R)
fInIshIng kIt
brakes Avid Elixir 9 Trail, 180/160mm rotors Formula T1s, 180/160mm rotors Shimano XT, 180/160mm rotors Shimano XT, 180/160mm rotors
bar FSA SL-K carbon, 750mm Ibis Hi Fi carbon, 740mm Easton Havoc, alloy, 750mm Pivot, carbon, 750mm
stem FSA Afterburner, 60mm Ibis 3D forged Truvativ AKA, 70mm FSA SL-K, 80mm
grIPs Intense ODI, lock-on Ibis, lock-on Santa Cruz, locked Pivot, locked
seatPost RockShox Reverb Stealth X-Fusion HiLo SL RockShox Reverb Stealth KS Lev Integra
saddle Intense Ibis WTB Silverado Team WTB Silverado Team
headset Cane Creek 40 Cane Creek 40 Cane Creek 40 Pivot
Pedals n/a n/a n/a n/a
geometry
dImensIons
at a glance hIGhS Super-stiff handmade mainframe with aggressive drive feel and outstanding freewheeling impact appetite.
loWS Relatively heavy with very obvious power and impact kickback through the pedals.
buy If... You want a US made, surefooted frame that rolls with the biggest punches.
hIGhS Sculptural looks, smoothly flowing, self propelling ride feel, low weight.
loWS Small ring pedalling squish, tall ride feel, high cost.
buy If... You want an exclusive fast trail/cross-country bike that flows as smoothly as it looks.
hIGhS Tough, totally honest, interactive suspension, stiff and low slung cornering confidence.
loWS Heavy for its travel and pedal/brake reactive suspension won’t suit some.
buy If... You’re a hardcore rider who wants a sawn-off shotgun for blasting technical trails to pieces.
hIGhS Extremely stiff and surefootedly slack steering long travel but light enough all-rounder
loWS Tall ride can mask gravity potential, soft pedalling in smaller gears and desperate for a shorter stem.
buy If... You want trail bike feel with big bike capability when it counts.
howtheycompaRe
23in
Standover 28.9in
73°
68°
13.1in44.1in
17in
17.1in
23.6in
Standover 28.8in
71.5°
66°
13.6in44.9in
17.5in
16.9in
24in
Standover 29.5in
71.5°
68.5°
13.25in44.5in
19in
17.5in
23in
Standover 29.9in
71°
67.5°
13.3in45in
18in
17in
November 109
marIn mount vIsIon c-xm Pro
★★★★★£5000
www.atb-sales.co.uk, www.marinbikes.co.uk
M
S, M, L, XL
11.7kg (25.8lb)
CXR 60T carbon fibre, IsoTrac, 140mm
Fox 32 Float Factory CTD, 140mm
Fox Float X Factory CTD TA
650bx2.4in
SRAM XX1, 34T
SRAM XX1
eThirteen XCX single ring guide, XX1 (R)
SRAM XX1
SRAM PC XX1
SRAM XG1199, 10-42T
Formula/Marin carbon 650b rim, Formula 15mm hub
Formula/Marin carbon 650b rim, 142x12mm hub
Schwalbe Nobby Nic, 650bx2.25in
Avid X0 Trail, 180/160mm rotors
Easton Haven, carbon, 711mm
Easton Haven, 70mm
Marin, locked
RockShox Reverb Stealth
Fizik Tundra Kium
FSA Orbit ZS
n/a
hIGhS Seriously stiff, smooth and surefooted frame with superbike spec at a great price.
loWS The flex stay suspension can get bouncy under power.
buy If... You want a seriously entertaining aggro trail bike with wish list spec for bargain money.
1 right hand-only shifting frees up your brain (and the left side of your bars) – plus single rings work better
than multiples on every suspension system we’ve tried.
2 Whatever the capability of the bike it’s connected to, a long stemmed or narrow barred
cockpit will always make it feel like an uptight cross-country machine.
5 We didn’t see a single 26er in the desert – bar some fat bikes and Dh bikes – and industry
commitment to the 650b diameter looks serious. Lucky they work well…
4 That said, there are so many good bikes there’s just no need to settle for anything that isn’t
absolutely spot-on for the way you like to ride.
3 some bikes want to show you a good time straight away, while others take a while to
reveal their potential – be prepared to fettle to get the best from them.
FIVe ThIngs We Learned FroM ThIs TesT
WINNER
Turn oVer For The TraIL TesT ConCLusIon...
23.5in
Standover 30.3in
74°
67.5°
13in44.9in
17.5in
17.1in
£1350-£5000 us full susseRs
2nd
“by the end of our test time we were smashing it through every braking bump”
pIvot maCh 6 £2500 (frame & shock)
3rd
“heavy for its category, but still a load of fun”
Santa Cruz bantam £1350 (frame & shock)