PIVOT MACH 5.7 CARBON/SHIMANO XTR COMPLETE BIKE

Everywhere you look, this Pivot Mach 5.7 Carbon/Shimano XTR Complete Bike is built to be the ultimate trail bike. With full XTR and lightweight wheels, it accelerates like nothing you've felt before. It feels like a race bike, yet when the trail gets rough the 145mm (5.7") dw-link rear suspension works beautifully to maintain traction and control and to keep you comfortable.

Out on the trail, the Mach 5.7 Carbon glides over rocks, roots and ruts, yet still remains firm while hammering out of the saddle. Firm, efficient pedaling and serious bump compliance? It's possible to have both thanks to the dw-link suspension with its anti-squat characteristics. When you're on your bike, the center of mass is somewhere near your belly button. Every time you accelerate (ie. pedal forward), this mass shifts rearward, loading the rear suspension. The dw-link counteracts this transfer to minimize your impact on the rear suspension.

This is why Pivot is able to get such a lightly damped tune on the Kashima Coated RP23 rear shock from Fox. With the dw-link controlling unwanted suspension squat, the lightly damped shock can respond with ultra-sensitivity to the demands of the trail. As a result, the Mach 5.7 Carbon is capable of soaking up big square edged hits and minute trail chatter alike. Perhaps the best trait of dw-link rear suspension is how well it absorbs bumps while climbing at low speeds. This means more comfort and better traction. The Mach 5.7 Carbon has a flatter spring curve than the Mach 5. So even though the difference in travel between the two bikes is fairly small, the 5.7 has a plusher ride and a more bottomless feel at the end of the stroke.

Pivot has taken advantage of the latest molding technology to get the frame weight down to 5 pounds with the rear shock. This means that sacrificial internal molds get used to provide better compaction of the laminate and to create a smoother inner surface. All of this adds up to a stronger and lighter bike without the wrinkles and excess resin that used to plague intricate monocoque layups. While the front triangle is noticeably smoother, the rear end is where you'll see the greatest differences in design attributable to the use of carbon. Instead of two struts connecting the set and chain stays, there is but one on the left side. And there isn't a seat stay bridge either. These changes help to increase the mud clearance over the alloy Mach 5.7 frame. We always like that. Up front it gets the same tapered head tube, and it allows Pivot designers to shape a massive down tube for steering stiffness.

There are a few other details that emphasize the efforts towards optimizing frame stiffness. One of the easiest to see is the BB92 pressfit style bottom bracket. The extra width in the shell does two things -- 1) It allows the frame designers to connect a massive downtube and increase the width of the lower dw-link, increasing stiffness and resistance to torsional flex. 2) It also provides better support for the bottom bracket bearings. Speaking of sealed cartridge bearings, the forged and CNC machined aluminum lower link contains eight of them -- two at each corner. This increases the durability of this workhorse component, stretches service life, and optimizes suspension function. The upper link is made of carbon fiber for strength and light weight, and since it sees less stress than its lower counterpart, Pivot relies on four bearings here to do the job of keeping the suspension operating smoothly. It shares the same frame geometry with its aluminum brother, and the 67.6° head angle makes it stable at speed. Dropping into steep rocky chutes is a simple point-and-shoot affair, and the lighter frame weight becomes apparent when you're launching off sketchy obstructions. Ultimately, this carbon version is more flickable both on the ground and off.

The XTR Ultimate build kit consists of a full XTR group -- 28/42t crankset, shifters, brakes, front and rear derailleurs (Shadow Plus), and cassette. You'll get rolling on DT Swiss Tricon 1700 wheels and Kenda Slant 6/Nevegal tires. Syntace supplies the F109 Stem and P6 carbon seatpost. Phoenix Lock-on Grips grace a like-branded carbon riser handlebar. A WTB Vigo Race saddle tops it all off. A Fox Float 150 RLC FIT Kashima Fork handles the front suspension and offers rebound and low-speed compression damping adjustments as well as a lockout on the crown.

The Pivot Mach 5.7 Carbon/Shimano XTR Complete Bike is available in Matte Carbon/red. It comes in five sizes from X-Small to X-Large. It also has guides for a dropper seatpost cable or hose.

US Pivot dealers are prohibited from shipping Pivot bicycles outside of the United States and US territories.

Mach 5.7 Carbon/Shimano XTR Complete Bike Price:  $7299.00