PIVOT FIREBIRD W/ CTD KASHIMA

Mountain biking has divided itself into so many distinct sects that it's becoming harder and harder to find one bike that can actually hold its own in any situation. If you like trail riding, a classic cross country bike will fit the bill, but if you throw in an occasional shuttle to quad-digit elevations, or plan on a trip to the North Shore, you're going to need something a bit more substantial. That's where Pivot Cycle's Firebird w/ CTD Kashima steps in.

A formidable descender, the Firebird packs 167mm (6.6in) of DW-Link rear wheel travel, but what's surprising is how it's equally capable when the trail turns back up the hill. The rear suspension makes this possible, by combining DW's anti-squat geometry with a Fox Racing Shox CTD Kashima. What you get is a bike that's fun to ride in any terrain because the suspension can do what it's supposed to do -- let the wheel follow the ground.

DW-Link rear suspension actively works to counteract the effects on the suspension as you pedal or shift your weight around on the bike through a variety of trail conditions. With the Links controlling unwanted suspension squat, the lightly damped shock can respond to the trail surface with ultra-sensitivity. This affords the wheels the freedom to track surfaces of the trail, and to absorb low- or high-speed bumps without blowing through its travel. However, a sorted suspension design is worthless without a solid chassis. For that reason Pivot expertly crafts both the front and rear triangles out of hydroformed 6000 series aluminum. This provides a stiff, stable platform for the suspension to do its work. 3D hollow forged aluminum aligns grain structure and strengthens the material at select points of the frame. This makes the Firebird frame strong enough to endure serious downhills, yet it's light enough to build an all-out trail machine ready for Enduro and Super D events.

Pivot relies on sealed cartridge bearings, and the forged, 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. And to keep weight to a minimum, the pivot axles are all made from aluminum.

The Firebird uses a 67.1 degree head tube angle that ensures it's stable without being too slow on climbs. If you want to favor marathon use, Pivot recommends a 160mm fork. And if you want your Firebird to be a downhill monster, it'll happily run a 180mm fork. For the best of both worlds, you can run a travel adjust fork. Adding to this bike's versatility is a 1.5in headtube. Unlike a tapered front end, you can use Cane Creek's Angle-Set to fine tune the head angle +/- one degree.

A few other standout details on the Firebird are the ISCG05 chain guide mounts, a 73mm bottom bracket shell, and a floating front derailleur mount. This allows popular chain guide use, precise front derailleur placement, and multiple crank/bottom bracket options. It requires an E-type Shimano front derailleur, and you'll need a 30.9mm seatpost. The dropouts take a 12 x 142mm thru-axle (axle included) and have post-style disc brake mounts.

The Pivot Firebird w/ CTD Kashima is available in four sizes from Small to X-Large and in the colors Anodized Jet Black or Alpine White/red.

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