Pivot

Mach 5.7 SLX Complete Mountain Bike

The Pivot Mach 5.7 SLX Complete Mountain Bike hasn't been getting the attention that it deserves, and frankly, we're not OK with that. Sure, its slightly lighter carbon sibling is a spotlight stealer, to say nothing of the mid-wheeled Mach 6, but what it lacks in flash, the alloy Mach 5.7 more than makes up for in good old-fashioned fun. So if you just want to get rowdy, without the fuss, check it out. It’s more than worthy of your serious consideration.

Out on the trail, the Mach 5.7 remains firm while hammering out of the saddle, yet glides over rocks, roots, and ruts. It's possible to have both firm, efficient pedaling and bump compliance because of the DW-Link suspension's natural anti-squat characteristics. When you're on your bike, the center of mass is somewhere near your belly button. Every time you accelerate, this mass shifts rearward, loading the rear suspension. DW-Link counteracts this transfer to minimize the rider’s impact on the rear suspension. With the DW-Link design controlling unwanted squat, a lightly damped shock can respond with extreme sensitivity to the demands of the trail.

The Mach 5.7's lightweight aluminum construction might have you thinking it's flimsy, but in reality, it's anything but. Rather, through the use of carefully butted, large diameter tubes, Pivot has built a bike that doesn't flinch when you throw it into turns, or roll into chunky descents. Contributing to this supreme stiffness is the BB92 PressFit-style bottom bracket, which connects the oversized down tube to the massive forged lower pivot. Basically, it increases stiffness and resistance to torsional flex. At the other end of the down tube, the tapered head tube allows for the use of stiff, tapered forks, and provides maximum weld surface, strengthening the front end.

The forged and CNC-machined aluminum lower link contains eight sealed cartridge bearings — two at each corner. This increases the durability of this pillar 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 — rather than eight like the lower link — to keep the suspension operating smoothly.

For the XT/SLX build, suspension duties are handled by an Evolution Series FOX FLOAT CTD rear shock, and an Evolution series 32 CTD 150mm travel fork. The drivetrain consists of an XT rear derailleur, SLX front derailleur and shifters, paired with a Deore crankset. Braking is controlled by Shimano's powerful Deore brakes. The cockpit consists of FSA items, with a house-branded saddle and grips. The wheelset is a DT Swiss Spline X1900 setup, and they’re wrapped in Kenda tires.

The Pivot Mach 5.7 XT/SLX Complete Mountain Bike is available in five sizes, from X-Small to X-Large, and in the colors Anodized Black, Anodized Blue, and White.