Pivot

Mach 5.5 Carbon XTR 1X Anniversary Edition Mountain Bike

We can't imagine a better way to celebrate Pivot's 10-year anniversary than by ripping sweet singletrack on the Mach 5.5 Carbon XTR 1X Anniversary Edition Complete Mountain Bike. The Mach 5.5 Anniversary Edition features a numbered emblem denoting its special status, with Pivot producing only 300 bikes in this brilliant blue colorway paired with custom graphics and top-flight components. In fact, you'll find it's upgraded with custom-etched Reynolds Carbon Wheels, custom Industry Nine hubs, Race Face Next SL carbon cranks, Fox Float Factory DPX2 rear shock, and WTB Volt Team saddle, all in stunning blue graphics.

If you're not aware of the Mach 5.5's place in Pivot's line of mountain bikes, it occupies the space between aggressive trail bike and rowdy enduro machine with 140 millimeters of DW-Link suspension, paired with a longer 160-millimeter fork. Pivot pushes the design envelope with the Mach 5.5, bringing it to progressive realms with a geometry that's longer, lower, and slacker than ever. It confidently handles everything the trail throws your way, from chunky, rock-littered climbs to blistering descents with square-edge hits, big drops, and rock rolls just begging for action. Ultimately, it's well suited for the rider seeking to power themselves up the steepest, rockiest climbs they can find, before plunging back down technical lines at high speeds.

The Mach 5.5 Carbon retains the sought-after benefits of the DW-Link suspension, namely the ability to claw up the steepest, chunkiest climbs and soak up square-edge hits on the descent. Once you've reached the summit after a grueling climb, 140 millimeters of rear travel gobbles up loose rocks and smooths out square-edges at high speeds. It's all party up front, with 160-millimeters of travel inspiring you to hit bigger drops that you'd normally shy away from with a traditional trail bike. The 20-millimeter disparity between the front and rear travel lends a bit more efficiency for pedaling, but with extra plushness up front for cleaning notoriously technical sections of trail.

Seeing the industry is constantly evolving, it makes perfect sense to see the Mach 5.5 Carbon with a slacker, longer, and lower geometry for riders seeking a progressive trail machine that stays glued to the ground, especially at higher speeds. The 66.5-degree head tube maintains composure when you're opening it up on bigger terrain, without being overly slack or wandering excessively on climbs with steep, punchy sections. Just a tick shorter in the front than the notoriously long and slacked-out Firebird, the Mach 5.5 Carbon's lengthy top tube gives you ample cockpit room, which is especially welcome for those with longer reaches. This longer front end is complemented with ultra-short 16.9-inch chainstays. Shorter chainstays provide greater maneuverability for cleaning tight corners and uphill switchbacks, as well as lifting the front up and over trail impediments.

A few key details make the Mach 5.5 Carbon a truly stand-out trail bike. Delving into its carbon frame construction, Pivot employs their proprietary hollow-core internal molding process with an optimized lay-up of high-modulus carbon for the lightest weight possible. This method produces a feathery-light frame (claimed as low as 5.7lb) that approaches Mach 429 SL Carbon territory, but with strength and stiffness similar to the enduro-bred Mach 6 Carbon. In the rear triangle, both the seat and chainstays clear tires of 2.6 inches, which is a nice benefit for riders seeking the added bump compliance and cornering grip of wider tires.