The Pivot Firebird Carbon takes an old model name and throws a whole load of new stuff at it. The result being a 170mm travel carbon enduro bike with impressive stiffness and weight claims.

Need to know

• 170mm carbon-only enduro bike
• 65° head angle
• Boost
• 27.5 specific
• Revised DW Link suspension design

Pivot Firebird Carbon

It’s claimed to be the stiffest Pivot model yet. The frame weighs in complete at 7.1lbs. Sub-28lbs builds are claimed to be easily achievable (well, if you have the funds anyway).

There will be no aluminium Firebird.

The influence of Pivot’s downhill bike, the Phoenix, is all over the Firebird. The general lines and aesthetic are very similar. It’s much more like a toned-down Phoenix than a rejigged Firebird actually.

If you’re familiar with the Pivot range you may be wondering how it fits in alongside the Pivot Mach 6. Well, as well as the extra bit of travel the Firebird offers a different suspension feel (more progressive) and a super-contemporary slack and long geometry.

Geometry then. 65° head angle. 74° seat angle. 350mm BB height. 445mm reach on a Medium. 430mm chainstays. 1,204mm wheelbase on a Medium.

Pivot continue to bring out some impressive looking bikes this year. This new Firebird comes not so long after the announcement of Pivot’s new Switchblade 29er/27.5+ bike.

Unlike the Switchblade, the Firebird won’t use Pivot’s own Super Boost hub standard. Pivot only use Super Boost for bikes that can switch between 29in wheels and 27.5+ wheels. The normal Boost-ed Firebird is 27.5 specific. And only up to 27.5 x 2.5 tyres at that.

The suspension system on the Firebird is a revised version of the DW Link that Pivot have used since way back when. Essentially there’s a double wishbone arrangement where an extra upper linkage connects to the rear shock. The result is a stiffer rear end and the aforementioned more progressive suspension rate.

Any bike running 170mm travel – with ‘acceptance’ of up to 180mm fork – will inevitably still get riders asking about running a coil shock.

Can you put a coil-over shock on a Firebird?

Pivot sez: “In general, we do not recommend that you run a coil-over on your Firebird. The Firebird was designed to work with the progressiveness of an air spring. The Firebird is slightly more progressive in the end-stroke then the Mach 6, however still not fully optimized for the linear nature of a coil shock. In most cases, running a coil-over shock on the Firebird Carbon will result in hard bottoming and could result in damage to the frame and shock. That said, we don’t really get why anyone would want to run a coil shock instead of the incredible FOX Float X2.”

Pivot do then go on the relent slightly and say that they’ve had decent results from using a custom-tuned PUSH industries ElevenSIX shock.

As with other new Pivot bikes there are some nice touches tucked away. It’s a Di2-ready bike, for the electro-drivetrain enduro racers out there. The internal cable routing uses low durometer rubber guides for quietness. There are ISCG 05 tabs. There’s even a direct mount provision for a front mech.

Update!

We now have some UK pricing info. Frames will be £3,300. Complete build exampless: Race build (XT level) will be £5,050, Pro build (XO1 Eagle level) will be £6,450, Team build (XTR Di2 level) will be £8,200.

There’s no rush though as UK stock is not expected until February 2017.