Pivot

Mach 6 Carbon XTR/XT Pro Complete Mountain Bike - 2015

The Pivot Mach 6 Carbon's long top tube, low center of gravity, and short stays combine to perfectly balance high-speed stability with the liveliness that new-school riders crave. The one-by blend of Shimano XTR and XT components that this bike is spec'd with complement those frame qualities, recommending the bike for enduro riding and ensuring that Pivot's carbon expertise and careful engineering aren't diminished by drivetrain slop.

While the Mach 6 has myriad benefits over other manufacturers' rush-to-production 27.5-inch all mountain bikes, we'll only take the time to focus on a few defining elements of its geometry. First, its bottom bracket height is low, settling the center of gravity within the rolling stock (like 29ers) and not on top (like 26ers and rush-job 27.5s). Second, the top tube is around an inch longer and the chainstays are around a half-inch shorter than comparable machines, so you'll enjoy all the benefits in stability and handling of the larger frame/short stem/wide bar trend in enduro bikes without the usual penalty of a longer wheelbase.

The key to this win/win/win situation is Pivot's use of a new clevis to connect the rear shock to the rear triangle. This keeps the suspension linkage compact to avoid seat tube interference, so your stays stay stubby. It also eliminates the failure-prone rear shock bushing, and you'll be happy to know that it's not proprietary, so you're free to choose whichever shock you want. Conversely, you could just stick with the custom-tuned FLOAT X CTD, which guarantees that the Mach 6's two carbon triangles will play nicely together for fuss-free handling out of the box.

Whatever you decide, your chosen shock will be incorporated into the Mach 6's DW-Link suspension design. Again, in the interest of time, we'll simplify the DW-Link to note that it balances travel with chain tension for a consistent, stable pedaling platform that's anti-squat, climbs like a goat, and descends with authority.

The Mach 6 is led into battle by a FOX 36 Factory RC2 27.5" 160mm fork with the iconic finish of Kashima coating, and it's got a low-weight, one-by drivetrain comprising Shimano's XTR cassette and rear derailleur and Race Face's Turbine crankset. The frame is finished off with a BB92 bottom bracket, ISCG05 tabs, post-mount disc brakes, a tapered head tube, a 12x142mm thru-axle, and internally routed dropper-post compatibility.